Diabetic anyone?

[MsTinkerbelly]

I'm feeling a bit better today...I have been mildly depressed and pretty stressed out...my numbers really reflect it too! I have gone back to two injections per day (morning and night) until I can get back in a good range.

On a happier note I am down 54lbs now, which is just slightly off the 2lbs per week I am targeting. I'm still on track for my June goal but I'm trying really hard not to make my healthy eating all about weight loss due to some issues I have with feeling in control. Anyway...

[Rockinonahigh]

Everysence I have been deaing with diabetis I have had probs about washing out,the doc has me on 1200 cals a day and 140 carbs a day,even with that I have probs with light headedness,being tired,takeing naps cause of tiredness,being always just this sides if hungry most of the time.Today I bought a book by Nolan& Heslen who are diabetic docs,in the book they have a way to gauge how many claories and carbs that you can have to get to a your goal weight..My goal weight is 200 X 13( my activity factor for moderate activity)= 2600calories a day I should be eating = 325 carbs a day.The plan is that if I follow that set of number I will reach my goal weight cause im eating the ammount of calories and carbs for that weigh.currently I weigh 252..thats what it said on the scales today,if I follow the numbers for 252= 3246 in calories a day and the carbs go off the chart cause nither go that high.A lot of my problem is I have no real energy anymore,I wash out if I dont watch it,I got some glucerna bars today so I havent had a chanch to use them yet,my number are still good but all day today all I have done is rest and sleep.I have a docs appointment on 3-3-2012 so I know I will amnage till then if I need to I can go to the er.

[JustJo]

Everysence I have been deaing with diabetis I have had probs about washing out,the doc has me on 1200 cals a day and 140 carbs a day,even with that I have probs with light headedness,being tired,takeing naps cause of tiredness,being always just this sides if hungry most of the time.Today I bought a book by Nolan& Heslen who are diabetic docs,in the book they have a way to gauge how many claories and carbs that you can have to get to a your goal weight..My goal weight is 200 X 13( my activity factor for moderate activity)= 2600calories a day I should be eating = 325 carbs a day.The plan is that if I follow that set of number I will reach my goal weight cause im eating the ammount of calories and carbs for that weigh.currently I weigh 252..thats what it said on the scales today,if I follow the numbers for 252= 3246 in calories a day and the carbs go off the chart cause nither go that high.A lot of my problem is I have no real energy anymore,I wash out if I dont watch it,I got some glucerna bars today so I havent had a chanch to use them yet,my number are still good but all day today all I have done is rest and sleep.I have a docs appointment on 3-3-2012 so I know I will amnage till then if I need to I can go to the er.

Hi Rockin,

Honestly, 1200 calories doesn't sound like near enough to me. When I was pregnant with my son (and had gestational diabetes) they put me on 1500 calories a day at first...and I started losing weight way too fast. They put me up to 1800 and everything balanced out.

I haven't counted calories exactly since then, but know that I aim for about 1800ish now too and am losing weight slowly. I currently weigh 204....so my calorie need is actually lower than yours.

I'm not a medical professional by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems like you're on too restrictive of a diet to me when it comes to calories. Limiting carbs and fats are both important for diabetics....but you still need enough calories to get adequate nutrients, and so that your body doesn't decide there's a famine on and start hanging on to every fat cell.

A dear friend of mine is pre-diabetic and weighs about 275 right now. The doctors put her on a 2,400 calorie plan and she's losing slowly.

[Rockinonahigh]

Hi Rockin,

Honestly, 1200 calories doesn't sound like near enough to me. When I was pregnant with my son (and had gestational diabetes) they put me on 1500 calories a day at first...and I started losing weight way too fast. They put me up to 1800 and everything balanced out.

I haven't counted calories exactly since then, but know that I aim for about 1800ish now too and am losing weight slowly. I currently weigh 204....so my calorie need is actually lower than yours.

I'm not a medical professional by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems like you're on too restrictive of a diet to me when it comes to calories. Limiting carbs and fats are both important for diabetics....but you still need enough calories to get adequate nutrients, and so that your body doesn't decide there's a famine on and start hanging on to every fat cell.

A dear friend of mine is pre-diabetic and weighs about 275 right now. The doctors put her on a 2,400 calorie plan and she's losing slowly.

I feel like im on stall,everything is just funky,I ate skettie and meat balls for dinner last night w/1 small slice of garlic bread..this was at 6;00pm by 9pm I was on my way to a crash.I had eaten sencable all day but just had no reserve at al,l one of my team mates ran to the drug store and got some clucose pills and was literaly feeding the dam thing to me till I could think straight.Sje works with a nurseing home with lots of dabetic folks that she is incharge of theire daily intake and giveing them meds when needed.She also tested me right there and I was at 90 on the count..heck i've never been that low.Im going to slowly add calories and carbs cause I need to do something itll my appointment in march cause im so tired of feeling this way,I want to get back to the workouts but this way I keep crashing if I dont watch it.

