I've found a blog friend named Annie's Ruby Slipperz

Annie's Ruby Slipperz

Luvin my Healthy Life Choices

. . . .you probably already knew about all the bad things

 that can happen to you if you are in a

 "STRESS MESS" 

Thought processes go awry, not thinking clearly, inability to remember.
 Stress affects emotions, (feeling extra sad, frustrated, irritable)

It's dangerous to the heart, (high blood pressure, blood clots, strokes)
Stress can reek havoc on stomach and intestines (ulcers, acid reflux
irritable bowls, vomiting, and diarrhea).  And, skin suffers too,
(eczema, acne, cold sores and fever blisters), and...
with stress the immune system is in a weakened state.   

Some things that can help...

1)

Music...Playing calm music has a positive effect on

the brain and body, can lower blood pressure, and reduce cortisol,

 a hormone linked to stress.

2) 

Call a Friend...when stress hits, take a minute and

call a friend to discuss your problems.  A kind, reassuring voice,

even for a minute can bring things into perspective.

3)

 Eat right (and take vitamins)...stress levels and diet are closely related

When we are stressed we tend to want sugar and fatty foods.

These can make stress worse.  Fruits and Vegetables are

And, fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids,

which have been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress.

A tuna sandwich really is brain food.

4) 

 Laughter is good medicine...yep, it's true!  It releases

endorphins that improve mood and decrease levels of the

stress-causing hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

 5)

 Exercise (Even For a Minute)...you don't have to power lift

or train for a marathon.  Even a short walk around the office

or taking a short break to stand and stretch can relieve stress.

Getting your blood moving releases endorphins and can improve

mood almost immediately.  I need to go for a walk instead
of walking to the pantry!

 6)

 Sleep...stress causes many to lose sleep. And, lack of

sleep causes stress...Yikes! a vicious circle.  Make every effort

to get enough sleep (at least 7-8hrs).  It may be the best stress buster

HEALTH wisdom

Today's Lunch hour was serene

and  beautiful..... The OU Medical center outside eating area was so calming.  After I've have blood work done to check my Vit D levels...

 Above picture of an ORANGE SHERBERT (color and tasty) cupcake was not to be resisted.   It's OK... since I truly turn down breakfast donuts and other sugary foods..... THIS was my heavenly moment to indulge!

A little nostalgia.... I'm planning my 5960 Birthday party for the 1st Saturday in January 2013!!!  I'm remembering that my favorite color really is this peachy - orange sherbert!...   I was married in this color.... with a light blue coordinate... and I think I'll find me a casket and clothing to match warm-hearted peachy color!!!  

Wednesday Words for T2D (type2diabetes)

".......Unwilling to let the debilitating disease take his life, he began micro-managing every move he made and took control, one bite of food, one insulin injection, and one step at a time.
Mandell learned to live differently and, in doing so, realized that the restorative journey he'd embarked upon was one that could help others live better as well. "If everybody lived as if they were diabetic, you'd see all kinds of diseases going out the window," he said.

online magazine reading....  Type 2 Trudges Across America to Defeat Diabetes  Andy Mandell

Aug 17, 2012 

Diabetes and Muscle Cramps last night....

Potassium (K), 

A problem with muscle cramps can sometimes be a problem with the muscle not being able to function properly due to a lack of proper electrolite balance. Potassium (K),

Calcium (Ca), 

and Magnesium (Mg) are absolutely essential for a muscle to be able to properly fire....and to properly relax. 

If there is a lack of these minerals in the body, the muscle can temporarily lose the ability to relax and, therefore, cramps. 

Try taking K, Ca, and Mg suppliments regularly and see if that doesn't make a huge difference.

This could also be the effect of insulin resistance. I'm not sure of your weight or sugar intake, but if you have too much sugar or processed crap in your diet for a prolonged period of time, the body goes into what is called insulin resistance. Insulin is an anabolic hormone that also serves to store calcium and magnesium. Insulin resistance, by these means, can be a cause of not only muscle cramps

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_you_get_leg_cramps_at_night#ixzz24koTLFQw

Water for T-2 Diabetics

It has been a theory . . . . .that a rapid drop in blood sugars can cause muscle cramping. I would suggest testing your blood glucose to see if this is the case with you.

