My husband and I are both diabetics. I have been one for about 15 years now. My husband for only 4 years. Diabetes runs rampant in my family but not so in my husband's family. There are only 3 known in his family and they are either cousins or nephews. I am the third one of 5 children to have it and I was diagnosed at a younger age then the other two were. My two brothers were in their early 50's when they found out they had it. I was in my early 40's.
When I first found out I had diabetes I went whole hog in trying to get my blood sugar levels down so I would not have to take the meds the doctor said I needed.
I cut out all my favorite foods and only ate low carb, low fat, low anything foods. I cut out all grain products, all tea, pop, fruit juice, fruits, and starches. All I would eat were lean cuts of baked meat and fresh salads. I got my levels down and was able to get off the meds for about 4 months but in going about it whole hog I sat myself up for a big down fall. With in 6 months of going whole hog I started having bad cravings for sweets, bread product, ice cream, and more. Watching everyone else eat what ever they wanted didn't help. And the fact that my family still expected me to bake cookies, cakes, pies and more didn't help either.
I started thinking well one cookie or a couple of bites of ice cream won't hurt. Those one cookies turned in to 3 or 4, the couple of bites of ice cream turned into a bowl of ice cream, the one slice of bread turned in two slices and so on. It didn't take long before I was back on the meds again only a little higher dosage.
Ever since then I have battled with my blood sugar levels. I will do good during the summer time but come winter time I am in big trouble with high levels. It happens every year. I tend to hibernate every winter because as I get older I can not take the cold as well and the long winters we get are hard on me. I do get out of the house to shop, go to the doctors or go see family but not very much. Even though I walk on the tread mill 2-3 times a day it's not enough to help with my blood sugar levels so I have to use insulin now as does my husband. So I am on a quest now to learn everything possible about diabetes, learn better about how to control it and find the best way that works for me. Hopefully my husband will follow suit if I find a way that works for me at least.
People with diabetes and have to use insulin are going to be in big trouble if S*** ever does hit the fan. Type 1 diabetics are going to have the worse problems but type 2's will have problems to because insulin which we need is going to be hard to find even if we can find it at all. You can make insulin from a pig's gut but I for one do not know how to do it and many will not be able to even find a pig to make it from. So the only thing I can do is learn to eat the right way, make sure to avoid the cravings. and find a way to get more exercise.
Part of my plan is moving to the south where winters are milder most of the year then where I live now and I can spend more time out doors where I love to be. Gardening is my favorite hobby. In the south I will be able to do it much longer and if we can find the right place I can have some small livestock to take care of and a bigger garden and hopefully more areas where I can learn to forage for wild edibles. Doing all these things will increase my exercise and allow me to do more of what I love to do. It will also keep me for hibernating so long during the winter time.
The next part of my plan is to learning all the carbs each food item has in it and learn to make alternatives for the things I crave like cookies, pies and junk food. Next is to follow all recommended servings sizes. In these days of super size that or super size this we have all become big eaters but most of us do less to burn off those calories. So next on my quest will be to learn a good exercise routine that will help me burn off calories and carbs.
The next part of my plan is to get away from all high frutose products and artificial sweeteners and all overly processed foods. Diet pop had been found to increase appetites which I for one do not need to have. Personally I think they also increase sugar cravings. For some reason my sugar cravings doubled not long after I started drinking diet pop.
The very last part of my plan is to sit down and make a menu every week that is best suited for my needs. No more last minute unplanned meals, no more take out or eating out unless I know what will fit in with my diet. A diet that I plan out myself just for me, not one planned by some one in the medical field who does not know me or my body from Adam and his. Or knows my likes from my dislikes or pushes bland flavorless foods that I can not stand to eat. And by increasing the use of herbs and spices in the foods I make for myself I should be fine with out the sugars and the fats that I am use to having in foods.