[JustJo]

I feel like im on stall,everything is just funky,I ate skettie and meat balls for dinner last night w/1 small slice of garlic bread..this was at 6;00pm by 9pm I was on my way to a crash.I had eaten sencable all day but just had no reserve at al,l one of my team mates ran to the drug store and got some clucose pills and was literaly feeding the dam thing to me till I could think straight.Sje works with a nurseing home with lots of dabetic folks that she is incharge of theire daily intake and giveing them meds when needed.She also tested me right there and I was at 90 on the count..heck i've never been that low.Im going to slowly add calories and carbs cause I need to do something itll my appointment in march cause im so tired of feeling this way,I want to get back to the workouts but this way I keep crashing if I dont watch it.

Yes it sounds like you're getting too low.

One thing I found is that when I eat white flour products (like regular pasta or white bread) they quickly turn to sugar....so my blood sugar soars, then crashes lower than before.

Eating things that are lower on the glycemic index measure seems to help me stay more stable. I have a book on it...but I know there is good information out on the web about low glycemic foods. The other thing that has helped me to eat more lean protein and more healthy fat (like olives, olive oil and avocado). One of my most frequent snacks is a stick of string cheese and a handful of olives....works like a charm for me.

Definitely keep testing, and recording what you eat. Every diabetic is different....so you'll need to keep some records until you learn what it is that keeps you stable and what triggers either a spike or a crash for you.

Hugs,
Jo

[Rockinonahigh]

Yes it sounds like you're getting too low.

One thing I found is that when I eat white flour products (like regular pasta or white bread) they quickly turn to sugar....so my blood sugar soars, then crashes lower than before.

Eating things that are lower on the glycemic index measure seems to help me stay more stable. I have a book on it...but I know there is good information out on the web about low glycemic foods. The other thing that has helped me to eat more lean protein and more healthy fat (like olives, olive oil and avocado). One of my most frequent snacks is a stick of string cheese and a handful of olives....works like a charm for me.

Definitely keep testing, and recording what you eat. Every diabetic is different....so you'll need to keep some records until you learn what it is that keeps you stable and what triggers either a spike or a crash for you.

Hugs,
Jo


When I found out I had diabetis I got this pack in the mail about what I shoud eat and how much of what in calories and carbs,thats it, I havent gotten one shred of info form the hospital or the doc beond that,I figured with all the ballwhoo about this more infor and how to deal with this would be at hand from them.I do keep a food journal,fixin skettie was a spur of the moment things cause I was in a hurry cause it was my night to play pool so I didnt want much to cleanup and put away...next time I wil plan better.

[JustJo]

When I found out I had diabetis I got this pack in the mail about what I shoud eat and how much of what in calories and carbs,thats it, I havent gotten one shred of info form the hospital or the doc beond that,I figured with all the ballwhoo about this more infor and how to deal with this would be at hand from them.I do keep a food journal,fixin skettie was a spur of the moment things cause I was in a hurry cause it was my night to play pool so I didnt want much to cleanup and put away...next time I wil plan better.

I totally hear you...and it's a pain to figure out. It took me years...and I still have spikes and crashes when I get caught somewhere longer than I expected, etc.

Hang in there...you'll get this! :)

[Massive]

I have to admit that lately I've been letting my diet slide, not taking my metformin, and not doing a damn thing about it, I'd use the excuse that I've been ill off and on for the past two months, but that's not really an excuse, I'm responsible for my own health and well-being.
It can be hard sticking to the diets and taking the meds sometimes, at least it is for me, because here in the UK there's hardly anywhere, when you don't live in or near a city, to get foods which are low or no sugar, yeah I can get all the fresh fruit and vege from the farmers markets, but my RA makes it hard to be able to stand and prep then cook a healthy meal, and the support network is no good because it's all based too far away to travel to without ending up contorted into a mini pretzel on public transport.
I've also found that if I constantly take the dosage of metformin they want me to, I end up with so little energy that just getting out of bed is hard and it's already difficult enough with my RA getting in the way as it is...

[JustJo]

((( Massive )))

I so hear you on the fatigue thing. I think sometimes it's hard for people who don't share it to understand just how bone-aching exhausted we can get....and sometimes for what seems to be for no reason to non-diabetic folks. Honestly, I can't even imagine pairing it with the pain and stiffness of RA as well.

And....I'm still gonna waggle my finger at you and tell you to take care of yourself. Fresh stuff is better than processed....and it's still possible to eat healthy even when you're not up to cooking....fruit, low fat cheese, salad, greek yogurt....these are the things I grab when I'm without the time or energy to cook. And they help me stay in balance.

