Jesus knows the pain of our diseases

"Mankind was created to walk in divine health as he walked in obedience to the Lord. It is only from his disobedience that sickness and disease came upon him. ...Jesus never sinned and never had sickness until He became sin for us and then took our sickness and disease that we might have His righteousness and health." - Biblical Naturopathy, Rev. Bill Yeary.

Jesus was sinless His whole life.  He never experienced sickness or sin while He walked on the Earth.  He took on our sins and bore them for us as if He had sinned, but He was perfect and holy.  The sins and diseases of the world went with Him to the grave.   

Growing up I never felt like Jesus could understand what it was like to have Diabetes (or Celiac or Hashimoto's). After all, He'd never had them while He walked the earth. I'm amazed everyday by what I learn about Him...and I can see that He DOES understand because He took upon Him not only each and every one of our sins, but also each and every disease when He died for us on the cross. That's how much He loves us...how much He wants us to be free from the disease of sin and death in body, spirit, and soul.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."  Hebrews 4:15

I love/hate insurance

Insurance.  Everyone seems to have a love/hate relationship with it.  It's been pretty much great for me this year (except for not covering my holistic doctor) but now BCBS isn't going to be offering policies in my area for next year, so I have to find a new company. 

I love BCBS, and I'm really bummed to see them stop offering plans.  But it's not their fault.  Obamacare has completely messed up the insurance market.   

I'm trying to stock up on as many of my meds as possible in anticipation of high out of pocket costs for the beginning of 2017. 

Did you know that without insurance, I'd have to pay $636.99 for 2 vials of Levemir (2 month supply) and $77.78 for a month supply of my Armour Thyroid meds?  (With insurance, I got them for free today!)
I pay $55 a month for test strips, $13 for syringes, and $ for Apidra (when it's not free).  Not to mention all of my holistic supplements ($250+)! 

How do they expect us to be able to afford to live with these unreasonable prices?  We're not made of money, and I don't appreciate being charged an arm and a leg for medications that keep me alive!

Please, Lord, provide us with another good insurance company next year!   

ChocoRite for Days!

While my husband and I were on vacation a few weeks ago, my father-in-law ordered me some ChocoRite bars, since they didn't have any in our local stores.  Unfortunately, they didn't come in time for me to enjoy them on our trip but they came yesterday!  I received the ChocoRite Milk Chocolate Bars and the ChocoRite Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

I was excited to try the Peanut Butter Bars and I wasn't disappointed!  They taste like big Reese's!  I think they are my new favorite flavor!  The best thing is that these bars don't affect my blood sugar, and they aren't just for diabetics!  Anyone can enjoy them!  I think they're a much healthier choice over commercial chocolate products.  They come in 3 other yummy flavors:

ChocoRite Dark Chocolate Bars
ChocoRite Milk Chocolate Crisp Bars
ChocoRite Dark Chocolate Almond Bars   

Check them out for yourself and let me know what you think!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

(This post contains affiliate links.  I receive a small percentage for each sale.)

Why I Love Low Carb

This was my dinner last night:  Lemon Butter Chicken, Buttered Asparagus, and low carb Cheddar Garlic Biscuits.

Doesn't it look yummy?

I love low carb for so many reasons I don't even know where to start.  Maybe I should make a list...I love lists!
1.  No more blood sugar roller coaster!
2.  Yummy, healthy, real foods!
3.  New foods I've never tried before - asparagus, avocado, cauliflower, flax seed, almond and coconut flour, unsweetened almond milk, etc.
4.  New recipes!
5.  Online support groups!
6.  Reaching out to people who need help!
7.  Empowerment!
8.  Overall health improvement!
9.  Opportunities to make a difference in the diabetes world!
10.  Being a light for Christ by proclaiming His name through my journey!
11.  Being a role model for family, friends, and strangers!

Good health starts with you.  I wish I had realized this sooner in my diabetes journey, but I'm grateful that no matter how long it took me to learn this truth, God was faithful to bring me to this point.  Mistakes are the only way we learn, whether we make them ourselves or we watch others make them.  If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you've been getting.  Don't go insane.  Change what isn't working and try something that others have found to work for them.  If it doesn't work for you, tweak it a bit until it does, or try something else.  If it works, stick with it!  Don't look back except to remind yourself how far you've come, and why you don't want to go back.

