As I was thinking what to bring for lunch today I forgot about the chili from last week – and its still good! Sliced up the last jalapeno and had an ounce of tortilla chips for dipping. And of course, the Tabasco sauce!
And since I forgot my camera yesterday, I couldn’t show off my new snowman mug! I don’t usually have santas, but I couldn’t pass this one up – it was $1.00 at my local thrift store:
Did you know November is National Diabetes Month?
I am lucky that I have finally dialed in with my blood sugars – my 30 day average is 122! I struggled with doctors who would ask when my blood sugar numbers were high “are you taking your medication?” Um, yes! I found a new doctor in January and things are going great. I’d love to get an insulin pump some day, but insurance companies balk at the idea because the insulin pens are cheaper. Maybe some day!
I won’t bore you with too many facts, but it is estimated that not only are there 6.2 MILLION people are walking around with Type II diabetes, another 54 MILLION have pre-diabetes!
Quick checklist of symptoms:
- excessive thirst
- frequent urination
- blurred vision
- fatigue
- frequent skin, yeast or bladder infections
Obviously you are at a higher risk if there is a family history, but also age increases your risk as well as little or no physical activity in a given day. I would urge everyone to ask their doctor for a blood glucose test at your annual physical. A single fasting (nothing to eat or drink for at least 8 hours before the test) blood glucose test result of greater than 100 means you are at risk for having diabetes and a fasting test over 125 means you may already have diabetes.
Also, you could do the test yourself – they sell blood glucose machines at Walgreens for as little as $10 – they usually come with 10 test strips which would instantly tell you where your at.
Okay, I am off my soap box for now! See you at dinner! Still don’t know what I am making!
Hey Tom! I started out taking a couple pills, then up to 9 pills a day and then ended up having to take insulin. I usually stick to around 150 carbs a day, which is about half of what a normal person would consume. Seems to work for me!
Well, except pizza party Friday’s – then its usually around 200!
Hi Biz,
I just had the notification that I’m a diabetic too. My doctor ordered some tests and sure enough my fasting blood sugar was at 150. I was feeling a little loopy the last few weeks so I figured I’d get checked. Just working with diet and exercise for now.
I came across your site by checking out Charlie’s blog. I think I’ll be back again because your food items look great.
Tom Rooney
PERRRRFECT chili weather, for sure!!
SCARY statistics there!!
Love the snowman mug! My husband is a mid-west transplant, so I get him a “Let it snow!” themed Christmas gift each year…and most have snowmen, so they’re my thing, too. 🙂
Women who’ve had gestational diabetes (I did, twice) are also at much higher risk. I ran across–and was floored by–the following quote shortly after my diagnosis:
Women who have had GDM have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing diabetes in
the next 5 to 10 years following pregnancy.(1, 2)”
References:
1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: National diabetes statistics fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2005. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 2005.
2. American Diabetes Association: Gestational diabetes mellitus (Position statement). Diabetes Care 2004; 27(Suppl. 1): S88-S90.