Also dehydration sometimes causes muscle cramps, and patients with diabetes can potentially dehydrate faster. Make sure you drink enough water during the day.

What's a 'nonreactive' pot

NONREACTIVE  aka Lemon Meringue Pie

When a recipe calls  a 'nonreactive' pot for using or pan to cook something in, it is calling for a pan made of a material that will not react with acids or brines (tomatoes, pickles, etc). Glass, stainless steel and enameled are the most common nonreactive pans.  Undamaged nonstick pans may also be used, but be sure there are no scratches or other damage to the non-stick coating. Acid foods may react by discoloring food, forming toxic substances, and may effect both flavor and texture.  Salty mixtures may also pit aluminum pans if they are left standing in the pan.

Reasons to Eat Fruit !!

Living well,,, Total Wellness.... Loving Life....!!!

Eating Calcium Rich Foods!

hmnnnn....

I Love the Greens.... and Okra....!!!

God is answering the Lonesome Question...

Dear Hubby is taking the time to listen to my diabetes numbers . . . .

The Dawn Phenomenon

I learned how my body reacts to the Dawn Phenomenon, that early morning rise in glucose levels that occurs when the liver dumps glucose into the bloodstream to prepare the body to awaken.  I found that my body begins this process as early as 4:00 AM, 

...sharing what a fellow blogger said....... think about my blood sugar readings as information from my body. She was just about as cynical as I usually would be....and said, “Easier said than done.” The therapist went on to tell her . . . . . .to let go of the “bad” and “good” labels and to think of the numbers more scientifically. For example, 250 was telling me I needed more insulin (for whatever reason, miscalculation of carbs, over treating a low etc.), just like 50 was telling me I needed less insulin and more glucose.

Still a skeptic.... thinking, it’s easy for her to say don’t get emotional about the numbers, but her words stuck !  She related how... over the next few days when she got a 200+ reading, she took a deep breath and thought, okay, what do I need to do here? Slowly, it began to work.

Slowly, the black hole began to dissipate like a rain puddle after the clouds part. She began to chant the phrase in my head “It’s just a number.” And it worked.

My Drawing of What is Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (link = Tudiabetes.com)is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes... When you have type 2 diabetes, the body does not respond correctly to insulin. This is called insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance means that fat, liver, and muscle cells do not respond normally to insulin. As a result blood sugar does not get into cells to be stored for energy.

High Blood Sugar: Damage is cumulative

Glucose is the body's primary energy source. After a meal, carbohydrates usually are broken down into glucose and other simple sugars. This causes blood glucose levels to rise and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells in the pancreas. It regulates the transport of glucose into most of the body's cells and works with glucagon, another pancreatic hormone, to maintain blood glucose levels within a narrow range. If someone is unable to produce enough insulin, or if the body's cells are resistant to its effects (insulin resistance), then less glucose is transported from the blood into cells. Blood glucose levels remain high and the body's cells "starve." This can cause both acute and chronic problems depending on the severity of the insulin deficiency.

Acute hyperglycemia can be a medical emergency. The body tries to rid the blood of excess glucose by flushing it out of the system with increased urination. This process can cause dehydration and upset the body’s electrolyte balance as sodium and potassium are lost in the urine. With severe insulin deficiency, glucose is not available to the cells and the body may attempt to provide an alternate energy source by metabolizing fatty acids. This less efficient process leads to a buildup of ketones and upsets the body's acid-base balance, producing a state known as ketoacidosis. Left unchecked, acute hyperglycemia can lead to severe dehydration, loss of consciousness, and even death.