Low carb is the only way I'll go from here...high carb can stay in the past where it belongs.  My future's bright and sunny - I know I'm doing what's best for my body.  What is your body telling you to do?  What can you do to change?  Don't be afraid...it might be the best thing you ever did.

I used to eat over 300g of carbs a day.  Now I eat less than 40g.

Home A1C

Today I checked my A1C at home.  It's been 3 months since I had it done in my endo's office and I won't be seeing them again until December, so I'm taking a home A1C test in between visits.  The results:

Back in Business!

My Dexcom order arrived today, which makes me thrilled!  It's just in time for our trip this weekend! 

Along with the transmitter I desperately needed, I also received 3 boxes of sensors (12 total) and a new pink receiver with Share.  I don't have an iPhone though, nor does my husband, so I don't think the Share aspect will get used when I have to switch my old receiver for my new one.  I did ask for one without Share...I wonder why they still sent it? 

Regardless, I'm happy to be back in business!  The 2 hour warm up period just started so around 6pm I'll have readings again after 11 days.  Now to start packing up everything we'll need for our trip! 

Dexcom-less

Last week my Dexcom gave me the low transmitter battery alert.  I quickly put in an order for a new one, but I'm still waiting for the diabetes supply company, my endo, and the insurance to process everything.  I'll also be getting a new receiver since my old one is out of warranty.  It's still going strong though so I'll keep using it until it dies.  I can't believe it's lasted me 2 years already with no problems!  :)  I've been really blessed, and I've done my best to take really good care of it.  Guess that means my hard work has paid off. 

I hope to have my new transmitter before we leave on vacation next weekend.  I really hate to be without it.  Thankfully, my low carb lifestyle means I don't have to worry as much about highs and lows all over the place.  I feel completely confident in my ability to keep my blood sugars stabilized.  I just like having the extra constant "vision" my Dexcom gives me.  It makes things so much easier. 

A1C graph and Chocorite Affiliate!

I made a graph showing how my A1C has improved.  I've literally cut my A1C in half!  It took a little over 2 years but I did it!  My next official A1C at the endo's office won't be until December but I'm going to take a home A1C test in September to see how I'm doing.

 

 

I recently went in to my local Walgreens to pick up some Chocorite (I haven't had any in a while!) and was disappointed to find out that they were no longer carrying it!  I went to their website to see if they had any other retail locations nearby and stumbled upon their affiliate program.  I signed up and am excited to be one now!  Here's my link:

https://chocorite.com/user/RachelPayne

 

I get 10% of each sale when you order through my link.  They have so many yummy options - even some new ones I haven't tried yet!  I really hope to order some soon!

Holistic Lab Results

On Tuesday I got the lab results back from my holistic doctor.  He checked my thyroid, thyroid antibodies, and Vitamin D. 

He said my thyroid levels are looking good, so he's going to keep me on the Armour Thyroid as I have been for the past 3 months.  Yay!  It's been a while since I've found a dose where I could just STAY and it works! 

My anti-TPO antibodies have come down from 610 to 394, which is good!  That means the anti-inflammatory supplements are working and I need to keep taking them to get it down even more. 

My Vitamin D levels came back low (at 39, and he wants to see them around 90), but I'm really not surprised as I know I'm deficient and I haven't been taking supplements regularly. 

He prescribed me Vitamin D to take and I hope to order it soon.  I also need to order refills of some of my other supplements, as I've run out of a few of them, but I haven't had the money to re-order yet.

He was really happy to hear that my A1C is now 5.6, and said that he'd like to see me under 5.5.  I told him I'll be taking a home A1C test in September and hope to be kicking it down close to 5.0 by then.  I will be getting my labs re-checked with him in 3 months so I just have to keep doing what I'm doing!   

A Day in the Life - July 5, 2016

I promised y'all a "day in the life" post a while ago (4 months!  yikes!), and I've finally picked a day to share.  Starting at midnight, here's how things went on July 5, 2016:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Midnight:  Took 7 units of Levemir (long-acting basal insulin), along with my nighttime supplements.

1:09am:  My blood sugar was 100.  I went to sleep.

8am:  My alarm went off for my morning Levemir shot.  I checked my blood sugar and it was 85.  I took 7 units of Levemir and tried to fall back asleep but couldn't so I just lounged in bed.

10am:  My blood sugar was still 85.  My stomach was growling so I got up and ate a yummy breakfast, including a low carb breakfast cookie, a mozzarella cheese stick, an avocado with Himalayan Pink Salt, and a Chocolate Praline Fat Bomb, along with a bottle of sugar free flavored water.

