Entry Number 29

Sorry if you have read this on my other blog, but just wanted to put it here as well.

NEVER BEFORE IN MY LIFE have I let people know my true weight, not even my hubby knew.  Of course my doctors did (all of them), my dietitian did, but scales were never part of my household and so it was only occasionally at the doctors that I actually found out my weight.

I know that back in 1996 when I had surgery I weighed 121kg and I know that prior to losing the weight on the Arava (side effect not taken for weight loss) I weighed 122kg.   I also know that I was probably up around 125kg at my heaviest.

So there, it is now out there.  

When I first went to Dr Cohen (Mercy Bariatrics) I was on the way back up from my lowest point of 109.8kg (after going off the Arava), I was at 116.9kg.  Three weeks later prior to starting the VLCD I was 117.2kg.  So still steadily going up.

You see, I have weighed between 120-125kg for about 30 years, I would lose as much as 5kg through dedicated long term effort (exercise or diet or both) then slowly it would go back up to around the same.  It seems that was where my body was happy.  Of course the side effects were high blood pressure (on 2 medications for that) and a worsening group of arthritis and back symptoms and of course Type 2 Diabetes.  So while my body was happy, it wasn't really.

Like most people, I don't always eat well or make the best choices, but I do believe portion control rather than eating the wrong type of food has been my downfall.  Even when on the Low GI diet, I did not lose weight, and it only marginally made my BG levels better.

Now in past posts I railed against my Diabetes Specialist for even suggesting I have bariatric surgery, now I want to hug him.

12 days post op I now weigh 104.5kg (I was 110.4kgs on the morning of my operation).  I can't remember the last time I weigh this little (yes I know it is not that little in the scheme of things).

I am 169-170cm in height (depends on the person measuring me) and so I was morbidly obese before I started this journey.

I had a 50/50 chance of having a stroke or heart attack within the next 5 years, not great odds.  I am working hard to lessen those, taking the drastic step of having 2/3 of my stomach removed is drastic, it is not the 'easy way out' as there is nothing easy about this.  

But I think I am the happiest I have been in years.  Today I put on a size 20 top and it fit, I bought it online and it got delivered today, I thought it would be weeks before I would be able to fit into it and look good (I was wearing 24/26 pre surgery).  But it looks great on and the smile on my face is huge.

I still have a long way to go, as my doctor wants me down at 76kgs, while I will be happy to get to 85, but just maybe I can get there.

My BMI has already dropped from 41 to 36.4, so still morbidly obese, but almost down to just obese.  Small victories and small steps.

I have also rocked this surgery and already am back on semi solid foods, yesterday I had a very soft poached egg and it was so good after weeks of the VLCD and then post surgery of fluids.

Today I had some baked beans for breakfast, a small tin of tuna for lunch and for dinner a small serve of poached fish.  I am appreciating food so much more, given that I will never be able to eat more than 1 cup of food when I am back to full diet, but it is worth it.  Sure there are the daily mult-vitamins to compensate for the lack of fruit and vegies but a small sacrifice.

I just can't stop smiling.

Oh and my Blood Glucose is almost normal and I have an appointment with my specialist at the end of February to see if I can get off all meds, at the moment I am only on 500gms of Metformin after breakfast and after dinner.  I will hopefully be off my blood pressure meds too some time in the future.

I will be able to get on the floor again to play with my grandkids, I won't be so embarrassed at the swimming pool, I will be able to fly without worrying about who is sitting next to me - and hopefully will one day be able to put the tray table down and not have it rest on my tummy.

New life here I come.  Thanks so much to my family and work colleagues and friends, who have been so supportive, who are so caring and in my corner for this journey.

Thanks for popping by xxx

Low GI Recipe - Lemon Iced Tea

Another summer drink recipe I might try this summer.  The recipe is from the Australian Better Homes and Gardens Diabetic Living Magazine in the Divine Desserts booklet found in the November-December 2012 Issue.

Lemon Iced Tea

Preparation Time: 15 mins (+ 1 hour cooling and 6 hours chilling)
Cooking Time: 5 mins

Makes 2L (Serves 8)

2L (8 cups) boiling water
110g (1/2 cup) CSR LoGiCane Low GI Cane Sugar
5 Black tea bags
60ml (1/4 cup) freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 small lemon, halved crossways, thinly sliced
Ice cubes to serve
Fresh mint leaves to serve.