And take your meds please....I know what a pain it can be, but it's important. We want to keep you around! :)

[Massive]

((( Massive )))

I so hear you on the fatigue thing. I think sometimes it's hard for people who don't share it to understand just how bone-aching exhausted we can get....and sometimes for what seems to be for no reason to non-diabetic folks. Honestly, I can't even imagine pairing it with the pain and stiffness of RA as well.

And....I'm still gonna waggle my finger at you and tell you to take care of yourself. Fresh stuff is better than processed....and it's still possible to eat healthy even when you're not up to cooking....fruit, low fat cheese, salad, greek yogurt....these are the things I grab when I'm without the time or energy to cook. And they help me stay in balance.

And take your meds please....I know what a pain it can be, but it's important. We want to keep you around! :)

The combination of diabetes and RA does make life interesting some days, especially with the wonderful lack of sunshine on this side of the pond.

I promise, hand on my heart, I am taking care of myself now, I'm taking my meds, and eating healthily cos I have no intention of going anywhere anytime soon, I've got so much more I want to do with my life ;)

[MsTinkerbelly]

Finally past my plateu, and have lost 59 lbs.

My blood sugars are much better, and except for this cold that is hanging on I feel good!

I hope everyone is well (f)

[Lady_Di]

Not diabetic, not yet anyways... and if I have anything to say about I will not get it.

My grandmother died from complications from Type II Diabetes. My father had it as one of his many co-morbidities. My mother is pre-diabetic with a serious chocolate addiction which I hope she never gives up. She does not have that much longer on the planet, I say do what you enjoy til the day you die.

I pray she dies like her mother did, suddenly from a sudden cardiac event, or a stroke that is swift and sure, hopefully in her sleep. DNR, no tubes, no bs allowed for her. Her goal is to go gracefully into that good night and hopefully get to be with my father again as she really misses him big time. Like my grandparents, they were married over 60 years.

Meanwhile on this side of the veil, I intend to do all I can to prevent diabetes. This disease has so many lifestyle facets to it.

For me, personally sugar and white flour, all artificial sweetners are toxic for me. I am beginning to think I am better with out all gluten as well, though I do not have celiacs disease. I just feel better when I don't consume em.

I hope everyone monitors their blood sugars, even folks that do not have the disease. As it is rampant and many cases go undiagnosed.

Prevention is the cure I want. And for those already dealing with this, keep up the good fight. Your life is worth it.

Off to get a complete blood panel and see how good my numbers are. I am very lucky, for the most part I have avoided sweets, though there have been notable exceptions. Especially since my ex lived on refined everything! Which is all poison to me. One of the best things about being on my own, is eating what is best for me.

Lets hear it for the veggies and protein dance~ with a bit of fruit salsa added in for the sheer joy of it.

Eating and moving is a pleasure today.

Thank goodness! Eating delicious food is like healing medicine.

[MsTinkerbelly]

My blood sugar levels continue to decrease with the drop in my weight...65lbs now. All of my labs are amazing, and even my heart specialist is taking note of the changes. He has asked me a lot of questions, and has begun to read up on the Vegan/oil free diet as a way to possibly help some of his other patients.

I hope that I can maintain this way of eating...it's fine when we are home, but it really restricts our traveling. But, seeing those blood sugar numbers dropping...priceless.

[JustJo]

Got a PM with diabetes questions earlier, so thought I'd come give this thread a *BUMP*.....lots of good information here for diabetics and pre-daibetics. :rrose:

[Rockinonahigh]

I got a call from my new docs office about my blood test,the call came in yesterday but I didnt call till they opened this morning,my Ac1 is totaly normal.Wow..I am totaly surprised about that and glad to hear it,the doc said for me to contenue with my work outs and meal plans.

Question if anyone can anser it..I keep the Atkins meal bars handy incase I need one when im out and about on the package it says...only 3g net carbs but on the back with the ingredences it says total carbs 19g....confuseing to say the least.

So how is everyone doing in the crazy summer heet,its been a while sence we chatted.

[Leigh]

Good afternoon everyone,

I'm a Type 2 diabetic and have come here for support and to help get myself back on track. I will admit, because I trust everyone here, that I have been ignoring my diet pretty much since I got diagnosed last October and I've been reading this thread over the last day or two. This is a horrible disease for sure, I've seen the effects it can have on people and its not something to mess with thus I am here to not only get helpful advice and hints/tips from my friends but also because I really want to rein this in before it gets out of control ~ I look forward to being part of this group :)

[JustJo]

Been quite awhile since I've been in this thread, but some diabetic questions came up on the healthy weight loss thread, so I thought I'd give this a bump...