11:30am:  Calibrated Dex with a blood sugar of 99.

12pm:  Took my Armour Thyroid medication.

1:08pm:  Checked Dex (as I do often throughout the day) and noticed that my blood sugar had been trending upwards since around noon.  Blood sugar was 124, so I took 1 unit of Apidra via an IM injection.

1:56pm:  Blood sugar was 98.

3:35pm:  Blood sugar was still 98.  Dex showed steady at 99 (almost a unicorn!).  I made myself my second meal:  3 hot dogs, 5 boiled asparagus spears smothered in Kerrygold butter, and a Molokai Coconut Bai drink.

4pm:  Took 7 units of Levemir, as well as 0.5 unit of Apidra (IM) for food.  I then sat down to refill my weekly pill box and noticed I was almost out of Armour Thyroid.  I called the pharmacy and ordered refills for my Armour and Apidra prescriptions, then went back to filling up the pill compartments.  Then I took my 4pm supplements, drinking down plenty of sugar free flavored water.

This thing seriously helps me keep track of all the supplements I'm taking!

5:26pm:  Dex buzzed HIGH with a blood sugar of 120.  Finger-stick confirmed blood sugar was 123.  Decided to give insulin another 1/2 hour to leave system before re-checking and correcting again.

6pm:  Dex showed 119.  Blood sugar tested at 113.  Blood sugar seemed to be coming down somewhat so I decided to wait it out to avoid over-correcting.

6:42pm:  Dex buzzed again at 120 (HIGH).  Blood sugar tested at 110.  I decided to do another 1/2 unit correction while I figured out what to make for dinner. 

(This is a prime example of why I don't correct based on Dexcom's readings.  If I had done a correction of 1 unit instead of 1/2 unit I would've gone low!  1 unit brings me down 50 points, 1/2 unit brings me down 25 points.  So at 110, if I had taken 1 unit thinking I was 120, I would've dropped to 60 instead of 83.  I wait 2 hours in between correction shots given as an IM because they start working faster and leave my system faster than regular subcutaneous shots given in non-muscular locations.  I have to constantly think ahead about how things will affect me.) 

The Rule of Small Numbers for the win!

7:30pm:  I finally chose to make Lemon Butter Chicken with Cheesy Broccoli for dinner.  I pour myself a tall cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk to go with it.  Dex was showing 106 with a slightly downward-angled line.  It has been 40 minutes since my shot and I can start to see it working.  I also just received a text message alerting me that my Apidra and Armour prescriptions are ready for pickup.  I'll have to get them tomorrow.  

8:06pm:  Dex reads 92.  Blood sugar is 79, according to glucometer.  Dinner has already been put on the stove so not much longer before I can eat.  I can already tell I'll be doing a delayed bolus, as veggies and protein don't usually kick in right away.

8:55pm:  Dex 89, finger stick 81.  Dinner is finally ready!  Hubby and I sat down to eat and watched an episode of 24. 

9:40pm:  Dex alerted 122 (HIGH) and trending upwards, blood sugar was really 112.  Again, appearances were deceiving!  Dex made it look like I was higher than I really was.  This caused me to debate between taking 1/2 a unit and 1 unit; I figured 1/2 unit would be the current safe amount, as I could always give more later.  I then realized that I wanted some of the low carb chocolate pudding I'd made yesterday.  (Mmmm...yummy!)  I took 1/2 unit and ate my pudding.

10:51pm:  Blood sugar is 116.  (Dex shows 125, gradually coming down.)

11:35pm:  Dex prompts for calibration (for the second time).  I test and put in 128.

11:55pm:  Dex is now showing steady at 123.  Two hours have passed since my last shot, so I figure it is safe enough to do another 1 unit correction of Apidra along with my 7 units of Levemir before bed.  I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge and take all of the bedtime supplements in my pill box, including my Armour Thyroid.  

Here is my Dex graph for the day:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And that, my friends, is just one day in the life of a Type 1 Diabetic.  

Unfamiliar terms:
Dex = Dexcom CGM
IM = intramuscular; given in the deltoid of the upper arm
Apidra = rapid acting insulin, used for meals and high blood sugar corrections, as needed
Levemir = long lasting insulin, used for basal rate to keep blood sugars steady while in fasting mode.  I take in 3 small doses every 8 hours (at midnight, 8am, and 4pm).

