October 2014

October 2014
Day Trip to Oakridge Oct 2014

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Good Medical News


As we age it seems we don’t often get good news from the doctor…especially with chronic illnesses like diabetes.

Just had to share that Russ got some really good news today.  His last two eye exams showed the beginnings of diabetic retinopathy.  That is where tiny blood vessels in the back of the eye begin to leak.  This is what causes blindness in diabetics.  Laser surgery can be utilized to slow the process but eventually, vision is lost.

Today the eye doctor said Russ’s eyes looked just fine.  He said the vessels have healed without any intervention.  He doesn’t need to go back for six months.  This was great news.  I thought I was fairly well-versed in the problems associated with diabetes but I did not know that the blood vessels could heal once the problem had started.  YIPPEE!!


snow 135
Not everyone hates the snow!  (January 2008)


I have been promising to bake Russ a pumpkin pie for some time and just never seem to get around to it.  Yesterday we were shopping and he saw a pumpkin pie in the bakery that looked good – AND it was sugar free!  I checked the carb count and it was 55g per serving!  YIKES!  Just for fun I checked the regular pumpkin pie…it was only 42 grams of carbs per serving!  Go figure.  It’s kinda too bad because if diabetics, or other dieters, do not understand the implications of the high carbohydrate count, they may be fooled into thinking “sugar free” means it’s fine to eat the product.  Buyer beware!
Posted by at

22 comments:

  1. Jim and SandieOctober 20, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Whoo Hoo - good news about Russ's eyes. I have trouble convincing Jim to look at carbs not just sugar free.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Good Luck DuckOctober 20, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    That's good news, indeed!

    That's an unexpected pie situation. What in the world was in the sugar-free pie that could make up for the sugar and then some?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jessica RikerOctober 20, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    YAY!! Great news! It's always wonderful to get good health news. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Travels with EmmaOctober 20, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    So what did you do? Buy the pie or make him a sugar free pie with lower carbs? :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. hobopalsOctober 20, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    Wonderful news, Donna! I think most people aren't aware of all the ramifications of diabetes. Not an easy thing to deal with.

    Pumpkin Pie, Um Um, one of my favorites. I bought one last week and it didn't last long (and Jack doesn't eat pie!)

    I have a wonderful recipe that I got years ago from a friend's Mother. It's made with dark corn syrup. Oh, my mouth is watering!

    Again, glad to hear the good news about Russ' eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. michael ultraOctober 20, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    That is wonderful news. Nothing like a miracle to finish off the week!

    ReplyDelete
  7. heyduke50October 20, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    me and my glass of wine send cheers... here is looking at ya'

    ReplyDelete
  8. Alan and Marilyn McMillanOctober 20, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    Great news about Russ' eyes -- Alan too is a diabetic. We have learned that sugar-free doesn't mean squat...they make up for the sugar with some other foreign concoction.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ErinOctober 20, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    Excellent news indeed; Mui's father had a great deal of vision problems in last years ... diabetes-related, so we can appreciate how much this news must have meant to you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. meowmommaOctober 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Wonderful news about Russ and his peepers!!!

    You always seem to check the labels with all the new choices of food offerings. We learned from the Hubs' cardiologist that the reg. Yoplait yogurt was better for us than the light version because they have found aspartane to be a big influence in heart disease. Also, reg. flavors of soda instead of diet; but only one occasionally! Don't know much about diabetes. Thankful for that!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Carol KOctober 20, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    We have a dear friend who found out a year ago that she was diabetic and her main symptom was diabetic retinopathy. By the time she was diagnosed her eyesight was already severely damaged. So that is good news, indeed, Russ! I am diabetic, too, and I would rather lose most anything rather than my eyesight.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jean and SkipOctober 20, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    Good news about Russ, diabetes is such a nasty disease it is good to hear of a reversal in a side effect.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Chuck and Anneke's RV travelsOctober 20, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    Congrats! That is great news, One of my sisters had diabetes and I know how difficult controlling it can be.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sue and DougOctober 20, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    so happy to hear that there was some good news about Russ's eyes!..fantastic!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. BarbOctober 20, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    What wonderful news - I am so, so happy for you, Russ. You must both be very relieved. The changes you are making in your diet are really paying off.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Al BossenceOctober 21, 2011 at 4:51 AM

    Your post is another fine example of what I like about the people here in Blog Land. A willingness to share information that others may not be aware of. Good news for Russ indeed:))

    ReplyDelete
  17. PhyllisOctober 21, 2011 at 6:17 AM

    Great news this morning. Thanks.

    Also, so many foods now advertise as FAT FREE. However, lots have more calories as to improve the taste they add more sugar. Yup, we need to read those labels and know what they mean.

    ReplyDelete
  18. RickOctober 21, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    Great news about Russ' eyes! Congrats - that's terrific!

    ReplyDelete
  19. ElaineOctober 21, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Excellent news congratulations!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. stillhowlynOctober 21, 2011 at 6:46 PM

    Just wanted to say that, though we're not diabetic, we follow a low carb diet. When recently in Caldwell, Idaho we visited a local country market: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cliffs-Country-Market/156628984387929, and delighted to find out that Cliff, a sufferer of diabetes and a baker, now featured the most delicious sugar-free bakery goods. I bought a package of his low-carb baking mix to experiment with new recipes. I think we need to find more of these stores!

    ReplyDelete
  21. HappytrailsOctober 22, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    I have been running late lately on my blogs/comments....sorry!

    CONGRATULATIONS on Russ's great news! That is just wonderful and we are so happy for you both!!

    Thanks for the heads up on the pumpkin pie! I try to read the labels but... About a year ago Mike was diagnosed as prediabetic. Since then his numbers have gotten much better.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dennis and DonnaOctober 22, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    I worked for an eye doc and know about Diabetic Retinopathy...Great news for Russ...good job with the pie!!!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)