Cabbage Soup?

[Guest guest]

Tami and ,

I have Type 2 diabetes. I had turned 50 in September and I was

diagnosed the following February. When I was diagnosed my glucose

level was 266 2 hours after I had eaten a whole English muffin with

Blackberry Jelly. My sister has Type 1 diabetes. When was

diagnosed her glucose level was close to 600. We didn't know what

was wrong with her........my parents thought she had luekemia. We

had to take her to ER and she ended up staying in the hospital for

almost 3 weeks until they could get her levels under control and

teach us how to care for her. I am proud to say that my sister,

has went to community college and become a plebotomist (not sure

about spelling....anyway she draws blood from people) and now she is

going back to college to be a nurse. It is taking her a while to do

this as she is married, has 2 children and works a full time job at

the hospital.

I had an experience with my family doctor when I lived in South Lake

Tahoe, CA. The doctor ran routine tests for my annual physical.

When the results came in........she told me that maybe I might have

diabetes and prescribed Glucophage and sent me home with no other

instructions. At the time we were getting close to moving back to

our homestate of Oregon. I lost all confidence in her and I didn't

get the prescription filled.

My dietician, Carol told me that I could use any foods in my plan

with one exception........Regular Soda Pop. She explained that it

was better to eat whole fruit than drinking the juice. She told me

that it was okay to use small amounts of sugar in recipes as long as

I kept track of my carbs. Because I am a ovo-lacto vegetarian and get

some of my protein from eggs and dairy products she told me to be

careful and watch my fat intake. When I have peanut butter I make

sure I count the fat along with the carbs.

I have noticed that some sugar-free foods have the same or more carbs

than the regular foods and at twice the price sometimes. I eat

regular ice cream for a snack at times. I limit myself to 1/2 cup.

It is around 15 grams of carbs depending on flavor of ice cream.

When I want a candy bar for a treat.........I will have one of the

little fun bars like 3 Musketeers, Hershey's, etc. I just check out

the carb count and fat count.

When I was first diagnosed Carol put me a 1200 calorie eating plan

and 240 grams of carbs per day. I just couldn't eat that amount of

carbs..........I talked to the doctor and he told me that I should

only be eating 100 to 120 and no more than 150 grams of carbs per

day. I usually average between 120 and 150 grams. I am continuing

to lose weight at a slow pace.

I don't go to an specialist.....in fact I go to a regular doctor at

the clinic. I feel very comfortable with him and I can discuss not

only my diabetes but my personal life and any problems I am having in

my life, marriage or family. My doctor was also my Mother's doctor

until she died this last July. So he knows a lot about my family

history.

I just can't imagine expecting an 11 year old child to eat Cabbage

Soup or Zucchini - Beef Soup. Having to watch what you eat is one

thing........but changing your eating to foods that doesn't

like is only going to make her rebellious concerning her diabetes in

my opinion. I watched go thru a rebellious stage when she was

about 13 or 14. Several trips to ER because she wouldn't eat

right......her levels would skyrocket or plummet depending on what

her moods were about eating.

I hope that you are able to find a doctor that both you and

are comfortable seeing.

If you would like I will share some great cookie recipes that are

very low carb........I bet would like Chocolate Chip or

Peanut Butter Cookies in her lunch or for a snack after school.

Tami, send me your email address and I will send the recipes to you.

Shirley

msindy2206@...

> Shirley,

> I really enjoyed reading your story. Do you have type 1 or Type 2???

> My daughter just got diagnosed with Type 1,