Well, I don't have diabetes (yay), but

[Pithlet]

my triglycerides were high. Everything else, including cholesterol levels were fine. I have to lower them especially because I have some heart issues that don't need the added stress of another heart disease risk. The way to lower triglycerides is....

eliminate sugar from the diet.

So, essentially, my diet will have to change almost as if I were a diabetic anyway, damn it. If I follow this strict diet, my levels should go back to normal in about three weeks. Then, and only if they're normal, I can have up to one sweet a week. Yes. ONE. Sweet A Week. For the rest of my life. No alcohol either, but that isn't an issue with me. I rarely ever drink anyway.

Man, is this ever going to suck. I don't eat a lot of sweets anyway, but I don't like them being cut out completely or severely restricted. I'm very happy about having normal blood sugar. I don't have to test, and the diet itself isn't quite as restrictive. But, it still sucks.

[tandot]

1. Can you use Splenda instead?

It doesn't taste as bad as the other sweeteners. You also can bake and cook with it.

[Pithlet]

9. I tried Splenda

when I was pregnant and had gestational diabetes. I got a huge headache each time. I don't know how much of that was pregnancy though. I also had a string of other pregnancy induced health problems at the time. It's too bad, because the taste really is similar to sugar.

[tandot]

12. Maybe talk to your doctor about it or do some research on the internet

I've never had any side effects from Splenda.

I don't have diabetes but heart disease runs in my family. I try to get used to some whole wheat stuff. I actually love low-carb whole wheat tortillas (0 grams of sugar and 8 grams of fiber) for wraps instead of white bread. Many ready to eat products have lots of sugar added, too. And some products with the label "wheat" sometimes are not actually whole wheat. I've gotten used to reading nutrition labels and the list of ingredients of all the products I want to buy.

I wish you all the best for your health. With a little research you'll be able to live a healthy and long life.


And thanks for the compliment on my avatar. My Leo is a chihuahua mix with 1/4 pug in him. He is a little over 8 pound "heavy" and a bit bigger than the usual chihuahua. I love chihuahuas!

[Pithlet]

13. I love pugs too.

A pug chihuahua mix. That I would love to see. What do you call that? ChiPughua? A Pugihuahua? That has to be the cutest dog ever. I take it that is Leo in your sig?

[tandot]

14. Chihuhua/Pug mix = chug

I've heard that from a friend of mine. He called him a chug.

[Pithlet]

15. Chug!

That's right, I had heard that. My mom saw one at the vets once. That is so cute.

[Pithlet]

11. And, I love your avatar!

Chihuahuas are cool. I don't care what anyone else says.

[sangh0]

2. Actually, if you were diabetic, you'd also have to reduce carbs

and diabetes is not only another heart disease risk, it also puts you at risk for all sorts of terrible conditions like blindness, nerve damage, and more.

I understand your being upset, but dude (or dudette) you just dodged a huge bullet. My brother came down with diabetes a few years ago and he's in the ICE CREAM business!!

Still, you have my sympathies

on edit: how about natural sugars, like in fruit?

[Pithlet]

5. Oh, I know

Believe me, I am relieved. Big bullet dodged.

I'm just not looking forward to "Pithlet, it's time! Here's your sweet allotment. Enjoy your M&M."

The doc said complex sugars, and I don't think fruit falls in that category, but I'm going to check. I don't have to worry about glucose levels from day to day so much the way a diabetic does. This diet isn't nearly as bad as being on a diabetic one.

[sangh0]

16. I don't think fruits are complex sugars,

but I could be wrong, so check with your doctor. Good luck with the new diet.

[Pithlet]

18. Oops, I meant simple sugars

I think I can have complex ones. The ones that often have issues :shrug: I definitely need to work this out with a doctor or nutritionist.

[revree]

3. My sis thought she had diabetes, tests showed super high

triglycerides, cholestrol and extremely low potassium levels. I also have very high triglycerides but my moron doctor said to eat low-fat which I've been doing all my life.

Yes, cutting sugar and white flour is the way to go, according to the latest research. Try something like South Beach Diet, which I will do, because it is not so strict you will feel crazy, but the lowering of white sugars and flours has supposedly made a lot of dieters who follow this diet drop their triglyceride levels tremendously.

I also heard this is true of an Atkins diet, but it is so strict for the first few weeks...

I also was told and read many places that STRESS IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF SUPER HIGH TRIGLYCERIDES, so take care of yourself. I wish you the best!

[Pithlet]

10. I've been under a lot of stress lately.

The election, for one, was bad enough, but I have a few other extended family related issues going on that are stressing me out. And then there is taking care of two children under the age of 4 every single day. :)

[Dora]

4. Stevia is a natural sweetener

And it doesn't work like sugar does. It's non-caloric, and it has a gazillion times the sweetening power of table sugar. You can buy it in liquid, powder, or ground/herbal form.

Stevia is a plant - you will not be poisoning yourself with a chemical sugar substitute if you use stevia.

Please please please don't poison yourself by using aspartame or any of the other chemical alternatives.

It's available at health-food stores and some groceries. It's an amazing product. I just discovered it, that's why I sound so zealous about it.

[Pithlet]

7. They tend to give me headaches anyway.

So I stay away from them in general. I will look into Stevia, and also ask my doctor about it. I'm going to check into seeing a dietician as well. Thanks!

[mccormack98]

6. Did you eat chocolate cake right before your test like I did?

Shot my triglycerides through the roof. A subsequent test taken after a fast put them in the normal range.

[Pithlet]

8. No, this was after fasting.

It was my blood sugar levels non-fasting that got me all the bloodwork. They were high normal, but I tend to eat a high carb breakfast, which was probably the culprit. I didn't even think about the other stuff being bad.

[miss_kitty]

17. When you get you one sweet a week

get something expensive. Something worth 7 days of not gettin' any.

[Pithlet]

19. I like how you think.

:thumbsup: