The Challenges I Face in Living with PKD, Diabetes and Gout

Snack (8am): 1 fruit, tea (herbal)

Breakfast (10am): 1 starch, 1 milk (cheese), 2 protein (2 oz.), 1 fat (cheese), tea (herbal)

Lunch (12pm): 2 starch, 2 protein (2 oz.), 1 fat, extras, water

Snack (2pm): 1 fruit/veggies, water

Supper (5pm): 2 starch, 2 fruit/veggies, 3 protein (3 oz.), 1 fat, extras, drink (juice, water, tea)

Snack (8pm): 1 starch, water

BREADS

english muffins

white bread

hard rolls

muffins

unsalted crackers and breadsticks

CEREALS

dry cereals

cream of wheat

PASTA/RICE/POTATOES

pastas

potatoes (soaked 6 hrs)

rice

MEATS/ALTERNATIVES

beef

pork

chicken

tuna

eggs

cream cheese

FRUITS/VEGGIES

apple

mandarin

berries

peach

pear

cherries

pineapple

plum

watermelon

fruit juice (apple, cranberry, grape, pineapple)

green beans

yellow (wax) beans

mixed veggies

raw mushrooms

cabbage

carrots

celery

bell peppers

corn

cucumber

radishes

tomato

lettuce

zucchini

SOUPS

low sodium

homemade (with foods allowed)

FATS

butter

margarine

salad dressings

reg dressing (1tbsp)

MISCELLANEOUS

pepper

herbs

spices

lemon or lime juice

dry powdered mustard

unsalted popcorn or pretzels

I have a REALLY hard time with this.

Lately I have found that if I DO get too dehydrated I also get gout pain and it become a miserable affair. SO I DO try to drink MORE water and tea every day.

Because I've read that caffeine bothers gout I try NOT to drink it anymore and I drink herbal teas more now. SOMETIMES I miss my coffee so I have one but I DO try to choose tea instead.

I have also heard that green tea is very good for kidneys so half of the time it's a green tea that I'm drinking and in addition I will put in a wedge of lemon as well because lemon is supposed to help alkalize the body and lower uric acid from gout.

I'm not sure if it helps but it's worth trying!

I get FRUSTRATED and when I do I revert back to VERY bad habits like eating chips or some other junk food that is crunchy and satisfying but FULL of salt and NOT good!

I WORK hard at getting healthier meals into our routine and my family is finding the way to go along with this but it's hard to change favourites and create new ones.

I TRY many recipes and I don't LIKE many of them so I have to keep trying.

Usually I just end up eating the things I am supposed to eat more often plain (like berries and fruit) and I don't do anything really special to them.

I WILL keep searching for new recipes to try and new ways to incorporate all the good foods into my diet until eventually I will ONLY eat good things and it WILL pay off!!

NEVER go BAREFOOT when you have diabetes. It's a big deal.

I KNOW this and I understand why but I STILL love going barefoot and this is a hard habit to break. It's been a part of me ALWAYS.

I can't wait for summer and flip flops because I HATE socks and shoes.

M diabetic nurses have said if I like flip flops to buy a good pair and comfortable for wearing in the house and ALWAYS wear them!

I have tried this but eventually I will again find myself walking around in my bare feet.

In winter it is cold so sometimes I need socks and slippers on my feet and they help keep me warm but if I AM warm they are more than likely on the floor!!

Keeping my feet warm, clean, unblemished and healthy is hard work!!

OMG!

It's HARD to get motivated.

I don't want to do it WITH anyone but I don't want to do it alone either!

I can't afford classes or lessons or memberships or anything like that so what is left is walking.

FREE and easy enough to do...you would think!

I get so tired!! I admit I am terribly out of shape. That IS part of it.

However, fatigue is also part of kidney disease so I have to be careful not to do TOO much and hurt myself. I don't always have energy for everything. Sometimes I have to choose between things. No matter what I do I always have to take breaks in between jobs.

I understand that I NEED more exercise but I also need to listen to my body and understand what it is saying to me because there are better days than others and EVERY day is a different one. Sometimes I only have energy to sit in one spot and make jewelry.

Other days I can clean house, cook meals, go shopping and maybe even more than that without getting tired at all! (Most of the time those few things make me REALLY tired.)

My son and I started walking to the garden on the corner of the next block and back every day. It takes us about 15 minutes. Not a lot I know but we intend to work up to 30 when it gets easier. Starting slow is better than NOT doing it in my book!

If we don't walk, for whatever reason (not feeling well, rain, too hot out) then I do 5 minutes on the stationary bike. Again NOT very much but I WILL build up to 30 minutes on it eventually too.

Hurting myself is not an option...the goal is to improve myself NOT harm myself!!

Wish me luck! I will continue and TRY hard to get in better shape!

The Fight of My LIFE
Trying to blog positive affirmations and encouragements as I follow this journey wherever it leads.

Sucks to Be ME
Venting, ranting blog where I take out my frustrations and bemoan my situation. Also I post ideas to use in my funeral plans...morbid I Know...or realistic!

Crunchings and Munchings
Website where I've posted my diet, recipes and meal plans as I try to find the BEST collection of workable, healthy recipes and tips.

I am NOT a doctor or other health professional.

ALWAYS check with yours FIRST before following anything I have posted.

I am just sharing my struggles and lessons as I travel this journey that is my life.

FEEL FREE to give me helpful tips and information if you have it!

I also appreciate healthy recipes!!