EMS/ Diabetes

Well this makes the third time I had my sugars bottom out. I had eaten at noon and then went to the grocery store. Not expecting it and forgetting my blood monitor kit, 2 hours after I ate lunch, my sugar bottomed out inside the store.

I was up at the register line. I grabbed a regular coke bottle and told the girl working there I was not stealing, but my sugars were low. I told her I was going to my car to sit and drink the pop and then I would be back in and run through the register.

Out in my car I drank half of the terrible tasting coke. I waited for about 10 minutes, but I kept feeling worse. I knew I was in trouble. I picked up my cell and dialed 911. When they arrived I believe it had been about 20 minutes total since my bottom out time started.

My sugars were finally back up to 140. I always have those after effects. The tired, shaky feelings that remain. Most times I just want to take a long nap. It so happened that Peggy, a friend of mine saw the EMS and my car and came over.

The EMS techs asked her to stay with me while I paid for my groceries. She did and even followed me home and took my groceries inside for me. I was very thankful and let her know.

My purpose for going to the grocery store was to purchase some food items that I normally don’t. I had bought some bananas, which for me is a no-no in my book. I also did what the EMS techs said to do and bought some ready-made cake frosting.

Once home and my visit was over with Peggy, I called my doctor to let them know what had happened for the third time. They pretty much said I needed to change my diet, but when I asked them what should I change, they told me to look up Diabetes.Org.

I wasn’t real pleased with that answer so I told the nurse my insurance would pay for a diabetic nutritionist and to please make me an appointment. She said she would check with my insurance and contact me tomorrow.

After hanging up with them I did look up the website. There was a phone number and I called. After a lengthy conversation of what I am eating and not they made it very clear I need more carbs in my diet.

All I could think of is no way, I am already too fat. I listened and made my concerns known about weight gain and they talked to me some more about how the balance of food and my medications have to work together. He said if I was concerned about weight gain, he would mail me some information about carbs, diabetes and weight gain.

I told him to please send it. So I gave into his words. I am eating two things I never touch for supper tonight. I am having a grilled chicken on a bun, along with my salad and a half of a banana.

We shall see how my sugars are tonight at bed time. The gentleman on the phone said I could expect my sugars to be up some, but as long as they weren’t over 180 at bedtime, I would be alright, and if they dropped to near 100, to eat a snack. He also said I needed to add 2 snacks on a regular basis, making me eat some type of food every 2 hours.

I am nervous, I don’t want to get any heavier than I am, but I don’t like knowing I could die from my sugars going too low, so for tonight I am trying eating different, more like normal people eat. I will let you know my sugars tonight in tomorrow’s blog

Diabetes and the Lady Who Saved Me

Today I wanted to sleep in so bad, but my eyes were awake at 7. It makes me so mad because I am so tired. Yesterday I did so much that my legs were tight by early evening. To touch them hurt. After a night’s sleep they are back to normal.

I will feel better when I get a window air-conditioner. With being a diabetic, the heat makes my sugars bottom out. I got up and drank my cup of coffee and played a couple of games on FB. I fixed me a slice of toast, 2 eggs and some vanilla yogurt with sprinkles of cinnamon.

I decided to take my shower since the inside of my apartment was beginning to heat up. After dressing, I gathered my basket of dirty laundry and headed to the laundromat. I started my wash and then about 15 minutes into the wash cycle I started to feel funny.

I looked at the clock and it had only been 3 hours since I had breakfast so I shouldn’t be having any issues with low-sugars. As minutes ticked by I began to feel worse and  my legs and hands began to tremor.

I had taken my diabetic tester with me so I checked it. It was 78. Oh no, I was in trouble. It was my sugars. I had laundry in the washer. I couldn’t leave. I had a candy bar in my purse for such emergencies and hurriedly ate it. 10 minutes later I checked my sugar levels again. The numbers had not begun to rise.

Now I was frightened. There were people in the laundromat; but no one that knew me. I staggered and walked up to the counter. I said, ” I am in trouble. I am a diabetic. I have laundry in the wash and can’t leave to go get something to eat”.

