WHY BOTHER TO REVERSE DIABETES?

Ok you've had this for a few years you get to eat pretty much what you want, the blood sugar levels aren't that bad, so far your eyes are good and your feet, well you can still walk when you feel like you want to. So why bother getting rid of Diabetes?
For one there is this:
"... people with type 2 diabetes are 83 percent more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson's than people in the general population. The study found the association between the two diseases existed for both men and women, independently of other confounding factors.

"Diabetes might increase the risk of Parkinson's disease partly through excess body weight," the researchers hypothesized, since their work showed that excess body weight was also associated with an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease. However, they concluded that more research needed to be done to fully understand the mechanisms behind this link.

My mother recently died of complications of her disease, she used to tell me that when her blood sugar was over 200 she felt better, she lost her tester and quit testing, her insulin intake was hit and miss, she ate her fill of starchy carbs and sugars. Then after years of walking on painful feet, she had to have pieces her feet removed, and several roto-rooterings; including grafts for groin arterials and shunts, she got a terrible blood infection her weakened body just couldn't fight. And after lingering for weeks in terrible pain finally passed on. My Husband's brother is blind from Diabetes. Heart disease and strokes are rampant amongst diabetics, also; Diabetic nephropathy,Diabetic neuropathy, Peripheral vascular disease,Hyperlipidemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease

THAT'S WHY I BOTHER TO REVERSE IT!

So, What helps? Cinnamon, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Milkthistle, Peanut butter?

Harvard Study Shows Half Serving of Peanut Butter
or Full Serving of Peanuts Eaten Daily Significantly Cuts Risk
of Type 2 Diabetes


The study shows women who eat five tablespoons of peanut butter each week can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by almost 20%. Further, the relationship between consuming peanut butter, peanuts and other nuts and type 2 diabetes is linear -- higher consumption provided a greater protective effect. The group of women consuming a half serving of peanut butter or a full serving of peanuts and other nuts one to four times per week had a 16% reduced risk of developing the disease. This large population study includes over 83,000 female nurses who were followed for an average of 16 years in the Brigham and Women's Hospital-based Nurses' Health Study. The women in the study completed food frequency questionnaires approximately every four years between 1980 and 1996, and had no history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer.
They also go one to say

"According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of type 2 diabetes have tripled in the last 30 years. Over 17 million people in the United States alone have diabetes, while 16 million more are at high risk of developing the disease."

So, if one believes this and replaces red meats and processed foods with a teaspoon of peanut butter a day Diabetes can possibly be avoided, but What if we already Have Diabetes?

Accordingly "Low Glycemic Index Foods Such as Peanut Butter is very beneficial and any major brand is good".

"Non-insulin-dependent diabetes commonly goes into remission with proper diet, weight loss and exercise. The glucose in low glycemic index foods, such as peanut butter, is digested more slowly leading to a gradual increase in blood sugar. For this reason, low glycemic index foods are recommended to help control both non-insulin-dependent and insulin-dependent diabetes

The diet recommended for diabetics is not a "special" diet. It is the same kind of healthful eating plan that is recommended for everybody - high in fiber and low in sugar and fat."

My favorite late night snack is celery and peanut butter, my dogs vie to get their share and trust me it's not the celery they want.

Cinnamon? This is what the American diabetes Association says
A few recent studies have suggested that cinnamon improves blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes...

The quantities of cinnamon involved were much larger than traditionally used in cooking and seasoning. The studies are interesting, however, and may point the way to further research.


Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful antioxidant that is currently being evaluated for its ability to treat a wide range of health problems. Anecdotal evidence and results from animal and laboratory studies indicate that alpha lipoic acid is likely to be highly effective in several areas, but more results from human clinical trials are needed before definitive conclusions can be made. However, at this stage, there seems to be little doubt that ALA has a significant role to play in at least one area of medicine—diabetes.

One of the serious side effects for approximately one third of diabetes sufferers is a painful condition known as diabetic neuropathy. The symptoms are due to damaged nerves, particularly in the lower extremities, which can eventually lead to amputation. The nerve damage is thought to be due to the action of free radicals, and it occurs because of poorly controlled blood sugar level over a long period of time.


Alpha Lipoic Acid-Neutralizes free radicals.Helps regenerate Vitamins C and E increasing their effectiveness in scavenging free radicals.Used since the 1960’s in Europe for its positive effects on blood sugar levels. Key to proper metabolism of glucose in the cell. Helps limit aging effects of free radical damage. Positively affects the metabolism, leading to increased energy. Easily absorbed and beneficial to brain health. Available in 100 mg and 250 mg size capsules.



Blood Sugar Formula contains all the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, herbs, and amino acids traditionally used to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Each ingredient in the Blood Sugar Formula is carefully chosen for its unique properties and its positive effects on blood sugar levels. Included in the formula are Chromium, Bitter Melon Extract, Juniper Berries, Gymnema sylvestre, guggul and much more. Blood Sugar Formula combines the latest research with the highest quality ingredients. The result is a high quality, yet very economical solution for meeting your health needs.

Milk Thistle
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
on Tuesday, October 31, 2006
An extract made from milk thistle seeds may help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes...
after taking the tablets for four months, the milk thistle group showed better blood sugar control and cholesterol and triglyceride levels. (TriglyceridesTriglycerides are a type of blood fat.)


MILK THISTLE~Supports healthy liver function. Powerful antioxidants work in the liver and kidneys scavenging free radicals. May have a protective effect on the liver.
Turmeric and Artichoke extracts are added for additional synergistic benefits.

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minerals essential to relieve Diabetes
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A lack of chromium can result in Type-2 Diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Dr. Walter Mertz, former director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center, established that GTF chromium consists of chromium bound to the B-vitamin, niacin. ChromeMate® is a unique form of oxygen-coordinated niacin-bound chromium. The American Diabetes Association says this"If you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, it could be causing problems with your glucose control. For instance, one study found that taking the trace element chromium improved glucose control in subjects who had a chromium deficiency."



Magnesium and potassium can be utilized by physically active individuals to support electrolyte levels in the body. Taurine, a free form amino acid antioxidant, is a cell membrane stabilizer. Taurine enhances the effects of magnesium and potassium because taurine aids osmoregulation (maintenance of proper concentration of ions).

