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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on February 12, 2005, at 9:40:01
And she didn't make me cry.
She was willing to work with alternatives that I'd actually eat.
As I mostly expected, she suggested eating many small meals and snacks, never going more than three-four hours without eating. And making sure I ate plenty of protein and minimal carbs. But she was helpful in that she clarified which sources of protein and low carbs were actually helpful and which weren't. There were some things that I certainly wouldn't have guessed.
She said drinking more would help improve my energy.
She liked my Flintstones vitamins and my Cal-Mag, and suggested adding Omega-3 (?), and since my doctor wanted me to start taking fish oil, which I haven't yet, it makes sense.
So I've got a plan tho I probably won't follow it as closely as she might like when my work isn't on the line.
On the other hand, we went out to eat and I ate enough that I came home and pretty much passed out again last night. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night with a strong realization of what really stupid behavior that was.
I don't think I've really accepted that diabetes means a change in lifestyle yet. :(
Posted by Tabitha on February 12, 2005, at 14:53:19
In reply to I saw my dietician, posted by Dinah on February 12, 2005, at 9:40:01
I'm glad it went well. So what types of protein did she reccommend? It's always hard for me to figure out how to get enough.
Posted by Dinah on February 12, 2005, at 17:46:25
In reply to Re: I saw my dietician » Dinah, posted by Tabitha on February 12, 2005, at 14:53:19
She was extraordinarily specific. Like brands of bread (white wheat), yogurt and chocolate nondairy milk (yummm), low fat cheese, and turkey jerky. She said to go ahead and try everything once and see what I did and didn't like. So tomorrow a big shopping trip to a store I avoid like the plague because it's so big and noisy.
Best of all, she didn't kick up a fuss about my high fat peanut butter and is ok with my keeping it a staple in my diet.
It really does seem more like a diet than I will probably listen to. But I can at least follow it during my deadline periods and see if it increases my energy. It sure can't hurt it much. :(
Posted by jujube on February 13, 2005, at 12:13:33
In reply to I saw my dietician, posted by Dinah on February 12, 2005, at 9:40:01
Hi Dinah,
I am glad your visit with the dietician went well. I remember from a previous thread (at least I hope I am remembering right) that you were worried about the visit.
I just wanted to share a couple of things with you for information and FWIW. I have found that chromium supplements have helped me. From what I have read, chromium improves glucose tolerance and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Although I am not diabetic or diagnosed hypoglycemic, since about the age of 14, I have experienced periods of extreme drops in blood sugar (with the resulting dizziness, faintness and shaking). Anyway, it is only recently that I started taking chromium and I have found the severe drops (particularly in the morning) have lessened.
Another thing, I wanted to bring to your attention is a food that I read about a few months ago, which you may already be aware of. It is called Quinoa and it is said to help fight fatigue, prevent anemia and regulate blood pressure. It is sometimes referred to as "the mother of all grains". I have read that quinoa is becoming known as a super-grain and contains more protein than other grains, and, unlike other grains, it is also a complete protein (it contains all nine amino acids that the body must get from food). It looks like rice and is a very good source of iron, magnesium and riboflavin.
I bought some around Christmas, but became so ill in January that I have not had a chance to try it yet. Now that I am eating again, I am going to cook some up and see what it is like.
Anyway, just wanted to share that with you.
Take care.
Posted by Dinah on February 13, 2005, at 19:04:55
In reply to Re: I saw my dietician » Dinah, posted by jujube on February 13, 2005, at 12:13:33
Let me know how it tastes. :)
So far I've been less than impressed with her dietary substitutes. Blech.
Oh well, I suppose the important thing is to be able to work.
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on February 14, 2005, at 8:53:50
In reply to I saw my dietician, posted by Dinah on February 12, 2005, at 9:40:01
I'm curious about the Flintstones vitamins. Are they really enough and adequate?
Posted by Dinah on February 14, 2005, at 20:45:08
In reply to Re: I saw my dietician, posted by Miss Honeychurch on February 14, 2005, at 8:53:50
So she said. :)
Thank heavens.
