Test Update/Excuses...

So behind on posting my meals. Still religiously tracking them, but I'm working two jobs right now so not much computer time! I will update this post tonight with my meals for the weekend and yesterday. So, I had the PET scan on Friday. It went well, a little uncomfortable, but I dealt. The tech said that he couldn't give me formal results, but if anything was really bad, he wouldn't let me leave. I'm hoping for no new blockage.

This week's goal: No tortilla chips. I've been flirting with eating a primal diet (I've been following Mark's Daily Apple for a while. I can't wait for the book.) Most of my meals have been pretty much there but for tortilla chips and cheese and the occasional slice of bread (I've been looking at no grain/low carb recipes for bread). Tortilla chips first...then I'll figure out what I'll do about cheese. I don't eat gobs of cheese, but I do enjoy melty cheese every now and then. It is basically the only dairy I still eat...oh crap, except for the half and half that I put in my coffee every morning...I'll have to figure that out, too! Surely there is a suitable substitute that will make my coffee caramel colored and take some of the bite out...I know, my husband asks, "why drink coffee, if you are going to dilute it like that??" Anyway, we're in the process of making a huge garden so that we can eat healthier, not to mention cheaper. My husband is also building a chicken coop as I type. It will be right next to the pig pen (I know, I know...I am now living on a farm!) Thank goodness we have 26 acres of land! He has a smokehouse that he built a couple of years ago so we already make our own sausage (pork and deer). So we are all set! Be back later to post my meals.

Fri 3/27
B-WW toast, 2 eggs, spreadable fruit (17.4g carb)
L-Peanut butter and spreadable fruit sandwich w/WW bread (25.8g carb)
D-Boiled crawfish , 1 small boiled potato (22.7g carb)
Total: 65.9g carbs

Sat 3/28
B-116g ground pork sausage patty, 50g blueberries (4.74g carbs)
L-Granola bar (11g carb)
D-Rice noodles (30g), homemade spaghetti sauce (estimate 25g)
Total: 40.7g carbs

Sun 3/29
B-120g ground pork sausage patty, 50g blueberries (4.74g carbs)
L-Eggplant Boat (16.11g carbs)
D-Chicken fajitas w/tortilla chips, cheese, guacamole, 1/8 cup refried beans
(35.7g carbs)
Total: 56.55g carbs

Medical Update/New Data

Appointment with new cardiologist went well. He couldn't find a pulse in my ankles, so he made me do an ultrasound on my legs to be safe. The tech said it looked ok, that I definitely had at least one artery open (as long as all three are not blocked they don't do anything) on both legs, probably more…I shouldn't worry. I have a PET scan tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that I have no new blockage. He did say that he would prefer I get a new endo, as he does not want to full on manage my diabetes. So, I went ahead and made an appointment today and I'll see a new endo in April. The cardiologist actually suggested the one that I was leaning toward, so that is good. We'll see how it goes!

Tue 3/24
Fasting: 150
B-100g oatmeal, 1 egg (6.75) 5^th hour: 144
L-Chicken breast, salad w/lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cucumbers, carrot, bell pepper, 3 strawberries (7.44g carb) 5^th hour: 123
D-1 slice pizza, toppings from 3 slices of pizza (34g carb) 5^th hour: 87
Total Carbs: 48g 

Wed 3/25
Fasting: 136
B-Fasting for dr visit
L-Italian Chicken, 1/4c egg noodle (8.5g carb) 5^th hour: forgot to take reading!!
D-Sloppy Joe, chips (37g carb) 5^th hour: 106
Total Carbs: 45.5g
 
Thu 3/26
Fasting: 148, but quickly up to 186 within ½ hour…WTH????
B-1 slice WW toast, 1 tbsp spreadable fruit, 1 egg (20g carb) 5^th hour: 151
L-7 oz chicken breast, lettuce, 5 grape tomatoes, banana pepper rings w/vinegar & pepper (2g) 5^th hour: 123
D-1/4c rice, pork & gravy, 1/2c lima beans (21g) 5^th hour: will edit
Total Carbs: 43g

Falling Behind...