20th Diaversary

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the day I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. 

I can honestly say I never thought I'd see myself where I am today, or that it'd take 20 years for me to get to this point. 

• The point of wanting to take care of myself.
• The point of complete and total surrender.
• The point of achieving normal blood sugars.

I've learned a lot in these past 20 years, and I'm immensely grateful to God for allowing me to learn all the lessons I have faced (and for living through them!).  By His grace and good will, I'm on the path to better health.  I actually care deeply about how I take care of myself, unlike my could-care-less younger, immature self.

I have to be my own advocate.  No one else is going to advocate for me.  No one else knows my body like I do.  No one else can live my life...I'm the only one who can.  I make the ultimate decisions about my care.

I have to be pro-active about ensuring the foods I eat won't cause me harm.  I have to be pro-active about ensuring that I get adequate insulin.  I have to be pro-active about ensuring the high standard of my health care.

Having diabetes has caused me to grow in so many ways. 

• I recognize my body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and I desire to nurture and protect it as best I can.
• I recognize that there are lots of foods (even ones that I absolutely LOVED) that are not good for me or my body, and I have willingly given them up in order to keep my blood sugar from spiking.
• I recognize that achieving normal blood sugars is the only way to ensure the prevention of future complications and secure the good, long life I want to live.

Priorities.  Surrender.  Achievement.

In that order.

If I had not set my priorities in place, I never would have been willing to surrender the things I needed to sacrifice.  If I had not sacrificed the things I once loved but were unhealthy for me, I never would have achieved normal blood sugars.

Discipline did not come easy.  It was a long, hard road but, in the end, it was well worth it.  I am now closer to my goal than I ever dreamed possible (I used to believe it was impossible!) and it's all thanks to God's patience, mercy, and grace.

Diabetes has shaped me in so many ways I don't know who I'd be without it.  I don't remember living without it, other than remembering the feeling of my whole world crashing down on me.  I was too young to understand the Lord's plan to refine and mold me into a more holy vessel, a cherished daughter.

I believe that having one autoimmune disease opened the door for me to be more trusting of Him upon my two most recent diagnoses of Celiac and Hashimoto's.  All three are connected, lifelong conditions, but because of my spiritual growth over the years, I was able to handle things better when they showed up on my doorstep.  I had answers, and I was already well on my way to treating my conditions with the care they needed.

I pray now that as I move forward toward the future and, Lord willing, child-bearing, that I will continue to praise Him on the hard days and easy days, and that I'll never forget the salvation He extended to me in my darkest hour.  Thank you, Lord, for using Diabetes to show me my need for you.    

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Happy 20th Diaversary, me!  

"For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them."
Psalm 139: 13-16

Best appointment EVER!!

After fighting all night with blood sugars that wouldn't come down despite multiple injections, I finally got a reprieve in the morning when they smoothed out.  I figure my high protein meal after 8pm is what kept them higher than normal, so I won't dwell too much on that.  You can only do what you can do...it is what it is.

I got up and got ready, had a fat bomb for breakfast and headed over to the office.  I prayed on the way, asking God to bless the appointment, for the NP to be agreeable, and for me to not be too disappointed with my A1C results.

I checked in, handed my meter in so they could log my numbers and my Dexcom records so they could make copies.  The wait was only 5 minutes or so, then they took my weight and vitals.  No mention of ketones, or other blood work, so I figured everything was normal.

The nurse asked the usual questions about my insulin doses and logged my answers, then left saying the NP, Ty, would be in shortly.

When she came in, she introduced herself and mentioned Carrie and her new baby, then went on to hand me the lab results.  "Your control is awesome, your A1C is 5.6% (114 mg/dl, which is 5.4% by Dr. B's chart).  I was looking over your Dexcom reports and it doesn't look like you're having many lows, so what you're doing is awesome."

I was floored!  5.6?!  Really?  Thank you, Jesus!  My face was all smiles as I told her I'd been working so hard to get it down that much.  She asked if my Dexcom was a help in achieving good control, and I said "Yes, it's been a lifesaver."  She went on to say that she wished more of her patients were on the Dexcom, because it's such a great tool and so advanced compared to the other brands on the market.  I told her I'd had it since August 2014 and wished I had known about it sooner, but I'm so thankful to have it now.  She then went on to say that my control is awesome, and said I'm "awesomeballs" for taking charge of things.  She asked about my diet, and I told her that I was eating low carb, high fat, moderate protein and that too was a huge factor in my good blood sugar control.  I mentioned some of the foods I eat, and Dr. Bernstein's book, which helped me turn things around last year.

