It’s Not Im•pasta•ble!

REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

March 4, 2021

Who doesn’t love pasta?!  Lasagna, spaghetti, ravioli, cannelloni, penne, fettuccine.  You name it, I love all noodles!! 

The problem is that pasta is high in carbohydrates. It tends to spike my blood sugars – all night long, and even into the next morning.

I have found some pastas that do not spike my blood sugar, and actually taste like pasta.  I have experimented with whole wheat noodles, and those are pretty good. 

We’ve tried the chickpea pasta, butternut squash spirals, zucchini spirals, and spaghetti squash.  I wasn’t too keen on the chickpea pasta.  The veggie noodles are ok, but the zucchini and butternut squash spirals tend to get mushy. 

What works for me ~ 

BUT… I have found some pasta that I really love, and it doesn’t create an outrageous blood sugar spike, so I can work it into my Type 2 diabetic diet.  The pasta that I really like the most is called “carba-nada” by a company called al dente Pasta Company.  

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

These noodles are high protein, high fiber, with lower calories and carbohydrates.  Amazingly, there are 14 kinds of fettuccine! Additionally, al dente offers pappardelle, bonnet, farfalletti, linguine, and some plant based pastas. 

 

Some of their pastas have gluten.  Al dente also offers plant based pastas, so if gludent is not right for you, fortunately, you. still have options.

I thought that life as a Type 2 Diabetic would limit me to never eating pasta again. The best part is that I have discovered (with a lot of trial and error) it’s not IMPASTABLE!  (See what I did there?) 

Recently, I made a delicious meal of chicken scaloppini with carba-nada roasted garlic fettuccine tossed in basil pesto.  It was super delicious!  

Carba Nada Noodles Nutrition
Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

Got your skillets ready? 

It’s very easy to make.  You just split a chicken breast in half, and pound it out with a your meat mallet. About 1 – 1½ inch thickness is good. 

Dip the breast in a beaten egg (or not, if you don’t like or can’t eat eggs). Lightly coat it with Panko bread crumbs.  Heat a skillet with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 

Cook the chicken breast for about 4 minutes on each side, on a medium to low heat. (It should be 165° in the center, to be fully cooked. Be careful not to overcook, or it will be tough.) Place the cooked chicken on a plate to rest while the noodles finish cooking.

The carba-nada noodles should cook for 4 minutes in boiling chicken broth, a nice little trick to give the pasta more flavor.  

Save that broth to use in the next step!  Using tongs, take out all the noodles. Place in a low to medium heated skillet, with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil.  

Get ready for delicious!

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

I use basil pesto that I get from Whole Foods Market. Toss the fettuccine around in the skillet (using tongs), adding the pesto a spoonful at a time. I totally eyeball it, as some people like more pesto, others like less.  

Add a quarter cup of the broth at a time. It will keep the pasta and pesto from drying out in the skillet.  This takes all of about 3 minutes.  Don’t toss it too long in the skillet. I’m sure you’ll agree with me, that you don’t want to overcook your pasta.  

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

Put about a cup of the pesto pasta on a plate. Place the chicken breast on top, and garnish with a bit of Parmigiano-Reggiano.  I like to serve this with a small spinach side salad.  

This is a great way to satisfy my craving for pasta, without sabotaging my blood sugars.  

 

Finally settled in… 

I know it’s been some time since I’ve posted.  I’ve been pretty busy, but also have had a writer’s block.  Now that things have found their place in our new house, I’m able to sit down to think and write more.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the blog post, and that you’ll take a look at all the pasta options that are out there.  

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog. I love to get comments and hear what you have to say. Feel free to leave me a comment below.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of the page if on a desktop, and bottom of the post if using a mobile device.  

In the meantime, live well, and be well! 

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Recent Labs Report

REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

July 31, 2020

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

I wanted to write a short post today, to update you on my recent visit to my endocrinologist. I visited Dr. Folb on July 13th, and I got a call Wednesday with my lab results. All in all, my results were good – better than they have been in a long time. 