Magnesium is an important mineral that helps the body to complete hundreds of functions, including making and controlling insulin. It also plays a role in lowering inflammation in the body. Headaches and muscle pain, for example, can occur when magnesium levels in the body are low. From the American Diabetes Association.

a Multi-mineral

Minerals are divided into two classes: macrominerals and trace minerals. Macrominerals are needed in larger amounts than trace minerals. Our formula includes the macrominerals calcium, magnesium and potassium. Important trace minerals in our supplement are iron, iodine, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium and boron. Many of the minerals are chelated which means they have been bonded to a protein molecule. This helps transport them to the blood stream and enhances absorption at the cellular level.Contains a complete mix of minerals necessary for good health. Keeps cells healthy and reproducing properly.
Necessary for proper nerve function. Helps keep the immune system strong.
Includes 1,000 mg of calcium per serving. Vanadium has shown promise in research trials helping the body achieve healthy sugar levels. It may help promote healthy glucose levels in people with a lack of sensitivity to insulin by increasing this sensitivity. Because of this, Vanadium compounds have been termed "insulin-mimetic."
Vanadium containing compounds have also recently been indiciated in their ability to help promote healthy cellular replication in the body.

Manganese is a mineral found in large quantities in both plant and animal matter. Only trace amounts of this element can be found in human tissue, however. Manganese is predominantly stored in the bones, liver, kidney, and pancreas. It aids in the formation of connective tissue, bones, blood-clotting factors, and sex hormones and plays a role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar regulation. Manganese is also necessary for normal brain and nerve function.

From the American Diabetes Association
"The researchers wanted to see if there was a link between vitamin D and calcium intake and getting type 2 diabetes. Over the course of 20 years, over 4,800 women developed type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that a combined intake of over 1,200 milligrams of calcium and over 800 units of vitamin D was linked with a 33% lower risk for type 2 diabetes (as compared to women who took much smaller amounts of calcium and vitamin D). The results show that consuming higher amounts of vitamin D and calcium help lower the risk for type 2 diabetes in women."

Genetically modified foods

Did you know that Many other countries won't buy foods grown or processed in the US? Do you know why? It's because 7 out of 10 items you buy in our grocery stores are GM foods. They are in:
-Cooking oils
-Boxed cereals
-Grain products
-Frozen dinners
-Many corn products and soy products are GM.
-Mice don't like them,[does that tell you something?]
-GM crops when grown will,do and HAVE cross-pollinated with other crops.
-One Swiss biotech company mistakenly sold U.S. farmers an unapproved GM corn seed; tons of the experimental corn was sold between 2001-2004
-A GM corn, approved only for animal use, got into taco shells and chips and resulted in recalls, lawsuits and public uproar.
-There’s no system for tracking or reporting associated health problems caused by GM foods.
-Much of the rice crop has already been contaminated in the south US by GM crops.
-GM crops have cost the United States an estimated $12 billion in farm subsidies, lost sales and product recalls due to transgenic contamination
-Contrary to the claims of proponents, GM crops have not been proven safe.
-One chemical company was given permission to grow, yes, right out in the open, rice modified with HUMAN DNA!!![Does anyone remember where Ebola got it's start?[cannibalism] Why cows got mad cow disease? [again cannibalism, feeding cows bone meal,cows are herbivores they don't eat any meat!]
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DANGERS OF GM FOODS
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-increase instances of cancer
-lung damage
-dangers allergies
now I'm glossing over all the details, but I am providing all the links so you can read this for yourself.
Here are some of the companies that are producing GM foods and who are insisting they are good for you.
-Kraft Foods
-Monsanto
-DuPont- Why are chemical companies dabbling in foods?
-Phillip Morris- does anyone remember during the congressional hearings on the dangers of smoking how Tobacco companies kept insisting that they didn't know cigarettes were harmful or addictive?
-Monsanto
-DuPont
A report issued by the Department of Agriculture's own auditor stated that the department has failed to regulate field trials of genetically engineered crops adequately, thereby raising the risk of unintended environmental consequences.
Failed to Notice Violations
The report found that regulators failed to notice rules violations, inspect planting sites, or make sure that GM crops were destroyed following the field trials. In many cases, regulators had no idea where field trials were even as they granted permits for them.
AND NO ONE REALLY KNOWS, IN THE FACE OF SO FEW TESTS WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE ON OUR COLLECTIVE HEALTH?

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WHAT CAN WE DO?
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1) Avoid Processed Foods. As you learned, 75 percent of processed foods contain GM ingredients. There are many reasons why processed foods are not optimal for your health -- for instance they often contain trans fat, acrylamide and little nutritional value -- so avoiding them will not only help you to cut back on the amount of GM foods you are consuming, but will also boost your health.

2) Read produce and food labels. GM soybeans and corn make up the largest portion of genetically modified crops. When looking at a product label, if any ingredients such as corn flour and meal, dextrin, starch, soy sauce, margarine, and tofu (to name a few) are listed, there's a good chance it has come from GM corn or soy, unless it's listed as organic.

3) Buy organic produce. Buying organic is currently the best way to ensure that your food has not been genetically modified. By definition, food that is certified organic must be free from all GM organisms, produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers and from an animal reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs.

4) Look at Produce Stickers. Those little stickers on fruit and vegetables contain different PLU codes depending on whether the fruit was conventionally grown, organically grown or genetically modified. The PLU code for conventionally grown fruit consists of four numbers, organically grown fruit has five numbers prefaced by the number nine, and GM fruit has five numbers prefaced by the number eight.

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''We simply do not have enough reliable scientific evidence on their safety to be able to make a valid decision as to whether there are potential health effects or not.''

Charles Saunders, chairman of the British Medical Association's public health committee
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YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, have you heard that before?
So far it has been the watchdog Scientists and [MD] Doctors who study Natural medicines who have been warning us about GM foods, but they were the ones who taught conventional medicine about the dangers of Cholesterol years ago.
I remember reading a short story about a group of teenagers at a future time in a special school, It was told from the viewpoint of one of the girls. Her Diary was the story. She'd tell us each day what they did at the school and how they were taught. Every single day she would talk about the film they saw on training dolphins. Then they had a film on how the food supply was safe to eat. The School children were fed something called foodah, a genetically modified food source. Different entries described food riots the teens witnessed; confused as to why people were fussing about not having enough to eat when there was a plentiful supply of foodah, and didn't the film they saw today explain it was very healthy, They also got to see a film about training dolphins.
Each day's entries were eerily similar, underlining the point that what one eats determines not just their health but also their ability to think. Ok, this was science Fiction but it mirrors our modern society.
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bibliography
-U.S. Faulted for Scant Oversight on GMOs
http://www.mercola.com/2006/jan/28/feds_faulted_for_scant_oversight_on_gmos.htm.

