Diabetic w/ breast cancer ?

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009

    Maybe if I stopped using this rationale

    exercise/food cartoon

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  • jai1950
    jai1950 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2009

    I like your rationale.  Maybe not the most healthy but I still like it.  Judy

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  • mbsoxr
    mbsoxr Member Posts: 53
    edited June 2009

    Been there, done that, Kathleen - LOVE it!  And, even though I have been very compliant for several years, I still think like that!  And... the old "diet soda balances out the calories & fat in the chips" routine!

    I believe most of you are younger than I am - 70 Sept 29th, but get hold of the diabetes before it has you by the throat!  I am legally blind (use a 20" iMac with hotkeys for magnification), have 2 coronary stents, a narrowed carotid,& have had a toe amputated.  I want to see my grandchildren graduate from college, but have the nagging feeling that may not happen - try to avoid the "if only I hads", but I do go on and enjoy those little ones whenever I can - this b.c. does not help, but again, it is early, and I will beat it. again.  I can't reverse what diabetes has done, but I can stay as healthy as I can by doing what I can now, and I can ENCOURAGE others in the same state of denial that I embraced for so long to THINK about the future they envision...  We CAN do this, and lets keep encouraging one another, okay?  Breast cancer won't get us, and Diabetes won't either!

    Hugs, Mary 

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  • jai1950
    jai1950 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2009

    Hi Mary, boy it sounds like you have been through a lot.  I like your positive attitude.  I am fairly new to both the diabetes and the breast cancer.  I've got a lot to learn.  The advice I find on this site has been wonderful.  I need to thank all of you.  How old are your grandchildren?  I have 5 ranging in age from 4 to 20.  My thoughts and prayers will be with you for you to enjoy any time you have with them.  70 isn't old, it's just a number.  How do you feel?  

    Hugs, Judy

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009

    Mary = Judy is right - 70 isn't old. 

    I,too, have suffered the effects of being non-compliant which is why I am trying really hard to take my diabetes seriously.

    We will beat both diseases!

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited June 2009

    I am Queen of De Nial when it comes to diabetes...I am  type 2 and just can't seem to give up  my pepsi colas......My grandmother couldn't give up her RC colas and moon pies.......I have already had surgery on both eyes due to Macular degeneration and broken blood vessels so I know I really have to try harder to control my blood sugar levels.....Do any of you have a sugestion as to how to lower my levels if they go too high?.....I know how to raise them if they go too low but have no idea how to lower them when too high.........I really appreciate your help on this.....

    Kathleen how is your shoulder?......Hope it is feeling better today......Call me when you get a chance........

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009

    LUCY:  Hi girlfriend!  Here is my take on what the diabetes specialist said.

    Half of your plate should be vegetables.  One quarter of your plate should be carbs.  The other quarter of your plate should be protein.  The total number of carbs you should have for meals is 45-60 per meal and 15 for snacks.  You should have skim mils or low fat yogurt 2-3 day.  No fruit juice unless yout blood sugar falls supported by a bood sugar reading - don't just assume.

    Vegetables without sugar are pretty much 'free' in that you can pig out on them.  There are some vegetables that fall into the carb group - peas, corn, winter squash.  Other carbs include oatmeal, beans (except green beans), breads, pasta,rice, potatos and cereal.

    Protein includes meat, cheese, eggs, nuts, seafood, peanut butter, amd low fat cottage cheese.

    Eat meals at same time - do not skip meals!

    For snacks, only 15 carbs which include 1 yellow area (carb_ and protein - for example cheese (protein) and crackers (carb).

    SORRY - NO REGULAR SODAS!

    LUCY:  I don't know how to lower blood sugar except to either stay on this food plan or increase your meds which you SHOULD NOT do without seeing your doctor!

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  • jai1950
    jai1950 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2009

    Kathleen I agree with you on the meal planning.  I just wish I could be that compliant.  I do like my carbs.  Too much I know but they are so good.  Veggies are good too just not as good.  If I could learn to cut down on my carbs my blood sugars would be a lot better I know.

    I hope your shoulder is healing and the pain is getting better.

    Judy

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009

    Judy:  Good morning ... carbs are definitely my downfall.  The thing that keeps me on the straight and narrow is that with my shoulder it is too much trouble to eat.  As my shoulder heals I will have to rely more and more on wll power.  uh oh

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  • jai1950
    jai1950 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2009

    Will power has always been a weak area for me.  I do good for a few days and then I'm right back to the carbs.  I can leave the sweets alone (except for ice cream, my big weakness) I just wish I didn't like to eat so much.  Kathleen I hope your shoulder heals well and fast.  By the way I love your dog in your picture.  I have a ShihTzu that is spoiled rotten and getting fat just like me.

    Judy

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009

    Unfortunately their vet (have her and her sister) said they were oberweight and needed to lose some of it.  Rats!

    I do not eat to live - I live to eat! 