She asked about my ring, married or engaged?, I said married and explained how I'd been in denial and depression upon my diagnosis 20 years ago and that getting married and preparing for childbearing was a big motivator for me to get my blood sugars under control.  Without that motivation, I wouldn't have started looking for other alternatives to my care.  She mentioned a patient a few years younger than me who is struggling and looking for help and support, so I gave her the name of my Facebook support groups and told her she could give the girl my name.  I could totally relate to the girl; she sounded like me. 

She noticed I'd lost a little weight (about 6 pounds) and said she was trying to lose weight herself.  Ty joked about me adopting her and letting her stay at my house so she could eat all the yummy foods I eat.  :D  She was completely supportive of the low carb way of eating and completely understood when I mentioned that I don't eat much fruit because of the natural sugars they contain, and that I have to bolus for protein because of gluconeogenesis.

She checked my feet, my heart, and lungs, and said she was thrilled to have met me and I said likewise!  I was so overwhelmingly excited that I could share all of my info with her without feeling put down.  She told me I didn't have to come back for 6 months and that I'd see Carrie at my next appointment in December.  I have to admit, I would love to see Ty again!

YES!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, LORD!!!

"Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised." - Psalm 48:1    

Next appointment coming up!

I've been prepping in anticipation for my next appointment this Thursday.  I've been trying to hard to keep my numbers down, but today and yesterday determined to prove difficult for me.  After dinner last night my number spiked up to 170 and today it's fighting me again in the 140s.  Arg!  My A1C is going to reflect that and I'm not happy.  I just hope it doesn't go up any higher than it was last time, although since I'm going by Dr. B's A1C chart it will still be relatively lower than my endo's.  So I can take comfort in that, but still...

My numbers have seemed to trend lower and steadier, so hopefully that will help, and I'm happy with my ability to maintain good numbers for the majority of the time.  Last night was not fun, though, as I spent most of the night fighting the highs that were determined to plague me. 

Numbers from June 15 - June 19

Anyway, I'm going in on Tuesday to get my blood work done for my labs, and then Thursday is my appointment.  I'll be seeing a different nurse practitioner than Carrie, since she's still on maternity leave.  I'm hoping this other NP will be just as nice as Carrie. 

Stats from Today

It's been a while since I've updated so I thought it'd be a good idea to post another shot of my stats for today.  This is a small improvement from last month's stats, which looked like this: 

I've still been fighting to get my basal figured out but I'm happy to see that I'm having more numbers in range and fewer highs.  I think I've become a bit lax because of my basal uncertainty...I don't always bolus with meals and wait to see how high my blood sugar goes up after I eat.  That usually results in a high blood sugar that I have to correct.  *sigh*  So I need to crack down on my basals (which fluctuate throughout the month).  My next endo/NP appointment is in 23 days so these next few weeks will be crucial A1C-wise.

Starting My Supplements

All my pill supplements are now in my possession.  All that's left is to order the fish oil.

I was able to buy the Kyolic at the vitamin store in the mall and I took my first doses of them after dinner.  Here's to healing!

Official Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Diagnosis

Today, my holistic doctor gave me an official diagnosis:  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  You can read about it more here:  http://www.thyroidawareness.com/hashimotos
Basically, it is an autoimmune disease (like Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease) where my body mistakes my thyroid cells for foreign invaders and attacks them with antibodies, preventing them from doing their job (which is regulating metabolism).  My immune system is all out of whack, and I've got a ton of inflammation because of it. 

My antibodies should be less than 35u/mL (or 0, as my doctor said) and they were way off the charts at 610!  He prescribed me a new thyroid medication (Armour Thyroid 30mg), which is being ordered by the pharmacy and should be ready in a few days.  I've already sent my labs to Carrie's office, and I'll tell them about my new diagnosis and prescription.  Hopefully they'll be okay with it because, honestly, I know my levothyroxine hasn't been cutting it.  I need to take this new Armour medication - it's my body and my choice to pick up the slack that's been lacking for who knows how long...I still can't believe I was never diagnosed with Hashmoto's before I went to this holistic doctor!  I'm truly thankful that I found them!

