Another one of my finds was at an unexpected freaky-fast delivery sub shop. Since being diagnosed, I'm always on the hunt to find places to go out to eat so that I'm not cooking all of the time. There are times when the tedium is just too much. Even the most diligent person needs a break at times, and we all know that I'm not the most diligent diabetic bat in the world.
So, there I was at Jimmy John's wondering about their bread and how problematic it would be for me. I just wanted a sandwich that wasn't from Subway, Quizno's or Eeggee's. For you unenlightened (and possibly protesting) individuals, Eeggee's is a local (very local) sandwich shop. They are a 'Tucson Original!' and are proud to boast that fact. I could take it or leave it.
I looked to the right and there was the sign. "Make ANY sandwich into an UN-wich!"
What? An Unwich? No bread and wrapped in lettuce? Glorious!
At just under 12g of Carbs, this sandUNwich is a roller coaster ride into forgotten bliss. I wouldn't recommend having it every day as it's 770 calories, but every now and again, you have to treat yourself.
Det. Thorn: It's people. He eats people. They're giving all of us the disease! Next thing they'll be breeding us like cattle for food. You've gotta tell them. You've gotta tell them! Hatcher: I promise, Tiger. I promise. I'll tell the exchange. Det. Thorn: You tell everybody. Listen to me, Hatcher. You've gotta tell them! Wilfred Brimley eats people! We've gotta stop him somehow!
A buddy of mine where I used to work told me all of the time that she liked tacos. I have to agree with her, I like tacos too! It seems that I've been on an eternal quest to find the best taco I can get my grubby little hands on. I've been to dives and expensive restaurants that specialize in Mexican fare as well as fast food chains and little mom and pop places to get my taste for tacos sated.
Sadly, it isn't. I've not yet found the Grail of Tacos. I've come close in a couple of places. My favorite so far is a chain restaurant that makes food that doesn't taste like chain restaurant food.
El Taco Tote is the place that I can't get enough of at this point. The atmosphere is simple and the music isn't obnoxious. The food is what brings me there though.
Their website states:
"El Tacotote really began as a collection of family recipes. The Heras brothers’ mom made the tastiest tacos in Sinaloa, Mexico. Mrs. Heras insisted on premium meats and a blend of spices perfected over the years by the family members.
In 1988, after the family moved to Cd. Juarez, Mexico, the family noticed something missing in the local cuisine. It was the Heras touch. They created the El Taco Tote concept and opened their first restaurant that same year. After enjoying an overwhelming response, they opened three more locations in the next four years. In 1994, the Heras brothers decided to introduce this extraordinary concept to the U.S. with a new location in Laredo, Texas. This location also proved to be a huge success. During the next three years, they opened three Taco Tote restaurants in El Paso, Texas. Now the Heras brothers are bringing the wonderful flavor of “real mexican grill” to you, our most valued customer."
Another of their small adverts says, "We don't make the best tacos in the world, you do!"
They are absolutely right. Their fixins bar has a variety of salsas, cabbage, limes, cilantro, radishes, and more! Sadly, I don't have a Nutrition Guide for them and it would mainly depend on how you build your taco.
Some folks may not have El Taco Tote in their area and may have these three popular places to choose from:
Taco Bell:
Taco Bell, yes Taco Bell. To be fair, I've not had the 'Cantina Taco,' nor have I made time to try it. However, based on the nutrition information, I don't think it'd be a wise choice for me.
The taco is described as two freshly grilled, warm corn tortillas filled with slow-roasted carnitas shredded pork, freshly chopped onions and cilantro with a lime wedge on the side. Sounds tasty, but let's check under the hood.
With a budget of 60g of Carbs (max), that would only give me up to two tacos and a diet soda for a meal. Not the best ideas for someone who loves food like I do.
Rubio's
For convenience, Rubio's has it for me. There are at least three different locations near my home that I can choose from and the quality is pretty good.
Their 'Street Taco' is described as "Little Baja tacos filled with grilled pork carnitas, guacamole and cilantro-onion." They also have a salsa bar, but no pico de gallo. That's a drawback for me as I enjoy tomatoes.
With 11g of Carbs, these little tacos are quite becoming. Surprisingly they're filling too! I can walk away from the table and feel sated. The psychological hand-to-mouth fix is there as well as the delicious taste of the carnitas.