    Power to the eaters of the world.

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  • mbsoxr
    mbsoxr Member Posts: 53
    edited June 2009

    Hi, all!  Looks like our board has been busy - love it!  We have a great support system amongst us few for both of our major issues!

     Judy - I have 7 grandchildren - 2 are 5, 1 is 7. 1 is 8 (going on 16). 1 is 10, 1 is 13. and the oldest 15...  the 8 & 10 year olds live very close, and a 5 & the 15 only a few hours away.  Another 5 & the 7 year old are in CA, and the 13 in PA. (I am in Richmond, VA) Those 3 we see several times a year, but it's never enough!  They grow so fast!  But we make those visits count!  And you are so right - 70 is just a # - I really do feel good, and exercise helps - I am devoted to deep water aerobics at the Y - getting in as much as I can before the lumpectomy next Wednesday - will have to miss a few classes till I heal.  Don't know what I'd do without those classes!  I, too, have trouble with portion size, so am constantly looking at the size of my palm for protein & carb portions - I go way overboard with salad greens, which does fill me up - MOSTLY! LOL

    Kathleen - I think we are already on top of both of these pesky diseases - just being able to talk openly about both is healing & positive!  Now, do take care of you and that shoulder - I feel so bad for you, and am sending tons of hugs & prayers for that to get well quickly!

    hollyann - I think most of us are sister Queens of D'Nile - it takes strength to face up to the diabetes & admit we have a real disease!  As to what to do when the sugar goes too high, the only thing I know to do is to take a good brisk walk - the old WW kind with arms moving, pumping, really.  A 30 minute brisk walk will lower your sugar significantly!  If it's too late to be outside, walk in the house or at the mall (not shopping this time - LOL)

    Each of us should copy Kathleen's suggestions on food quantities, adding that the plate size should really be that of a luncheon plate rather than a dinner plate - some of us have rather large dinner plates - or, eat a little more like the French do - a lovely soread, but lots of room around the edges... And her carb #s are really good - hard to keep to, but a good # to shoot for!

     As most of you said, will power is a big problem for me, too. I have found, though, that allowing myself  a piece of dark chocolate (I forced myself to like it - I preferred white or light choco, but now prefer the dark) or a serving of Carb Smart ice cream - (usually more than the 1/2 cup) often w/dark choco broken into it), but I do account for it in my daily carbs - usually by having a very low carb lunch - salad with walnuts in it & V-8 for dressing - have the ice cream in mid afternoon and  I am in heaven! 

     See you all back here soon!  Hopefully all feeling better, & better able to cope!  Get better soon, Kathleen! 

    Hugs & prayers to all of you!

    Mary 

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009

    Mary ... one of the tricks I use when the cravings take over is ask myself how eating will solve my problems ... will I be better off eating or trying something else.  It isn't always 100% perfect but it works most of the time.

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  • jai1950
    jai1950 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2009

    Mary---I will have to try the carb smart ice cream.  That is my biggest weakness so maybe I can have my ice cream and still be good.  I like your idea of using V-8 for salad dressing.  I never would have thought of that.

    Kathleen --- that is a good thing to think about.  I use food as comfort too often.

    Judy

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  • mbsoxr
    mbsoxr Member Posts: 53
    edited June 2009

    Kathleen - what a great idea!  Kind of like a bit of meditation to get thru the cravings...  thinking about whether the food will actually comfort give the desired comfort...  Gonna try it...  Thanks!  Hope your shoulder is healing nicely, too...  That has had to raise your stress level immeasurably...  Bless you!

    Hugs, Mary 

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009


    Mary ... I'm glad it might help.  Food never solves any problem and it usually works for me ... I usually encourge myself by saying go ahead and eat but first tell me EXACTLY HOW OVER EATING SOLVES THE PROBLEM.

    Shoulder pain is trying to kill me!

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  • mbsoxr
    mbsoxr Member Posts: 53
    edited June 2009

    Kathleen - I am so sorry your should pain is so bad!  Keep your chin up, hon!  We're all pulling for you!  Wink

    Hugs, Mary 

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  • jai1950
    jai1950 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2009

    Kathleen.....I hope each day is finding your shoulder pain a little bit better.  My prayers are with you.    Judy

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009

    MARY AND JUDY - thanks so much for your continuing support.  I am seeing the doctor today about the foot wound from hell that will not heal.

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  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited June 2009

    I am posting this message in several threads.  Because of the open wound on my foot, I am being re-admitted to the hospital this afternoon for several days and then 2-3 weeks in rehab.  I will miss you guys but will post again when home.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2009

    Kathleen, I hope that you get a quick and thorough recovery for both your foot and shoulder!

    I sent you a PM.

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  • mbsoxr
    mbsoxr Member Posts: 53
    edited June 2009

    Oh, Kathleen - I am soooo sorry about your foot wound!  That must be very painful, and with your shoulder, I feel so sad for you...  Frown

     Please know that my thoughts and prayers go with you, and we'll all hear from you soon with good news!