Lately, my biggest struggle has been with fatigue.

I have decided that it's really hard for non-diabetics to understand the intensity and depth of diabetic fatigue. It's not a constant thing for me, thankfully, but when it's going on I am exhausted....exhausted even beyond the point I was with a new baby with colic who didn't sleep through the night until he was 17 months old, plus a high stress job.

When it hits, I literally find it a struggle to keep my eyes open. The prospect of even the simplest activities can make me feel like all I want to do is sit (or lay) down and cry.

The problem, of course, is that it's not visible to anyone else. There's no wound....no temperature...no outward symptoms. And...because of my earliest training...I keep pushing through, keep doing what I need to do, even when I feel like I could easily either throw up or dissolve in tears.

It came to a real head for me today, when I posted on Facebook about my struggles with "the devil dogs"....and one of my oldest (as in elementary school) friends gave me a mini-lecture about how "all" they needed was a long walk every day.

As if I didn't freaking know that.

But I'm a strong woman, and independent, and....yes...a bit proud. And it hurts to say "really? so then what do I do when that's the last thing in the world I can do? what do I do when I struggle some nights just to make dinner for my son and clean up the kitchen? what about how I need to focus the energy I have on my job (since it's the only thing feeding us)...and struggling just to stay even on the filth and destruction they produce each day?"

I think people are so used to seeing me just keep on doing what needs to be done, that they don't give a second thought to how I might feel while I'm doing it.

And how I feel, all too often, is exhausted beyond belief, and on the verge of tears.

*end rant*

[Heavenleahangel]

U've never seen this thread before and want to share my experience. I started out as a Type II diabetic almost 25 years ago when my diabetes didn't go away after the birth of my daughter. I was told I had been diabetic for a while as my A1c was already 8. Fast forward the 25 years and I sooo wish I had listened way back when and learned everything I could have about this dreaded disease.
I consider this disease to be a sneaky bastard as I didn't *feel* sick for many years yet the damage was slowly gnawing away at my internal organs. But in the good ole south where tea has enough sugar to be considered syrup and everything is fried and covered in gravy, diabetes is soooo down played. My aunt always said "Oh you just got a touch of sugar". I didn't hear about the repercussions of sticking my head in the sand and how working 3 jobs was killing me slowly but surely.
I now know the strange relationship between high blood sugar and high triglycerides is a deadly combination. My sugar and triglycerides tend to go hand in hand and those delicate arteries in my heart and vessels just got clogged with the plaque and gunk which lead to coronary artery disease. Thank God I found it early and had to have 2 stents put in.
I also suffer from "painful diabetic neuropathy," I don't feel my feet like I should which lead to Charcot in both feet, I have gastroparesis or nerve damage to the nerves in my stomach which makes food digestion slower, and I get an actual shot of Avastin in each eye monthly. (Yes, the dr puts a needle in the outer corner of my eye each month.) The alternative is going blind. Diabetes is nothing to play with. Did I mention I am only 43 years old? I, like some people, just didn't listen. I wish now I had...

[NJFemmie]

My mother was a type II diabetic. I remember as a little girl, she would teach me how to inject her insulin in case of an emergency, and taught me the warning signs of a diabetic attack.

With that being said, I was recently diagnosed with type II diabetes, but fortunately do not require insulin. My A1c was not that high, but enough to categorize me as an official diabetic. *sigh* Gotta love genetics. I didn't want to admit this to myself at first, because the initial feeling when you hear something like this is - "I've failed myself". But, if it runs in the family, your odds of getting it is that much higher. In fact, my sister informed me that one of my brothers now has it, and he's on a ton of medications. I do not want to walk that path.

Good news is, with diet modification and daily testing, it seems that I am for the most part, within normal readings. I have yet to get the results of my latest A1c, but I am pretty confident that it's better than before if not close to or even normal. I am only on one dose of metformin, and my doctor feels no need to increase my medication. Yay for me. :) It's under control and that's the goal. My ultimate goal is to get off the meds and control it with diet and exercise because this CAN be reversed.

Carbs are the enemy. I am a carb maniac, so getting used to a diet with limited carbs and sugar is rough but doable. I don't drink soda anymore, eat very little carbs, and exercise regularly because exercise helps control the insulin in your body. It's overwhelming at first, but once you get a grasp on it, it's manageable. My mom died at a very young age and I certainly don't want to follow her footsteps.

For those ignoring their diet, I implore you not to. Diabetes is a silent killer and will damage your organs and nerves over time. It can cause blindness, nerve damage, heart and other organ failure... (you get the idea). Besides, purging the crap that only does your body harm makes you feel better all around. You can still eat the things you like (for the most part), but it's all about portion control. When I eat something that I know might spike my sugar, I'll work out afterwards. I find that it lowers my sugar and burns off some of those nasty calories.

