POETRY TUESDAY - #DBLOG WEEK DAY 2

Today's prompt: This year, Diabetes Blog Week and TuDiabetes are teaming up to bring out the poet in you! Write a poem, rhyme, ballad, haiku, or any other form of poetry about diabetes. After you’ve posted it on your blog, share it on the No Sugar Added® Poetry page on TuDiabetes, and read what others have shared there as well!

After a long night of dealing with a flooding basement, I'm having a hard time coming up with a creative and original poem about Diabetes.

Fortunately, I have my 15 year old self to borrow from. Here is a poem I wrote for a high school freshman english class assignment that ended up getting published in the Northwest Herald:

In June 1996, life with Diabetes was a little different. I didn't have a pump, had no clue what a Continuous Glucose Monitor was, and the Paleo diet was nowhere on my radar. One thing that is still the same is my desire to go about my life, not letting Diabetes interfere. Diabetes is not normal compared to most people's every day life. Diabetes does change things, but it just becomes a new normal.

CHANGE THE WORLD - #DBLOGWEEK DAY 1

Today's prompt: Let’s kick off Diabetes Blog Week by talking about the diabetes causes and issues that really get us fired up. Are you passionate about 504 plans and school safety? Do diabetes misconceptions irk you? Do you fight for CGM coverage for Medicare patients, SDP funding, or test strip accuracy? Do you work hard at creating diabetes connections and bringing support? Whether or not you “formally” advocate for any cause, share the issues that are important to you.

There are plenty of Diabetes related issues that get me FIRED UP: Test strip accuracy , insurance coverage (& how expensive Diabetes can be even with good insurance), Diabetes stigmas & misconceptions about Diabetes from the media:

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(people saying things to me like: "But you're so young",  "Oh, you must have the bad Diabetes", "You don't look like you have Diabetes", "So you will probably just adopt", "My neighbors' mom's aunt's dog's friend's cousin had Diabetes and they had... their leg amputated, went blind, died, etc...", "Did you used to be really fat?". 

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I could go on and on and get mad about how unfair Diabetes can be and some of the weird baggage and strange scenarios it brings...but one thing that has been important to me is the community Diabetes has also brought!!!

What has changed my Diabetes World has been the people I have met that without Diabetes I otherwise wouldn't have.

The Diabetes Online Community has opened up a huge world of support for me and introduced me to people who "get it" because they are living it.

If it were up to me, I'd change the world by making it mandatory for someone newly diagnosed to meet (in person, face-to-face) with someone who is on this same journey with Diabetes.

It's been great to share tips for better blood sugar control, swap war stories of highs and lows (literally), and currently...it gives me hope for the future, as I have FOUR FRIENDS I can call and meet up in person with who have been through pregnancies with pre-existing type 1 Diabetes.

People with Diabetes have changed my world!!!

TAKE 2 JIMS WITH SOME SPICE AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING

If you follow me on Pinterest, your home page may have been overtaken a few months ago with pins that would only make sense to you if you were in any way connected to Diabetes.

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The quote above is true...I can't survive without insulin!
But, lately I'm realizing how much laughter really is like medicine.

 

Proverbs 17:22

English Standard Version (ESV)

²² A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

We dvr The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon every night and then watch it the next evening. (I wake up at 5:30am and am not so young anymore, so I can barely stay awake past 10:00pm these days!).

If you need a good laugh, check out the Best of Jimmy Fallon!

That show makes me laugh so hard. I'm not talking about a little giggle. It's the obnoxious laugh I do (that my sister loves to imitate) when something is so funny I can't hold it in (you'd know it if you heard it).

I'm not thinking about Diabetes in between the moments of laughter. 

Have you ever listened to Jim Gaffigan?! He's another comedian who should be part of everyone's treatment plan for healthy living & laughter.

And please do yourself a favor and follow Anthony (Spice) Adams on instagram! {@spiceadams} The instagram video of him ordering starbucks coffee for his wife is one of my favorites (from April 28th)!!!

  Make sure to have your prescribed dose of laughter today!

If you don't find the following funny, it's OK (but I can explain it if you'd like me to).
Just some Diabetic humor at it's finest...

 {Original sources can be found on my "Diabetes Stuff" Pinterest board}

IT ISN'T ALWAYS GRACEFUL, BUT IT'S MY JOURNEY

I wouldn't say I was dealing with DIABETES BURNOUT (see HERE).

It was just that my Uncle who has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 50 years was scheduled for a quadruple bi-pass the next day...and a friend from high school's daughter was just diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes...and from out of no where, my blood sugar was in the upper 300's and no amount of insulin would bring it down.

All of a sudden there was too much Diabetes around me...and Diabetes was making me MAD!

I was MAD for my Uncle's sake.

I was MAD for this 6 year old girl's interrupted childhood.