1. Pour the boiling water into a large heatproof jug. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the tea bags and jiggle for a few minutes.  Set the tea bags aside in the water for 10 mins to steep.  Squeeze excess liquid from the tea bags and remove.

2. Stir the lemon juice into the tea and set aside for 1 hour to cool slightly.  Add the lemon slices to the tea. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours, or until chilled.

3. To serve, fill small glasses with ice cubes, add a few mint leaves and top up with tea.  Serve immediately.

Entry Number 28 - The Insulin Journey, First Wrap Up

This insulin journey is now in it's second, or is it third week?  I've lost track, started on the evening of the 19th October ... so let's see (fingers and toes out for counting), okay 15 nights tonight, so just over two weeks.

I started on 10ml as instructed, stayed on that for 4 nights, made little to no difference, so upped it to 12ml, a slightly downward shift, very slight.  So up to 14ml next, still only a small shift downward.  So up to 16ml and suddenly I get mid 7's two mornings in a row.  Happy dance.

And then the crappiness of this bloody disease hits again, next morning I've jumped up a lot, back to almost where I was when I started.  So I immediately up the insulin to 18ml, forgetting until this morning that the Prof said increase by 2s until 16 and then 4s, and another crap reading this morning, although a smidge down on yesterday morning.

So tonight its 20ml ... lets see what the morning brings, I fear it's not going to be good because tonight we did take away - sigh, there was nothing in the cupboards because hubby didn't have time to shop, or the will to go to the shops and shop tonight.  I don't blame him, it's been a long and hard week for both of us in lots of ways.

It's not excuse though, I need to just get back into shopping, too bad if my bad can't cope, it is not fair that he has to do it all.  I am happy to online shop, but he doesn't want that as he likes to pick the food he is cooking.

I've still been down about the whole suggested lap sleeve surgery, but the more this disease plays with my head, the more it becomes a choice I might be willing to take.

So even though the full moon was only the other night, there is no brightness here tonight.

Thanks for popping by.


An added p.s - just to show you how this plays with your mind, after thinking I would get a crap reading this morning, I got a 7.5 - go figure!!!

Low GI Recipe - Sparking Triple-Berry Punch

So a drink this time, just for something different.  I haven't tried it yet, but it is on my menu for Christmas Day.

From Australian Better Homes and Gardens, Diabetic Living Magazine, November/Dec 2012

Now the recipe doesn't have any nutritional or GI info, but I am hoping, given it is in their magazine it is at least no more than medium GI.

Sparkling Triple-Berry Punch, Serves 6

1.5L light cranberry juice, chilled

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1.25L diet dry ginger ale, chilled

750ml Yellowglen Jewel Pink, chilled

250gm strawberries, hulled, chopped

120g (1 cup) frozen raspberries

1/4 cup small mint leaves

Ice cubes, to serve

Extra mint, to serve

1. Put juices, ginger ale, wine, berries, mint and ice in a large jug. Stir well. Top with extra mint to serve.

Entry Number 27 - See the Person, Not the Disease

So I've been thinking a lot about my reaction to Wednesday's visit to the Prof, my diabetes specialist, and I've realised that what pissed me off the most is that I felt he only sees the disease not me, well not the real me.

He is good at what he does, one of the best in Perth in fact, and he has years and years of experience.  But does he see me or only what he wants for me?

I know he wants me to be a controlled diabetic.

I know that he knows that losing weight will help.

I know that he has my best interests at heart.

But I don't know if he sees me, the square peg that very rarely fits into the round hole of anything.

I have 3 types of arthritis and none responded to the medication like they should, in fact I could say that the medications made no difference at all.

I have type 2 Diabetes, and a Low GI food diet, medication and even exercise (when I was at the pool) made only a slight bit of difference in the long run.  Even losing 12 kgs didn't bring my blood sugars down to even close to normal, in honesty if made a slight difference for a short period of time.

So while it is good to have all the medical knowledge in the world, if you don't see the person, if you don't listen to the person, can you cure the person?

