Carbs and Kids - Clarification....

Since my Blog is titled Three 2 Treat, I should clarify what the other 2 Type 1's eat; those others being my two children.

I know it's obvious what my stance on Carbs is, but I should make it clear that these are my own Food Choices and I certainly don't impose these choices on my five kids. Just in case any readers are inclined to think that I'm a crazy man that only feeds my kids eggs, meat, and veggies. Trust me my children would form a mutiny and lock me out of my own house.

A clue would be to read some past posts like Fire The Easter Bunny , taking note the Pic of my smallest Type 1 chowing down on a large (certainly not low carb) chocolate bunny.

My stance on diet and food choices is also a journey, over my 28 years of dealing with my own type 1 diabetes. Years of  food exchange diets; being told to avoid sugar, being told sugar is okay, to intense carbohydrate counting, using pocket scales, kitchen scales, and nutrient bibles.  Not to mention the thousands of miscalculated carb counts, and the extreme variability in the foods and the effect they have had on my blood glucose readings. So I am what you could call a human  Lab Rat, and I am constantly trying to figure out what works for my diabetes management. If I read compelling enough evidence, not just anecdotal that a certain method of diabetes management may work better then others, I try it.  

I read about carb reduction 10 years ago, but didn't try it, as I didn't think there was enough research regarding it, especially for Type 1 diabetes.  But now the evidence exists and promising and more and more is being done regarding lower carb, moderate protein and fat diets and the effect thay have on health.

I realize that this is my personal choice, and not for everyone, but I also feel strongly that our current lifestyle of 200 gms of CHO plus a day seems to be creating problems that can't be ignored. And, when I continue to try to understand the possible reasons, be it inactivity, genetics, food choices, and metabolic pathways, I really think we need to ask ourselves, are we eating a diet conducive to good blood glucose control and health?

I know for myself, high carb meals, lead to huge errors in carb counting (even measuring on a scale) larger doses of insulin leads to variable absorption, which leads to more extreme fluctuation in blood glucose readings, and more lows and highs. So for me it makes logical sense to reduce the carb a little or a lot depending on your comfort level, to make diabetes management a little more predictable.

As for my kids, they eat a typical kid diet. They have cookies and milk, Kraft Dinner, Mr Noodles, Ice Cream, and pretty much what they want(with in reason) We buy lots of fruit (which isn't low carb) that they have access to when ever they feel the urge. Kids with D or any child for that matter need calories, lots of em, especially active kids, but for the middle aged office worker, hmm me, I am certainly not burning the fuel like the little ones.  

The 2 little Type 1's have good days and bad days with their glucose readings, and unfortunately the bad days are the ones where the meals and snacks are higher in carbs or meals that are difficult to calculate, but this is all part of being a kid with D, I know because I was one once, and I loved my moms home made cookies and milk.  

Trev

FIRE The Easter Bunny!

"My 3 Middle Children
Rowan, Grace & Abby"

WARNING:  Parental Advisory.  Do Not Let Your Child Read the Content.

YES, I said it.  I have been pissed at the Easter bunny since I was nine years old, the year I was told I had to "cut" out the candy. "D" Day, the year of Diagnosis.  That's what they did 28 years ago. They weren' t into letting patients control their diabetes. Carb counting wasn't promoted, it was basically, here is your exchange meal plan diet, good luck.

So when we got home(28 yrs ago), and these notorious holidays swung by, my parents took the meal plan to heart.  HAPPY freakin EASTER!  Instead of the basket with the huge chocolate bunny, I got a toy, and a bag of peanuts. If I was exceptionally lucky I also got a can of Diet Tab.  What's Up with that!!!

I asked my parents "Why did the Easter bunny not bring me chocolates this time?"  They told me he knows I have diabetes.  I thought, crap, even he knows.  That means, Santa will definitely know. This really sucks! 

Now fast forward 28 years to the land of Intensive Insulin Therapy and Carb Counting.

These holidays are still happening, as you all are well aware. Now I have learned to just take huge amounts of rapid insulin to "Have my Huge Chunk of Chocolate"  and so can my 2 type 1 kids.

Needless to say, I still to this day, have this secret grudge against the Easter Bunny. I almost feel bad about it, but it exists.

"Enjoying the Good Stuff"

These Holiday Occasions all involve the over consummation of "High Fructose-Glucose, anything Sugar-ose containing food in large quantities. Now for us living with a pancreas on permanent hiatus we are kind of screwed!  Y'all know what I am talking about.  No matter how hard I try even with intensive therapy and the use of rapid acting insulin, my blood glucose level for the 24 hrs during the "Holiday Occasion" is a jagged looking mountain of a graph. Naturally my children share this same graph. 

I still leave the key in the mail box for the Easter Bunny, but I really wish he'd bring us a new pancreas or at least call Santa and maybe they can both get together, swap magic and make it happen.

Even though Easter is easier then 28 years ago, I still wish these holidays were a little easier on the blood sugar control.

Trev

Timing is Everything

In life, timing is often the factor that determines ones path.

Think about this for a moment.  Those serendipidous moments in life where a neigbour or friend pops over and talks you into an opportunity.  What if the timing was off and you weren't home. Running into the right person at the right time happens to us all.

