בס''ד
An Anniversary of Sort..........
My journey with diabetes one year later.....


Last year, on May 15th, my world was turned upside down.  It was an ordinary Sunday morning except for the fact that I had an appointment with my doctor to go over the results of the yearly blood work I had done a couple of days earlier. 


As my doctor scanned my results and he came to glucose he shook his head and said, "this must be a mistake. The reading is much to high. Maybe you have an infection." And with this he sent me to the nurse to manually check my blood sugar. My number was 410. It should never be more than 126, so he ordered more tests including the Hemoglobin A1C .


A couple of days later with all the blood work back, my doctors suspicions were confirmed. I had diabetes type 2. So started my battle with diabetes.


My primary care doctor introduced me to Yifat the dietitian and Dalia the diabetic nurse and expert. Together, they became my team. A week later, I met the diabetic doctor. He was very gentle, reassuring and non threatening to speak too.


If I tell you the shock, fear and frustration that I felt those first few weeks, it would be an understatement.  Desperately in need of information I spent hours checking out web sites of the Israel Diabetes Association, American Diabetic Association, Canadian Diabetes Association and British Diabetes Association . I was determined to learn as much as I could about diabetes.

The main thing that I learnt was that type 2 can be controlled with exercise, diet and meds.


I decided that diabetes was my project and that I would do whatever was necessary and beat it. I printed out information that I felt was important for me to remember and made myself a diabetic journal to refer too.


Over the early weeks, I pricked my finger 4 times a day and slowly watched my blood sugar number go down.


Three weeks after my initial appointment, my diabetic doctor said to me, "I don't know what you are doing to have these great results so quickly, but obviously whatever you did was the right thing, so keep on doing it."


I faithfully followed all the instructions and advice of my team. I watched every mouthful I ate and I was losing weight. My clothes were getting big on me. I told my husband that I have to go and buy new clothes.


After 3 months, my doctor took me off my medicine. Every evening, no matter how tired I was, my husband, our dog Rocky and I religiously went for a walk. We still go walking at least 4 times a week. When we first started walking, it took us 20 minutes to go around the block. [It is a long block.] Now we can walk it in 9 minutes. It amazes me how far I can walk without getting tired. Truth be told, it is Rocky who has trouble keeping up.


At my last appointment, my doctor said to me "you are proof that type 2 diabetes can be beaten. You took the diagnosis seriously, followed instructions and today you are diabetic free."


Life with diabetes has been a major adjustment for me. I check every product that I buy for its sugar content and where the sugar is in the list of ingredients. I watch the glycemic index [G.I.] trying to eat only low and medium foods. I have given up some of my favourite foods even though I still make them for my family. I stopped noshing junk and I watch my portions because I know that if I cheat, I am only cheating myself. And pricking my finger to check my blood sugar is still no picnic.  Fortunately, I only have to do it 4 times, 1 day a week, every 2 weeks.


Sometimes, I still get nervous thinking that I ate the wrong food or that I had too much and I check my sugar after 2 hours of eating. [the waiting period]


It is now one year since that Sunday morning and I lost around 15 kilos [33 pounds] and have able to maintain my weight and keep my blood sugar number in check. Today I am B"H healthy!


Diabetes is a serious health issue. The truth is diabetes, unlike many other illnesses can be controlled. Proper nutrition, close and individualized follow-ups, physical activity and proper medication can prevent complications and offer people with diabetes a better quality of life.  I know this statement is true...I proved it!


Feel free to comment and pass my blog around.


Until next time..........


Miriam

בס''ד

Taking Charge..........

This past May, I was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2. It is now 6 ½ months later, I’m off all medication and I’m thankfully free of any diabetes. I had a doctor’s appointment today and he told me that I am living proof that if you take your diagnoses seriously, you can beat diabetes.

My secret, I took charge. I did research on diabetes, checking out the diabetes associations of the Israeli, American, British and Canadian Associations. I read and reread information on what is diabetes, learnt about the G.I. index [glycemic index] http://www.glycemicindex.com/, how diet and exercise play an important part in controlling diabetes and what symptoms to be aware of and to speak to the doctor about.

I followed the advice of my family doctor, my diabetic doctor and my dietician. I started to eat healthy, started walking and lost weight. I check my blood glucose level on regular bases and do my blood work tests as necessary. My numbers are terrific, well within the normal range.

I just read an online article from the Toronto paper, The Globe and Mail, that said the number of Canadians living with diabetes will rise dramatically over the next decade, spurring an “economic tsunami” that will be felt well beyond the health system. Today there are 2.5 million Canadians who have been diagnosed with diabetes either type 1 or type 2. To read the entire article, the link is:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/diabetes-called-a-brewing-economic-tsunami/article1390792/

The amount of people diagnosed with diabetes is mind boggling. In the States, approximately 21 million Americans have been diagnosed and millions more are undiagnosed. Here in Israel, according to the Israel Diabetic Association almost 400,000 Israelis have been diagnosed and another 200,000 Israelis are undiagnosed. This makes a lot of people with this disease.

The questions on hand now are: how do we, the diabetic, make family and friends aware of diabetes and its potential life altering effect? Are the medical ministries of each country spending enough money to bring diabetes to the forefront? Does the general public understand that diabetes type 2 can happen to anyone, not just those who have a family history? Is there an awareness campaign? So many questions but not enough answers..........

Personally, I have suggested to my husband and children that when they do blood work, they should also ask to have glucose and Hemoglobin A1c added to their blood tests. This way they will know where they stand and if they have to start to take any precautions.
To change the topic........

This Friday evening and for the next eight days is Chanukah.

Chanukah is about miracles and celebration, when the Temple Menorah was rekindled during the re-dedication, only enough oil to last for one day could be found, however this small amount burned for eight days and nights until more oil was made.

To remember and celebrate the miracle of the oil, we eat a variety of foods fried in oil. For a diabetic or anyone else watching their weight this is difficult to do. The most common treats are potato latkes [pancakes] or any other latke and doughnuts.

Here are a couple of recipes for latkes and doughnuts that are diabetic friendly.

Latkes Recipe
2 large potatoes unpeeled [option.. substitute 1 potato for 2 zucchinis]
1 small onion

2 eggs (whites only)

1 tablespoon all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

½ tsp baking powder

4tsp Canola oil

Top with low fat sour cream, yogurt or unsweetened applesauce.

Finely shred potato and onion and place in sieve press to remove excess moisture. In a bowl whisk together egg whites, flour, salt and baking powder until smooth stir in potato mixture. In large non-stick skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. When water drops splatter on skillet spoon potato mixture about 2 tablespoons at a time onto the skillet to form 3 inch latke. Fry until brown and drain, drain, drain. ENJOY!

Doughnuts recipe

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

4 tablespoons sugar replacement

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1 cup flour

1/8 tsp baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. nutmeg [optional]

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla extract

salt

oil for deep frying
 Combine sugars, buttermilk, egg beat together add remaining ingredients except oil and beat until blended. Heat oil 375F drop dough into hot oil and fry until golden brown. Drain well. ENJOY! 
‘Chanukah Samaech’  to you and yours.

Miriam