Google-maniac that I am, I began researching what kind of diet I could expect the hospital's nutritionists and diabetes professionals to force upon-I had visions of strict versions of S.A.D. (substance accounting diets) and was trying to find a way to do No S instead, remembering some old posts I'd seen that made it seem diabetic friendly.
Since Reinhard always admonishes anyone who has medical issues to remember that he is not a doctor or anything close to a medical professional, it's critical for anyone to be sure to consult the medical experts, of course. . . so I did. . . I had my first session with the diabetes specialist on Tuesday to get my little meter and learn how to poke my finger four times a day, etc. (Added a great little app to my iPod Touch where I can record all my glucose levels, food (only if I want to) and exercise then it graphs it for me and I can email it as a graph to myself or my doctor.
But the big news is about when she began to discuss eating habits! She started to tell me some people count carbs or do WW or South Beach or other things but that she knows that is intimidating and hard to keep up with.
I said,
She looked at my with a surprised expression and said,. . . ."How would it be if I make sure I eat three platefuls of food a day, avoiding snacks and sweets except for very special occasions. And for those three plates of food, I could be sure to have one-fourth of the plate be lean protein, one-fourth a starch with an emphasis on whole grains while limiting white starches-potatoes & rice, and filling the rest of the plate with non-starchy veggies and/or fruits?"
"Well, I think you've just about summed up what I was going to tell you to do-except more succinctly."
Then I explained my secret weapon and told her about No S and Reinhard, the website and the book, etc. I had to confess that although I've been doing No S for a few months, that the content/proportions what went on my three plates have been out of whack--and I hadn't lost much weight. With my diagnosis, I know now I have to do what I'll deem the "No S Diet with an (unofficial) Diabetic Twist" -- which can't officially be sanctioned by Reinhard because of liability issues. The nurse said that most likely the reason I haven't lost much on No S so far is because of the blood sugar issues. Now that I know I have to really curb the starches which I had not really been doing because I wanted to be one of the ones who can do Vanilla No S and drop the pounds.
Then the nurse gave me the form she was completing that was supposed to tell me what I should and should not eat. Instead of writing all the details she regularly writes, she actually wrote on my instruction sheet;
OMG-I had her at "hello," and didn't even realize it. I was flabbergasted -- I had expected her to say that my idea was all nice and good but to be sure to do it her way too."follow the No S Diet plan."
Needless to say, I'll be taking them one of those copies of the book that arrived today.
I was given the impression that I should feel like my diagnosis was a frightening one and they wanted to reassure me that I could handle this. But honestly, it really feels like this is the kick in the pants I needed to really get serious about my health. And since it was caught very early and my status is was nowhere near severe, I know I can handle this--especially since I can keep the "habits" I've been working to build while making the minor modifications to keep my levels at an acceptable level. The doctor is confident that I will be able to avoid having to deal with taking insulin, instead getting by with a generic drug (metformin), controlling my eating and adding a little more exercise.
I know that had I not had No S in my "toolbox," I would have been freaking out and worrying about how to handle all this. It's going to take a few weeks to get down to acceptable levels but I am positive it will happen.
Geez, Miss Long-Winded has gone and on. . . but I am so excited to share this. . . and I'd love to hear from anyone else out there who is dealing with diabetes as well.