Now I am not saying that I am a perfect person, doing all the right things all the time, hell no.  I am the first to admit that I break the rules all the time, especially when I am stressed - which lately is all the time.  But I am trying the hardest I can to do the right thing, but when it comes down to it I am human and I am me and maybe, just maybe you need to think outside the box of this disease to help me.

Is that asking too much?

Entry Number 26 - Trying to Find The Bright Side

Last night as I sat and thought about giving myself my Insulin injection, I took the time to reflect on the positives.

1. Only 1 needle per day (at this point anyway).

2. The insulin can be injected at room temperature, so less likely to sting

3. I only have to give it to myself at bedtime (at this point anyway), which means I can now think about going out for breakfast or dinner without carrying it with me.

4. If I do have to start giving it to myself more often, I don't have to carry the cooler bag with me, so it is more discrete.

5. I don't have to rush home to make sure I have enough time before my evening meal to give myself an injection.

It is still stressing me about the weight gain that is inevitable, but at least there is a slight new spin happening in my head, which is good.

So I won't put up a dark moon today, nor a bright orange one, in fact I will leave it blank, and take the pressure off there as well.

Thanks for popping by xxx

Entry Number 25 - The Insulin Regime Starts Tonight

So putting a half glass full on the whole going onto Insulin, at least I now no longer have to do 2 injections a day plus the evening Insulin as I am off the Byetta as it did nothing for me - no weight loss and only marginal dropping of my BGLs at the beginning.

So before retiring to the Land of Nod tonight I will start my Lantis Insulin injection at 10ml, then I need to check my BGL in the morning prior to breakfast, after 4 nights of 10 ml (and the subsequent morning checks), if it is not going down, I need to increase to 12, then 14, then 16, then 20, then 24, then 28 etc until I start to get some results.

So the waiting (no pun intended and of course it would be spelt differently) game begins.  Will this work?  One can only hope.

When I saw John (my pysch) on Monday I told him I was struggling with feeling broken and fragmented, I feel like I no longer have the ability to see the glass as half full.  He found one for me though, many years ago there would not have been medication for Diabetes - so true.

Still this feeling of being fragmented is a worry.  I am so scared that if I let one little shard go I will fracture into a million pieces.

I am sure that attending counselling will help in the long run, but right about now it feels like I have just lifted the corner of Pandora's Box and all that is within will coming bursting out at a rate that is too fast for me to cope with.

Suppression may lead to depression, but I'm sort of scared that non suppression will lead to insanity!

I'd like to welcome my 2 new followers, Wanderlust and Melissa, 2 wonderful cyber friends who along with The Elephant's Child send me so much love that it brings tears to my eyes - thanks ladies.  And of course there is my Mum (Mimsie) who has always been there for me.

Today I had my injections into my back, hopefully they will bring me some relief and I can get back to the pool and walking.  I expect though that the cortisone will increase my readings for a few days as well.

Tonight we had the lovely Low GI Chicken Curry from this post - it really is delicious.

Thanks for popping by and sharing you love and support, I am really trying to get the golden moon back here again xxx

Entry Number 24 - What's The Point?

I will forewarn you, this will be a Dark Side of the Moon post, it will also be somewhat painful to write.  I know it will be teary post, because my eyes are already brimming with tears.

What's The Point - of trying to eat well, of giving up Coke, of injecting myself twice daily?  Nothing it seems as my readings are going sky high again and now I will be on insulin.

What's The Point - of even trying at all, when this disease chews you up and spits you out like a piece of discarded waste?

What's The Point, well the point is I am trying to live without my feet being amputated, without going blind, without getting sicker and sicker.

But, shit, I am trying and it is not working.

I am still classed as uncontrolled, and too right I am, I am uncontrolled with frustration and anger.  I am really to smash something, but What's The Point?  It changes nothing.

My weight is already heading back up because I am off the arthritis medication that gave me constant diarrhoea, nearly 5kgs in 3 months, and I am trying to eat less and eat well, What's The Point ... it makes no difference at all.

So now, it is recommended I have a gastric sleeve operation, permanent surgery to reduce the amount I am eating, because NO ONE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION BELIEVES ME!!

They all think I overeat, it's bloody obvious, they do that smile when I try and tell them, you know the one, the right She's Kidding Herself smile.