[NJFemmie]

I got a call from my new docs office about my blood test,the call came in yesterday but I didnt call till they opened this morning,my Ac1 is totaly normal.Wow..I am totaly surprised about that and glad to hear it,the doc said for me to contenue with my work outs and meal plans.

Question if anyone can anser it..I keep the Atkins meal bars handy incase I need one when im out and about on the package it says...only 3g net carbs but on the back with the ingredences it says total carbs 19g....confuseing to say the least.

So how is everyone doing in the crazy summer heet,its been a while sence we chatted.


Net carbs is another name for carbohydrates that are processed as dietary carbohydrates by the body's systems. The net carbs have a direct impact on your blood sugar. To determine your intake, you subtract the grams of fiber, glycerine, sugar alcohols from the number grams of carbs you have eaten. The net carb is what is left. This is the count you use on such things as the Atkin's diet. You need to know why fiber is not counted as a carbohydrate. Fiber does not turn into sugar in your system, so it doesn't act as a sugar load in your body. For instance, if a bread has 27 carb grams and 3 fiber grams, you have net carbs of 24 grams. The fiber actually cancels out the fat, gram for gram.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6757905

[NJFemmie]

I've mentioned this before in another thread, but I find the diabetic friendly GNC Lean Shake 25 (NOT the powder version, get the bottles) is an excellent source of protein. It has 25 grams of protein and 6 carbs (three of which are fiber, so it's only 3 net carbs).

Calories 170 Sodium 390 mg Total Fat 6 g Potassium 475 mg Saturated 2 g Total Carbs 6 g Polyunsaturated 0 g Dietary Fiber 3 g Monounsaturated 0 g Sugars 2 g Trans 0 g Protein 25 g Cholesterol 20 mg

I get the swiss chocolate because it tastes like Yoohoo to me, and it's guilt free snacking or meal replacement. Sometimes I'll add this to my regular meal if I feel that the meal itself doesn't have enough protein. When Mare and I travel, I'll take some with me to help work out the "eating out" dilemmas most diabetics are faced with.

[Heavenleahangel]

I forgot mention in my earlier posting that I have been in pancreatitus so many times my pancreas no longer makes insulin so I am now a type I diabetic on an insulin pump. The high triglycerides was the catalyst to the pancreatitus.
I had my first physical therapy appointment today and was ashamed to be sitting there on the table for the therapist to tell me I had a muscular ability scale of 8 out of 64! He said a scale of 1 was someone totally bed bound. My muscles have atrophied and we made a plan for PT 3x a week with a re- evaluation in 10 weeks, but to look for PT to last longer. Once I get some strength back, I will also do pool therapy. Looks like I got my work cut out for me!

[GreeneyedMe]

I have been Type 2 since January of 2000. It is a difficult battle to say the least. I have been careful, not perfect...I am human and I love to eat. I have a sweet tooth from HELL....food has become an enemy. I struggle through my days...this... that, this...that....sigh...I'm an ok cook, I get by...I really don't enjoy grocery shopping...reading label after label...sighing in frustration as I put it back....

Today, at my A1C followup...I have been informed I will now become insulin dependent. Shit. Dammit. I am not thrilled. I knew it would come one day. I guess I am lucky it took this long....not exactly excited about needles, but if I want to stay around to finish growing up my boy...this is part of what I have to do...
.....and I am thanking the good lord above for the most wonderful Butch Daddy who has appeared in my life...without him at this moment, I honestly don't know what I would do.

[Leigh]

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to write this because a friend of mine pointed out that I am not taking care of myself health wise and being Diabetic that's not a good thing; the problem is I don't really know where to begin. If anyone could help me with things to do that will help me to properly control my diabetes I'd greatly appreciate it; I'm going to read this entire thread over the next few days and take notes but I hope I can talk to more of you who are also diabetic :)

[deb0670]

I was diagnosed with Type II in 2002, but have now been Insulin dependent for the last couple of years. I really do not like needled( except for tattoo needles), and it was very difficult for me to deal with having to inject myself 4 times a day. I am pretty used to it now. I have to really watch what i eat, even tho when i get a craving, i satisfy it .
I have lost some weight, but insulin is notorious for making people gain weight, so it is a struggle.

[NJFemmie]

Most recent A1c test came back and ......... (Drum roll please)

Almost normal! (although Mare tends to argue the definition of normal, I am referring to blood sugars here)

I've managed to get it below 6!! 5.8 to be exact.
My initial diagnosis test a few months ago was 7.2, which isn't great, but it wasn't the end of the world either. The ultimate goal is to get it below 5.5, get off the meds, and control it with diet and exercise.