She said, ” my mother was a diabetic. I just lost her a few months ago to this”. She ran to the pop machine and got me a regular Pepsi and handed it to me. I took a big drink, feeling I was going to gag, it was so sweet, but I kept drinking. Her son quickly drove to a drive-thru and brought me back a cheeseburger.

I ate that and within 20 minutes my sugar was back up. I was so scared. I don’t know if it is the constant on the go of putting things away here in the apartment, or the heat, or if my sugars need an adjustment, but something is going on. I thanked that lady and her son over and over for saving my life.

It took a couple of hours for the tired feeling to leave me completely. When I am weak, my Parkinson’s tremors start acting up and that took awhile to get under control. I was glad to be back home, where it was safe. I do know I need that air conditioner.

I am still hanging things on the walls and am down to the spare bedroom. One of these days soon I will be finished unpacking. Maybe I should get one of those Diabetic bracelets so people will have a better idea of what is going on in case I pass out. I do know that I was being watched over by God. He had that lady standing close by who knew what diabetes is.

 

A Great Diabetic Recipe, But Everyone Hopefully Will Like It

I get an E-news letter from Wego Health. It shares new information and ways to help my Diabetes. I was just reading it and then I noticed the new recipe they put up there. I am placing it for you also. Wego Health, thanks for sharing this recipe. It is good for all of us but especially diabetics.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground turkey (or lean ground beef)
• 3 red bell peppers
• 2 cups pasta sauce
• 1 tsp dried basil/oregano (or any blend of Italian herbs)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (or 1 garlic clove, pressed)
• 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup frozen spinach, chopped (or another veggie of choice) or (de-thawed and squeezed dry with paper towel)
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese and 6 tbsp to garnish over the top of each pepper
• Optional: 1 tsp (or 1 packet) low calorie sweetener of your choice to put in the sauce

Stuffed Green Peppers

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil, (for easy clean up), coat with non-stick cooking spray. Wash red peppers, and cut around the stem to remove them.
• Cut peppers in half length-wise, and remove the seeds and ribs inside the peppers. Set peppers on baking pan.
• Meanwhile, cook the ground turkey in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Stir and break up the turkey while it’s cooking. When the turkey is almost completely cooked through, add the sauce and seasonings to the pan. Stir and continue to cook until the turkey is completely cooked (when it is no longer pink). Add the spinach and parmesan and stir until everything is well combined.
• Scoop 1/2 cup of the turkey mixture into each pepper.
• Sprinkle 1 tbsp parmesan over each pepper.
• Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted, and lightly golden brown.
• Remove from the oven, let cool, and enjoy!!!

 

 

Wiggle With Jello

 

I have been on the bored side the past two days. When I am bored, I bathe instead of shower. I watch more TV than listen. My home is like a rubik’s cube. Boxes everywhere. Fragile lining my living room. Everything else lined up in no real pattern in Al’s room. A few are scattered in my bedroom. It looks like a mess. Only when the last box is loaded on the truck will I believe this home looks neat and tidy.

I have called all Utility Companies and told them  to disconnect me on certain dates. I have given all information to the new owners. Tomorrow morning I take my car into the shop and have it gone through its annual physical. Do you think Medicare will pay that? LOL

I will run a few errands tomorrow and meet the gals at the Moose for dinner and music. I have one more time I can visit here. Monday I go to my doctor to get refills to hold me over until I locate a new doctor. I will get teary-eyed as I say good-bye. Once again this is a great doctor who also helped take care of Al until he went to Hospice.

I didn’t do crap today. Mainly because it is chilly and cloudy outside. I don’t believe we hit 60 degrees today. For the next few days it will be chilly here and cold at nights. I swear I am not turning on that big bad furnace. I will wait it out until I move. I will hibernate under my blankets like a bear hides in his cave. Maybe I will be forced to pull out the long johns and slide into them, the way this weather is going. Last year on this day it was a high of 96 degrees; big change isn’t it?

I have noticed the past two days the Halloween commercials are coming to life on television. I have to admit this helps me get a little excited about the decorations I shall soon see. I have seen one Christmas commercial. There is wasting no time for a big bang of a buck is there.

I am watching The Middle right now and even the topic is about Christmas. One of the kids asked his family, what is Christmas all about, what is life about?

Interesting topic but glad it isn’t based on toys and money only. The sad thing was neither parent answered his question.