Posted by KaraS on February 15, 2005, at 2:16:31
In reply to Re: I saw my dietician » Dinah, posted by jujube on February 13, 2005, at 12:13:33
> Hi Dinah,
>
> I am glad your visit with the dietician went well. I remember from a previous thread (at least I hope I am remembering right) that you were worried about the visit.
>
> I just wanted to share a couple of things with you for information and FWIW. I have found that chromium supplements have helped me. From what I have read, chromium improves glucose tolerance and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Although I am not diabetic or diagnosed hypoglycemic, since about the age of 14, I have experienced periods of extreme drops in blood sugar (with the resulting dizziness, faintness and shaking). Anyway, it is only recently that I started taking chromium and I have found the severe drops (particularly in the morning) have lessened.
>
> Another thing, I wanted to bring to your attention is a food that I read about a few months ago, which you may already be aware of. It is called Quinoa and it is said to help fight fatigue, prevent anemia and regulate blood pressure. It is sometimes referred to as "the mother of all grains". I have read that quinoa is becoming known as a super-grain and contains more protein than other grains, and, unlike other grains, it is also a complete protein (it contains all nine amino acids that the body must get from food). It looks like rice and is a very good source of iron, magnesium and riboflavin.
>
> I bought some around Christmas, but became so ill in January that I have not had a chance to try it yet. Now that I am eating again, I am going to cook some up and see what it is like.
>
> Anyway, just wanted to share that with you.
>
> Take care.FYI, Trader Joe's carries whole grain Quinoa that is quite good if you're lucky enough to live near one of their stores.
Posted by Dinah on February 19, 2005, at 8:42:41
In reply to I saw my dietician, posted by Dinah on February 12, 2005, at 9:40:01
to the point of feeling hopeless. This was my big hope for change for work.
But I've been doing the high protein low carb thing for a week now, and if anything my productivity has gotten lower. It's true my blood sugars have stabilized, but they've stabilized at a level that leave me slightly irritable and totally without energy. My concentration isn't great and my ability to enter into the "flow" is nil.
Things are never going to get any better. I'm never going to be the employee I was.
Posted by TamaraJ on February 19, 2005, at 16:48:36
In reply to It's not going well, and I'm discouraged, posted by Dinah on February 19, 2005, at 8:42:41
Oh Dinah, please don't feel hopeless yet. Maybe how you have implemented or are following your plan just needs some tweaking. Is it possible to divide your carb portions up so that you can have some kind of carb every few hours? I don't know.
My thoughts are with you ((Dinah)). I can only hope that things will get better for you in this area.
Tamara
> to the point of feeling hopeless. This was my big hope for change for work.
>
> But I've been doing the high protein low carb thing for a week now, and if anything my productivity has gotten lower. It's true my blood sugars have stabilized, but they've stabilized at a level that leave me slightly irritable and totally without energy. My concentration isn't great and my ability to enter into the "flow" is nil.
>
> Things are never going to get any better. I'm never going to be the employee I was.
Posted by Dinah on February 19, 2005, at 20:22:36
In reply to Re: It's not going well, and I'm discouraged » Dinah, posted by TamaraJ on February 19, 2005, at 16:48:36
I am already doing that. But it's those low carb carbs, which aren't much better than no carbs at all.
I suspect the high protein low carb diet is also contributing to a major upswing in depression. I'll have to do some research.
Posted by TamaraJ on February 19, 2005, at 21:21:20
In reply to Re: It's not going well, and I'm discouraged » TamaraJ, posted by Dinah on February 19, 2005, at 20:22:36
Oh. Sorry Dinah :-(
It is so hard when there is so much conflicting information and advice out there. For instance, in this book I have entitled "The Doctors Book of Food Remedies" it says the following: "Most people with diabetes should eat a diet that's higher in carbohydrates, particularly the complex kind, than was formerly believed. While your doctor, or nutritionist will determine your personal needs for carbohydrates, most people should be getting approximately 50 percent of total calories from carbohydrates, says Stanley Mirsky, M.D., associate clinical professor of metabolic diseases at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and author of "Controlling Diabetes the Easy Way"". It also talks about soluble fiber being important in stabilizing blood surgar (according to James W. Anderson, M.D., professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at the Veterans Administration Medical Center at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington. Then again, the book was published in 1998, so who knows. I just thought it was interesting.
