Hashimoto's Diagnosis

I've been a little quiet for the past week because our family has been absorbing a new diagnosis for Samuel.  Last week he was officially diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Disease (Hashi's for short).  It's another autoimmune disease, like Type 1 Diabetes, where your body attacks healthy cells, but in the thyroid instead of the pancreas.  It's fairly common for it to happen to T1 diabetics because their immune system's wires are already crossed, so to speak. Fortunately we caught this in it's early stages.

The good news is that there are some known foods and chemicals that can trigger the antibodies to form and attack, so we're adjusting our diet even more to help with his Hashi's. We already avoid most of the food triggers because they overlap/complement our low carb method of treating T1 diabetes, with the exception of dairy.  Dairy is the #2 biggest Hashi's food trigger, so this will be an adjustment for us.  At this point we're doing so cautiously as we learn because dairy, like for most people, is our main source for calcium.

We're in the beginning phases of research so I don't claim to be an expert by any means.  But we will take the same approach with Hashi's as we do with his T1 diabetes... and that is to provide the very best care based on science and common sense... not necessarily what mainstream medicine has taught for decades.  If we can avoid cell damage by avoiding certain foods/chemicals, we will.  If and when we have to switch to hormone medicines, we will.  Our goal will be to achieve thyroid levels within normal ranges, or preferably, optimal thyroid ranges.  We will adjust whatever necessary, as a family, to ensure he stays happy, healthy and thriving. 

Many future recipe posts will likely be dairy free (DF).  I've been in the process this past week of looking for new recipes (why reinvent the wheel!) as well as converting some of mine to DF.  As I learn more about this disease, along with how it affects our T1 diabetes care, I will be sure to post updates.

For those interesting in learning more about Hashimoto's here is a link to a doctor who came most recommended to me from trusted T1 diabetic / Hashimoto friends:

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-thyroid-antibodies/ 

Test To Be Safe

Samuel had an Endo appointment last Monday and we ended up running errands all day. We stopped at Ruby Tuesday for dinner because its easy on his blood sugar and consistent.  He gets a plain chicken breast, grilled zucchini, and the garden bar where he mostly gets raw veggies, baked cheese crisps (like Moon cheese), and sunflower seeds. 

I had a Diastix out that I was using to test my Diet Coke (that he was also sipping on).  Midway through his meal he asked if he could use a Diastix to test his zucchini. I wasn't sure if he'd remember how I test food for glucose, but sure enough, he did it completely on his own.  {Proud Mama moment!}

From asking before, I know the zucchini is grilled with a butter sauce and I tell the wait staff no sugar (just to be safe), so I expected no glucose detection, but guess what?  There was some reaction to the Diastix - just a bit, but it was visible.  He didn't spike so I'm sure it was the same as always... I was just surprised because I had never tested it. 

I was so happy to see him take the initiative and see how important it is to know for sure and not assume something is safe.  And he was so excited that he thought to test something that Mommy hadn't!

Thanksgiving! Have Food; Will Travel

Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US!  This is the first year since Samuel's T1 diagnosis that I haven't hosted Thanksgiving at home.  Today we're going to my sisters house. I don't expect anyone (family, friends, schools, churches, etc) to accommodate our lifestyle. Type 1 diabetes is our burden and managing it via low carb foods is our choice.

To make this work (I hope!) I bring everything we'll need to enjoy the festivities and stay low carb.  I bring a little extra for people to try, but not enough to overshadow the work that my sister is putting into hosting.

Here's what we're bringing along:

Fried "Apples" (aka zucchini)

Mashed Cauliflower

Turkey Gravy

Stuffing (using my Rustic Faux-Wheat Bread)

Candied Nuts (Walden Farms 0 carb syrup)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

I made everything on Wednesday and packed it up in spill-proof containers.  I also have a jar of Walden Farms cranberry sauce and some sugar-free whipped cream for the pie.  We're all packed up and ready to go!

We hope everyone has a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving!

Cauliflower Broccoli Cheese Casserole

The kids got burned out on broccoli so I've been looking for a new way to incorporate it into meals.  You can easily change this up to use whatever cheeses and herbs your family likes.

Steam 10 oz bags of riced cauliflower and riced broccoli (1 bag of each) until tender. Drain water, if any.

In a medium sauce pan, heat 4-6 oz heavy cream until it just comes to a simmer.  Add salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder and whatever herbs you like (this needs a lot of salt in my opinion). Add about 4 oz of cheese and stir until just melted.  I like provel cheese, but most people won't have that available.  Use whatever is flavorful and melts well... Monterey jack, smoked gouda, pepper jack, etc.  Pour the melted cheese mix over the steamed veggies and stir well.  It gets a little thick, so I loosen it up and add more flavor by adding a little chicken broth (don't make it runny though).  Top with more cheese.  Bake at 400° for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.  

