Dec 4
Since it’s December now, I hope it’s okay to revisit a video that includes a festive ol’ tree in the background. This video is about how awesome coffee is … and why it matters that the order is RIGHT.
(See also: Now I put my own fake sugar in the cup, instead of playing coffee roulette.)
Nov 25
Here in the States, Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and the rest of the winter holidays are fast approaching. And with those holidays usually comes a hearty dose of disorganization alongside all the fun. Susan Weiner is a registered dietitian-nutritionist and certified diabetes educator. She is the co-author of The Complete Diabetes Organizer: Your Guide to a Less Stressful and More Manageable Diabetes Life, and today she’s written a guest post to offer up some useful organizational tips for managing diabetes and the holidays. (My favorite tip? Avoiding BLTs, which have nothing to do with bacon.) 
And be sure to check out the end of the post for book giveaway!
Tackling Holiday Madness
Do you feel frazzled and overwhelmed from Halloween to New Year’s Day? We seem to have endless lists of things to do, in addition to our daily activities. Diabetes doesn’t take a holiday break. Between shopping, holiday parties, get-togethers and an abundance of high calorie, high carb foods, this can be a tough time of year.
What’s the best way to handle all of these activities and still properly manage your diabetes? With some simple organizing techniques, you can continue to successfully manage your blood sugars during the eventful holiday season. It is often said that the holidays are “the most wonderful time of the year”. But holidays may include some unwanted pressures for you if you have diabetes. Continue to make your health and diabetes management a priority. You’ll be glad you did!
Here are a few tips and tricks for managing holiday madness with diabetes:
Keep to a schedule – Do your best to stick to your healthy eating plan and exercise routine during the holidays. Always test your blood sugar (especially if you eat out more often).
Test your blood sugar – Test, test and keep testing your blood sugar. You might need to test more often if your schedule changes. For example if you shop for several hours at the mall, make sure that you test your blood sugar and remember to eat! Bring along glucose tablets or a fast acting source of carbohydrate. Scope out the food court at the mall to find some healthy options. And stay away from Cinnabon!
Be aware of BLT’s… bites, licks and tastes – Do you go to those warehouse stores around the holidays to buy some gifts or bulk food items? Pass up those free food giveaways. The calories, carbs and salt can really add up. If you decide to take a bite or two, make sure you’re mindful of what you eat.
Enjoy what you eat, but watch your portions – Do you have a special dish that you really enjoy on Thanksgiving? Of course you can enjoy a few of your favorite foods. Just remember to test your blood sugar and watch your portion size. Ask your host about the menu beforehand, so you know what to expect.
Stay physically active – Exercise can reduce stress and keep your blood sugars in check. Start a new tradition during the holidays. Play a game of tag or football outside before the meal, or sign up for a 5 K walk or run. You’ll feel energized!
Drink plenty of water, and watch your alcohol intake – Water will help keep you hydrated. Drink water to help manage your weight. Try not to drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Drinking too much alcohol may also lower your resolve to make good decisions about food. Here’s one way to handle the eggnog (or Thanksgiving house cocktail): drink 2 full glasses of water (still or sparkling) for every alcoholic drink.
Strategy for office treats – Did you favorite vendor just show up with a great big basket of treats? Make sure you have a strategy for having just one treat, then ignore it, or better yet, have someone else distribute the goodies within your office. That goes for the open peanut brittle, the brownies your assistant baked last night and the goodies in the 
break room. Bring in some cinnamon and add a dash to your coffee. You can keep it at your desk, feel good and still be in control.
Lastly, don’t let cousin Martha’s or Uncle Fred’s comments about diabetes bum you out over the holidays. Some people act like they know everything about diabetes, and they can’t help but voice their opinions. Take a deep breath and let them know that you have this under control. Try to change the subject.
Hopefully they will get the hint and move on! You can enjoy the holidays and stay healthy and organized!
Thanks, Susan!! If you’d like to win a copy of Susan’s book, leave a comment on this post with your best diabetes organizational tip, or a tip on how you keep your brain and/or glucose meter from imploding throughout the holidays and I’ll be randomly selecting the winners. There are five copies of this excellent book up for grabs, and the giveaway is available through Friday, November 29, at 5 pm EST. (This offer is only available for US residents.)
Nov 13
It’s not a matter of can, but more a matter of should. I’ve written a column over at A Sweet Life about the cupcake conundrum:
“People with diabetes can eat anything,” ”they” say.
Yes, yes they can. They can physically bring a food item to their mouth and consume it. This is true. It’s not a matter of “can’t,” but “should.”
“People with diabetes shouldn’t ever eat cupcakes,” the “other they” says.
I have a hard time accepting absolutes. The absolutes are what make me feel frustrated.