Right now, I am working two jobs. I am in the process of closing one office and I've already taken on new contract work so I haven't had much chance to twitter, post, etc. Tomorrow is my appointment with a new cardiologist. I'll find out if he will agree to manage my diabetes as well. If not, then I'll also be seeing a new endo. I'm hoping for a non-eventful visit tomorrow, that the pain in my left shoulder is from overdoing the boxing on the Wii Fit. It has lessened since I cut back on the workouts, but my weight loss has also stalled. We'll have to talk about that tomorrow to see what my options are. Ok, meals for the last few days:

Sat
Fasting: 121
B-homemade sausage patty, blueberries (6gm carb), after 5th hour: 122
L-2 franks, 35g potato chips, 1/2 Almond Crunch bar (13.9gm carb), after 5th hour: 73 (ended up low, had to take 2 glucose tabs...I mopped that morning)
D-Beef fajita (w/onions & peppers), 50g tortilla chips, guacamole, cheese (23.9gm carb), after 5th hour: 106

Total Carb: 43.8gm

Sun
Fasting: 141
B-biscuit (ouch!!) and homemade sausage patty (28.6gm carb), after 5th hour: 117
L-5 oz. beef roast (lean), 1/4 cup rice, 1/2 cup black-eye peas (22gm carb), after 5th hour: 67 (after going down to 51 and treating w/3 glucose tabs, so drank 4oz orange juice)
D-Leftover beef fajita, 50g tortilla chips, guacamole, cheese (23.9g carb), after 5th hour: 137

Total carbs: 74.5gm

Mon
Fasting: 181
B-100g oatmeal, 1 egg (8.8gm carb), after 5th hour: 128
L-skipped lunch
D-Italian chicken (chicken thighs, pearl onions, mushrooms, baby carrots, stewed tomatoes), green beans, 1/4 cup egg noodles (9.9gm carb), after 5th hour: 97

Total carbs: 18.7gm carbs

I found out Sunday that I was counting carbs the wrong way. I've been dosing for the entire carb count on the package label, when I should have been dosing for the carbs less the fiber. So, I've modified that and hopefully, I will be able to get tighter control (without going low every day). I'm also going to start eating 100g of cooked oatmeal with 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 splenda packet with a protein at least three times a week. I seem to be tolerating it pretty well. Next week, I am going to NOT eat tortilla chips...no seriously, no more tortilla chips. Chips have been showing up nearly every day. I'm also going to cut back on cheese and nuts to see if I can't get the weight moving again. I need to get back to my strict 2 fruit servings and 5 veggie servings per day, along with good, lean protein and maybe some lo-carb muffins for "dessert".

Endo/Recent Days

So, I posted a news article about the last endo I saw as his license was suspended. I immediately had 66 local views to my blog. That unnerved me for some reason, so I removed the post. But, my husband made me see things a little differently. Obviously, many people were patients of his and they were searching for the news story and since I used his name, of course, my blog would come up in the search. Many people have come forward now with the same complaints I had...tests denied by the insurance company and refusing to give lab results (I repeatedly asked for my lab results only to be denied and told "it is not important". Instead, he did produce a report in which he stated, "test was within normal range, but at the high end..." or similar statements.) Others have mentioned the numerous degrees, pictures, etc. on his walls as well as the security cameras all over the offices. It feels good to have my feelings validated. This doctor made me feel like an idiot and he twisted my words into very negative things that he put into his report. When my g.p. read the report, he couldn't believe what the doctor was saying because he kept saying, "you're not this kind of patient at all." Apparently, I am far from the only one he did this to. Anyway, those who had commented, I appreciate your support (sorry I blasted the entire post and comments).

On to meals, I'm a little behind!

