Need more willpower.

It is hard to stay on the path, especially during the holidays for me. Honestly, I don't know the best way to tell you except that keeping a record of your blood sugar might make you want to stick to food and drink that's better for you and your blood sugar. If you see a shockingly high reading after indulging, you might not want to repeat it.

In my case I have some motivation as diabetes killed my grandmother and mother. In those days, they didn't have personal meters, only urine test strips. I also think back then, people thought it was just sugar to avoid. Now we know it's carbs in general which include flour, potatoes and rice, for example.

It's frustrating. If I had stabbing pains every time my blood sugar rose too high because of what I ate, I might be more willing to completely stay straight. The problem for me, then, is I don't have any symptoms or any adverse reactions if I do go off my plan. I do know the results of long-term high blood sugar can be loss of sight, kidney failure, loss of limb and finally loss of life. Maybe that's what actually helps me.

Sorry. I wish I could give you more motivation....

I hear you, believe me. If everyone heeded that motivation we wouldn't have any obese people, no smokers, etc. You can pick up a cupcake and think, "This is going to kill me." But of course, one sweet isn't going to literally kill you. That's what I think, anyway. And of course, as the days pass, they add up. Anyway.
Baby steps, maybe?
Maybe you can kind of trick yourself? There's a carb-free frizzy drink called “Ice” that isn’t bad. (and please… people… don’t scold me with stuff like “BEWARE CARB-FREE THINGS, THEY PUT OTHER SWEETENERS IN THERE THAT BLAH BLAH BLAH…”… I’m trying to help and if she can go from 66 grams of carbs per 12 ounce can of Dr. Pepper to 0 for this drink, I’d call that a win)
Have you tried Diet Dr. Pepper? That has 0 carbs. But I get it if you hate it, sometimes it’s hard when it’s not the “real” thing. If you perhaps substitute popcorn (I too adore popcorn) for something else salty, like peanuts or pistachios? Yum!
I’m certainly no expert, but maybe if you took baby steps you can improve.

Yes, Skyflyerjen, one would think baby steps would be helpful!! Since I have reactions to most of the sweetening they put in diet or sugar-free drinks, I'm fine with water if Dr. P. (or Coke) isn't available.

And I'm pretty good with all the other carbs if Dr. P. isn't available!!! Cupcakes, chips, candy, cookies, breads - I can avoid buying/eating if the demon Dr. P. isn't present. Talk about a trigger food!!!

Around here it's hard to find a chilled single can of Dr P available for sale. I think I could even stop at one 7 oz can if they sold it that way. But, no, it's gotta' be the 20 oz bottle, or buy a 6- or 8-pack. And if it's in the house, I'll drink it.

Stupid, I know. Best thing I've found so far is to ONLY BUY ONE at a time. Then at least I have to be dressed & out shopping to get more. Unfortunately the store is close and I consider sweats & a ball cap sufficient to go out in.

You'd think a 57 year old with a PhD could do better!

Maybe I can find 12-oz cans and keep them in the car. That way they wouldn't be cold, and I'd have to at least go outside to get them.

Another idea is to make myself WALK to the store if that's what I'm going to buy. It's about 1.2 miles round trip.

Oh, I totally understand. Sometimes I get so hungry for a Butterfinger I could just cry. about once a year I allow myself one. I set aside the time to sit down, savor it slowly and not think about anything but that darn Butterfinger.

And if I have anything better (i.e., less healthy) in the fridge, my hand will go straight to it. Even if I have to move the celery to get to it.

I am newly diagnosed...just now put on metformin. I am struggling too. Just by reading this blog, found out my fusion drinks and popcorn not the way to go "healthy"'. I have a B S and run other folks blood sugars all day...40 hours a week. When it comes to my own...I am a babe in arms. I have to learn to eat all over again. this is and always will be a challenge . Maybe a food journal .... I am going to try that.

Okie, dokie -- purchased a meter & successfully took a reading. I guess next I record my fasting number every morning for a week....