Chipotle
Now, this McDonald's spin-off is a win for me. There's just something about seeing your food being made and picking the stuff that's going to be on it. I don't know why that's comforting to me. Perhaps it reminds me of the cafeteria line in school, taking me back to a time when things were simplified.
Chipotle packs three pork carnitas tacos with fresh tomato mild salsa, grated jack and white cheddar cheeses and romaine lettuce into the basket. They are fresh and tasty. Before El Taco Tote, these were the ones that I considered a treat!
These tacos are larger than the ones at Rubios and just as satisfying! The hand-to-mouth urge and hankering for crunchiness are both sated. With some quick work from your plastic fork, you have an easy taco salad. Quite often, the folks behind the counter will give you extra lettuce if you ask.
It’s been a week since I saw my Diabetic Consultant.
The best thing about having diabetes is that you can start over when you fall down or become lax. It is also the worst thing. I had become comfortable in my routine and began to only test once per day (if I remembered). I wouldn’t suggest it. The work I’m putting in to get back on track is pulling me down paths that I thought I had already put behind me.
Paths are bi-linear. They always will have at least two ways you can walk them. It’s dangerous to think that you’ll never get lost on a familiar path or that the obstacles on that path are not just as intimidating as they were in the beginning. No matter your team, be they family, friends, pharmacist, physicians, fools, freaks, fairies, fencers, philanthropists, phrenologists, or any number of other folk, they will not truly know what you’re going through until they walk your path and see things as you see them.
For all of you Nay-Sayers, please understand that I’m not disrespecting your empathy. Just understand this: conception is not reality. For you non-diabetic folks I know that you can conceive of what the situation might like, but you will never know unless you are in the same situation. God love you for the support that you’re giving anyway! As a diabetic I do appreciate the work that you do and I know, yes know, that your diabetic does too.
So, for today, I am thankful for all of you in my situation to provide me guidance and camaraderie during my path to control this tiger that I have inside of me. I am thankful for my family, friends, pharmacist, physicians, fools, freaks, fairies, fencers, philanthropists, phrenologists, and the many number of other folk who have both endured and inspired me along the way.
Reuters put out a report from Bill Berkot stating that more than half of Americans will have Type 2 Diabetes or be prediabetic by 2020. The cost is estimated at $3.35 Trillion to the US Healthcare System.
The report goes on to say:
“The average annual health care costs in 2009 for a person with diabetes were about $11,700 compared with about $4,400 for the non-diabetic public, according to new data in the report drawn from 10 million UnitedHealthcare members.
The average annual cost nearly doubles to $20,700 for a person with complications related to diabetes, the report said. Complications related to diabetes can include heart and kidney disease, nerve damage, blindness and circulatory problems that can lead to wounds that will not heal and limb amputations.”
My head is still wrapping around the amount of zeros in a trillion.
The article definitely raises awareness of Diabetes, but seems to focus on the monetary bottom line rather than what’s really at stake – the people! Yes, it is costly to make sure that we have enough test strips to accurately manage our disease. Yes, the complications can lead to drastic medical issues. But in the long run, is it the money that’s important?
I don’t think so.
And while I will take ownership of my round shape and bad eating habits, I will not take blame or ownership of the cost to the US Healthcare System!
"Because diabetes follows a progressive course, often starting with obesity and then moving to prediabetes, there are multiple opportunities to intervene early on and prevent this devastating disease before it's too late," Deneen Vojta, senior vice president of the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization, said in a statement.
Multiple opportunities?
Yes, if you have decent insurance so your co-pays are not through the roof.
Yes, if your doctor is not backlogged with so many appointments that you can’t get into see them in a decent timeframe
Yes, if you’re in tune with what your body is telling you instead of just trying to get through life.
I'm trying very hard not to smash my meter as it's giving me results. It's not the fault of the technology. The meter is giving me the results it is programmed to give. The problem is either the test strips or the blood at this juncture. I'm leaning more towards the latter.
I expected a high in the morning as I had some chips and salsa last night. Yes, corn chips. No, I didn't count them.
At a servings size of 2 Tbsp for the salsa (10g Carbs/Serving) puts just the salsa at 40g of Carbs! A meal should be a maximum of 60g of Carbs, by the way. Sadly, this was just a snack. The chips run 10 for 17g of Carbs. Again, I didn't count them and the Nutrition Label doesn't give me a measurement for say 1/4 of the bag!