“People with diabetes shouldn’t ever eat cupcakes, or have babies, or eat gluten, or lick wallpaper, or ride unicycles, or shimmy their shoulders sassily on airplanes.” Or, “People with diabetes should always prick the side of their fingers – never the pad! – and CGM sensors can only be worn on the abdomen and if you’re not on an insulin pump, you aren’t trying hard enough.”
For the rest of the article, click on over to A Sweet Life for Sticking it to Diabetes.
Nov 3
When we were in Montreal, a company had their marketers out on the street, handing out snacks. We gladly accepted, hoping it wouldn’t end up being a bag filled with poisonous razorblades (of course not, because it’s Canada, eh?).
“I don’t like these, Mawm,” said Birdy, deftly spitting hers back into my hand.
“Me neither,” said Chris, thankfully not as giving with his chewed food as our daughter.
Sadly, I’m the freak of the family because I like these strange little French snacks. Made by Tutti Gourmet (Tootie?), they taste a little bit like shredded wheat and enough like dried fruit to be easily consumed. Gluten-free and vegan (or végétalien, so the bag claims), they have become a snack that no one else in my house likes, which means I can claim them as all my own.
[the photo-a-day guide is here]
Oct 7
Here’s an attempt at gluten-free chicken noodle and vegetable soup. It tasted quite nice, actually, and no one died as a result of eating it. We’re marking that as a win.
Note to real cooks: Don’t judge. I use pre-made soup broth and frozen vegetables. I’m so lazy I don’t even make my own insulin. Sensing a theme?
Note re: gluten-free: Make sure you read all the packages, etc. for the ingredients you chose, to make sure the soup you’re making is actually gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle (and Vegetable) Soup
Ingredient List:
Cookery:
Find a medium-sized stock pot in your kitchen stash and get that thing on the burner. Fire up the burner to medium heat, add the butter, and then add the hacked up celery bits and chopped onion. Then add the chicken (cubed, I guess? Or whatever the cooking term for “chopped into bite-sized bits” is.) Let the chicken cook fully before adding anything else.
Once the chicken is cooked, pour in 1 1/2 containers of soup broth and crank up the burner to high. Add the mixed vegetables, green beans, and the drained-and-rinsed cannelini beans.
Oh shit – you should have been cooking the little pasta noodles. Do that. The recommended cooking time is four minutes for the Schar noodles, but I cooked them for three minutes (because they end up added to the soup stock anyway, cooking more). After rinsing them off, dump them into the stock pot with the rest of the soup.
Once you have all your ingredients in the stock pot, add the rest of the broth (and any bouillon, salt, etc. that you’d like, to taste) and let the soup come to a boil.
Eat with your face. Unless you’re my daughter, in which case, add a few ice cubes to your bowl of soup and be careful when you take a bite, sweetie.
Jul 29
After staring into the refrigerator for several minutes this morning, debating what to have for breakfast, my stomach was growling madly before I came to an egg-and-avocado conclusion. It’s been a while since I’ve felt sincerely and frustratingly hungry, reminding me of dear Rocco. So today, I’m looking back to a post about the bear who lives in my stomach.
* * *
I should have packed more food. What was I thinking, bringing lunch only? Oh man, am I hungry.
Internal Motivational Speaker: Kerri, Kerri. You have a delicious spread of portabella chicken and spinach for lunch, complete with a drizzled bit of balsamic dressing. Can’t you just have your lunch early?
Stomach: Give it up, Speaker. It’s snack time. Snack time never
includes healthy. Snack time is ravenous. Kerri, go downstairs and get a peppermint patty from the diner.
But I don’t even like peppermint patties. I want a Nutrigrain bar.
Stomach: I don’t care if you like it or not. It’s almost ten-thirty. You’ve given me nothing but coffee. Rocco doesn’t like coffee, Kerri.
Growling from the pits of my stomach. The chain rattles and I can hear him breathing heavily, scraping his paws along the floor.
Internal Motivational Speaker: (panicked squeal) Oh, hi Rocco! I see you have a new chain. That’s a lovely new chain. (nervous laugh) Have you done something different with your fur?
Rocco growls and leans against his chain, the links straining against one another.
Stomach: Easy there, Rock. It’s cool, buddy. Kerri is going to go downstairs and grab you a blueberry Nutrigrain bar. You like those, don’tcha?
Rocco puffs out his bear breath and plunks down on his haunches, waiting. My stomach lurches a bit. I need something to eat. I get up from my desk chair and grab a dollar from my wallet. Rocco starts to purr, as much as a bear can.
Internal Motivational Speaker: Oh no. No, no Miss Kerri. Nutrigrain bars have high fructose corn syrup in them. Not to mention almost 25 grams of carbohydrates. You have that package of almonds in your drawer. Why not snack on those? Do you really need a high-carb indulgence right now? I mean …
Stomach: Lady, do you ever take a breath? Let the girl have her Nutrigrain bar. It’s not like she’s going to have a side of soft-serve ice cream with it.
