Food & Diet In Diabetes Cyber Kitchen  Judith's Diabetes Cyber KitchenDiabetes Diet #26: A Cooking Class For The Odd CoupleDiabetes Recipes: The Odd Couple: You and Diabetes.Family, friends, adventures, work, acquaintances, education, travel, art, spiritual pursuits, sports and hobbies, all make life blossom and grow. They create wonderful exchanges and companionships that nourish our existence and fine tune management of the dance each one of us moves to. Where does diabetes fit into this dance? It is that reality that begs a certain measure of rhythm and discipline. When well tended to, diabetes becomes one of life's interesting challenges that can inspire a quest for, and achievement of, well being and a healthy lifestyle. The role call keeps billowing up, according to the American Diabetes Association. These days the numbers compute to approximately 16 million people in the USA who have diabetes. A percentage of this population lives alone and must rely on themselves to care for their diabetes. For some, living alone can be stressful, throw in diabetes care and the stress battery jolts up a few pulses. The support of medical team and family are important sources of guidance and nourishment, but there are several steps you can initiate to secure comfort in your everyday "odd couple" relationship with diabetes. I spoke with several people who gave some practical advice regarding this subject. One young woman lives in a large apartment building in New York City. She has 2 roommates: a cat and a paraquet. She works full time during the day, and juggles school, the gym and piano lessons at night. She wears an insulin pump. She doesn't know anyone in her building, where neighbors pass each other in the elevators. Good morning. Good evening. Nothing more. What if she needs help? Who does she turn to? Having had diabetes since a teenager and flirting with trial and error of ignoring the rules of the game, she now understands the gravity of diligent regard for diabetes. Some safety measures she has successfully adopted are:
Another woman I spoke with has type 2 diabetes, is a widow who lives alone, but travels for hours each day in her car. At home she keeps an extra bg meter, test strips and glucose tablets handy in both her bedroom and in the kitchen, in case she runs into a low blood sugar. She finds it convenient storing a carb supply with her meter to treat a low without having to think of what to eat or where food might be hiding. One day she returned from grocery shopping. She tested her blood sugar. It was 40. She opened the refrigerator, which was jam packed with food, and couldn't decide what to eat, due to the confusion of the hypoglycemia. Having the glucose tabs on board has lowered the stress barometer of worrying in such situations. She has a few suggestions that work well in the car. Keep a diabetes first aid kit in the glove compartment, which includes:
The Well Armed DiabeticDisaster incidents that have occurred in the last year. Power blackouts throughout the country, horrible fires in California, looming terrorist threats and worrisome airline security seem to be part of the world we live in Being prepared and organized might mean saving your life. Creating a "well armed kit" has the positive effect of having a comfort zone in time of need. Graphic designer and type 1 diabetic, Laura Laria and I, created the following chart as a public awareness aid for all of us. It contains all the low tech stuff that comes in handy when high tech falters. It is a list of essentials to pack up in a bright colored bag or backpack. Attach a laminated name tag on it, hang it in a convenient spot with easy access. A closet near an exit door is a good place. If you would like copies of this chart to distribute to other diabetics during National Diabetes Awareness Month, contact Judith Ambrosini at wellarmediabetic@aol.com Click here to view The Well Armed Diabetic Chart Feeling secure now about being the odd couple, it's time to talk about the good stuff "Food and Cooking". Let's dance over to the Cyber Kitchen and cook a few reliable one pot meals. *****Sweet Note*****Instead of sweet and sometimes "empty "carb desserts, try a piece of fresh cheese and a perfectly ripened autumn pear or apple. Simple . Elegant. Filling. Nutritious. Some suggestions are, nutty, buttery Jarlsberg Lite partnered with a tart Granny Smith apple, or a slightly pungent low fat goat cheese sprinkled with fresh thyme leaves and served with a beautiful sweet red Bartlett pear. A small fruit equals 15 carbs. A cheese serving equals 1 oz , 75 cal. and 5 fat grams.
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