-The Damage GM Foods Can do to Your Body
http://www.mercola.com/2005/dec/8/the_damage_gm_foods_can_do_to_your_body.htm

-The False Promise of GM Crops Never Realized
http://www.mercola.com/2006/mar/2/the_false_promise_of_gm_crops_never_realized.htm

-Genetically Modified Foods, Inc.
http://www.mercola.com/2003/jan/1/gm_foods.htm

-Warning -- GM Food Linked to Cancer
http://www.mercola.com/2007/mar/8/warning----gm-food-linked-to-cancer.htm

-50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Foods
http://www.cqs.com/50harm.htm

-Featured Report:
Genetically Modified Crops and Foods (I-00) Full Text[by the way this is a report from the AMA. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13595.html

-GM food banned at Monsanto canteen
http://www.urban75.org/archive/news099.html

-EUROPEAN UNION BANS GM FOODS, BRITAIN FOLLOWS
http://bioquest.org/llnsta/gmfoods.html

-Pro-USA Corporations Embarrassed as Sri Lanka Bans GM Foods-Genetically Modified Foods Banned as Unsafe http://www.progress.org/gene65.htm

-Ban These GM Foods Now
a GM pea led to the creation of a novel protein which caused inflammation of the lung tissue of mice.

-Rice with human genes to be grown in US- a pro GM food site
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/gm-food
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/322566/ban_these_gm_foods_now/index.html?source=r_health
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Keeping track of my prgress I've officially lost 25 pounds without drugs or fake foods from expensive 'plans', And my blood sugar is down to 'normal' levels. I pretty much stay below the 125 magic diabetic number, often the evening reading is well below that. I take 10 units of insulin twice a day.

why am I diabetic?

From what I've read in Dr Julian Whitaker's book REVERSING DIABETES, and my own experience, statistics I've read and different articles I've seen over the years there is a definite predisposition towards getting diabetes from genetics, but it can be averted if we eat much less fats, and sugars.

I believe overloading the body with fats [meats,trans] and sugars will cause the way too much storage of fats in the cells, and when we age a bit the body can no longer take in more and we become resistant to the natural way a human being is supposed to deal with sugar conversion, in short we become allergic or rejection of insulin released occurs. Why we'd take more insulin when our own naturally-manufactured insulin is being rejected by our digestive systems seems off to me. It is necessary however, or we get really sick. Perhaps there is a precursor of insulin released by our pancreas that is converted improperly to utilize the intake of glucose.

Now that we are both confused, I know why I got diabetes. I was a confirmed carnivore. I especially loved pork. I can no longer digest it so I stay away from more than a bite or two of it. Now, of course I eat NO red meats, and don't let the advertising fool you pork is a 'red' meat. It's white color is fat; fat, f-a-t and more FAT, Pigs have fat inside each cell. My digestive system, as vulnerable as it is from Candidiasis just won't, it just quits on me. It wants to do that anyway from the IBS, I take heaps of Psyllium fiber and flax seed oil each day.

I know I'm repaying a debt of many years of eating abuse. My favorite meal a few decades back was nachos; tortilla chips, ground beef, Jalapeno peppers and mounds of cheese, None of which helped me be healthy. Before that I dined daily on fried Chicken. I can hardly believe I'm alive. especially since I just quit exercising.

But I am A-L-I-V-E and I'm doing so much better. For the last ten years I've felt myself going downhill rapidly, I hurt all over, I was getting fatter and fatter, all the muscle of my youth was replaced with lard. I was also rapidly losing strength, I used to be quite strong but got to where I was using handicapped aids to open jars, to grip, to hold things etc.

weight loss, help for diet and exercise;why am I diabetic?

I'm not what you'd call consistent, especially in the exercise department. Some days I go like a ball of fire getting so much done it's nearly unbelievable. Other days I can barely get out of bed. This is one of my in between days, It's not that there aren't hundreds of things to do, I just am having trouble getting going.

However, that said, I'm still losing weight, I've lost a total of 25 pounds in just over two months. My clothes fit better, I generally do have more energy, and I'm not feeling deprived by a very low calorie diet[speaking of which; the two chocolate bars in my desk drawer have completely lost their temptation lure]. Since I don't have the first clue how to count calories I really don't know what I'm taking in calorie-wise. I stay close to the non-inflammatory food list, eat in moderation and hold way down on sugars and starchy carbs, and even farther down in fats of any kind and zero trans fats. How can I say that? Because I do not eat prepared foods.

I get more flavor from slow-cooking than from sugar/fat/salt. I use chicken stock from boiling chicken for my dogs to enhance the flavors of some dishes [fat removed, of course] I use spices and herbs to give my food more appeal. I cook with much less carbohydrate starchy stuff like potatoes and pasta. And the surprising thing is my husband, except for his overwhelming love for red meats [argh,argh, ARGH]is pretty much on my diet also.

Generally I'll eat chicken breasts and 'pinjur' sauce while he eats steaks and fries, but the soups I make, and by the way soups are a great diet food, are made without any pasta, rice or potatoes.

Remember the vegetables you cook are much less nutritious than those eaten raw or almost raw. The fresh stuff has enzymes we desperately need for digestion of our foods, also the vitamin and mineral content of vegetables is lost by heat.

OK my question is this. The very definition of type II diabetes is insulin resistant diabetes, so it's not really a disease but a condition [no germs causing the body to quit making insulin, no pancreatectomy[??} so the body Can't produce any insulin, no genetic anomalies causing the body to quit making insulin, just the body putting up ramparts and fortifications against the insulin it produces.] Resistant means the body doesn't want it, so why add MORE insulin to fix the problem? If it's something the body is rejecting it; adding more can cause problems, right? So, I need to make my body love the insulin it produces, not build up barriers against it.
We'll pick up here on Monday. I'm going to do some research in the meantime.

Pycnogenols? Oh yeah!

I do lots of study on the subject of health, I got the following url this morning because I'm on so many mailing lists, we've known about the pycnogenols for a long time, now we see that the studies are in and it's confirmed, this is a valuable tool in getting rid of Diabetes. How can we NOT take it?
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"A study published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice reveals that a French maritime pine tree extract known as Pycnogenol® delays the uptake of glucose from a meal in a significant manner, preventing the typical high glucose peak in the blood stream after a meal. The study showed that the pine bark extract is extremely potent when it comes to suppressing carbohydrate absorption in diabetics.
“Diabetes mellitus type II is a serious disease with rising prevalence,” said Dr. Petra Hogger, a lead researcher of the study. “This study is crucial for those suffering with the disease because it supports the abundance of other research done on Pycnogenol and diabetes.”"
more...
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Standardized extract from French Maritime Pine Bark to insure the highest quality.
Powerful antioxidant is 20 times more powerful than Vitamin C and 50 times more powerful than Vitamin E. Supports a healthy cardiovascular system.
buy here, for a great deal

Oh and today with all the energy I have from eating right I did this, it took about 20 minutes.
A new set of windchimes for my garden, I can't wait to get my new plants in the ground and start seeing how beautiful my garden can be!

