tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54961681065321038502012-02-07T15:00:55.670-06:00Eat real food. Slow down. Get better sleep. Ah, doesn't that feel good? There's a reason we're all getting sick...Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.comBlogger601100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-4708060326368238232012-02-07T15:00:00.000-06:002012-02-07T15:00:55.680-06:00

More news on my Dexcom.  My first sensor stopped working on the second day.  I called Dexcom and they were very professional and happily replaced my sensor.  I then went through my insurance to find out how much replacement sensors would cost.  The answer?  $743 every three months.  Yes, you heard that right.  And that's after insurance.  So I'm trying not to get too attached to the Dexcom.  My

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-59918747992241875092012-01-04T15:21:00.000-06:002012-01-04T15:21:36.530-06:00

My doctor's office recommended a Dexcom 7 to help manage my diabetes.  It came just after Christmas.  I ordered it in 2011 because I'd met my out-of-pocket expenses for the year.  Cigna paid out 100%, but they fought the approval process every step of the way.  I knew it was because if it went past January 1, they wouldn't have to pay as much.  I hounded them almost every day, and so did the

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-9613440547459042612011-11-28T16:20:00.000-06:002011-11-28T16:20:16.093-06:00

Thanksgiving and diabetes aren't the best of friends, but this year I gave myself permission to take a little more insulin than usual and eat a huge helping of my mom's dressing.  Hers is hands down the best dressing ever.  What is more than a little bizarre about the whole business is that my blood sugars have been bipolar since the hysterectomy, but a carbtastic day didn't seem to cause me any

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-28468277091860688382011-10-24T14:23:00.002-05:002011-10-24T14:25:04.194-05:00

I seem to have fallen off the face of the earth, blog wise.  Sometimes real life takes over.  But, my mother-in-law sent me this interesting link to Robb Wolf's blog entry Type 1 Diabetes:  The Numbers Don't Lie.  He quantifies his results to the Paleo diet.  I've heard the benefits of this praised before.  It's not unlike the Rosedale diet which I tried for about 6  months.  I did lose weight -

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-76265751410529356222011-09-07T20:03:00.001-05:002011-09-08T20:16:42.823-05:00

I read lots of information on the web about diabetes.  Most of it I could recite in my sleep.  But these are a few "randoms" that stick out in the crowd. 1.  Diabetic Rockstar - A great place for insulin junkies who don't want to sign up for a pre-paid funeral package.  Don't worry, you can be a groupie and still join. 2.  1-2-3 Homemade Insulin - Trust those folks at the Survivalist Forum to

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-86756327073001646102011-08-31T11:31:00.000-05:002011-08-31T11:31:41.514-05:00

After I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes - the lesser known of the two types - I learned so much about carbohydrate counts.  Essentially, I now eat approximately 45 grams of carbs at breakfast and then 30 grams for lunch and dinner.  Plus, I've switched up my fats for healthy fats:  avocado, olive and coconut oil, olives, and almonds.  People always tell me they can't believe I eat that without

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-1166610413101733072011-08-22T18:50:00.000-05:002011-08-22T18:50:03.928-05:00

Now that I've been puttering around other people's blogs, I realize that depression is normal for diabetics.  When I was first diagnosed, I was told that I would go through the stages of grief dealing with the news.  But when I was diagnosed, I was pregnant.  I think in many ways it made it easier because I had a baby to think about, and I didn't have time for a pity party.    Post-partum

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-16846509715170899322011-08-18T13:37:00.000-05:002011-08-18T13:37:51.214-05:00

The term medical tourism is not newly minted.  For those of you who aren't familiar with it, many Americans are now traveling to other countries for medicine and treatment, because for the price of a plane ticket, a beachside condo, and the cost of your medicine, you get a week long vacation for roughly the same price that you'd pay for medicine in a year, even with insurance.  This is

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-80908440906484023372011-08-16T09:56:00.000-05:002011-08-16T09:56:29.471-05:00

I don't want to plagiarize the whole article, so visit this link to see advances in Type 1 treatment using stem cell research.  It's not my goal to always take the lazy route and redirect people to other articles, but... I'm not a scientist and don't do my own research.  I get excited about the advances scientists are making and like to pass them on to my fellow diabetic peeps.