*Clearing throat*

I'd like to thank Mare for Her support, my cats for being fluffy and adorable, regular exercise and healthier eating. :) Oh yeah, and probably Metformin. :/ I hate my *^#$*&@ meds.


Leigh - If you don't mind my mini-diatribe, I'd like to say it's simple, but it's not (and yet it is). When I was first diagnosed, I was devastated and overwhelmed. I am such a carb junky and also have a sweet tooth from hell and I wasn't sure I would survive the life change - but I did it, and I'm still alive. :) I still have moments where I am overwhelmed and not sure what I should or should not eat, but it becomes easier with time.

The first start would be to get in some regular exercise - at least 30 minutes a day, a few times a week at minimum = walking, bike riding, SOMETHING. Exercise helps the body metabolize and burn sugar. First and foremost, if you are overweight, you have to start losing it.

Cut out the bad carbs. I wouldn't recommend eliminating them completely, but choose wisely and cut them down considerably. Potatoes, rice, breads - all bad if you are eating the wrong ones. Stay away from white breads and rices. If you do find yourself wanting them, resist! or at the very least, cut down the portions. Diabetes is all about portion control. Eat small, healthy meals throughout the day.

Increase your protein intake. Get yourself some protein shakes, eat more meats instead of starches. Eat foods with fiber and consume more veggies. My plate used to have more carb than protein, but I reversed it. If I want to indulge in a little more carb than usual, I make sure I work out an hour after eating.

Cut out any candy. Don't indulge in sugar free candy. Sugar free candy may not have "sugar" in them, but they do have sugar alcohols in them, and that is a no no.

Drink more water and stay away from sodas - even diet sodas - as the sugar substitute in them causes a blood sugar spike. Drink those sparingly.

Test your blood regularly to see how certain foods effect you. If you notice that your sugar is high after eating a particular food, then cut that food out or limit how much you eat it.

My mother was insulin dependent, and that is my inspiration. I DO NOT want this to progress to the point where that may happen. My mom suffered from a lot of illnesses - and didn't have the medications, resources and support that we have now. If you continue to ignore it, you WILL develop serious health issues over time. Diabetes is destined to cause issues.

[JustJo]

Bravo NJ Femmie! 5.8 is awesome :)

Good advice Leigh....and you really, truly do need to take this disease seriously.

The big problem with diabetes is that we can eat sugar, and feel fine. It takes a long time to catch up with us. But, if we don't control it....it can kill us, blind us, make us have amputations.....serious, horrible stuff.

One of the easiest "tricks" is to make your plate half veggies....and not starchy veggies like corn and carrots. Make your plate half green veggies, squash, cauliflower....good veggies. The other half is 1/4 starch (leaning towards brown rice over white, whole grain pasta over white, sweet potatoes over white) and 1/4 lean protein.

Make your beverages water, unsweetened coffee or unsweetened tea....no soda (diet or regular), no juice...learn to love water.

And NJ Femmie is correct....you have to move. Walk, do housework, go to the gym, do yardwork....anything...but you have to move.

Good luck :goodluck:

[NJFemmie]

As a side note, if you absolutely have to have carbs - I recommend ....

http://images.netrition.com/images/id_watermark_jpg/212-0002.jpg

Mare found this in a magazine and I recently bought a box to try it out - my blood sugar was not whacked out and it's actually really good. (We are not fans of whole wheat/multi-grain pasta, so if Mare can eat this, anyone can :))

Here's a coupon to try it:
http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/ppc_buy/?gclid=COGO86nN6LMCFYqZ4AodVnYARQ

[lusciouskiwi]

Hi everyone - I'm not diabetic but my dad is on insulin injections and mum is borderline diabetic (she's on medication but her dr feels if she can get enough weight off, she'll be fine).

I read this article and thought I would share it with you:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20497086

Maybe there isn't a negative impact with diabetes medication, but thought I would share it anyways.

Hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving Dinner.

[Lady Pamela]

Today I was told I have this
"Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes"

Seems like everytime I go in they find something..anyways it is good to know what I have atleast.
Also why I have gained weight. That frustrating me more than anything.

Does anyone have any ideas or info that will help me with this?

Thanks so much
Blessings


.

[MsTinkerbelly]

Today I was told I have this
"Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes"

Seems like everytime I go in they find something..anyways it is good to know what I have atleast.
Also why I have gained weight. That frustrating me more than anything.

Does anyone have any ideas or info that will help me with this?

Thanks so much
Blessings


.

The first thing "I" would do is talk to a nutritionist regarding food to avoid or add to your diet, get more low-impact exercise (swim, walk, move to music, bicycling), and read read read.

The internet has so many good sites for reliable information, and some answers may just be a click away.

