Mom Seeking Advice on Maintaing Control of Diabeties

HI,
I am a massage therapist since 1994. I am also a wellness educator and diabetes is controlled by exercise eating more whole foods and limiting processed foods, esp with lots of carbs. I would love to chat more...
C. n.

R.,

As a mom of an 8 year old and a wife of a 38-year old kid, both of which have diabetes, I hope I can offer you a little advice.

First off, eating healthier is your best defense against diabetes. It's not just the sweets as many people think. It's all the processed foods we consume! You've got to look at carbs not just sugars. There's a lot of great 'sweet' snacks out there that are good for you and won't cause your blood sugar to spike. Granola bars are a great treat (my hubby loves Quaker 25% less sugar Chunky Chocolate and Peanut Butter ones and so do I).

Learn to be a label reader! So many of the 'Low Carb' foods are very misleading, because they make the serving size smaller. And watch out for 'low fat' foods, because they usually have more carbs in them.

Make sure to eat breakfast--it will get your metabolism going and help the sugar levels. It only takes 90 seconds to cook a bowl of instant oatmeal in the morning and there's a ton of great flavors to choose from. You'll spend less time cooking and eating a bowl of oatmeal than you would sitting in McDonald's drive through waiting on a McMuffin--and it's a lot better for you!!!

Another great way to help keep your blood sugar in check is to get out and walk everyday--even if it's only 20 minutes. It'll boost your metabolism and you'll feel good about yourself in the process! Take your kids with you--go to the park, playground etc. I know this sounds ridulous with as cold as it is out there, but once you get going, you warm up. It's all about taking that first step.

Finally, get some cinnamon capsules. Cinnamon is a natural way to lower your blood sugar level, but just be careful, because it can realllly lower the blood sugar levels. Talk to your dr. about it.

Hope this helps!

Live your dreams!
L. K

One of the best ways to get your diabetes under control is consistent exercise and eating healthy. Exercise is no fun for most, but when your health is at risk it is worth the effort. I have diabetes and it is nothing to mess with. Your doctor should be able to guide you to a healthy lifestyle.

Who is your doctor? In Crystal Lake Centegra has a diabetic teaching center. You should be able to get a referral to have some kind of teaching from a nurse trained in this area. If you are on public aid it will be covered especially if you are pregnant. Are you checking your blood sugars in the morning (fasting) and one hour after each meal? You need to establish a record of what your sugars are before the doctor can prescribe oral medication or insulin if they are indicated. You also need a dietary consultation from a professional dietician which your doctor can help you set up. Good Luck!!

My mother of 65 died of complications from diabeties. She gave herself insulin shots throughout the day yet she kept bags of sweets and soda in her house. My kids thought her house was the greatest place in the world.

Unfortunately, I was the one who found my mom dead on the kitchen floor. My sister is now borderline diabetic and is taking charge of her life by exercising. Our family has taken charge by limiting the amount of sweets in our house.

Besides sweets, where are all the carbs coming from? And of course, exercise--which doesn't mean join some health club--walk as much as you can, do some yoga, anything you enjoy.

Have you ever heard of Juice Plus? It is simply 17 Fruits and Veggies of whole food nutrition in a capsule. There is no sugar in it. The fruits and veggies are extracted but there is no sugar in the capsules. My family all take it and have tremendous results with our asthma. On the website for the product it shows studies done with people with diabetes and how there diabetes are under control and even off of med's. Check out my website www.juiceplus.com/+ak87193. Let me know if you have any questions!!!

Go to the American Diabeties website also exercise helps alot. If you are over weight losing weight can help. Look for sugar free sweets just be careful they are usually high in calories. Watch the amount of carbs you eat.

I highly recommend seeing a homeopathic Dr. I don't have diabetes, but we see Dr. Josephine Polich in Naperville for our chronic illnesses (eczema, skin problems, etc.). Homeopathy can help reverse (even cure) the type II diabetes if treated by a homeopathic physician, to the point you only need a remedy or maybe not even at all, and there's no side effects like other prescription drugs can have. You can take homeopathic meds along w/ your prescriptions too. It's a really amazing and wonderful way to be treated with medicine.

Her website is www.dupagehomeopathic.com. She's giving a free seminar on 3/15/08 in Naperville on treating chronic illnesses w/ homeopathy. I'll be there if you can come! The info is on her homepage. Feel free to email me offlist if you want!
Jen S. (Naperville)

Hi R.,
Would you like to join me for a free health and wellness workshop? It takes place online so it's free. Are you available during the daytime or evening?

M.

R.,
Here is a testimony from a colleague regarding how his wife overcame diabetes.

Definitely Cinch. My wife was a Type II diabetic, her BSL's have gone from the 600s to ~100. Her A1C from 11 to 5.5, on her last visit to the doctor he told her she was no longer diabetic, and took her off most of her meds. Her doctor was so impressed, he is now a distributor for the product. Remember, however, that it is the total change in diet and lifestyle that the Cinch Plan advocates that made it work.

For more information on Cinch, you can contact me or visit: www.cinchplan.com/kaat_owens
You can discuss this option with your doctor.
To better health and happiness,
A.

R.,
My husband is a lifestyle coach. He teaches people how to eat and supplement right. Getting your sugar levels under control would be right up his alley. Compliance on your end is key though. Let me know if you would like more info. T.

I highly recommend the Better Homes & Gardens Diabetic Cookbook for recipes. I was diabetic during both my pregnancies and am still using the cookbook afterwards as the recipes are so yummy! Also, they told me that watching my carbs was just as important as sugars. There is probably a specific calorie and carb count that will be right for you. You should speak to a dietician if you can, to find out what balance is right for you. Good Luck!

Go to your bookstore and find some books, both information and cookbooks, to learn more about the types of foods you should be eating. You could also search the web or go to places like www.webmd.com to learn more about how to manage. I'm surprised that you were diagnosed with diabetes, but your doctor did not refer you to a nutritionist. If you have access to a nutritionist or dietician, you may wish to consult them.

you should talk to a nutritionist or there are lots of programs for cooking- diabetes. I know Good SHepherd hospital offers some so you sould call a local hospital or local park district. I cant imagine what it must be like to be diabetic but as a nurse I know it can cause many problems and more then half of our dialysis patients were there because of diabetes. perhaps you could keep a lot of sugar free candy around to help you when that sweet urge hits you. good luck!

ask your doc about a supplement called Chromium Picolinate. I don't know if it's appropriate for you or not so DON'T just go out and buy it but I know that it helps people who have a sweet tooth. You don't crave excessive sugar when you are taking it.