Hi everyone!

Today is my meeting with the diabetic nurse or nutrition consultant or whatever the heck they're calling her. I hope to get some good info, so I'm kind of excited about that. My very first fasting reading was 219 and this morning it was 129 so I think I'm "proving" I can make big changes with diet. Really really really want to avoid insulin. I know they can't MAKE me take it, but my doctor can decide if I'm not going to go with her treatment plan, I need a new doc and frankly that's just a pain. I'd like to ask to have blood work again in three months and see how things are going.

We went out to eat for my birthday last night. Had taco salad with shredded chicken, which I love. My family does not love Mexican food like I do so on my birthday, I make them go My bedtime glucose reading was 119 so yay me! I just wish I didn't have that ten point jump over night.

All Wannabe's talk about stew reminds me I need to get something in the crock pot so I don't have to cook tonight! We had stew a few nights ago. I just don't even put potatoes in it. No one noticed so score one for me!

Carol Sue If I wait 5 hrs to eat, I really don't have time to include a snack. The snacking has always raised my fbs the next day. I had a low carb breakfast this morning. In fact, I actually thought that DM/MM makes Atkins look really easy. I don't know why I don't use Atkins or South Beach as a guideline. I do like both of them. I've always wanted to do Atkins, but never seem to be able to do 2 weeks of ID. I've always thought that Atkins would be good because if done correctly I could learn how many daily carbs my body can tolerate and still lose weight. Just don't know why I can't do it. Since DH likes simple cooking, I could easily cook a high carb food for him and me just eat the protein and low carb veggie. I know from experience that if I would do Atkins that my bs would be normal or almost normal next time I go for blood work, because I've done it before. So I'm going to have to really figure out what my problem is.

I also like the IF way of eating and it seems to work better for my fbs even when I do eat a little high carb during my 5 to 8 hr window. It all goes back to "one size does NOT fit all". We have kind of learned on this thread that we have to let each person find their own path/way that works for them and to respect their decisions because we have learned some can do it counting calories, some counting carbs, some with IF or whatever. I think we just have to keep that in mind and not be critical of what works for someone else. I too have often thought that maybe I should just center in on losing the weight and that the bs would automatically come down.

I do think I need to start planning my food each day ahead of time, because I do have the foods to make better choices even for low carb meals/snacks each day and I think about them early in the morning, but then when I get hungry and need to eat, I forget about those foods and just grab something quick. So I think I need to start writing down what I plan to eat each night for the next day.

TheSecondHalf Our doctor talked about DH going on insulin, but he said as long as he keeps getting better each time we see him that he won't put him on it. I think as long as they know you are working at it they usually will go along with us.

Ruthie It is always good to hear from you when you can check in with us. I'm sure the weight will come back down now that all the holiday eating is over.

Secondhalf, there's no way DH would not notice "no potatoes." I have nicknamed him Mr Potato Head. LOL

Does your doctor know how much you have improved your blood sugar? I think she will be pleasantly surprised and agree with you that you don't need insulin. Right now, insulin would would put you in hypoglycemia and you would have to eat more carbs to keep your blood sugar in line. I disagree with my doctor a lot, but I don't think he would tell me to find another doctor because he doesn't want to lose a paying patient. My husband is way worse than I am with not doing what the doctor says. Sometimes I think if he was not my husband, my doctor would throw him out! LOL

Do you keep a written record of your blood sugar readings? If so, be sure to show that to the diabetic educator and also the doctor. I can't wait to hear how the visit goes today.

That taco salad with shredded chicken sounds very good. DH will not eat Mexican, no matter what. Tacos is the best I can do with him. He is a "meat and potatoes" man.

Hi all, just popping in. Have been good with the fitbit, am just a shade under 10000 a day this week. I am taking a mental health day off work today, as its been so busy and we had a hard day yesterday. SO I took something to help me sleep (herbal only) and had a good sleep. Its bitter cold outside, so I am reading by the fire and warming up the room to be quite hot. Will do my hot yoga at home instead of burning gas to go to town at the studio.
just limiting how much I eat has been helpful. I will start testing sugars again soon. I think I will have blood work drawn tomorrow am and see how things are going.
I have a new doctor. She has been a locum for my regular doc, and now they are trading places, with this new woman as my doc and my old doc doing locums for her. I didn't like her much as a locum and was reserving judgement, but after my first real visit with her, I am more comfortable. She wants to see me every 6 months and do regular blood work. Is supportive of me being on metformin without a type 2 diagnosis (I was glucose intolerant, 1 level very out, the rest sorta normal) but wants to make sure we are not "masking" diabetes that needs more aggressive treatment.
Another newer thing is that I went off my anti-depressants. I didn't feel I was getting much out of them, and some side effects were bugging me. Emotionally have been doing ok since (that was back in May) but not sure about the winter. I have a light box that I bought for DH a fews years back, and have upped my vitamin D, and take a tryptophan supplement in replacement. These have no adverse side effects, and won't hurt me, though its hard to tell if they help. The tryptophan helps me sleep anyhow, and thats always good.

I am really happy to see such good discussion about diet and lifestyle habits and love how folks are really taking charge of their bodies. Have a good day everyone

Oh dear, I went in for a "trim" and came out with no hair....what is wrong with people??

Trish, we must have been typing at the same time. I do not normally snack, as far as a scheduled snack is concerned. I do try to eat a few walnuts and a few olives each day for the health benefits, and will occasionally eat them between meals, without considering it an actual snack. I'm not hungry when I eat them, just want to get them in each day. I really should be tracking what and when I eat. I usually get a higher fasting reading if I eat a snack at bedtime, except for the 1 scrambled egg that I've eaten a couple times when I'm hungry at bedtime. My nurse at cardiac rehab told me not to eat a bedtime snack unless I'm hungry. That was probably because I need to lose weight and shouldn't be eating if not hungry. I usually get high FBG, bedtime snack or not.

