Future Tarot

[lowgigirl] My question is about diabetes and I’m still gaining weight. Is there anything the cards can tell me?

[Miss Michelle] Ah, Low GI girl. Now the name makes sense.

[lowgigirl] No meds, no needles, just diet and exercise.

[Miss Michelle] Good for you!! I had gestational diabetes and beat it that way. This first card just makes me want to reach out and give you a hug… It’s the Four of Cups… And it shows how you let this affect you emotionally in the past. You needed a friend. There was emptiness… until you took control of things.  The rest of the cards: Four of Swords, Nine of Cups, and I felt need for a fourth, the Two of Wands. So when you found a non-medical solution, LowGIGirl, it represented hope.

[Serenity Bly] I’m also getting a feeling of “mixed messages” from the Four of Cups, as if it’s been hard to follow the “rules” of diet and exercise because there are so many different versions of them. There is a sense of confusion about what is “right.”

[Miss Michelle] I see a need for rest, avoidance of needles. “Lost” and “confused” from that card. Hence why, GI Girl, I wanted to give you a hug.

[lowgigirl] Being hungry makes me have bad moods.

[Miss Michelle] I’m sensing definite fear of the needles and medical treatments in the Four of Swords.

[Serenity Bly] And I’m getting an “OMG I’m Starving” sensation that makes me wonder if I should have eaten or if you should have. It’s making me literally jittery, as if your meal-time schedule is off balance, you need to eat more regularly. But like I said, it could be me needing to eat.

[Miss Michelle] The conventional definition for that Four of Swords is a forced rest period, possible hospitalization, treatments. BUT in this sense, I’m getting a FEAR of that, and avoidance of it. It is not–I want to stress not–an outcome. But it’s on your mind–understandably so. I’m also getting weariness from that Four of Swords…

[lowgigirl] I’m aware if I don’t behave I’ll be on needles next, I don’t want that so I try to be good.

[Miss Michelle] The Nine of Cups –the Wish card– tells me there’s hope you’ll do it. You’ll find the RIGHT diet that will leave you full and satiated, happy and healthy.

[Jen.N] Are needles a sure thing? Have you been on oral medication? (I know it’s not for everyone but it works for me.)

[lowgigirl] Not at this stage. I guess I just expect it down the track.

[Miss Michelle] Don’t expect it. (to be blunt.) You CAN beat this.

[Jen.N] A lot of people do well on oral medication and never have to go on shots.

[Miss Michelle] The Two of Wands that was calling to me to pull it out–I feel like you haven’t met the right doctor. You need a doctor who will look at you in a partnership… you and he (or she) against the disease.

[Jen.N] Miss Michele, Do you mean an actual doctor or a nutritionist/diabetes educator? In my experience, the doctor wasn’t all that helpful but referred me to a great diabetes educator. Could that be beneficial?

[lowgigirl] Educator? I haven’t gone down that path yet. It was on my 2010 list.

[Miss Michelle] Jen, you may be on to something… I’m just using doctor as a “medical professional” synonym.
I’m not getting a sense of “white coat,” etc. The only thing strong is the partnership aspect–like a nutrition coach.

[Serenity Bly] *nods* Yes, and having one giving you the facts will help you build a diet and exercise plan that you can fit into your lifestyle and follow without being confused by mixed messages.

[Jen.N] If your doctor won’t refer you to a diabetes educator, call the local hospital & see if they have one on staff. See if you can get an appointment. Also, do they have classes for new diabetics at your local hospital?

[Serenity Bly] The Two of Wands could also represent an accountability coach. Someone who is working with you to keep you on track. Or teamwork like joining with a program that focuses specifically on healthy eating/exercise (like Weight Watchers or Curves). You mentioned an emotional connection to your diet and diabetes. And if you’re FEELING like you’re “not sweet” you might be doing things with the way you eat that will aggravate your diabetes.

