Absence Makes the Writing Harder

I have to say, it's been hard keeping up with my food blog this summer since I haven't been cooking as much or doing any blogging challenges related to this blog. But, I'm going to try to do better.


I have mentioned in the past that I am diabetic. I haven't been as diligent as I should be with maintaining a good diet, but I know I have improved compared to my old eating habits. I try to stay away from heavily sugar-laden foods and to eat more whole grain foods when they are available. I still eat the occasional sweet treat, but maybe only once a month. I've even taken to asking for sugar-free syrups in drinks when I want a flavored coffee or soda. I'm far from perfect, but I felt that I was treating my body much better than I used to.


Well, apparently I was right. I finally got back to see my doctor who scheduled long overdue blood work for me. When she got the results, she was happy to see that three years of no appointments hadn't thrown my numbers off the charts. My triglycerides were still high, but my LDL and HDL numbers were actually acceptable. My blood pressure was well within normal range and my A1C was 6.9, which is within therapeutic range for diabetics (maybe at the top, but I haven't been to the doctor for years!) 

The other thing was that I hadn't monitored my blood sugar for almost as long as I'd seen the doctor, mainly because I didn't have a clue where my monitor was after moving twice in a year and a half. So, a couple weeks ago, I went online looking to see where I could get another glucose monitor and found Abbott Labs were offering a free monitor if I registered for their MyFreeStyle Promise Program. It provides copay discounts for those with insurance so that they don't have to pay more than $15 for their test strips. I still have to call them to find out if they have any discount for those of us without insurance, but considering they will replace the monitor every three years for free as long as I am in the program, I think I can find a way to get the test strips along the way without complaining too much. 


When I tested my sugar, I was pleasantly surprised that my pre-prandial (before eating) readings were all under 110, which has never happened since I began testing my blood. I was shocked! I'm hoping it's because I'm doing something right and not because the meter is poorly calibrated. Now I need to get more strips so I can proudly show my doctor next month how well I'm doing!

Courtesy Wikimedia

To change the subject, do you like to grill? If so, which do you prefer? Charcoal or propane? It's funny how popular grilling has become. There's nothing quite as good as a steak or a burger cooked over an open flame! Yet, I don't particularly like to do it. When it's hot in the summer, I don't even like to cook INSIDE, let alone cook outside in the heat. I have done it, though, and can enjoy it when temperatures are right. I would take my kids and my mother-in-law to one of the city parks where grills were provided and we'd cook hamburgers and hot dogs with the charcoal we brought while the kids ran around the park playing. We always had a good time, but also plenty of shade trees and a nice breeze to go with it.


But, I've noticed just how elaborate home grills have become. There are so many different kinds these days, some even with separate burners for sauce pans. Sometimes I will go online and look at all sorts of different items just because I get curious. Well, curiosity hit me again and I decided to see what was up with the different kinds of gas grills that were around. I came upon a marketing site that showed both charcoal and propane bbqs. Wow! I thought the gas grill my parents had was pretty upscale since it also had a rotisserie (that they never used once), but some of these are big enough that they'd work in your kitchen (if you had proper ventilation, obviously). Others are more like the smaller versions I've used in the past, both table top and free standing. Some remind me of the old Coleman stoves, but on steroids. There really are so many choices out there these days. If you love to grill, I can't imagine not being able to find something to suit your personality.

New Phone, Nice Lunch and Prescription ReNewals

Had a doctor's appointment this morning. My first in almost three years. I was long past due. My prescriptions had run out and she needed to see me before renewing them. I have Type 2 Diabetes and haven't been as good to myself as I should have been, although I'm much better than I used to be. Lifelong bad habits don't change overnight. They did a blood sugar while I was there and it was 267. Of course, I had an overfilled cream donut for breakfast, so that didn't help. (What can I say - I was hungry when I drove by the bakery. I knew it was wrong, but I did it anyway.) I was happy to see her, though. I really do need to go more often. I just kept putting it off because I don't have insurance and I didn't want to do the paperwork I needed to go for free. But, this time I did and I'm glad. I need to start caring for myself better than I have. 


I can't do a blood sugar test on myself because I haven't found my meter since moving, so the doctor is going to give me one once I find out the cheapest test strips offered by Walmart. She'll match the meter to the strips. They're 

Different kinds of glucose meters

very pricey, I have to say. I got most of what I had used previously either through eBay or through Freecycle. Since the charity program run by the hospital doesn't include testing strips or prescriptions, I'll have to pay for them myself. Still, the overall cost will be less than out of pocket, for which I am grateful. I get my prescriptions at a local grocery pharmacy that offers FREE diabetes meds and antibiotics and virtually matches Walmart's $4/$10 program. So, a quarter of my prescriptions will be free. I really can't complain.

Yeah, I got the blue.

My daughter called me as I was leaving the doctor's office (the desk clerk loved the song I had on as a ringtone - I'm Here For The Party) to tell me that the phone I could get for my line upgrade was now on special. I should stop at the Sprint store or Radio Shack and get one while they were waiving the $10 monthly premium data add-on to encourage customers to take advantage of the eco-friendly phones Sprint was offering. The Sprint Replenish, an Android model, is made of 34.6% post-consumer recycled plastics with fully-recyclable packaging. The keyboard is larger than the one on my old phone, so there will be fewer keying errors because of my fat fingers (I hope). I have to get used to it, though. It constantly locks the screen and I have to swipe the icon to the side to unlock it. I need to see if I can disable that. So far, what little I've used it, I like it.

As for the food part of today's message, we were supposed to go for breakfast before going to the doctor. We didn't. He didn't get up until just before I needed to leave for the doctor. So, we went to lunch instead. Considering I had eaten the worst possible food for breakfast and had elevated blood sugar, I decided I would be good to myself at lunch. We went to Don Pablo's where I got their $5.99 Speedy Lunch special. I had a choice of enchiladas, tacos and tamales. I chose two different enchiladas (with corn tortillas) and black beans with my rice. I also had a cup of white chicken chili soup. Plus the chips and salsa and a diet Coke. All fairly low carb (the carbs were complex, whole grain carbs). 


Although we had at least one heavy downpour while we were out, it was a fairly productive day. I got the dishes washed (thank God for dishwashers that can do the work while you're away) and didn't have that waiting on me to start when I got home. I even got some genealogy in this morning before I left!  I'm satisfied with my day.

The Benefits of Whole Grains

By now, we should all be aware of the fact that whole grains are good for us. Because they are not refined to the same degree as other flours, they retain all the nutrition and fiber found in the hulls of each grain. However, not everything that says “whole grain” is necessarily wholly whole.

Various grains by Rainer Zenz over Thuresson on Wikimedia Commons

According to Dr. Oz, manufacturers often use phrases that sound suspiciously like what you’re looking for, but may not even be close.

• Made with whole grains
  It may have a pinch of whole grains, but unless it's 100 percent, you won't reap most of the potential benefits.
• Multigrain
  This tells you nothing about whether the grains are whole or refined. Even if you're getting 38 different grains, that isn't much good if they are all refined.
• Whole grain
  If the label doesn't say "100 percent whole grain," it may have many grain blends. Bad words to see paired with "flour" are: "enriched," "bleached," "unbleached," "semolina," "durum" and "rice." (http://www.oprah.com/health/Health-Benefits-of-Whole-Wheat-Bread)

So, if it doesn’t say 100% on the label, don’t buy it if it’s whole grains that you’re going for.  My opinion deviates slightly from this in that when a family is used to nothing but refined grain breads and other flour products, it might be best to wean them into the whole grains. Going straight from nice, soft, spongy white bread to nutty and heavier whole grain bread can be a shock. Maybe start with the new whole grain white and go from there which according to the Mayo Clinic provide identical benefits to regular brown whole grain breads. Once they realize they’re already eating whole grains, they may branch out to try other forms. I personally like some of the whole grain breads. In fact, I like whole grain breads better than whole wheat bread.

Another thing is that whole grains are better for diabetics. The way the body processes the whole grain carbs is much different than the refined carbs. Eating white bread is like eating a spoonful of sugar for me. I do buy it when the budget’s tight, but I can tell the difference. It speeds through my system like a jet plane and the next thing I know, I’m sleepy and wanting a nap. But, if I’m eating a whole grain product, the processing in my system takes longer and the body processes the carbs more efficiently, so I don’t get that sudden drop in energy (not to mention the rapid elevation of sugar). If you are diabetic and are eating a refined carb item, make sure you also eat an equal amount of protein. The protein will help reduce the rate at which your body processes those carbs. That doesn’t mean that it’s OK all the time, but try to balance it when you have no other choice.

Did you know that tortilla chips are whole grain? Boy, I like them with salsa! But, my sugar doesn’t spike and I don’t get that “can’t hold my eyes open” reaction to eating them. Of course, I use that fact to justify my addiction to that snack, but it really isn’t that horrific of a thing. The salsa is low carb and the chips are complex carbs. I had my sugar read at the ER about an hour and a half after making a meal of chips and salsa and it was actually normal! Of course, just eating chips and salsa isn’t very balanced, but I haven’t had a normal sugar mid-day in a long time. So, I can attest to the benefit of whole grains with regard to diabetes.

Are you dieting? Do you like rye bread? Then maybe you should eat more rye bread than wheat bread. Studies have shown that people who ate rye bread at breakfast were less hungry at lunch than those who ate wheat. Whether it’s because of rye’s high fiber content or rye’s interaction with the body’s insulin triggers, people who eat rye bread feel fuller longer. Rye-brand breads have an even better effect on hunger. (ibid.)

So, everyone should start trying to incorporate whole grain products into their daily diets. It doesn’t take much to start making the switch. Some of the choices out there are really delicious!