I was especially worried that they would not be as good, since the pandemic has slowed down our workout options. We did, however, invest in a treadmill, so I’ve been using that to get some cardio in. I also have some dumb bells, a kettle bell, and a bosu ball that I can use to help with my workouts.

First of all, my A1c was steady at a 5.6 – what a relief. I was really happy about that. My lab results were not perfect, but the definitely were not worse than last time.

My cholesterol was 203, triglycerides 282, HDL 35, and LDL 56. Those numbers are not perfect, but for me, they’re the best that I’ve had in several years, so this is a celebration for me! Yay!! 

I started taking some over the counter fish oils and a multi-vitamin in April, both at the recommendation of Dr. Folb. We discussed me taking Vascepa, but it is so cost prohibitive, that she suggested I find a good OTC fish oil which I did.  

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

Here are pics of the fish oil and the vitamins that I got.

Nordic Naturals EPA Fish Oils & 365 Women’s Multi Vitamins

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

If you’re interested in these, you can find the fish oil by clicking this image:

And the multi vitamins I got at Whole Foods Market. Unfortunately, Amazon does not carry that vitamin yet. Hopefully soon. 

I’m also supposed to pick up and start taking some Vitamin D – as my level was low. Dr. Folb told me to take 2000 units a day. 

So all in all, I am very pleased with the results of my labs. I can breathe a sigh of relief for now. But there’s still work to be done! 

I wanted to get this blog posted, and let you know that I’m working on a food post soon! 

We currently have our home on the market, and are looking for another one, so much of my time has been totally consumed with that! Fingers crossed for that to all go smoothly! 

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog. I love to get comments and hear what you have to say, so feel free to leave me a comment below.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of the page if on a desktop, and bottom of the post if using a mobile device.  

In the meantime, live well, and be well!  

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!

REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

May 15, 2020

I don’t know about you, but I can’t start my day without my ritual of morning coffee.  It’s my coffee and a protein bar.  Every. Morning.  And I have favorites.  I can’t help it.  Some people are addicted to things like their bazillion calorie frozen margaritas for lunch or dinner, but me?  I have to have my coffee.  If it’s available in an IV, hook me up!

It would be a close race if I was in a coffee drinking competition up against Lorelei Gilmore!  (If you’ve never watched Gilmore Girls, you should!) 

via GIPHY

I get you, Lorelei Gilmore! 

I come from a family of enthusiastic coffee drinkers.  My parents were big coffee drinkers.  My dad drank coffee up until bedtime.  Both of his parents were coffee drinkers.  My dad’s father, “Pa” as we called him, drank his coffee out of a little bowl.  I always thought that was funny.  He drank his coffee like I like mine – with a little sweetener and some cream (stevia & fat free milk, in my case).  He passed away when I was young, but he would let me sneak a sip from his bowl when my parents weren’t looking.  

My mother used to tell me “it will stunt your growth” if I asked for a sip of her coffee when I was a kid.  Her mother, “Grandma” as she was known, drank a LOT of coffee.  Black and super strong.  Her father, “Grandpa” was his moniker,  was never a coffee drinker in my lifetime.  He was a penny-pincher, and the story goes that he declared if coffee became priced over $1.00 a can, then he would never drink another cup.  That price came and went, and he stopped drinking coffee cold turkey.  

So I guess I inherited that love of coffee from most of my family.  I love my Scotty P’s Big Mug Coffee, and my Think Smooth Peanut Butter protein bar.  As the Jonas Brothers sing “We go together… better than birds of a feather, you and me…” 

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life © 
Using WordArt.com

Every morning I make my coffee and have my protein bar while I’m getting ready for my day.  Then I have another cup of coffee late morning, and often a cup of decaf after dinner.

