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12 Comments:
My wife was in for tests recently, and diabetes was a possibility. She asked the same question! It was like, "why live if I can't eat all the good food I love to eat."
Of course I didn't tell *her* this, but I don't know you, so yes....you should eat whatever you want until it kills you.
Big___Al at 6:27PM on 03/06/07
I do hope you're joking. Both of you. If you were to take Big__Al seriously and follow his advice, do you suppose eating whatever you want "until it kills you" would be an enjoyable experience? I doubt it, since you would suffer from its effects. Many people have dietary restrictions and still enjoy good food. You can feel good AND find pleasure in eating. Start connecting with other diabetics. Do some research. Search the Internet for recipes, resources, etc. And be glad you were diagnosed--if you hadn't been, you might have killed yourself, if inadvertently.
baboo at 7:23PM on 03/06/07
I hear that agave syrup is a great substitute for sugar...with the lowest glycemic index than any other natural product available. Good luck.
John Reed at 7:59PM on 03/06/07
I'm with others. Absolutely not. First of all, it doesn't mean you can't eat what you want. It simply means true moderation and learning to count your carbs. It likely would do us all better to live like you! Good luck to you.
Husband at 8:04PM on 03/06/07
Oh come on, be serious. Which type? I've been living with type 2 for 5 years now and I'm eating better than I ever did "before". Eat to your meter, ignore the ADA diet, and try to keep all 2hrPP results under 126. Good places to start are alt.support.diabetes on Usenet and #diabetic-talk on Undernet IRC.
AdamH at 10:10PM on 03/06/07
Absolutely not! You can eat almost anything by watching carbs and combining foods using the glycemic index and close monitoring! It is wide extremes in blood sugar that are damaging, so you want to keep your blood sugar as stable as possible.My husband has Type 2 diabetes and we use the Joslin Diabetes site as a resource.
Warning: Don't go overboard on foods with sugar alcohol though they are a delicious sugar substitute- for the majority of people, too much sugar alcohol can cause cramping(sometimes severe) and gas(then people will want to kill you!)
play-with-food at 6:51AM on 03/07/07
As a type II diabetic I have to agree that today's sugar substitutes are very good. I can actually enjoy them. My particular favorite treats are Russell Stover's sugar-free French Silk, and... oh, heck, I forget what they actually call them, but they are their version of Turtles.
My particular bugaboo is grain. I get really high blood glucose spikes when I eat any kind of grain, even whole grains like oatmeal or shredded wheat. Giving up all grains has just been impossible for me and I am paying the price-- a high price. I have a really painful case of diabetic neuropathy. It constantly feels like my feet are on fire with random deep needle-like stabbing pains every few moments. I have to take ever increasing dosages of narcotic pain pills to make it at all bearable. It causes me a lot of sleepless nights.
Calichef at 7:24AM on 03/08/07
I work with a non-profit charity that deals with disabilities, including diabetes. I'll assume that your question stems from the initial shock and fear of your diagnosis and is not literal. Your days of "serious eating" are not over! Unfortunately diabetes is becoming an epidemic in this country and chances are more than one person you know is facing this.
There are lots of myths and misconceptions about the disease and the very best thing you can do is educate yourself. Depending upon the type and severity, you may be facing some very minor lifestyle changes, or you could possibly face some serious ones. Most adults experiencing late onset diabetes need to inventory their lifestyle--including diet, stress management, sleep habits, etc. You may in fact find that the changes you need to embrace actually add greatly to your quality of life.
My best advice to you is to stay positive, learn about the disease, and don't ignore it. There are so many excellent resources for you that I couldn't possibly begin to list them here. Google information and visit the American Diabetes Assoc. website (Diabetes.org) for starters. All the best to you!
Acme Instant Food at 2:56PM on 03/08/07
I should clarify that I work with a charity that deals with disabilities, including some that are a result of diabetes. I didn't mean to say that diabetes is a disability.
Acme Instant Food at 3:02PM on 03/08/07
I was flippant - of course I'll manage to live. The problem is the sudden shock that I can no longer eat half a baguette in one sitting; that if I want to make a sandwich, I'll have to do it with rubbery low-carb bread or no bread at all. That I have to find an alternative to the quick pasta dish that had become our default dinner when we had no time for anything else. That as a Mexican, I a limited to one, single, solitary corn tortilla per meal. That I can't eat corn - which in Mayan, is called by the same word as "life."
The point is, some of my favorite things are deadly to me now. I'm 37 and have to relearn everything about how to eat. It's just kind of sad.
Ramu at 10:31PM on 03/08/07
Also, you should pay close attention to your doctor's advice (and intuitionalist, if you have one) BUT do your own homework and don't be afraid to question the advice your receive. One problem with diabetes is that there is TONS of misinformation, even within the medical community. There are also recent changes to guidelines for carbs. For example, it was previously believed that the type of carbohydrate consumed was more important than the quantity of carbs. Bread was considered safer than a slice of chocolate cream pie since the simple sugar in the pie is absorbed quicker than the bread. Now, they have determined that isn't necessarily the case and the total amount of carbs consumed is what is focused on. That means that you can barter with yourself. Maybe you skip the baked potato with your meal and instead have a bite of dessert, or vise versa.
Anyway, my point (and I do have one buried in here somewhere) is to ensure that you get the very best advice and don't hesitate to get second opinions. Also, talk to other diabetics who have similar situations to your own and maybe you'll find some comfort in hearing that the adjustments you need to make might not be as difficult as you think. Again, best wishes to you!
Acme Instant Food at 12:48PM on 03/09/07
This may not be quite as serious as you think. Most (not all) adult onset diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise. I have no idea if you are overweight but if that is the case simply losing some weight can sometimes eliminate the signs of diabetes and the need for medication. Bottom line is simple lifestyle changes, like many people have already said practicing moderation and portion control may be all that is needed. Once your blood sugar is under control (like play-with-food very correctly states) an occasional splurge is not going to be detrimental. Not to mention you can "buy" yourself some calories and carbs with exercise. Keeping blood sugar and dietary journals are VERY important and will be priceless in helping you determine how to adjust your diet. Remember your Glucometer is your friend !
Sindy at 12:24AM on 03/10/07