Went to diabetic counseling....
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| Wed, 09-01-2004 - 11:05pm |
I have made huge changes already - and in a week since I was diagnosed and on the lowest scaffold of the medication I am taking I went from 431 to 178 today a few hours after dinner. I think I am going to just keep being careful and paying close attention to what I eat rather than adhearing to that diet right now. I also joined a gym the other day and go Friday to learn how to use all the cardio machines.
I was really discouraged after the class. I had such a good attitude and it was ruined. All the changes I made and I really felt like I was on the right track and doing well with everything. After the class I felt like I was no where close to doing what I needed to do - especially after seeing the diet which was less that the 1600 - 1800 my doctor and I discussed. I came home pretty upset, but my DH helped to calm me down and gain prespective again.
So, my plan is to continue with what I have been doing this past week - DH helping me to count the carbs in what I eat and figuring how much I should have, staying away from what I should not be eating, and just eating better than I have in general. I start at the gym Friday, and next week go back to my job at school so I will have more of a set schedule to build my routine around. I plan on going to the gym three days a week before I pick up my son. I also add another dose of the medicine - which should help my sugar levels drop even better. I'll keep you guys posted.
Amy

Amy,
I am sorry you had a bad experience. It is frustrating when this happens. This is also why I don't like big classes rather than individual sessions for diabetes education. I think you have to get to know the diabetic and figure out where they are and what they need to be successful.
I am on a 1600 calorie diabetic meal plan. Please use this as a guide until you can get better answers: I get 30 grams of carbs for breakfast, 45 for lunch and dinner and 15 for a bedtime snack. Veggies only count if you eat more than 3 servings at one meal.
I am so very sorry you experienced such a bad time with your class. It sounds like you needed a one on one session instead to get information you were looking for along with a meal plan aimed at your lifestyle. Maybe try finding yourself a CDE (certified diabetic educator) to help out with questions you might have and get you with a dietician who can set a meal plan to fit your needs based on your daily life.
In my opinion 1300 is not much at all since I hear more people doing at the least a 1600 to 1800 meal plan. I usually am on a 1800 one, but it also depends upon my activity level during the year if I might need to increase it by 200 or 300 more. If the way you have been eating is working out well for you than go with that until you get with a dietician to set up a meal plan just for you. Besides you would know best what works for you and does not since your the one who has to keep track of blood sugars. Also your husband sounds like he is doing all he can to help you out, which is so important to help keep you on track with having somebody else also doing this.
So just keep at what your doing since it does seem to be bringing down your blood sugar, but remember it does take time since your blood sugar did not go up there in a day and it will not come down in a day where it will stay. So as you keep going it will come down more and more until you get to a great level all of the time. Your doing great though, which you should be proud of yourself for all that you have done so far. Take care and do have a wonderful day!
then since i was not on any meds they kept starting to cover things and then would tell me, this doesnt apply to you though. BUT that was WHEN i finally got prescription for the monitor. They also told me the numbers i should have but the 2 hours after meals, they told me 180 and i thought that sounded too high. next time i saw the dr i questioned her and she said 160, which fits more stuff i found on line.
when i started there was a series of 3 3 hour classes and due to all the medical appts i put the 3rd one off until this summer at which point they had changed it to 3 2 hour classes with one meeting with a CDE to discuss meal plan. (which they never did otherwise as far as what we should each be doing....they would just say do what your doctor tells you.)
Then after the 3rd one they scheduled an individual meeting with a dietician but we spent more time going over my numbers, exercise and blood pressure records...although i did ask a few questions of different things to do. she did look at the meal records also and didnt really indicate that she saw any problems there. i do think personally i need to get back to doing real cooking myself again instead of eating what i consider fast foods(no i dont mean fast food businesses) but stuff like tuna sald i have made ahead and then eat it for the next 3 days or so. plus stuff that needs no cooking. breakfast often ends up being some cheese, a banana, a latte and sometimes a small yogurt, or one of the lite n lively drinks.
I am so very glad i tripped onto both I village and the Joslin diabetes site. They were the ones that suggested the book by Gretchen Becker, and that has really helped. the people here are so helpful and it sure helps when others know of new things to look for and try. now if someone could just find some "jello and pudding mixes" with spenda instead of the other sweetners. although i have discovered too many things with splenda like a lot of the snack bars, ice cream, candy, etc all have maltitol in it. my tummy cant handle that at all!