Blessings to you

[Lady Pamela]

The first thing "I" would do is talk to a nutritionist regarding food to avoid or add to your diet, get more low-impact exercise (swim, walk, move to music, bicycling), and read read read.

The internet has so many good sites for reliable information, and some answers may just be a click away.

Blessings to you

Thank you...smiles
I will definately be googling...ha


.

[o222Good]

Today I was told I have this
"Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes"

Seems like everytime I go in they find something..anyways it is good to know what I have atleast.
Also why I have gained weight. That frustrating me more than anything.

Does anyone have any ideas or info that will help me with this?

Thanks so much
Blessings
.

Well, this is my life also. It seems doctors are real quick to put us on the insulin pump these days, and I was determined not to go on insulin. My A1C was over 8.6 a couple of years ago. Now, I am not even diabetic, just in the high risk category. The best advice I can give has two parts. First, test your blood two hours after every meal to see what foods your body can tolerate. For me, I can never, and I mean NEVER, eat potatoes or rice. I'm a label reader to be sure they are not in anything. Some foods actually lower my sugar! Like Ezekial Bread, which is a sprouted wheat bread you can even get in the supermarkets here in NYC. Cruciferous veggies are very good for us, like brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli.

This website is a great help. Stick to foods with a low glycemic load and are non-inflammatory.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2363/2
Also, I get a great protein powder, with no sugar or artificial sweetener, called About Time from GNC.
http://www.gnc.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=about%20time&origkw=about+time&f=Taxonomy/GNC/13200328&sr=1

Which leads me to Part Two. Muscle development helps your body's cells use the insulin your body produces. When you lift weights, you become less insulin resistant, even to the point of controlling your diabetes. I see you call yourself a girly girl, but you can still lift weights! 3-4 days a week, skipping a day or two in between. Have protein after you lift, because your muscles will just consume themselves for protein if you don't! I'm sure some Butch in your neck of the woods will help you get started! Good luck to you, Lady Pamela!

PS Sugar is the devil!!

[Lady Pamela]

Well, this is my life also. It seems doctors are real quick to put us on the insulin pump these days, and I was determined not to go on insulin. My A1C was over 8.6 a couple of years ago. Now, I am not even diabetic, just in the high risk category. The best advice I can give has two parts. First, test your blood two hours after every meal to see what foods your body can tolerate. For me, I can never, and I mean NEVER, eat potatoes or rice. I'm a label reader to be sure they are not in anything. Some foods actually lower my sugar! Like Ezekial Bread, which is a sprouted wheat bread you can even get in the supermarkets here in NYC. Cruciferous veggies are very good for us, like brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli.

This website is a great help. Stick to foods with a low glycemic load and are non-inflammatory.
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2363/2
Also, I get a great protein powder, with no sugar or artificial sweetener, called About Time from GNC.
http://www.gnc.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=about%20time&origkw=about+time&f=Taxonomy/GNC/13200328&sr=1

Which leads me to Part Two. Muscle development helps your body's cells use the insulin your body produces. When you lift weights, you become less insulin resistant, even to the point of controlling your diabetes. I see you call yourself a girly girl, but you can still lift weights! 3-4 days a week, skipping a day or two in between. Have protein after you lift, because your muscles will just consume themselves for protein if you don't! I'm sure some Butch in your neck of the woods will help you get started! Good luck to you, Lady Pamela!

PS Sugar is the devil!!



Thank you so much for all the info.

[Hollylane]

A month or so ago, during pre-op, I received the third degree about my blood sugar being around 270, and my refusal to take any meds. I told the nurse, Grace, that I had not been behaving myself, but that I know how to fix it, and that I would. Grace gave me her email address, and said that if I was so sure I could fix it without medication, I could email her my morning blood sugar average weekly. She was just certain that I couldn't accomplish this and lowering my blood pressure, without the long list of meds recommended by the association.

I got back on track with my diet and exercise after that conversation, and as of this morning, it is down to 158. With just a little more effort, I am certain that I can get it down to 100 by the the end of April. Additionally, my blood pressure has returned to a normal average.

I just sent off an email, with a smirk on my face. I ended the email, thanking her for her concern, but what I really wanted to end it with was..."In your face, Grace!"

[VeganDebbie]

First time stumbling across this thread. I am a Type one Diabetic, been one for 35 years..........

[MsTinkerbelly]

First time stumbling across this thread. I am a Type one Diabetic, been one for 35 years..........

I am a Vegan/no oil eater...just found out I am severely Vitamin D lacking and have been put on a once a week pill for 8 weeks. I mention this because vitamin D can also affect Diabetes and other health issues like heart disease and bone/muscle/memory problems.

