Personal Quote:
“The artist is not a different kind of person, but every person is a different kind of artist.” (Eric Gill)
About Me:
I'm a registered board-certified art therapist. I have a private practice providing art therapy and psychotherapy to people with diabetes. I'm also an adjunct professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia where i teach Introduction to Art Therapy.
I love to travel, play games and watch movies with my husband, Jason. I'm an artist and writer, and I like doing anything creative like cooking and photography. I also have a diabetes blog, The ****er Compartment.
Personal Goals:
To increase awareness of the mental health issues that accompany diabetes.
To live a balanced life, keeping diabetes managed without having to sacrifice the things I like to do or the foods i like to eat.
Favorite Music:
Liz Phair, Foo Fighters, **** and Mary Chain, New Order, Cure, Patsy Cline, Marvin ****e, Nine Inch Nails, Beastie Boys, and lots of others
Favorite Movies:
Star Wars, 16 Candles, Raider of the Lost Ark, High Art, On Golden Pond, Pretty in Pink, Say Anything, Juno, Iron Man
Favorite TV Shows
30 Rock, Chuck, Dexter, Entourage, The Daily Show, True Blood, 90210
Favorite Books:
I tend to read a lot of books about art therapy and mental health. However, my favorite diabetes book is "Diabetes Burnout".
Vices:
I guess some people would consider my diet soda habit a vice, but it's a pleasure I won't go without.
Virtues:
I adore my husband and my critters, and I believe I can live a full and happy life with diabetes.
I'm Lee Ann, a community moderator here at dLife. I was diagnosed when I was in kindergarten in 1978. Diabetes has been a very bumpy road for me. I've lived with depression since I was a teenager, but for most of that time, it's been managed. I also had an eating disorder from my teens into my early 30's, but I've been recovered for 5 years now.
These days, I wear a pump and CGM, I count carbs, and exercise is a work in progress. I write a diabetes blog called, The Butter Compartment, and do advocacy work, especially related to diabetes-specific mental health issues. I'm an art therapist, so I'm always looking for innovative ways to use art to help diabetics and raise awareness about diabetes. Off-line, I have a private practice providing art therapy and psychotherapy to people affected by diabetes, and I'm Adjunct Professor of Art Therapy at Holy Family University.
I live with my husband, Jason, and our reptilian children. I'm an artist, and I like other creative activities like cooking, gardening, photography, and writing, and I love to travel.
I only had trigger finger surgery and as the Dr. told me, I could have returned to work the next day. I think I gave it two days. I was sore and it was awkward in the beginning. But it's be about 5 months and I'm perfectly fine. I am even impressed that he cut along the lines in my hand and really no one would be able to noticed that I had surgery. -My only therapy was massaging my hand and applying cocoa butter mixed with vitamin E to the spot. :) Hopefully your recovery will be just as...
View full commentI only had trigger finger surgery and as the Dr. told me, I could have returned to work the next day. I think I gave it two days. I was sore and it was awkward in the beginning. But it's be about 5 months and I'm perfectly fine. I am even impressed that he cut along the lines in my hand and really no one would be able to noticed that I had surgery. -My only therapy was massaging my hand and applying cocoa butter mixed with vitamin E to the spot. :) Hopefully your recovery will be just as smooth.
Thank you for your encouragement Leeann. The "helper" has not been installed yet, waiting for them to call back to set up a time to come over here and show me how.
I still consider myself a newbie, but I was put on the pump after year 1. My current a1c is 6.2. I have an excellent Endocrinologist -he's heaven sent. :) I'm so happy that he suggested pump therapy so quick - I love it. It was an adjustment in the beginning, keep something close for lows as your body adjust. In the back of my mind, I am afraid of shots now. :) When I have to go that route, it takes me aback a bit. I think you will love your new sidekick. :)
I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling to the financial burden of diabetes. I don't know where you live, but would it be possible to grow some veggies? If you don't have a yard, I know there are ways to grow veggies in containers even if all you have is a patio or very limited space. It might not be a continual source of produce throughout the year, but it could be a few more veggies than you'd have otherwise. Depending on the set-up, it's also a way to get some physical activity, it could...