Wednesday
B-Ricotta cheese pancakes, 65g ground pork patty, SF syrup, coffee
L-Small drumstick/thigh of whole roasted chicken, asparagus, strawberries w/cream
D-Parmesan chicken breast, zucchini noodles, cheese, asparagus, blueberries

Totals: 876 calories, 33g carbs, 47g fat, 84g protein, 791mg sodium

Thursday
B-2 eggs, 1 slice WW toast w/spreadable fruit, coffee
L-Small drumstick/2 oz breast, 1/2c beets, 2 tbsp French's fried onions, 4 strawberries, whipped cream
D-2 breaded chicken patties, 1/2c corn

Totals: 892 calories, 69g carbs, 35g fat, 79g protein, 1549mg sodium

Friday
B-2 eggs, 1 slice WW toast w/spreadable fruit
L-grilled shrimp, avocado, tomatoes, 7 tortilla chips, cheese
D-Shrimp fahitas w/onions & bellpeppers (no tortillas), guacamole, 1/4 cup beans

No totals as dinner was eaten in a restaurant and no nutritional information available.

Progress....

My earlier post got me thinking so I decided to go back 2 months and 1 month to see where I was then. Here are the results:



By the way, I do hour 5 tests so that I can see where I am once the Humalog is spent. Once I get my dosing where it needs to be, I'll go back to doing 2 hour PP tests. I can't spare 3 more strips each day for now.

More good numbers....

This MDI might actually be working. I've been having pretty decent numbers (including fasting, except for Monday morning). Still seems so "up in the air", what works one day might not work the next, etc. Am I destined to eating the same thing every day so that my numbers will be right? Sometimes, I think that would be easier. I've pretty much been doing that for lunch anyway, breakfast too. Dinner is always the variant. I'll keep working on it.

Monday
Fasting: 124
B-Coffee, pecans (running late and forgot breakfast, had pecans in the car)-5th hr:130
L-8 oz chicken breast, 1/2 c beets, 1 tangerine, 2 squares Lindt Intense Orange Dark Chocolate-5th hr: 89
D-1 slice WW toast w/2 fried eggs, 1/2 cucumber, 1 small roma tomato, 50g blueberries-5th hr: 84

Totals: 874 calories, 61g carbs, 48g fat, 55g protein, 974mg sodium

Tuesday
Fasting: 167 (why???? I've been doing so good!!)
B-Turkey/Cheese rollup, 1/2 cucumber-5th hr: 121
L-Steak fajita salad, 1 oz. pecans-5th hr: 102
D-Turkey (white meat w/gravy), 1/4 cup red beans, 3 oz sausage-5th hr: 86

Totals: 959 calories, 51g carbs, 54g fat, 74g protein, 1626mg sodium

Weekend Ups and Downs

I spent most of the weekend bouncing up and down (not REAL high and not REAL low, just dropping and jumping quickly, if that makes sense). Not sure what is going on, but since switching to MDI on Jan 9th, this is the first time where I've been so inconsistently inconsistent readings-wise, but it is not necessarily a bad thing since usually I am consistently on the high side. The best news is that I had a below 100 fasting reading. That may have happened once or twice since my diagnosis. I would love to see more of those. It just dictates how the day will be.

Friday (Fasting 154)

B-Coffee and two eggs (after 5th hour-138)
L-No lunch - out shopping and forgot Humalog dose, by the time I got home it was too close to dinner so I skipped as a result I ended up on the low side (62) so I had a couple of glucose tabs and got to 84 a half hour later
D-6 oz shrimp, 1/3 avocado, 1/4 cup black beans, 1/2 small roma tomato, cheese, and yes, the dreaded tortilla chips/salsa, also had a low carb margarita (after 5th hour-116)

Saturday (Fasting 86!!!)

