Getting through the holidays on less than 30 carbs a day

With a flurry of family events, gatherings, and numerous holiday meals I was not looking forward to the task of managing a low carb diet. I DID it though! I managed to stick to my low carb ways;  less than 30 carbs a day (for nearly 3 years now!), and kept my blood sugar under 150 most of the time. When my blood sugar gets above 150 I worry... I obsess... and I am generally cranky. Maintaining the low carb diet helps to keep me sane and gives me a sense that I have control.

I realize that I have developed a whole different "relationship" with food. I would say, now,  "I eat to live", not " live to eat".  My endo worries about my weight, (I weigh 110 and have admittedly lost weight on the diet) my sustained ketogenic state, but he can't argue with the success of my A1C, my energy level or my lipids.

There are many aspects of this disease that scare me, leave me humbled, but for today I am going to enjoy the success of avoiding carbs, good numbers and the pleasure of watching the rest of my beautiful family  and friends indulge in food that I can only dream about!

Blesssings and good health to all in 2012. I carry you with me in the journey...

Dare to reach your hand into the darkness… to pull another hand into the light

It helps me to cope with Type 1 when I can sink my teeth into an area of need that is greater than my own. That isn’t hard to find when you travel outside of the North American continent.

I keep finding my way back to sites that are representative of the people on the planet that don’t have the access to health care that we do. Never has it felt more personal or pressing to me than it does now. I feel a sense of urgency when I read that as few as 1% of children with Type 1 Diabetes born in sub-Saharan Africa live for 6 years. Does that astound you? It is unspeakable, not to mention unthinkable. But of course we really do have to think about this….. and then we have to act.

If you were a parent in Sub Saharan Africa you would be looking at the chance of your child dying from Type 1… or more devastating; hoping that they WILL die (see International Diabetes Federation hyperlink) so that the rest of the family can live. The cost of caring for a child with Diabetes can be over 50% of a family’s annual income, thus making the death of that child a means for which the rest of the children and family can live. No family anywhere should be in this predicament. It is every child’s birth right to live their life to his or her full potential, regardless of where they are born in this world. " No child should be a victim of geography".

I had a conversation with a friend about the burdens affecting those in the developing world. She said that she feels the needs here in the U.S. are so pressing, that to reach a hand to another part of the world seems almost like denying the issues that are right in front of us. 

Perhaps the message I have today is to reach out somewhere and make a difference. If it is in your own backyard or in a place far from your own home.... please, act. Consider donating to  the JDRF, International Diabetes Federation,  International Insulin Foundation, or wherever you think you are needed . Reach out a hand.

 (The title quote is by, Norman B. Rice) 

"Yeah, sure"

Did you ever see the movie, "The Bishop's Wife"? It's an 1940's movie, and they replay it every year around this time because it captures the magic of believing in the seemingly impossible. In the film, a bishop tries to get a new cathedral built. He prays for guidance and an angel (Carey Grant) arrives, but his guidance isn't about fundraising. Grant goes on to change the lives of the people in the church as well as the people in the community. Each one is transformed by his presence.

I use to say " yeah, sure" about angels, healers, or mystics. That was, until I started therapy again. I have been in therapy before, twice, and I always got alot out of it. My therapists have been thoughtful and insightful. But this time it has been different. Profoundly. I have been changed on nearly every front since the day I stepped into therapy. I don't mean that he (my therapist) gets out a wand, waves it and all is well. No; not at all. Rather inexplicably though, each week, the burdens that plagued me, have lifted.

 It started with my own fears about Diabetes. I couldn't sleep at night without experiencing terror. I would wake up at about 2 a.m. half awake and half asleep terrified of Diabetes. Afraid of every aspect of it. The blood sugars, the lows, the highs, the implications short term, long term, etc. Paralyzing. I would sweat, and my heart would pound. When I started therapy that all changed. Almost immediately the weight was lifted. I slept better. No more heart pounding at 2 a.m.

A huge ongoing fear has been the risk of my beloved son getting Type 1. I have been affected deeply by the worry that he, too, will become a Type 1. However, over the weeks that has improved. In recent days, my son has shown incredible strength and a discipline that makes him capable of managing anything that comes his way. He is one of the strongest people I know. While I dread the thought of Type 1 becoming his reality, I feel a sense of security that he, and we, will manage this no matter what.

My mom has Metastatic Cancer that nearly took her life a year and a half ago. In recent weeks it is like she has had a sort of  "remission". Not entirely of course, but enough so that we can just chat together without the dread of the next treatment or hospitalization rearing its ugly head. It has been a chance for the two of us to connect again before we have to say goodbye. Goodbye is inevitable. This therapy and this time isn't a cure-all. It is a chance to see things with clarity. To make memories and savor the moment.

