No coffee this morning as I'm off for bloodwork. I sure hope Nurse Dracula hit with her first stab. It'll be interesting to see where the HA1C is after the holiday festivities.

RUTH ~ Hope your tests go well for you ... the decription of your tree was very funny! I tried to get in here to post last night and just couldn't; something was causing my PC to freeze or jam on and on and on. DH & I had just been talking about it being a shame to take our tree down so soon as it looked so pretty; it's an artificial Pine tree, but looks so real people think it is ...

Anyways, we also had decided to brighten up this long dull winter -- that we are going to leave our tree up longer too: starting a new tradition. We took down most of the room decos yesterday; sorted out the boxes, and the spare room. Gots lots of exercise yesterday for sure. Today, had to go to the dentist's and it went very well!


ROSETTA ~ those are good numbers! Each day, I am getting better; a few days, I was borderline, but eventually scaled 100 c's off and now am back under my line. Today we went shopping and I bought myself a bunch of healthy foods & snacks: bananas, turkey pepperettes, babybells, hickory nuts (which are a complete protein), baby cukes, granola cereal, and no-sugar added maple syrup to add to what I already have here.

FATMAD ~ there are so many good foods out there; that it is possible to eat well even at a potluck -- lean meats, salads, raw veggies & dips, etc. I went to a party that had two kinds of salad: broccoli salad & confetti coleslaw plus raw veggies & low-fat ranch dip; plus a few meat dishes like
turkey sausages, meatballs, lean ham; and baked rice & veggies (mock fried rice). I filled my plate up with the salads & veggies & meat. Hope you have a nice time ...

Take good care and have a great Friday ... Rosebud

I thought I was doing well with diet and exercise,but gained a pound this week.
My sugars are fine, and I am going to do some glucometer checks in the next couple of weeks to see just how out of line they are. When I spoke with my educator mine in within acceptable range, but if a 10-20% variance is going on, then my 6.5 might be a 5.5 and am well within normal.
Somewhen mentioned doing labs and worrying about dracula getting the vein the first time....
I had a terrible experience last year at the lab. Extremely painful.
I take blood myself at work, as do my colleagues and have never had complaints. Have been asking clients since then to let me know about painful blood draws but no problems. When I get my colleagues to draw blood it is not anymore painful than the pinprick of the needle. SO don't accept poor quality blood draws, they don't have to hurt. Of course sometimes people have difficult veins, but even so, if you find a good tech who does it well, stick with that tech. We do enuf poking and pricking and have lots of ouchies, lets not make it worse!
I will double down on my efforts for exercise and eating well and hope for better next week.

Fatmad, since I live in the boonies, I'm sort of stuck with going to Nurse Dracula at the clinic in the next town. Otherwise I have a half hour drive (usually with my low morning BGL) to get it done at the lab. I tease about Nurse D but she really does try and is finally listening to me when I tell her where to find a vein. The little buggers roll away from the needle. Anyhow, she got her nine vials - not sure why so much as it's usually only 7 but....

It'll be interesting to get the results which won't be until next week. I always ask for a copy of the lab report.

Shovelling on the agenda today. Will it ever stop snowing?

I hope everyone had a happy holiday season and happy new year. I have not posted here in awhile but I lurk from time to time. The holiday season has not been kind to my weight loss. Through November and December, I have been stuck on a plateau. Lax dieting and too many days off from exercise showed me what it takes to maintain my weight, but I want to start losing again. I met with my dietitian this morning and I managed to lose a pound in the past week. Not much, but it's a start in the right direction. I am able to jog now and have joined the "1000 miles in 2010" challenge. My miles will be done via walking and jogging. My blood sugars have been in check, except for a minor hiccup on Christmas day at the movie theater. There was a drink mix up and I somehow ended up with regular Coke instead of the Coke Zero I ordered. I can't taste the difference, but about half way through the large drink my body told me what happened. Boy, it was like being drunk but without the mental impairment or giddy happiness. Feet and hands went numb, fuzzy head feeling, and blurred vision. Not quite the surprise gift I was hoping for on Christmas.