I have a split casserole dish so I top one side with provel and the other with cheddar so the kids can pick which they want.  I top it with some crispy bacon right before serving.

You could easily make this into a whole meal by adding the protein right into it.  Browned ground beef or pork would be good.  Even easier would be a shredded rotisserie chicken from the grocery store!

McCormick & Schmick's - Charlotte, NC

On my trip to Charlotte, I met up with a local friend and we were both in the mood for seafood.  Well, I'm always in the mood for seafood, but that is besides the point.  ;)

We decided on McCormick and Schmick's for dinner.  I had a large appetizer of Oysters Rockafeller - made with spinach, bacon, pernod and hollandaise sauce..  My main course was a simple Walnut Greens Salad and a bowl of Maine Lobster Bisque.  

Everything was absolutely delicious! And getting to sit and chat with a friend in person is even better!

Food Truck Lunch - Charlotte, NC

My co-workers and I just ran out to a food truck that was right outside our work complex.  Best of all it was all local Farm-to-Table... er... Farm-to-Truck.

I got a pasture-raised beef burger with cheddar cheese, smoky bacon, stone ground mustard, aioli, with an over-easy egg. My side was a zucchini and squash salad. 

This was one of the best burgers I've had a quite a while!

Mama Ricotta's Italian - Charlotte, NC

I had a fantastic low carb dinner at this Italian restaurant.

I got a tomato, mozzarella and basil appetizer that was delicious.

For my entree, I had sauteed chicken breast (2 of them!) in a mushroom wine sauce, broccolini in a butter and garlic sauce, and roasted carrots.  I ate a few carrots, but limited those. 

The meal was about double what I could eat, but so, so good!

Doubletree Hotel Lunch - Charlotte, NC

Today I needed a quick lunch so I went the restaurant at my hotel - Libations Kitchen and Bar at the Doubletree Hilton.  

I ordered a Turkey & Bacon sandwich, minus the bun, and a cup of tomato basil soup. They gave me a huge amount of turkey - probably 5-6 oz and 6 pieces of bacon. I don't eat tomato soup often, but it was really delicious.

Needing something fast or convienient doesn't have to mean compromising.

Beef 'N Bottle Steakhouse - Charlotte, NC

Co-workers and I went to the Beef 'N Bottle Steakhouse in Charlotte for dinner.

I ordered a "traditional" salad which is a make your own salad - veggies served on the side and you add what you like...

For my entree, I ordered the seafood platter (choice of fried or sauteed - I chose sauteed) which had flounder, shrimp, oysters and scallops. With a side of creamed spinach.

This was so filling I only had about a third of the spinach and couldn't finish all of my seafood platter.

Blackened Salmon Ceasar Salad - Charlotte, NC

Cedar Street Tavern in Charlotte, NC.  I had this blackened salmon over a Caesar salad minus croutons and the side of bread.  It was really good with a citrus-y Ceasar dressing that was unique.

Learning Moment Lunch

It's really important to us that Samuel learns why we manage his diabetes the way we do.  

Yesterday my husband and daughter went hiking so we decided to go out for lunch. Sunday is "dessert" day so I explained we'd go out for lunch, run some errands, and then go home for our dessert. He was totally happy with this plan.

We talked about what he'd get before we got there so I could dose his insulin right away. He chose a huge 3-egg omelet with bacon, sausage, ham, American cheese, no onions (no toast or hash browns that come with it either). 

I let him get a Diet Coke and then handed him the Diastix and reminded him to check his soda.  All was good.

While we waited I explained that this meal at home would just need Regular insulin because its all protein, but the meat at the restaurant probably had sugar in it, so I gave a mix of Novolog and Regular. He seemed to understand my explanation.

He finished every bite smiling the whole meal.

We had a fun, filling, nutritious lunch out, got some diabetes learning in and then had a delicious low carb cupcake when we got home.  This is our version of "kids first; diabetes second".

Coffee Creamer Labels

I ordered coffee at a restaurant today and as I went to grab creamer, I noticed 2 different labels. 

I'm honestly not sure I've ever read a creamer label, but it caught my eye, so I did.  EEK!  The one on the left... corn syrup and hydrogenated oil?!  Bluck...no thank you!

 

I'd prefer real heavy cream or half & half, but this was all I had available.  Creamer on right it is then.