And just to sweeten the deal for me, now I am on insulin and that makes you put on weight.  BLOODY WIN WIN SITUATION THIS ISN'T.

But somehow I am supposed to smile and get on with my life.



So here is the Dark Moon, and it is likely it will be here for a while now.

And a side note to my Mum, please don't call me to talk about this, if and when I want to talk I will bring it up, I just need some time to sit with this.  Your support is always appreciated, and I love that you are there for me, but I need time to process this, please.

Entry Number 23

There maybe some good news for me on the horizon. I will be undergoing a pain management treatment in a couple of weeks, and if it works, my lower back and leg pain could be gone.

This will allow me to exercise a little more, and should coincide with our local pool opening for summer as well.  So if I can lose a little more weight that will help bring down my BG levels.

But most of all, reducing my pain, thus reducing some of my stress, will also help my BG levels as it is a known fact that stress can impact on your levels.

I will be off to see the Prof in a couple of weeks as well, and I am sure my three monthly test will most likely show a higher level than last time.  I know he won't be pleased, but I will plead my case and see if we can avoid going on insulin for just a little while longer, hoping that getting back into the pool and having less pain will work their magic.

Walking out of the pain specialist yesterday I felt so much lighter, so here is the lovely rising full moon, lets hope I can keep in the lightness of being frame of mind for the rest of this week at least.

Thanks for popping by xxx

Entry Number 22

So the week from hell has moved into another week.  I have been so stressed that I just haven't even bothered to test my BG levels, I know they will be high.

But I must start again, I see the Prof in a little over a month, so better have something to take with me, although there will be the 3 monthly blood test which will give him an overview.

I really hope he doesn't add insulin to the mix, but what will be will be I suppose.

Will post some new recipes next week, and try and be here on a more regular basis.

The Dark Side of the Moon is alive and well, but there is a glimmer of hope as tonight my anxiety levels seem to be somewhat lower - doing all I can to make them get lower and lower.

Thanks for popping on by. xxx

Entry Number 21

God I hate needles, sure, I am getting better at just doing them, but I hate them nonetheless!!!!

This morning's needle was so painful when I was trying to push it in, I ended up having to pull it out and find another place.  There were tears and everything.  I haven't had tears for weeks.  Just when I thought I was moving forward, I have taken a big step back.

All in all it has been a stressful weekend and this just was the cherry on the cake, a big black rotten cherry!

So tonight I am off to give myself my night injection and hoping that I find a nice pain free place, no pain going in, no pain during and no pain after.

I feel like all the skin (and whatever is just under your skin) is bruised and sore and it is making me sad.

I fell off the wagon big time this weekend as well, Chinese for tea last night (as the family was over and it was the easiest to do) and then out for lunch today and nothing on the menu was diabetes friendly.  Then dealing with some personal family issues has had me craving chocolate in a huge way, so far I have stayed strong, but I did have some sough dough bread with real butter and cheese as an afternoon snack.

Tomorrow is a new day, and hopefully the start of a great week.

One can only hope.

Thanks for popping by xxx

Entry Number 20

The last week or so have been up and down, I have fallen off the wagon (deliberately) which is not good, but I only have myself to blame on that one.

I really need to get back to checking my BG levels as well, so from Monday I am going to make myself do it every morning and every night for a week.  It is too easy for me to avoid checking and then kidding myself everything must be alright when it probably is not.

I have been contemplating asking a cyber friend to do a guest post here about her diabetes journey, just so there is a different voice and a different perspective as everyone's journey is different.  Just have to get the courage to ask her I suppose, after all she can only say no but she might actually say yes and that would be great.

Health wise I have noticed I have started bruising more easily, especially when injecting my tummy. In fact the other day I had a major bleed under the skin, so I must have hit a small blood vessel.  The last time I did that it took over a month for the bruise to disappear which is a pain in the butt as it means that area is out of bounds until the bruise goes.  I also have a bruise from my latest blood test at the path lab, which is unusual as the lady that took it this time never usually bruises me.

Oh, and the red welts are definitely an allergic reaction of some type, as last week I took a couple of anti-histamines as my sinus were cruddy and the welts all disappeared overnight.  Must mention that to Tim when I see him next.