When a reading comes up that surprises you, there are generally a few things that can help to narrow down the reason behind the number. It's not always the fact that you've eaten the wrong things. It could be the test strips, the meter, the blood, a dirty test site and a whole host of other things that I cannot remember. My Diabetic Pharmacist gave me a list of things during our meeting, but yeah, I've slept since then.
The best thing to do first is to test the meter and the test strips with your control solution. Mine was provided with my kit that I got from Dr. Gameshowhost. The solution is designed to register a 'normal' reading. So with my meter, that's anywhere between 85 mg/dL and 115 mg/dL. So here goes!
Ready?
Set?
GO!
Note to self: Be careful with the control solution. It has the consistency of Kool-Aid and is the color of blueberry juice.
And the result is: 106 mg/dL. Damn. Control came back in the normal range. So there's the hypothesis blown. So the next thing to do is test the blood again.
So, last night I tested at 1903 Local time wit a reading of 155 mg/dL. Not the best, but it wasn't that bad. This morning (after the Chips-and-Salsa Incident, as it came to be known) at 0615 I had a reading of 204 mg/dL. Not the best start to my day.
I had yogurt, coffee with creamer and as always, diet Dr. Pepper until lunch. For lunch I had a grilled ham and cheese on rye bread. You may think that's extravagant, but it's really not. While tasty the most expensive part of that meal was the rye bread. It runs, on average, 15g Carbs per slice. Check your own bread, it's probably worse. I also had veggie straws and a pickle spear. The total should have kept me under the 60g carbohydrate limit for my meals.
The next test was at 1324 local time with a reading of 210. Yeah, gleeful wasn't it? This test was two hours after I ate so I figured that either my Honey slipped something into the sandwich to bump up my sugar, or it was a false reading somehow. I have had no food since lunch time and it's now 1655 local time (some five and a half hours after lunch).
Test strips and meter are working correctly, so let's see what's in store for test number three, shall we?
Drum roll, please.
And for those of you who are thinking, "Well gee, didn't you take your medication at lunch?" The answer to that question is, "Yes, yes I did." Thanks for checking on that though folks.
Zip, prick, ooze, tick, tick, tick, DING!
And the result is 116 mg/dL. That reading is just on the diabetic side of normal and I'll take it! This puts my average for the day at 177 mg/dL. Again, not the best number in the world, but it could always be worse.
High days happen and you shouldn't feel guilty about them. LEARN from them instead. Diabetes isn't going to change overnight and neither are my habits. It took some time to learn the bad habits I've got, and it's going to take work and time and patience to unlearn them as well.
So, when I do go out, I like to know what I can eat so I don't really wreck my glucose levels.
One of my favorites is the Double-Double Burger. The fact that In-and-Out makes it protein style is just a blessing for folks like us who are not only diabetic but concerned about carbohydrates!
The sandwich starts off with two 100% pure beef patties, hand-leafed lettuce, tomato, sauce, two slices of American cheese, and onions stacked high on leaves of lettuce. There is no bun to worry about!
Bypass the french fries though. I know it's tough. I know that you want them. I know that they are making your mouth water just by thinking of the fresh cut potatoes that are fried in 100% vegetable oil. Do yourself a favor, don't get the fries. You'll only be regretting the decision later.
Double Double Protein Style
Fresh Cut French Fries
If you think about it, you could nearly six, (SIX) of the double cheeseburgers wrapped in lettuce for the equivalent carbohydrate punch of just one little box of those golden fries. It's all about choices. For me, it's an easy choice to make.
I remember the first day after I was diagnosed with diabetes. It was surreal and scary. I was walking around in a fog. My balance was upset and I didn’t know what to do. I had no idea of what I could eat or do. My medicine was giving me stomach cramps and all I wanted to do was hide in a corner and cry.
It was kind of like this:
Many professionals that I have spoken to informed me that this is not an uncommon response for someone in my position. I had too many questions that were leading to no answers. I was entirely frustrated and the feeling of wanting to run away and cry lead to feelings of just wanting to smash something into tiny little pieces.
Yeah, ’Bat SMASH!’
The actual process of dealing and accepting the fact that I am diabetic is still an ongoing process. I am still in month nine of my newly diagnosed disease. I am by no means a shining example of what a diabetic should be. I am about 70 pounds overweight and my blood glucose average for the week (as of this writing) is 175 mg/dL.