And my husband, I adore him. He is dessert. I don't eat sweets, but I want to eat him.    I need him. He is my best friend and my soul mate. Calm has set in. He is at my side, and I treasure the warmth he brings me every day and night. The worries are still there, but they now provide me with a reminder to seize the moment.

There is no magic wand, and the ebb and flow of life will surely turn the tides on me again. But, this experience in therapy has left me believing in healers, mystics and angels who can help put you back together when you feel broken.

I am more prepared for the road ahead and less afraid of the dark. There is a light at the end of the tunnel...

Diabetes and Anonymity

Do you live your life as a Type 1 Diabetic anonymously? I do, almost exclusively. 
 I think it has to do with the idea of people judging me by this disease. I wonder to myself;  if they know I have Type 1, will they worry more about me? Will my moods  be attributed to my Type 1 diagnosis? Will my employer or future employer withhold work or insurance because I am a liability? Will people perceive my Diabetes as a weakness?  I have had this diagnosis for the better part of 3 years and only a few people in my life know.  For me, this is a luxury. 

 I feel more “normal” when I walk into work and no one knows. I feel more “normal” when I go out with friends and I eat my low carb diet and make a joke out of it. I usually say something like; “I hate bread that is why I am taking the meat out of this sandwich”. The great part is people believe me. I mean, who hates bread, pasta, rice, etc?! I could name a hundred examples of this over the past 3 years! I guess I thrive on a feeling of normalcy.

I don’t know about you, but I find that people love to pass judgement, and I for one don’t want to be a “victim” of their ignorance or pity. I have Type 1 and hopefully I will be stronger for it. I think I have more to prove since I was diagnosed with Type 1. I have a great desire to have strength in spirit, in spite of the fears and demand that the disease carries with it. I have chosen to embrace discipline and self control and ultimately manage this disease with a quiet fierceness!  

I am a nurse with years of experience and ironically I care for kids (among others) with Type 1.  I  can envision a day where I will share my Type 1 status . A day when (maybe) I will work as an intercultural nurse, or a Diabetes Educator helping out the children, and adults, who don’t have access to a health care system like ours.

This reminds me… take a moment and look at the utube video titled, "O is For Outrage" in my Hyperlink.  I happened to find this one on World Diabetes Day. It breaks your heart and it is a call to act....

Be well.    

What our Endocrinologist is not telling us...

I am convinced that we are being misinformed by our practitioners. I believe the information about low carbing is withheld because endocrinologists do not believe we can continue a diet with such a low carb intake for any lengthy period of time. My endocrinologist is just waiting for me to say that I want to resume my old diet (pre-diabetes).

 If someone said to you that you could substantially improve your blood sugars, lower your A1c, decrease your chance of experiencing a Hypo and this was all possible by lowering your carb intake to about 30 carbs a day…. Would you do it? I have. I have found a few sites that reinforce this way of living and treating Diabetes. Overall though, I am astounded by the lack of information out there for those of us who want alternatives to the classic ADA diet! We have to take back our health and we DO have the discipline to stick to a diet that preserves our health now and in the future.

 I hope you will share the journey with me and let me know how you are doing too…

Perspective

When I feel really anxious about my future, I think about the people on the planet with Type 1 Diabetes that don't have a voice and don't have the resources available to them that I do. On World Diabetes Day I uploaded a few amazing videos from utube including one that I have attached to my Hyperlink (Life For A Child). In the midst of my panic I feel more connected to Diabetes when I see just how much I have available to me. I am greatful for an amazing online community..practitioners that I can see when I need them..Insulin to treat and family to support. Take a minute and view the utube video if you have time. It helped get me through the day...

Low-Carbohydrate Diet for Type 1 Diabetes

Low-Carbohydrate Diet for Type 1 Diabetes

Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog is for information purposes only and should not be considered to be professional medical advice. I have formal medical training but I am not a doctor and information found here is not a substitute for consultation with your physician.

What is the Purpose of this Forum?

The purpose of this forum is to educate, and be educated by, Type 1 diabetics on the use of a low-carbohydrate approach to treatment. We do not diagnose or treat diabetes on this site. We do open up a dialogue and share experiences, ideas, lab results, etc. so that we can better understand the benefits of a low-carbohydrate diet approach to Type 1 diabetes.

My experience with Diabetes

When I found out at age 44 that I had Type 1 diabetes I felt a sense of panic. How would I effectively manage a disease that has so many complications and implications? I was fortunate that my husband worked for an educational institution that was affiliated with a prestigious diabetes center where I sought treatment. However, even with the best care I found myself questioning why it was safe to eat a diet with over 100 carbohydrates a day, if carbohydrates raise blood sugar in the first place. My reasoning was this: the more carbohydrates you ingest, the more insulin you need. The more insulin you need, the more chance of error in medication and incidence of low blood sugar episodes (hypoglycemia).  The higher your blood sugars, the more complications in the short and long term.