So that's it, that's my quest. Learn how to manage my diabetes and stay off of insulin and hopefully get off the pills I have to take or at least decrease the amount I have to take. I want to be able to survive and thrive if SHTF and I also want to live a healthier life even if nothing happens. Wish me luck and I will report back on how it's going every one in awhile.
Prepping Granny
When I first found out I had diabetes I went whole hog in trying to get my blood sugar levels down so I would not have to take the meds the doctor said I needed.
I cut out all my favorite foods and only ate low carb, low fat, low anything foods. I cut out all grain products, all tea, pop, fruit juice, fruits, and starches. All I would eat were lean cuts of baked meat and fresh salads. I got my levels down and was able to get off the meds for about 4 months but in going about it whole hog I sat myself up for a big down fall. With in 6 months of going whole hog I started having bad cravings for sweets, bread product, ice cream, and more. Watching everyone else eat what ever they wanted didn't help. And the fact that my family still expected me to bake cookies, cakes, pies and more didn't help either.
I started thinking well one cookie or a couple of bites of ice cream won't hurt. Those one cookies turned in to 3 or 4, the couple of bites of ice cream turned into a bowl of ice cream, the one slice of bread turned in two slices and so on. It didn't take long before I was back on the meds again only a little higher dosage.
Ever since then I have battled with my blood sugar levels. I will do good during the summer time but come winter time I am in big trouble with high levels. It happens every year. I tend to hibernate every winter because as I get older I can not take the cold as well and the long winters we get are hard on me. I do get out of the house to shop, go to the doctors or go see family but not very much. Even though I walk on the tread mill 2-3 times a day it's not enough to help with my blood sugar levels so I have to use insulin now as does my husband. So I am on a quest now to learn everything possible about diabetes, learn better about how to control it and find the best way that works for me. Hopefully my husband will follow suit if I find a way that works for me at least.
People with diabetes and have to use insulin are going to be in big trouble if S*** ever does hit the fan. Type 1 diabetics are going to have the worse problems but type 2's will have problems to because insulin which we need is going to be hard to find even if we can find it at all. You can make insulin from a pig's gut but I for one do not know how to do it and many will not be able to even find a pig to make it from. So the only thing I can do is learn to eat the right way, make sure to avoid the cravings. and find a way to get more exercise.
Part of my plan is moving to the south where winters are milder most of the year then where I live now and I can spend more time out doors where I love to be. Gardening is my favorite hobby. In the south I will be able to do it much longer and if we can find the right place I can have some small livestock to take care of and a bigger garden and hopefully more areas where I can learn to forage for wild edibles. Doing all these things will increase my exercise and allow me to do more of what I love to do. It will also keep me for hibernating so long during the winter time.
The next part of my plan is to learning all the carbs each food item has in it and learn to make alternatives for the things I crave like cookies, pies and junk food. Next is to follow all recommended servings sizes. In these days of super size that or super size this we have all become big eaters but most of us do less to burn off those calories. So next on my quest will be to learn a good exercise routine that will help me burn off calories and carbs.
The next part of my plan is to get away from all high frutose products and artificial sweeteners and all overly processed foods. Diet pop had been found to increase appetites which I for one do not need to have. Personally I think they also increase sugar cravings. For some reason my sugar cravings doubled not long after I started drinking diet pop.
The very last part of my plan is to sit down and make a menu every week that is best suited for my needs. No more last minute unplanned meals, no more take out or eating out unless I know what will fit in with my diet. A diet that I plan out myself just for me, not one planned by some one in the medical field who does not know me or my body from Adam and his. Or knows my likes from my dislikes or pushes bland flavorless foods that I can not stand to eat. And by increasing the use of herbs and spices in the foods I make for myself I should be fine with out the sugars and the fats that I am use to having in foods.
So that's it, that's my quest. Learn how to manage my diabetes and stay off of insulin and hopefully get off the pills I have to take or at least decrease the amount I have to take. I want to be able to survive and thrive if SHTF and I also want to live a healthier life even if nothing happens. Wish me luck and I will report back on how it's going every one in awhile.
Prepping Granny