The more I read about this the more frustrated I am with my long-time GP. I've always had a good opinion of her, but she's let me go 5-10 years with a fasting blood sugar of 100-110 and never suggested any changes.

I'm finding information that says it should be closer to 90 for a "normal person". Is that right?

What is it usually for someone like you, Lanie, where you "officially" have type 2 but it's considered controlled by diet/exercise/metformin?

Thanks

Lynnwood, I'll begin by saying I have never seen an endo. Your description of your doctor sounds like mine. I had a really good and nice GP for about twenty years but when I look back over all my lab tests (I have hard copies back about 15 years.), my fasting rose almost steadily and finally hovered around 115 to 125 until nearly 10 years ago when she sent me for a GTT and prescribed a meter. (And that's when I joined HW looking for info.)

The lab's parameters said "normal" is under 100; "pre-diabetic is up to 125" and "diabetic is higher than 125". And reading some material outside of those papers said "on more than one occasion". This is basically what the ADA says.

Unfortunately these parameters do not reflect what a non-diabetic's blood sugar is. A non-diabetic's fasting will be in the 80's. In fact, a random test would probably be in the 80's most of the time except maybe after a meal with a lot of carbs.

This is from that website that I always refer to: www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/16422495.php.

There are contradictions as to what 'normal' blood sugar is. The ADA has a different standard for diabetics. And other websites often echo this. Their blood sugar goals for diabetics are not the same goals for non-diabetics. I am copying the following from a page I printed out from webmd back in 2006.

Goals for non-diabetics:

fasting <100
before a meal <110
two hours after a meal 100 - 120
bedtime < 120
A1c <6%


Goals for people with diabetes:

fasting 90 - 130
before a meal 90 - 130
two hours after a meal <160
bedtime 110 - 150
A1c <7%


When I joined HW, there was a type 1, a Scot, who suggested reading Diabetes Solution by Richard Bernstein, M.D., which I did and I learned a lot about blood sugar. I went low carb and have kept my blood sugar to what 'normal' really is, not the 'normal' for diabetics. My doctor went off to another practice not on our insurance and I have another doctor now who told me she thought I knew more about blood sugar than she did. That's scary. But it's empowering. I know what high levels of blood sugar can do over a period of time (and that will vary with the person), so even if I do go off my own eating plan of no bread, no potatoes, nothing with flour or sugar sometimes, I know I will always go back to the plan after that indulgence.

All my recent tests are fine and 'controlled' because I do follow the low-carb plan. I'm also on metformin which helps metabolize the carbs I eat that are in cauliflower, green beans, the WASA crackers, whatever. I haven't been as physically active as I was before and that means the blood sugar started to rise which is why I'm on metformin.

I hope this helps?

It took me quite awhile to get used to testing. I finally got the depth correct for me and I only use the four fingers on each hand, not the thumbs. Different tolerance levels.

Yes, pretty decent. Now, don't go over these numbers.

This is all such an individual matter, really. What works for one person may not work the same for another. Since it's a matter of blood sugar, your best tools are the meter, a journal and the sources of information made available to you.

In the long run (no pun intended!), the walks will benefit your blood sugar, blood pressure (even if you don't have issues with hypertension), circulation, muscles, heart, and mood, so that's great.

You're doing fine. Half the battle is realizing there's a battle.

When I eat out, I pick whatever is on the menu that is low in carbs. If it's a regular restaurant menu with meat and sides and salad, I ask them to substitute another vegetable for the potatoes that come with the meal. I don't order anything that is breaded. Some ethnic restaurants are challenging because of rice, noodles, sauces, etc. I haven't eaten in a Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant in almost a year so I can't remember what I ordered. In Asian restaurants, I'll order whatever the plate is and ask that they do not include rice. Sometimes they will just put more vegetables on the plate but I admit these kinds of restaurants are hard to find food that will not raise blood sugar. Most of the sauces have sugar added; food with corn tortillas, chips, egg rolls, etc. So, to tell you the truth, I mostly stick to places where I know the menu is such that I can have whatever meat or fish along with sides which I pick.