I have tried coffee many ways – I’ve tried the Bulletproof method, and it tastes pretty good, but I don’t like the idea of all of the high fats that are consumed in that style of coffee – MCT oil (or coconut oil) and grass fed clarified butter… that was the only way that I’ve ever been able to drink a coffee without some sort of sweetener.  But I just couldn’t get beyond the idea of the high fat, since I am already watching my cholesterol.  

I don’t like the overly sweet fancy versions of coffee you get at some of the fancy coffee shops.  Just the regular drip is my preference.

When I make my coffee, I make a cup of my Scotty P’s Big Mug Coffee, I use a packet of Truvia (stevia), and a splash of ultra-filtered lactose-free, fat-free milk.  

I like the ultra-filtered milk because in an 8 oz serving, it has 13 grams of protein, 6 grams of sugar, 450 mg of calcium, and no lactose – the nutrition facts say that there are 6 carbohydrates in a serving, which is attributed to the sugar content of milk.  

A regular milk 8 oz serving has 8 grams of protein, 12 grams of sugar, 276 mg of calcium, and contains lactose.  There are several brands of ultra-filtered milk.  Many people are familiar with Fair Life, which I have tried before, but I use MooTopia, which is produced by the same corporation, but for a grocery here in our region.

I was worried when I was diagnosed as a Type 2 Diabetic, because I have read in a few places that caffeine could cause blood sugar spikes.  So I was not ready to quit coffee cold turkey.  

I began to purposefully check my blood sugar levels at 30 minute and one hour intervals after having my morning coffee, so that I could make sure I wasn’t sabotaging myself. 

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

My waking blood sugar has recently been hovering between 87 – 97 every morning for the past few weeks.  My endocrinologist, Dr. Folb, told me that my fasting blood sugar goal needs to be 105 or below.  Yay!  I’m an over-achiever!

Thirty minutes after drinking my morning coffee and having my protein bar, I have averaged a blood sugar between 118-124.  One hour after drinking my coffee and having my protein bar, my blood sugar has averaged 112-118.  Dr. Folb told me after a meal, it’s ok if my blood sugars get up to 140, and then come back down by the next meal.

Blood sugar check 1 hour after last drink of coffee.

Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

I’ve not gained any weight back, and my blood sugars have remained in the ranges that my endocrinologist has set for me.  So luckily, I am able to continue drinking my coffee.  

My afternoon and evening coffees are averaging the same numbers.  I’ve asked other Type 2 diabetics what their experiences with coffee are.  I’ve gotten a range of responses.  Some are like me, and it doesn’t affect their blood sugars.  Others have said that they get serious spikes in their blood sugar after just one cup of coffee.  

The most important thing that I would tell another Type 2 Diabetic is to talk to your endocrinologist, and ask them first. Like any food or beverage that you put into your body, always check your blood sugar.  I am always watching what I eat and drink, and checking my blood sugars – if there’s a spike, then I’m all over it like Nancy Drew, being the detective to find out what spiked my sugars, so that it doesn’t happen again.

Let me hear from you in the comments.  If you’re a Type 2 Diabetic, please tell me (in the comment section here) your thoughts on drinking coffee.  

• Does it spike your sugars?  
• How long have you been a coffee drinker?  
• Could you stop drinking it if your doctor told you that you had to stop?  

I’m curious.  

And for those of you who are not diabetic, what are your thoughts on drinking coffee?  I’ve read studies that suggest that if you drink several cups of coffee a day, that it can possibly prevent diabetes.  Obviously, not my case… but I would still love to hear from you in the comments section. 

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of the page if on a desktop, and bottom of the post if using a mobile device.  

In the meantime, continue with your social distancing, live well, and be well!   

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

What’s for dinner? Where’s the TP? COVID19, & Masks

REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

March 29, 2020

Empty Shelves in Houston, Texas grocery stores!
Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

I would guess that over the past three weeks, that America has cooked more at HOME, than has been done in the past 25 years.  It is so bizarre to go into the grocery stores and see empty shelves.  There has been NO toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, or paper plates in my area of Houston for three weeks now!

