Can I just begin by saying, I love this site!! I've lost count of the number of times I've had a query about being diabetic and found the answer (or answers, even) on here. It's reassuring to know there are others out there who have the same queries, doubts, uncertainties and struggles with their condition. On the whole I think I've found and followed the advice that's right for me.
I haven't had any obvious sugary foods since the day I was diagnosed, and going off the experiences shared by many of you good people out there, I lowered my consumption of carbs. I certainly feel a lot better although I still have my "off" days. The main benefit I've noticed is the weight loss, it seems like my clothes are getting looser and looser on almost a daily basis.
However, being out and about on a glorious day like today has, surprisingly, hit me hard. You're probably wondering why.....here's where the rant begins...
Remember how on a hot summer's day, your ears would prick up the moment you heard the slightly out of tune jingle of a passing ice-cream van, and without giving it much thought, you'd treat yourself to a large 99 or something else that was just as deliciously icy and creamy?
Well, I can't do that anymore!! I've never had a particularly sweet tooth but there's something about ice-cream and summer. It's a great combination, they were meant to be, and I was meant to indulge every now and then. Not today. Today was different, I've got my 7yr old niece with me today and she heard the ice cream van before I did. She proceeded to ask me the same obvious question that every kid, at that precise moment, was asking a nearby adult, "Can I have an ice-cream? Can I?... Can I?... Can I?".
Sure why not, I thought, it's no big deal, ok so I can't have ice-cream, so what, I've accepted I'm a diabetic, I've come to terms with it, there's no reason she can't have some. Then I had to watch her eat it, and that's when it hit me, I don't want to be a diabetic anymore, it sucks!!
I want ice-cream, not every minute of every day, just now and then, is that too much to ask for? Now I know what some of you would say, if you want ice-cream, have it, just make sure it's teeny tiny teaspoonful and only have it once every Millenium. I'm sorry but that's not good enough!!
We're meant to be the most intelligent of all species on earth, we came up with the wheel, we went to the moon, we've made contraptions out of tin that are exploring the edges of our solar system as we speak, how the hell have we not been able to produce a zero carb, zero sugar ice-cream alternative that tastes as good as a McDonalds Ice-Cream McFlurry?
Ok, forget ice-creams... for now... what about drinks? What am I meant to drink on a hot day like today? Water's great, I like water, I drink it every day, you could say I couldn't live without it but today I want something different. I want something ice-cold and non-water flavoured. The problem is most drinks being sold in shops, newsagents, supermarkets are either full of sugar which will kill me, one day, or full of artificial sweeteners, which will not only kill me, one day, but also taste like cr*p.
What about fresh fruit juice, I could drink that and it's full of natural goodness. Nope, can't go there, even fruit juice is out to get me. Plain old fruit on the other hand, I hear, isn't so bad.
Great, I love fruit, and that reminds me of being in the Carribean a couple of years ago, I had these huge slices of juicy water-melon on the beach, fantastic!! What's that you say?....it's probably a good idea for diabetics to avoid water-melons? ....And mangoes ...and most other exotic fruits....I should just stick to good old apples and bananas?....oh not banana's ...they've got it in for me too?....Great!!
Yes,I know what some of you would say. I can't know for definite if I can't eat something unless I test myself before and after consuming it. Well I can't do that because the NHS don't think I deserve to have a testing meter. "How will I know if my blood sugars are under control without a meter?" I ask them. "Just trust us", they reply, "keep on stuffing your face with bread and potatoes and you'll be just fine", they say. I think secretly they're trying to kill me. I've become a burden to them and they can't afford to take on anymore diabetics. They had a meeting to decide what cuts they were going to make to save money and my name came up.
Oh I can't take anymore of this, it's too hot, I'm sick of sipping on water. Roll on winter that's what I say....Cups of tea and hot soup....they won't kill me.....they like me....they wrap themselves around me like a cosy duvet and whisper, "We love you Josh"....
...Help me someone....I think I'm going insane.
I haven't had any obvious sugary foods since the day I was diagnosed, and going off the experiences shared by many of you good people out there, I lowered my consumption of carbs. I certainly feel a lot better although I still have my "off" days. The main benefit I've noticed is the weight loss, it seems like my clothes are getting looser and looser on almost a daily basis.
However, being out and about on a glorious day like today has, surprisingly, hit me hard. You're probably wondering why.....here's where the rant begins...
Remember how on a hot summer's day, your ears would prick up the moment you heard the slightly out of tune jingle of a passing ice-cream van, and without giving it much thought, you'd treat yourself to a large 99 or something else that was just as deliciously icy and creamy?
Well, I can't do that anymore!! I've never had a particularly sweet tooth but there's something about ice-cream and summer. It's a great combination, they were meant to be, and I was meant to indulge every now and then. Not today. Today was different, I've got my 7yr old niece with me today and she heard the ice cream van before I did. She proceeded to ask me the same obvious question that every kid, at that precise moment, was asking a nearby adult, "Can I have an ice-cream? Can I?... Can I?... Can I?".
Sure why not, I thought, it's no big deal, ok so I can't have ice-cream, so what, I've accepted I'm a diabetic, I've come to terms with it, there's no reason she can't have some. Then I had to watch her eat it, and that's when it hit me, I don't want to be a diabetic anymore, it sucks!!
I want ice-cream, not every minute of every day, just now and then, is that too much to ask for? Now I know what some of you would say, if you want ice-cream, have it, just make sure it's teeny tiny teaspoonful and only have it once every Millenium. I'm sorry but that's not good enough!!
We're meant to be the most intelligent of all species on earth, we came up with the wheel, we went to the moon, we've made contraptions out of tin that are exploring the edges of our solar system as we speak, how the hell have we not been able to produce a zero carb, zero sugar ice-cream alternative that tastes as good as a McDonalds Ice-Cream McFlurry?
Ok, forget ice-creams... for now... what about drinks? What am I meant to drink on a hot day like today? Water's great, I like water, I drink it every day, you could say I couldn't live without it but today I want something different. I want something ice-cold and non-water flavoured. The problem is most drinks being sold in shops, newsagents, supermarkets are either full of sugar which will kill me, one day, or full of artificial sweeteners, which will not only kill me, one day, but also taste like cr*p.
What about fresh fruit juice, I could drink that and it's full of natural goodness. Nope, can't go there, even fruit juice is out to get me. Plain old fruit on the other hand, I hear, isn't so bad.
Great, I love fruit, and that reminds me of being in the Carribean a couple of years ago, I had these huge slices of juicy water-melon on the beach, fantastic!! What's that you say?....it's probably a good idea for diabetics to avoid water-melons? ....And mangoes ...and most other exotic fruits....I should just stick to good old apples and bananas?....oh not banana's ...they've got it in for me too?....Great!!
Yes,I know what some of you would say. I can't know for definite if I can't eat something unless I test myself before and after consuming it. Well I can't do that because the NHS don't think I deserve to have a testing meter. "How will I know if my blood sugars are under control without a meter?" I ask them. "Just trust us", they reply, "keep on stuffing your face with bread and potatoes and you'll be just fine", they say. I think secretly they're trying to kill me. I've become a burden to them and they can't afford to take on anymore diabetics. They had a meeting to decide what cuts they were going to make to save money and my name came up.
Oh I can't take anymore of this, it's too hot, I'm sick of sipping on water. Roll on winter that's what I say....Cups of tea and hot soup....they won't kill me.....they like me....they wrap themselves around me like a cosy duvet and whisper, "We love you Josh"....
...Help me someone....I think I'm going insane.