I was MAD at Diabetes.

I try to not let Diabetes dictate me emotions. I like to think that I'm in control of everything around me and that I can calmly and rationally react and decide my feelings before I actually feel and express them. I often downplay Diabetes for the world watching, acting like Diabetes is no big deal.

But every now and then I feel a bit defeated. For a few moments I say, "OK, Diabetes, you win!"
And then I cry...a lot.

Diabetes is planning 24/7, fists clenched and held up high, ready to punch and jab and anticipate the ugly blood sugar's next moves and twists and turns. It doesn't ALWAYS FEEL like I'm fighting and holding my breathe...but on occasions ...it all piles up.

After I cry for a little bit and have myself a good pity-party, I brush myself off and remember that tomorrow is always a brand new day... a fresh start...a new opportunity for great blood sugar control.

Life with Diabetes is definitely a marathon, a journey that is best taken moment by moment.

My boss emailed our team this quote a while back. I don't know who the original author is, but I have it posted at my desk and read it often, helping me put life with Diabetes in perspective:

no matter how rough the road, may it be a graceful journey.
may acceptance bring peace to circumstances beyond our control.
may we find more strength than we realized.
may the simple things inspire the most joy.
may love be all that matters.
may gratitude empower our spirits and may faith help us overcome.

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DETOX WEEK 3 RECAP

It's been a while since I've given my Detox Week 2 Recap.
I ended up having so many leftovers after week 2 that menus kinda blurred together during the following weeks.
Although this would be week 6 since starting THE CLEANSE, I'm really just starting to eat meals from week 4, and begin my transition out.

WHAT MEALS DID I LOVE FROM WEEK 3?


{Pineapple Rosemary Detox Smoothie}

 I continued sticking with smoothies for breakfast and even tried a few new ones I found online like the one above.



{Kale, White Bean, Potato Stew}

 As usual, I've loved the soups and stews. This one was so hearty and tasty. There are still 3 soups I have not made...but will definitely be trying before the warm spring weather arrives (although for Chicago Winters...it's felt like spring these past few months) I'm not complaining!!!

{Shiitakes and Brown Rice en Papillote}

This was a wonderful dish I will be making again. It was simple and easy to make, AND tasted great!

{Chickpea-Brown Rice Veggie Burger}

It would be hard to narrow down my absolute favorite recipe from this detox...but this burger would definitely be in the running. I was amazed at how easy it was to make my own veggie burger...and even more amazed at how great this tasted! I will DEFINITELY make this again.

WHAT HAS THIS DONE FOR MY DIABETES?

Ironically enough, the past few weeks have been a little harder on my blood sugar as I've begun transitioning out of the detox. Sure I've cheated here and there and may have eaten a few more pieces of dark chocolate than I should've...but I'm really starting to notice the affects of eating grains on my blood sugar (brown rice, quinoa, etc.).

I still have some more observing and experimenting to do...but against my Dr.'s thoughts, my blood sugar is still doing really well as I eat fruit (especially on an empty stomach first thing in the morning or with some nuts for a morning snack).

NOW WHAT FOR WEEK 4-ISH (WEEK 6)?

I'm going to finish out a few of the transition meals, and then I have another crazy 30 days of experimenting with a different diet/lifestyle I recently came across.

All in all, I'm still amazed at what eating the right foods can do for us, how it can heal certain ailments, and how God made our bodies to do amazing things, (especially when they are fueled and cared for in the right way).

***I encourage you to make small adjustments to your diet/lifestyle where you can. I know for myself, making small changes has really added up and benefited my life over the past 2 years.

There are so many different studies and theories on diets out there that I like the idea of taking 30 days to try something out. If it doesn't make you feel better than you did before, you can always go back to the way things were. I'm excited to jump into the next adventure and will be trying my best to document it here***

Thanks for reading!

DON'T JUDGE THIS HIGH MAINTENANCE STARBUCKS DRINKER

Throughout college and for a year after I graduated, I nannied and babysat for several families. It was there in the North Shore that I had my first tofu-dog, met families that ONLY shopped at Whole Foods, and spent lots of time filling sippy cups with half organic juice and half water.




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In my neighborhood we grew up on PB&J, Mac-n-Cheese & hot dogs, and casseroles that involved Ritz Crackers.
Being Italian, pasta was a staple in our diets.
Sundays were spent with extended family over a spaghetti dinner.
Talk about carb-overload...you haven't lived until you've tried a Mostaccioli sandwich!

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I played a lot of sports growing up and was always active, however, it's just been in the past few years that I've become really health conscience as far as what I eat.

Over the past two years, my Google Reader has been overflowing with healthy living/eating blogs, filling my head with a lot of information about nutrition.