View full commentI'm sorry to hear that you're struggling to the financial burden of diabetes. I don't know where you live, but would it be possible to grow some veggies? If you don't have a yard, I know there are ways to grow veggies in containers even if all you have is a patio or very limited space. It might not be a continual source of produce throughout the year, but it could be a few more veggies than you'd have otherwise. Depending on the set-up, it's also a way to get some physical activity, it could be a good family activity if you have kids... there are lots of ways it could benefit you. Having grown veggies myself, it's really cool to eat food you've grown too.
Congratulations! I'm not surprised by your win at all. I always love reading (and sharing :)) your blog! I'm guilty of not always wearing shows around the house. It's something that we just have to make ourselves do. Good luck with the job search.
Congrats on teh poem! Are they trying to publish another book of poetry? I wrote the intro for the first book which is a beautiful collection of poems. I'll have to check out the poems being submitted now. We always learned to always wear shoes at my camp too, and it's stuck with me. I rarely walk around my own house barefoot, and I'm very particular about buying practical footwear, partly because of diabetes, and partly because I have some other issues with my feet. Thankfully, I'm...
View full commentCongrats on teh poem! Are they trying to publish another book of poetry? I wrote the intro for the first book which is a beautiful collection of poems. I'll have to check out the poems being submitted now.
We always learned to always wear shoes at my camp too, and it's stuck with me. I rarely walk around my own house barefoot, and I'm very particular about buying practical footwear, partly because of diabetes, and partly because I have some other issues with my feet. Thankfully, I'm not especially concerned with being fashionable... I might be out-of-style when it comes to shoes, but at least my feet are in good shape!
I hope this won't effect your work as an artist and an art therapist. Do you have a proper keyboard? That can help alot. I hope you can still walk your service dog or your husband probably helps you with that. When you are doing better I hope you can tell us how well has the dog's training is doing and has it helped you in emergency. I always look for blogs from you but sorry that it is from these circumstances. I love your attitude very much and I do know these littler complications can...
View full commentI hope this won't effect your work as an artist and an art therapist. Do you have a proper keyboard? That can help alot. I hope you can still walk your service dog or your husband probably helps you with that. When you are doing better I hope you can tell us how well has the dog's training is doing and has it helped you in emergency. I always look for blogs from you but sorry that it is from these circumstances. I love your attitude very much and I do know these littler complications can take away from some of our quality of life. I hope you will make a very fast recovery. One more question, is the trigger finger permant or will this also help with that?
Sally
I had surgery for trigger finger in November of last year -my surgeon was PERFECT. He told me that I could return to work the following day, but I gave it a few days. I was swollen for a few week -but overall I was happy that I did it. It was my middle finger and my incision is along one of the lines in the palm of my hand. If you didn't know I had the surgery, you wouldn't notice any signs of it. Hope you heeling goes as smooth as mine!
View full commentI had surgery for trigger finger in November of last year -my surgeon was PERFECT. He told me that I could return to work the following day, but I gave it a few days. I was swollen for a few week -but overall I was happy that I did it. It was my middle finger and my incision is along one of the lines in the palm of my hand. If you didn't know I had the surgery, you wouldn't notice any signs of it.
Hi Veganlro, To sum it up for me, it's just not worth it. I'm well within the drinking range limit, I was never a real drinker anyway -and right now, I figure it's just not worth the risk. If you can't have fun and enjoy your friends without a drink, someone in the crowd wasn't any fun anyway ;). I really enjoyed your writing an hope to see a lot more. Make the most of your last year of college -you will never have years like your college year again, speaking from experience. ;)
To sum it up for me, it's just not worth it. I'm well within the drinking range limit, I was never a real drinker anyway -and right now, I figure it's just not worth the risk. If you can't have fun and enjoy your friends without a drink, someone in the crowd wasn't any fun anyway ;).
