Diabetic Recipes
Jeff Steiner
Friday morning, I packed up my bags to head to the lake for the weekend. I had a long drive ahead of me, so I made sure to bring extra juice, keep my meter handy, and lots of water. I stopped for lunch on the way.
I checked my blood sugar. 264 (up from 102 at breakfast). Unexpected, considering all I had for breakfast was water and eggs. Nothing that should send my blood sugar spiraling. So I bolused for the blood sugar, bolused for lunch, and enjoyed my quick meal before hitting the Texas highway.
I checked half way through my three and a half hour trip. 275. Okay, frustrating. Another bolus. And lots of water (well just enough so I wasn't stopping every 5 seconds on the way there).
By the time I arrived at the lake, my blood sugar was down to 175. Awesome. Not near my goal, but at least I was heading down. I continued to go down the rest of the night. 103 at dinner. And 154 less than two hours after. Perfection!
My last check of the evening was 228. Gross. I had lowered my basals for the increase in activity/decrease in stress on my mini-vacation, so I simply raised them back to normal after this rising blood sugar and bolused for the number.
I awoke the next morning, hoping to be greeted with a good blood sugar, but instead I received a nauseous feeling in my stomach and a horribly "hung over" feeling. 306. How could this vacation get any worse? Another bolus and a light brunch (salad and an apple) was sure to bring me down.
Think again! An hour later I was 262. Two hours: 261. I just kept bolusing, hoping that finally one would bring me down.
Finally, I did. A lovely 102 before a steak dinner. I bolused for the potato and enjoyed my evening.
Four hours later, I was 356. Definitely not normal. Definitely not feeling that great.
The next morning I woke at 270. The rest of the day I hung between 238 and 291. Instead of enjoying the summer sun, I was laying around feeling like I was on the verge of a major breakdown (both physically and mentally).
By the time I headed back home, I was 190. Finally breaking that 200 mark again!!!
Since being back home, my blood sugars haven't crested over 190 but haven't dropped below 130. Somewhere in this mix of confusion, there's an answer to why my body has suddenly decided to wreak havoc on my life. The answer is unclear. But one thing is certain: I want a redo vacation.
LOL... I think we *all* have had those "vacations from hell"... fortunately, mine have not been due to diabetes. I hope you figure out what's behind the crappy numbers soon!
Bad Site?
Bad insulin?
Bad Day?
Could be anything really. I probably would have went for the needle after a few highs and maybe even change the site, but hindsight...
tmana- still haven't quite figured it out. i'm blaming stress at this point....what else can i blame it on??? grr...
nocjef- unfortunately, the site and insulin were fine. unfortunately because it's so much more frustrating when it's not a scientific reason.
Lindsey, sometimes there is no scientific reason. I find thatI tend to basal a bit higher for long car trips. I surmise in is due to, even with a much anicipated and HAPPY vacation; the stress of getting everything together, the lack of exercise in the car for long periods of time, whatever. I have had high blood sugars with no rhyme or reason too. I just correct as soon as possible and try to test more frequently.
Congrats on your decision to pursue endocrinology as a career field: We need more diabetologist who really live the d-life. God Bless
Man, can I relate to this. My vacations are doing me in!!! Oh well. Off to North Bay Ontario Next week lets see what happens with that! Talk about wanting a vacation - I wish I could convince my diabetes to take a permanent vacation!!!
I leave my daughters house for a 400 mile trip home. A 122 sugar when I hit the road. 150 miles up the road I'm feeling terribly sleepy, check my sugar and like you it's 260. I find the very next town, get out of my car and walk a Walmart for 45 min. and got it back down. How does this happen when you only have coffee for breakfast and the road? Then to discover all my meds are on top of my daughters refrigerator. Otherwise I'd of probably taken anothe 1/2 metformin 500 and forgot the walk. I'm not a breakfast eater and never will be. not good for diabetics but have never been to a nutritionist or learned how to count carbs but am learning off the diabetes websites. been type 2 for 4 yrs. and Drs. aren't really much help I'm getting to learn. I travel a lot. flying is a nightmare but cruises aren't bad because you can really eat healthy and they are glad to prepare anything the way you need it.