I did enjoy the beautiful full moon the other night, even opened the blinds so the moonlight could fall on the bed while I slept.  So while I don't necessarily feel a Lightness of Being at the moment, it is not Dark Side of the Moon either, so here is a shot of a gorgeous silver moon sailing across the night sky.

Thanks for popping by. xxx

Low GI Recipes - Spicy Chicken with Carrot and Herb Salad

Low GI Recipe - Spicy Chicken with Carrot and Herb Salad

This is a light meal rather than a main meal by the magazine's definition, however, hubby and I often have it as a quick and easy main meal and we have a normal garden salad and add some sweet potato home-made wedges.  I don't like raw carrots so we have never tried the salad as suggested in the magazine.  Please note the nutritional info at the bottom is as given in the magazine for their recipe and does not include our add ons.

Spicy Chicken with Carrot and Herb Salad Serves 2 as a Light Meal

(Page 84, Better Homes and Gardens Australia Diabetic Living Jan-Feb 2011)

Preparation Time : 15 mins (+15 mins cooling) Cooking Time : 20 mins

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon round cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
200g chicken thigh fillets, trimmed of fat
Cooking spray
70g (1/4 cup) low-fat Greek-style natural yoghurt
20g (2 cups) baby spinach leaves
Lemon wedges, to serve

Carrot and herb salad
60g (1/4 cup) Doongara rice
2 carrots, coarsely grated
1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
125g green beans, trimmed, sliced
1 green shallot, finely chopped
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
Freshly ground black pepper

1. Cook the rice in a small saucepan of boiling water following packet directions. Set aside for 15 mins to cool.

2. Preheat a barbecue grill to medium high. (we often cook our chicken in a non-stick frypan)  Put the ground coriander, cinnamon, turmeric and cumin in a medium shallow dis. Add the chicken and turn to coat.

3. Spray each side of the chicken fillets with cooking spray. Put on barbecue grill. Reduce heat to medium. Cook on each side for 5-6 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Cover loosely with foil and set aside for 2-3 minutes to rest.

4. Carrot and herb salad. Put the cooled rick, carrot, coriander, mint, beans and shallot in a medium bowl. Add orange juice and season with pepper. Toss to combine.

5. Slice the chicken and divide between plates. Top with the yoghurt. Serve with salad, spinach and lemon wedges.

Nutritional info:
Per serve: 1435kJ, protein 25.9g, total fat 9.7g (sat. fat 2.9g), cholesterol 90.5mg, carbs 35.2g, fibre 5g, sodium 165.3mg, Carb exchange: 2 1/2. GI estimate: low, Gluten free

Entry Number 19 - Life Stacks The Odds Sometimes

Funny how life stacks the odds against you sometimes, or that is what it feels like.  I tried to start at a gym and my knee threw a spanner in the works.  Said knee has now added another spanner with a cortisone injection this afternoon, which my rhuematologist tells me will amp up my BG levels for a day or two.  Still if it helps with the pain then it is worth it.

I do need to take some responsibility here too though, I can not blame it on the Universe, well of course I can and do, but I have a hand in all things and am not a puppet.  My problem is, well possibly is, that I have always put everyone else first.  So it was easy to fall into the 'I'll look after myself later' philosophy.  Nobody made me do it, it seems to be just who I am.

So I stuck my head in the sand about many things, but mainly the diabetes.  As I have said before I knew it was coming, the clock was ticking so loudly that it was deafening - I just put in ear plugs!

I am not throwing a pity party here, I am just being honest.  I need to face up and accept some blame, become pro-active in fixing what I can (and hopefully slowling this disease down just a little).

I need to give up my soft drink of choice - Coke, and I mostly have, even when my hubby (and my son in law) keep buying it - killing me with kindness it seems.  I haven't had any for ages and then had a small can on the plane over to Adelaide and a small one on the way back.  God, I enjoyed it so much, but I stopped at one, so some will power.  But I am worried about summer.  I love a tall, ice cold Coke in a glass with ice (or two or three glasses) on a really hot day.  It refreshes me, I prefer it over all other soft drinks, and don't even talk about the diet or zero version .. they are not the same no matter what the advertising tells you.

