Learning I had type two diabetes threw me for a loop. All I could think of was how much my food habit was going to take. Food is a bit of a crutch for me and has always been. I remember my daddy having diabetes in the last months of his life as well as my grandmother and uncle having it. I didn’t realize that there has been so many advancements in the knowledge of diabetes. I thought I was going to have to relearn that retched exchange thing again. I hate that system with a passion.
What I discovered was there was now a super way method that has allowed me to control my diabetes and eat better at the same time. It’s called the plate method and it is super easy. I visually cut my plate in half and then cut one side in half again. The quartered side gets a meat and carbohydrate while the larger side gets vegetables. I use a small bowl, one designed for babies, to measure the fruit i eat at every meal and make sure I have a little diary when I feel like it.
I now am full when I leave the table and no longer snack like there is no tomorrow. I have managed to keep my numbers down to around 80 when I walk up and my nurse told me to be sure it is at least 150 when I go to bed since I drop a lot in the night. So anytime I’m under 150 I have a snack. Over it and I drink some water to help bring it down .
Diabetes isn’t hard but it us a lot of work. I know that my numbers can change at the drop of a hat and there is no guarantee. I just take it one day at a time.
![\\\\\\\"\\\\\\\"](\\\\\\\"https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=r2cEh1aAod000d\\\\\\\")
My husband has diabetes in his family, too—his mother and sister….and a brother has “pre-diabetes.” Given that history, I have started trying to do a similar eating plan for both of us (no diabetes in my family) so that maybe he can avoid it later—or at least put it off. One of the easiest things I did was to put away our dinner plates (those are now serving platters) and use salad plates to help control portions. I’ve also learned a few tricks—cauliflower rice, turnip mashed “potatoes,” green bean “french fries”–to make it seem like we have some of our favorite foods, while still reducing carbs. Diabetes is a hassle, but my MIL has done very well for 30 or 40 years taking good care of herself—she is 88, still lives mostly independently, still quilts 🙂
MyMom got diabetes late in life, hubby’s Mom had out of control diabetes and passed away quite young. It can be controlled. Its a hassle sometimes, but there are tricks like your plate one that makes it easier.
Thanks for sharing on your experience with diabetes. I too know several people who deal with this on a daily basis.