B-85g Homemade sausage patty, 50g unsweetened frozen blueberries, coffee (after 5th hour-135)
L-1/2 cup homemade chili, 7 tortilla chips w/salsa (I know, I have to stop...I have replaced all carbs with tortilla chips) (after 5th hour-144)
D-Hamburger, no bun, onions, mushrooms, swiss cheese, 4 thin slices tomato and (sigh) 15 (yes I counted them)french fries - I am weak!! (after 5th hour-144)

Sunday (Fasting 136)

B-Swiss mushroom hamburger omelet, coffee (after 5th hour-149)
L-Subway salad w/tuna, 1/2 bag of french onion sun chips (after 5th hour-119)
D-Date w/Troy (chinese), about 1/4 cup egg drop soup, innards only of one eggroll and two crab rangoons, very small portions of chicken/broccoli, Mongolian beef, beef/broccoli, garlic chicken (all amounted to about 1 cup of meat/veggies), 1 small rib (after 5th hour - 99)

Sick of Diabetes Wednesday/Thursday

Yup, I am still having a pity party. I need to figure out a way out of this funk...get rid of this chip on my shoulder. I need to focus on doing everything I can to successfully manage this disease. For me that means consistency. Basically, I just need to "get over it"!

Wednesday:

B-just coffee
L-Chicken breast, broccoli w/cheese, tangerine, 2 squares of Lindt dark chocolate
D-Homemade chili, 7 corn chips, cheese, mixed berries w/cream

Totals: 761 calories, 53g carbs, 41g fat, 48g protein, 1303mg sodium

Thursday:

B-50g homemade sausage patty, 50g unsweetened blueberries
L-chicken breast, broccoli w/cheese, tangerine, 1 oz pecans
D-3 oz brisket, 1 oz. smoked sausage w/barbeque sauce, 1/2 cup corn, gin/diet 7 drink

Totals: 955 calories, 47g carb, 52g fat, 65g protein, 1263mg sodium

Tuesday's Whine...

Sometimes, I just get so tired of all this tracking and testing and shooting and eating. Tuesday was one of those days. I did it anyway, but it really is such a chore. You know what else kills me? How I'm trying so hard to do it right and then other people like my mother (I love you, Mom) really don't follow the rules and then get an excellent A1c. Don't get me wrong, I am glad she got a great A1c, but she doesn't eat right (you know you don't) and she gets very little exercise. Plus, I'd be surprised if she tested even twice a day and still she gets an excellent A1c and great readings. Can someone explain this to me? How can I be SO damn diabetic that there is NO leeway? I know there is no answer to this...and I'm not going give up, but sometimes I miss being unaware like I was for the 10 or so years I was pre-diagnosis.

Tuesday's menu:

B-Homemade sausage patty (100g), blueberries (50g)
L-4 oz. Chicken breast, 1/2 small avocado, 1 small tangerine, 1 oz pecans
D-1 cup Chicken/Chickpea recipe, 1/2 cup cauliflower

Totals: 1141 calories, 41g carbs, 72g fat, 86g protein, 1110mg sodium

Monday...kinda Bento

Monday was a looooooooooooooooong day. I always have a hard time adjusting to DST.

B-2 oz. lean pork, 1 slice WW toast w/spreadable fruit, coffee
L-4 oz. ribeye, asparagus, beets and a small tangerine (see photo below...still using my blackberry, I need/want this!)
D-Chicken chili, tortilla chips (must quit eating chips) w/cheese

Totals: 844 calories, 49g carbs, 38g fat, 75g protein, 979mg sodium

Saturday/Sunday

Saturday meals:

B-Homemade sausage patty (105g), 1 tbsp SF syrup, frozen unsweetened blueberries (50g), coffee
L-3 weiners, 1 tbsp chili sauce, 1.06 oz cajun trail mix
D-Asian pork lettuce wraps w/onions, mushrooms, fresh stringbeans, avocado, (see picture below...these were soooooo good) strawberries (60g), whipped cream, 2 diet 7 up/bombay gin drinks w/olives

Totals: 1322 calories, 50g carbs, 77g fat, 77g protein, 2962mg sodium (ouch)



Sunday meals:

B-Homemade sausage patty (100g), 1 tbsp SF syrup, frozen unsweetened blueberries (50g)
L-Steak fajita salad
D-Boston butt (3.6 oz), small jalapeno pepper stuffed w/cream cheese and wrapped in bacon, green bean casserole, frozen unsweetened blueberries (100g)

Totals: 1044 calories, 47g carbs, 113g fat, 68g protein, 412mg sodium

My First Real Low...

