Diabetic Recipes
I was in my truck today picking up some fast food from Mickey D's. I typically don't eat fast food. Actually, I never do- but today I was in a hurry and I just wanted to get something fast and not have to put to much thought into it. As I was ordering, I realized that with diabetes there is no such thing as just a "quick little meal". Any time I eat something, I have to put some serious thought and effort into it. Everyday, I put serious energy and brain power towards calculating things in my head.
My life revolves around eating and calculating.
This type of living is REALLY TIRING. I can't even pick up a tootsie roll without racking my brain with thoughts of, "Where is my sugar now?" and "What will this make my sugar do?", and "What I am going to be doing over the next couple hours?" So, in the drive thru I was looking up at the picture of the #3 combo meal- quarter-pounder with fries and a soda- the thoughts immediately starting pouring in. "Ok, so its 12 o'clock right now and I ate about 3 hours ago. My sugar should be good. The #3 meal should add up to around 60 carbs or so. And since I take one unit of insulin for every 15 carbs, then I will take about four units. BUT, I know that I am getting ready to do some physical work and that will take me down quickly, so I will only take about three units or so. And the thoughts kept piling on until I finally just ate my burger and fries, drank my soda, and said, "to heck with it". "I'll try this out and see how it goes".
Well, 2 hours later, after working a little bit, I tested and the meter read 257!!! "I GIVE UP!" I thought. "This is bull-crap". I get so fed up with not even being able to eat a darn cheeseburger and fries without doing difficult calculations which often times are incorrect! Today was one of those "I don't give a darn" days. I am not going to care about my diabetes today or deal with a day full of worrying about this stuff. "To heck with it". I get so freaking mad at having this darn disease. I can't think about it right now. I need to have a better day tomorrow.
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November 21st, 2008
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11-07-2007 9:00 AM EST by Andy Bell
Categories: Type 1 Food Emotions Women's Issues Men's Issues Real Life
Tags: fast food hyperglycemia mad
Views: 942
Categories: Type 1 Food Emotions Women's Issues Men's Issues Real Life
Tags: fast food hyperglycemia mad
Views: 942
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Andy Bell has lived with diabetes since the age of 14. He controls his type 1 diabetes by taking multiple daily injections. Andy is 28 years old now and despite his diabetes, still maintains a very active lifestyle. Andy works for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in the National Outreach Department. (Read More)
Latest Posts: My Day (Be Present) | Just Do It (not a plug for Nike) | Thanks Pretty Dietitian Lady!
Nicole has lived successfully with type 1 diabetes for 25 years. She hopes that by writing about her experiences, she can help others to face diabetes - and its challenges - head on.(Read More)
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I'm sorry you're feeling this way.
Been there, done that, will be there again.
In the words of the great Scarlett O'Hara, "After all, tomorrow is another day."
Ah bugger Andy yeah i know how you feel. I know you didnt have the opportunity to do this then and there but I'm just saying - alotta restaurants are now working out nutri info for all their meals and making them publicly available. I've got a bunch I keep in my car and it makes things easier.
But yeah, I know how fedup you're feeling and each time you try try again you just cant get it right. You will though, eventually. ;)
Meant to link here: http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.index1.html
to Mcdonalds. They even have a cool exchanges table, which is quite handy.
Anyway you'll see that your #3 meal today was actually round about 84g (burger 37g + med fries 47g) of carb.
But yeah, so you learn ;)
I ate pizza hut pizza last night, 1/12 slices and 2 bread sticks. Gave myself 11 units and I was still over 200 the rest of the night even after corrections. Thought about throwing the rest of the pizza away but instead I am going to eat some for lunch. I am going to treat it like a riddle I must solve.
Andy - great post.
It's not the fact that all of that nutritional information is available. It's the fact that we have to spend so much of our "mental energy" dealing with it all. Constant calculations. It's all no fun.
I very much appreciated your message in this post, and am often times very in touch with the same feelings.
Andy I feel your pain. I tell my hubby the truly sad thing about diabetes is not that you have to take shots, calculate every thing you ingest, get stressed out about how to manage stress, squeeze 30 minutes of exercise into an already overpacked schedule, and still be a good wife, mother, employee, student, etc. The sad thing is that all this "hypervigiliance" robs life of spontaneity, and that's what makes things fun. To be able to do something without thinking about it first. Sex for instance, I can't remember the last time I was able to have sex without having to test first because I can't disconnect from my pump without knowing what my numbers are because no amount of good loving is worth feeling like crap for the following four hours or more. God bless my sweet man, he just takes it all in stride, and loves me anyway. It's a sad thing that it robs my family of spontaneity as well. Kinda makes me feel like the party-pooper. Oh well, I guess there are worse things to deal with, thank God at least this one is manageable . . . difficult beyond belief, but manageable.
DB
Thank you so much dbnntt for your comment and your honesty! I can complete relate to you about the whole testing thing and sex. This is a topic I'll try and keep going with another post soon. And thanks to everyone else who have commented on my blog. skjohn8, boost45, and pennylane. love all you guys!
Well, if you find a cure for the "I don't care syndrome", let me know. I get that and then usually do something stupid, like ordering something that I shouldn't or even going for fast food. The good thing is that as they say . . .tomorrow is another day. Maybe my mood will improve and I'll get over the need for something that isn't good for me.
I went to a diabetic endo, once, who by the way was not a good endo, but he did leave me with a couple of good statements for diabetes, every day is different, and diabetes is not an exact science.
My extra comment, avoid McDonald french fries at all costs, and I so feel your pain. :)
Type 1 for 41 years
I avoid french fries if I can, but sometimes the craving is more than I can handle. I usually pay for it, diabetes wise, but that's okay by me. I feel justified as long as I'm not doing it all the time.
Oh, and McDonald's usually has a paper menu w/ carb amounts on it. I keep on in my purse. Also I keep one for KFC, Taco Bell, & Dairy Queen since they are the only fast food restaurants in my town.
I to now how frustrating it is to plan for your insulin to find out hours later your planning seems all for nothing when the high blood sugars show up. My Diabetes Educator introdused me to a book for counting carbs. It has about anything you can imagine in it. Its called the Calorie King Calorie fat and carb counter. I purchased mine at Walmart or you can Check out WWW.CalorieKing.com. I would not want to try to manage my insulin with out it. This book has everything in it. Its GREATz7t.