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Posted 12/13/2011 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Alright so today has been blech, my anxiety has been bugging me and I have been checking my blood glucose more often than necessary. Good news is I have a low of 93 now (as of today) versus my usual 105-110 while being on an empty stomach. This actually set off my anxiety really bad and Tame had to explain to me I don't have a risk of hypoglycemia more than a normal person. I'm not insulin dependent and I usually eat 3-4 times a day. an hour after eating I was at 125 which is really low in comparison to how high I have been. I do understand to experience hypoglycemia i'd have to be lower than 70, and that my risk is Hyperglycemia and not hypo.

Lately i've been deathly afraid (thank you anxiety) of being hypoglycemic or having an episode. I've felt a little off today and very drained. Could be general fatigue mixed in with the lack of exercise in the past 3 days due to bad weather :(. My doctor's employee's took 3 weeks to tell me they didn't know anyone who took my insurance. I found a CBT on my own and he seemed really positive about my situation especially since I told him my weight loss and diabetic levels have some what 'normalized' in comparison to my previous weeks.

I have been eating two bowls of curry each day (one full onion in total) with tumeric and garam masala which apparently is a cinnamon mixture (both of these substances help lower blood glucose levels by fighting off insulin resistance.) I have been enjoying my new diet of healthy foods and not giving up my carbs because I don't over eat anymore. I think now my biggest issue is Anxiety and my sleep. If anyone has tips on sleeping with back pains / comfort don't hesitate to post!
Posted 12/13/2011 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, congratulations on the better control of the blood sugar!  I'm sorry about the anxiety, though, and I hope you can control that better.  I have read that tumeric and cinnamon can help control blood sugar in some people but I believe there must be other factors as well.  What else is in the curry?
Posted 12/13/2011 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
The mixture I do is Chicken Masala, its 2 tbsp yogurt, 1.5 tbsp red pepper powder, 1 tsp of Tumeric, Cumin Seeds, Mustard Seeds, Salt, Garam Masala (cinnamon mixture) and 2-3 cloves, with a bay leaf, and two sticks of cinnamon bark. 1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste, tomato paste, and 1 full red onion.

I can give you the recipe if you're interested :D
I feel some what well rested today and i'm starting to realize my poor sleep is what sets off my anxiety as well. I need to start taking naps but with the little amount of sunlight we get :( Off for another 3-4 hour walk today!
Posted 12/13/2011 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, please do write the recipe out here.  Thanks!  I believe less daylight contributes to a lot of mood-related problems.  There are special lights for this too.  Hope you have a sunny day today.  Have you thought about taking extra vitamin D?
Posted 12/13/2011 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm, cinnamon you say, interesting. I have problems with insulin resistance. I also have problems with sleeping and back pains. However it only starts in the morning.

I went to a physiotherapist who gave me a few moves to try before sleeping. One exercise especially good for me was to lay on one side with hands on your neck and arms beside your head. Then lift the top arm and stretch it to the other side so that your shoulders are now level on the bed. This move twists the part of my back that the physiotherapist found wasn't moving much at all. I have similar moves for sitting up, but it's basically just twisting the same area in different ways. Helped me a little, but still hasn't fixed it completely..

Some doctor told me to try and sleep on a rolled towel which is supposed to support the arch in the back while sleeping. That didn't work very well for me nor help me though.

Exercise is what did good to me, maybe even helped the back pains. You realize that I work in the office and spend most of my time in a seated position. I have to start thinking about ergonomics a lot more than I do now.
Posted 12/13/2011 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liCiP3KvuhQ


is the Recipe, she's a very good cook!

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=68  - Cinnamon (ground) aid, I know people who take supplements but forget that, I eat it! haha.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78#healthbenefits

 - Turmeric which is found in the curry.
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/20-health-benefits-of-turmeric.html

 - a list of benefits.

I for one believe what I eat helps everything I do, including lowering my blood sugar levels like crazy (in a healthy way) but I've watched myself and My numbers do not raise drastically or lower drastically. I've lost about 60 lbs in 3 months just from eating. I started walking 2 hours a day on the beach or more if I could stand it, which has helped me greatly.

@Chaul22, I've noticed my weight loss has really helped my back pains, but the huge dent in my bed does not.