I looked into my pantry and found protein bars and protein cookies (both low carb, and sugar free), almonds, walnuts, cashews, dried cranberries, fresh ground peanut butter, low carb blue corn tortilla chips, tomato sauce, green beans mushrooms, whole kernel white corn, pinto beans, 3 pounds of onions, tahini, cacao powder, raw honey, rolled oats, steel cut oats, rice cakes, whole wheat crackers, whole wheat bread rounds, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, white corn tortillas, spices, canola oil, pop corn, collagen powder, and PB Fit Sugar Free powder, fresh bananas, and apples.  

My favorite coffee!  Scotty P's!
Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

Oh, and I almost forgot to say that I am well stocked on COFFEE!  I can drink coffee like a Gilmore Girl any day of the week!  My favorite coffee is Scotty P's Big Mug Coffee.  I could drink that stuff all day long!  I do still push my water all day, but when I wake up, the first thing I do after I get out of the shower is drink my coffee.   

My refrigerator and freezer have a healthy fare inside — fat free milk, eggs, fresh tomatoes, and carrots, Spinach, feta cheese, fresh parmesan cheese,  frozen fruit like bananas, blueberries, and strawberries, along with tilapia, ground turkey, turkey burger patties, chicken breasts, butternut squash, and riced cauliflower, to name a few items.

So I think we are ok, and have enough healthy foods to sustain us for a while.  But I am so emotionally exhausted that I am almost to the point that I don’t even feel like cooking.  I know we have to cook to eat, and normally it’s something that I enjoy doing, but for the past few days, it has felt like a horribly dreaded CHORE.  I’m guessing it is because of all of the stress of having to quarantine for the past two weeks.  

When this first started three weeks ago, we weren’t yet under a quarantine.  The second week it was “recommended” to stay at home, and now we are under mandator “Stay at home.  Work safe” order by our county judge, unless you are an essential worker – my sweet husband is a buyer for Whole Foods, so he has to go to work five days a week.  (Which scares me – I woke up having a panic attack two nights ago because I am fearful for him to get out during this pandemic.)  

So tonight I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner.  He didn’t care.  Anything will be fine.  Face palm.  I need an idea.  I finally decided to quickly throw together some Texas chili.  Here’s what I did:

Sautéed two medium onions in a little olive oil, took them out and set them aside.  Then I browned a pound of ground turkey.  When it was done, I threw the onions back in, threw in some chili powder, paprika, minced garlic, chicken broth, a pinch of salt and pepper, and a can of pinto beans (rinsed).  Then I let it simmer for 20 minutes and there was dinner.  

I ate half my bowl – which wasn’t much anyway – and gave the rest to my husband, because I just have no appetite.  He’s saving it for a “snack” later on tonight.  I’ve lost several pounds since this all started. And my glucose levels have been up and down. It’s not because I’m eating poorly, but I think because I’m forgetting to eat, or too anxious to eat.  

So apparently my liver is dumping glucose into my bloodstream, and since my issue is being insulin resistant, my body isn’t processing it.  But then sometimes I start feeling very shaky, and test my glucoseand it is really low.  Wednesday it crashed and went all the way down to 60 – that is low for me.  I think this week I need to put reminders in my phone for when to have a small snack, and when to eat lunch, etc.  Anyone have any suggestions of what you do to maintain your levels?  

The other issue at hand is making sure that when I DO have to go out – whether it be to get supplies, to take my 85 year old mother supplies, or when my husband has to go to work – I need to make sure that we are protecting ourselves, as well as sanitizing as much as possible when we come home.  I’ve always been a fanatic about washing hands, but I have NEVER in my life washed my hands as much as I have in the past six weeks.  I’m trying to put lotion on every time that I wash, to keep them from drying out!  I feel like I have alligator hands right now, they are so dry!