Even in negative situations you've heard the saying; when one door closes another opens.  That is timing!  I personally have left a job, thinking crap, what will I do now, only to stumble upon a better job, timing was right and the opportunity crossed my Path. 

I don't believe in luck, but I do believe in timing, and that; opportunity favours the prepared.

Once again what in the hell does this have to do with Mr Diabetes?  Well not to repeat myself but timing is everything in diabetes management and of course the more prepared you are(knowledge, tools, strategy, support) the better your opportunity will be in managing your diabetes.

Above I mention some keys to diabetes preparedness.  If you have diabetes or care for someone with the big D, then here is your diabetic emergency preparedness plan in a nut sell. The list below is not prioritized as they are all important. So here goes:

1.  Learn as much as you can about diabetes. How you do that is up to you, but read multiple sources. If it's research; look at the number of people who participated in the study, if it was your friend's aunt and your brother and they claim that nutmeg causes poor glucose control that's an opinion and not research.  The more people(sample size) the more accurate(valid)the research result will be.  I could get into more detail about critiquing research but this is a blog and not a book.

2.  Keep learning, yes I am repeating myself, but never stop, I have met folks who have had diabetes for many years, and tell me, "I did the training" and I ask "when?" and they say"1985"  I kindly suggest they go for more training and read more current information. Never ever stop learning, go ahead and get sick of it, but don't stop.

3.  Tools. Not the garden variety, but tools like; meters, CGMs, Pumps, uploads, downloads, new insulin, pens, finer needles, glucagon, medication, and I am sure I am missing an item or two. Point is, use whatever device needed to improve your control and quality of life.

4.  Support.  Includes:  Family, Friends, Co-Workers, Class-Mates, Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, Dietitians, Endos, and most importantly others with Diabetes, as they are the only folks that unequivocally understand your predicament. Don't dismiss your feelings, they need to be dealt with and this is where support is crucial.

5.  Strategy.  You have to have a game plan.  If you don't make one now, then sit down with some of the folks listed in paragraph 4 and get it done.  If you have a plan you not only know what direction your going but you increase your odds of getting there. With Diabetes you increase your odds of getting there in one piece, or complication free.    It is now Proven (DCCT Study) that good control reduces complications, that's motivation in itself! Know your body. Trial and error. Testing, recording, analyzing, tweaking, and choosing a treatment regime that works for you and controls your glucose. This also includes diet, carb counting, understanding what certain foods do to your glucose. Plans involve setting goals, specific goals like; I am going to test 4 times a day or I will test 2 hrs after I eat to ensure I am taking enough insulin to cover my meal.  Write stuff down, food, readings, mood, exercise, illness. Trust me, it makes it easier to adjust if it's staring you in the face. 

6.  Remember the 80/20 rule. We are human, and it is impossible, actually, totally unachievable to always have your glucose in range, it is impossible to eat perfect every day, it is impossible to keep positive everyday, but it's totally possible to say to yourself, "I did well 80 % of the time this week" That is what counts! Celebrate the good readings, and choices, don't hold onto the highs and lows, let em go and try again the next day.

When the "time comes" you will succeed in managing Mr Diabetes; if you are prepared and have the knowledge, use the right tools, have a good game plan and lots of support!

Trev

Have your Cake & Eat it Too

Meet Dareian;  my older Type 1 in our  house of  Diabetics.  She is one amazing teen!


Dareian the baker!

This is her story, and how she has learned to manage her diabetes through carbohydrate counting, glucose monitoring, and MDI so she can live life how she wants, not how Mr Diabetes dictates. 
Sure she still occationally gets abducted by aliens (See post) but she usually returns the same day.

We partook in a study here in Edmonton called the Trial Net  to determine if any of our non-D kids had autoantibodies for diabetes. If  these autoantibodies are present  the risk of developing Type 1 D in the future is increased. So we took the remaining 4 children and had the blood drawn.  To our surprise, becasue you never really expect it, our oldest child(Dareian) had the autoantibodies.  Crap!

Anyhow, we proceeded with our day to day life, managing Rowan our youngest D and myself of course. Waiting, worrting, and uncertain if or when Mr Diabetes would attack. 

A little over a year later, after many random and fasting home glucose checks, he attacked! We went to the ER and had the blood work done to confirm what we knew.  "Your daughter has type 1 diabetes" There was that dreaded statement again. Once in a lifetime is enough but three times, come on already!

The next day we went through the same training we had with Rowan a few years earlier.  We felt like employees at the diabetes center since we'd spent so much time there.

Dareian was amazing, like her younger sister. She immediately caught onto to Carbohydrate counting, self injecting, I thought, man this kid is smart.  She took Mr Diabetes buy the horns.  We on the other hand felt overwhelmed, and once again went through a whole range of emotions, she was still our baby, even though she was 11 at diagnosis.

Upon arriving home, Dareian has her days, like all PWD where she is angry, sad, and in denial.  But she also has that essential quality or characteristic that I equate with success in diabetes management.  That is; she truly believes she can control it from the inside out.  She has learned and continues to learn about managing diabetes; what works for her and what doesn't. She is active and is a track star! I know I am bragging, but that's my job. She has learned, and managed well enough and knows that she can have her cake, and eat it too!  Great job Dareian!

The Cake she baked for her Moms B-day