I volunteer at a bookstore during weekend retreats. The store gets really busy on Sundays since there is a Mass and family members come to the Mass and always end up in the bookstore to buy something for their loved ones making the retreat. So, on Sundays, someone from the kitchen comes in and asks if we want a plate of food. Today, they came in and asked if we wanted a plate and my daughter (who was there to help me) and I both said yes. There was turkey and cornbread dressing with green beans. They said the plates would be coming right now. So I dosed to cover the cornbread dressing, then got busy and promptly forgot about it. About 40 minutes later I dropped a ring on the floor and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to make myself bend down and get it. I looked at my daughter with what she said was a "weird" look on my face because I couldn't make myself bend down. Suddenly I got extremely hot and shaky and I realized what it was. All I said was blood sugar and my daughter immediately got my meter...43. I started eating glucose tabs, but since I didn't feel any improvement I freaked. We had customers so my daughter had to stay with the register. I decided to go to the kitchen to get a coke. I could barely walk, I was sweating profusely, I couldn't make a logical sentence come out of my mouth, but thankfully I ran into someone who knows I am diabetic and I just told her I needed a coke and she got it.

It took a while, but I finally got up to 120. I really thought the symptoms would go away once I started to rise again, but they don't. It was nearly an hour before I wasn't shaking and a little longer than that before I could find all the right words. It was a careless mistake on my part...one that I plan not to repeat. I don't care if I have to eat cold food, from now on I won't be dosing until I see the food. (I have an unusually long time to start...almost an hour from the time I dose until my blood sugar starts to decrease so I always dose then wait 30 minutes to eat.)

Thursday/Friday

Thursday

B-Chicken patty, coffee
L-Grilled chicken breast, asparagus, 2 cherry tomatoes, 1 oz pecans, 1 small tangerine
D-Meatball spaghetti over zucchini noodles, SF Almond Balls

Totals: 1044 calories, 57g carbs, 73g fat, 49g protein, 2363mg sodium

Friday (no meat)

B-2 eggs, WW toast w/spreadable fruit, coffee
L-Grilled shrimp salad, 7 tortilla chips, 1tbsp salsa
D-Shrimp stew w/eggs, 1/3 avocado, spinach, strawberries w/creme

Totals: 716 calories, 61g carbs, 34g fat, 47g protein, 1908mg sodium

Ooops...

I was so worried about my cravings yesterday that I forgot to post my actual meals...so here goes!

B-Homemade pork sausage patty w/SF syrup, 50g blueberries, 1/2 oz almonds, coffee w/splenda and cream
L-4 oz chicken breast, 2 cherry tomatoes, cauliflower w/cheese, 1/4 cup pecans, small tangerine
D-Chicken stir-fry (chicken, fresh green beans, onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts), SF almond balls (and I rolled those suckers in an eensie bit of powdered sugar...I know, I know!!!)

Totals:
1066 calories, 50g carbs, 75g fat, 69g protein, 1162mg sodium

Why??

I have been eating lower carb since about November, but seriously tracking and planning since January. It really hasn't been too bad. The only thing I really miss that I am just not willing to dose for is Dr. Pepper. Everything else, I had pretty much discontinued in my life way back when I was diagnosed (though there were times that I did act like I didn't have diabetes and I ate poorly). So why is it that today, I am having SERIOUS cravings for things that I NEVER even think about. Like chocolate covered donuts, Captain Crunch cereal, Three Musketeers bars, cookie cake, powdered sugar...anything with powdered sugar on it...well you get the idea. What is up with that? I am going crazy.

Tuesday - Leftover Bento Style

I think I've finally caught the bug floating around the house. My left ear is killing me, which is a sure sign that I'll have yet another hole in my ear drum (I don't do ear infections halfway). Both my sons have already been to the doc and I guess I'm headed that way as well. Feeling feverish and sick this afternoon.

