Diabetes in NDN Country

[Cutbead Queen]

Dear Cutthroat Queen:

Thanks for the clarification!

And I was almost ready to purchase several boxes of nice Tea Rose glycerin Heart soaps by Crabtree & Evelyn when I typed in "soap box" on the internet...

I hope you don't have a daughter/son that wants to go through 'hell' to get through college and go through 'hell' to become a dietician!!

So far anyways, I'm actively preventing DM (knocks on wood)...I guess I can return to the forum when I am diagnosed!

It is so unfortunate that you have to stoop to portraying yourself as being victimized on this thread. Furthermore, it is even more disturbing that you have to resort to immature name calling when clearly it is evident to me that you cannot properly and effectively defend your point of veiw on diabetes.

However, I think you may have misunderstood my point of view. Please point out when and where on this thread it states that you have to be a diagnoised diabetic to post! I personally don't recall ever mentioning such an absurd notion in any of my post or reading such bullsh** in anyone elses post for that matter.

[Cutbead Queen]

Dear Cutthroat Queen:

Thanks for the clarification!

And I was almost ready to purchase several boxes of nice Tea Rose glycerin Heart soaps by Crabtree & Evelyn when I typed in "soap box" on the internet...

I hope you don't have a daughter/son that wants to go through 'hell' to get through college and go through 'hell' to become a dietician!!

So far anyways, I'm actively preventing DM (knocks on wood)...I guess I can return to the forum when I am diagnosed!

It is so unfortunate that you have to stoop to portraying yourself as being victimized on this thread. Furthermore, it is even more disturbing that you have to resort to immature name calling when clearly it is evident to me that you cannot properly and effectively defend your point of veiw on diabetes.

However, I think you may have greatly misunderstood my point of view. Please point out when and where on this thread it states that you have to be a diagnoised diabetic to post here! I personally don't recall ever mentioning such an absurd notion in any of my posts or reading such bullsh** in anyone elses posts for that matter.

[*Brown Eyed Gurl*]

My parents are both diabetic and it runs on my mothers side of the family in the female side...anyhoo...my mom has always used sweetners..in her coffee and her tea...i used to drink diet everything also..blah blah blah...both of my kids are ADHD...so i bought this Splenda for their cereal and tea but a friend of mine said it was bad...i was like bullshyt...well i did some googling and what not....well heres a link or 2 to read...crazy shtuff:

Sweetners


Splenda

[azshinob]

Thank you for the information,I would have never known that aspartame was not a good substitute for sugar.Guess i'll have to find something else to use in my coffee,kool-aid.

[TTMNO]

My parents are both diabetic and it runs on my mothers side of the family in the female side...anyhoo...my mom has always used sweetners..in her coffee and her tea...i used to drink diet everything also..blah blah blah...both of my kids are ADHD...so i bought this Splenda for their cereal and tea but a friend of mine said it was bad...i was like bullshyt...well i did some googling and what not....well heres a link or 2 to read...crazy shtuff:

Sweetners


Splenda

too much splenda will give you the runs

[ndnMSW]

I work right in the area of type 2 diabetes (DM-2) prevention with American Indians. I do alot of diabetes education about prevention and this is some of the information I share.

All American Indians should have their blood sugar checked annually. Everyone. Starting now. Especially if you have one or more risk factors for diabetes which are:
- a parent or sibling with diabetes
- had a baby weighing 9 lbs or more
- are overweight
- are inactive

What most people don't know about diabetes is that by the time you start having symptoms, your blood sugar has already been high for years and you've been diabetic for years. People can have high blood sugar and not feel any different. Which is why I stress getting your blood sugar checked annually no matter what age you are and no matter how healthy you feel. If you do a fingerprick test and have high blood sugar and are referred for a fasting blood glucose test and it's normal, you don't have diabetes but need to make some changes to your eating habits and activity habits in order to prevent it.

It may alot more work for some with a strong family history, but diabetes can be prevented. The bad thing is that the education about this isn't out there or available to the people that really need it.

I do alot of education with young people, and they've asked what is the best thing they can do to prevent diabetes. I tell them right off to stay on top of their blood sugar STARTING NOW, to stop drinking full-sugar pop and drink more water (I do a demonstation that shows how much table sugar is in one 8 oz cup of soda and it usually grosses them out), learn how to become label readers, and be active (walking is one of the best exercises that almost anyone can do).

I've lost family members to complications of diabetes, which is why I decided to go into this field. I truly believe it can be prevented if people learn what they need to know, and have it taught to them in a way they can understand, and where they have support in all areas to make the lifestyle changes needed. I also believe the whole family needs to be involved because we as Indian people are family-oriented. But it takes alot of persistence, alot of patience, alot of learning how to approach people, and finding different ways to communicate information, to do this.