I really enjoyed your writing an hope to see a lot more. Make the most of your last year of college -you will never have years like your college year again, speaking from experience. ;)
I had a really hard time in my teens and 20's, partly because I also thought I'd be cured, and as the years started to add up and I wasn't cured, I was very resentful and angry. I think it's wonderful that you're moving to the "next stage" and working towards accepting diabetes. I've had it for 33 years, and accepting it has been the most freeing thing I even did. Your post made me think you might appreciate a blog post I wrote recently: ...
View full commentI had a really hard time in my teens and 20's, partly because I also thought I'd be cured, and as the years started to add up and I wasn't cured, I was very resentful and angry. I think it's wonderful that you're moving to the "next stage" and working towards accepting diabetes. I've had it for 33 years, and accepting it has been the most freeing thing I even did. Your post made me think you might appreciate a blog post I wrote recently: www.thebuttercompartment.com/?p=6691
And I wrote the Intro to the No Sugar Added book, so I was thrilled to see that you've found the poetry inspiring. Keep creating because there might not be a cure, but I believe that through creative self-expression, we can all find healing :)
Hi, I wrote a nice long reply last night and of course it did not save. :) That's my issue, the combination of the Oatmeal and my medicine. My job is pretty sedentary -so I don't see that contributing. The Oatmeal has 34 carbs and 10 grams of fiber, I add a granola pack that has 24 carbs and a pack of raisins (and I don't count carbs of fiber for those). So if my b/s is 90, carbs add up to 58 and I subtract 10 -I have 48 carbs, my carb ratio is 1/5...so I have a bolus of 8.8 and a basal...
I wrote a nice long reply last night and of course it did not save. :) That's my issue, the combination of the Oatmeal and my medicine. My job is pretty sedentary -so I don't see that contributing. The Oatmeal has 34 carbs and 10 grams of fiber, I add a granola pack that has 24 carbs and a pack of raisins (and I don't count carbs of fiber for those). So if my b/s is 90, carbs add up to 58 and I subtract 10 -I have 48 carbs, my carb ratio is 1/5...so I have a bolus of 8.8 and a basal rate of 2.75. My basal rate seems to work with anything else I eat, but with this one particular food. I usually eat it around 9 or 10 and another snack before lunch time -but it's right before I eat lunch that I notice this.
Hopefully this makes since, I'm having fun bouncing thoughts...but I have to head back to work. :)
Okay, I see the need to alter my diet and my medicine. I had a low today after going a week without Oatmeal. Again, it was at lunch time...all the way down to 53. I think I need to be mindful of my mid-morning snack. I have to make sure that I get something in.
Even a little bit of exercise can make a difference in BG and how we feel! It's not just good for the body though - fresh air does wonders for the mind and soul :)
Today However has been a different story. My Thursday Grocery Shopping and Valentine Card Purchasing has been interrupted with 3 un-drivingable lows requiring 2 4 zo. Juicy Juices and some cheddar crackers with the 2nd Juicy Juice. All this from 11:15 am to 3:33pm that's too long to be out doing a simple task like grocery shopping and card purchasing especially since I took less nonlog this morning and last night made sure the Lantus was exactly what it should be (knowing i'd be out and...
View full commentToday However has been a different story. My Thursday Grocery Shopping and Valentine Card Purchasing has been interrupted with 3 un-drivingable lows requiring 2 4 zo. Juicy Juices and some cheddar crackers with the 2nd Juicy Juice.
All this from 11:15 am to 3:33pm that's too long to be out doing a simple task like grocery shopping and card purchasing especially since I took less nonlog this morning and last night made sure the Lantus was exactly what it should be (knowing i'd be out and about today). Brittle . . . . just never calls before coming.
