Diabetes & Chronic Issues Support Group

[thestrangequark]

These look delicious! Especially the soup. Thanks for sharing. When I live on my own again I'm going try these recipes.

Chicken soup is super easy! I like to roast my own chicken and make a stock from that, but that is admittedly very time consuming. You can also boil bone-in chicken thighs, use meat that's already cooked along with pre-made broth or bouillon, or even use leftover rotisserie chicken from the store.
For a basic chicken soup I sauté the onion and garlic in a Tbsp of oil and a splash of seasoned vinegar (notice a theme? ), then add chopped carrots, celery, zucchini, crookneck, green beans, parsnip, and sometimes green peas, daikon, and/or turnip, stirring every time I add a veggie to get them all coated in oil and cooking. Add salt and pepper to taste, and parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme (there's a reason it's a song, the spices go excellent together and are perfect with poultry). Last I add the stock (or bouillon and water or broth), and the meat. Let cook for 20 minutes or so and you're set.

And for the matzo I honestly just use Manischewiz matzo and follow the instructions on the back: you basically beat an egg and some broth into the matzo mix, chill for 10 minutes, form into balls, and plop them into the soup to cook.

 

[JesterFace]

I have mentioned this in another similar thread but this is a chronic things thread so....

MS also known as multiple sclerosis reporting.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

That's a tough one Can you get good medical treatment in Finland? I imagine it might be a bit difficult what with the big distances between towns.
Do you have any Finish recipes you could recommend to people with little time and energy?

A typical Bavarian chicken soup contains an old chicken (too old for laying eggs), celeriac, carrots, leeks, peppercorns, salt, parsley and lovage. I like to add lemon peel, ginger and bay leaf. Simmer gently till the meat falls off the bones, then remove the chicken from the stock, cut the meat into chunks, reheat them in the broth and add soup noodles or old pancakes cut into narrow stripes.
I make a huge pot every autumn and freeze the soup in portions. This way I always have nourishing chicken soup when I'm ill.

There's an international difference with the stuffed bell peppers, too: We cut off a lid, deseed the peppers, fill them with minced meat (equal parts beef and pork) seasoned with salt, pepper, a little sweet paprica and marjoram. If you like, you can add an egg and breadcrumbs or cooked rice to bind the filling. Then we add the lid to the peppers again, put the raw peppers into a saucepan, fry them for a few minutes and then deglaze with a bit of veggie stock or tomato pulp and simmer gently until the meat is done. They are traditionally served with rice or mashed potatos.

Funny, how differently the same dish is prepared in different countries

 

[JesterFace]

That's a tough one Can you get good medical treatment in Finland? I imagine it might be a bit difficult what with the big distances between towns.

Medical treatment is very good, the medication costs about 2000€ / dollars a month but for the patients it's free.
(even without health insurance, it's not necessary)
I was almost stuck at home at one point but these days things are much better, the medical treatments have taken massive leaps for the better in just last ten years. Life has gotten a lot better.

Do you have any Finish recipes you could recommend to people with little time and energy?

I'm not much of a cook, if at all, junk food addict here, sorry but I have no good recipes.
I recommend the nearest junkfood establishment.

 

[thestrangequark]

That's a tough one Can you get good medical treatment in Finland? I imagine it might be a bit difficult what with the big distances between towns.
Do you have any Finish recipes you could recommend to people with little time and energy?

A typical Bavarian chicken soup contains an old chicken (too old for laying eggs), celeriac, carrots, leeks, peppercorns, salt, parsley and lovage. I like to add lemon peel, ginger and bay leaf. Simmer gently till the meat falls off the bones, then remove the chicken from the stock, cut the meat into chunks, reheat them in the broth and add soup noodles or old pancakes cut into narrow stripes.
I make a huge pot every autumn and freeze the soup in portions. This way I always have nourishing chicken soup when I'm ill.