I can write more later, but the weekend is here!

ndnMSW

[Pvt Butter]

,
I do alot of education with young people, and they've asked what is the best thing they can do to prevent diabetes. I tell them right off to stay on top of their blood sugar STARTING NOW, to stop drinking full-sugar pop and drink more water (I do a demonstation that shows how much table sugar is in one 8 oz cup of soda and it usually grosses them out), learn how to become label readers, and be active (walking is one of the best exercises that almost anyone can do).


ndnMSW

WOW!!! I saw what 10 pounds of fat looks like in the form of lard - NOW sugar in pop...that's a reality check.

Everything that gives you a quick tasty high is bad for you. I gave up french fries last year after not eating french fries for almost 10 years (I fell off the wagon after being preggers). I had diabetes during my pregnancy. I couldn't even control the cravings I had when I was pregnant. It was crazy, like something else living inside me wanting all that fried food....it's the kid. Already wanting junk.

[Gache]

i stopped drinking soda and lost 30 pounds

[ndnMSW]

i stopped drinking soda and lost 30 pounds

Holy cow, that's great!!!!

I just did a diabetes ed class this morning to a class of Indian students. One of them had a 20 oz bottle of Pepsi (full-strength). I read the label to them and told them in the whole bottle there was 250 calories and 67.5 grams of sugar (the label said 100 calories and 27 grams of sugar per serving, and the serving size said 8 oz.). I told them if they are on a 1,200 calorie per day diet, they would have used up all their calories if they drank 5 bottles of Pepsi in a day, which some people do without even thinking that they are drinking that many calories. I also showed them how 4 grams of sugar on a label equals 1 teaspoon of table sugar, and that there was about 17 teaspoons of table sugar in that one 20 oz bottle. I showed them on the bottle about how high the sugar would be sitting on the bottom of the bottle and it grossed them out.

I also had to warn them that they had to really read labels, because alot of fruit drinks were also that high in sugar or even higher. That really surprised them also. Diet soda and water, V-8 juice or diet V-8 Splash, or soda and juice in moderation are the ways to go. I only drink water myself, with the occasional Minute Maid Lite or diet Ginger Ale. I love that diet V-8 Splash.

I was watching that movie "Supersize Me" and they were interviewing a man who was about to undergo gastric bypass surgery. He was saying how he tried "everything" to lose weight and it was impossible. He then explained to the interviewer how he drank about a gallon of Mountain Dew EVERY DAY. For some reason he did not associate his soda consumption with his weight, or else he was heavy into denial.

I've read some of the information on the internet about Splenda, and I have to point out that what I've read are not clinical studies, they haven't been published in a "peer reviewed" medical journal, so I'm a bit skeptical about the information those sites are providing on the dangers of Splenda. It's something to keep an eye on though, because it seems like they are always coming out with something new that turns out later to be bad for your health. So I'll wait and see on that. Until then, I'll still enjoy my splenda in my diet V-8 splash, in my lemonade, and in my coffee or tea, and on my high fiber cereal in the mornings.........lol.

[ndnMSW]

I should explain that I'm Indian, both my parents are Indian, and diabetes runs of both sides of my family. I'm in good health, but I have to work at it. I've gone into periods where my weight hasn't been controlled very well, then lost it, then regained it, but have since made permanent lifestyle changes where my weight has been in a healthy range for over 3 years, even during and after my pregnancy. I've had to work hard at keeping my health in control, and I try to live what I teach to my students and clients. It's hard to get people to make changes if you can't do those things yourself. I really believe in modeling the types of behavior I'm trying to promote, not only for my clients, but for my family and children as well. I want the lifestyle we live to be "normal" for my children, where they have a good foundation to make healthy choices later when they are on their own. I want healthy eating, exercise, and healthy beliefs about food, to be a normal part of my children's upbringing. My baby and my husband's children are huge motivators for us.

Just wanted to let you know where I was coming from as I write about this subject.

ndnMSW

[Desiree]

someone posted about the effect it has on your eyes. i am going blind in one eye. i used to have 20/10 vision now i cant see the first hour i wake. Does anyone know if you can loose your sight completly from diabetes?

[lexmar]

i stopped drinking soda and lost 30 pounds

just from drinking pop?????? WOWIE!

[lexmar]

Holy cow, that's great!!!!

I just did a diabetes ed class this morning to a class of Indian students. One of them had a 20 oz bottle of Pepsi (full-strength). I read the label to them and told them in the whole bottle there was 250 calories and 67.5 grams of sugar (the label said 100 calories and 27 grams of sugar per serving, and the serving size said 8 oz.). I told them if they are on a 1,200 calorie per day diet, they would have used up all their calories if they drank 5 bottles of Pepsi in a day, which some people do without even thinking that they are drinking that many calories. I also showed them how 4 grams of sugar on a label equals 1 teaspoon of table sugar, and that there was about 17 teaspoons of table sugar in that one 20 oz bottle. I showed them on the bottle about how high the sugar would be sitting on the bottom of the bottle and it grossed them out.