[lowgigirl] My doc did mention a diabetic educator but I didn’t have the time then. I do now.

[Serenity Bly] If you’re compensating for emotional imbalances with reactive diet it can create problems.

[Jen.N] The thing I’ve discovered about diabetes (among many others) is that it’s VERY susceptible to emotions. Stress can make it skyrocket.

[lowgigirl] I found that many things affect it drastically.

[Jen.N] Different things really do affect it drastically. And it’s different for everyone.

[lowgigirl] I just feel miserable most of the time. Not to the point of tears, though. But hubby just has to say the wrong thing and I’m angry easily.

[Miss Michelle] You are dealing with a very frustrating, stressful disease that, on top of other things, affects hormones and mood.

[Jen.N] That’s actually a sign of blood sugar problems, too.

[Serenity Bly] I was just thinking that Jen. The emotional instability is a vicious circle. If your stress is high you’ll have trouble with your diabetes which will cause your emotions to be off-kilter which will cause trouble with your diabetes.

[Miss Michelle] It sounds to me like you are not eating enough, because the lows create bad moods.

[lowgigirl] But if I eat more I will gain more weight.

[Jen.N] OK… Don’t think about eating more as gaining weight. Think about it as in stabilizing blood sugars and keeping your metabolism on a more even keel.

[Miss Michelle] I’m NOT a doctor and I don’t know how you’re eating… But just based on what you’re saying… you may need to eat more food at meal times or eat smaller meals more frequently.

[Serenity Bly] Don’t forget that eating more isn’t about eating junk. It’s about choosing to eat the right kinds of food, more frequently and in smaller portions. Eating something every two hours instead of every five will make a HUGE difference to the stability of your sugar levels and your moods. But the something you eat every two hours should half what you would have eaten if you waited five hours.

[Jen.N] Frequent smaller meals = more level blood sugar and better metabolism which in turn = weight LOSS! And you don’t have to eat a lot. Invest in fruits you like — but not many oranges & citrus fruits — and string cheese and nuts.

[Serenity Bly] But you KNOW this. At least I feel like you know it in theory but are having trouble believing it can work. The only way you can prove to yourself it will work is to try it.

[lowgigirl] I feel like I should be exercising but exercise just give me the shakes.

[Serenity Bly] If exercise gives you the shakes it’s because you’re definitely under-eating.

[lowgigirl] So in summary: Get hugs. Get a dietitian. Eat small meals frequently.

[Miss Michelle] YES you got it.  

[lowgigirl] Thanks, all of you.

[Serenity Bly] *chuckles* In summary, “This has been very draining for you emotionally”, “you’ve faced a lot of confusion about the right way to deal with your diabetes”, “you need to work together with a dietitian to understand the best way to handle your situation,” “you should consider working with a friend or program for accountability”, “focus on keeping a balanced diet of small meals more frequently”, and “exercise, but only if you’ve had a solid meal not long before.” You CAN do this!

[Miss Michelle] EXPECT success. You CAN beat this, and your mindset can help… once you get the blood sugars under control.   

[Jen.N] And don’t get overwhelmed. A diabetes educator will help you to avoid that. If you think too much about what you can and can’t, should and shouldn’t, it all gets VERY overwhelming.

[Serenity Bly] Take it one day at a time. And worry less about what the scales say as to what your body and generally well-being say. If getting your diabetes under control means you do gain weight in the short term that’s okay. Once you’ve got the emotional swings under control you’ll find it easier to bring the weight back down. But I think you’ll find you’re probably under-eating rather than over-eating, and so eating more frequently will actually help you lose weight.

[lowgigirl] I’ve been so focused on not gaining weight that everything else seemed so hard.

[Serenity Bly] And, please talk to us if you need help or just want someone to talk to about it. It can be very confusing, it’s hard to know who to trust and what advice to follow. But sometimes what you really need is a chance to vent frustration or to have a really, really good long cry.

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