irishayes

Again thank you all so much for the support it is really nice to chat with people who are going through the same thing.

 

My Dietician has me testing twice a day on a rotating basis.. Mornings one day, lunch the next, dinner and than back around to breakfast. On my own as I introduce new foods I check just to see if something sets me off. Most of my readings have been less than 110 before meals and two hrs. later none have been higher than 144.

 

I have dawn phenomonen (sp) so I learned to eat a bit of protien at night and it seems to have been working. It was explained to me that because I go so long between dinner and breakfast my body is making more sugar. I guess the protien helps to keep that down.

 

Again I've been lucky and have not had to go on any meds. That is my goal,, to stay off them as long as I can.

 

Cruise will be great, and so will the food. :D

See, I guess this is what irritates me about dieticians.

Testing once per day gives you absolutely NO indication of if whether what you are eating is affecting your blood sugar. In order to find this out, you should be testing before you eat so you know what you are starting at, and then one hour after eating, and then again 2 hours after eating. Sometimes your BG levels can continue to rise even after the 2 hour mark (pasta does that to me).

When I was first diagnosed, I tested around 10x per day. Now I know what will spike me and don't test nearly as much. Only if I decide to try a food to see how it will affect me (like pasta!) do I test before, and then one hour and two hours after.

Just out of curiosity what do you all consider high carbs? I was told no mor than 40 at a meal and when I do a snack 15 at the most. I'm usually under that for most meals.

I've only lost 8 lbs and that is real depressing to me since its been a bit over three weeks. I dropped five right away which I understand is the norm. I'm excersizing religiously everyday and my calories have been pretty much cut down.

Maybe I'm just a nut.

My testing numbes have been great.. All well under what I've been asked to do. I am not on any medication right now and hope I can continue to keep this path so I don't have to go on anything.

 

We don't cruise until June so I'm hoping to drop some more weight.

 

One other question to Bruce legs... I'm sure you were still aware when you cruised did you notice that when you got back your numbers were still in check?

Saleaway,

I guess I can't answer whether 40 gms of carbs per meal is low carb, because it's so individual. Are you testing at one hour and then at 2 hours after you eat? What is your personal goal for those time periods? If you find yourself within your goal numbers, then I would say 40 gms of carbs per meal is low carb enough. If you find yourself spiking at the one- and two-hour testing times, then you might have to go even lower-carb.

For myself, I know I am unable to have ANY carbs for breakfast, or I will spike. Lunch and dinner, I could handle 40 grams of carbs, because my meds have started working to their fullest, but breakfast--no way.

Sounds like the diet they have laid out for you is 135 grams of carbs per day. That's equivalent to about 9 servings of carbs per day. While it is certainly lower carb than most people eat, I know a lot of people (myself included) who go lower carb than that, even.

But you have to eat to your meter. What is your meter telling you? Only you can determine if that is low carb enough.

And BTW, I think an 8 lb weight loss in three weeks is awesome! i wouldn't be upset about that!!

Elaine, I fully relate and empathize with you. I was diagnosed last year and it did alarm me at first. However, what saved my life, literally, was a Diabetes Education course at my local hospital. My doctor set it up. I'm hoping you have one in your area, but I absolutely urge you to go. It will help you make informed choices.

 

So many people think it's about "the sugar". It's actually about the carbohydrates. You will learn how to count them, how many to have at each meal, which carbs are "better" than others, what foods to eat with carbs to slow their absorption into your system, and which foods are high, medium, and low on the Glycemic Index scale. It may sound daunting now but trust me, soon you will be able to figure it out in your head and you will find something to eat at every meal.

 

I thought going on a cruise would be difficult for me because of all the choices but in the ened, that's what saved me - there is a lot of choice. You will find foods that are delicious, nutritious, and carb-friendly. But... you have to get educated first. Make sense?

 

Please start making calls today and set this counselling up. It is imperative. There is a lot of information out there and not all of it is, well, helpful or correct! Like I said, it saved me. Since I was diagnosed last year I have lost 50 pounds, my blood pressure is way down, my blood sugar level is that of a non-diabetic, and I feel much better. It all seemed like a nightmare at first but in the end, this diagnosis saved my life.

 

God bless.

1000 percent agree with Langley Cruisers. It's all about the CARBS.

I've been diabetic for 2 years now, and I have learned so much. The ADA diet is very HIGH CARB, IMO, and if I followed that, I would be suffering with multiple medical issues as a result of high BG levels.

It's all about eating proteins and fats and only eating carbs which are complex and hit the BG levels slowly (stay away from white carbs--bread, potatoes, rice).

The good thing about eating this way is you will not be hungry!

But do go to a dietician and get educated on low carbing!

Thanks for all the replies!

If we stick with Select Dining and then after the first night decide we want to switch to the traditional, are we able to do that?

Select Dining is Celebrity's "any time dining". You do not have a set table at a set time. You show up at the designated entrance for Select Dining and you are seated. Sometimes you may have to wait a few minutes. Many posters have indicated that if you speak with the maitre d' in advance perhaps you can be seated with other people or at a table (and with a waiter) you had before. Gratuities must be pre-paid if you have Select Dining. If you have Traditional Dining, you have a set table at a set time with the same waitstaff at either the early or late seating. If you have early seating, you cannot just appear at 7:15. The smooth service of the meal depends on everyone being seated a few minutes after the time stated. Yes, the dining room must be cleared, cleaned and reset before the late diners arrive.

OK, well maybe we will just stick with Select Dining then.

Can you ask to be seated at a table with others in the Select Dining Room? Or would we be required to sit at a table for 2?

We are first-time cruisers and I have a question about the two different dining choices.

I've been reading reviews of the Select Dining that makes me think maybe I made a mistake choosing this.

But, is it true we would need to choose early or late seating, and we wouldn't be able to choose a time to dine with traditional? If we were to choose early seating, but not show up until say, 7:15, do they then want you to be out of the dining room before the late seating people arrive?

Just not quite sure how this works . .