I don’t know if it was because I was staying the San Francisco area (hippie, organic food and greenie central of the US) but contrary to what I had expected in my head, I totally LOVED San Francisco and the wider bay area in general. Not to say that I thought I would hate it, I just didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. Good weather, fantastic food from jalapeno poppers at a diner style restaurant/cafe place to mexican, ethiopian, burmese and white miso ice cream, good people no disasters all made it a fantastic 7 days in the states.
There are many people and experiences I will remember from our week there which I could list but one of the geekiest for sure was the discovery of some totally amazing scales thanks to my friend Maria who were stayed with in Oakland. I’ve put a photo of them in the post with a link in the image that goes to the website so that if you are as tempted as I was you can go and buy a pair! I already have a pair of salter scales that have come over here with me since I paid a fair but for them but at a mere USD$59.99 I am sorely tempted to get some of these as a replacement once I have a job.
Why so amazing you say?
Well, if you are as fastidious as me and like to weight your CHO when at home to know exactly how much insulin to take then these scales make it a lot easier by coming with a book of codes that will automatically calculate the CHO, fat, fibre and protein content of the food being weighed! You can customise it for up to 99 foods, it works in grams, has a food database of 2000 foods and if you enter OPRAH as the promotional code, you’ll get a USD8.99 discount on their website (don’t ask where I got that code from. I’m calling it a genuine American experience).
I think this scale is pretty hot and if, once we have an apartment, I get one then I’ll be sure to let you know how they are going for me.
- Aaron
Posted in Technology & Equipment
Tagged as carb counting, nutritional scales
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Velocette wrote
On the site it says we can get this at Bed Bath & Beyond, do you know if we have them or will be getting them here soon???
Renata wrote
I could have sworn I heard a BB&B commercial on the radio the other day, but I have yet to see one here in NZ. I would love to know where it is too!
Zoe wrote
Bed Bath and Beyond in NZ isn’t associated with Bed Bath and Beyond in America in any way.
Roy wrote
Perhaps when you get settled in, could you list the cost of basic items like fruit,(apples, bananas ), bread, spuds, cabbage, etcetra.
My OE of this century has only ever focused on Japan and the price of food there is high and it is cheaper to eat out, providing of course, you do this in the right style of eatery.
While this should be in your first post comments, I will follow the standard food practice of beingdiabetic in general and cheat.
About the faulty cannula. Was this just a one off? And can it be made to function correctly?
James wrote
I’ve seen those scales before, but always struck me as kind of a good but not finished idea considering that you have to have a book of codes to use it, which seems just silly.
Why on earth don’t they just go the extra half mile and give you the ability to search the database right from the scales, if you’re going to look up in a book you might as well just use ordinary scales, a calculator and the Auckland Dietitians booklet/web sources.
If you’ve got a fancy phone even better, just look it up on the web. I actually had an application for my older Nokia which contained an offline searchable database of carb values (along with the ability to record and graph tests, doses etc), I’m sure that there is probably an iPhone or android app to do that too.
In any case, remember to subtract fibre content when you’re using these scales.
Karen R wrote
I love San Francisco! Until it’s time for The Fog.
My Aunt (Dad’s sister) is Type 1 and on a pump and has been in SF for years and years (and years). She always seems to get access to all the new-fangled gadgetry way before we do and thanks to her Insurance Company, whoever they may be.
[I'm so used to the old fashioned forums, I have actually never commented on a blog before (I don't think) - Roy got me worried when he mentioned "first post comments" - is there a protocol to follow here?? !!]
Aaron wrote
Hey guys!
Roy – the basic cost of stuff here is on average a bit cheaper than in NZ I’d say. It’s berry season so they are going cheap (like NZD1.25 for a punnet of raspberries). I’ll try to remember to keep track!
James – I kind of agree with you in the sense that it is still hard work (bear in mind that they aren’t made for diabetics too). What stuck me the most about these scales I think was that they even exist. The advancement in the tools that we have available to us is what I was marvelling at
Karen R – Welcome to the blog and posting! There is absolutely no protocol to follow at all, it’s an open forum for discussion so feel free to post comments lots
You are dead on about the fog! about 3pm or 4pm every day it rolls on in. Lucky for the giant redwoods that get 60% of their water from it but less lucky for us!
Roy wrote
Thanks Aaron. I agree with the tools now available and as these constantly increase it is a full time task keeping up.
Is the fog seasonal? I have seen it in many a movie, but never thought anything of it.
No hassles entering the US. I have heard and read all sorts of stories about getting through customs. A neighbour had their laptop looked over and were delayed and I read of someone who was still waiting to get theirs back, which might have now happened.
Nic wrote
Great to have our first blog from you as a U.S correspondent, Aaron!
Re the scales – I’m sure I saw something like them at the Homestore one time. Just did a quick google and found some Salter ones on Flybuys, here: https://www.flybuys.co.nz/GetRewards/pages/reward.aspx?RewardID=1907&OutletID=0 or here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Salter-1450-Digital-Nutritional-Scale/dp/B000JNU95Y/ref=pd_bxgy_k_img_b