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-80516710701874940342011-08-15T15:10:00.001-05:002011-08-15T15:11:12.027-05:00

Since the hysterectomy, I've required a lot of help.  We've been blessed in that help has been constant, but relying on others for food makes it hard to maintain a healthy diet.  Plus, my need to pamper myself strayed into snacking on that which I shouldn't be eating.  I meet with Dr. Hoover from Essential2Health tomorrow, and I'm hoping he shames me back onto the straight and narrow.  I'm

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-23650574941996090502011-08-09T16:14:00.002-05:002011-08-09T16:20:17.121-05:00

I sing the praises of Frederick Banting (Canadian) loud and often; he is credited (with the work of others, of course) as inventing insulin.  Now, Spanish-born Dr. Pere Santamaria, at University of Calgary (go Canada!), has developed a vaccine that successfully reversed diabetes in mice. Oh, to be a mouse.  What's more, the vaccine was able to target only those immune cells that were responsible

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-57494794425491369522011-08-08T11:37:00.000-05:002011-08-08T11:37:14.059-05:00

Not quite three weeks post-hysterectomy.  I expected to feel better but seem to be doing worse.  I've also been sporadic about taking my supplements.  I'm fortunate to have many people help me out during my recovery, but the down side is I have to rely on other people shopping and fixing/buying me food. I'm eating more fast food and prepackaged food than my body is used to.  And I've been too

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-74356224933133498322011-08-02T11:01:00.000-05:002011-08-02T11:01:09.692-05:00

I can't work out for 2 months and already - 11 days post-hysterectomy - my belly has turned into a pot belly.   I can't do any form of exercise and my legs and arms are getting skinny and I'm looking like an apple.  In 2 months I am going to have to find someone to help hold me accountable for taking my pudgy self down to the gym and starting from scratch.  I was doing so well, following Tim

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-56364694711318635692011-07-21T15:11:00.001-05:002011-07-24T11:26:37.755-05:00

So maybe I can't speak definitively about life after a hysterectomy since I just had mine yesterday.  I am extremely grateful to be having one now and not as little as five years ago.  I had a Da Vinci robotic outpatient hysterectomy.  The doctor performs the surgery robotically at a separate table while the surgical nurse and anesthesiologist is with the patient.  I was so nervous as I measured

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-50851088249595161432011-06-11T09:41:00.000-05:002011-06-11T09:41:56.830-05:00

I had a doctor tell me once it could take three years for a diabetic's body to stabilize after giving birth.  Ella turns three tomorrow, and it does seem my body is falling into equilibrium. Meaning, there is a reflection in what I eat, how much insulin I take, and my blood glucose levels.  Before I could eat the exact same meal, with the exact same insulin levels, and my post reading could vary

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-66001912228209772402011-02-23T13:36:00.000-06:002011-02-23T13:36:48.644-06:00

So, at the risk of sounding like a crazed lunatic.... I believe the government is off it's rocker.  This a link to my friend Ryan Close's interview about government tyranny over our health choices.  Ryan became involved as a result of his passion for raw milk. http://atgsociety.com/2011/02/freedom-of-health-does-uncle-sam-owns-your-body/ Make no mistake, if the government was limiting our

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-28402775443046486522011-01-28T18:28:00.000-06:002011-01-28T18:28:08.085-06:00

So my licorice extract is affecting my adrenal glands.  I’m cranky.  Or crankier than usual, depending on who you ask.  The last time I was on an adrenal supplement this happened.  Is it something you work through and it gets better?  Sometimes I wonder why I don’t just load up on insulin and eat whatever I want.  I see diabetics who eat all sorts of junk and make it.  Literally, if I eat 7

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-90528787707859388902011-01-20T13:00:00.000-06:002011-01-20T13:00:36.830-06:00

So, thank's to my AC-11 (lots of Cat's Claw - the herb, not cats' claws) and my devotion to lentil beans and spinach as my only carbs (ala Four Hour Body) I now have my blood sugars completely stabilized.  Went to see Dr. Hoover at Essential 2 Health.  My body fat was creeping back up, thanks in no small part to my tendency to treat cheese like my own personal heroin.  My adrenal system is still

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-46345880209245835992011-01-04T11:48:00.000-06:002011-01-04T11:48:21.881-06:00

The Four Hour Body and Type 1 I received my two free copies of Timothy Ferriss’ latest manifesto The Four Hour Body.  I’m a fan of his first book, The Four Hour Work Week and visit his blog all the time.  I try to stop somewhere short of being an actual stalker.  So far I’ve read about 1/3 of The Four Hour Body in totally random order.   Some of it I’ve heard, read, or researched everywhere but

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-62377129100549335612010-12-16T14:16:00.000-06:002010-12-16T14:16:44.008-06:00

