Diabetic Recipes
~Molz~
Why is it that I can remain much calmer than those around me when it comes to diabetes? I can manage a low with ease, while my mom or my friend will freak out on me. No matter the severity, the past, or the person, it just seems I can keep composure better than them.
Last night, my mom and I went out for our usual walk. I had worked out earlier in the day, so I knew my blood sugar would probably be an issue. I cut my insulin back and drank a juice half way through the walk. Not long after, I felt the low coming on full force. It was bad, I knew that. Inside my own mind, I was thinking that I just needed to make it around the next part of the walk so we would be closer to the house.
My mind got the better of me and I finally told my mom that I needed juice. My legs were wobbling at that point. My mind was completely blank. All I could think was that I was low, I needed juice, and I needed to get home.
I was keeping my calm though, just trying to make it around the block. I didn't want my mom to freak out. I just wanted to walk slowly home. To the safety of juice and food. To the safety of an air-conditioned chair.
She immediately did the exact opposite. She decided to run home (I mean, full on RUN) then drive back to where I was with two juices in hand. She insisted that I sit down on the side walk before she started running (I, of course, didn't do this but kept walking towards our house). Her adrenaline was rushing and her nerves were on edge. I could feel the panic seeping from her.
Despite the way my legs were giving out, my muddled mind, and the sweat pouring from my body, I kept my composure. I insisted to myself that I just needed to get home. I would be fine, if I could just make it closer to home.
I'm sure that often I should be more panicked when it comes to my diabetes. In general, I'm not a panicky type of person, but I do know that life does call for that when you're diabetic. I've managed to narrowly escape some dangerous situations, situations that would not have been nearly as dangerous if I would have panicked. But where do I draw the line? When is it time to panic? When is it time to stay calm?
And why is it that everyone else seems to panic long before I do?
I'd had diabetes for 10 years the first time I saw someone else have a hypo and that scared me. I've never been scared by my own hypos, but watching someone else is frightening and there's very little you can do other than give them food and hope its enough. After that I have far more sympathy for my husband and my parents - they have to stand there while I insist I'm fine (when I'm blatently not as I'm white, shaking and talking rubbish) and they have to pick up the pieces on the rare occasion when it does get serious. I agree its irritating when everyone around you overreacts, but I can kind of see why they do it, hypos aren't nice to watch.
Hi Lindsey
It is my understanding that you wear an insulin pump. I find exercise can throw some interesting loops. Did you know what your blood sugar was before you started your second exercise routine? After having the juice, did you consider taking your blood sugar, 15 minutes after the juice. This second number will give a clearer reading as to how your numbers are going. I have done the following: Suspend my pump is one and the second is to put into place a temp bolus reduction. I have had a second factor come into play. I have been in the gym and after a rotation through certain equipment, I will test my blood sugar. Depending on the exercise, I have had my blood glucose climb, rise, get high from exercising! PS Keep I eye on the evening and the next day. Re-starting an exercise program has made me more insulin sensitive. I need less insulin and more food. when compared to a "normal day", whatever that means. Keep up the good work and have a great day.
D2
Three years ago I went through 21 hypos in the course of 3 months, four with full out seizures. That was a horrible summer filled with constant questions such as "have you checked your blood sugar?" "wheres your juice?" "why didnt you say anything when you felt it coming?!?!?" I've had diabetes for the past 18 years, I'll be 19 in September. Your story reminds me or one time where my best friend had to litterally carry me about 4kms home because I just couldnt do it myself and I thought the same thing "get home. get juice" I had no idea I was actingly like a stupid drunk woman. It's hard to understand and not be stubborn when people are trying to help and you can't comprehend what they're trying to do,as it sounds like an order rather than a request.
Hi Lindsay,
I had lows too and I have diabetes unawareness. I don't feel the usual symptoms of having a low, I will notice I have a headache and I have this one track mind of just trying to finish what I'm doing and not addressing my low. That will trigger me that I'm having a low blood sugar episode. That's the only thing that will alert me of my low episode. Take care.
