Real life Health problems.

[linda_joyce]

Nothing disastrous but it does explain a lot, I had my annual check up at the doctors about a month ago which included blood tests for thyroid,cholesterol, kidney function and sugar. The first two came back fine but I was called back for the second two to be done again. I've just heard from the doctor, kidney function is fine but I have adult onset diabetes otherwise known as diet controlled diabetes. Apparently the diet I'm on for my weight is much the same as for controlling the diabetes but I'm going to have to give up my treats, I shouldn't have any naked sugar, ie sugar on cerials,and in sweets and chocolate, and cut back/out on foods with hidden sugar. I can see I am going to have to start reading ingredients on tins and packets for sugar content as well as my allergies.

It doesn't come as a total surprise as this runs in the family. My Uncle Bill developed it as has his daughter cousin Jill and now me and we are the three members of the family that are most like the Thomas side of the family. So, with luck I will be half the woman I am now physically and twice the woman I am now in the terms of energy when I see some of you at Redemption next year.

Comments

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Was your diabetes test the bottle of lucosade first thing after fasting from the previous evening?

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

No just a fasting blood test, I don't think I could have coped with a bottle of lucosade first thing in the morning or at any time. I think its revolting.. Ugggh

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

I was retested for diabetes after my last blood test, but the doc thought it was probably only picking up on my breakfast. It was fast for 12 hours before the appointment and 2 hours before the appointment drink one of those 500ml bottles of original lucosade. Like you I think it's revolting and to drink it at 7am is worse. I think he described it as a glucose challenge and fortunately I passed.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

It must be something about our name, you are the only other person I know that has the same opinion as I about Lucasade.

[san-valentine.livejournal.com]

A friend was ranting on her lj yesterday about having to drink a bottle of Lucozade for a blood-sugar test endured as part of her pregnancy. She hates it too.

I've never drunk it myself, but then I've never fancied it. And no matter how fancy the rebranding, I forever associate it with those adverts aimed at housewives - 'To help you through the ups and downs of the day'.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

She wouldn't happen to be a Linda too?%P

[san-valentine.livejournal.com]

She's a Juliana - generally (and more conveniently) known as Ju

[hafren.livejournal.com]

I used to mildly adore Lucozade though I haven't drunk it for years. It's very popular up in Shetland, along with haggis and chips and macaroni cheese pies.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Haggis and chips lovely, macaroni cheese, well I've never had it as a pie but I love it and wrapping it in pastry would be wonderful I think. But I'm afraid the Shetlanders taste in food is completely destroyed by the though of Lucozade being part of the cuisine of the Shetlands puts me off visiting. %)

[clara-swift.livejournal.com]

Well, it's good to know what it is, even if it means giving up some treats :o(

Both types of diabetes are in my family. It makes me wonder about my own blood sugar...

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I think you can get a simple blood test, a prick on the thumb and the blood is put on some indicator paper, that's a pretty good indication of blood sugar. The doctor's test involves getting there at an ungodly hour of the morning to have about 50 mls. of blood on an empty stomach and waiting a week for the results. It depends on how worried you are. You could try the Diabetes UK website and check if you have any symptoms before you go and have nneedles stuck in you. However if your doctor is as thorough as mines and knows your family history he'll test you any way.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

foods with hidden sugar

Isn't that just about all pre-produced foodstuff in the Western world?

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Yes but I eat very little pre prepared stuff because all the savory stuff contains Garlic and I'm intolerant to that.(intolerance rather than allergy as my reaction depends on the amount I eat). As far as I can see I will only have to give up Heinz bakes beans and eat Weight Watchers in stead as they are the only pre prepared food I eat regularly. I will have to regulate my alcohol intake drastically, but since I drink only on holiday that shouldn't be too terrible.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'd be very careful with WW food. It's low in fat, but can be packed with sugar to compensate. That was certainly true here which causes me to avoid it.

A low-sugar, low-carb diet is much better than a low-fat one which can actually be unhealthy.