I think only you can really say if you're experiencing burnout or not. I don't think having one bad day necessarily means burnout, but maybe it's a sign that you need some extra support, whatever that might be for you. I have days when I lose my patience and feel really frustrated, like the things I do to manage my diabetes don't make a difference, but that passes. You have to decide if this was just a down day, or if it's a sign of something more... but I think getting extra support is never a...
View full commentI think only you can really say if you're experiencing burnout or not. I don't think having one bad day necessarily means burnout, but maybe it's a sign that you need some extra support, whatever that might be for you. I have days when I lose my patience and feel really frustrated, like the things I do to manage my diabetes don't make a difference, but that passes. You have to decide if this was just a down day, or if it's a sign of something more... but I think getting extra support is never a bad thing, whether you're having burnout or just occasional bad days.
Thank you Leeann. I did some soul searching and realize that it isn't burn out I felt that day. It is hard to manage a severe mental illness AND diabetes at times. I had a "sick" day and it overwhelmed me. Sometimes things get distorted and a bit irrational and my obession with diabetes got the best of me. I told my sweetheart about my feelings and thoughts and he reminds me that we are all doing our best when it comes to glucose control. I am doing my best for sure and the numbers are lower...
View full commentThank you Leeann. I did some soul searching and realize that it isn't burn out I felt that day. It is hard to manage a severe mental illness AND diabetes at times. I had a "sick" day and it overwhelmed me. Sometimes things get distorted and a bit irrational and my obession with diabetes got the best of me. I told my sweetheart about my feelings and thoughts and he reminds me that we are all doing our best when it comes to glucose control. I am doing my best for sure and the numbers are lower than they were before so if I can remain consistent I will have an A1C reading next time lower than the 6.6 I had. If I don't reach that goal my life will not end. Gotta remember what my sweetheart said. We do the best we can. I have to stop comparing my readings to the very low ones that alot of dlifers have. We are all different in the fight. I know that taking insulin doesn't mean I am a failure. Got to keep that fact in my conscious mind.
I hope you will check in with us with an update about you and your husband. We have all, in our own personal ways, tried to help. I never thought if you needed help to follow through what we offered by yourself. I hope that maybe you can find someone help you through these steps if you and your husband feel not capable of doing them by yourself. I know sometimes even trying to do them can be overwhelming. Maybe your adult children can help you in that way. I am so glad that you have children and...
View full commentI hope you will check in with us with an update about you and your husband. We have all, in our own personal ways, tried to help. I never thought if you needed help to follow through what we offered by yourself. I hope that maybe you can find someone help you through these steps if you and your husband feel not capable of doing them by yourself. I know sometimes even trying to do them can be overwhelming. Maybe your adult children can help you in that way. I am so glad that you have children and grandchildren and their love.
I know sometimes I need an advocate to help me too at times. I have been through difficult experiences in my life and I do understand how you and your husband are physically reacting to it. It is very shocking, especially when we are getting older to fall in such circumstances. I know that if we can help ourselves things can get better.
I hope your husband also can apply for a disability too. I know no one wants to do that and I definitely hated doing it but sometimes it is something you HAVE to do. It would be very hard on him I am sure. But the economy is very difficult and much harder now for people with chronic illness to find work with the old incomes and health plans.
I hope you are both doing better. I am sure that things will get at least better if not perfect with time. Major life chances can be very hard on us. But one thing you can depend on in this life is that life changes. It is the one constant.
We are all rooting for you and hope you will check in. It appears that we have a connection to you and your husband.
One more suggestion. It is ok to find a mental health clinic that will work on a low scale payment system to get help and maybe you can get some meds for anxiety for you and your husband temporarily. There is no shame in it. Sometimes it can protect us from other physical and emotional reactions to intense stress. I know your life is hard and I do feel empathy. I have been there and done that in my life. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.
I lost my job 11 yrs ago at the age of 44. After two yrs of searching, my husband was diagnosed with kidney disease stage 3, now the late stages of 4, I stopped looking to care for him, now he is also sight impaired. But the first thing I did was apply for food stamps and asked advice on help with our diabetes. We both have type 2 diabetes. After that we went to the county hospital to see what they might be able help us with. Also if you neuropathy, Social Security, I have been told, won’t...