There's an international difference with the stuffed bell peppers, too: We cut off a lid, deseed the peppers, fill them with minced meat (equal parts beef and pork) seasoned with salt, pepper, a little sweet paprica and marjoram. If you like, you can add an egg and breadcrumbs or cooked rice to bind the filling. Then we add the lid to the peppers again, put the raw peppers into a saucepan, fry them for a few minutes and then deglaze with a bit of veggie stock or tomato pulp and simmer gently until the meat is done. They are traditionally served with rice or mashed potatos.

Funny, how differently the same dish is prepared in different countries

The way you describe the peppers is actually how I was used to them. My mom and I were just experimenting with different ideas to make them lower carb. I started cutting them in half to make them open-faced, as it were, to get more filling inside.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

my mom fills them with couscous and only bakes them for a few minutes. Delicious with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkled with chopped peppermint leaves =) Not low carb, though.

 

[thestrangequark]

Sub couscous w/minced mushrooms, celery, cauliflower, and walnuts using the same seasonings as you would the couscous. Sub sour cream for 5% Greek yogurt. You've got a damn good, low carb, super healthy version!

 

[rhubarbodendron]

I recommend the nearest junkfood establishment.

Unfortunately, I have 3 in a radius of 50 meters. Plus: most bakers and butchers over here offer snacks like pizza or rolls with cheese or sausage or a schnitzel. Very popular (and high carb & high cal) are pizza-pretzels: pretzels covered with a slice of ham or several slices of peperoni, a dollop of tomato sauce, peppers, mushrooms and a slice of cheese.
I used to be a big fan of these but after I learned that one naked pretzel has as many carbs as 2/3 of a bar of milk chocolate I switched priorities

A few times already I've had a word with my GP about me being totally exhausted all the time. From noon on I fight against falling asleep and usually I'm in bed by 6 pm or by 7 the very latest. It is exactly as it was before I was diagnosed with diabetes. Also, my anxiety fits have returned. There's definitely something wrong with my metabolism and it has an effect on the brain. It's not teh blood sugar - I bought a testing device and checked for a month. NOw my GP has now finally decided to check my thyroid gland (I'll get the result on Tuesday) but if that's not the reason for my problems, I'll ask my endokrinologist in April. She's the type who won't give up testing until she finds the root of the problem. So I hope that from late spring on I'll have the energy again to cook frequently.
It's really annoying to have a doctor who doesn't take your complaints serious. This way my previous GP overlooked my diabetes for 5 years.

 

[T'Bonz]

If you have aches with the fatigue, get checked for fibromyalgia.

 

[think]

Went to the diner with friends just earlier..their treat,, .. at about 830 last night.. I was lost with the menu choices... because of the new, no salt with no sugar is killing me... besides the cholesterol deleteriousness .. so I had one roll with..whipped butter (salt there but I survived mostly) the a California burger.. well done.. on a bun no cheese... (salt) .. the catsup was like lots of salt I kinda limited that use as everyone there had like soups salads.. I had salt free French fries.. no soup or soda right did I mention that I had migraines for 3 weeks or more from quitting caffeine cause of blood pressure? Yeah so I did want soda they had sprite with sugar or Pepsi diet neither would work so it was water with a lemon.. even though the lemon sugar...but natural sugar.. ..another thing was that pickle I need not ask about that salt level.. so I skipped that.. I had the cold slaw but I really had no idea good or bad? The burger was great and hey it’s eating out and being treated.. yeah.... there was the cheese cake I totally wanted and could have had no problem.. but I just turned down the half a slice that then went home with a friend.. that was the first time eating out since the no salt and caffeine restrictions.. I guess I did good.. yeah..

 

[rhubarbodendron]

If you have aches with the fatigue, get checked for fibromyalgia.

Thanks for the tip! I have arthrosis which might cover some symptoms. It's definitely a possibility I'll explore further.

 

[JesterFace]

Unfortunately, I have 3 in a radius of 50 meters.

Dude, you don't have to brag.

It's really annoying to have a doctor who doesn't take your complaints serious.

Very much this.

