Saying hello for the first time

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cakemaker

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Relationship to Diabetes
I've seen this site a couple of times and decided to join to get some insight of this disease and some practical advise from those who actually have it.

My husband was recently diagnosed as having Diabetes but the doctor had been warning us for 3 or 4 years that he was 'diabetic' (the blood tests were right on the limit) but agreed with us to try to control it with diet but eventually he had to start taking pills.

In our ignorance we thought it was all to do with him being overweight and the way I was feeding him, but I now know it is more than just that.

I'm overweight and eat the same but to date I am fit and well but it has been a wake up call to me as well.

We have always eaten well: good foods, such as lots of fruit, veg, and pulses. Lots (too much) of meat and dairy and particularly in his case: CAKES. Hence my user name 'cakemaker'.

I have so many questions. Some have been answered by reading the postings but I'll be asking a lot more.
 
Hi Cakemaker a warm welcome to the forum to you and your hubby but sorry you have to be here,ask away with any questions you have,im pleased to hear that you have been able to get some answers to your questions already.
 
Welcome Cakemaker. No need to give up making cakes, but "everything in moderation" is a good motto.
 
Hi cakemaker. Welcome. 🙂

I love my cakes too but, as copepod says, in moderation. Have a good read and ask any questions.🙂

Rob
 
hello welcome to the forum from me aswell !🙂
 
Welcome to the forum cakemaker - have a good luck around - and ask if you are unsure of anything.
 
Welcome to the forum cakemaker.

Being overweight can lead to the diabetic symptoms being worse if diabetes kicks in. If and when it kicks in differs from person to person.

In my case I got to 19 stone before it really started causing me problems. One stone disappeared when my body was no longer able to properly use the insulin that I was still producing (I was effectively starving!).

Once I got the weight down with diet and exercise, my diabetic symptoms greatly improved. I also feel loads better.

Andy 🙂
 
Hi Cakemaker and welcome to the forums. You've done a good thinng joining here and I'm sure both you and your hubby will benefit from what you'll learn on here. As has been said, have a good read round and ask away. XXXXX
 
Thanks for all the welcome replies. It's a pity we've had to meet under such circumstances but you all sound as if you're getting on with your lives which gives me a better feeling about everything.
Cakemaker
 
cakemaker said:
Thanks for all the welcome replies. It's a pity we've had to meet under such circumstances but you all sound as if you're getting on with your lives which gives me a better feeling about everything.
Cakemaker
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Hi Cakemaker, sorry I missed you when you joined, welcome to the forum 🙂 The good thing about diabetes is that you can do something about it, so hopefully we can help you help hubby to manage his well and live a healthier and happier life 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum Cakemaker 🙂
 
I don't know what I did wrong earlier today but I wrote two replies and lost them so I'll try again. They will probably turn up as someone's reply with totaly no relevance whatsoever.

I had some good advice from you all.

I have already tried the dog walking bit. We 'dog sat' last week for my daughter and whilst I walked it every day my husband wouldn't come saying that he would not be seen walking a 'Pug': just an excuse not to exercise.

I had a suggestion from Margaret (I think, but somehow her post has disappeared, I hope it wasn't my fault). She asked if I had grandchildren and mabe my husband could kick a ball about with them. We don't have grandkids yet.
My husband was a good football player in his youth, playing semi-pro and later managing senior amateur sides. Now he just plays golf but not enough, it's too expensive.

Tai chi was mentioned by Margaret. I was invited recently to join a class with a friend. She though it might help my arthritis. I think I'll have to check it out and see if it will suit my husband although I think he would prefer a men only class.

My husband has been really snappy and grumpy for the last week. I couldn't do anything right. That's one reason why I joined the forum to get some insight into how you all feel and try to understand what's happening to him.
Normally he is quite a positive person and quite a comedian; 'life and soul of the party' type but he seems a bit depresssed since his diagnosis.
Reading other threads I see that he's not the only one.
He's been reading a lot about Diabetes and I think getting a bit scared. He kept saying that I couldn't possibly understand how he is feeling both physically and mentaly. He has been a lot better though in the last couple of days.

Can these mood swings be controled by food?
Is it better to eat 3 small meals and snacks in between or 3 good meals a day and no snacks?

I am assuming that he is still getting used to the medication; Metaformin. How long is it before it properly regulates the blood? He has been taking it for 2 months.

Thanks for the support so far.
 
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Hi cakemaker, your reply wasn't lost, you made it in a different 'thread':

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=18535

Higher than normal levels do make people grumpy so don't be too hard on him. But he does need to start working to get his levels in a decent range. Metformin helps, but it doesn't do the whole job - it can still be very possible to have high levels whilst taking it, so it shouldn't be seen as being the solution to managing the diabetes, it really isn't a case of popping a few pills and forgetting about it.

I can't remember whether you said if he testes his blood sugar or not. You need to know what his levels are like so you can determine whether the moods etc. are (partly) attributable to high levels or not, and also to find out how food affects him - what may seem healthy might actually be sending his levels high. We all have different tolerances for things and so the only way of discovering them is to test.

Tai Chi is an excellent form of exercise - not like the aerobics or martial arts classes that perhaps he imagines! I did it for quite a while in a mixed group and found it excellent.
 
Thanks Northerner.
I couldn't find the thread earlier; right in front of my eyes!
No he doesn't test his blood: perhaps he should.
I try not to be too hard on him and ignore him when he's grumpy but it is hard sometimes.
I read some of your Blog earlier. I'll read some more tomorrow and keep following.
I'm getting as bad as my husband, sitting here at this computer. I must tear myself away now and go to bed.
Good night and thanks.
 
Hi Cakemaker, oh I understand about the cake making..I too miss making them and pastry. But only the other day I shared a slice of Passion cake (vegan) with a friend so I had about a golf ball size, but enjoyed it. I didnt test afterwards.

I am trying diet only and so far lost nearly two stone since March. I do feel lighter and have become more active, given my limitations due to a disability.
Anyway do treat yourselves to a bit of cake ever so often if you want.

Why dont you join a slimming club?.
 
Hi Veganlass,
Two stone since March; brilliant.
My husband was getting a bit despondent as he only lost 4kilos up to a few weeks ago and nothing since.
I've stopped making cakes for us but made some little orange cakes with raisins a couple of weeks ago for a friend and kept a few back. I hid them, allowing my husband one a day but he found them and kept helpng himself and has now forbidden me to make any more: keeping temptation out of his way.
I cook quite a lot of Vegan recipes when I visit my son who is also Vegan and also lives in West Sussx. I basically just substitute quorn in place of meat. I also make a lot of soups; most of which are Vegetable based and Vegan and I serve cream or soya cream seperately.
I cooked in our B&B for people who had all sorts of dietry needs and devised recipes which everyone could eat.
Last night I made a Spring vegetable stir fry with chicken which could be substituted with quorn or I would take some of the veg. to serve or add quorn, before adding the chicken to the main pot.
I also made celery top soup yesterday. Made from all the leaves and tops that mostly get thrown away. I make raddish top soup as well; it's delicious. I first had it a couple of years ago in a restaurant near to where we live and I immediately went home and made some for us.
I find that giving my husband a bowl of soup to start a meal takes the edge of his appetite so I can then serve smaller portions for the main course.

I started to make fruit and malt loaves (many vegan) using little or no sugar but I didn't realise how much sugar is in dried fruit. Again I haven't made them recently because we eat too much; no willpower.
 
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