So, after monumental effort, my baseline A1C dropped from 8.5 to 7.5.  The goal is to be below 7.0, so I haven't crossed the finish line.  The fact that I'm actually sleeping at night has been most helpful.  Plus now that I'm not working, I'm at home in my own kitchen more and can control my carbohydrate intake more tightly.  The results came back on my MRI and my cartilage in my knee is wearing

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-12689938818561500152010-11-16T08:21:00.000-06:002010-11-16T08:21:28.972-06:00

Last night I started my AC 11 regiment.  AC 11 is designed to repair DNA at a cellular level.  Since I spent the money on the program, I am now on the line to eat as healthy as possible.  Today I have Ella in daycare so I can work out and make some meal plans. Dr. Hoover at Essential2Health described a meeting with a geneticist at Johns Hopkins University who was interested in his work.  It's

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-89917664166809130662010-11-02T10:59:00.001-05:002010-11-02T10:59:58.179-05:00

Dr. Hoover started me on Min Chex which is a natural tranquilizer.  It is supposed to help me sleep, and its success is hit and miss.  I have worked so hard on stabilizing my blood sugars, and I've been quite successful as of late.  But I still don't feel well and it brings me back to my previous belief that there is something wrong with me other than diabetes.  And I think sleep deprivation is a

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-45461107274425706342010-10-19T09:10:00.001-05:002010-10-19T09:10:24.229-05:00

Went to see Dr. Hoover at Essential 2 Health.  For now, I am staying on much the same protocol.  I am going to phase out my DHEA supplements and my Iodoral (iodine).  I am starting on pregnenolone and min-chex.  I have found several good websites to describe the benefits of these supplements, but once again, Blogger is having problems and won't let me add a link.  Considering the move to

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-70081960422565199812010-10-14T10:28:00.006-05:002010-10-14T11:21:32.029-05:00

Just a short post to share exciting news about Type 1 Diabetes and Pancreatic Beta Cell Regeneration.  Because I'm kind of nerdy, I spent an entire Friday night googling the subject and think it's fascinating.  Since I'm not a scientist, I don't have commentary to add to the subject, but here's a link that spells it out Exciting update - yesterday I took only my slow release insulin, Lantus.  But

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-44179578746608628282010-10-11T10:00:00.001-05:002010-10-11T10:00:57.129-05:00

It's been about 6 weeks of taking supplements.  The good news is that I'm needing less insulin.  The bad news is my pancreas isn't sending me a memo about when it's cranking out insulin and when it's not.  While I'm happy that the little man is cranking out insulin at all, it is hard to know how much insulin to take in the morning.  The result has been some horrible blood sugar lows.  I've also

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-5801446027257933012010-09-02T13:53:00.000-05:002010-09-02T13:53:17.239-05:00

It's been a week and a half into my supplemental regiment.  My blood sugars have stabalized.  I am still on insulin, but even with insulin my blood sugar levels were uncontrolled.  Just checked out Louise Hay's book, You Can Heal Your Life, from the library.  One of the things I believe about myself is that I crave sugar for days after a blood sugar low.  Now that I'm consistently not having

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-77959970068140492912010-08-26T11:04:00.000-05:002010-08-26T11:04:05.614-05:00

It's day four of my new supplement regiment.  I actually slept last night, good solid sleep.  The cortisol treatments have brought on some bad blood sugar lows but I'm starting to stabilize.  I'm also taking less insulin.  My other supplements include DHEA, Omega 3, Vitamins B&C, Adrenal Stress Relief, and Iodine.  My back alignment actually held from one chiropractic appointment to the next, the

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-26850419203290491642010-08-20T06:26:00.000-05:002010-08-20T06:26:36.840-05:00

Received the results from my tests.  My cortisol levels were extremely low.  Dr. Hoover tells me the stress I have gone through probably caused my cortisol to drop so low.  On Monday I go in for my supplemental recommendation list.  I am also trying to nix all regular coffee because my adrenal system can't handle it.  Today is the day I start back up on my all organic lifestyle, no processed

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-19472663125947987662010-08-17T09:26:00.000-05:002010-08-17T09:26:27.619-05:00

My naturopathic physician is testing me for adrenal stress.  I hope this gives me answers and some hope for a better future.  In the last few months I've had a stress test, an EKG, and last December, a CAT scan.  No answers on all the pain.  Just more bills adding up, which is probably causing more stress and sickness.  I don't sleep, my blood sugars escalate, and my diet is already so controlled

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-72952450289324769422010-06-29T14:04:00.000-05:002010-06-29T14:04:22.365-05:00

I wish I could take complete credit for my latest fascination:  the effect toxins have on autoimmune diseases.  I can't, but the good news is, someone else put all the sweat into researching this and I'm reaping the benefits.  Autoimmune diseases are occurring in alarming rates, and I don't find it surprising that it's linked in part to toxins, poor diet, and stress.  I suggest you check out the

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-6235493295632111602010-06-01T13:59:00.005-05:002010-06-01T14:11:54.663-05:00

In my husband's latest copy of Wired Magazine, was a gem of an article about a robotic pancreas on the horizon. Like everybody else and their dog, I would love to have a natural biological cure for diabetes. Would I try a robotic pancreas? You bet! Why should I experience organ damage while beaurocracy drags its feet?The media always discusses how much diabetes costs, but what they don't tell you

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-5233644919289877822010-04-26T13:44:00.003-05:002010-04-27T09:01:36.627-05:00

I've been researching how to become certified as a health coach. A certified health coach is different than a personal trainer. A personal trainer helps you with a fitness plan; whereas a health coach is more like a life coach, only focusing on your health. More to the point, figuring out the mental blocks that have gotten you to where you are today. I find this interesting, as I think as a

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-35205485149981886342010-04-07T15:33:00.005-05:002010-04-07T15:49:08.411-05:00

Sometimes being a diabetic is just the best excuse ever.- I can't eat this food (never mind that I don't want to).- I can't run a full marathon.- I had a low ~ or a high ~ and I can't work out today.- I hate traveling with my insulin.You name it, I can come up with an excuse and tie it into diabetes, and it's not healthy for me in the long run. There's no way for me to medically prove it, but I

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-6136661646349439302010-03-24T10:03:00.002-05:002010-03-24T10:16:11.630-05:00

Perfect blood sugar reads for three weeks, and then, bam, a 437. Eating the exact same foods. How does that happen? Isn't this supposed to be a science? Every day is stressful so I'm not sure if this day was more stressful than others. Hormonal? Perhaps. How do you go from a 98 to a 437 within an hour without eating? Ughhh.I've learned that my system likes a schedule, and it likes its

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-3675735703060080782010-03-10T15:17:00.004-06:002010-03-10T16:12:45.818-06:00

Ella's had bronchitis, the poor little lamb. Over the weekend she ran a fever and early Monday morning I took her to the pediatrician's walk-in clinic. Lots of fluid in her lungs. Thankfully she's on the mend. And, it would appear, so am I. I've read advice, listened to advice, preached advice, and ignored advice on the correlation between diabetes and stress. But I spent four days at home (2

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-61886057872730909632010-02-10T08:19:00.004-06:002010-02-10T09:52:01.975-06:00

The internet can be a bit overwhelming with all the information about naturopathy, holistic healing, and diabetes. Through trial and error I've discovered so much incorrect information on diabetes. And, while I'm a big supporter of naturopathic medicine, there are "entrepreneurs" out there who are more interested in taking your money than in your health. Here is a short list of some of my

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-56963592075668397922010-02-09T09:39:00.004-06:002010-02-09T11:46:57.971-06:00

I'm not sure how many posts I plan on writing about my bucket list, but one thing we can count on: there will be future blogs with more bucket lists. What does this have to do with Healing Diabetes Naturally? I don't know. Probably nothing. But it's my blog, so I'm going to squeeze it in here by saying I need to live long enough to fulfill the list. And I don't want them to amputate my feet

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-25180564457722846282010-02-03T10:50:00.004-06:002010-02-03T13:03:03.336-06:00

After two years with diabetes, I've learned a little about my body. For starters, no matter what diabetes educators tell me about carb counting and portions, there are some foods I just can't eat. Like those glucerna cereals that they market to diabetics. Or pizza. I have found an organic pizza that I do like, but it doesn't taste anything like regular pizza. It tastes good, just different. It

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-37299928310004140712010-01-28T09:23:00.002-06:002010-01-28T09:26:15.821-06:00

Oh what a difference a few days makes. Plus a really good work out. And more controlled blood sugar reads. Spent some time this week with my husband making some really big decisions about our future. Like working less and relaxing more, even if we give up a lot of our discretionary income. We've created a plan for making a big leap of faith, paying off some bills, and living on less. While

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-51610510516579475072010-01-26T11:59:00.002-06:002010-01-26T12:00:57.183-06:00

Today, I'm feeling small and not so strong in this battle. The real challenge is that diabetes is ultimately an individual battle. No matter how badly people want to support you, it's still my cross to bear. Some days I feel larger than life, like I can take this challenge and win. But not today. Today I feel small. I hope tomorrow I feel better.

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-25900843172279691402010-01-22T10:45:00.002-06:002010-01-22T10:57:18.793-06:00

When I felt a blood sugar low on the horizon, I ran into a convenience store to grab something with sugar. Afterwards, sitting in my car all subvesive-like, I was popping some random candy in my mouth like a coke addict with a line of coke. Which made me laugh. I think it's a respone to the belief that diabetics can't have sugar. So I was popping my sugar in private. What makes it funny to

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-11712375822267358942010-01-18T11:54:00.002-06:002010-01-18T11:57:57.084-06:00

I had a yummy low carb organic pizza for lunch today, and wait for it... it actually tasted good. Finally. Diabetes wouldn't be so bad if I could eat food that tasted good. I need to experiment with food in the whole foods market near where I live. I always hate over-priced organic food that tastes gross when I get home. Or organic whole foods that still have lots of carbs. But I'm going to

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-13928819002372449212010-01-06T16:11:00.005-06:002010-01-06T16:43:08.610-06:00

New Years is the traditional time to make our resolutions. I keep my resolutions light, so that I can fulfill them easily. One year, my goal was to be at a fancy party and take a drink off the waiter's tray when he walked by, like you see in movies. Another year I vowed to watch the original Ocean's Eleven with the Rat Pack. This year, I want to hire a personal trainer at the gym just once, so I

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-40332731720739450742009-12-28T11:17:00.002-06:002009-12-28T11:24:53.837-06:00

So I made it through the holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't the best times of the year to be a diabetic. I made my tiramisu with xylitol and also sneaked in a piece of Christmas candy during a low. Had a couple of glasses of red wine throughout Christmas day. Not exactly a role model for healing diabetes naturally, but given all the cookies and fudge I did pass by, it went pretty

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-13367630671504095082009-12-22T09:43:00.003-06:002009-12-22T09:53:49.820-06:00

I didn't realize that Brittany Murphy had diabetes. I have always read rumors about her anorexia, and now I wonder. People have accused me of having an eating disorder, and I don't. Right now I'm not dangerously skinny but sometimes I hit that level. There are days when I just can't eat any carbs, and you shed weight without carbs.I think as a society we forget how dangerous diabetes can be.

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-22791540655336003022009-12-10T10:37:00.002-06:002009-12-10T10:40:11.870-06:00

Since being diagnosed with diabetes, I've noticed how many of our holidays are celebrated with food, food I usually can' eat. Thanksgiving is only about food in modern culture. And, of course, most people don't understand diabetes and think that as long as you don't eat sweets, you can stay the course. But mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and dressing are all high carb foods, and it's all

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-87766034264991636812009-11-17T15:29:00.002-06:002009-11-17T15:34:21.207-06:00

Can't I just feel better now? When I set out to heal myself naturally, I was quite ambitious about the whole project. Today I feel not so ambitious. A blood sugar read of 414 can do that to you. Tonight, I'm back at the gym. I injured my neck and couldn't work out for quite some time. I can always come up with a million excuses, but I think it all boils down to this: I do not create enough

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-27656340839097360172009-10-19T10:58:00.002-05:002009-10-19T11:04:10.385-05:00

Chromium. Someone asked me if I'm taking chromium supplements and I said I didn't know. Should I be? Around the same time, I spoke with my naturopathic doctor about a program to help with insulin resistance. And lo and behold, one of the supplements is chromium. I've been at it for about two weeks.Like a lot of insulin dependent diabetics, I take insulin on a sliding scale, meaning the higher

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-27894895915534313112009-10-06T10:43:00.007-05:002009-10-06T11:17:35.642-05:00

I was thinking about a line from Cheryl Richardson's book, The Art of Extreme Self-Care, "You can't make sanity out of an insane situation." That's the truth. I'm working myself half to death, with a full time job, Reserves, and attempting to start my own freelance grant writing business. Oh, and I have a 15 month old baby.I'm hanging on by a thread. The truth is, there are not enough time

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-69355969619035661232009-09-13T11:26:00.002-05:002009-09-13T11:36:31.261-05:00

Have I mentioned that I love coffee? I do, more than I can put into words. I think foo-foo coffees are the reason I became diabetic in the first place. So much sugar, fat, and empty calories. So I switched to black coffee. A step in the right direction, but I've been reading about caffeine and its effect on the endocrine system. My true problem is that I don't stop with one cup; I can drink

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-36489643657165385252009-09-03T10:10:00.002-05:002009-09-03T11:22:27.142-05:00

I love this time of year. A hint of crispness in the air. This subconscious desire to shop for school supplies. The smell of pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks. Wait? I can’t have a pumkin spice latte anymore? That’s a cruel twist of fate. I remember reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and laughing at the author’s referral to her friend who’s a vegetarian, except for bacon. Which

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-79310312976510318402009-08-31T14:26:00.001-05:002009-08-31T14:27:32.399-05:00

I watched Dr. Wayne Dyer in his PBS special Excuses Begone talking about the abstract nature of stress. As he mentioned, if someone asked you to bring back a big bucket of stress, you couldn’t do it. There really isn’t a tangible thing of stress. But it’s omnipresent. I can feel it in every ounce of my being. When I was in college, stress was my biggest motivator. We called it healthy

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-69662226716618432782009-08-20T09:19:00.006-05:002009-08-20T09:42:15.617-05:00

A few months ago, my primary care physician recommended a book, The Art of Extreme Self-Care by Cheryl Richardson. She felt that living a stressful life was only increasing my health complications. I completely agree; I know I take on too much and don't feel like I have time for myself. Now I try to create little pockets of time to replenish myself. One of the most fabulous ideas I took from the

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-3557868653181783432009-08-12T16:49:00.003-05:002009-08-12T17:04:30.427-05:00

It occurred to me recently that a lot of good things have come into my life since or because of diabetes. Don't get me wrong, I don't suddenly love diabetes. I have no great affection for it and hope to someday banish it from my life forever. But good things have happened and I thought that putting them down in writing, in a list, would make me see what I have to be grateful for.I completed my

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-80898212026114459992009-08-10T10:27:00.009-05:002009-08-10T10:43:27.676-05:00

I hope you'll take a moment to read my article on Reflexology on Angelic Whispers. The article is more indepth than I want to go into right now, but it gives a great deal of background on my diabetes.I am home from a much needed but too brief vacation. My husband is doing much better, and my mother-in-law discovered some homeopathic teething tablets for my baby so her quality of life just

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-73715059483336596322009-08-04T16:51:00.004-05:002009-08-04T16:59:46.894-05:00

My goal was to write an article about removing stress from my life, but I had outpatient surgery, my husband was diagnosed with West Nile virus from a mosquito bite (no kidding!!!), my baby is teething, I had a major event to plan at work, a project deadline today, and I had to go out of town over the weekend. So I won't be writing an article now on de-stressing one's life since I obviously

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-23371107913943335092009-07-29T09:32:00.003-05:002009-07-29T09:43:05.713-05:00

Many people misunderstand diabetes and think it means you can never have sweets for the rest of your life. The truth is you can, in moderation, as long as the carbohydrates in your treat of choice are factored into your carbohydrate count. But my problem is this... stopping at one chocolate chip cookie, or the difference between the 4 oz. pouring of wine and the whole bottle. I've come to

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-90854765793327584522009-07-27T10:39:00.003-05:002009-07-27T10:58:34.898-05:00

As a brief follow up, I went to the doctor and now have to go to the podiatrists office. I think I've wrangled up some insurance-paid pedicures . For most people, this would be a dream come true. For me, having people take any kind of clipper or other gadget to my foot is an experiment in torture. I will have to bring my lamaze breathing object and try not to scream. That said, my new focus in

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-83922214358351580932009-07-23T11:14:00.002-05:002009-07-23T11:22:02.999-05:00

This morning I woke up with my right pinkie toe hurting. This is a new development, as I've not injured it recently. When I took a peek, I was horrified to discover that the toe is turning black with bits of green. This is never a good sign, especially for a diabetic.As is wont to happen, when I become positive about my future and my prognosis, I take a few steps back, willingly or unwillingly

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496168106532103850.post-21746443997411755592009-07-22T13:36:00.000-05:002009-07-22T14:01:26.679-05:00

Join me on this journey as I attempt to overturn a shortened life expectancy after a complicated pregnancy and Type I diabetes. I'm dedicating the next year, the next five years, or however long it takes to heal my endocrine system, adrenal system, liver, and pancreas through traditional and non-traditional modalities. Please feel free to apply my advice or suggestions to you or your loved one's

Kay Litchyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06375700428815237911noreply@blogger.com0