Well folks, Tuesday was just a red letter day all around.
Yes, that’s sarcasm :)
First, I fell in the drive trying to get to the car - twice. It was sheer ice and the landlord had neither salted nor sanded. All the joints on my right side are singing Ave Maria and it will be ibuprophen with the tea tonight. No real damage except to my pride.
Then, at my regular check up I was informed that I have diabetes. Type 2, of course, and we caught it early so with some diligence, I ought to be able to get on top of it with diet and exercise. Well, I’d been planning on that anyway, but this will step things up quite a bit. This isn’t leisurely dieting and serene walks on the weekends. This is pretty stringent dieting - lifestyle stuff - and a regular regimen which will probably include a stationary bike, walking and some yoga.
What’s really bumming me out is that I’m probably going to have to give up on the FLAK. If it were a regular pattern, I might go for it by picking a size or two smaller. However, to insure as perfect a fit as possible, this is made to your measurements. And the problem is that by the time I finish the thing - it won’t fit…
Well, okay :) I guess I’ll find another somewhat complicated and sizeable project to which to apply my newly resolved determination to finish what I start.
There was a nice bit though :)
Cameron Scarf
I finally finished the scarf for the nice lady at the hospital that liaises with the insurance companies and sends them all the records whenever they ask. The yarn is Knitpicks’ Wool of the Andes and it was very nice to work with, an absolutely gorgeous color and really popped the cables nicely. She seemed very pleased and came out and gave me a great big hug and I thanked her from the bottom of the my heart. Liaising with the insurance companies? The woman should get a medal!
We’re off today up to Maine where I hope to gain a bit of perspective as well as a haircut :)
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Believe it or not, Robbyn, I’m actually going to say congratulations on the Diabetes diagnoses. Catching it early is so important.
I know whereof I speak - I was diagnosed just over a year ago, a week before Christmas 2004. Mine was caught early, also. Just three months prior to the diagnosis I’d had a test that showed negative.
I was put on a couple of oral meds, given a glucose meter, and I made several dietary changes right away that led to an immediate 10% drop in my weight. I’ve plateaued there since, but my glucose numbers remain good and my dietary changes have stuck through an entire year and another holiday season.
Hugs to you, and know that I’m available for any questions you may have, or even if you just want to vent about it. You can do this, I know you can!
Oh man. I also deal w/insurance all day and I can verify that woman is a saint. (FYI, I’m not nearly as pleasant as she sounds to be. haha) I’m glad she’s there for you and you appreciate her. I don’t know who the hell William James is, but here’s a quote from him, “The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”
Folkcat - Thanks so much for your thoughts and encouragement. I know I’m lucky and I intend to do whatever it takes to make things better - or at least as “better” as I can make them :)
Laura - You do? You poor girl! I salute you; I could never manasge it. I’m a decent enough human being, but I am so not a people person! I can’t imagine how you folks do it. Take a medal for yourself, kiddo :)
:::big cyber hug::: The best thing is that you’ve caught it early and you WILL be able to control it through diet & exercise. The Universe has given you a not-so-gentle push and you’ll be all the better for it. Honest…eventually…when you get over the shock of the diagnosis and the big changes in store. Feel free to bitch, kvetch & generally whine all you want to - we’ll be here to listen to that too. :)
You’re one up on me with the FLAK - I never even attempted to start. :::wink:::
We are a Type II “household” as well. If you need any good low-fat, low-carb recipes that actually taste fantastic, let me know; we’ve got a few.
I’m glad the diabetes was caught so quickly, and also glad to see that you are keeping an upbeat attitude - not at all easy, I know!
But ... when it gets hard, you can blog that too. We’re not just here for the good times.
like ryan, i have a whole lot of ‘diabetic friendly’ recipes i’ll be happy to share- mr. hufflepuff has been a borderline diabetic for years, and i’ve tried to cook his troubles away-
i’m sure the news was unpleasant to hear, but we’re all happy you’ve found out early and can make the essential changes-
you have spoken of wanting to complete a large project- how about thinking about this lifestyle change as your project in process- at the end you will have a new and healthier robbyn!
stay happy-
Type II diabetic knitters unite! Gather round Robbyn and tell her this is okay, easy to deal with, and very manageable if it’s caught early, as hers was.
Truly Robbyn, I have lived with it for two years, and it’s a question of modifying your food intake, not of giving stuff up. A single tast of things is sometimes enough. I have never had a sweet tooth; for me the hardest thing to moderate has been pasta in cream sauce and wine. Well, really, is that SOOO bad?
Others may have lost weight; I have not. I would stay with FLAK, but then, I like my Aran sweaters on the loose side, to wear a shirt under them. Do consider continuing with the project.
All the best wishes! Great recipes at the Canadian Diabetes Assoc; just remember that we cook metric up here in the Great White North.
amaryllis
Bron - Interesting your putting it that way because I was thiknking along those lines too. Okay, clearly the Universe doesn’t want me to make this sweater (or is maybe warning me that I won’t be happy with it if I do). So what does it want me to do? Heheh… I don’t really expect an answer - not a direct one anyways :)
Ryan - Thank you :) I was thinking of TMK yesterday. I may take you up on that!
Barb - that’s not a bad idea because it is a big project and will require work. I’ve been tempering my disappointment today by telling myself that I’ll be able to do this project in the future.
Now I’m thinking about Lady Eleanor maybe or a big lacy shawl. Or maybe that wool blanket I’ve been pondering…
Colleen - Thanks :) I’m not going anywhere and I really don’t plan on whining much about it past today. I get tired of listening to myself!
Dang! Well, when you do get to the FLAK it’ll all be posted and you’ll use less yarn. Looking on the bright side.
Here’s hoping the universe is through batting you about.
HUGS!!
Amaryllis - Thanks - I know I can do this :) As for the metric measurements, I can manage that. I will go and check the recipes because I’m going to need a whole new bag of tricks :)
Aarlene - Now that’s a thought to conjure with! Less exspensive because less yarn needed! Yee-hah!
First of all…I hope you are okay from your fall the other day. I know the next day is when you feel it. You have a great attitude about your diagnosis. I am sure you will grab the bull by the horn (so to speak :) ). I am loving all those cable swatches .
Maureen - The shoulder didn’t announce itself until Wednesday and while it’s nothing serious, it’s…ummm…a pain :)
Glad you like the cables!
Sorry to hear about the type II diagnosis, and the soreness from falling - ouch. I know you will learn to manage it well. I love the Cameron Scarf.
Thanks Bliss :)
“However, to insure as perfect a fit as possible, this is made to your measurements. And the problem is that by the time I finish the thing - it won’t fit…”
You make it sound like a bad thing. (lol)
In spite of the reason for the journey down the habit changing road (which I’ll admit is pretty sucky), there can be a LOT of positive outcomes from the changes made to combat early type 2 diabetes.
You seem like a positive person, I’m sure you’ll succeed at combatting this.
Anyhow, the real reason for this comment - do you like the bear claw blanket from Winter 04 (?) Interweave Knits, I love the idea of a different kind of patchwork, and it’s a fun and portable knit. A bit on the slow side though.
Ailsa - I’m not familiar with the pattern you mentioned but I’ll keep my eye out for it. At least one of the yarn shops in my area has a plentiful “backlist” of magazines.
Thanks for the kind thoughts; I’m not downhearted :)
