Re: hi all question about food

November 24, 2003

Hi . Thanks so much. You have been a great help to me. I am so

nervous about this. I want to do everything right for him. The problem I

am going to have is that most of the time, I don't have anybody sighted

around to read me labels. Do any of you know where I might be able to find

a list of carbs for a lot of common foods? What kind of a snack should I

give him at night? Thanks very much for your help and I will try not to be

to much of a pest.

Deb

Re: hi all question about food

> > >

> > > > Hello Shane,

> > > >

> > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in helping you

> > here,

> > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an open face

> > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a strawberry on top

> for

> > a

> > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in the second

> > slice

> > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands of peanut

> > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite tasks!

> Smile.

> > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from there. It

> makes

> > a

> > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > >

> > > > Rita

> > > >

> > >

November 24, 2003

I defer to and Pat, whom I consider to be the expert advisers on this

list for beginners. After 16 years of being a type 2 diabetic I became an

insulin dependent type 2 diabetic, which is what your husband is. I will

only say it is more difficult to calculate the carbs and medications needed

to use for a type 2 diabetic, since the pancreas is still functional, and it

is difficult to measure the amount of insulin the pancreas is putting into

the system. So it may take a little while to get his glucose levels

regulated. For 15 years plus I used only oral medications and ate most any

thing I wished to eat without any problems. To avoid complications caused

by diabetes it is important to avoid high and low spikes and valleys in the

glucose levels. Sadly I must report that I did not do this, because I had

three heart attacks and eventually became insulin dependent. I hope he can

avoid these problems is possible.

Follow 's advice on this matter. I have been insulin dependent now

for three months, and following his advice I have almost got myself

regulated and besides that I have saved a leg from amputation.

Stick with this list serve and ask away any thing you wish. No matter is

too small or too large for us to tackle, and we will assist you to become an

expert. After all it is the patient who needs to be the expert regarding

diabetes more so than his/her physician.

Re: hi all question about food

> > > >

> > > > > Hello Shane,

> > > > >

> > > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in helping

you

> > > here,

> > > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an open

face

> > > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a strawberry on

top

> > for

> > > a

> > > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in the

second

> > > slice

> > > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands of

peanut

> > > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite tasks!

> > Smile.

> > > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from there. It

> > makes

> > > a

> > > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > > >

> > > > > Rita

> > > > >

> > > >

November 24, 2003

very true Harry... forget that old ADA exchange diet... that went out in

1985 LOL. After all, the ADA tells you to eat 80% carbohydrates in your

diet, 15% meat, and 5% fat LOL.

Deb you'll want to watch foods like this that are quick acting carbs:

* bread, muffins, cereal, starchy veggies like corn, peas, rice, potatoes

* fruit or fruit juices

* sweets

all those types of foods break quickly down to sugar in your husband's blood

and spike his sugar into the 250 to 300 range. The reason he takes oral

medication is for 1 reason only... carbs. The oral medication or insulin

that some inject is to keep the blood sugar down and the blood sugar is

raised because of carbohydrates since they break down to sugar and raise

your bgs. So, one way of looking at this is, the only reason your husband

takes oral medications is carbohydrates. If he eats more carbohydrates than

the oral medication can handle, he goes high. Makes sense if you think about

it. Lets take an example. Lets look at dinner:

* he eats 2 pieces of bread, 30 grams, 1 cup of mashed potatoes, 45 grams, 1

fruit, 30 grams, 1/2 cup of corn, 45 grams, 4 ounces of turkey, 1 gram, and

1 cup of green beans, 4 grams.

Now lets total the carbs for this meal alone. BTW this is a recommendation

from the ADA exchange diet on what to eat for dinner thanks to the ADA. And

the ADA wonders why diabetics are brittle? So the total carb grams for this

ADA recommended meal is... 154!

So, he eats 154 grams of carbs for 1 meal, baring in mind his total for the

day should be less than 120, and we wonder why his sugar prior to bed is

350? Don't get me started on the ADA and their exchange diet folks!

Now lets view this dinner with carbs in mind and from someone who is

educated, unlike the ADA grrrrr. Lets rework it:

* 1 piece of low calorie bread, 8 grams, lots of turkey, a nice salad with 2

tablespoons of dressing 6 grams, 1 cup green beans 4 grams, 1/2 cup mashed

potatoes 15 grams, bowl of sugar free jello for dessert 0 grams, and the new

total carb grams is... 33.

So your husband eats our moderately carbed meal and his 2 hour post meal

test is 98. Can you see why? Can you see the difference?

Whatever you do, do not follow the ADA exchange diet. You'll quickly find

out that we on this list *hate* the ADA exchange diet since this example

shows why. We are running a1c averages of 5.0 to 5.5 while those on the ADA

exchange diet eating 80% carbs per each meal are running a1c averages of 7

to 9 being told they are doing a good job. Not true, they are not doing a

good job at an a1c of 7 to 9. Running an a1c of 7 to 9 over time will cause

diabetic complications such as blindness, legs being amputated, poor

circulation, kidney problems, and all the other crappy problems associated

with high bgs. Running an a1c of 5.0 to 5.5 you'll get no diabetic

complications. Reason? The high blood sugar is not in the blood to cause it.

Makes sense if you think about it. No high bgs in the blood equals no

diabetic complications since it is high blood sugars in the blood that

causes diabetic complications in the first place.

hope some of this is helping you out. Give us any questions you got and

we'll kkindly help you along to getting your husband regulated *without* the

help of a doctor.

regards,

Re: hi all question about food

> > >

> > > > Hello Shane,

> > > >

> > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in helping you

> > here,

> > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an open face

> > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a strawberry on top

> for

> > a

> > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in the second

> > slice

> > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands of peanut

> > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite tasks!

> Smile.

> > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from there. It

> makes

> > a

> > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > >

> > > > Rita

> > > >

> > >

November 24, 2003

Oh thanks so much. You guys are so very kind. I have been so very

depressed about all of this. My husband also has a blood disease called

polycythemia. This is a disease where you produce to many red blood cells

and there can be lots of complications from this as well. If your blood

cells are to high, you have to have something called a phlebotomy where they

drain at least a pint of blood from you. This happens a few times a year.

So far this method of treatment is working for him, but now this diabetes on

top of that. I just feel very helpless at this point and I am scared of

what is going to happen from here. So, the last thing we need is a diabetes

problem. Back in September, he had a normal blood sugar when he had blood

work done. How this all started was his foot got raw and he lost skin and

it was seeping and swollen and very red. He has some cellulitis in it. It

is though slowly clearing up. It has already hit him hard, perhaps because

of both diseases. Thanks for being here for me. Deb

Re: hi all question about food

> > > > >

> > > > > > Hello Shane,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in helping

> you

> > > > here,

> > > > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an open

> face

> > > > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a strawberry on

> top

> > > for

> > > > a

> > > > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in the

> second

> > > > slice

> > > > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands of

> peanut

> > > > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite tasks!

> > > Smile.

> > > > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from there.

It

> > > makes

> > > > a

> > > > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Rita

> > > > > >

> > > > >

November 24, 2003

Keep an eye on that foot. When a diabetic has an infection, it usually

takes any where from two to four times longer for it to completely heal as

compared to a nondiabetic person. Always keep on hand some antiseptic like

alcohol, or betadine to treat wounds and be sure to apply an antibiotic

ointment like Polysporin or Mysatracin several times a day until the wound

heals. A diabetic should never go barefoot, even in their own household.

Get some good house slippers to wear around in the house.

If the infection/wound doesn't clear up in the near future, or it gets

worse, see your doctor to get a prescription for an oral antibiotic.

Re: hi all question about food

> > > > > >

> > > > > > > Hello Shane,

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in

helping

> > you

> > > > > here,

> > > > > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an open

> > face

> > > > > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a strawberry

on

> > top

> > > > for

> > > > > a

> > > > > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in the

> > second

> > > > > slice

> > > > > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands of

> > peanut

> > > > > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite

tasks!

> > > > Smile.

> > > > > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from there.

> It

> > > > makes

> > > > > a

> > > > > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Rita

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

November 24, 2003

He is on an oral antibiotic four times a day and they gave him also a

prescription for a cream over a week ago.

Re: hi all question about food

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Hello Shane,

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in

> helping

> > > you

> > > > > > here,

> > > > > > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an

open

> > > face

> > > > > > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a

strawberry

> on

> > > top

> > > > > for

> > > > > > a

> > > > > > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > > > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in

the

> > > second

> > > > > > slice

> > > > > > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands

of

> > > peanut

> > > > > > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > > > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite

> tasks!

> > > > > Smile.

> > > > > > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from

there.

> > It

> > > > > makes

> > > > > > a

> > > > > > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Rita

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

November 24, 2003

That is good to hear. Just remember it takes two to four times longer for a

diabetic to heal. I credit this list serve with saving my leg. I had a leg

infection, and the doctor gave me antibiotics to last me 10 days. After the

10 days were up I still had some infection in my leg, so the folks here

advised me to have my physician call me in another prescription for

antibiotics, which he did. So I took it for another 10 days. I think the

leg is healed for now, but I still watch it closely to see if the infection

comes back. I also applied polysporin three or four times each day to the

wound area.

Re: hi all question about food

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Hello Shane,

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in

> > helping

> > > > you

> > > > > > > here,

> > > > > > > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an

> open

> > > > face

> > > > > > > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a

> strawberry

> > on

> > > > top

> > > > > > for

> > > > > > > a

> > > > > > > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > > > > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in

> the

> > > > second

> > > > > > > slice

> > > > > > > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands

> of

> > > > peanut

> > > > > > > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > > > > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite

> > tasks!

> > > > > > Smile.

> > > > > > > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from

> there.