CHITOSAN

I have to tell you I've been cheating for the last few weeks, I've had cocoa several nights a week. I believe the key is moderation not abstinence, I can occasionally eat foods off the best foods list to keep myself happy, I am just changed from living to eat; to eating to live. Just once I'd like to gorge but I remember how sick I'd be afterwards so I won't do it. I really believe this:fat blocker with chitosan really helps me, if I accidentally get a few extra grams of fat in a meal. This way a [one,that is 1] slice of pizza or just a bit of butter on my [1/2 of a small] potato won't throw me over the edge.

more diabetic problems

Someone mentioned I never said anything about drinking lots of water; DRINK LOTS OF GOOD FILTERED WATER.
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Before I started this diet to reverse diabetes I took a course of candiasis treatment.
I took this product as a couple of drops twice a day in a glass of water

Fungal/yeast problems are endemic in diabetes. Some suffer from Thrush, or frequent vaginal infections, and don't get me started on Athletes foot. For a group least likely to get the smallest amount of exercise, Athletes foot is rampant.
Candidate puts all of that in remission. I highly recommend it.

I've had a real problem with this all my life and have developed some strategies for coping. For me, Candida has manifested mostly in digestive problems. I have IBS and as the commercials say,"with constipation". I have had to take extra fiber all my life to facilitate elimination. This product is especially effective because it is psyllium fiber with several very good and specifically helpful herbs added in. So, when Science finally discovered fiber to be of benefit to our health, I was already taking lots of it. I take flax seed oil to aid the fiber and to rid myself of the inevitable free radicals flesh is heir to these days.

If fiber just isn't quite enough to remove the sludge the bowels can accumulate and you need a real colon cleanse I take this one. Bowtrol Colon Cleanse. A good colon cleanse should be done at least once a year. They say death begins in the colon so a good clean colon can really reduce the toxins one has to endure from within, I can't help you much if you are working in a smelter or smoking.

If the problem has gone even farther and worse you might be likely to have hemorrhoids. I personally take I know this one really works, in fact I know from experience all the products I have recommended really do function as they are advertised.

I feel confident in giving advice as even though I'm post-menopausal [and you
ladies will understand just how very hard it is to lose weight at this stage]I've actually lost 25 pounds in less than two months. This is a miracle folks, and I say this in all humility. This came from information God provided for me in the form of natural-minded Medical Doctor's advice.

I haven't written for a few days because I've had a cold and wimp that I am I've been lazy. Am I taking any medicine? No, I had extra garlic but that's about it, I haven't had much sleep either a family 'emergency' has kept my stress levels high but it hasn't reflected in my blood sugar, YAY! I'm getting well!
I did go to my regular doctor's appointment, but I didn't get to see the doctor who started all this, I wanted to thank him for challenging me, but maybe in September when my next appointment is I will be totally diabetes-free, but I've learned so much about how to eat lately that when I go back to eating I will only eat foods that are best for me. I ran across a list of non-inflammatory foods the good ones and worst ones, pain free foods. This way you can look at this list for yourself and decide what's for dinner.
Oh here's another and maybe easier list to check, food chart for inflammatory diseases-best and worst This one I printed out and use as my handy reference.
I hope this will help.
Remember garbage in-garbage out. I can't expect to be healthy if I don't give myself the building blocks that enable my body to heal itself.

keeping myself healthy in the face of failing sight and kidney damage, other diabetic problems

One of the things I've worried about a lot is my eyes, I'd hate to go blind, I'm a writer and an artist, How could I do that anymore if I couldn't see? Diabetes threatens my sight and I take special supplements to keep my sight.
Bilberry Assists the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye, in adjusting quickly to both darkness and light.
Contains anthocyanosides which enhance microcirculation in the body.
Common treatment for retinopathy.
Long-term use of bilberry helps improve nearsightedness and visual acuity.
May help in lowering cholesterol.
Contains 60 mg of standardized bilberry fruit extract as well as red grape skin extract and citrus bioflavonoid complex, which work synergistically to enhance the benefits of bilberry.
Bilbery Supplements


I protect my Kidneys with Milk Thistle complex
Supports healthy liver function.
Powerful antioxidants work in the liver and kidneys scavenging free radicals.
May have a protective effect on the liver.
Turmeric and Artichoke extracts are added for additional synergistic benefits.
I find that supplements are a cheaper and safer alternative to prescription medication for symptomatic relief.
Every evening I take GABA to help me sleep, it also helps to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure and aids in memory functions, it is the precursor to Human growth hormone; the stuff your brain uses to manufacture HGH.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an important amino acid neurotransmitter in the brain. It regulates brain nerve cell functions and has been referred to as the brain's natural calming agent. GABA
This is also called the real Fountain of Youth as the Pitutary gland produces less and less of HGH as we age. My hair color is reverting back to the pale blonde I had in my youth from the coarse grey hairs I've been sprouting, sigh.

not feeling very good today, but I'm still on course

After yesterday's debacle, I'm really sleepy and sore today. I also have a chest cold. So, now I can say to everyone, DO NOT take speedy diet pills. It's not worth it, I had a bad heart rate last night and very high blood Pressure, I didn't sleep one night and worked like an idiot yesterday. For a few hours I felt good but then I just felt jittery. My blood sugar is still down in the normal range. I won't be working today, I did make a nice healthy turkey soup, I enjoy eating the left overs for lunches. I know I really need to eat more raw vegetables but I'm still working on getting my protein [I don't eat any red meats I'm talking about all proteins] intake lowered, Baby steps.
Ok so I'm working on getting healthier, I will be working on my wrinkles and saggy skin.

I've checked it out and I found some good ideas:
HYDRODERM original + moisturizer NEW!
Hydroderm adds collagen, moisturizes, reduces the appearance of wrinkles: patented technology delivers collagen directly to the skin, without painful injections
smoother skin,TRY IT FOR FREE!

and
Body Shape™ Helps smooth skin's appearance
reduce appearance of CELLULITE, TRY IT FOR FREE!

I ran out of my fat blocker, so I went to Wal-mart to buy some more, Guess what? They had no chitosan by itself, I had to buy a Stacker with chitosan and caffeine, But it was a lot of caffeine. I got no sleep last night and today I took another and was so speedy I did a week's worth of work in just 7 hours. I had my doctor's appointment and my blood pressure was high, I couldn't convince the doctor that it was high because of the caffeine [I haven't had any caffeine for a year].
Here is a much better solution for a fat blocker, Designed to support a low-fat diet and exercise program.
Economical formula is much less expensive than buying all the individual products.
Contains no ephedra.
Includes a carb blocker (Phase 2), an appetite suppressant/fat burner (Citrimax) and natural stimulants (green tea and citrus fruit peel extract).
This one is safer for those with lots of allergies.
Healthy Weight Formula by Vitabase

I had some cocoa with some canned milk in it to calm me down and I'm much less jittery now. I just hope I can sleep tonight. See what I finished today?

I have to buy the market umbrella and wheels for it, but it's finished for now.
I have one more shop project left; an arbor of bamboo.
My blood sugar was 111 tonight. YAY!

Have a great night.

Diabetes complication: infections

I don't know about you but I get athletes foot like crazy, and the itching drives me there quickly. It seems to start inside my skin and I try to scratch it out, I had one bad one on one foot that lasted forever [longer than a year]. I tried everything in the drugstore to 'cure' it; creams only make it worse, no matter what the ingredients, I think the cream medium just feeds the wetness required to exacerbate the fungus amongus. I sent to England for Dr. Whitefield's ointment, a clear unguent that hurts but cures!! Not any more it doesn't; I sent to India for Neem because I'd heard that Neem kills fungus and other stuff, it does, I use it in my garden pest sprays, but it didn't touch the AF, Oh dear, now what?

I just happened to read an article on Hydrogen Peroxide, What? a simple thing like that works on AF, I didn't believe it but tried it anyway, Well, I'm here to tell you... IT WORKS. I use a goodly drizzle whenever that maddening itch shows up. And guess what? It works to clean up the mouth too, AND whiten teeth, I put about a tbs. of it in my mouth for about 10 minutes or until I just HAVE to spit and it really cleans my breath and it's whitening my teeth.

But I digress, I have heard that Hydrogen Peroxide really works to heal foot sores too, but I think you'd have to soak in it.
Here is a product that really helps to clear up infection from the inside: a safe antibiotic:

Can't take pharmaceutical Antibiotics? Drugs just too Harsh? Try Nature's AntibioticsAs always onward and upward, My blood sugar levels are in a normal range consistently. YAY!

exercise-hard to get

I need to exercise but winter is hard to find good excuses to be busy and keep moving. I've been working in my shop building things for outdoors.

Here is one thing I made: It's a seat to put plants on and use as contrast for my garden plants.

and here's another:

This is my new potting bench, it has no legs, just braces so I can more easily get to our water faucet. the height is good so I won't hurt my back and our container of potting soil will fit under it. The bamboo on top will keep the soil from collecting on it. As you can see I need to paint my house, [OH goody, more exercise!]

In summer I garden and get lots of exercise, I have at least a half an acre of grass for one, I mow it every week. I also have over 650 square feet of gardens that need new plants all the time, lots of weeding, digging, watering and transplanting, bending and moving I get plenty of exercise to keep my body healthy. I'm busy re-paying my exercise debt, for all the years since I was injured that I've sat around.

Really you can get rid of Diabetes

How to Finally Make Diabetes Disappear Good news since nearly 20 million people [in the US] already Have Diabetes and 45 million are pre-diabetic and many many [half?] don't know they have it.
The News media has recently been informing us that obesity is epidemic in this country, what to do? What to do? Because it's actually obesity that Causes type 2 diabetes.
The definition of type 2 is non-insulin dependant diabetes, so why are we taking insulin? All the extra insulin we take to "control" our blood sugar can be dangerous to us. It can cause : heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, obesity and many other so-called diseases. Oddly there isn't one on that list I'm eager to have for my very own.
I can't see having this expensive, to my body and my pocketbook, disease. Yes, it is hard work to change my mind and my taste buds, to exercise when I don't want to, but it's so worth it.
If you are struggling with the effects of this awful disease, check out some help here:
Contains essential vitamins, minerals and herbs (including bitter melon, gymnema sylvestra, and guggul) traditionally used to regulate blood sugar levels
OR
Restore health and vitality
Maintain healthy blood sugar levels,Promote healthy pancreatic functioning
Optimize the body's receptiveness to other remedies by improving systemic functioning and metabolism
OR
Optimum Diabetics Health supplement provides essential nutrients that may be lacking due to the strain diabetes can often put on the body's health. Each serving provides a complete, full potency formulation of vitamins, minerals and Alpha Lipoic Acid.With Alpha Lipoic Acid - May Help Maintain Glucose Metabolism

blood testing/looking forward to my next doctor visit

OK, today I had my lab tests so I'd have them ready for my doctor's visit next Wednesday evening. I told the nurse I was a hard stick, but she said she found an easily stabbed vein, HA! She ended up digging around in my arm with the needle, At least it didn't hurt there. The next spot she tried DID hurt, but it got right into the blood vessel. The blood a deep black-red spurted right up into the tube. They took the requisite two quarts, [just kidding] and I'm set to face the doctor who said I could not control my diabetes with food and exercise.
I'm not exactly right on track yet, but I know soon I will be.

DIET AND EXERCISE: Staying on maintainance diet/ blood sugar stays on track

I guess I'm going to go back on the 1000 calorie diet and get lots more exercise I need to lower my blood sugar readings to under 100, not just under 120. I read recently a very good article on the subject.Diet or Exercise Which One Works Better to Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes and Diabetics Must Repay Their Exercise Debt. Even the New England Journal of Medicine has acknowledged exercise and diet (ideally based on your body's unique metabolic type), working hand-in-hand, can completely eliminate diabetes. Because let's face it we didn't get sedentary,fat and diabetic by exercising and being fit.
Over and over I see that changing our eating habits and getting exercise, even changing just a little can have great benefit to our health, and especially for diabetics. SO, IF YOU WANT TO REVERSE DIABETES THIS IS HOW"
>reduce weight (by 5 percent or more)
>redice fat intake (to less than 30 percent of energy intake)
>reduce saturated fat intake (to less than 10 percent of energy intake)
>increase fiber intake (to at least 15 g per 1,000 kcal)
>increase exercise (to at least 30 minutes per day)

OK, you say but all that calculation... How many calories is this? What percentage is 4 grams of fat to 1,200 calories?... is enough to make you crazy. Please, this is your health, cut way back and see how it helps, if you overdo one day; under-do the next. You have Too much fat at Lunch? Eat a tiny Dinner. How hard can that be? Lose weight, and trust me on this, eating less fat and nearly no sugar and you will see those pounds slide right off.

My neighbor was on a diet and went to her butcher. "I want 18 pounds of ground Chuck" she said.
The Butcher gets out the meat and grinds it up, piles it on a paper on the scale and starts wrapping. "No", she said. "I don't want to buy it, I just lost 18 pounds and I wanted to see what it looked like."

This is what I tell myself:
It's your life, what is your decision? Do not make this someone Else's problem, You are entirely responsible for your health in this regard. Make the right choices and reap the benefits.

Another article on the relation of exercise and disease.
I am hoping to hear from you about your experiences with Diabetes and how you are doing blood sugar-wise.

sugar versus sugar substitutes/free insulin

Today I want to talk about sugar substitutes. I am old enough to remember cyclamate and the huge flap it created when it was banned I also remember saccharin, and I must have drunk gallons of pop with that in it

Now we have Aspartame, I chew one piece of gum and I get sores lined up all along the sides of my tongue, I shudder to think of what is happening to the rest of my digestive system. Brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma are known problems associated with it's use. I had a good friend who was diagnosed with bowel lesians a very painful condition and her doctor told her to stay AWAY from Aspartame. I've also read a connection with Lupus-like symptoms and the use of Aspartame. Well, that's enough for me! The good old FDA says it's safe so it's safe right? Ok, you decide, it's your body, maybe it is best to eliminate sweetness altogether. White sugar has cumulative effects, and raises the blood sugar but it's not even as bad as fat is for raising blood sugar.
My blood sugar readings are consistantly in the low 120's now, I'm on 10 units twice a day, soon I'll be taking 5 units. I have 1 week to go before I go back to see the doctor who told me I couldn't do it. We'll see how it goes, I need to get my lab work done in the next couple of days anyway, He was very nasty to me anyway because my diabetes was diagnosed by a [LOWLY] nurse rather than a real honest-to-goodness D*O*C*T*O*R!!!!![READ: GOD]
This really does bear repeating, if you are having a hard time paying for your prescriptions, Here is a wonderful site to find help in buying your prescriptions, I get my insulin FREE! I have a coupon to get four vials for free. If you are struggling just go to this site and get help PLEASE!

anti-oxidents and other controversies

By now most people have heard about the JAMA 'study' saying that anti-oxidant's are dangerous. My understanding of this study was that they used only negative studies results, only ones using elderly people with really severe diseases, and using only synthesized supplements. Let's be real folks, the FDA as we all know is made up of special interests groups including drug companies and drug lobbyists. Do you think they might have any vested interest in getting you to buy, buy, buy their expensive drugs? Now add to that the AMA has interests in the status quo,to wit: "Everything is a disease that needs drugs [you do know don't you that the pharmaceutical companies give Doctors big money incentives to prescribe their medications, especially the newest ones that don't have a nice generic,cheaper, substitute] all these people's livelihoods, FDA, AMA, and drug companies are bound up in finding that you NEED the latest $100.-a-pill drugs.
Here is an audio file that explains this better than I can
I try to understand the complicated and technical language of the studies I find, and put it in easy to understand form for you [and me!]. See also the audio file in my profile.

Any time Anyone can prove to me that my body has a deficiency say to Aspirin, I'll start taking it. I believe like Hippocrates* that food is the solution to health, as well as the worst potential enemy. The line is at healthy whole foods as natural to the original state as it can be. I know that in our modern world it's nearly impossible to get some foods [fruits in Northern climes in winter for instance] in their natural state. So it behooves us to find foods that are as little damaged by our current methods of preservation as we can get. And then, sometimes we need to supplement with as natural a product as we can find.

As I mentioned in my first post there is little food produced now in the US that has the proper soil conditions to make it as healthy as it could be for us. So, what do we do? Give up and wail our fate or to get as healthy a diet as we can and supplement what we are missing?

*I want to briefly get back to Hippocrates the "Father of modern medicine" and what he said,"It appears to me necessary for every physician... to strive to know... what man is in relation to the articles of food and drink...and what are the effect of each of them... for by every one of these things, a man is effected and changed... and the whole of his life is subjected to them".
And
"A disease is to be cured naturally, by man's own powers; physicians merely help. Let your food be your medicine."
There has been so much written and proven about a fast food diet being detrimental to your health that no one can honestly plead ignorance. And if I do plead ignorance and rely on foods that not only do not nourish but destroy my body, I can't be surprised when I get really sick. It is said that the current obesity in our nation is causing an epidemic of diabetes. I admit it my lifestyle is/was a dangerous one of bad food choices and being way too inactive. Not my whole life [I used to exercise regularly, and eat whole foods] but currently [I got lazy and ate foods that I liked rather than what was good for me], I'm not at all surprised that I have diabetes, but I am determined to get rid of it and get back to health.
You can too, Even if you've never been fit.

I have to do this. I was in pain all day everyday, and since I'm allergic to pain meds even the simple Nsaids, Aspirin, Ibuprofen etc. I had to try a natural approach to getting well. I've never felt that symptom covering was a good idea anyway.

What do I mean by symptom covering? OK, let's say I go to a Doctor and say my knee hurts very bad and he gives me a painkiller. Then I go out and do the very things that caused my knee to hurt in the first place because that is my habit, and it no longer hurts to do so. Now I'm in a position of causing permanent damage to a body part that now no longer tells me, "This activity is not good, See PAIN! Stop doing that now." Are you with me?

Another reason to not take pain killers: as your body gets used to being anesthetized it gets less and less capable of dealing with pain in a normal way by not releasing brain-produced Endorphins, and it becomes much more sensitive to pain, In other words pain hurts MORE when it becomes dependant on non-body produced pain killers. I learned this by talking to people who were addicted to pain meds. Since I'm not yet allergic to Tylenol; I may take 1 [no not two as it says to take, one] every few weeks or less often so I won't become allergic to it and not have any extra help in times when I overdo when I'm working. It works for me.

I've been investigating the latest thinking on Diabetes it's causes and what makes it worse and better. I've found some very interesting information on Leptin (here is a link to explain it more fully than I did) a body function that turns off and on hunger, fal storage and the like. Apparently there's a Diet book out there that really works to address tghis effectively. The Rosedale Diet. Here is a synopsis of the Rosedale Diet and a link to buy the book from Amazon.

The final thought on the subject today: The whole concept behind the Rosedale Diet is exactly what Dr. Jullian Whitaker describes in his book: Reversing Diabetes. Which, coincidentally, is exactly the diet I'm trying very hard to follow.
Have a great evening, cya tomorrow.

Good morning, consistantly lower insulin usage here

It's still winter here but I'm not grousing, my efforts are finally really paying off.
It's good for me to stay honest with you folks and stay on my diet, this blog is really helping me.

My blood sugar readings are consistently lower these days and I've lowered my insulin doses to 10 units twice a day. I have a coupon from Lily***** to get two free vials of insulin but I may never use it at this rate, I have a new vial now, and hope that my insulin need will cease very soon. I may be a wild-eyed optimist [or cock-eyed if you prefer] but I know it can be done so it WILL happen.
[digression]****Here is a wonderful site to find help in buying your prescriptions, I get mine FREE!
I don't need a prescription in Michigan to buy insulin, but without a prescription the local drugstores charge me 125% more for my insulin than I can get it with a prescription. This site helped us to get my insulin for free![/digression]
Just to keep you apprised, my blood sugar reading average has gone from 282 to 118, a drop of 164 points! and I've lost 16 pounds, that may not sound like much but I've only been doing this for 5 or 6 weeks.

More later, I need to go buy groceries. By the way I cook different meals for myself than I do for my husband, he gets meat and potatoes, with lots of gravy, I don't eat red meats or have gravy, I also have lots of vegetables, I need to add fruits to my diet, maybe even some oatmeal [I hate the stuff but I should choke some down anyway, maybe I'll come up with something palatable to add to it.]
The problem with oatmeal is that it tends to absorb flavors I'll need to figure out how to add some yumminess for you guys.

Hey another recipe for you, this is
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~GOURMET CHICKEN BREAST IN ONION/MUSHROOM SAUCE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 chicken breast, boneless and skinless [if you buy yours doubled cut it in half, so it's actually half of one chicken breast]
2 tbs [OR LESS!] of olive oil
1 small onion sliced for half rings
2 garlic cloves diced
5 Large button mushrooms sliced
1 6" sprig of fresh rosemary leaves or 1 tbs of dried rosemary
1 tbs of 'fake' pinjur sauce, see March 2 message
1 tbs canned milk
1 tsp lemon juice if desired [TASTE FIRST!]
Sprinkle of Lemon Pepper spice [if you like it, or just salt and pepper it as you like it]

First drizzle some olive oil in the saute pan[the less the better]. Place your chicken breast in already seasoned as discussed above. turn on medium to low heat, for a few minutes.
Toss in garlic, onions and mushrooms in and 'sweat' the onions so they sizzle and turn translucent, not brown. This takes a bit longer, because the chicken takes a bit to cook, and you don't want your onions and mushrooms to get mushy. Stir often, after you decide the chicken is cooked nearly all the way, add the rosemary, 'pinjur' sauce and milk to make the sauce, add lemon juice if you like it piquant [lemon juice also lowers the GI number of any food it is on]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Of course a sauce is adding a bit of fat but if we don't have flavor in our foods a diet is so much harder to stay on.
Serves one, It would be great over brown and wild rice too. Also, did you think that mushrooms are worthless as a nutrient source? Mushrooms contain several key nutrients, including copper, potassium, folate and niacin, according to recently analyzed nutrient data
has much detailed information on why mushrooms are so healthy
"While most varieties were analyzed raw, white button mushrooms , which are commonly used in recipes, were also analyzed after stir-frying and microwaving to gauge the levels of nutrients retained after cooking... Most nutrients were found to be fully retained when cooked, while others were retained at between 80 and 95 percent of their levels in raw mushrooms"

A short discussion on the herbs and spices and how they affect Diabetes:
Turmeric~Has a long history of usage with herbalists/helps with some digestive disorders, osteoarthritis, liver disease, bacterial infections and more
For more information on curcuminoids:
It helps to prevent Kidney disease; secondary complications induced by diabetes

Cinnamon~Helps maintain blood sugar/Promotes normal blood lipid profiles/Supports cellular energy/Helps maintain weight
Cinnamon may significantly help people with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to respond to insulin, thus normalizing their blood sugar levels
There are benefits with both Cinnamon and Nutmeg
Garlic~Available in a softgel capsule/Contains stable sulphur-nutrients
Individuals affected by diabetes are prone to long-term complications such as retinopathy, cataract, neuropathy, atherosclerosis, nephropathy, embryopathy, and delayed healing of wounds." Garlic has been show to be a powerful anti-oxident dealing with free radicals like a warrior, this site, in technical language, says that studies have shown that ingestion of garlic has been effective in helping Diabetics to avoid many of the complications that they are prone to, Neuropathy and Autoxidation of glucose, long-term complications affecting the eyes, nerves, blood vessels, skin, and kidneys.
Have a great night, see you tomorrow.

sources of fiber and why we need to eat lots of it.

Fiber, there are several kinds, lots of food sources what is best? Why take in so much?
Research suggests that fiber may prevent heart disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer and obesity.
Good reasons to eat lots of fiber isn't it? Here is a simplified explanation of what fiber is and does for the body. First it is bulk, it soaks up fats and helps to flush them through the intestines so that food/fecal matter doesn't linger and cause rot and a dangerous condition in your intestines that keeps rotten decaying mater close to the same intestinal cells for a long time. Just like food left close to your teeth causes cavities, so food left in one spot for too long causes dire trouble in the colon. Generally meats and dairy products in concentration like to just sit and not keep moving along. When the food you've eaten has passed through the small intestines most of the nutrient gathering (the mechanism your body uses to strip your food of needed nutrients to supply your body's needs) has been done and what's left is waste.
Fiber is classified as soluble or insoluble Soluble fiber tends to help lower Cholesterol, the sources of this include oats and oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apple pulp; legumes, such as chickpeas and pinto beans; and fruits, such as oranges and apples.
So start adding these to your diet if you want to get healthy.
Insoluble fibers which are still good for your colon don't help lower the cholesterol these include: whole-wheat breads;such as bran, bread, bulgur, and pasta; wheat cereals, wheat bran, rye, rice, barley, most other grains, cabbage, beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, turnips, cauliflower and apple skin, raspberries, broccoli and nuts and seeds; such as walnuts and sunflower seeds.

So when you are thinking about vegetable go for fresh Spinach, carrots, broccoli, beans, brown rice.

Here is a mini food fiber chart:
• Bananas, 3 grams - medium 8" long
• Beans, 6-10 grams - baked beans, black beans, great northern beans, kidney beans, garbanzos, pinto beans, white beans
• Berries, 4-5 grams - blackberries, raspberries
• Bran Cereals, 5-10 grams - All-Bran, Bran Buds, 100% Bran, Raisin Bran
• Bread, 4-7 grams - 2 slices whole wheat, pumpernickel, seven-grain
• Broccoli, 4-5 grams
• Brussels Sprouts, 2 grams
• Carrots, 3-4 grams
• Dried Figs, 10 grams - 3 figs
• Fruit, 4 grams - medium apple, medium pear
• Green Beans, 2 grams - broad beans, pole beans, snap beans
• Greens, 4-6 grams - beet greens, collards, kale, spinach, turnip greens
• Lentils, 6 grams
• Lima Beans - 4-6 grams
• Peas, 7-9 grams - black-eyed peas, green peas
• Potatoes, 4-5 grams - medium baked Idaho or sweet potato
• Sweet Corn, 5 grams
"Low-fiber diets have been connected to numerous diseases and conditions such as colon cancer, constipation, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, heart disease, high blood pressure, hemorrhoids and varicose veins are examples. Correcting low fiber intake for your diet can help you achieve regular bowel movements necessary for optimum health."
you can take a powder product~Everybody’s Fiber~If you'd rather take fiber separately rather than eat whole wheat, etc. it has many ingredients that are very good to take for a troubled colon.
For many years I have had IBS, irritable bowel Syndrome, I found this particularly helpful while I was getting my fiber intake adjusted,Bowtrol also for Diarrhea, Chrohn's, Constipation, Colitis, Abdominal Pain, Heartburn, and Bloating.
Hemorrhoids can also be a problem due to low fiber intake and I, personally can attest to the efficacy of Venapro, it really works, for me it has been a permanent solution without surgery and I'm sure we've all heard about the horrors of hemorrhoid surgery.

OK THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT FOR TODAY...........
BACK TO THE DIABETES
This morning's blood sugar reading is down; nearly 'normal', even tho' I cut down the evening insulin to 10 units, from 15. I kept up the 15 units this AM, we'll see how the dinner reading is, I hope soon to be down to 10 and 10.
I am continuing with my low-low-fat(I am really trying for two grams a day) low-carbohydrate(simple and starchy are the ones I avoid),low-protein,low-calorie, low-salt,nearly nil sugar diet(there is some sugar in fruits you know). I've lost 16 pounds and I'm tickled, my blood sugar readings are staying close to 'normal' ranges, but I'm still on a little insulin.

New day more opportunities to get healthy

Every night lately, late before bed at midnight, I have had readings of normal blood sugar, I'm just tickled and I am thinking I'll lower my insulin by 5 units before dinner. I'll let you know how that goes, I am finally weaning myself off the insulin!!! It's working and completely worth All the days of being hungry. YAY!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While we are talking about health I want to put in a few good words about Omega-3 fish oils.
""Omega-3 are the essential fatty acids known as the “super-unsaturates”. They are a family of essential nutrients which when present in the diet over a long period of time, may have thousands of times the power of aspirin to stop the inflammatory reactions responsible for arthritis, migraines, colitis, and other similar ailments."

By the way, Diabetes IS an inflammatory disease that brings along with it; Heart disease, colon troubles, and causes death in so many ways.

"Although omega-3 fatty acids do not alter total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol or LDL cholesterol, evidence indicates that fish oil can
help lower high blood pressure slightly,
may reduce risk of coronary artery re-blockage after angioplasty,
may increase exercise capability among patients with clogged arteries, and
may possibly reduce the risk of irregular heart beats, particularly in individuals who have had a recent heart attack".

Omega-3 sources"fish [Anchovy, European, Wild Salmon, Pacific and Jack mackerel, Sable Fish, Whitefish, Pacific sardine, Bluefin tuna, Atlantic herring, Atlantic mackerel, Rainbow trout]". It is recommended that you eat a serving of one of these twice a week.

Not all of the essential oils are good for you in quantity.
"Less of the oils containing w6's should be consumed and more of the w3's in order to attain better health. The most essential of these fatty acids is linoleic acid (LA) because the body uses it as a base to make the others. All are put under the umbrella of polyunsaturated fatty acids since the body does not require any saturated fats at all in order to function" In this article the proportion of omega-3's - omega-6's are discussed. Flax seed oil has a good ratio of each and should be in the diet of anyone with an inflammatory disease. It goes on to say that these factors negate the consumption of the good
omega's:
"(1) excess cholesterol, which is common in diets rich in meat, eggs, and dairy (2) excess saturated and monosaturated long chain fatty acids which constitutes 85-93% of all fatty acids in the western diet (3) processed vegetable oils which make up over 90% of all oils sold (4) trans fatty acids from margarines, shortenings, shortening oils, and partially hydrogenated oils (5) heated oils from food preparation that involves frying or deep frying (6) alcohol use (7) ageing which causes enzymes to function less efficiently (8) zinc deficiency, since zinc is a co-factor in the enzyme catalyzed conversion of LA to GLA (9) viral infections as a result of weakened tissue strength and immune system brought on by poor nutrition (10) diabetic and pre-diabetic conditions brought on by excesses of sugars, saturated fatty acids, monosaturated fatty acids (11) deficiencies of essential fatty acids, zinc, chromium, and other minerals12) high sugar consumption"


I know this sounds a little technical and complicated but the bottom line is: avoid margarine, and vegetable oils, transfats [hydrogenated oils], sugars, alcohol, and dairy foods.
Do: takeflax seed oil, (Essential fatty acids). zinc, chromium and eat fish.

I have a new recipe for you it's for a "fake"Pinjur " sauce I sooon over fish or chicken breasts when sauteing them in olive oil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'pinjur sauce'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
traditionally it's made with sweet peppers and eggplant, but here eggplant is not readily available, so I do this:

1 bag of frozen sweet pepper/onion mix.
1 medium can of stewed tomatoes, chopped or sliced. I use the kind with peppers and onions in it.
1 tbs. Paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
Mix altogether in a sauce pan, mix well and heat to boiling (slowly!)
dump all this in a jar and refrigerate, this has no fat in it and all good vegies so spoon it onto fish or chicken right after you turn it, cover and eat, Yummy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

more tips on coping, recipe

One thing I like to eat for Lunch and to squeeze more vegetables into my diet is home-made soups. I make a Turkey soup that's just delicious.

First I make soup stock by boiling chicken, we have two small, spoiled dogs who love boiled chicken leg quarters so we buy them cheap and I make up a batch of legs that lasts for a week or so [I put the 4 leg quarters in 3 Qt's. of water with two bullion cubes in it, in a large Dutch oven, partially covered, boil them until the meat is falling off the bones on LOW heat; maybe 3 hours DO NOT BOIL THE HECK OUT OF IT ON HIGH, you will lose a lot of flavor] I reserve the stock, cool it, remove the schmaltz [the FAT, EWE!] and freeze it for turkey soup making day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURKEY SOUP~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I put two quarts of stock, and 1 quart of water in a large stockpot, add a chicken breast, boned or not for extra meat, and two large turkey wings, I boil this for three hours on low heat, them remove the meat to pull off the bone and cut into smaller pieces. Then I dice into bite-size pieces carrots, broccoli, celery, onion, and whatever other veggies we have [zucchini in season, Yummy!] and put all of the meat and veggies back into the soup, add parsley [about two tablespoons of dried] also whatever herbs I have fresh from the garden, two cloves of chopped garlics, a tbs. of Paprika to color it so pretty, Lemon Pepper [it has less salt, more taste] to taste, and noodles [not too many], and boil in on SIMMER for an hour and eat! I like to save some for my lunches, but there's is nothing in there that's really bad for me, so I can eat without being worried about my blood sugar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I read that peanut butter has a low glysemic index value and is a healthy snack so since I know that added fiber is good for weight loss I will have a celery stalk with peanut butter, for a late night snack. Another tip I learned is that adding Lemon juice to anything lowers it's GI number, something to remember when you are cooking, and I hope you are making your own food and not eating those simple carbohydrate prepared foods that are processed so much they are really not nutritious, but merely add empty calories to your diet.
Do try to find recipes that add flavor without so much fat or sugar or salt, eat more fresh vegetables, I have a small glass of tomato juice as a light snack, and fresh fruits. I'll be adding recipes as I think of them. Oh here's another tip: Brown rice, it adds fiber to your diet and is much better for you.

I've noticed that I feel so much better in the morning, I can tie my shoes more easily over feet that don't hurt so bad anymore and I sleep better