But Turmeric and Cinnamon have been known to help, a friend has told me to take suppliments but again, i'd rather cook with it, especially since I LOVE curry. Did not realize how healthy it could be.

(I fixed the links so they're clickable.)

Post Edited By Moderator (LanieG) : 12/13/2011 3:30:40 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/13/2011 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
So for the recipe, if no one likes youtube anymore (me)

I used about 3-4 tenderloins of chicken breast. But she says about 300grams should be fine.

Take the raw chicken and mix it with the following:
2 tbps of yogurt or curd,
1 tsp of salt
0.5 tsp of Red chilli powder
0.5 tsp of black pepper powder. (I use the black pepper found in the pepper shakers)
1tbsp of lemon juice

mix that thoroughly until you get a pinkish yogurt coating the chicken. Best to marinate that for 10-15 minutes

I cut the onion (to help save time for the chicken to marinate) in sometimes small or large chunks, doesn't matter to me

2 tbsp of Olive oil (extra virgin) in a medium/large sauce pan and heat it on medium (note: Do not change the temperature)
1tsp of Mustard seeds, Once they start popping they're good to go!
1tsp of Cumin seeds,
1 Bay leaf
2-3 cloves
1/2 inch cinnamon stick (I use whatever I grab :) )
1tsp of Turmeric

mix that until it becomes an orange like color
and add the whole onion.

Add 1tbsp of Ginger paste, and 1tbsp of Garlic paste
mix cover & cook the onions until they become caramelized or translucent

Add the chicken and cook until it becomes white (cover it to cook faster and not risk raw chicken)
add 1tbsp of tomato paste
1/2 cup of water
1 tsp of garam masala.

Cook for 7-10 minutes depending on your chicken sizes

Serve and enjoy! Will turn out great even with large onion pieces.
Personally I have bread with this as this can be very hot should you choose to add another tsp of chili powder to the mixture before onions or not.
Poor tame can't stand even a simple bite :(

Find an indian food store near you if you can, the spices in total cost me about 40$ here and my only investment now is the Tomato/Onion/Garlic and ginger (pastes)
I will have enough for months of curry!
Posted 12/13/2011 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the recipe and ingredients, Hitam.  I'm sure a person can adjust the hotter spices according to taste. 

Chaul, if you're sitting for long periods of time in the office, maybe you can get (or have the office buy for you) an ergonometric chair which is supposed to help keep your posture better for your spine.

Posted 12/13/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
The food without the Red pepper powder usually still has a tingle to it, so be wary! Just find a mild or very low spicy red pepper. Let me know if you make it!
Posted 12/13/2011 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
I'll let you know when I try it out.  :-)    Maybe Thursday.  If you eat food with these spices everyday, I can see that you'd see some benefit but I don't think I can incorporate all the spices into our food every day.   Check our Sherrine's post from this afternoon about what she's been taking.  I think supplements are a good way to get the increased amount needed for health benefits if you don't get the spice naturally in your cooking. 

Some years ago I did buy cinnamon capsules but I didn't notice any effect on my blood sugar.  But, of course, everyone is different and what didn't work for me, might work for someone else.

Inflammation seems to be prevalent in some conditions and I have read that tumeric is an anti-inflammatory, but, again, how much would I need to put on my food in order to benefit?  This is where each person needs to see what works for him.

It's great that you've found a natural way to get the blood sugar lower.  Those walks are certainly helping, too.  Not only the blood sugar but your circulation, heart, respiration, everything.  If you're walking on sand, it's even better according to what I read.

yeah  

Posted 12/14/2011 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I completely understand Lanie! It took me about 3 months living in Jakarta, Indonesia to really come to love spices - but the good thing is you can use most of those herbs in other foods too! Turmeric especially! I'm glad I could contribute something even what little bit it was. now to work on my anxiety lol!
Posted 12/16/2011 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
as far as anxiety treatment goes, I was able to take a nap today thanks to a mental calming technique based on meditation! already some improvement. Sorry was just excited and felt I needed to post lol.

-hitam
Posted 12/16/2011 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Don't apologize!  When something works for you, you need to tell everyone!  I'm glad you're finding some even ground and that you're able to get some control of the blood sugar and also of the anxiety.  I think when we feel we do have some control over our lives, it helps us mentally as well as physically.

yeah  

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