I thought I'd provide an update since in general I'm not posting here too much anymore:

- Emotionally I think I'm okay. It really goes on a day by day basis, last month it felt like I had mostly bad days, so far this month I think I'm having mostly good days. Except for anxiety, which comes and goes throughout the day.

- my step-dad is now diabetic. It really sucks because now it's like diabetes follows me wherever I go. I decided I might as well go on his diet anyways since it'll be good for weight loss (he said he already lost 14 pounds just by switching his diet!) sometimes I think the things he says we should all start doing might be a little over the top like literally calculating your calories and he thought white rice was one of the worst things you can put in your body (which I only thought was ridiculous because other counties have had white rice as a stable of their diet for centuries and they are all pretty healthy) because I figure as long as you are picking healthy stuff and are very strict with your portion control you don't need to be whipping out the calculator. Remember: a human being needs at least 1000 calories per day just to continue living! But it really can't hurt since I'm already insulin resistant (not enough to be diabetic and the doctor told me it would go away once I'm down to a healthy weight) and have diabetes on both sides of my family.

-still applying for work. but there are a few places my mom said were hiring so keep your fingers and toes crossed

[Hunny]

Kaika,

Toes & fingers are crossed and praying just the right position for you for now. That 'piece' I think will really make a difference for you.

Hunny

Hope it works for you.

thank you. I just realized where I left the applications and I won't be able to fill them out until tomorrow. Which is frustrating, trying not to be too mad at myself

Good luck with finding a job.

[serafim_etal]

Originally Posted by Kaika

sometimes I think the things he says we should all start doing might be a little over the top like literally calculating your calories and he thought white rice was one of the worst things you can put in your body (which I only thought was ridiculous because other counties have had white rice as a stable of their diet for centuries and they are all pretty healthy) because I figure as long as you are picking healthy stuff and are very strict with your portion control you don't need to be whipping out the calculator.

Has he gone to any diabetes education classes yet? I'm off two minds on the counting calories issue. First, if he is very overweight, then literally counting calories may be the only way he can learn proper portion control and balancing. On the flip side, if he is NOT very overweight, then he needs to be paying less attention to calories, and more attention to carbohydrates. Carbs are sugar. A type II diabetic is often instructed to count CARBS...not calories. If you are counting carbs correctly, then the calories drop on their own.

Now...the white rice issue. White rice is fine if a person is basically healthy, however, white rice (and potatoes) is a starch. Starches convert to sugar almost immediately upon entering the digestive system. It is a very high glycemic index food. This means it converts to sugar quickly, is quickly absorbed, and is long lasting. Short of eating pure sugar, white rice and potatoes are among the most dangerous foods for a type II diabetic to eat. Asian countries have an extremely low carb diet aside from the rice. In fact, in many meals, rice is the only item that has any carb content of any consequence. In contrast, many Hispanic countries have rice as a large portion of their diet. However, they also eat many other high carb foods. Hispanics are among those at highest risk of developing type II diabetes. So yes, white rice can be a good food, but one has to look at the entire diet in determining that. Also, if a person is already diabetic (or insulin resistant), then white rice is definitely not a good food.

Originally Posted by serafim_etal

Has he gone to any diabetes education classes yet? I'm off two minds on the counting calories issue. First, if he is very overweight, then literally counting calories may be the only way he can learn proper portion control and balancing. On the flip side, if he is NOT very overweight, then he needs to be paying less attention to calories, and more attention to carbohydrates. Carbs are sugar. A type II diabetic is often instructed to count CARBS...not calories. If you are counting carbs correctly, then the calories drop on their own.

Now...the white rice issue. White rice is fine if a person is basically healthy, however, white rice (and potatoes) is a starch. Starches convert to sugar almost immediately upon entering the digestive system. It is a very high glycemic index food. This means it converts to sugar quickly, is quickly absorbed, and is long lasting. Short of eating pure sugar, white rice and potatoes are among the most dangerous foods for a type II diabetic to eat. Asian countries have an extremely low carb diet aside from the rice. In fact, in many meals, rice is the only item that has any carb content of any consequence. In contrast, many Hispanic countries have rice as a large portion of their diet. However, they also eat many other high carb foods. Hispanics are among those at highest risk of developing type II diabetes. So yes, white rice can be a good food, but one has to look at the entire diet in determining that. Also, if a person is already diabetic (or insulin resistant), then white rice is definitely not a good food.

My dad is also diabetic so I know this he basically can only have 1/2 to 1/3 on the carbs people can regularly eat so that's what he looks for instead of calories. (though really he should be looking for calories too but that is another issue) my step-dad is over weight, but not morbidly obese... he's just in general a big guy.

I already try to not go crazy on the starches (I have been doing so for a few years, just not literally measuring portions of food) but it just annoys me to no end to demonize food that isn't horrible. Sure, there are probably better foods out there but it's not like soda and little Debbie cakes

There are a few things I'd be willing to do to change my lifestyle, eating healthier? Sure. Measuring portions? Yeah. Hey, I'd even be willing to start a food journal even though I hate them because it insta-kills any desire to snack just because I feel like it. (because it's really embarrassing having to write that much food down). Doing all that and do the math? No thanks.

on a side note: I already know what works for me and that's "the 6 very small meals a day rather then 3 big meals." and while making sure it's not crap food not obsessively worring about the numbers on the box because that just makes me miserable. I don't even remember why I stopped doing this aside from the fact that it was inconvenient with school since you aren't allowed to eat in class.

[serafim_etal]

Originally Posted by Kaika

I already try to not go crazy on the starches (I have been doing so for a few years, just not literally measuring portions of food) but it just annoys me to no end to demonize food that isn't horrible. Sure, there are probably better foods out there but it's not like soda and little Debbie cakes

The problem is that for a type II diabetic, starches ARE like soda and little debbie cakes; the spike in blood sugar is identical. In fact, for me, a blood sugar spike from a very small portion of potatoes is actually higher than what I get if I eat a couple hostess cupcakes. When I was newly diagnosed, I had to "demonize" certain foods because that was the only way I could convince myself I didn't want to eat them. Also, it was very hard for me to be around people who were eating those foods...it made me want to eat them, too. I had to quit going out with friends for a while, and my partner could only eat those things outside of the house.

Keep in mind that being diagnosed with a chronic, life-long (very few actually reverse it once past "pre" stage) disorder that has extreme repercussions to every aspect of life, is very scary. Everyone reacts differently to fear.

[Naturefreak]

((((Kaika))))

[turquoisesea]

Best of luck!

How are you doing, Kaika?

I don't think today is a good day

How are you doing doing, Kaika?

I've been okay. I went for a walk with my puppy over at mom's the other day (she lives in the city where it is SAFE to walk your dog so I take good advantage of that)... twice kids thanked me when I didn't expect it... it was a nice surprise. The first time was when these two kids were playing lacrosse in the street and one of them I guess had a bad toss because the ball was rolling down the street. So, I just picked it up and tossed it back to the kids and they said thanks and I said "No problem". I figured they wouldn't say anything really. The second time was when a kid was riding his bike down the sidewalk (technically you aren't supposed to do that but a lot of kids around here don't feel comfortable riding their bike in the road I guess) and I just moved to the left since he was riding down the right. And when he passed by he told me thank you... which to me was sort off funny because it's just common sense for not getting run over... but I said "you're welcome" anyways.

It makes me happy when little things like that happen. Not just because they are little nice things but also because it validates my feelings about this generation not being a bunch of spoiled whiny brats stuck indoors like the popular consensus seems to be by older generations.