GUY’S GOTTA TALK ABOUT…DIABETES #4: PART 2 - What Does It Mean To “Eat Right”???

For the first times since I started this column eleven years ago, it’s going to be about me. I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes two weeks ago. While people are happy to talk about their experiences with diabetes, I WASN’T comfortable with talking about diabetes. My wife is Type 2, as are several friends of ours. The “other Type” of diabetes was what caused the death of my Best Man a year after my wife and I got married. He was diagnosed with diabetes when he was a kid. It was called Juvenile Diabetes then. Today it’s Type 1. Since then, I haven’t WANTED to talk about diabetes at all. But…for my own education and maybe helping someone else, and not one to shut up for any known reason, I’m reopening my blog rather than starting a new one. I MAY take a pause and write about Breast Cancer or Alzheimer’s as medical headlines dictate; but this time I’m going to drag anyone along who wants to join my HIGHLY RELUCTANT journey toward better understanding of my life with Type 2 Diabetes. You’re Welcome to join me!

Balancing proteins and carbohydrates (which, if you didn’t know, get turned INTO sugars in your body; proteins do NOT get turned into sugars because they’re not made that way); seemed to make sense, and seemed to be something I could do…but here’s the kicker: ANY diet I submit to will be for the remainder of my life. I WILL NOT say I get this whole thing of living with my diabetes yet. I need to substitute FRUITS and vegetables for sauces and rice. Make better menu choices that EMPHASIZE meat and vegetables rather than rice and nacho cheese. I’m working on it…I’m not preaching at you, I’m trying to figure out how to live longer with my diabetes!

So, what do I do when I get a craving for Dairy Queen or a Whopper or a candy bar?

OK…I go get a DQ – HOWEVER, I’d usually rather have a Culver’s Flavor Of The Month. But what I’m finally beginning to learn is the secret of substitution…

I’m going to compare two of my big weaknesses: Frozen DQ/Wendy’s/Culver’s/Whatever.

First: the one that’s closest to our house and changes often: Culver’s.

Let’s look at an “impartial” source:

In the interest of being entirely transparent: I often get the 2 Scoop Carmel Cashew Sundae. Lots of numbers, but for me as a diabetic (there, I WROTE IT! Another step forward…) 52 g of fat; 121 g of carbohydrates (I fool myself by saying, “carbs”); 85 g of sugar (mostly likely standard issue sucrose (table sugar); and finally 16 g of protein. “See! THERE’S PROTEIN THERE!”

There is. But the stuff that insulin has to work on outweighs the protein 258 to 16 (or more scientifically 16:1). What do I suppose is going to happen? My pancreas will flood my bloodstream with insulin so I can take that VASTLY overwhelming amount of sugar, burn (=metabolize) a TEENSY bit of it as I sit on my chair at home, watching PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Dead Man’s Chest to keep me sitting upright, chewing, breathing, and otherwise existing, then store the excess (about 16 times the amount it uses from the protein) in FAT CELLS… Of course, to store all that non-protein, the pancreas has to pump out MORE insulin…and, well you see the problem.

How about I get one of my OTHER favorites, a DQ Peanut Buster Parfait? I KNOW that must be OK, cause it has peanuts! Let’s take a look at what DQ posts out there:

Again, let’s look at the pertinent data: Fat = 31 g Carbohydrate = 95 g Sugar = 68 g Protein = 17 g. Summed up as I did for that gloriously tasty Carmel Cashew two scoop sundae: 194 g (the stuff insulin has to work on), protein 17 g or 194 to 17, or (again) more scientifically, 11:1.

Culver’s 2 scoop, caramel cashew sundae: 16:1
Dairy Queen Peanut Buster Parfait: 11:1

OK – let’s say I’m a really good boy and order ONLY a Culver’s Grilled Chicken and cashew salad with Ranch dressing? Raw data: 

Fat = 19 + 24 = 62 grams + 15 g carbohydrates + 4 g sugar = 81 grams of stuff insulin HAS to take care of. Protein = 47 grams.

Scientifically speaking: 81 g to 47 grams = 1.7:1 (rounding UP) gives me a 2:1 ratio.

Culver’s 2 scoop, caramel cashew sundae: 16:1
Dairy Queen Peanut Buster Parfait: 11:1
Cashew Chicken Salad: 2:1

I’m NOT going to ever love the Culver’s Chicken Salad as much as Culver’s 2 scoop caramel cashew sundae BUT, I need to keep stuff like this in mind FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE…

Seeing this MIGHT slow me down. If I want to live longer, it’s going to HAVE TO slow me down to make choices…

Resources: https://www.culvers.com/menu-and-nutrition/nutrition-grid
Image: https://www.hcd.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/living-well-with-diabetes.jpg