[Beholden]

I just did the first of 4 pre-diabetes classes. Prevention of diabetes. just found out on June 9, when I was referred to see the kidney doctor.

So I get to learn all about how to eat 'more better'.

If it's not one thing it's another. You know what I mean?

[bebop]

I am a recent dx'd patient. it is so hard to follow that diet! it is for me anyway. even in the hospital with insulin my bloodsugars and eating the plan didn't bring mine down too much. it stinks.

[sunflower55]

It's important to add exercise to the program to bring blood sugar down too. Both diet and exercise improve sugar in pre diabetic and diabetic people, and those with metabolic syndrome too. I got my sugar down from a pre diabetic level to "normal" that way. It doesn't take that much, really.

Switch from white foods right away. No white bread, pasta; sugar, etc. Use *whole* grain bread, like a 12 grain - it's really delicious and so much better for you too. Use whole wheat pasta; you'll get used to the slightly different taste in no time. It takes about 5 more minutes to cook it too, so, take that into account. Get off of white sugar, period. There's nothing good for you in it at all. If you think it tastes good, use Splenda. You can even use it for cooking and canning. I do.

Start eating more fruits and veggies. I know it's a bit difficult if you're not used to it, but, hey, it's summertime, and now's the best time to get all those fresh ones at the market! Grill them! I made some delicious grilled summer squash, zucchinni, and asparagus with olive oil and crushed garlic. OMG!!! Heaven on earth! LOL! Roll it in some of that flax bread with a piece of low fat cheese, and what a lunch you've got!

Use breakfast to have as much fruit as you want. Add a piece of whole grain toast, no butter, for a healthy start to the day.

Make 1/2 of your dinner plate veggies. 1/4 of the plate should be a starch - rice; baked potato (without the butter and sour cream!) Try a sweet potato; it's great baked! And 1/4 lean protein. Add a salad too.

For snacks, have fruit, yogart, a few nuts, dried fruit, (caution, they have more sugar than whole fruit due to the processing), or carrot sticks, celery sticks. Most of this stuff, you can have on the go if you're not at home.

And as for exercising, just walk. Each evening, take a walk after dinner. Or early in the morning when you get up, after your morning coffee, take a 20 minute walk. Start slow if you need, and build up. Then, begin to add a bit a weight with the arm bands; leg bands. Weight training revs up the metabolism; helps you loose weight faster.

We can do this. No one is "doomed" to type 2 diabetes! Let's work together and stay healthy! There's no better time than now, the summer, to get working on the rest of our lives!

Peace!

[Beholden]

Thanks Bebop,

It isn't so much that the diet sucks, it is cooking it that is hard when you are hunger now! I have to really plan ahead now! Sorry you didn't get your bllod sugar down while in the hospital. Keep me posted on how you are doing. Okay?

Thanks Sun....

I know diet and exercise are the key to good health in general. I am surprised I have diabetes2, I'm the healthy eatter between my DH and me. I even was vegetarian for about 5 years. I did that for health reasons, high cholesterol, and it went even higher on a vegetarian diet. I tried vegan for a while, but then had to go on medication, no biggy, but I thought I could control it with diet and exercise, but couldn't, some of it is heirtiary.

Now, I have Chronic Kidney Disease, with 38% of my kidney function left! I have eatten whole grain everything for several years, limited fats, used to eat a lot of cheese as my meat protein substitute, I like whole wheat pastas and high whole grain breads, eat high fiber cereals, drink skim milk, love and eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, or frozen, without all the butter and sour cream and high calore sauces. And I've used Splenda for about 2 years. I don't eat a lot of sugar, and don't even have regular sugar in the house.

Now, I find out so many of those things are no longer good for my kidneys. High protein foods, nuts, rice, beans, pork, chicken(skinless broiled breast) are foods to be limited. As well as corn, crab, eggs, fish, wheat and rye flour, port, white roasted turkey too.

Here I thought I was doing myself a favor to eat nothing but skinless, boneless chicken breast cooked with just PAM for stove top frying or without oil at all in the oven. I've just learned that dark meat is better for me because it is lower in protein and phosphate.

I haven't seen the renal dietitian yet, but I guess the whole point is to lower protein intake and of course, salt. I haven't used salt in cooking or on the talbe for over 15 years. Don't even know where my salt shakers are since we moved to this house about 6 and a half years ago. Of course salt is high in prepared foods, and I do eat those convience foods more that I should, I guess. But who doesn't love Kraft Mac n Cheese with a can of tuna and some peas for a quick dinner?

I'm looking forward to all the changes I need to make.

But one thing I can and will do is a good walking plan along with my 2 times a week kayaking and my time gardening.

I have to loose the weight gain I've had due to depression/medication and living as a couch potato since about November of 2008. I've gained about 15 pounds just by sleeping and not moving.

I've done it before so I'll just do it again. Darnit. I mean it too. You just watch me now!

Prayers and thoughts to all like me who have the kinds of medical issues that are controlable through lifestyle changes, hard as they might seem, it sure beats the alturnative!