Regarding the topic of blood draws and good techs, I absolutely adore and appreciate the great work done by the gals I see. I have a big vein on my left arm that is every techs dream. I am, however, afraid of needles and cannot bring myself to watch. The tech who draws my blood for my blood tests is very skilled. I'm usually in and out in no time at all, plus there is very little pain. The ladies at Bonfils, where I donate platelets, are very accommodating. They know I only donate from my left arm and try to get me into the lefty chair whenever possible. We now have an ongoing inside joke whenever I show up for my donation. Each time, I will be asked by everyone, several times, if I need to go to the little boys room. Platelet donations can take up to two hours and I made the mistake of drinking something prior to one of my donations. I was almost at the finishing point but I broke down and asked to be disconnected so I could use the restroom. Murphy's Law was in effect and it took longer than usual to get me disconnected and to bandage me up. I really thought I was going to wee in my pants that day.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll try not to be such a stranger.

Hi, all. Rainy here. BGLs still up a little but still in a good zone. Haven't been too successful in reining in the food yet. I'm going to try to cook next week. I rely mostly on takeout but have a freezer full of healthy stuff I haven't touched in 6 months.
Re blood draws. I apparently have difficult to find veins and there are lots of clutzes working for the lab I am required to use. The turnover there is horrendous. I usually end up with a bruise. Once a mean nurse in an ER gave me a huge bruise that lasted for months. Occasionally I luck into a good phlebotomist.
Z - I hate it when they switch the drinks. I can usually tell after a few sips and I take it back and have it exchanged.
Have a good weekend.

I should get the HA1C results tomorrow. In the meantime, everything is stable including the darn scale. Sometimes I don't understand why it stays exactly the same weight or blips up when I've been perfectly on plan. I suspect salt in the soups I've been indulging in lately.

RUTH ~ I think you are right; salt is likely the culprit most of the time -- causing water retention. At least you didn't gain. I have cut down our salt intake quite drastically. If I use soup base, I don't add any salt to the soup or other dishes. Hope your test results are good.

We are blessed to have skilled technicians here; they have done a pretty good job over the years, and I do have small veins (they get that larger vein in my left arm too). I can usually tell regular pop from diet on the first sip; sometimes they mix up DH's and my drinks, I taste the other one then hand him the right one.

Hope you all have a SUPER SERENE SUNDAY ... Rosebud

I'm a bit disappointed. My HA1C was 6.7 which is up a tad from 6.5 last time. I guess the extra carbs over the holidays did me in a bit. I did have several high (for me) morning readings.

Down a pound today from good eating yesterday EXCEPT for being attacked by Christmas cake I'd forgotten to serve. It was soaking in brandy in the pantry cupboard but is now re-wrapped and frozen for next year. It was delicious but my BGL was up a bit this morning.

Raising my coffee mug to us all for a good day!

Hi, all. It's supposed to rain here today so it's warmed up a little. My BGLs have been going up this week. I'm not doing anything different. Ruth, I had my A1c done before the Christmas influx of temptations so it was still below 6. We're down to the last box of office candy (I hope!). Glad you put the rest of the Christmas cake in the freezer. That would have done me in too.

I went skiing twice on the weekend. DIdn't workout yesterday, worked a 14 hr day instead. tonight am watching biggest loser, so plan to get on the treadmill or step in a few minutes.
My blood sugars have been good. BUT
I am not losing weight, and am struggling. I can't seem to stick to low carb, so will plan to go lower carb. I think I have to accept doing weights and measures of my food and/or calorie counting. I have been in denial, thinking I can do without that. But your posts have me convinced.
I meet with the diabetes educator tomorrow, and well schedule a session with the dietition after that. If I have to I will even join weight watchers.
Dammit, if nothing else, watching the biggest loser is convincing me that if I don't get a handle on myself now, I will wind up like these people. They are just regular people, normal human beings with human failings, just like me, and I could get there too.
Ruth, too bad about the difficult blood draws, but I can sure understand not having a long drive when you have low blood sugars. take care.