 

[Gryffindorian]

Regarding my acid reflux, I have found a temporary relief: milk of magnesia. I take a small sip just before bedtime, and my stomach feels less tumultuous. The only thing I don't like is that it's a laxative. I've been getting up earlier than usual to go to the bathroom.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

Maybe a few dried apricots would do the trick? They contain a lot of magnesia but don't have a laxative effect. Pumpkin or sunflower seeds are even richer in magnesia but not as easy to digest as the fruit.

 

[thestrangequark]

The incidence of anxiety and depression is twice as high in people with type 2 diabetes compared to the general population (and three times as high for type 1 diabetics). Depression was recently made a diagnostic criteria.

 

[Sibyl]

@thestrangequark, sorry, I missed your message earlier.

I'm loving this pump so far, but there are certain things to keep in mind. First, I have a little bit of neuropathy in my fingers but I'm not entirely sure that's due to diabetes and I'm thinking it might be more my carpal tunnel on both sides, so the package that the infusion set comes in is very clumsy to me and I've dropped three now, ruining their insertion needles. I need to be extra careful while prepping. Another is that it uses a LOT of insulin when you change cartridges. Last night I needed to change because my insulin ran out of the previous one. I put somewhere around 100 units into the filling syringe (all that was left) and once everything was said and done muy pump ended up with 40 usable units that ran out this morning. So I needed to get more, which was an adventure in itself. My doctor prescribed 4 vials per month for me. When my pharmacy called me to let me know it was ready, it came to around $141. I was told that my further prescriptions would be $47 after my first vial that cost me $230 or so. The pharmacy tech did some messing around and found out that one vial was $47. Two vials were $47. Three vials were $47, but once the fourth was added it jumped to the $141. They told me that if I can have my doctor give me a three-month prescription that it would also be $141.

Overall my experience has been great and I'm really happy we went this way.

I will have a prescription for the software update that will prevent most highs, too, but not until Friday, I believe.

 

[thestrangequark]

Pumps are always a mixed bag, but for most people the pros vastly outweigh the cons (and I say that as someone who is not in that group!). Some things that might come in handy: can you ask your doctor to write you a prescription for more insulin than you actually take? I take at most 5 units a day of my fast-acting but my doctor writes my script for three times that. Not only do you get more under the cost of one script, but you can maybe even stock up. Not sure if it will work though, because insurance companies are always trying to fuck us over, but it's worth a shot.
Now, I can only speak to experience with Medtronic, but I did find that if you want to save insulin 1, do not change out the reservoir when you do an infusion set change and 2, know that (again, at least with Medtronic) there is probably about 20u insulin in your pump after it says it's empty, and it will keep delivering until you finally get a "NO DELIVERY" error. Also, you know if you need insulin you can pm me.
As for infusion sets...well, I was on the pump for six years and never got used to changing them. I always sucked on a piece of chocolate as a reward while I did it, lol.

 

[Sibyl]

I'll give it a shot next time to see if it accepts me using the same cart at least twice. Thanks for the tip!

One thing I'll say is that last night I was a bit miffed that I ran out so soon so I was a bit distracted and clicked on the casing for the infusion needle to slam into me and forgot to peel the adhesive's backing so it popped right out with its injector when I pulled it away. I thought I got everything back in order and use the same injector again, but after my glucose levels went wild last night and most of today until I picked up more insulin and changed everything again another wasted infusion set) I'm thinking that the cannula was never inserted and when I pulled it away from me its bent state basically confirmed this. Ugh. I'm back under control now. It read "HIGH" for a while today. That's over 400, the limit of my meter.

Thank you. If I do need some at the end of the month I'll let you know.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

geez, that sounds like a risky accident! It's good that you noticed the problem and didn't hesitate to change all components.

The incidence of anxiety and depression is twice as high in people with type 2 diabetes compared to the general population (and three times as high for type 1 diabetics). Depression was recently made a diagnostic criteria.

Yes, I noticed that if I forget one tablet 2 days in a row (i.e. if twice I take 1000 mg Metformin per day instead of 1500), I immediately get depressions. Looks like I am calibrated to the lowest possible dose (which is very good imo as it gives me plenty of room to raise the dosis if and when neccessary).

