Alcohol & Diabetes

Christmas is over .. and the New Year celebration is round the corner.  Many of you are wondering, when you are doing your new year’s party..  are you gonna be able to have your bubblies (champagne toast) right?  Talking about champagne..  i need new  kitchen faucets but that’s another story for another day.

Ok.. into more serious talks now..  so can one drink alcohol..??  According to what i know.. please don’t quote me .. it’s ok.. to have the occasional drink.  Now what do you mean by occasional drink..??  well.. during celebration.. like the new year.. and christmases.. but no more than 3 glasses .. i would say.  But if you are not into drinking.. don’t just go drinking..and burnt out your liver.. just because you think .. it will help with your blood sugar.

Power Food For Diabetes

While Mr Moo looked up for Oklahoma City lawyers for his buddy in college, i looked for power food for my diabetes. We all know that following a healthful meal plan filled with whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies, and lean protein goes a long way.

For those who are taking the baby-steps approach to eating better, this list is even more helpful. Not only are these power foods high in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals, they’re also familiar and easy to find. That means you don’t have to hunt down any exotic ingredients or shop at specialty grocery stores to find foods that will help you get on track with a healthful meal plan.

Recommended power food for people like us who has diabetes are asparagus, blueberries, red grapefruit, beans, broccoli, carrots, fish, flaxseed, cranberries,  apples, melons, nuts, oatmeal, red onions, raspberries, spinach, soy, tea, tomatoes and yogurt.  So here i have a list for you and also a reminder for myself and if you and I can keep this list in mind, we will be doing really good.  Good luck..!

Not Impressed With Doctor’s Office

So yes! we’ve gotten ourselves new doctors.. after the old one left.  I was scheduled yesterday for an appt but was 10mins late because of the snow.  Upon arrival, they told me, they had to reschedule, yes.. WHAT THE HELL …! RIGHT..??  never mind.. i was patient. .afterall, having a doctor is  better than not having any right..??  so she looked at her computer .. and did some barcode scanner and scheduled me for Wednesday.

Today, the clinic called and said they had urgent cases to see .. and had to reschedule me..??? !!!???  WTH right..??  i mean i was 10 mins late.. and you had to reschedule me.. but they can anyhow reschedule me..  and that’s alright..??  So mine is not urgent.. so can anyhow move my schedule and appt..??  my time isn’t time. .but yours is..??  Not impressed at all..!!

I guess i cannot really expect really much from the doctors .. or the clinics here.. there is just no justification in what they do.. and they don’t have to justify .. because they must think they are GODS..!!

Starch Turns Into Sugar

Many people with diabetes .. often do not realized that even without taking a handful of sugar directly or eating chocolate you are still consuming sugar.  Take for example a medium potato, it has 51 carbs. The starch turns into sugar and raises your blood sugar numbers, same for your pasta or chinese noodles and rice.

So the right way to eat your pasta and rice or potatoes.. is to make sure you only eat a fistful – yes..! yes..!! i know. you are still hungry.. if you don’t eat more pasta.. or potatoes.. it’s the same here.. but the truth is..  they do turn into sugar.  Try eating more of other stuff.. like vegies and peas. .to supplement .. the potatoes and pasta if you can.  I know it is not easy.. but you and I will get there.. i promise you.

Health Record Transfer Fees

Yes..! if you are in Canada.. or rather in my small town .. and your doctor leaves.. you have to pay to get your health record transfer.  YES..!!! HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT RIGHT..?? so say .. you have 5 children.. with the same doctor.. and each time.. a doctor leaves.. no fault of yours.. you are expected to fork out .. $25 a piece for the photocopying.. of your health history to be sent to the new doctor’s office.  So every few years or so.. you have to pay like $125 .. for nothing at all.  Just things that actually already belonging to you.

Controlling My Cravings

Yes..! of course i have cravings.. and those that i craved for .. are not sweets.. but rich food like curry chicken.. with coconut.. or char kway teow that come with lard pieces.. or chinese dumplings.  Yes.. the high cholesterol type.. and fattening.

I teach Missy Moo all about moderation .. but i am sometimes not in control. The more i deny myself of some food .. the more i craved for it.  I know you know what i’m talking about.  So here’s what i found out.

Research repeatedly shows that, in moderation, sweets can fit in a healthful diabetes meal plan. And when it comes to control, people who give themselves permission to enjoy some treats seem to crave them less.

“It’s amazing how many type 2s are eating sweets but think they shouldn’t,” says Linda M. Delahanty, R.D., director of nutrition and behavioral research at the Diabetes Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “So they just trade cravings for guilt.”