I also had to warn them that they had to really read labels, because alot of fruit drinks were also that high in sugar or even higher. That really surprised them also. Diet soda and water, V-8 juice or diet V-8 Splash, or soda and juice in moderation are the ways to go. I only drink water myself, with the occasional Minute Maid Lite or diet Ginger Ale. I love that diet V-8 Splash.

I was watching that movie "Supersize Me" and they were interviewing a man who was about to undergo gastric bypass surgery. He was saying how he tried "everything" to lose weight and it was impossible. He then explained to the interviewer how he drank about a gallon of Mountain Dew EVERY DAY. For some reason he did not associate his soda consumption with his weight, or else he was heavy into denial.

I've read some of the information on the internet about Splenda, and I have to point out that what I've read are not clinical studies, they haven't been published in a "peer reviewed" medical journal, so I'm a bit skeptical about the information those sites are providing on the dangers of Splenda. It's something to keep an eye on though, because it seems like they are always coming out with something new that turns out later to be bad for your health. So I'll wait and see on that. Until then, I'll still enjoy my splenda in my diet V-8 splash, in my lemonade, and in my coffee or tea, and on my high fiber cereal in the mornings.........lol.

oh my gosh, I love that splenda... and as for "Supersize Me" *ew* that movie just grossed me out. I'll never eat another chicken nugget or whatever you want to call those chicken flavored blobs....thank you for the info!

[lexmar]

I should explain that I'm Indian, both my parents are Indian, and diabetes runs of both sides of my family. I'm in good health, but I have to work at it. I've gone into periods where my weight hasn't been controlled very well, then lost it, then regained it, but have since made permanent lifestyle changes where my weight has been in a healthy range for over 3 years, even during and after my pregnancy. I've had to work hard at keeping my health in control, and I try to live what I teach to my students and clients. It's hard to get people to make changes if you can't do those things yourself. I really believe in modeling the types of behavior I'm trying to promote, not only for my clients, but for my family and children as well. I want the lifestyle we live to be "normal" for my children, where they have a good foundation to make healthy choices later when they are on their own. I want healthy eating, exercise, and healthy beliefs about food, to be a normal part of my children's upbringing. My baby and my husband's children are huge motivators for us.

Just wanted to let you know where I was coming from as I write about this subject.

ndnMSW

what kind of changes did you make in your lifestyle? where you overweight? What type of changes did you make in your diet that created a weight loss? Did you completely cut out fast food? Are you over 30?

sorry for all the questions. Soooo curious.

[ndnMSW]

Yes, I'm over 30, and I was overweight. I'm 37 now, but was 33 when I decided I needed to change my habits. Like I said, my weight has gone up and down, and I was on a big upswing. I was about 30 pounds overweight. It's so weird how it just seems to "sneak up" on you......I just didn't notice how big I was getting until it started affecting my powwow dancing and how my clothes fit. It happens so gradually over a period of time that you don't notice how tired you get and how low your energy has become, and by the time that happens you're kind of in a vicious cycle, where you know you need to work out, but you're too tired, so you just keep gaining weight.

I had to go back to the basics that I knew about healthy eating, and find a plan that would work for me. I had to go back to measuring portion sizes and keeping a journal where I could see where I was getting my 5 servings of fruit and veggies a day, drinking my 8 cups of water, and making sure I had my lean protein, complex carbs. etc. I switched to baked chips and lowfat versions of my favorite foods. I refused to eat anything that tasted like "diet" foods because I wanted to enjoy what I did eat (and there's no way my husband would eat anything that tasted like diet food). My biggest source of support came from my husband. He ate what I ate, we encouraged each other to stay on track, and we worked out together (he's a college instructor and coach).

I think what ultimately worked for me was that I either shopped and found food, or I cooked food, that I really enjoyed, was healthy, was easy to fix, and that tasted good. Life is too short to not enjoy the basics. What kept me going was that I noticed the big difference in my energy level and mood right away and that was the biggest benefit.

I had to find something new that worked for me because I was older, and what I was trying to do to lose weight wasn't working. Your body changes as you get older and you have to do new things to get the same results.

Hope that helps someone out there. I've maintained a healthy weight since March of 2002, and kept it during and after my baby. My motivation during my pregnancy was that I didn't want to develop gestational diabetes, so I kept working out all through my pregnancy and watched what I ate. Luckily I never had any really bad food cravings, and I lost my taste for fast food while I was pregnant.

It takes work to develop new habits, but it's so worth it.

ndnMSW