Today I met with my endocrinologist. My average blood sugar
levels are not where she would like them. They show definite strain. I had met
with a dietician a few months ago to help lower my sugar levels with diet. Three
weeks into my new diet, I started violently vomiting and pulled muscles in my ribcage
area. I thought I was having a phantom pancreatic attack. After oral pain
medicine did not help, I went to the ER. I was given IV nausea and pain
medicine and felt better for a few hours. The very next day the pain was back
with vengeance. I went to MUSC and was told I needed to switch medicine for my
acid reflux and may have an ulcer. After a 12 hour fast, an endoscopy
determined I still had food sitting in my stomach. My gastroparesis (delayed
stomach emptying) had flared up. Unfortunately, the diabetic diet and gastroparesis
diet have very little overlap.
The holidays seem extra hard as I love Christmas cookies,
bread, stuffing, potatoes, and generally all foods that are all terrible for a
diabetic. How do I enjoy the holidays and not kill my islet cells? I’ve decided
to drink lots of water and eat cheese (protein) before going to any Christmas
event. If I have an empty stomach, it is much harder to have self-control.
I want to keep my islet cells happy as long as
possible, especially because I can’t grow any new ones. However, the solution
now is for me to give myself an injection of insulin every night. I really
dislike needles.