View full commentI lost my job 11 yrs ago at the age of 44. After two yrs of searching, my husband was diagnosed with kidney disease stage 3, now the late stages of 4, I stopped looking to care for him, now he is also sight impaired. But the first thing I did was apply for food stamps and asked advice on help with our diabetes. We both have type 2 diabetes. After that we went to the county hospital to see what they might be able help us with.
Also if you neuropathy, Social Security, I have been told, won’t turn you down. Check with your social services, and your church, if you attend.
It can be good to look at the bigger picture when you start feeling discouraged. I'm glad you found some comfort in doing that. I have a sad anniversary next week, so I relate to how challenging that is. Take care and find some peace as those days pass.
Thank you so much Leanne. I am sorry that you too have a sad life event coming up too. I know we will get through them but I guess it happens to all human beings eventually. I worry that I sound full of self pity at times. That is part of being human sometimes too I suppose. But human feelings have to be faced head on to get over to the other side to cope. I know that I will try to celebrate the lives that I miss and over my anger that they are gone. They are sorely missed but they taught me one...
View full commentThank you so much Leanne. I am sorry that you too have a sad life event coming up too. I know we will get through them but I guess it happens to all human beings eventually. I worry that I sound full of self pity at times. That is part of being human sometimes too I suppose. But human feelings have to be faced head on to get over to the other side to cope. I know that I will try to celebrate the lives that I miss and over my anger that they are gone. They are sorely missed but they taught me one thing. I have to make the most of my life because I feel obligated to those that I love that had to leave this life prematurely. I will not give up and I will take the bad and the good and I will say "Life is good" even when I don't feel it. I know it is true and it keeps me going on until the next time when I can acknowledge it in all ways.
Again, thank you very much.
Sally
I love my pump, and I know most people with them do, but I also know a few people who decided it wasn't for them. There are disadvantages of the pump for me - having it attached to me, the cost of supplies, pump emergencies, like running out of insulin - but the advantages of better BG management are worth more to me than not having to deal with those things. As for running out of insulin, it just requires a little extra planning and preparation to manage that without it causing problems - I...
View full commentI love my pump, and I know most people with them do, but I also know a few people who decided it wasn't for them. There are disadvantages of the pump for me - having it attached to me, the cost of supplies, pump emergencies, like running out of insulin - but the advantages of better BG management are worth more to me than not having to deal with those things. As for running out of insulin, it just requires a little extra planning and preparation to manage that without it causing problems - I haven't completely avoided issues, but I they happen very infrequently if I plan accordingly. I do miss the days of wearing sundresses and not having to worry about where I'm going to clip my pump though! The bottom line is that you have to do what's best for YOU!
Hi Leeannthill, One thought to followup on your comments. Yesterday is history and it will still play out the same. Now tommorrow is in the future and will continue to be a mystery. So, what is left. The present. Let us all take the time to open this gift of today and move forward with great hopes and dreams. As always have a great day. Dan PS your puppy is an example of being in the momment.
View full commentHi Leeannthill,
One thought to followup on your comments. Yesterday is history and it will still play out the same. Now tommorrow is in the future and will continue to be a mystery. So, what is left. The present. Let us all take the time to open this gift of today and move forward with great hopes and dreams. As always have a great day.
Dan
PS your puppy is an example of being in the momment.
First of all I hope your Father is recovering well. I am new here and can't seem to get my blood sugars under control. I had a terrible year which led to depressed bingeing. I am hoping your words of encouragement not only can help me but others get in control of their diabetes.
It's great to see that you had good lab results - that's always a relief! I struggle with depression too, especially during the fall and winter, so I know every bit of hope counts :) Happy New Year!
