Thanks, everybody, for being so patient. Life has quetened down a bit for the moment.
Today I started on the Metaformin.
This morning I have been doing some research on what I should and shouldn't consume. I hope nobody will be offended but I really don't think I should throw myself fully at the diabetes and abandon concerns for other things and I want to try and find the right balance. I know that statins don't help diabetes and I do want to get to the stage I can abandon them but I don't think now is the time. Likewise I am permanently on a huge does of steroids which cause a lot of problems, but I can't stay out of hospital without them. I also want to lose weight as that will definitely help with a lot of things.
I have been looking at the main site here for advice on specific food items and am pleased to find that are OK that I thought wouldn't be. This saves me asking, asking and asking here, but still I have the odd question. One is about drinking squash. For many years I have drunk "no added sugar" orange squash, is that now a no-no? And what about onion? I see spring onions are recommended but have found no mention at all of the "normal" type, neither as good or bad.
Bilkbiker said above:
"You appear to be avoiding meat and fish and eggs.. three things that you can have limitless amounts of?"
There are assumptions being made here, presumably because I mentioned Quorn? If I were a vegetarian or vegan I might take offence at that comment but I am not. Nor am I a hard-core carnivore, meat isn't important in my life.
To keep the cholesterol down I am not supposed to eat red meat or processed meat, but I do in moderation. I have been severely ill several times with badly cooked white meat (not cooked by the Missus, I hasten to add). With the steroid use, I have minimal resistance to illness so what most people think is a little bit of 24 hour delly-belly lasts two to three weeks for me. So I play safe don't touch the stuff, full stop.
If it is any assurance, we now have a tradition here that I cook a hot breakfast on a Sunday morning to give some variety during these months of mundaneness and today's included bacon and a fried egg . . . along with a few things you would probably all throw your hands up in horror over.
I am also struggling deciding on the best meter to purchase. The manufacturer's various sites proudly tell you all the good things they think you want to know, but don't actually say how they are used. Nor do they seem to mention what items you will need to repeatedly buy and how often. I know somebody mentioned one above that sticks on your arm for a few weeks. Presumably it pierces the skin?
Best to all,
John
For me, going really,
really low carb has kept my blood sugars in range, or just a temporary smidge over, even when I got steroid shots in my hip and shoulder. Same with with the flu jab, which also raises my numbers. I'm currently fighting a nasty infection which has me running a fever. My blood sugars are slightly elevated, but they're still, much to my surprise, in spite of shivering while I sweat, in the normal range. (6.7 mmol/l, hallelujah, praise the meter!) And I know that makes me lucky. There are those here who require steroids daily. And they
will up blood sugars, as will, most likely, the condition that requires you to take them in the first place. And some can tackle that raise with just their diet changes, and some need a little medicinal help, be it through metformin, gliclazide and compatriots, or insulin. The steroids aren't optional, so how you deal with your diabetes will have to be a bit more flexible than if you only had that to deal with. This is again a really good reason to get one of the meters
@Rachox listed: you're going to want to measure often, so you'll need the meter with the cheapest strips. Just so you know, again, what works for you and what doesn't, and what your options realistically are. The diet'll help. How you respond to the steroids'll determine how much.
Just in case... Keep in mind your needs are unique and the more you take measurements, the more you'll know what they are. It'd also help your medical team to see what you need to keep all your conditions treated. One more thing though: Carbs are inflammatory by nature. I don't know what you're on steroids for, but if you reduce carbs, inflammation'll reduce too. I know it worked wonders for my rheumatism and IBS anyway.
Keep figuring things out in whatever way you need to, in whatever pace you need to. No rushing into anything if you don't feel comfortable eh. Oh, and onions are below-ground, and some are sweeter than others. Just don't eat a big whole one.
And I don't know what squash you're drinking, but just check the label. If it's low in total carbs, go for it.
Now please excuse me, as I seem to be burning this evening's burgers....
(I'll blame it on the fever, so it's not entirely useless.)
Jo