Mad, although I have been going to my doctor for about 20 years, he just recently started having me get bloodwork every six months and then come in for a visit to discuss the results. I have always had the bloodwork done but got the results over the phone and he would address any problems. I am suspicious of the every 6 months visit. I think he just wants the income from the office visit. I go there, get weighed, BP checked and he says "Good job Carol. That will be $15. (my copay)" I do see my cardiologist every 6 months. The same is done there, but I agree that it's necessary as I have heart valve issues that need to be checked regularly. The PCP only handles my diabetes, and I feel that as long as my labs are good, the visit is unnecessary. This past time I did not schedule the visit in advance. I will get the blood work done, but not make an appointment unless I feel I need it. I need that $15 more than he does. LOL

Well, I have not eaten yet today. I just checked my blood sugar and it is up 10 points from what it was when I got up, so I guess I did have a liver dump. Proves my theory wrong. But what would have happened if I had eaten? Wouldn't it still have gone up?

I did not start Diabetes Miracle yet! We had a flurry of house hunting activity and last minute doctors appointments. But I did look at my food log on MyNetDiary Diabetes and found my daily net carbs for the past three months has been under 40. So it will be do-able.

Shannon, I use an Accu-chek Multiclix lancet because it is so easy to use and it's covered by my insurance. I order from my mail order diabetes supply company. It has a button and it's very easy to aim and use with one hand.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM8aZJQ5Kb0

Do not confuse it with the Fastclix or Softclix. Those are harder to use. The Multiclix is being phased out, but it's still easy to buy them.

Had my meeting with the diabetes nurse and it was great, very easy to talk to and answered my questions. Set some reasonable short and long term goals. My next apt is the day after Mardi Gras so if that doesn't keep the king cake in check, nothing will.

Just ordered a Fitbit Zip (thanks, ILs, for the gift card!) and super excited to try it out!

The Second Half, Happy birthday!

Secondhalf, glad your appointment went well. Think positive thoughts!

Shannon, I have a hard time getting my regular hairdresser to cut my hair short enough. I think she likes seeing me come back so often. Last time she was off when I went and another girl cut it, and she followed my instructions. Now I won't have to go back for a while. So many people have told me I look younger! I like that, but I would also like to hear thinner! LOL

Thank you! The lancet I use is a one click type thing so it's not hard to use, I had a deep tissue injury to my left index finger two months ago and I still have not regained feeling or full use of it. It's just awkward doing anything with that hand because when I use that finger it feels very strange and uncomfortable. I just have to get used to it again.

Carol Sue this lady cut my hair way too short - maybe because I commented that my last cut was not short enough - but seriously I said a "good trim" and my hair went from being a grown out bob to a short boy cut, like my hair is not enough a half inch long on the back side. The other issue is that it is cut shorter on one side so it is not even, it just looks terrible. I am embarrassed for anyone to even see it. My husband has been picking on me all day (he has called twice on Facetime so he has seen it). It looks really awful.

I am deep into organizing my paper piles. I did the big reorg and declutter of my sewing room this week and as a result moved everything not sewing or crafty out of the room. That included a huge mass of paper - financial records that I have let pile up since we moved, piles of paper I actually moved from the old house to the new house, every piece of artwork I have saved from Olivia over the years that I have not decided what to do with, a huge huge pile of instruction manuals I have never filed, lots and lots of pattern and other tutorials I have never organized or filed, all of our medical receipts from the past year - we're talking a lot of paper. I've been making labels and getting stuff sorted and started filing and darn it, I ran out of my label maker tape. Oh well, that project has to go on hold til I can get more because I am really liking how neat all my files are looking when I type the labels!!

Okay, so how about we go back to bible study tomorrow and I have not done the lesson that we got before the break. I need to read and answer questions about 24 chapters of Leviticus! I had procrastinated on it because I have not been placed in a small group yet which means I have not been meeting to discuss the questions, just going to the lectures to listen. I was told it could be end of January before I was placed since I also need a spot in childcare. Well, today I got the call that Olivia and I have both been placed for tomorrow! Oops!

Well, since Jan started I have been doing well with either staying low carb all day or at least until dinner. Today it was an all carb day. I was just tired and cranky! Anyway, hopefully back to watching it tomorrow!

I am having crow for breakfast. LOL All day yesterday I didn't eat, and my blood sugar just climbed. So today I had a scrambled crow egg as soon as I got up. So I guess going too long without food does cause a liver dump and raise blood sugar.

If I had my A1c checked right now it would be about an 8. I won't post what my blood sugars have been because they are so bad I'm embarassed. I am not eating a lot of carbs, but I guess I'm eating enough to spike my blood sugar, or my beta cells are damaged. Last night I could barely read the computer screen, but I was OK seeing the television. Will someone out there reach across and smack me a good one in the head?

Carol sue, I suggest you test 1 to 2 hrs after eating, and keep a diary for a while, to see how you react to different foods. It will be interesting, for sure!
I adjusted my ticker down!
I am not doing anything but eating 3 meals a day, and a small evening snack. I am having toast even, but overall, lower calories I assume. Not counting points or anything.
I think I was quite bloated after the holidays from too many treats, but this is better so some weight is coming off. Before the holidays I was about 183, so look forward to that number again.
My mental health day off yesterday went well. I slept a lot, did some meditation, some warm yoga (couldn't get the rec room hot, even with a heater on and the fire roaring but it was -15 outside! ) and some time on the treadmill. Started back on call about 5 pm, and did a visit with a client, then had a quiet evening.
Today is also very cold. Poor dog doesn't get much outdoor exercise!