What are you doing to make sure you’re washing for the full 20 seconds or more?  I started out singing Happy Birthday, but that got old, and I would lose track of what verse that I was on.  (I know… short song.  How do you lose track of the verse?  But my mind wanders…)  Then I started singing some other pop songs.  I now have decided that I need to work on my scripture memorization.  

As a kid, I learned a lot of scriptures, and now I’m going through and finding some of my favorites to recite.  This week, I have been saying The Lord’s Prayer while washing my hands.  And it’s not just rote memorization this time – I feel really thoughtful when saying it, and it has deep meaning in my heart – I’m really worried about this virus.  This coming week, I’m going to focus on some of the Psalms.  I think they will bring peacefulness.

Here are some of the masks that I made.
Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

When I go out, I have been concerned about being exposed to someone who may have the COVID19 virus.  Of course, like everyone else, I could not find ANY protective masks anywhere.  So what did I do? Like many others, I decided to make my own masks.  

I did some research on whether or not it would even help.  I found mixed opinions.  But I decided that something was better than nothing – and that is a direct quote that I heard on the news from a physician.  I just want to be able to cover my face when out, and at the very least, it will serve as a reminder to not touch my face.    So I cut 6 x 9 inch squares of tightly woven cotton, and used three pieces to make my masks.  And I happened to have some elastic, which now cannot be found ANYWHERE, so I used that for the ear loops.  

Here’s a link to the video tutorial that I used. 

Video: Deaconess

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  And here’s a pic of us wearing our masks.
  Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

  Here are some of the masks that I made.
  Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

  
  
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I’ve been told that we look like a couple of ninjas!  We’re fighting COVID19, so I guess it fits.

I also sprayed the outer side of our masks with several coats of Scotch Guard, and we also use a different mask each time we go out.  Since the masks are fabric, I am able to wash them to sanitize them.  And I know I already said this, but I have to say again — I just want to be able to cover my face when I do have to go out to get necessities.    

People look at me like I am crazy when I go out, but I don’t care.  I’m trying to do what I can to be healthy.   I know that as a Type 2 Diabetic, I am at risk if I get the virus.  So I am doing everything that I can do to stay healthy, so that I have a strong immune system.  

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of this page.  In the meantime, WASH YOUR HANDS, stay well, live well, and be well!   

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Type 2 Diabetes, Stress, and COVID-19

 REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

March 12, 2020

Image:  CDC

I have always had a sort of high anxiety personality.  I might not show it on the outside – because I am very stoic, but inside my brain is always running, running, and the anxiety builds.  My mind just won't stop, and I obsess over what I am worried about.  

The past three weeks have brought on the stress.  This new COVID-19 (Corona Virus) has been all in the news, with cases in the US growing on a daily basis.  It’s on TV, it’s on the radio, it’s on Google News, it’s ALL on social media.  Everywhere you turn, there’s COVID-19.  There are currently 13 cases in my metro area.

Trying to do my regular grocery shopping, and there’s no toilet paper, no hand soap, no isopropyl alcohol.  I had to go on a scavenger hunt to multiple stores to find alcohol swabs for when I prick my finger to test my glucose.  

This COVID-19 thing has me worried for several reasons.  I have an 85 year old mother who has congestive heart failure and Alzheimer’s.  I worry about another family member with a compromised immune system, and I’m worried about myself being diabetic.  I can’t afford to get sick, because I have to help care for my mother – even though she is in an assisted living community, I still have to take things to her frequently, as well as take her to her doctor appointments and other places.  And I’m also worried about what if they start banning visits to the facility, except for medical personnel.  I’m in Houston (Harris County), Texas – the 4th largest city in the US.  There has already been a state of emergency put into effect for the City of Houston.  The press conference said no visitors are allowed in to skilled nursing centers or rehab facilities.  What if that is extended to my mother’s assisted living?  I think I would really go into high gear stress if that happens.