I've found myself doing things that I used to think were only for YUPPIES:

{DRINKING GREEN SMOOTHIES}

ENJOYING YOGA

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{WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES}

{GETTING EXCITED ABOUT RECYCLING}



{SUBSCRIBING TO HEALTHY MAGAZINES}





{STARTING OFF THE DAY W/ LEMON GINGER TEA}





{INVESTIGATING DIFFERENT DIETS}

My life looks a bit different today than it did 10 years ago.

Have I become a YUPPIE?!?

GONE GRANOLA?!?



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...And have I recently stepped over the line into a completely new territory when ordering my drink at Starbucks?!?!

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I should've just ordered an herbal tea...but this was a moment to celebrate.

I was meeting a friend who had exciting news...it was a time to drink well.

A fancy shmancy drink was in order!



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Please don't judge me for what I'm about to confess.

I ordered a:

short, decaf, upside down, skinny caramel soy macchiato, without the caramel drizzle and with an added shot of sugar free caramel syrup.

Why did I do it?!
She told me all the cool kids are drinking upside down caramel macchiatos!
...but I'm on a detox/cleanse, so I had to get decaf
(plus like an old lady, caffeine makes me jittery).
Hello Diabetes! So it had to be SKINNY (sugar-free/low-fat)...but the ironic thing is, the added caramel drizzle (even in a skinny order) is filled with tons of sugar, so I got rid of the drizzle.
The barista informed me that I'd basically be drinking a sugar free vanilla latte...so I asked him to add a shot of SF caramel.
And the Soy? Yup, no dairy while on the detox/cleanse.
Why a short? I just wanted a little bit to drink..and it's cheaper than a tall!


I thanked the man taking my order, embarrassingly giggled, and asked if that was the most high-maintenance drink that's been ordered all day.
He laughed and responded, "Not even close"!!!
 So next time you hear someone order a complicated drink, don't judge!
They may just have a sensitivity to caffeine, be lactose intolerant, have Diabetes...or just keeping a close watch on what they put into their body.

They may not even be from Lincoln Park, the North Shore, or the suburbs...perhaps they're from Portage Park!


I'm really not trying to be a yuppie or to fit into the latest trend.
It's really all for the HEALTH of it!

(And I will probably just order the herbal tea next time).

DETOX WEEK 2 RECAP

One more week down on the 2012 Whole Living Action Plan!
Another successful week of healthy eating is behind me.


I am still feeling more energized than I have been before and am sleeping better than I have in the past.


This week in particular I've noticed my nails are growing faster and stronger.
I typically cut them really short because they are so
weak, and they peel and split.
They normally take really long to grow anyways, so it's not often that I'm having to cut them.


I noticed after the first week that they had grown at a quicker rate, but I cut them anyways. This week I really took notice that as they grew, they weren't as weak!


I haven't lost any more weight and am still holding steady at a 5 pound loss from my initial weight at the beginning of my detox.

I didn't work out as much as I had planned, but I did make it to Indigo Studio for their open house. Their Yoga Booty Ballet class is a lot of fun, and a good work out! I bought a Living Social Deal for 1 month of unlimited classes. It expires next month, so now is a good time to cash that in!!!

WHAT DID I EAT?
I continued to follow the weekly meal plan, however, I didn't get around to making the Red Lentil Soup from this past week...OR the Roasted Garlic & Beet Soup from Week 1. They both look great...I just haven't taken the time to make them yet.

Like I mentioned in last week's RECAP, I continued drinking smoothies this week for breakfast. I moved the recommended breakfast items to lunchtime and mixed the lunch recipes between lunch and dinner time.

WHAT WERE MY FAVORITE RECIPES?

Vegetable-Miso Soup w/Chickpeas

This soup was by far my favorite recipe this week. It was hearty, flavorful, and had a great texture!

I couldn't find White Miso, so instead I opted for a Brown Rice Miso I found at Whole Foods. The price was really reasonable, and I plan on using it again in other recipes.

Although this was meant for breakfast, I spread this out and made it last for 5 meals, which I ate for lunch, dinner, and even an afternoon snack. I've had so many leftovers, that I am finally finishing up the soup for lunch today.



Raw Kale Salad w/Pomegranate & Toasted Walnuts

This salad was delicious! This was the first time I've ever tried Pomegranate...and loved it! It was a little messy cutting and pulling out the seeds, but it was worth it. Surprisingly, I haven't tired of eating Kale or Red Onions yet. There seems to be a lot of those ingredients in the recipes, but I've been able to stomach it.

Roasted Winter Vegetables w/Cannellini Beans

This dish forced me to eat veggies I would've never eaten otherwise. Even as I walked through Stanley's and Whole Foods, I had to google items like Leeks, Rutabagas and Parsnips. This recipe also left me with plenty of leftovers that I will be finishing up this week. I imagine sprinkling pumpkin or sunflower seeds on this would add a nice touch!