So I am looking at trying to substitute iced T2 teas as an alternative, wish me luck on that one.

My other big failing is chocolate and Smiths chips ... not all the time, like the Coke, but enough to be a big temptation, especially if I need comfort food.  I am thinking of celery sticks, raw broccoli and lots of fruit as a substitute this summer.  With maybe the littlest bit of chocolate on those really bad days, which thankfully are not that often.




Today has been a dark side of the moon day, going back to work with this much pain gave me a very short fuse.  Hopefully two days off work with my knee elevated will turn the tide slowly back to a bright and shiny Lightness of Being.

Thanks for popping by xxx

Entry Number 18 - Head in the Sand Again!

Well I had a great week in Adelaide, it was very relaxing, I managed to read two books, do a little shopping for my three grand-daughters and just put my feet up and look out at the lake.  So I did reduce my stress levels, so a tick for that.

However, I did not make good food choices most of the time.  Breakfast most days was okay, a nice omelet or poached eggs on toast - although strange how they don't have multi-grain toast on the menu.  Usually with a glass of orange juice and a cup of tea and a small selection of sliced fruit.

The first lunch I popped over to the local shopping centre and got a prawn and lettuce Japanese salad, which was yummy and very healthy.  They other days though, well it was wet and my back and knee were killing me so much that the walk across seemed too daunting, so I chose room-service, it was toasted ham and cheese sandwich one day and a BLT the next day.  Did I mention they both came with yummy crunchy chips!!  So not such a good choice at all, but I did enjoy them.  The day we went to the Barossa we had a homemade meat pie with spinach and caramelised onion - absolutely divine, but again maybe not such a good choice with the very buttery short-crust pastry around the pie.

Most nights I tried to make good choices from the limited menu, and I really enjoyed most of the meals but again, there wasn't a lot that came with veggies and so I had braised lamb shank with mash and spinach, a blue swimmer crab risotto (I only ate less than half), chicken snitchzel and chips and salad and then a steak with mash and carrots.

I also ate 2 blocks of chocolate and drank copious quantities of the Farmer's Union Iced Coffee (but the good one with no added sugar and 1% fat milk).

So I stuck my head in the sand and didn't measure my BG levels the whole time I was away.

I seriously need to face up to this disease, but it seems so hard when away and relaxing.

I was also very naughty on the way home and bought a box of Haigh's Dark Chocolate covered Ginger, but I did share it with my hubby and they say dark chocolate's okay - but maybe not so much all at once.

Still, now I am home again, I will try and get back on track.  I do worry though, that if we do a long trip, will I ever be able to keep myself on the straight and narrow?

So all in all the whole time I was away was a Lightness of Being moment because I stuck my head in the sand!

Low GI Recipe - Banana Bread with ricotta & honey

Banana Bread with Ricotta & Honey, Serves 8 as breakfast
(page 94 Better Homes and Gardens Australia Diabetic Living May/June 2012 magazine)

Preparation Time : 15 mins, + 10 mins cooling time.  Cooking Time : 45 mins

Cooking spray
3 ripe bananas, peeled
80g (1/2 cup) low fat vanilla yoghurt
3 x 50g eggs
60g 40% reduced-fat sunflower spread, melted, cooled
1 tspn vanilla essence
160g (1 cup) wholemeal self-raising flour
75g (1/2 cup) self-raising flour
15g (1/2 cup) oat bran
1 tspn ground cinnamon
70g (1/2 cup, firmly packed) dark brown sugar or 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute
250g low-fat ricotta
2 Tblspn honey

1. Preheat oven to 170C (fan-forced). Spray a 7cm-deep, 10cm x 21cm (base measurement) loaf pan with cooking spray. Line base and sides with baking paper, allowing the paper to overhang the sides.

2. Put bananas in a large bowl. Mash with a fork until smooth. Add yoghurt, eggs, spread and vanilla essence. Whisk until smooth. Set aside.

3. Put flours, oat bran, cinnamon and sugar in medium bowl.  Stir until well combined.  Add flour mixture to banana mixture and mix until just combined. Pour batter into loaf pan and smooth surface.

4. Bake for 40-45 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in loaf pan for 10 mins to cool slightly, then turn out onto wire rack.

