Hello John,
Sorry I didn't respond earlier. I got halfway through a response and had to go out. I saved what I'd done, but I don't know how to retrieve it so I've started again.
My friend refers to me as 'non-practicing' diabetic simply because I eat and drink things that diabetics are not supposed to have now - things like cream in my coffee and fat steaks, and have an aversion to some of the things that we're supposed to eat, like pasta, bread and potatoes. We don't have potatoes in our house unless Aunt Bessie made them - peeling potatoes brings my hands up in a rash - have you ever tried peeling spuds with rubber gloves on?
Richard Mackarness died quite a few years ago, and his book is now out of print. I think his book was originally published in the 50's but the copy I read was a reprint mid-80's-ish. The title was something like 'Eat Fat and Get Slim' - very similar to the title of another book I've seen in the last year or five. His book made a great impression on me, and I think I managed to brain-wash myself because I automatically look at the carbohydrate content of a meal without even being aware of it.
You are quite correct about low-carbing. As said, I've been doing it on and off for about 20 years, a couple of months on and a couple of months off! I suppose that's helped keep the nasties at bay. I'm obviously going to pay a lot more attention now that I'm on insulin and can't afford to mess it all up too often. When I did it in the past, I frequently worried that I was killing myself because it was against everything that we were taught, especially in the 90's. I fretted sometimes because I thought that I was the only one. So, thanks guys, I've come in from the cold.
It may not be the case for everyone as we're all individuals, but it suits me.
I had a conversation just today with our Financial Advisor and he was pretty surprised at how long I've been diabetic without any problems, at least, none that I'm aware of!!! I should have milked it a bit more to get a bigger pension if the pension provider thinks my days are numbered. Drat! Me and my big mouth!
The only concern I have is that the doc thinks my blood pressure is a little high - 147/74 in the surgery, but when I got home and relaxed it was 129/65. That will need watching I suppose.
My daughter, also T2D, is a staff nurse on a cardiac care ward, and she reckons my genes are bomb-proof and she hopes she's got them too. So do I, I want to be a cantakerous old bag of 95 running my children and grandchildren ragged and she's got to be fit enough to cope. :twisted:
I hope this has answered your questions.
All the best,
Barb