Today's meals:

B-2 fried eggs, 1 slice WW low carb toast w/butter and Spreadable Fruit
L-Leftover Chicken Chili Bento Style, Guacamole
D-Meatball Spaghetti over Zucchini noodles, strawberries/blueberry surprise (just blended some frozen strawberries and frozen blueberries with a little Davinci's SF Banana syrup and a little whipped cream (yum)

Totals: 804 calories, 62g carbs, 44g fat, 50g protein, 1857mg sodium

I am out of fruit and nuts at my office and I need to remedy that quickly as I am not eating close to my 1200 calories. I will add that to my "To Do" list for tomorrow.

Edited to add totals.

Manic Monday

Had a very busy day today and still going...Tomorrow will be just as busy, actually all week will. Hopefully, my numbers don't suffer too much. I've started doing Menu Plan Monday on my regular blog and I am going to start a recipe page for the meals that I make (if not using one of my low carb recipe books).

Ok, on to today's meals:

B-Homemade sausage patty w/SF syrup, coffee w/Splenda and cream
L-2 chicken breasts, asparagus, 1 Kavli 5 grain crispbread
D-Chicken Chili, guacamole, strawberries w/cream

Totals: 814 calories, 43g protein, 42g fat, 71g protein, 2467mg sodium

Sunday...

I spent most of yesterday high (as a leftover result of poor eating at the wedding on Saturday) and fighting cravings. There were two cans of Dr. Pepper in my house...WHY? (my husband bought them for the kids while we were out of town and some how they made their way back home with us and into my fridge). I even poured one out over ice for me and had to finally catch a grip. I gave it to my son and told them that the other one better be gone by the time I get home today. I am so damn weak. Actually I am not that weak. I have been focusing on the fact that I ate wedding cake, but I should be focused on all that I passed up that I was faced with all weekend, like chocolate covered donuts, bread, Dr. Pepper, cookies...so many things that I could have had and didn't. I limited myself and I should be proud. So I am OFF my pity pot and on to a more positive attitude. So I have diabetes...get over it and do what needs to be done.

I did not eat right Sunday. Not nearly enough food.

B-coffee only
L-4 oz roast, 1/2 cup fresh corn
D-2 frozen eggrolls (yep, wrong), 1/4 cup chicken salad

Back to regular eating and charting for Monday.

Happy Anniversary Tu Diabetes

I just want to send a shout out to Tu Diabetes. Today, the online community celebrates its second anniversary. I have learned so much and received support from this community. It is wonderful to have these resources available to us.

Wedding Weekend

So my niece got married this weekend. All three of my kids were in the wedding. The boys were ushers and my daughter was the maid of honor. The rehearsal dinner was Thursday (so my daughter and I left right after work) and my husband and boys followed after he got off work and they got out of school. Of course, my eating was out of whack the entire weekend. I didn't even test regularly for yesterday, the actual wedding day (yes, I did have 6 bites of wedding cake...damn). I also experienced my very first low (since I've gone to MDI January 9th) Friday, but really not too low. Details follow:

Thursday
B-breaded chicken patty from chicken biscuit, biscuit (running late, had to eat on the road)
L-Fajita salad
D-Beef brisket, green bean casserole, 1 bite of potato salad, 1/3 banana, 4 oz Zinfandel (was at rehearsal dinner which was catered - which meant NO choices...I passed on the rice dressing, rest of the potato salad, bread and pudding)

Friday (no meat)
B-1 egg, 1 slice WW toast, strawberry preserves (went 66, had one glucose tab which slowly got me to around 80ish where I stayed the rest of the day, so I'll take 66 anyday!)
L-(on the road) fish fillet sandwich (no bread), mandarin orange cup
D-grilled red fish, grilled asparagus, grilled zucchini/squash

Saturday (wedding)
B-Coffee only
L-brisket, swedish meatballs, barbequed sausage, 3 baby tort shells w/crawfish dip, celery, 2 cheese cubes...oh yeah and those 6 bites of wedding cake and one rum/juice concoction (not a good day)
D-leftover barbequed chicken, eggplant dressing mix

Back on track today!