View full commentIt's great to see that you had good lab results - that's always a relief! I struggle with depression too, especially during the fall and winter, so I know every bit of hope counts :)
Thank you and you are added to my friends list and I would love to hear from you on my profile page and in the community blogs. I know my mate struggles more with complications than I do but yours is also his so I have a special understanding of them. You and I share coping with depression and I can relate to that too. Let us sip a taste of sparkling cider and celebrate the beginning of a new year!! Sally
View full commentThank you and you are added to my friends list and I would love to hear from you on my profile page and in the community blogs. I know my mate struggles more with complications than I do but yours is also his so I have a special understanding of them. You and I share coping with depression and I can relate to that too. Let us sip a taste of sparkling cider and celebrate the beginning of a new year!!
Holiday gatherings can be rough on BG's. Glad you were able to get it stabilized quickly though. I need to make my exercise less hit or miss, and more regular myself. Good luck to you with that, and Happy New Year!
Thanks Sally :-) LDL is the bad cholesterol level. He said it didn't go up much but it did go up some. It's still in the normal range, but the high end of normal and he wants it lower due to my T2. Hopefully I will be on here more often but life gets too hectic and I sometimes forget, lol. Take care Sally and Happy New Year!!! Be safe and drive carefully!!!
View full commentThanks Sally :-)
LDL is the bad cholesterol level. He said it didn't go up much but it did go up some. It's still in the normal range, but the high end of normal and he wants it lower due to my T2.
Hopefully I will be on here more often but life gets too hectic and I sometimes forget, lol.
Take care Sally and Happy New Year!!! Be safe and drive carefully!!!
Don't be discouraged! I would also guess that the shift change probably had a lot to do with the bump in your a1c. You are still doing great, and there will always be lab result changes in both directions due to circumstances that we can't always control. Continue to take care of yourself, and those numbers are sure to even out where you and your doctor want them to be. Congrats on the continued weight loss too - that's very impressive!
I hope that your Christmas has been wonderful. We celebrated on Christmas Eve for my sisters could share the holiday with us. It was wonderful!! Today my Hal and I are having a warm, comfortable Christmas today doing nothing at all and we have put the "I shoulds" out the window for today. It is a peaceful day beyond belief. Ate too much, as I knew I would and now working my bg numbers back again. THere are three days a year that we will gather together and feast so I will just accept that and...
View full commentI hope that your Christmas has been wonderful. We celebrated on Christmas Eve for my sisters could share the holiday with us. It was wonderful!! Today my Hal and I are having a warm, comfortable Christmas today doing nothing at all and we have put the "I shoulds" out the window for today. It is a peaceful day beyond belief. Ate too much, as I knew I would and now working my bg numbers back again. THere are three days a year that we will gather together and feast so I will just accept that and get on with it the rest of year with better control.
Looks like I missed a blog -I'll have to come back and check after Zumba :) Yep, exercising too. I didn't know that you were on insulin now. With your diet, exercise and insulin...you should be just fine! I'll be back to check on you.
I highly recommend getting a nutrition scale. They sell them at amazon or if you want to check them out in person, places like Bed, Bath & Beyond. I've been using one since I started using an insulin pump, for over 7 years, and can't imagine not using one now. When I've compared using measuring cups with weighing, measuring cups are always inaccurate, no matter what kind it is, which has to do with the inherent inexactness of using measuring cups, not the measuring cup itself. As a bonus, you...
View full commentI highly recommend getting a nutrition scale. They sell them at amazon or if you want to check them out in person, places like Bed, Bath & Beyond. I've been using one since I started using an insulin pump, for over 7 years, and can't imagine not using one now. When I've compared using measuring cups with weighing, measuring cups are always inaccurate, no matter what kind it is, which has to do with the inherent inexactness of using measuring cups, not the measuring cup itself. As a bonus, you don't have to wash the measuring cups either because she can weigh whatever you're eating right on the bowl or plate ;)
So cute. Where do you start looking into getting one? Would much rather be warned by a warm and loving being when having a low then the often missed alarms from medronic glucose sensor when it is working.