FATMAD ~ you know, I am actually glad to hear you say what you did, though some might be offended -- sometimes I want to SCREAM at younger folks to watch what they are doing now, or they will end up like me! BUT, I don't becuz they might think I'm looney tunes ...

Yes, I thought I didn't need to journal, but once I tried it, I was amazed how much it helped me. I stopped for a week or so, and back I went to mindless munching -- oh, on good stuff, but too much. Even too much good stuff, can send your sugars up and keep you from reaching your goals ...

Just try it for a month and see for yourself; that's what I did. It's good to get things sorted out now BEFORE bigger health issues come into play -- I sure wish I new 10 years ago what I know now!

Hello everyone .. Im new to the forum and recently diagnosed with Type 2. I must admit I was a bit miffed when all I received was a phone call to tell my this in early December with directions to pick up my glucometer at the pharmacy and to stay away from junk food and pop. I would have thought I would have met with someone who would teach me what I need to know. So I used the excuse that if it wasn't that bad to warrant a visit to the doctor then it couldn't be that bad. I started cutting out my sugar .. and really the only time I have sugar is in my 12 cups of triple triple coffee a day. I rarely eat potatoes, pasta or rice ... but I must admit I like the occassional french fry. I dont think I am a typical over eater ... cuz I dont like the texture of food .. if I could drink my meals everyday I would. So I avoid chewing my food as much as possible .. I know most people dont understand me about the texture but hey .. why would they. Im 5'8" and weigh 260 lbs.
Since the phone call my BSL has had one high of 12 and a low of 4. I have gone on alot of website to read and got some GI info from a friend but I am finding some of the foods that should raise my levels arent doing that at all. I have stayed away from bread after having a sugar jump from WW bread .. last night I had a small pumpernickle bun with my huge salad and boiled chicken breast ... my level were 4.3 two hours after eating.
I dont know maybe they messed up my test or something .. even after having two XL double double coffees and special K cereal yesterday morning my levels were at 4 by noon.
I guess I have alot to learn and alot of weight to loose. I am kinda of active in that I am on the go all the time .. not necessarily "exercise" .. I garden in the summer .. and garden all winter in a large greenhouse ... lots of lugging and lifting. Its not a cardio workout by any means =) I am planning on joining Curves as this will at least get me into some type of exercise routine.
I am hoping to lose 80 - 100 lbs and I know it will be a long haul but I think Im up for it ..
Is there some place that I can find out what all the abbreviations mean? Sometimes I will read posts and I have no clue what they are talking about .. its a whole new world and language for me.
Laura

I am really happy that I have managed exercise 4 days of the last 5, with the day off being a long work day. THis is major for me. Although I truly believe that exercise is necessary for my health and weight loss (and of course to help my sugars) I am notoriously lazy and a poor exerciser.
I certainly don't mean to offend anyone when I am talking about the size of people on biggest loser, what I am meaning to say is that I can't judge them at all for their size, I am in the same position, but hopefully getting on track earlier in the process. I see them as just regular people with eating problems very similar to me. In a few years, I could be in the same position if I don't act now. I am "officially" obese by my BMI.
To our newest friend, just come along and the abbreviations will start to make sense. We will be happy to answer any specific questions.
You should definitely ask for a referral to a diabetic counsellor, and keep learning about diabetes. Good for you for coming here for support and education too. best wishes to you

Hi Laura. I'm glad you found us. Yes, it takes a while to get used to the abbreviations. There is a thread here in South Beach that will help. I know it's missing stuff but it's a start.

Actually South Beach Phase II seems to work very well for me in keeping my BGL stable. Exercise is also key. (I'm a gardener too and envy you your work at the RBG! I worked as a volunteer in a local greenhouse here for many years and just loved it.

Problem: BGL was 3.2 this morning
Cause: No carbs with dinner last night
Solution: Smarten up!