Sunday, March 19, 2017

The Chronicles of Larry & Roger: A Pair of Diabetic Feet



The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
March Issue 113
Article Provided By:Vicki Myhre, Jenericay Wellness and Footcare

SPRING! WEDDING SEASON! Love is in the air!!
Hey there, Larry and Roger here. We heard it is wedding season! We wonder if our human will ever allow us to enjoy this most amazing transition in life. We hear it is a splendid, yet super busy time in one’s life. We are not going to pretend to know what this amazing day has to offer, but a friend of ours asked for some advice on how to get through the day as a Type 1 Diabetic. So, we did what we love to do – we did some research to see what we could find to help her. AND FIND WE DID. We took some notes off of a terrific website, healthmonitor.com

The last thing you want to stress about when getting married is your diabetes – counting carbs, testing your blood sugars, hiding a pump etc. The good news? You can get married without worry, thanks to these tips.

Camouflage your diabetes supplies
Hidden pockets can be created in your wedding gown to hold your pump or other diabetic supplies. If the fabric of your dress can’t be easily snipped, invest in a medium-sized chic clutch that can hold your meter case.

Adopt this mantra
Practice makes perfect! Do a run-through schedule for your wedding day. That’ll help you figure out when and what to eat and when to test your blood sugar. But don’t expect it to go exactly that way—chances are you won’t feel the nerves on the trial day that you’ll feel on your wedding day. You will still be able to figure out what problems may pop up when it comes to the timing of blood sugar testing or meals.

Put safe indulgences on the menu
Choose fare with few carbs, but lots of flavour. For example, hand-passed hors d’oeuvres over a pasta station, so portions were smaller and healthier. Instead of mini pizzas or quiches, choose things like shrimp and fish—foods that taste great, but don’t severely affect blood sugar. You can also choose trout over steak for the main course, which has less fat and calories.

…And that includes cake!
Have your cake and eat it, too! There are tons of sugar substitutes for baking. When it comes to frosting, choosing whipped instead of a thicker style is key. Whipped means less volume, which means less sugar and calories.

Buy shoes in twos
It’s important for people with diabetes to keep their feet healthy, and that means avoiding blisters and cuts. If you want to dance the night away, comfy heels or flats are a must. A cute pair of shoes for pictures, and another pair for dancing.

On the day of your wedding . . .

Jump-start the day
You will be distracted in the morning worrying about hair, makeup, getting ready and running around, but make sure to eat a filling breakfast. A protein-and-fibre combo (eggs or Greek yogurt and fruit) can help keep your blood sugar stable throughout the day. The day of your wedding is not the time to try new foods. Eat what you are used to eating.

Hide your glucose
Your bouquet! That way, you can easily treat a low without having to run off—especially if you’re already down the aisle or in the middle of taking pictures. Men, tuck some glucose into a pocket on your pants or jacket. 


Designate a helper
Enlist the help of someone who’s willing to remind you to test your blood sugars at certain times (such as before the walk down the aisle or first dance).

Make sure you eat
Whether due to nerves or too much going on, many brides and grooms barely get a chance to eat at their wedding. You don’t want to go too low, get dizzy and faint. Have your entertainer halt the music as a cue to sit for dinner. That way, you’ll feel less pressure to get up and mingle, and you’ll enjoy your meal.

Pay attention to alcohol
If your healthcare provider says it’s okay, one alcoholic drink with a meal is fine. But alcohol adds lots of empty calories and sugar and may affect blood sugar levels. Your best bet: Drinks that have less sugar—small amounts of liquor mixed with club soda or diet soda, light beer, dry wines or wine spritzers (wine mixed with club soda).

Keep cool, calm and collected
It’s normal to have wedding-day jitters. But, because your blood sugar may go up due to the stress, you must test your blood sugar to make sure you’re in a target range. And speak to the people around you. Let them know you want to remain calm, and that they should, too! If you’re noticing the stress building, try going into a room away from the crowd, taking a few deep breaths and thinking positively.
What an amazing list! We were thrilled to have found it. Wishing all you TO BE BRIDES AND GROOMS, and families and friends an amazing wedding. Now, we are going to chat with our human and see if we can guide him to consider checking out some online dating sites… Haha. Pretty sure we know what the answer will be.
Until Next month,
Make your Footprints Count.
Larry and Roger

Written by:
Vicki L Myhre CPOD (I) CMP PFRP
Jenericay Wellness and Footcare

Internationally Certified Podologist



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