I ruined my sleep for tonight. I took a nap today. I wasn’t really tired, I was more bored; but now I will be wide awake tonight. I already know the routine. I will have my regular snack at 11pm. Sugar-free jello with two tablespoons of lite cool-whip. I have it every single night. It satisfies my sweet tooth. It makes my Diabetes happy. My only fear is that doing this over and over my body may turn into a red ripple of gelatin with a touch of white in my hair. Oh well, there is zero calories in jello and in my lite cool-whip there is less than 10 calories and hey, they sell hair color kits in the stores, so I will take the risk. I haven’t heard about jello causing cancer, at least not as of yet.

Are you watching your sugars too like me? Have you ever tried a sugar-free buttercream frosting? If not, here is a video to show you the ingredients and directions.

 

 

 

 

Recipe for Diabetic Powdered Sugar

Makes 3-4 cups

• 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
• 2 cups cornstarch
• 1 cup Splenda granular (sugar substitute)

Directions:

1. 1
   Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender.
2. 2
   Whip until well blended and powdered.

 

Well, another episode of The Middle is on, so this means I have been yacking at you for half an hour. I better sign off or you won’t come back and visit. You all have a great night,  hugs and love, me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being Idle Could Have Got Me Arrested

Sunday noon and nothing to do. I am still not in the mood to pack more. I am going to save that for tomorrow.

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

Being Idle Could Have Got Me Arrested

Sunday noon and nothing to do. I am still not in the mood to pack more. I am going to save that for tomorrow. I should have packed and stayed inside where I belonged. I had fixed a crock pot full of fresh green beans, yellow and green squash, a few yellow potatoes, lots of spices with a smoked pork chop for added flavor last night right before bedtime.

This morning it smelled so good in the kitchen that I decided to have this delicious soup for brunch instead of my usual eggs. I ate about 10ish and then played on the computer. I finally decided to get dressed and I gathered up some coupons I had accumulated and headed for  coupon shopping at a local store.

I grabbed a protein snack and headed off. I ate this when I wasn’t  hungry because for weeks I have fought with my Diabetes sugar levels to stay above the low numbers; so I thought I was safe.  I had gathered up a bag of trash, my purse and headed out the front door. I locked the door and then it hit me; my keys are hanging inside on the hook. Oh crap, now what do I do. Fortunately for me I remembered a time years ago when I had done something stupid like that. I got a credit card out of my purse and worked it until the door popped open. I am a natural-born criminal I guess! LOL I got to the store and started my adventure of shopping. I went from aisle to aisle, department to department, comparing the prices against my cents off coupons.

I didn’t realize how long I had been there  and I forgot it was the last weekend before school, so the store was packed wall to wall. Kids and parents, college students everywhere. Then there were those of us old folks just trying to stay out of people’s way and out of trouble.

I completed all the non-perishables and had begun down the dairy section where the cheeses were. Suddenly out of no where I felt shaky. My legs began to feel like they were going to fall from under me. Instantly I recognized my low sugar numbers. I looked up at the wall clock and I had been there three hours. Wow, how time flies when we are having a blast?

Here I was with my cart filled with my hard labor of mind thinking and I have this come up. It seems that ever since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, my sugar levels have dropped. I guess I am going to have to have a meeting with my wonderful family doctor soon.

At the far end of the store was the Bakery department. I hardly ever visit that area because I am weak to the sweets. I made my legs walk and I could feel myself getting light-headed; but I made it to that section.

I walked to the doughnut section and with all my energy I had left I opened the double doors and grabbed one of those little self-serve tissues and took  a cake doughnut; a blueberry one. I was careful enough to at least not get one of those with icing dripping from all sides.

I began to eat it right there, leaning on my cart. I probably looked like the town drunk the way I stood. ” Hey, you can’t just open up the doors and help yourself and eat here. You have to pay for that first.”

I couldn’t speak, I never can when my sugar is too low. I kept pushing the doughnut in as fast as I could, trying to speed up the process of bringing my sugar levels back up. I ignored her because I didn’t want to pass out right there. She walked over and said those words again and then she looked at my face.

