does the 3 hour glucose test put mother & child at risk?

When I was pregnant with our 3rd child, I flunked my three hour glucose test. The test determines if a mother can handle glucose during pregnancy. One is asked to come to the test fasting — nothing to eat or drink for the previous 8 hours. One drinks about 8 ounces of a glucose solution containing 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of sugar. This is about three times sweeter than full-sugar Coca-Cola and must be drunk quickly, in one sitting. 

They determined that I was diabetic and would need to take insulin (through an injection in the abdomen) to keep my fasting blood sugar in the morning below 70. 

All of this was unnatural, but at the time I complied because a few years earlier we had lost a child at 20 weeks gestation. I was eager to successfully carry to term. Blood sugar below 70 in the morning is very low. 100 grams of sugar drunk at one sitting is outrageous. 

I put insulin for the next three months into my body (my two older daughters called my tummy "the rainbow of hurting"), sometimes having a waking blood sugar of 50. Our boy was born healthy and that was that.  

and then I remembered that my last 3 hour glucose test was done about a week before we lost our previous child at about 20 weeks gestation. so- when I got pregnant with our fourth child, I refused the 3 hour glucose testing. I assured the doctors that I would eat a low carb diet and that I would take my blood sugar four times a day. They didn't believe that I would have the discipline, but I was successful, had normal blood sugar readings with no insulin pokes in the abodomen, and our girl was born healthy

the lesson? Maybe the medical professionals are working with out-dated information. Yes- doctors are taught "when you hear hoof beats, think horse and not zebra" That might be true, but we should all see ourselves as 'zebras' and advocate for our our health- and that of our children 

gearing up for the Dormition fast with keto adjustments

meme from Catholic memes- Eastern edition 

Why do Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox Christians fast (in general- this means abstaining from animal products and reducing the amount we eat every Wednesday and Friday plus four extended fasting seasons) so frequently? 

We know we fall short. We know that we sin and fall short of God's hopes for us. We know that we need 'spiritual re-sets' that can help us look to God instead of ourselves. Fasting- plus prayer and almsgiving- is the way to journey back to God. 

does coconut oil kill?

who knows for certain? One could go crazy with different studies contradicting themselves.  I do know that industry does pay off universities and medical professionals to get what they want. Did you know that the sugar industry paid off Harvard medical researchers in 1967 to state that fat, not sugar causes diabetes? Hasn't obesity and diabetes sky-rocketed in frequency since the 60's and the FDA's food pyramid? This is a matter of life and death. Diabetes and obesity kills. It is evil of 'big food' to play with our lives. 

recipe: easy keto herb butter

this meal is less than 8 grams of carbs

Herb butter is an easy way to keep your macros (proportions) in a meal LCHF (low carb, high fat), keeping the body in a state of ketosis (using ketones instead of glucose as the primary fuel source) 

Easy Keto Herb Butter

1 8 oz package of unsalted Kerrygold butter, softened

2 teaspoons of pink Himalayan salt 

1- 2 teaspoons of freshly crushed garlic

1- 2 teaspoons of freshly minced parsley

1- 2 teaspoons of finely chopped green onion

1- 2 teaspoons of herbs (cilantro, basil, oregano, or thyme) 

Mix well and arrange into a 'log' shape on a sheet of foil lined with plastic wrap. Roll up butter log, wrap well, and place in freezer. Put off a slice of herb butter when you need to boost the fat and flavor of a dish. Keep well-wrapped in freezer. 

this meal is about 16 grams of carbs

Ketogenic low carb <20 gram carbs per day. This is a ketogenic diet (if protein intake is moderate). Moderate low carb 20-50 grams per day. 

For comparison, a regular Western diet can easily contain 250 grams of carbs or more in a day, most of them bad refined carbs, including sugar.

low carb high fat ketogenic diets: can they help cure type 2 diabetes?

"It only made sense – we treat gluten intolerance with elimination of gluten intake, and we treat lactose intolerance with elimination of lactose intake. Why, then, do we not tell carbohydrate-intolerant individuals (type 2 diabetics) to eliminate carbohydrate intake?" ...more at diet doctor.com 

I'm not lactose intolerant- but perhaps I am carb-sensitive.....

I went to visit a friend in the hospital for a type 2 diabetes foot surgery and saw the diabetic-special lunch tray. 

• a can of iced tea (32 grams of carbs per can)
• a low-fat turkey sandwich (2 slices of bread- about 25 grams of carbs) 
• a salad with low-fat dressing (about 10 grams of carbs)
• an apple (25 grams of carbs) 

They offered a meal that contained about 100 grams of carbs to a person who is insulin resistant. They also offered diabetes medication to keep blood sugar in check. There is growing evidence that a low carb, high fat ketogenic diet can be a solution for many people. The USDA food pyramid (with a basis in grains) has been a failure for the majority of the population. Obesity and diabetes are on the rise. We need a change. 

welcome to ByzyKeto- a blog about the ketogenic diet and fasting for faith and health reasons

I'm a long-time blogger at Fear Not Little Flock, and I'll still be writing about 'family, home, and faith' over there. Because of my interest in the ketogenic diet and how I can balance that with fasting guidelines as a Byzantine Catholic, I'll be writing here at ByzyKeto. about my journey balancing my ketogenic diet with Byzantine Catholic fasting guidelines.

There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to Byzantine and Orthodox fasting. Different churches have different recommendations and there is not the concept of 'mortal sin' if one falls short of the guidelines. Nevertheless, fasting is a huge part of Eastern spirituality.  Byzantine Catholics work with their spiritual father (perhaps their parish priest) to determine how much they will fast. Age, health, allergies all play a part in determining how severe the fast will be. 'On paper,' it looks very strict. 

Traditionally Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox Christians fast and abstain from all animal products every Wednesday and Friday and also fast during these seasons:

The Great Lent- 40 days before Pascha, or Easter

The Peter and Paul Fast (length differs, begins the day after the Sunday of All Saints (the Sunday after Pentecost) on the Eastern calendar until the feast of Sts Peter and Paul) 

The Dormition of the Theotokos Fast- August 1 to the feast of the Dormition (Assumption) 

The Nativity Fast or St Philip's Fast- beginning November 15th on new calendar to Christmas

Because of my health needs, I do not keep the fasting periods exactly as these guidelines call for. For the Dormition Fast which begins in two days, I will be doing 24-hour intermittent fasting, meaning one meal per day in the evenings using ketogenic food choices. My Wednesday and Friday meals will also be meatless. 

And when you fast, do not look dismal like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men, but your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. --- Matthew 6:16-18