5. Slice bread and spread with ricotta.  Drizzle with honey to serve.

Cooks Tip : This banana bread is delicious served warm or cold.


Nutrition Info:
Per Serve (with sugar) 1278kJ, protein: 10.5g, total fat 9.2g (sat. fat 3.4g), cholesterol 84.5mg, carbs: 44.1g, fibre 3.9g, sodium 318.9mg. Carb exchange: 3. GI Estimate : medium.

Per Serve (with sugar substitute)  1158kJ, protein: 10.5g, total fat 9.2g (sat. fat 3.4g), cholesterol 84.5mg, carbs: 36.6g, fibre 3.9g, sodium 317.9mg. Carb exchange: 2 1/2. GI Estimate : medium.

Entry Number 17 - Relief

So all the stress and worry were for nothing.  I got myself into a right state right before we left home.  Poor hubby, I don't think he has seen me so anxious before.  We got to the airport and they put my bag through, didn't say anything, so I picked it up and walked away.  Then felt like a right idiot for being so stressed.  Mind you, I  will probably be the same each time I travel as I hate being the centre of attention, and the odds are that at some time, some where, someone will ask me about what I am carrying.

When I was traveling to Broome in May, I rang Qantas and asked them if there was a procedure to take my drugs (injectable ones) on their plane.  The guy said it was all okay with them but if I didn't have a letter from my specialist that the guys on security would throw my drugs into the bin.  So that time I left them at home and missed 3 days of injections.

When I saw my specialist in July he was outraged at that outdated information, but I was glad I hadn't taken the chance.  Now I have the letter, at least I can justify why I have needles and drugs in my bag.


The other stressor was keeping my drugs cool enough.  Unlike insulin which I believe can be room temperature once it has been opened and being used, my drug Byetta, has to be kept refrigerated at all times (but not frozen) and is injected cold.  I ordered a Frio flight kit and it is a little bag that holds another bag that is insulated, you just immerse it in cold water for a few minutes and it activates the crystals inside.  It worked well and kept my pen cold and then I popped it in the fridge when we got here.  The actual travel kit is still cold and keeps cold for up to 4 days, and can be reactivated during that time to extend the time frame.  It is a great idea and well worth the $50 I paid for it.


Hopefully you wont see a post in a few days time with me all stressed again when we fly back home.  I will do my best to stay sane this time.

So today I will share a Lightness of Being photo, for I am feeling relaxed and happy.

Thanks for popping by. xxx

Low GI Recipes - Coconut Beef Curry

Coconut Beef Curry, Serves 2 as a main
(page 86 Better Homes and Gardens Australia Diabetic Living Magazine May/June 2011)

Preparation Time 15 mins, Cooking Time 40 mins.

1 tspn olive oil
250g beef oyster blade steak, trimmed of fat, chopped
1 tspn Garam Marsala
1/2 tspn ground turmeric
Pinch of ground chillies
125ml (1/2 cup) Trident Light Coconut Milk
145g (1/2 cup) canned no-added-salt chopped tomatoes
200g cauliflower, chopped
100g green beans, trimmed diagonally sliced
100g yellow squash, quartered (personally I am not a bit fan of the squash and like more cauliflower)
100g (1/2 cup) basmati rice

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan on medium-high. Add the beef. Cook for 2-3 minutes, tossing often, until browned. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garam marsala, turmeric and chillies. Cook, stirring for 30 seconds.

2. Add coconut milk and tomato to the pan. Bring to a simmer. Cook partially covered, for 25 minutes or until meat is tender.

3. Add cauliflower, beans and squash to the pan. Cook, partially covered for 5-10 minutes or until the veggies are tender.

4. Meanwhile, cook the rice following packet directions. Drain well.

5. Serve the curry with rice.

Nutrition info 
per serve: 1992kJ, protein: 25.7g, total fat: 13.7g (sat fat 7.7g), cholesterol: 71.3mg, carbs: 48.3g, fibre: 6.2g, sodium: 120.7mg. Carb exchanges: 3 1/2. GI Estimate: medium. Gluten free

Entry Number 16 - Trepidation

So today I am flying out to Adelaide and it is the first day I will be traveling with all my diabetes paraphernalia and I am suffering some trepidation about the whole thing.