She knew something was wrong and got me a chair to sit down. She stayed with me instead of calling the police for doughnut theft. When I could finally speak I explained what had happened and she laughed saying she had recognized that before with her grandma and she should have seen it in me.

I asked her how I should pay for an invisible doughnut and she told me what to say. I hadn’t finished my coupon shopping but chose to head  to the check-out counter and pay for my items. I did save thirteen dollars, yes! I somehow got my bags in my car and then plopped down on the driver’s seat and just sat there waiting for me to feel alright enough to drive home. When I got home I checked my sugar and it was 157. That wasn’t bad at all considering I had eaten a whole doughnut.

I act really strange when my sugar is low, so if you see someone acting like I did in a store, reach out to them and see if you can be of assistance. It is better to help than watch someone pass out to the floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Evening Spent

Not that I have worked my fingers to the bone from morning until night; but I was sick of packing. Maybe there was a tinge of excitement  from the signing of the paper work today. A little bit of sadness from leaving part of my family behind, and some anxiousness about what I am about to walk into in the next chapter of my life.

For what ever reason I needed a break. I walked down and got the…

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My Evening Spent

Not that I have worked my fingers to the bone from morning until night; but I was sick of packing. Maybe there was a tinge of excitement  from the signing of the paper work today. A little bit of sadness from leaving part of my family behind, and some anxiousness about what I am about to walk into in the next chapter of my life.

For what ever reason I needed a break. I walked down and got the mail and on the way back I stopped at a friend’s house and asked her if she would like to run to the Dairy Queen with me. She said sure so I came home and got my car and went and picked her up and off we went.

I know I am not supposed to have those goodies that this ice-cream shop specializes in, so when the guy asked, ” What can I get you”? , my head spun as I wanted a Peanut Buster Parfait so bad but I didn’t want to deal with a high rise in my sugars so I stayed true to my Diabetes and got a sugar-free buddy bar on a stick.

It had 24 carbs in it so that wasn’t terrific, but it had very little sugar. I enjoyed the chocolate covered ice-cream to the last drop. We talked for about an hour and then it began to get dark. Since I don’t see well at night we headed home.

When I dropped her off she gave me some more empty boxes. She works in a place where boxes are free and plenty. She has saved me so many hours of driving and going to stores at odd hours to pick up boxes, and I constantly thank her every time she makes a drop here for me.

When I let her out and the car was loaded down I came home. Upon taking the boxes inside the house I couldn’t help but notice the big, full moon. After the last box was inside I grabbed my camera and went back out. I could not get too many shots as the mosquitoes were trying to carry me off; but here is what I did get. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them for you.

A Better Afternoon

After the meeting I didn’t want to attend, I had another place I really didn’t want to go. At least it is a common place and I am not afraid of the man in the white jacket. No, not that kind of white jacket. Not a white jacket for me, for heaven’s sake, don’t you know me better than that by now? LOL

No the white jacket was worn by the good-looking man with the nice smile; my doctor. Every three…

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A Better Afternoon

After the meeting I didn’t want to attend, I had another place I really didn’t want to go. At least it is a common place and I am not afraid of the man in the white jacket. No, not that kind of white jacket. Not a white jacket for me, for heaven’s sake, don’t you know me better than that by now? LOL

No the white jacket was worn by the good-looking man with the nice smile; my doctor. Every three months I have to go in to get lab work done for my diabetes. Every time I have to go in a week later and hear what he has to say.

I didn’t hear anything bad this time really. Usually he brings up  my smoking but he didn’t. He looked through my newly published book, Dahlia. He asked me if I was writing a new book and I told him yes, that it was going to be about Al and his MSA.

He said all my numbers on the lab work were good. He even said my sugars were lower than last time on the A-1C test, a test for diabetics to see how they are doing on an average.

You would think they don’t trust us to eat right all the time so they have to push this special test on us. Me, not eat right all the time? Would I ever consider eating more properly the week before going in for labs? I guess I will let you ponder on that one.

On the way and back I snapped a few photos. It seems that when I use my camera, I forget about the world. I don’t think about money, or Al or even my mood swings. No, I just think about what can I take a photo of so I can share it with my friends.

So here are the finished product. I always hope to get better each time. Maybe I do, and maybe I don’t. I guess the one taking the photo is the worst critic of all.