Too Much Information

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Added: Mon. Apr 13, 2009 12:29pm

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I have a confession to make. Yesterday, I ate too many carbs and caused my blood pressure to spike. The culprit was my arch-nemesis, the root of all evil, mashed potatoes. I can walk away from the pie with a tiny slice. I can eat one cookie. I can pass on the candy altogether. But potatoes and fresh bread are kryptonite to me.


I decided to share what happens when my blood sugar is too high, because many people who have diabetes don't know it. And don't assume it's all about fat, sedentary people, either. You're not immune; no one is. In my diabetes education class, there were 2 fat people, me and another woman, 3 people who were of average size, and one distance runner without an ounce of fat on his entire body.

First, you get thirsty. Really thirsty. When I start draining glasses of water in one long gulp, I know what's going on.
It's my body saying FLUSH! FLUSH! Some little guy in a captain's hat is calling for an emergency system purge.

Which leads to many, many trips to the bathroom. I went to bed at 10 and made 6 trips to the bathroom to pee before I gave up the idea of sleeping at 5:30. While you're probably filing this in the too much information bin even as you read it, it's sort of important. I learned from a friend recently that frequent urination at night was the first symptom of his enlarged prostate. Either way, it's a bad thing.

Most diabetics also notice that they get cold really easily. I haven't really experienced that, so I won't comment on it, but I may simply not have the opportunity to get cold. Even in the winter my hub likes the temp set to "balmy" or even "slow-roast" while my son likes the "meat-locker" option....but temp wars is another subject another subject for another day.

What I want you to take away from this TMI moment is this: pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you drink too much tea with dinner and have to get up once during the night, it's probably not a problem. Every two hours or so, and your body might be screaming for help. See a doctor and make sure you're running on all cylinders.