> > > It

> > > > > > makes

> > > > > > > a

> > > > > > > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Rita

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

November 24, 2003

Deb,

I " ll send a list of carb counts to you personally later tonight. It will be

attached to the message in text form.

Dean

What is the meaning of life?

Find out on the Masters List:

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Re: hi all question about food

> > > >

> > > > > Hello Shane,

> > > > >

> > > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in helping

you

> > > here,

> > > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an open

face

> > > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a strawberry on

top

> > for

> > > a

> > > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in the

second

> > > slice

> > > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands of

peanut

> > > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite tasks!

> > Smile.

> > > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from there. It

> > makes

> > > a

> > > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > > >

> > > > > Rita

> > > > >

> > > >

November 24, 2003

Deb.

It will be slightly harder to get him regulated since he has infection in

his body. Infection causes blood sugars to be high and sometimes difficult

to manage. However, this also depends on how well the infection is under

control. I.E if this was diagnosed 2 days ago it would still be quite active

since the anti biotics aren't kicked in quite yet but it sounds like he has

been taking care of the foot for a few days now so it may be easier to

manage with the infection starting to subside.

I'm sorry to hear about the double wammy you two are in. You are a great

wife to be on here with the intent of helping your hubby. Good for you!

The fear you feel is probably feeling somewhat like your / his life is out

of control but by using the advice we are going to be sharing with you in

the upcoming weeks, you will quickly feel a sense of control again because

you will begin to control the diabetes and it will not be controling you.

Again, what we will teach you will help you 100% control it, not it

controling you.

About the foot. Yes, as Harry suggests, wear slippers around the home with a

*hard* sole/heal in it. *Always* wear shoes outside. Shoes should be loose

fitting around the toes and not tight. *Never* take hot baths or hot showers

since hot water causes the feet to crack from the heat and infection can set

in if you take hot baths/showers. Take moderately warm showers/baths. I.E

take it as close to cold as you can LOL.

Rub olive oil on his feet at night or mink oil or vitamin E lotion since it

is very important that diabetics feet are soft and well taken care of.

*Never* cut his toenails. Take him to a foot doctor to do it or... if you do

cut them, cut the toenail straight across and do not clip down the sides at

all. If he has pointed ends on the left/right of the nail after clipping it

straight, file it down *slightly*.

His feet/toes are something to protect aggressively. Folks will say they

walk around barefoot, they never do what we are telling you, etc. but that

is *not* wisdom. Life is about preventative measures and if we take them, we

lesson the possibilities of chance in our lives.

BTW take notes. Just don't read this stuff Deb, take solid notes. However

you have to take notes on the new concepts you learn do it. If it is

printing out the emails and reading them, do it, if it is talking them on

tape, do it. Review the information 2 to 3 times a day to keep it all

together. In about 2 months, you will be a pro at this and in full control

of the diabetes if you follow our sugggestions and review this material 2 to

3 times a day.

regards,

Re: hi all question about food

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Hello Shane,

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in

> > helping

> > > > you

> > > > > > > here,

> > > > > > > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an

> open

> > > > face

> > > > > > > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a

> strawberry

> > on

> > > > top

> > > > > > for

> > > > > > > a

> > > > > > > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > > > > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in

> the

> > > > second

> > > > > > > slice

> > > > > > > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands

> of

> > > > peanut

> > > > > > > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > > > > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite

> > tasks!

> > > > > > Smile.

> > > > > > > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from

> there.

> > > It

> > > > > > makes

> > > > > > > a

> > > > > > > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Rita

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

November 24, 2003

Good point Harry. Deb, you will become more of an expert than your doctor

since doc pops doesn't have a clue about most of what we will be teaching

you. I'd say that *some* endocrinologists understand the concepts we use but

for any family doctor, no way. They will look at you like you are crazy

since all they know is outdated ADA diabetes management routines that flat

out don't work and are old school.

regards,

Re: hi all question about food

> > > > >

> > > > > > Hello Shane,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I m sure will be able to be far more specific in helping

> you

> > > > here,

> > > > > > but an idea my mom learned in the hospital was to have an open

> face

> > > > > > sandwich with peanut butter and cream cheese and a strawberry on

> top

> > > for

> > > > a

> > > > > > little extra flavor and in her case

> > > > > > eye appeal. This way you eliminate the carbs or sugar in the

> second

> > > > slice

> > > > > > of bread. No carbs at all in cream cheese and some brands of

> peanut

> > > > > > butter are lower than others in carbs.

> > > > > > I get the impression cooking is not one of your favorite tasks!

> > > Smile.

> > > > > > May I suggest you get a one quart crock pot and go from there.

It

> > > makes

> > > > a

> > > > > > hot meal once in a while smooth as silk.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Rita

> > > > > >

> > > > >

November 24, 2003

Wow, Deb

Your family has some problems. glad we c an be here for you and that your

husband's foot is healing up. there are some great people on this list who

can help with any questions you have. I do hope your husband is seeing an

endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes.