While I am doing all the stuff they say to get rid of it, it really does hurt like the dickens. I can’t help but notice that my blood sugar numbers seem to coincide with my gout attacks. Is there a correlation?

Some of the studies I’ve seen online says yes but I do believe the poorer blood circulation present in diabetics makes uric acid reduction a lot harder to achieve. What is uric acid? It’s the main culprit in gout and settles and crystallizes in your joints when it’s at high levels. The crystals act like sandpaper and cause inflammation and pain.

I have been exercising lately which I believe has lessened the severity of my attack. Laying low and keeping my foot raised while pumping the anti-inflammatory medicines seems my best course right now. I am still watching my blood sugar numbers and keeping them in control until this gout episode subsides.

If you’ve been stricken and got advice how about post it here for the rest of us? With the many, many gout sufferers out there, any comments are welcome. Diabetic and got gout foot? Share it with the rest of us and start feeling the love. Until the next post,

E, king of nye

The product I am trying out for my first time is Truvia. According to Marks Daily Apple, Truvia is a wonder product that shows real promise although little is known about its long term effects on the human body. But it does not raise blood sugars in diabetics and its also a non factor in elevating blood pressure. A true miracle product for diabetics if ever there was one.

So now I check the sweetness chart to see how much of this wonderful stuff converts to the sugar I use. The truth is, like most of the sugar alternatives out there, while it does sweeten, Truvia’s short fall comes in the form of not being to add texture and volume to some recipes. Well, I just learned on some You tube video about how to add vegetable glycerin, another baking substitute to make up for some of that. Then there’s the advice I get from my neighbor to add a little powdered milk to make up for some of that volume. Does that have some form of sugar in it? I’m sure it does, but nevertheless, I count the carbs and I’m still ahead of the game.

To be on the safe side, I still hold to the axiom that all things that are man made should be taken in moderation as I plan to definitely do with my Truvia and stick to making sure I stay on the strict and the narrow with my carb counts and blood sugar measurements to see how everything affects my regimen. Still. I would love to hear from you guys who have tried Truvia and know the truth: Is it as good as they say? Are you concerned about the long term effects? Is it a wonder food that means salvation for us diabetics? Inquiring minds want to know now.

E, king of nye

It’s been a fast month since I got off the road and I am glad to be home where it is easier to get back into a routine. The next doctor visits are around the corner (This Thursday and next Tuesday) and I am in the process of trying to get the weight down with my daily walking and diet. The diet is the hardest part of it as I have to compete at the grocery store for the healthy stuff I need to make it work. The wife is a candy freak and it makes it hard to stay true with my plan.

Been using the Great Physician’s Rx for Diabetes as a guide to stay on track and it’s a good guide. The key for me is planning ahead especially with what food I carry to work every day. Variety is key and I’m trying to change it up a little from day to day. Getting the water in is the hardest part for me because of the pace of work and the fact I can’t take water with me everywhere I go.

Been sick for the last day or so with the flu and so has the rest of the family. Feels like someone is squeezing my guts and the fever comes and goes. Maybe I’ll be over it in a day or so but staying home so I don’t give this crud to the rest of my coworkers. Will make sure the doc knows about it when I go in as it does have my numbers running a little high on blood sugar.

I am still learning to get into the bowling bit and resuming where I left off before traveling on the road all last month. I am committed to doing more activities to keep moving and every little bit helps. So what’s next? I will back to working on writing and posting articles not only here but on my other blogs as well. Wish I could cut back at work but that’s probably not going to be possible until November where I’ll be looking to get a little time off. Until the next update, toodles, and have a great week everybody.

Your Health Your Choice

Diabetes is a disease that carries its own risks. Coupled with smoking, it prevents triple the risks for health factors usually associated with the disease. Is smoking and diabetes together worth the risk?

Smoking increases the risks diabetics have for heart disease, retinopathy, nerve damage and stroke. Lung cancer, throat cancer and cancer of the mouth are just a few of the risks smokers face. If you have high blood pressure, which a lot of diabetics suffer with, smoking will make it harder to control.

If you are a smoker, don’t despair. There are treatments out there that can help you to quit. Natural healing presents both possibilities for smoking and diabetes and can be a way to help overcome both at the same time. Working with your doctor to finally quit will go miles toward helping to improve your health and well being.

Perrsonally, since I was diagnosed, I have been learning to add more fresh fruits and veggies to my diet, realizing that eating properly is a life or death choice for me. Knowing the proper way to eat is one the keys to your diabetic “cure” and there are several other steps to getting one of the dangers to mens health – diabetes under control and keeping it there.

There are lots of books out there and tons of info. The idea though is to make a simple plan of attack, execute it and stick with it. Remember you are going to have to live with whatever you come up with to deal with your diabetes so make sure it works and that you are able to commit to it.

Here are some tips to get started with:

1. Limit snacks and change to high nutrition value foods. This means cutting out the cookies, cakes pies and sweets in favor of foods rich in nutrients and fiber. Some good choices are fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts, dark chocolate (limit it to very small amounts) and low carb snack bars/shakes. You can find great snack choices for diabetics in the health section of most major supermarkets.

2. Eliminate and avoid refined foods. These are your worst enemy when it comes to losing weight and can cause high blood sugars. Choose whole unprocessed foods instead. They will release carbs much slower and make your job of keeping your blood sugar in control much easier.

3. Watch the alcohol. This acts like sugar in your system and you want to consume only in very small amounts. Wine is the best alternative if you drink and you should combine it with food when you do drink.

4. Drink more water. Water helps to lower blood sugar and makes your whole body work more efficiently.

5. Eat more fruits and veggies. Yes I said that one before but it bears repeating. Fresh fruit and veggies naturally work to manage your blood sugar and are the best things you can put in your system. Steaming is one of the best methods to cook vegetables but you can find many recipes that you can use.

The key to dealing with one of the major challenges to mens health – diabetes, is getting a plan in place to control it and then to execute it on a daily basis. This will involve changing some old habits so be sure you commit to your personal plan of attack and stick to it. Diet is important as is learning to live a personal lifestyle that will help you succeed in controlling your blood sugar.

I am 47 right now as I write this and for me, the journey has meant some self discovery and a little bit of adaptation to the fact that I have this disease and have to cope with it. There’s lots of help out there for you if you decide to do the smart thing and chart your own course instead of letting the disease chart it for you. Technology has brought treatment a long way and there’s lots of options now for the newly diagnosed. Feel free to comment and ask questions as you like as the information that comes from the sharing will help someone else who may need it.

Elridge Jones, editor