Hi Lindsay:
I can relate so much to what you are describing. I have been insulin dependent for the past 15 years or so, and lately (now that I am post-menopausal) I have had too many lows to count. I too remain calm. BUT my husband goes into panic mode. He ends up sounding as if he is angry at me, questions like "did you check your blood sugar?" "Why didn't you eat enough?" I calmly ask if for juice with a little sugar. He eventually gets it together while I can feel the sweat pouring out of me, my hands are so shaky I can hardly control them, and he stands there with the glass in hand staring at me. Eventually I tell him to put it down (by the I feel as if I am speaking underwater with cotton in my mouth) and finally I take a large swallow of what has to be TWO CUPS of sugar in a half glass of juice.
To prevent this from happening more often, I have taken to ALWAYS keeping glucose tablets around. I know that three tablets equal 15 grams of carbs. They dissolve easily, and are easy to swallow.
I have some in my purse, in the nightable drawer by my side of the bed, in the kitchen and in the living room. I also make sure that my husband has some in his wallet. (Makes him feel like he is part of the solution.
Since I never know when these awful lows are going to hit, this seems the most practical solution for me.
I also appreciate that they are inexpensive and easily available at all pharmacies.
I know I sound like an advertisement, but they really are an easy solution to an ugly problem.
Hugs,
Danielle
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Hi Lindsey, I am not diabetic, however my husband is. My husband has only had one bad hypo episode since we have been together. On the day we went to meet with the pastor to plan our wedding ceremony. I knew he had bad lows in the past but had never seen it. Thankfully I knew how to handle the situation. My husband was pacing the floor and then I noticed his right leg kept giving out. He insisted he was fine. I watched for a minute and within seconds I was pulling a chair over to sit him down. I knew what was happening and I was terrified! On the outside I was remaining calm as possible. I had our kids go play in the sunday school room and assured them dad would be okay. I hurried to the church kitchen to get some juice while making sure not to let my sweetie out of site. I feared he may try to get up and start walking around again, because he insisted he was okay. I didn't realize how shook up I was until I was holding his juice glass while he drank, my hands were shaking worse than his. It is so hard to remain calm when you know someone you love could go from bad to worse in no time. Us as friends and family members do our best to remain calm because the situation calls for it but it is difficult.
This may be a really naive question, but I was diagnosed with Type 2 in February, have managed the heck out of my situation, lost 20 lbs (down to 130), eaten very carefully and am taking 500 mg Metformin twice a day; with weight loss I may be overmedicating, but I have just had a series of really frightening lows and am learning by trial and error how much I need to do to get my level back up from very frightening and dangerous low 50s to more tolerable 110-130. Here's the question: Other than feeling really shaky which is my danger sign of the onset of a low, is there any way other than taking my blood like a crazy person every hour to maintain the glucose level in a reasonable range and to avert these crashes? Thanks for your wisdom.
Hi LaQuinta,
Congratulations on taking such positive steps to manage your levels (20 lbs. - wish I could do that)! I'm a late in life T1, so I have only be working on this for a few years, and I'm not a doctor, but it does seem like you may be over medicated. My doctor says that the most dangerous thing about lows, is that your body slowly gets used to them, and you eventually stop getting the warning signs that help you help yourself (pull the car over to the side of the road before causing an accident, etc.) There are continuous glucose monitoring systems out there, but they are quite expensive. And unfortunately, unlike pumps, most insurance companies are hesitant to pay for just continuous monitoring without the pump too. They don't see the benefit of the constant knowledge. It's really stupid. Talk to your doctor about the medication, and see if he/she can help communicate with your insurance. However, if you keep it up and get you meds balanced, you may not need the monitor at all. Remember, being hard-wired to something all the time wouldn't be a picnic either. Control with diet and meds should be your first choice. Good luck!
Hi laquinta, I would definitely check with your doctor about the medication. A few years ago I lost about 15 pounds and had to adjust my insulin intake. I had started to eat less carbs and didn't need the amount of insulin I was taking. Until you get it in control, keep checking your blood. good luck!
Hi Lindsey!
I know what you mean about people who panic and it NEVER is a good idea. When you panic, you rarely make an appropriate decision, or take action correctly or in a timely manner. Of course, being prepared is always a good thing.