Along with my Hashimoto's diagnosis, he told me that in order to cut down on the inflammation in my body and decrease my CRP result (which measures for risk of cardiovascular issues) there are some supplements I need to take that not only serve the purpose of reducing inflammation but will also help improve my blood sugar levels and my insulin effectiveness!  I've been looking into purchasing them but there are quite a few and they are going to be a bit pricey.  They are:

Tumeric/Curcumin (anti-inflammatory)
Chromium (improves insulin resistance and blood sugar regulation)
Boswellia (anti-inflammatory)
Biotin (a B vitamin that promotes healthy skin, hair and nails, and also helps regulate blood sugar levels)
Fish Oil (anti-inflammatory)
DHEA (which is depleted by injected insulin - regulates sex hormone development and metabolism)
Theanine (improves stress levels and sleep)
Aged Garlic (cardiovascular protection/anti-inflammatory)


Once I get started on these I know I'll start seeing improvements in my blood sugar levels, as well as my energy levels!  I'm due to go back for more labs the last week of June to see how things are going, and to get my Vitamin D levels checked.  So in the meantime, I'll be figuring out how I'm going to get these supplements and work on improving my health.  I also need to spend 90 minutes a week doing some exercise, like walking.  Now that the weather is finally starting to warm up, I'll be able to go for walks on the Greenway.  :) 

Lowering my Target Range

So I took the plunge today because it's time to buckle down and get my A1C under 6.  I lowered my high alert on my Dexcom from 130 to 120.  So now when Dex senses that I'm at 120 it will alert me to being high.  

I have noticed that sometimes Dex is off and says I am in my target range when really I'm in the 120s, 130s, and 140s, so I know I can't always go by what Dex says I am...I have to test to confirm and treat!  And usually I test more than 4 times a day, especially when I am unsure of my blood sugar level.  

In doing this, I hope that setting my alert lower will help me stay on top of my numbers better and prevent higher numbers before they happen.  

Here are my stats now that I've changed the Target Range:

 

And here is my 90 day blood sugar graph.  I've been very fortunate to stay under 200, even with holidays, sickness, hormones, and stress.  I know I can do better, and I will!  

 

My next appointment is in June, but it's with a different nurse practitioner because Carrie will be on maternity leave (so excited for her!).  I'm not sure how it will go but I hope it goes well!

Tomorrow I have my appointment with the holistic doctor to go over my blood work results and thyroid labs.  I may be getting a Vitamin D panel done too, since it's been a while since I've had one done.  I pray it goes well and I come home with a health game plan!  Stay tuned!

April Update

I had my blood work from the holistic doctor sent to me.  My results showed high levels of thyroid antibodies and a low free T3 level.  I have an appointment scheduled for next week to hear what he has to say.  I'm expecting to be diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, as I've been hypothyroid for as long as I can remember and have been taking levothyroxin for it.  However, because I have two other autoimmune diseases (Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac disease) he (and I!) feel that it is highly likely that Hashimoto's is what is causing my hypothyroidism. 

I am very interested in hearing what steps I need to take to begin healing, as gut health ultimately impacts my immune system and health.  Your immune system lives in your gut, so the health of your gut affects your immunity!  Super important to know that they are all connected.  I'm actually very excited to begin walking this path toward bodily healing! 

Lemon Zest Cookies

I made Lemon Zest Cookies today!  They turned out really good!

Here's the recipe I used.

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup Pyure
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• Zest of one lemon
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp Pyure liquid stevia extract

1. Preheat oven to 325F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sweetener, egg, lemon zest, lemon juice and stevia extract. Beat in almond flour mixture until well combined.
4. Form by hand into 8 to 10 even balls. Flatten with the palm of your hand to about 1/2 inch thick circles.
5. Bake about 20 minutes, until set and just barely brown around the edges. Remove and let cool on pan.
   

Adapted from http://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2014/11/low-carb-lemon-poppyseed-breakfast-cookies.html

New sensor spot + new recipes to try!

I changed my Dexcom sensor today to my other arm.  My other sensor was going on the fritz so I figured it was done.  It was giving me false high and low alerts, which is annoying because that will mess up my figures in the Dexcom Studio software some.  *sigh*  Oh well.  This new one seems to be doing well now!

I have a few low carb recipes lined up to make and try!  I'm really excited!  One is for lemon cookies and the other is for pudding!  I'll post them after I try them and let you know what I think!