Why carbohydrates affect blood sugar

When you eat carbohydrates, either simple or complex, your body breaks them down into sugars, which are absorbed into the bloodstream. The blood sugar level rises, and in response, your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps take the sugar from the blood and put it into the cells, where it can be used as energy to fuel your body. In Type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas no longer can produce insulin and we become reliant on insulin medication for life.

Recommended Carbohydrate Intake Rates

I have found myself dissatisfied by the lack of information on low-carbohydrate diet options for treatment of diabetes. We hear about dietary restriction of carbohydrates for people with Type 2 diabetes, but we rarely hear about how we can adjust our diet to effectively help in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes.

The following link discusses daily carbohydrate intake recommendations of the American Diabetes Association and a comparison of blood sugar response compared to a low carbohydrate diet:

http://www.healthy-eating-politics.com/american-diabetes-association.html

The Low-Carbohydrate Approach

Diet alone cannot cure Type 1 diabetes and daily insulin demands are affected by a variety of factors. However, common sense tells us that the amount of insulin needed to control our blood sugar should be greatly reduced when we lower our intake of carbohydrates. When I tried a low carbohydrate diet, I found that it greatly lowered my demand for insulin injections. I limit my dietary intake of carbohydrates to about 30 saccharide units (‘carbohydrates’) a day. I also try to limit the type of carbohydrates I ingest in a manner recommended in the book “The Diabetes Solution”, written by Dr. Richard Bernstein. He is a Type 1 diabetic and also an endocrinologist. He discovered through trial and error over several decades that with low carbohydrate ingestion (limited to approximately 30 carbohydrates a day), and a regimen of insulin and exercise, he is able to maintain a Hemoglobin A1c (average blood sugar over a 3 month period) in the non diabetic range while also keeping his cholesterol, liver profile and kidney function in a safe, non-diabetic range. If you want to learn more about Dr. Richard Bernstein’s approach, the following link will help you get started:

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/bernsteinsdiabetesdiet/a/howtostarttips.htm

 Safety of the Low-Carbohydrate Diet

When you lower your intake of carbohydrates to 30 carbohydrates or less you begin to burn fat for energy. This is called ketogenesis. I live in a sustained state of ketogenesis. A diet that is very high in protein and fat is generally believed to cause elevated cholesterol. If so, if we eat a diet that is a low in carbohydrates and high in fat and protein, aren’t we just trading one problem for another? As a Type 1 diabetic, I worried about this. I monitored my cholesterol and lipid profile closely and I have found the opposite to be true. A diet high in fat and protein has actually improved my blood cholesterol. My HDL ( "good" cholesterol) is high and my LDL ( "bad" cholesterol) is in a safe range. In addition, my triglycerides and total cholesterol are also in a safe range.

 I have added a link below to a study of the safety of low-carbohydrate diet.

http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/high-fat-ketogenic-diet-to-control-seizures-is-safe-over-long-term.aspx

 This study is explores the safety of a ketogenic diet in children with uncontrolled seizures (a sensitive population).  The research shows that the diet is safe for these children. You should consult your endocrinologist before you begin a dietary change. You may also wish to have baseline laboratory blood testing done before you begin.

Kidney disease is a cause for concern for people with Type 1 Diabetes. A high protein diet may put extra strain on the filtering abilities of the kidneys and kidney function should also be monitored when using this approach. Here is a link to a study on the positive effects of a low-carbohydrate and high protein diet on kidney health in Type 1 diabetes:

http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/health_stories/ketogenic_diet_diabetes/2011/04/21/385751.html

The research suggests that low-carbohydrate intake may actually reverse symptoms associated with kidney disease in Type 1 Diabetics. While further studies need to be done, this research is promising. I have found, thus far, that my kidney function has remained within a normal range on the low carbohydrate, high protein diet.  

The Benefits of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet

I have adopted a low-carbohydrate diet and have had success for over 2 1/2 years now. My hemoglobin A1c ranges between 4.6 and 5.5 and I feel healthy and generally have a lot of energy.  

For me, a low-carbohydrate lifestyle meant a radical change in the way that I thought about food in my life. We are culturally trained that food should be available in great abundance as well as variety. It was difficult to reduce my carbohydrate intake by 80-90%. However, I learned that I had to change my lifestyle to achieve a low-carbohydrate diet and cope with diabetes, but that I didn’t have to completely eliminate my dietary pleasures or variety. Make no mistake, it is life changing to implement a low-carbohydrate lifestyle. But I also found it to be incredibly empowering to gain control over my blood sugar and my health.

I hope that you find this information useful and I hope that it can help you change the progression of your Type 1 Diabetes, like it has for me. I welcome you to share your experiences with me and other readers of this forum. Together, let’s improve our health.