Diabetic Recipes
As many of you have read this week in my other blogs, I have had a lot going on. I have a very important job interview today and besides that many people I know have been dealing with a variety of health issues. One issue that is very personal and by far the most important is that my very own Poppa has some stuff going on. I was reluctant to share this information with everyone until I got a better idea myself of what exactly was happening.
At this point, I am extremely thankful, but it appears he will be ok. We still don't know a whole lot right now, but ultimately we did learn that he will begin taking medication for type 2 diabetes. My dad will began taking the medication called Metformin, due to having very high blood sugars. I am so unbelievably thankful that we have caught this early enough that hopefully he will continue to remain healthy.
It all started when dad had some blood work done a couple months ago. It turns out, after I annoyingly had to contact them (his doctor and nurses) about blood work results he had done, that Pop's A1c is elevated. The last thing I could've ever predicted happening to my very own Pop was showing him how to use a glucometer to test his sugar! Who better to give him some tips about testing than a person who practically is in a full-time committed relationship with a meter! I do everything but make out with mine. It comes with me everywhere...
ANYWAY, moving on with my story before I get too gross,.
Dad is not out of the woods yet; we still have some test results that we're waiting on. He has started the Metformin and things appear to slowly be getting better. I realize that he and I will be spending some quality father and son time as he learns how to manage his new diagnosis. Just like I had to 15 years ago, he will begin learning the ropes of this confusing-ass disease. I am happy that we caught it early and that I know he will use this as a good excuse to start taking better care of himself.
Finally, this will also be a good learning experience for me too. Not only will I begin to understand a little bit more of what type 2 diabetics encounter, I will also be able to turn to you guys for information as well. I want to kindly request any support or information that you guys, my readers, have to offer me in this ironic and difficult time. I am sure dad will be fine, he is tough as nails and he's got a support system in us, his family, and in you, the educated online diabetes population of Blogabetes.
I love you Dad, - Son.
Good luck to your dad. How is his blood pressure & cholesterol? I was put on meds for that too. Although Vytorin has been found to not unclog your arteries like originally thought. I need to call my Dr. to see if he will be switching me to something else. ANyone else on Vytorin?
Glad to hear things are looking more positive for your dad. It is definitely a weird and interesting thing when parent-child roles are reversed and you become your parent's tutor. As long as your father is proactive in self-care, you will be able to ask him questions and act as a resource for many of the basics (bloodwork, diet effects, how to deal with highs and lows, etc.)
One of the big things to remember about T2 is how important diet is in the management of blood glucose levels. Once- or twice-daily pills mean that there's no quick fix by adding more insulin to treat a persistent high. OTOH, stable T2s will often experience the effects of lows at BG readings of 70-90.
There seems to be a wide variation in the professionals' ideas of optimal diet for T2 diabetes. I have two colleagues in their late '50's who have been consistently told to avoid fruits -- but not to be concerned about sodium, refined flours, and transfats in their diets... while my own experience (I'm 47, was diagnosed at age 42) shows greatest success with "clean" eating (avoiding refined grains and commercially-packaged foods, eating fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats). If he is presented with a diet plan that sounds stupid to you, question it!! but on the same hand, use all available data (mostly BG readings and bloodwork) to make sure that whatever he settles on is medically good for *him*.