Hello from Canada

Hello, I have been doing a lot of looking around on the internet since my diagnosis of Type 2 in December and so far this forum seems to be one of the better ones I have come across. As an ex-pat now living in Canada (since 1967!) I still tend to appreciate the British "no nonsense" approach to things.

It seems there is so much to take in - and I think the best advice I've been given so far is to not try to do everything all at once. So for now, I'm trying to eat a healthy diet and monitor 2-4 times a day. When the weather improves, I will start some moderate exercise (walking) and then take it from there.

It is also interesting to see how our health care systems differ. I live in a very small remote northern community. Even so, I have been referred to a local clinic where there are weekly discussions on various topics. You sign up for a topic if you are interested (foot care, medications, reading food labels, nutrition to name just a few). There was even a talk on monitors and we were told to take whichever one we thought would suit and if we didn't like that one we could come back after the test strips had run out and try another. The monitors were provided free of charge by the various companies so no direct cost to the health care system. This service may not be available in all communities, but I am thankful that it is available where I live.

Well that seems enough as an introduction. I hope to be able to ask questions and share experiences with those going through the same thing.

After a talk with the nutritionist - a healthy diet means that a quarter of your plate should be protein, another quarter a starch and the last half vegetables. This is easier said than done! And then choosing the right starches takes getting used to. Also spreading out your caloric intake throughout the day (eating smaller meals and healthy snacks - or what I call grazing). I work full time, so find it difficult to eat healthy snacks as I am often in meetings or on conference calls and no one likes to hear the sound of chewing in their ears.

Another challenge I find is taking my bs readings two hours after eating. Should that be two hours after you started your meal or two hours after you finished (I am a VERY slow eater). Also again due to work and just life schedule problems I find that I sometimes miss which makes it difficult to see if what I have eaten is as healthy as I thought it was.