I have my letter from the doctor, I have my special cool pack to keep my drugs at a low temperature, I have my BG monitor and all my other associated drugs.  It is not so much that I am worried that the security will try and take it all away from me, although there is a small tinge of worry there about that, it is more that it will draw attention to myself.

I don't want to be the person they pull aside and start asking questions of, in a busy airport, in a long line of people.  I feel quite ill at the thought of it all.

I am hoping that it will all be smooth sailing, that they won't even say or do anything, but what if they do?

Sure I have my letter of authority, but I know I will hate the 'whole centre of attention' thing.  I know I will get upset and maybe cry, and the whole thing is really doing my head in.  So much so that I have a splitting headache and I had the worst night's sleep of my life last night.

I know that once I do it once that I will be less stressed each and every time after that, but that doesn't help how I am feeling right about now.  Ironically, I am trying to avoid stress as that puts my BG levels up - good old Catch 22 is alive and well again.

This is why I really hate this disease, it is causing me anxiety, it is causing me to face change (and I am not good at that at all), it is causing me to be the centre of attention (even if it is just in my own head).  I don't deserve this.  There I've said it, I DON'T DESERVE THIS.  Ultimately that is what is pissing my off the most.

The Dark Side of the Moon is here today, hopefully by the time I get on the plane I will be able to say what all went well and I will have a Lightness of Being moment because I did it.  Please God, that is all I ask, let this be easy for me today.

I have scheduled this post so come up while I am on the plane, just in case one of my family reads this and tries to ring me to offer support, I love that they do that for me, but I need not to cry right now and just writing this is causing me to leak and I know if they call I will full on start blubbering.

Trying to keep all this away from my hubby as well, he doesn't need the added stress in his life either.

Entry Number 15 - Diabetes and Chronic Pain

I have just been reading one of the articles in the Better Homes and Garden Australia Diabetic Living magazine (July/August 2011) about Chronic Pain.  If you have very visited my other blog Menopausal Mumma you will know that I have pain, I don't know if I would call it chronic as there are days when the medication I am on keeps it manageable, but then there are days like today when everything seems to hurt.  Those days are hard, hard to keep myself in a positive head space.

This article is looking at alternative ways to help with pain, rather than just popping pills.  What I didn't like was this bit of the article ....

But if you are among the one in five people who lives with chronic pain, it can be your worst enemy. Having diabetes may ramp up your risk of such suffering - there are many ways in which complications of the condition can cause you discomfort, with nerve pain in the feet and legs a particular culprit.

Great, while I don't yet seem to have any nerve neuropathy associated with my diabetes, it is always a threat.

Of course, the usual, aim to lose weight is in there in the article - I get a little tired of that message.  Sure we all know that to be lighter is better, but it is just not that easy to achieve.  If you can develop a pill that makes me wake up 50 kgs lighter, I will be the first to put my hand up.  I get that you need to make healthy food choices, and I am trying.  I get that you need to exercise, but hey chronic pain and exercise is a catch 22 situation, just as severe arthritis and exercise seem to defy each other.

They say to take some stress out of your life, well I am trying that as well.

The alternative remedies they recommend you try are

Movement
Acupuncture
Yoga
Qi gong
Massage
TENS machine
Capsaicin cream

Some of these I already do, I have acupuncture and massage and I must admit both help.  The acupuncture is not Chinese acupuncture, but trigger point dry needling from my physio and it hurts like hell, but it really does give a lot of relief after the treatment.  I used to have a weekly hour long massage and that kept me supple, but with my massage therapist moving back to Melbourne I have struggled to find someone who is as good.  Although this week my physio massaged my upper back and it took a lot of tension away.


So I have to try adding more movement into my day and I may give this Capsiacin cream a go, although it does warn it takes up to 8 week to see any effect.  I won't be doing the Yoga as I can not get onto the floor and if I do, I can't get up again.

I am also booked into see a Pain Management Specialist at the end of September, I hope he can offer me some relief and if that works then the gym may come back as being an option for me.  I also will go back to the pool when it opens in October.

I think I can say that even with the pain today it is a a pretty good day.

Thanks for popping by xxx