I am sorry for the difficulties you are experiencing. I hope you can find an eating plan that will sufficiently meet *all* of your needs.
Take care.
Tamara
> I am already doing that. But it's those low carb carbs, which aren't much better than no carbs at all.
>
> I suspect the high protein low carb diet is also contributing to a major upswing in depression. I'll have to do some research.
Posted by Dinah on February 20, 2005, at 5:29:11
In reply to Re: It's not going well, and I'm discouraged » Dinah, posted by TamaraJ on February 19, 2005, at 21:21:20
That's an interesting quote. Thank you Tamara.
I might contact my primary physician Monday in addition to my dietician.
And my depression has swung so low I'll be eating nothing but pudding and milk for a day or two, more likely a week, if past experience is a guide, because everything else will taste way too strong. So if it is the diet, that'll self correct.
But the fact that this has busted big time is just plain depressing, work wise.
I'll be ok though. And thanks for your help.
Posted by partlycloudy on February 20, 2005, at 7:48:43
In reply to Re: It's not going well, and I'm discouraged » TamaraJ, posted by Dinah on February 19, 2005, at 20:22:36
> I suspect the high protein low carb diet is also contributing to a major upswing in depression. I'll have to do some research.that was my experience when I tried going low carb. it was quite a lurch downwards.
Dinah, do you get regular exercise? It's the absolute hardest thing for me to do - I come from a long line of couch potatoes - but it really helps my mood and energy levels. Somehow having my doctor "prescribe" it for me was the push I needed, and now I consider it part of my treatment, not something I choose to do or not.
Posted by TamaraJ on February 20, 2005, at 9:45:56
In reply to Re: It's not going well, and I'm discouraged » TamaraJ, posted by Dinah on February 20, 2005, at 5:29:11
Dinah,
At the risk of becoming an annoyance, I should have included these links for your information in my previous post (I had forgotten that I had them bookmarked - not even sure why I had them bookmarked [must have been when I was looking up stuff on blood sugar problems last fall], but anyway.).
http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/control/principles.htm#Pubs
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/eating_ez/index.htm
Good luck on Monday with your doctor and your therapist. My thoughts are with you.
Tamara
> That's an interesting quote. Thank you Tamara.
>
> I might contact my primary physician Monday in addition to my dietician.
>
> And my depression has swung so low I'll be eating nothing but pudding and milk for a day or two, more likely a week, if past experience is a guide, because everything else will taste way too strong. So if it is the diet, that'll self correct.
>
> But the fact that this has busted big time is just plain depressing, work wise.
>
> I'll be ok though. And thanks for your help.
Posted by Dinah on February 20, 2005, at 20:36:47
In reply to Re: It's not going well, and I'm discouraged » Dinah, posted by TamaraJ on February 20, 2005, at 9:45:56
Posted by Dinah on February 20, 2005, at 20:47:02
In reply to Re: It's not going well, and I'm discouraged » Dinah, posted by partlycloudy on February 20, 2005, at 7:48:43
I did a quick google search, but couldn't take in much because of all things I developed a migraine. But at my cursory glance it appears that there is some research that supports our subjective experience.
I did learn some interesting things from the dietician, and got some really good name brands for low carb and good taste foods. But I need to either modify or ditch the diet. To be fair to her, I downplayed my mood disorder. To those who follow after me, it's probably a good idea to mention your mood disorder to your dietician.
I've not exercised much lately, but I did when I was younger. And I was one of the perhaps rare people who didn't benefit much moodwise or in energy. I distinctly recall noticing that fact at the time and being surprised. I also have the opposite from expected result from using exercise for anger. I usually end up more angry.
However, for unrelated reasons, we are looking into getting a manual treadmill for the house. The weather isn't really conducive to walking, and both my husband and I would like to take it up. I've been promised I can make it sacred uninterrupted reading time as I walk.
My husband was going to the gym two to three times a week, and it worked wonders for his mood. But he's all suppressed edgy energy.
I need to get him back there.
This is the end of the thread.
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