Thank you Leeann, I actually have a doctor friend that is trying to get me into what she says is a very well known diabetic clinic in China Town. I think my diabetes educator lol.. sorry but I had to laugh at calling her that. but I think I should go back their and point out what she did wrong -not for her but for other diabetics. I think I will make my next exercise walk to china town and drop her off a little note that she needs to be retraining in using insulin. I think I need to at least try...
View full commentThank you Leeann, I actually have a doctor friend that is trying to get me into what she says is a very well known diabetic clinic in China Town. I think my diabetes educator lol.. sorry but I had to laugh at calling her that. but I think I should go back their and point out what she did wrong -not for her but for other diabetics. I think I will make my next exercise walk to china town and drop her off a little note that she needs to be retraining in using insulin. I think I need to at least try to help diabetics from injecting bad insulin and air bubbles.
Unbelievable.
LOL, I'm thanking her too -glad you showed you what she was all about before you spent a lot of money and time seeing her. That's a pet peeve of mine also and the less it seem like they know, the more I ask. It's not meant to be mean, but subconciously(sp?)I always feel like it's my responsiblity to educate them when they are like that. I have to leave them with something to ponder for the next patient because they would not see me again. Also because Diabetes is SO important to me now, I have...
View full commentLOL, I'm thanking her too -glad you showed you what she was all about before you spent a lot of money and time seeing her. That's a pet peeve of mine also and the less it seem like they know, the more I ask. It's not meant to be mean, but subconciously(sp?)I always feel like it's my responsiblity to educate them when they are like that. I have to leave them with something to ponder for the next patient because they would not see me again. Also because Diabetes is SO important to me now, I have reported a few people who lacked knowledge or concern. Healty Diabetes Advocate over here!
No, you're not crazy. You've just bought into the mistaken notion that magazines, TV and other media, including the "News" is anything other than entertainment. You've made a mild complaint and a confession of confusion, here's a REAL rant: After 15,000+ years, homosapiens is still version 1.0. The diet dejour is version what - 500? 5000? Doctors who didn't know what caused diabetes 40 years ago, promised a cure would be found within 10 years. Doctors who today still don't know are...
View full commentNo, you're not crazy. You've just bought into the mistaken notion that magazines, TV and other media, including the "News" is anything other than entertainment.
You've made a mild complaint and a confession of confusion, here's a REAL rant:
After 15,000+ years, homosapiens is still version 1.0. The diet dejour is version what - 500? 5000? Doctors who didn't know what caused diabetes 40 years ago, promised a cure would be found within 10 years. Doctors who today still don't know are "hopeful" a cure will be found within the next 20. Medical doctors are practicing an art, not science. Surgeons are highly skilled mechanics who don't have a manufacturer's service manual. Nether will warranty their work, because they don't now what they are doing - it's all guesswork.
Among their reports they include the extremely biased results and opinions of people and organizations who have a vested interest either in maintaining the status quo, or in refuting it. Rarely will you find legitimate research from unbiased researchers.
You need to get past these middlemen and charlatans who more often than not (and you never know when) don't know the difference between a lipid and an iguana.
During the past 80 years, the AMA and the several ADAs, have made flip-flop changes in every one of their dietary recommendation, an NONE of them is based on solid scientific research and legitimate clinical trials. Instead they'll look at a single measurement number like "bad cholesterol", or "blood pressure" decide on a "normal" range for everyone, and then attack any individuals' high or low result with anything that they can find, with little or no regard to interactive side effects. Drugs are adopted and prescribed off label with no rhyme or reason other than drug salesmen's claims or ill-informed patient demands (so much for the Hypocratic oath). Drugs with proven efficacy are abandoned for new ones with no relative efficacy or long term data.