Diabetes is a heavy presence in my life. It’s akin to a rather infamous albatross that has been the subject of many a story and song. I’m still going through the journey to accept that I am more than the diabetes. I keep having to tell myself that it is only a part of me. It is not the end-all be-all of me. I am much more than diabetes could ever be.
That first day though, was near impossible.
Any grief counselor (or learned friend with a fast internet connection) can tell you that there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I bounce between #2, #4 and #5, so don’t feel bad if you’re doing the same with your piece of drama that you’re dealing with. It’s normal and healthy. Just learn to recognize it for what it is.
On the morning of the first day I knew I had diabetes, I was still in shock. I didn’t know what to feel or do. I was lost. Like I said, I was in a fog. I didn’t know why I was blessed with diabetes when I had gone into the doctor to find out how to quit smoking.
At this point I was bouncing between denial and anger. I didn’t believe that I had diabetes. The doctor had to be wrong; especially with how he had told me that I had the disease! Yeah, I survived an Asian Game Show and all I got out of it was a psychological scar and Type 2 Diabetes. Glee.
I still have resentment towards myself and how I got myself into this place where I have to monitor my blood sugar and work physical activities into my life. I was never one to be athletically inclined, and I resent the fact that I absolutely have to get out there and move my FA in order to survive for not only myself, but my wife, kids, and the rest of my extended family.
It’s hard and there are times I feel like just giving up, but that would be letting Diabetes win. And I’ll be thrice-damned before I let that happen.
It was a chilly February evening when the phone rang. My wife and I were sitting on the couch watching TV. Neither of us were expecting a call so we were both confused and annoyed. In the evening, we try to make time for each other and block out the interferences that the outside world throw out.
Prior to the phone call, we went to the doctor to try to get a variety of things check on. We sat in the obligatory lobby for the appropriate amount of time (at least according to their staff), and waited in the equally obligatory cold waiting room for the doctor to grace us with his presence for an equally appropriate amount of time.
Blood work was ordered, antibiotics were authorized and many other concerns were addressed – including my addiction to nicotine. The chantix was ordered and picked up and the vampires took their requisite liquid in order to run my lipid panels and a variety of other tests.
It was gleeful.
When the blood test came back, the Physician's Assistant called my house.
Me: Hello? PA: Yes, this is Michelle from Doctor Ho's office. Am I speaking with Gary? Me: Yes. PA: We've received the results of your blood tests and your glucose levels are really high, you may have diabetes. Me: ... PA: You need to come into the doctor's office this week. Me: ... PA: Hello? Me: I can't guarantee that I can come in this week. I work. PA: The doctor needs to advise you, this is pretty serious. Me: ... PA: Mr. Weller? Me: Really, you're giving me this over the phone? I'll see what I can do. PA: Well, do this as soon as possible. Me: Yeah.
To be fair, I don't remember exactly how the conversation went, but this is how I remember it.
I was angry that the PA told me over the phone about this potentially life-threatening disease that apparently came from out of nowhere. I was mad that I had to make another obligatory appointment with an equally expensive co-payment from the doctor's office in order for me to get told about my diabetes. I made the inconvenient appointment. The staff at the center tried to give me the brush-off and schedule the appointment in two weeks.
Two weeks? Really? WTF?
I had let the scheduling staff know that I was just diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease. They were appropriately shocked at my candor and equally apologetic and concerned for my condition. They schedule me in an ’emergency’ slot within the week.
The time came and my wife and I were in queue to speak to the receptionist. The insurance had just changed. So, even though we were early, the staff at the desk had some sort of inability to understand the sense of urgency that both my wife and I were expressing. They also seemed to have an inability to double check their work. On one of the invoices, they had spelled my name incorrectly which started an appropriately concerned response with an equally slow response time in setting up another invoice with my correctly spelled name.
When we finally were able to see the doctor, it was akin to being in a surreal Asian-flavored game show. I remember the doctor rushing into the waiting room and issuing an appropriate apology because he was rushed to make a meeting and giving me an equally stereotypically Asian declaration, “You have diabetes!”
The only thing that came to mind was a line that Lee Marvin delivered in Paint Your Wagon, “Howdy Parson, welcome to HELL!”