Internal Motivational Speaker: I am sick and tired of you bossing me around! I don’t care that you have your fancy pepsinogen and that Pyloric sphincter. (her voice crescendos to a vehement peak) You aren’t the boss of me. I have every right to my opinions!
Stomach: All you do is nag! Eat this, don’t eat this. Spend all that money on organic foods. Don’t drink too much caffiene. Make sure you test. Make sure you bolus. Cripes, can’t she have a break?
Internal Motivational Speaker: No! This is full time! Twenty-four hours a day. I work long hours, you know, Stomach. Some of us don’t have the luxury of taking our time to digest!
Rocco looks at me with pleading eyes. “Growl, growl.” I know, Rocco. I’m starving. Let’s go downstairs and get a snack while they’re arguing.
Stomach: Do you ever stop?
Internal Motivational Speaker: Does your mom ever stop?
Stomach: Don’t you be bringing my mom into this!
Dollar clutched in my hand and leading Rocco by his chain, we sneak out. A few minutes later, I’m bolusing for the 25 grams of carbohydrate and Rocco is licking blueberry Nutrigrain crumbs off his paws.
Jul 22
The oven broke.
It took me a while to notice, because it was upwards of 90 degrees inside of my house (no central air … we will not be making this mistake with our next house), but once I realized the stove was kaput, it was about 6.30 pm and very much time for Birdzone’s dinner. While I’d like to say that I walked out to our garden and picked enough fresh green beans, tomatoes, and lettuce for a healthy salad, then followed up with chicken on the grill, with a dessert of fresh blackberries and cream, I can’t. Because I never ended up planting the garden I wanted to (too much time on the road) and we don’t have a grill (still haven’t bought one) and the frigging birds keep snaking our blackberries so, to this day, I haven’t had a single blackberry from the huge bush outside due to the aforementioned dickheaded birds. /digression
So we ordered a pizza. Judge all you want.
Birdy and I were playing in her air-conditioned room when the door bell rang, signaling the arrival of the pizza man.
“The pizza man is here!” Birdy opened her door and let in the dragon-breath heat from the kitchen, scurrying towards our front door with her yellow Batman Princess tutu flapping at her waist. (She wears pieces of that costume all the time. Even the itchy bits.) I handed her a few dollars so that she could tip the delivery person.
I opened the door and the guy handed us our pizza and drinks.
“Here you go, miss. It’s hot, isn’t it!” It wasn’t a statement, but a declaration, as the heat was undeniable.
“Yeah. Our stove broke, so there was even less of a chance of me cooking.”
He smiled as Birdy said, “Hi!” from behind my legs and darted out to hand him the money.
“Thank you … um, Batman,” he said, slightly confused but offering her a friendly smile.
“You’re welcome!” and she took off. I thanked him, and shut the door. A few seconds later, the door bell rang again. (The pizza man always rings twice?)
“Hi again. Sorry, but I forgot to have you sign the debit card slip.” He handed me a slip of paper, and as I signed it, he asked, “Do you have diabetes?”
“Excuse me?”
“Diabetes. Do you have diabetes? I noticed the sticker on your car said ‘insulin’ or something on it, and I wondered if you were diabetic.”
I laughed, surprised. “Yes, I do have diabetes. Type 1, diagnosed as a kid. Do you?”
“Yeah. Diagnosed as a kid, too.” He reached into the pocket of his cargo shorts and pulled out a Minimed insulin pump. “I’ve been pumping for about six years.”
I lifted the corner of my shirt and flashed him my silver Animas Ping. “Almost ten years for me. Small world! And that sticker on my car is for Insulindependence. It’s a diabetes organization focusing on sports and exercise.”
“Cool – I’ll check it out,” he said, winding his pump tubing around his fingers as he shoved the pump back into his pocket.
“Cool.” I paused, and the words tumbled out like I was confessing. “I don’t normally eat pizza, you know.”
The pizza man grinned. “It’s like the most complicated bolus ever. No matter what, I never get it totally right.” He started to walk back towards his car, waving at Birdy. “Have a good night! Stay cool!”
Birdy appeared from behind the door. “Mawm, he had a pump, too! He has diabeedles!”
“He does!”
The diabetes world is a small, small one. Never before had I been so pumped to see the pizza man.
(Yes. We went all that way for a horrible pun.)
Also, today has been unofficially designated as a “day to check in” (hat tip to Chris Snider) with the DOC blogs that we’re reading. I read a lot of diabetes blogs, but I don’t often comment because I usually want to say something meaningful, instead of “I like your post.” (But I do like your post!) But instead of finding that meaningful comment, I usually roll on and forget to return to comment. NOT TODAY! Today I’m commenting on every blog I read, because that’s the name of the game. I love this community, and today I’ll show that through comments. So please – if you’re here, say hello! What’s your favorite color?
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