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, but at a blood sugar level of 133 (I just had a very sweet apple) it's not likely to be diabetes-related. Must be this crazy weather: it was spring-ish in the morning yesterday, in the afternoon we had a thunderstorm with hail and this morning we had a blizzard. Looks like St Peter has remembered that winter should have started 6 weeks ago and is now trying to catch up in a hurry.

 

[thestrangequark]

They say Tresiba doesn't peak, but my CDE and I agree that it does. I've had huge success ditching the pump for Tresiba -- I'm putting in half the effort and my A1C is down, time in range is up, low and high alerts rarely go off. However, a year on I think I can do better if I start putting in more work. I've already tightened my alerts so the high alert goes off at 180(mg/dL, 10mmol), instead of 230 (12.8) and the low alert goes off at 65 (3.6) instead of 80 (4.4). I'm 88% time in range right now, but there's still a bunch of ups and downs in there that I want to try to even out. I've been looking at my graphs and I think Tresiba peaks for me about eight hours after injection and starts to taper off 22 hours after. I think this is the cause of my lows in the early evening and highs in the early morning. I'm going to try splitting my dose, but I'm also running an average of 130-140, and I'd like to be running an average of 80-100, so I'm also thinking of going up on that background insulin by a couple units. I usually take 10u Tresiba, but I took 6u this morning and I'm going to try another 6 tonight.
Anyway, just my diabetes thoughts for the morning. Wish me luck!

 

[Amaris]

They say Tresiba doesn't peak, but my CDE and I agree that it does. I've had huge success ditching the pump for Tresiba -- I'm putting in half the effort and my A1C is down, time in range is up, low and high alerts rarely go off. However, a year on I think I can do better if I start putting in more work. I've already tightened my alerts so the high alert goes off at 180(mg/dL, 10mmol), instead of 230 (12.8) and the low alert goes off at 65 (3.6) instead of 80 (4.4). I'm 88% time in range right now, but there's still a bunch of ups and downs in there that I want to try to even out. I've been looking at my graphs and I think Tresiba peaks for me about eight hours after injection and starts to taper off 22 hours after. I think this is the cause of my lows in the early evening and highs in the early morning. I'm going to try splitting my dose, but I'm also running an average of 130-140, and I'd like to be running an average of 80-100, so I'm also thinking of going up on that background insulin by a couple units. I usually take 10u Tresiba, but I took 6u this morning and I'm going to try another 6 tonight.
Anyway, just my diabetes thoughts for the morning. Wish me luck!

Good luck!

I'll give it a shot next time to see if it accepts me using the same cart at least twice. Thanks for the tip!

One thing I'll say is that last night I was a bit miffed that I ran out so soon so I was a bit distracted and clicked on the casing for the infusion needle to slam into me and forgot to peel the adhesive's backing so it popped right out with its injector when I pulled it away. I thought I got everything back in order and use the same injector again, but after my glucose levels went wild last night and most of today until I picked up more insulin and changed everything again another wasted infusion set) I'm thinking that the cannula was never inserted and when I pulled it away from me its bent state basically confirmed this. Ugh. I'm back under control now. It read "HIGH" for a while today. That's over 400, the limit of my meter.

Thank you. If I do need some at the end of the month I'll let you know.

I'm glad you're okay! 400 is terrifying. *hugs*

 

[Gryffindorian]

Good luck on the meds.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

The early morning highs might have a physiologic reason: around 3 am everyone has a low and then the liver starts to release the emergency stash of glucose so that we have enough energy for the morning. It's a mechanism that works in every mammal, wether healthy or diabetic. It's a natural failsafe against critical lows. The time it starts varies depending on when the suger in your blood is used up. So if you have a late evening snack, it can start later than the average 3 am.
So your high in the morning shows that your liver does its job properly =)

Also, there are 2 different types: in about 60% of all humans the cells take up glucose better in the morning. In about 40% they work better in the evening. I'm an evening type and frequently have highs until about 10 am, since the liver-released sugar stays in my blood so long, what with my cells still being in sleep-mode, so to speak. Perhaps you are an evening type, too?