This stress is keeping me from sleeping well, which I know is also affecting me, and can contribute to insulin resistance and even thyroid issues (which is also a concern for me).  I spoke with my Dario Coach today (I use a Dario meter, and subscribe to one of their plans which gives me access to a diabetes coach – I can get info faster than calling my doctor, and it helps me to decide if I need to call my doctor, as well.)  He confirmed what I have been reading about – that stress raises my glucose levels.  I’ve had recent high (for me) levels of 143 mg, 133 mg, 123 mg, 140 mg, 129 mg, and 121mg.  I’m drinking water like crazy, and I still have high readings.  And just having a high reading is stressful.

I know that the stress can trigger cortisol, which could eventually leave me with more belly fat – the deep visceral fat cells that are difficult to get rid of.  I’ve worked so hard to lose 23 lbs, and I don’t want to gain it back.  I know that stress can also lead to insulin resistance, because the cortisol makes it hard for my pancreas to make insulin.  It contributes to high blood pressure – which, thank goodness, has been under control with my blood pressure medication.  It’s all just a vicious circle that leads back to stress.  

When COVID-19 cases began popping up in my area, I immediately began to determine what I needed to do to protect myself and my family.  I read up on the CDC website, as well as the American Diabetic Association website.  COVID-19 is a serious threat to the US, and I need to to know how I should react and prepare.  You can click HERE to go directly to the link on their page on COVID-19.

Here’s what I did:

• I checked all of my diabetic supplies to make sure that I had everything and had enough – 
  • Glucose meter, lancets, test strips, and alcohol swabs 
• I have all my medical info available for my husband, and have fully filled prescriptions
• We grocery shopped and got all the things that I am allowed to eat – and we stocked up on frozen veggies and such, in case we get quarantined.  (Fresh veggies last only so long, so I wanted to make sure we had veggies in the freezer, too.)
• We pretty much drink only water and coffee.  So we have stocked up on our 5 gallon jugs of water, and lots of k-cups!
• I am a soap hoarder, so I already had many bottles of hand soap in the cabinets for washing our hands
• My doctor’s office sent out protocol on how to contact them should I get sick – different from their regular protocol.  So I have that info handy.
• I did stock up on ibuprofen and  acetaminophen, as well as Benadryl.  

• We are practicing social distancing – mainly staying at home as much as we can and steering clear of sick folks and crowds, trying not to touch our faces — of course, now that they say this, EVERYTHING tickles or itches my face and and makes me want to scratch or touch my face.   
• Common sense stuff like washing our hands frequently, cleaning surfaces that we use a lot (already do these things anyway!), and when in public, always using an antibacterial wipe to clean our hands after touching common surfaces that others have touched.  I am already a germaphobe, so cleaning knobs, faucets, counter tops, etc is second nature. 

And on the hand washing, just a little side note.  I got tired of singing Happy Birthday twice, so I looked up some other songs that I thought would be fun to sing.   Here are the ones that I came up with: 

Hand washing songs!
Image: My Type 2 Diabetic Life © 2020

• I already clean my cell phone daily — I spray it with isopropyl alcohol and wipe it down.
• We definitely are not traveling anywhere right now, so flying or going to a city where there are other known COVID-19 cases is not something we will be doing.

As for COVID-19 symptoms, my doctor’s office said if we get any of the following to self-isolate and then call their office:

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath

My doctor’s office also said in their message to make sure to stay well hydrated, check my glucose levels often, and if my glucose levels rise too high, to call them.  

So besides the things above, what am I going to do to try and lower my stress levels?  I’m thinking that I need to binge watch something fun, like Gilmore Girls, House Hunters International, or maybe some comedies.  Maybe it’s time for me to go through some closets and clean them out, throw some things out, make some boxes of items for donations.  And fingers crossed, this won’t last too long.  

I’m still working on a different post, but the COVID-19 topic seemed to be timely and important.  

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.  I hope that you’ll subscribe – top right corner of this page.  In the meantime, stay well, live well, and be well! 