Cravings can happen anywhere, any time of year, and often when you’re least expecting them. We’ll show you how to fend them off in three circumstances: daily, before a food-focused event, and when tempting foods stare you in the face. Practice these tips, and at your next party you’ll have more control over the cake and your blood glucose, too.

“It’s important to learn when and how to give in, and when it’s better to distract yourself,” Delahanty says.

There are very few foods you can’t have, although you do have to stay within your meal-plan allowance and possibly count carbohydrates. If you really love chocolate, eat it and count it. But don’t give in to a craving for something you like but could live without.

A Miracle..??

Yes.. remember…  a friend’s mother who needed to see a gynae .. but couldn’t get a referral..??  yes..! the sad case of this town..!  but i managed to get a customer’s hubby who is the head gynae in town.. to see her.  Thank God..!!  a miracle.. no less .. i tell you.  But the friend who is not from here..  don’t know how lucky she is.. of course.  It was no easy feat.. but it was something i had to do to help..  afterall, they are not originally from here.. and has got no connection and ways to go about thing.  So yes.. ! i help… and knowing that my friend.. may not know how to show they are grateful to the doctor.. i had to come out from my own pocket to buy gifts for the doctor’s wife.. and the doctor.  Oh well.. it’s just money eh..!

Best Holiday Treats That You Can Eat

When the holidays roll around, there’s never a lack of tempting treats. For a person with diabetes, it’s important to be armed with better-for-you options that satisfy your holiday cravings. The following substitutions, while more healthful than the traditional treats, still contain calories, fat, and carbohydrates, which need to be accounted for in your daily eating plan.

Fat free Kettle Corn over Caramel Corn is highly recommended.  Popcorn is typically a healthy snack choice, but caramel corn is loaded with sugar and butter — and calories and fat. Snacking on Orville Redenbacher’s SmartPop! Kettle Korn saves many calories and carbohydrates because it’s sweetened with Splenda.

Sugar Free Hard Candies and not Caramels.  Traditional caramels are made with sugar, sugar, and more sugar, which makes them hard to work into a healthy eating plan. Trading a piece of sugar-free hard caramel candy not only saves carbohydrates and fat, it also takes longer to eat, making it a longer-lasting treat.

More to come soon.

New Doctor For Us

Yes..!! we lucked in .. we got ourselves new doctors in town..!!  hahha!! now whose getting the last laugh..??  i don’t know if he is gonna be any better than the ex-doctor.. but having a doctor is better than not having any..??  but this time.. i’m not gonna have much high hopes.. for the new doctor.. and just go with the flow.  If i really  need any advice.. i know to call home.. to get advice.. from my own doctor from home.

Holiday Weight Gain

For many ppl the holiday is the time where everyone puts on weight.  Fortunately, for me.. i’m so busy .. because of work .. Missy Moo and the house.. and cooking our regular meals.. there is just no time to binge.  Yes..! but what about those who have a more regular job..??  my advise.. ?? is to keep busy with the festivities.. and not go near the buffet table and be tempted.  For every party you are invited to..  make sure you take your regular meals.. that way.. when you do arrive at the party.. well, you only need to nibble.. and can choose healthy choices.. like a celery stick.. or a piece or two of this and that.

Not Serious About My Health

My old doctor who left late last month – accused me of not being serious of my healthy… because i keep missing my appt and didn’t do my blood test.  He seems to forget i have an online job, a store and also a kid – he forgets i don’t have a filipino maid.. or a pakistani one nor do i have a house husband .. like has has a housewife .

Yes.. blunt and without good bedside manners were some of the comments and views of his ex-patients who also happens to be our customers.  It’s bad to criticize your patient .. without even considering their feelings whatsoever.  And for someone who a year and a half ago.. didn’t wanna give me my diabetic medication .. and now doing it in full force .. *shake head* – no lost to the ppl in my small town – as far as we are concerned.

PS :  Does any doctor in the right frame of mind thinks that anyone wouldn’t be serious about their health?  only the really dumb ones.. or the ones with I DONCH CARE attitude would think that way.

Referrals From Doctors

Yes, we all know the town I lived in a kinda silly town where everything is managed badly or backwards.  The friend’s mother needed to see a gynae .. but because she doesn’t have a family doctor, she was asked to sit at the emergency outpatient to get a referral.  We all know that there are no design furniture or any comfy ones to sit for like 6 hrs at times .. and this old lady who doesn’t speak a word of english is supposed to be there on her own..?? so who can accompany her..??  Where i come from.. if you need a gynae.. you just make an appt with the gynae.. and no such nonsense.  And even though i had explained the situation to the daughter-in-law’s family doctor.. he still wouldn’t give her a darn piece of paper for a referral.  What is wrong with these doctors..???  one has gotta wonder .. seriously..!