(END RANT)
If you want to get truly confused (and even more frustrated), start looking at the results of clinical trials, or medical research reports in the journals where they are published, weigh the quality and scope of the studies and then decide if any of it applies to you. Then listen to the "news" and see how much what they report varies from the actual findings. You'll be truly amazed.
if you want to adjust your diet to optimize your health, you need to realize that "diet" doesn't just mean what you eat, but includes your total lifestyle, including activity and all forms of stress, including how you choose to react to events. Compare yours to your grandparents, and consider what things you've introduced into yours that didn't exist when they were your age, (or things with the same names that have radically changed in content) and ask yourself "why?" If you can't find an objective reason (backed by [u]research and evidence[/u]) for each one of them, perhaps you should reconsider whether it should be a part of your "diet".
I saw this, too. If you're crazy then I am, too! I can tell you that if I ate that sample breakfast, I would be off kilter with my numbers all day, especially if I started out anything higher than normal. I'm type 2 and started on insulin and a pump within the last year. I need to lose about 150 lbs but would be thrilled to lose the fist 50. I just don't get it. I try and try to lose weight. When I do, I gain it back. I see the endo next week, and I hate the thought of stepping...
I can tell you that if I ate that sample breakfast, I would be off kilter with my numbers all day, especially if I started out anything higher than normal.
I'm type 2 and started on insulin and a pump within the last year. I need to lose about 150 lbs but would be thrilled to lose the fist 50.
I just don't get it. I try and try to lose weight. When I do, I gain it back. I see the endo next week, and I hate the thought of stepping on the scale because she will tell me the obvious.
Most recently, I've followed the carb counting method only to lose little and get stalled. I've been thiking about being more serious with low carb to get myself jump started and only add back whole foods to see what happens. I haven't tried it yet -- didn't think about trying to start that during holiday and it was my birtday yesterday. Now that all of that is finished, I think that I'd have a better chance of success.
Can anyone offer any thoughts, experiences, or motivational encouragement?
Hi Leeann, First, I am coming from the postion of experience with our family dog. I was on a multiple daily injection pattern and our two children were becoming tweens. Simple put, when were we (me) going to eat so that I could plan for my shots. A complete failure. So, some fourteen year ago, I switched to a insulin infusion pump. At the sam time we added a member to the family, Maggie Mae. simple put she would jump on the bed and start licking me to wake me from my low blood sugar levels....
View full commentHi Leeann,
First, I am coming from the postion of experience with our family dog. I was on a multiple daily injection pattern and our two children were becoming tweens. Simple put, when were we (me) going to eat so that I could plan for my shots. A complete failure. So, some fourteen year ago, I switched to a insulin infusion pump. At the sam time we added a member to the family, Maggie Mae. simple put she would jump on the bed and start licking me to wake me from my low blood sugar levels. The familyh coding to me was that the family would simple say...What are the numbers. I would proceed to test my blood glucose and make the necessary changes. There was a PBS special that shown how dogs were used to find blader cancer and the story of a young eight year old boy. The dog was added to assist the parents as to the fact that the child was haing a low. I hae been on an insulin pump for over 14 years and ha e used three different models. so, I have a question, do you have multiple basal rates in your pump for: a normal day, an exercise day, a lazy day, etc. It akes some time to document the details to establish the numbers. My experience is that the greater the exercise day, the longer the "cool down" period to retuyrn to a different basal rate. Please feel frfee to check out any of my blogs and the one entitled, (An Ode to Maggie Mae). Hope this helps and as always hae a great day.
Hi Leeann: The serious lows blood sugars are so scary. I have experienced many of them also over the years. I wish you luck with your new intervention and hope you will share the experiences with us!!
The serious lows blood sugars are so scary. I have experienced many of them also over the years. I wish you luck with your new intervention and hope you will share the experiences with us!!
That's impressive that you found a way to stay in the service. I've known several people over the years who have wanted to pursue certain careers - military, firefighting, etc. - that discourage or don't allow people with diabetes to join. I'm glad you were able to continue being in the Army.
leeannthill
I'm participating in a live mural project this weekend in NYC in conjunction with the UN's NCD Summit! What a great way to raise diabetes awareness!
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