    Hugs, Mary 

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  • jai1950
    jai1950 Member Posts: 38
    edited June 2009

    Kathleen.....you probably won't read this until you are back home but I wanted to say that my prayers are with you.  I wish you a speedy recovery.  Judy

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  • lemonjello
    lemonjello Member Posts: 75
    edited July 2009

    Tomorrow i begin my last round of taxotere/cytoxan chemo.  It has been rough for about a week after the infusion and then the last two weeks are normal before the next infusion.  My blood sugars with 125 units of insulin, yes i said 125, both Lantus and Novolog, did nothing to control the  highs.  My bs are an average of 225 per day.  I am alive and can function.  I shudder to think of the damage that has been done with this diabetic SE on my organs plus the chemo.  However, there were some normal bs and some feeling of security that the cancer cells were getting killed. Now I begin radiation in August.  At 65, i am grateful that i made it thru so far without major problems.  I am still mad at my breast surgeon for talking me into a lumpectomy.  I feel that two floppy boobs, large ones with plenty of space of for recurrence, should have left the building. 

    I also understand the Arrimadex will play havoc with the bs as well.  I begin that after the radiation.  Looking back on this, my advice is to not get breast cancer during the Christmas season.  It delayed my treatment, my surgeries, my chemo, my radiation, with all the docs being on holiday. 

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  • jai1950
    jai1950 Member Posts: 38
    edited July 2009

    Hi lemonjello...sounds like you have been through a lot too.  That is a lot of insulin you are on.  Still not getting the results you want and need must be frustrating.  I had a mastectomy and I wish I had gotten both of them taken off.  I am large breasted.  My surgeon offered to do the lumpectomy but I chose the mastectomy instead.  That way I didn't need to do radiation.  So sorry to hear about the long wait you had before treatment.  Nothing like prolonging the agony of worry and fear.  My prayers are with you.  Judy

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  • mbsoxr
    mbsoxr Member Posts: 53
    edited July 2009

    Good morning, sweet sisters!  

    lemonjello, you have really had a rough time, and my heart goes out to you!  I hope your rads go well, and now that your chemo is almost finished, I trust that you will be able to get your blood sugars back into better control!  It IS very frustrating when you keep trying to get control and everything you MUST take works against it!  Hang in there, and just maybe you will have to increase the insulin - I know you take a lot, and it is expensive, but you really need to do whatever you can to keep that sugar down!  I love your advice about not getting BC during Christmas, but I would go one step further and advise not to get it at all!!  LOL

    Kathleen:  I hope we hear very soon that you are back home and your foot infection has cleared up!  We want you back with this 'SWEET' group of sisters!  You have paid your dues, believe me!

    On June 24 I had the lumpectomy, with a little extra 'fancy work' from my breast surgeon to (hopefully) make the area where my tumor was close to the skin "fluffier" so that I can have the MammoSite rads - the balloon will be put in on July15, and then the CT scan and the computers will check the measurements...  fingers crossed that it will work!  5 days 2x a day is so much more palatable than the 37 days I did in 2003!  

    Keep posting!  Hugs, Mary 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2009

    HollyAnn was able to get Kathleen's address at the rehab center, and posted it in the support group reject and housework threads if anyone wants to send her a card to let her know we are still thinking of her while she is offline.

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  • lemonjello
    lemonjello Member Posts: 75
    edited July 2009

    My last infusion was smooth going but the recovery with those steroids and high blood sugars were not.  I actually went as high as 430!  Can you imagine?  I was too weak and sick to call the doctor or go to the ER, so i just injected every four hours and drank water.  Four days later i feel half human.  I am so glad this is over.  The nurses asked what i would be doing to celebrate.  I had no answer.  Can you really celebrate in this condition?  I feel very weak. I think i will wait to celebrate.  Maybe a spa day downtown.  Maybe a casino weekend.  I don't know.  Maybe celebrating is too premature until all my scans are in and negative.  I really have chemo brain now and weak extremities so i will sign off.  My blood sugar this morning was 113.  So that is over.

    Normalcy...where are you?

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  • mbsoxr
    mbsoxr Member Posts: 53
    edited July 2009

    Lemonjello, I am relieved for you!  And I am happy to see that morning sugar at 113!  With luck, you are pn your way back!  A spa day sounds good, but I am with you about waiting till it is ALL over - scans, rads, and all - but do it while you're on the Arimadex, though!  You deserve to treat yourself ROYALLY!  Keep us posted, sweet sister!

    Hugs, Mary 

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited July 2009

    lemonjello, so glad you are doing better....And congrats on finishing treatment!.........Good to see your blood sugar is down......Mine went to 275 yesterday...Not drinking enough water and not eating right does it to me........I agree with mbsoxr.........Treat yourself ROYALLY!.........And bring a friend to make it even more special.......

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