I recently I’ve been struggling. I’m sure you do too. Having diabetes is the same grind day after day. You have to take your insulin. You may have extra vitamins, minerals, and other medications that you have to take. Meal prepping, hydration, and exercise also have to get factored in. There is no break from it and no vacation from it. A chronic disease does get really old. It seems like it’s a list of things that have to be done. This past week the lesson was learning how to change my way of thinking from “I have to get this done” to “I get to do this."
I hate shots. They actually freaked me out. There are times when I try to cut back on injections. I already try to fast during the middle of the day. Fasting is simply a time when you don’t eat food. No food equals no extra blood sugar. This equals one less shot.
Last week, I got the bright idea that I only needed one shot of insulin in the morning. I tried this for four days. I decided to stop taking some important vitamins and minerals as well. Just take that off the to do list too... It didn't work.
I take an additive L tryptophan. It is a trace element for the body. This helps with bladder control and improves mood. I also stopped drinking Effer C tea which has elderberry, Stevia, and buffered vitamin C. I ended up with a urinary tract infection.
It started with a pain in the middle of my back. My kidneys were talking to me. I used a friend's massager. I thought it was just working out knots in my back. I believed the cramping sensation I was feeling was due to a period starting. Next I was urinating frequently. To cap it off, I started having a burning sensation when urinating.
I went back to my insulin, vitamins and minerals, Effer C tea, & added in some antibiotics and a gallon of water to flush out my urinary tract. I also had to turn down an invitation to visit my boyfriend. I missed out on getting to do something I really enjoy. I traded a healthier version of me for an infection because I didn't want to do what I had to do: take insulin and pills.
I realized I had to slow down! An infection means you are sick. My job was now to heal myself before getting on the road for Sandy’s return trip to see her foot doctor in Durham, North Carolina. I just didn't have time to do meal prep. I decided to take it easy and enjoy making smart food decisions on the road. Here are a few recommendations when you can’t prepare your food in advance and need a quick travel snack…
The Parm Crisps are oven baked crispy cheese bites. They are high in protein and have such a small amount of carbohydrates. They can be used as soup or salad toppings. I prefer to eat them right out of the bag!
Another great option is the Kind brand of foods. They have some good options in snack bars with dark chocolate nut candy bars. The granola mixes are fantastic if you need just a bit of carbohydrates to pick you up. If you add it to almond milk, you have a sweet cereal replacement! Just pay attention to the serving size.
I love these diabetic friendly snack options. They're great when you're traveling. I've flipped the script in my head. I get to enjoy these delicious snacks because I stay on track with what I have to do.
I’ll keep you posted on mine & Sandy’s adventures next week along with a fresh recipe. Let me know if you try this snack. Please comment, like, share, and come back next week for more recipes, ideas, and tips. Subscribe to the website, if you would like weekly email reminders to add more recipes to your recipe book.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice, but a compilation of research from medical sites. Make sure to see your doctor and have up to date lab work.