@rosemarya, I bought the Mayo Clinic books when I was diagnosed, signed up for the daily commentary and the newsletter, so I get everything Mayo has available. I understand terms and food and portions and the point of what Mayo is all about, but that didn't help me come up with meals that are edible for me and my husband. We were born and raised in the deep South, so a near vegetarian diet is not satisfying to him. I am not a cook. When I was diagnosed, the endo told me (and I read) to prepare all of my food and not eat out. I didn't even know where to start and still don't. Trying to cook just frustrates me. So all the Mayo info in the world is not going to help me satisfy diabetes and is also what my husband wants to eat. At 73 years old, it's a little late to become a chef. Cooking a regular meal is not in my wheelhouse. Food has become a big conflict, and we've been married over fifty years. Every day is food misery.
I appreciate your response. Thanks for the link. I have all of that info and have read it.
retired teacher

@retiredteacher, I know that my husband would love to come by your house for dinner! His mom was a wonderful southern cook; she made the best fried chicken and pies and cakes.
Cooking two meals is hard. I have learned to fill half of my plate with a 'healthy' item, and then I can have a small taste of what my husband is eating. That way I don't feel as if I'm depriving myself. It also helps that we both are agreeable to leftovers, and that eases the load. He does not like to cook at all.
Please don't give up trying to control your blood sugars. I only had a brief stint of prednisone induced diabetes immediately after my organ transplant. And I remember how crazy the numbers were if I forgot, and ate a piece of candy. And from hearing from others with diabetes, it is a very personal thing to control. Maybe a month is not enough time to get control of your eating habits.
How long until you have a medical check-up to follow up or monitor your condition?.
Rosemary

He wouldn't want to come to my house. The main problem is that I am not a cook, so if he came to my house, he'd get nothing but maybe a piece of oven chicken breast or bland broccoli and squash. I can't cook one good meal much less two.
My fasting blood is this Wednesday and then the following Monday I see the endo. I go when I'm supposed to but there are few suggestions except he wants to throw pills at the problem, and I am not a pill taker.
retiredteacher

@retiredteacher , Dear sister retired teacher, here is a recipe secret; Mrs Dash Seasoning sprinkled on that chicken will perk it up. Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, or lemon juice on those veggies! And I have become a lover of cinnamon, too.
Good luck on Wed and Monday.
You sound like so many of my teacher friends about the medicine hesitancy. Let's face it, these doctors have MD after their name for a reason. I like to think that they have done considerable studying about diseases and possible treatments. When our own body does not respond to our own efforts, medicines (prescribed and monitored) can be life changing. One idea is to try them for a period of time (he can give you a suggested period to see if they are working) What do you have to lose?
Hugs,
Rosemary

It may be true that having MD makes them more knowledgeable than their patients, but I am not convinced when they can't answer questions I have researched. I understand from teaching what beating around the bush means. Before I take anything, I research it and talk to my pharmacist; they know more than the doctors.
The last medicine the endo gave me was for blood pressure. Almost immediately my hair started falling out and I slept almost all day. My hair stylist told me something was wrong. I researched the medicine on more sites and found hair loss and extreme fatigue as side effects. I sent the endo an email that I quit taking the med and why. My stylist says the hair will not grow back, so things just get worse.
I've read on this site testimony from people who became very ill from metformin. That was the first thing this endo wanted to do---give me metformin. I said I would not take it, and he admitted it did make people sick.
I am not going to take something just because a dr. says to. They don't know all the side effects. That's just the way it is.
By the way I have a cabinet filled with just about every Mrs. Dash. It's better than nothing but it isn't the real thing.
retired teacher

@retiredteacher, I am glad that you have a good pharmacist who knows you that you can talk to directly about your concerns.
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Rosemary

@retiredteacher A good way to make veggies more tasty (and tolerable) are to roast them. I like to use this method because it is easy to do and requires little effort but tastes much better than bland broccoli or squash. This is what I do: I take some veggies that I have in the refrigerator and (I soften the really tough ones in a microwave for a minute of two), add carrots, sweet onion, perhaps a little garlic juice and and place it all in aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil (you can also add some Mrs. Dash to the mix). Sometimes I even add a small, new potato (or part of a sweet potato) cut into small pieces. Then roast in the oven for 20 minutes or so at 400 degrees until the veggies are tender. It really turns out nicely and the effort is minimal. You can use whatever assortment of veggies that you have on hand. Teresa

Thanks, Teresa. I have done this but on a sheet tray. It is Memorial Day and no normal food: no hamburgers, no hot dogs, no potato salad, no corn on the cobb, no pasta salad, no dips or French fries, no peach cobbler or brownies or anything. We'll have the usual bland chicken and microwaved broccoli and squash. Not a celebration. I resent not being able to eat what I want, especially on a holiday. Every day is like every other one and nothing is different. It's just another miserable day.
When a person has diabetes, they are left out of fun and socializing because people don't want to associate with those who have all these limitations. Being a recluse has become my life and I don't like it.
retiredteacher

@hopeful33250 - Thank you Teresa! I absolutely love veggies, even though hubby doesn't! This sounds like a must have for me:-)
Rosemary

@rosemarya Yes, you will like it. Some of my favs are asparagus, carrots, sweet onion, Brussel sprouts. The nice thing is that you can make a little package for just one serving. Teresa