*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way

 REPOST from former blog My Type 2 Diabetic Life ©

March 6, 2020

Have you ever noticed that when you get sick, or there's some kind of drama in your life, people tend to give you all sorts of unsolicited advice or stories about their own experiences?  I'm going to sort of step away from the physical health perspective of diabetes, and slide over to the emotional side for today.  

Image credit: Unknown

For the past several years, I have been making a conscious effort when someone tells me their troubles, to not make the kind of comments that turn the conversation to all about me, and I certainly don’t want to criticize someone who is reaching out for help.  I am focusing on trying to be a better listener and a friend.  

When I was first diagnosed and would ask questions, I got all sorts of advice from people – some were people I knew, and some were even total strangers.  As a natural skeptic, I usually let unsolicited advice go in one ear and out the other.  But that’s just me.  Sometimes, even when you ask for advice, it can be crushing, if it is delivered in the wrong manner.  

In an effort to find out as much information as possible, I followed several diabetic groups on various social media outlets when I was first diagnosed.  (This was in addition to my reading and researching.). I wanted to see real stories by real people.  What I wasn’t expecting was to see adults bullying other adults.  It was shocking, to put it mildly.  Instead of finding a sympathetic ear, people were being put down for anything from the type of medication that they were taking to whether or not they were active, or if they were overweight.  There were so many comments that were critical and even downright cruel.  I quit following multiple social media groups because  of the bullying that I saw.  It was definitely enough to make a person not want to be a part of that community, at best, and I can’t even imagine how someone who had low self esteem might feel.

I even experienced bullying via social media myself when I posted the nutrition information on a recipe that I adjusted to fit my diabetes.  One lady went out of her way to write SIXTY-TWO comments directed at ME, that the nutrition information was incorrect. (yes, I counted them!)  Never mind that the nutrition label was created from a website based on the data gleaned from the  USDA’s Food and Nutrient Databases, which is what food corporations use to create nutrition labels for the foods we see in our grocery.  This lady went out of her way to criticize.  (Even though I knew the nutrition was correct.)  She picked and picked so much, that I finally deleted my post to get her to leave me alone.  She simply went on to the next person and started bullying that person.  It was at that point that I decided that lady must be a very unhappy person, so she makes herself feel better by bullying people.

Yesterday, I was saddened when I read a comment in another online community – one that I really like, by the way – written by a person who was afraid to even tell friends of a diabetic diagnosis out of fear of being criticized and “blamed” for causing the condition.  Maybe that person did contribute to their diabetes by a poor diet and lack of exercise.  But maybe that person has the genetic markers for diabetes, and it may be inevitable that it would develop.  It is a very sad day in that person’s life when they can’t even confide in FRIENDS, in hope of receiving some moral support.

Negative opinions of others can weigh heavily on your shoulders, but that’s not going to help. Focus on yourself and what you need to do to be healthy and happy. Surround yourself with people who are supportive. I don’t mind telling most people that I am diabetic, but there are some that I don’t mention it to at all.  You only have to share your life with folks that you feel comfortable with.  (I can’t believe I’m going to end that sentence with a preposition, but I just did, so there! 😜)

Image: WordArt created by My Type 2 Diabetic Life © 2020

Now I’ll get off my soapbox.  What’s the purpose of my post today?  

Kindness is an art, and it comes in many forms — a listening ear, a hug, a smile, buying a stranger a cup of coffee, holding the door open for someone, doing a favor for someone, saying thank you, a compliment, an encouraging note, liking a post, inclusion, courtesy, compassion, friendship, acceptance, moral support, empathy, and so much more.  Kindness goes a long way.  We should all strive to be the friend that listens to and supports others.  And we should all practice a little more kindness, and a little less judgement.  

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog.  I hope you’ll subscribe (on the bottom of the page), so that you can follow my blog.   I’m working on a post about diabetic remission for next time.  So until the next post, be well, and BE KIND.  ❤️