Best of all though is making meals from fresh ingredients; you know what you're eating!

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm glad you found out before it caused you any serious problems. Label reading would be a lot easier if they'd print larger!

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I agree totally, and better lighting helps too.

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

At least it is manageable and doesn't require drugs. Cutting out sweets though...very tough. I guess artificial sugars are still alright as long as there are no other hidden ingredients.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Yes but unless the 'diabetic' foods have changed radically since I tried uncle Bill's (his was severe but not bad enough for insulin) I would rather give up jams, sweets and chocolates.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Son-in-law says he has to be careful of some of sugar substitutes. They might be low cal but they bugger up your blood sugar levels.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

While waiting in the chemist formy Simvistatin script to be filled I looked the sweetners over and Canderel specifically states it is suitable for diabetics but until I see the diabetic nurse I'm just giving up sugar totally.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

This is very unpleasant but, as many say, if it doesn´t require drugs, still bearable. Ah, the treats, hmmm, pity but there are still other yummy things for you. As I got to know you, you are a fighter and you will get over it nicely finally. Good luck!(I have got my naughty diabetic husband, THAT is something!)

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

As long as the sugar substitutes have improved since the 70s, I am a pretty good cook so I can create my sweet things, and I have got used to not having chocolate once, giving up my 3 chocolate treats a week will be easier than the three a day habit I had when I first gave them up.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

You can buy sugar-free chocolate, but for some reason, it's not as creamy. It tastes fine for sweetness, but it doesn't melt in the mouth which is what chocolate should do.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Well that hasn't changed since Uncle Bill's day so chocolate is gone from my food list.

[spacefall.livejournal.com]

Gah, annoying, but it's good that you've found out and can take steps to improve things.

Hurrah for Redemption :) If you're at a loose end, there's also a small B7 meet-up near Bristol Temple Meads station tomorrow:
http://steverogerson.livejournal.com/324493.html

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I have read that but tomorrow is my dog walking day and as I haven't done any since he has been on his holidays(kennels while his people cruised)I am probably going to be too bushed to come.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Hey, how often is there a B7 meet? You can walk dogs any day!

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

It's not so much I feel I have to walk the mad aputh as I don't like driving in the dark, especially if I am a little tired. And I am more than a little shy of walking in to a group of people only one of who I have met. I will have to beat that into silence when I go to Redemption.

[javahound.livejournal.com]

Oh no! That's upsetting but hopefully it's been caught early and you can modify your diet enough so you don't need to take insulin. You may have to watch simple carbs as they break down into sugar rather quickly and can cause problems for diabetics.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

My sugar level is very close to normal thanks to the weight loss diet I am on so I don't have to see the diabetic nurse until the 31st of this month. And having looked at a recommended diet on line I am changing that slightly to increase my fruit intake and reduce the vegetable to compensate.

[javahound.livejournal.com]

That's good, in a way you self medicated by starting the diet. I hope with a few diet tweaks you have your sugar levels balanced. :)

BTW I chuckle everytime I see "Second slave to Losyn" appear in my email comments.

[inyadreems.livejournal.com]

Good that it's been picked up, so you can do something about it before problems arise. Hard work, but you'll feel much better for it.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

The weight loss diet I am on now just needed a tweak to get it to the recomended diet for Diabetes, mu sugar level, thanks to that was so close to normal I have been given an appointment in 11 days time with the diabetes nurse. They can't be that worried about me if they are leaving that long.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Bah. Sorry you've got an extra complication, but at least it sounds as if you've already made many of the changes required and can keep on top of it.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Yep, I spoke to the bloods nurse this morning when she took my blood pressure and described my diet and she was very please with what I am eating now. She only brought two things up, what cereal I eat and when I said Cornfalkes she said that's fine. The other was the spread I use on my bread and recommended a change from spreadable Anchor to Bertoli, which I will do as soon as I finish what I have.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Bertolli's the one I use on bread - with olive oil in it. And I have Jordans Crunchy Oats.