I walk 4.5 miles 3-4 times a week. It's not just the exercise, it's the heat and humidity here in Florida that can cause one's blood sugar to plummet. I ALWAYS test before I leave my home. I always have a roll of glucose tablets within reach, no matter where I am, or what I am doing. I keep them in a small clip-on container that also holds a couple of other small items and is clipped onto my waistband. I also take my cell phone in case I need to call for help and wear Medic Alert jewelry. But the main thing is knowing how much my sugar levels can drop with this level of exercise and if my sugar has the potential to go too low, I eat a couple of saltines with peanut butter on them before I go. The glucose tablets work very fast and are easier to carry. But you will need to folow up with something with a bit of carb and some protein as soon as you get home to keep your sugar from doing a secondary crash.
Our lows are frightening to those who see them and don't really understand them. I, too, hate it when they over react. We need to make sure we can handle our lows independently. Knowing where your blood sugar is at before you exercise is the greatest first step in that direction. Try the glucose tabs- very easy to carry in the cylinders that are available in nearly all pharmacies. The fit in nearly any pocket! Hopefully, you won't have to involve another person if you have a low.
I'm sure lows are much scarier to the person watching. I actually just had that conversation with my friend who's sister is diabetic. We tend to know that we'll be fine once we get the juice, talking ourselves through it. They don't always know that we aren't going to pass out or have a seizure. For my mom, she's seen two seizures already. A third is not on her list of must-sees.
I did check my blood sugar before I went out to walk. I check my blood sugar every thirty minutes during exercise (or if I'm feeling off). It just so happened that I dropped in a short period of time.
O, and yes...glucose tablets are one of the best inventions ever. I typically have them at the gym with me, but when we're walking in our neighborhood I don't stray far from home/my mom is always there and I keep a closer eye on my blood sugar.
Also, I don't think I should only handle lows on my own. Yes, being prepared is important. But to get to the point where I don't have someone get me juice/snacks is not my dream.
Lows are very scary! Be glad that you have someone with you. I live alone and my worst ones have been in the early morning, waking up drenched head to toe, trying to get the brain to function. Keep juice, glucose tablets, in the bedside table. My CDE changed the time I can make a BG correction, so that I now have way less lows in the middle of the night. Last one was dangerously low and per CDE " I was lucky to wake up. Do whatever you need to be safe. Even if you need to be little higher than desired. Good luck.
Hi lindsey, I posted a message on the blog to you friday night i guess i was not politicaly correct enough for this site. God Bless Karen Wilson
Hi Karen. I received your comment on one of my blogs (Mafia Mania) on Friday. Is that the one you were referring to? If not, please repost. It must be a computer glitch! Sorry for the confusion!
HI LINDSEY, IM SORRY ABOUT THE BLOG COMMENT TONIGHT.IAM NEW TO ALL THIS SO I THOUGHT THEY DID NOT WANT MY COMMENT ON TNE BLOG. I FEEL FOR YOU DEEPLY,I KNOW ABOUT THE CRASHES AS I CALL THEM. I AM A TYPE 2 ON INSULIN. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH PILLS.ARE YOU A TYPE 1 ON THE PUMP? WELL SWEETHEART HANG IN THERE MAYBE ONE DAY THERE WILL BE A CURE FOR ALL OF US.IF YOU KNOW ANY BODY OUT THERE THAT IS A EXPERT ON METFORMIN LET ME KNOW? MY DOCTOR PUT ME ON IT BUT IM AFRAID OF IT.LIKE HOW LONG DO SIDE EFFECTS LAST AND WHEN NOT TO TAKE IT. DONT MEAN TO RATTLE ON BUT I GET MORE INFO FROM YOU GUYS THAN I DO MY DOCTOR. SORRY IF I CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS WOULD NOT DO THAT FOR THE WORLD. TAKE CARE AND CARRY YOUR CANDY. GOD BLESS KAREN WILSON
I am assuming you were walking around the neighborhood or another populated area. Why not knoock on someone's door and ask for a glass of juice? My 14 year old has Type 1 and we have pointed out specific houses he can stop at if he has a low and is a distance from home without his usual 2 rolls of Smarties in his pocket. Remember, help is as close as the nearest house.
Hi Lindsay, you don't have to panic if you are prepared. I always carry the glucose tablets or gel with me. I have some in my car, my purse, at work, in my husbands car, etc. All over the place, because you never know. And they work really fast. And maybe if your family knows you are prepared, they might not panic, maybe? Good luck!