Glucose levels that rise over time and become chronically elevated may not be initially noticed. The body tries to control the amount of glucose in the blood by increasing insulin production and by eliminating glucose in the urine. Symptoms usually begin to arise when the body is no longer able to compensate for the higher levels of blood glucose. Chronic hyperglycemia can cause long-term damage to blood vessels, nerves, and organs throughout the body and can lead to other conditions such as kidney failure, loss of vision, strokes, cardiovascular disease and circulatory problems in the legs. Damage from hyperglycemia is cumulative and may begin before a person is aware that he or she has diabetes. (link: labtests online)  The sooner that the condition is detected and treated, the better the chances of minimizing complications.

What's Normal and Abnormal ????

The human body wants blood glucose (blood sugar) maintained in a very narrow range. 

Our bodies desire blood glucose to be maintained between 70 mg/dl and 110 mg/dl (mg/dl means milligrams of glucose in 100 milliliters of blood). Below 70 is termed "hypoglycemia." Above 110 can be normal if you have eaten within 2 to 3 hours.  That is why your doctor wants to measure your blood glucose while you are fasting...it should be between 70 and 110.  Even after you have eaten, however, your glucose should be below 180. Above 180 is termed "hyperglycemia" (which translates to mean "too much glucose in the blood"). If your 2 two blood sugar measurements above 200 after drinking a sugar-water drink (glucose tolerance test), then you are diagnosed with diabetes.

Insulin and glucagon are the hormones which make this happen. Both insulin and glucagon are secreted from the pancreas, and thus are referred to as pancreatic endocrine hormones. The picture (below) shows the intimate relationship both insulin and glucagon have to each other. Note that the pancreas serves as the central player in this scheme.  It is the production of insulin and glucagon by the pancreas which ultimately determines if a patient has diabetes, hypoglycemia, or some other sugar problem.

Insulin and glucagon are hormones secreted by islet cells within the pancreas. (link)  They are both secreted in response to blood sugar levels, but in opposite fashion!



Insulin is normally secreted by the beta cells (a type of islet cell) of the pancreas. The stimulus for insulin secretion is a HIGH blood glucose...it's as simple as that!  Although there is always a low level of insulin secreted by the pancreas, the amount secreted into the blood increases as the blood glucose rises. Similarly, as blood glucose falls, the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreatic islets goes down.

As can be seen in the picture, insulin has an effect on a number of cells, including muscle, red blood cells, and fat cells. 

Glucagon is secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets in much the same manner as insulin...except in the opposite direction. If blood glucose is high, then no glucagon is secreted.
When blood glucose goes LOW, however, (such as between meals, and during exercise) more and more glucagon is secreted. Like insulin, glucagon has an effect on many cells of the body, but most notably the liver.

The HUNGER GAMES. . . . via Diabetes

What is diabetes?

• a disorder of metabolism—the way the body uses or converts food for energy and growth

PWD T2 Days Remaining 147

I gotta have my morning coffee.....

that is..... KENYA darkest roast (3/4 of a 16 oz cup) adding steamed milk and English Toffee flavorings.   It foams richly at the top....  I bring along a glass coffee cup to pour about a third of it into.... it's hot and smooth.   I keep refilling cup till its gone on the remaining 20 minute drive to work...

Oh... but first I take my meter numbers.   I remember today that I forgot LAST NIGHT to inject my Lantus.... man -- I was tired at 10:22 pm.      So it goes.  UP DOWN AND ALL AROUND!  This mornings number is 114 mg/dl    Now... back to the coffee.... I take my medicine along with it and then I chill (I caffeine UP!) for about an hour!

There are certain other little perks to my morning coffee break! 

Now for more bad news.....Diabetic ketoacidosis is an emergency condition

With such a high amount of glucose outside the cells,
and a decreasing amount inside the cells (since it's been used for energy),
.................the water in the cells is forced out of the cells in an attempt to even out the amounts of glucose.

This causes rapid dehydration and the body tissues begin to collapse as they lose water. Then the kidneys go to work filtering out all of the excess water, which is what causes the frequent urination. In the process, many essential compounds, such as sodium ions, are flushed out in the urine. The loss of sodium causes many cells to have difficulty functioning properly and eventually cells begin to die.