"Grilled" Salmon & Bok Choy w/Avocado Salsa

I believe you can never go wrong with Salmon! The only grill we have right now is a small George Foreman grill. I was too lazy to pull it out, so I baked the salmon in the oven instead. Grilling the Bok Choy would've been nice, but I just tore it up like a salad and served the salmon on top of it. The Avocado Salsa added a really nice taste and texture.

Derek even ate this for dinner (w/a side of white cheddar mac & cheese)! Without this recipe, I would've never tried Bok Choy! The taste was really mild and I froze some leftover leaves to use in smoothies this week...for an added health benefit, without the taste.

Scrambled Tofu w/Collards & Tumeric



This recipe was quick and easy to make. Trader Joe's sells Extra Firm Organic Tofu in 2 ("Tear & Share") single serving sizes. I used leftover Bok Choy in place of Collard Greens and baked a side dish of Alexia Oven potatoes with Rosemary & Garlic.

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For Derek, I made a cheese omelet with a side of the potatoes and leftover Trader Joe's Sweet Basil Pesto Sausage.

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As much as I tried, I could not bring myself to enjoy the sardines in the Watercress w/Sardines, Tarragon, & Clementines Salad! The Watercress I bought had gone bad, so I substituted it with Arugula. I honestly think I would've enjoyed this salad...if it weren't for the SARDINES!!!

WHAT DID I SNACK ON?
In addition to the snacks I ate last week, I also tried out two of the Balanced Snacks, Whole Living recommends.

Crispy Roasted Cauliflower

I'm normally not a big fan of Cauliflower, but this tasted amazing when roasted and spiced!
I had part of this for a snack and part for today's side dish at lunch.

Roasted Spiced Chickpeas

Maybe it's just my imagination or because it's been a while since I've eaten junk-food...these tasted like french fries to me!!! Go out right now and make these!

WHAT HAS IT DONE FOR MY DIABETES?
My #'s continue to look good! I had a doctor appointment on Monday and my doctor seemed to roll his eyes at the thought of me being on a detox diet. He said I shouldn't be eating as much fruit as I am because it will spike my blood sugar. He suggested to eat more grains. The funny thing is (which I gladly pointed out to him) that when I eat oatmeal or cereal for breakfast, my #'s spike like crazy. With the fruit, I've been fine. My doctors appointment is worth an entirely different post some other time.

DID I EXPERIENCE ANY DETOX SYMPTOMS?
Nothing has been new in this area. I continue to have hot lemon water first thing in the morning...and that has made my digestion really... consistent!
I developed a pimple on my cheek...could this be a sign of my body detoxing?!
My hands have been EXTRA dry...so I've been washing with Dr. Bronner's Lavender Soap (insted of the soap they offer at work) and using Neutrogena Hand Cream religiously. Both items are small enough to carry to the bathroom with me or to stick next to my computer desk at work. Not sure if the dry skin is a detoxing symptom.


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 IS THIS LIFESTYLE/DIET REALLY DOABLE?

We celebrated my brother's birthday on Tuesday with Giordano's Pizza and Portillo's Chocolate Cake...definitely not on my detox menu plan! I packed up a dish of Baked Sweet Potatoes w/Toasted Nuts & Oranges (w/a sprinkling of leftover Pomegranate Seeds on the side).

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Because we were short on time, I opted for frozen diced sweet potatoes instead of baking a whole sweet potato.

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While my family enjoyed their chocolate cake for dessert, I opted for a cup of unsweetened applesauce with pistachios mixed in!

Later on in the week we celebrated my father-in-law's birthday with Lou Malnatis pizza and Guinness Chocolate cake! My mother in law made a salad and offered me a Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette. For my dinner I packed a Tupperware full of Baked Trout w/ Broccoli, Apple, & Fennel Slaw.

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I substituted Tilapia for Halibut...and for dessert, I enjoyed a sweet tangerine!

Derek and I even enjoyed Chipotle on Friday for dinner. I've never tried their salad until now. It came with a really good Vinaigrette on the side. The salad consisted of lettuce, black beans, tomatoes, corn, grilled onions and peppers, and guacamole. This just might replace my normal vegetarian bowl I get from there!!!

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While I ate leftover fish and black bean salad for dinner last night, I made ground turkey tacos for Derek, and shared some of my Spicy Black Bean Salad with him!

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SO NOW WHAT FOR WEEK 3?

With a lot of leftovers still from week 2, I will finish those first and then continue on to Week 3's menu. I'm looking forward to adding in brown rice and quinoa into the mix. I'll continue to enjoy my breakfast smoothies...and hopefully really add in more cardio this week :)

The key this past week has been in planning ahead. I'll definitely continue to do that and even have a post in mind about how I've stayed organized throughout this 2012 Challenge!