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.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Mary Beth Elderton says
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 🙂
ellen beck says
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.
Tarissa says
Thanks for sharing on your experience with diabetes. I too know several people who deal with this on a daily basis.