[Diabetes-talk] Introduction and the first of many questions.

[Lynda Canaday]

Hello to All:

This is Lynda and I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 almost 2 months 
ago.  Because my blindness is congenital, I didn't think I could get 
this disease? condition?  My doctor says it is a disease.  I hate that 
label!  I'm having a very hard time coping with this.    Embarrassment 
is my immediate reaction to this because no one in my family has it and 
it has never been one of the things we have delt with.  Is this common 
or, am I as out of place in the world as I now feel?

I am a Classical singer and voice teacher in Kansas where I currently 
reside with my husband, Jim and our pet yellow lab, ten-year-old Darby 
who should be getting out of surgery about now.

I followed the "Weight Watchers Quick Start Plus Program when it first 
came out in the 1980s and several people in my class who were diabetics 
followed it as well.  so, I thought, "I'll just go back on that because 
it was the one version of the program that I completely understood and 
I love it!  However, this time it isn't working.  My husband has blood 
sugar problems because He takes a lot of steroids for his various very 
complicated health issues.  Although he watches his sugar he is not 
diabetic.    He says that with diabetes you count carbs not calories.  
Of course, he can't explain how it's done but, if I have a "bad 
carbohydrate, like half a bagel, he can say it's bad.  He also says 
that the Weight Watchers exchanges are different from the diabetic ones 
but he can't tell me why that is or the conversion formula if there is 
one.    Can anybody help put this right for me?  How are the exchanges 
different?  How can you tell which carbohydrates are good or bad?  How 
about portion control?  Both of us could stand to lose more than a few 
pounds which is fine with me, I would happily change whatever I need 
too in order to accomplish that.  As far as Jim goes... ask him what he 
eats in one meal and you will get the picture.  I have asked more than 
my one question.  and I have so many more about diet and nutrition, 
obtaining glucose readings or ratings.  Are there diabetic cookbooks 
available?  Where might I find them?  My doctor says that if I can drop 
the excess weight, I won't have this any more.  Is this true?  
Sometimes I can't tell if that man is joking or telling the truth.

                Some time ago when Jim ordered more sugar testing 
supplies, the company gave more than requested.  We didn't know that 
they were going to be needed so soon.  They sent him an extra Prodigy 
Meter, and enough neetles to last him for a lifetime, several lancets, 
testing solution and bottles of strips.  I have benefited from this 
bountiful supply.  After inheriting the new Prodigy Meter, two Lancet 
shooters, strips for the Meter, about thirty boxes of neetles, and 
testing solution for the strips, and a carying case I am in the process 
of figuring out just where to store things until I need them.  Learning 
to take my blood sugar before my first cup of coffee is difficult at 
best and some mornings I can't get it at all.  My diabetes educator at 
the hospital said that I have to practice taking my blood sugar in the 
same way that I practice for an upcoming performance.  If I did that, 
my fingers would be varying shades of purple and who knows what other 
colors I might turn.  I can't see myself poking my fingers for four 
hours a day just to get one silly little two or three digits to flash 
across a screen and tell me what they are.  What do they mean and why 
is it necessary to know them.           I will look forward to your 
answering as many of my questions as you can and it is my hope that 
some of us will become good friends.  I'll be watching my inbox.

Lynda