[JustBeingMe]

I"m diabetic and having been put on metformin, I've been able to control my bloodsugar level better. I also have high blood pressure that I was recently put on meds for.
I was put on abilify for my mood because of my depression several months ago and it's caused me to gain 15 pounds since Oct. I am now changing my eating habits more and more to be more of the lowcarb meals. Because a diet high in carbs can be a huge no no for me.
I would suggest that you pick up a Diabetic Living Low Carb magazine or check out the website. They have some very delicious high protein low carb recipes for you that you may like. It's also a good idea to even try weight watchers meetings is what my doctor said, they can help you learn more about nutrition wise what foods you can intake and help you with portion control. I don't have an issue with portion control so much as what I can afford to purchase to eat and get bored eating the same foods all the time. So my dad, bein an insulin dependent diabetic, helped me learn some things as well, like stayin off bread and potatoes which starches that your body turns to sugar and other carbs that aren't good for me. He also bought me the diabetic living low carb cookbook magazine for me to try some new recipes.

I have trouble exercising because of my discs being ruptured in my back, but now that it's warmer outdoors, I tend to walk as much as I am able during the day for exercise that I can tolerate, outdoors. I also have a low vit. D level for which I take 5000 IU"s a day to keep my level up, doctor ordered over the counter vitamin. I also drink milk more than I used to.
There is also a high protein low carb thread too, here's the link that you can get some information from as well for diet change : LINKYLOO (http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2353)

[Loren_Q]

Yup, that would be me too.

When my doctor told me she said I was in an uncommon category. I wasn't overweight, I exercised regularly, ate well (lots of veg, not so much meat) and, other than fruit, didn't often eat sweets. My dad was also type II, he was thin but muscular and pretty much a vegetarian, so it looks like genetics played the biggest role for me.

The doc wanted to start me on medication because I was already doing most of the lifestyle changes recommended. But I didn't want to go that route.

So I changed my exercise to more weight training and started keeping a closer eye on what I eat and when I eat it.

The hardest part was not eating fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit is my favorite snack, but now I eat some healthy fat/protein before I chomp on whatever fruit is in season. Usually some type of nut butter that will go well.

When I changed the exercise and what/when I eat, my fasting blood sugar dropped to a consistent 110 (from 120). BTW I do fasting blood sugar because I had a few years of existing records.

The the end of last year I made 3 changes and now my fasting blood sugar is consistently 101.

Those 3 changes were:
-Increasing my vitamin D
-Adding a niacinamide supplement
-started using e-cigs for smoking cessation.

I have no idea if any (or all or some combination) is what really made me turn the corner, but whatever it is, I'm just going to stay the course.

[VeganDebbie]

I am a Vegan/no oil eater...just found out I am severely Vitamin D lacking and have been put on a once a week pill for 8 weeks. I mention this because vitamin D can also affect Diabetes and other health issues like heart disease and bone/muscle/memory problems.

Ironically my vitamin intake is normal; according to my Dr. I do take a multi-vitamin, and 2 cinnamon pills daily.

[Hollylane]

Here it is, the end of April. I did not make my goal, but I have brought down my average fasting blood sugar a bit more, to 135. I suspect that the reason that I did not reach my goal, was because for nearly 2 weeks this month, I was not able to exercise, due to pain/medication related to my gastroparesis. I haven't given up yet, not by a long shot. I'm feeling much better now, and am back on the warpath.

[MsTinkerbelly]

Here it is, the end of April. I did not make my goal, but I have brought down my average fasting blood sugar a bit more, to 135. I suspect that the reason that I did not reach my goal, was because for nearly 2 weeks this month, I was not able to exercise, due to pain/medication related to my gastroparesis. I haven't given up yet, not by a long shot. I'm feeling much better now, and am back on the warpath.

I'm not a doctor...far from it.

That being said, even small elevations of blood sugar long-term can do serious harm to your blood vessels, kidneys and nervous system. I wish i had practiced better monitoring, because having a heart attack at 40, and a triple bypass at 46, i learned the hard way that there are far worse things than taking a mild pill to keep the sugar under 100, which is more like the recommended number.

Good luck to you whichever way you choose to go, as it will probably be something you have to work hard at your whole life.

Blessings, Cindy

[Hollylane]

Thank you for you input Cindy, and I do appreciate your concern. I'm sorry that you have experienced those major health issues. You're right, monitoring is extremely important, and something I am diligent about.

Forgive me, but I am passionate about this topic, because it is something I have to think about on a daily basis. So, I tend to go on about it, because I have spent so much time, effort, sweat, blood, and tears on the ongoing project that is my health.

I'm assuming that the mild pill you're talking about is Metformin. Metformin generally does not cause side effects for most users, and works well to reduce blood sugar in most type 2 diabetics. For me, it did nothing to reduce my blood sugar, and was responsible for an immediate acute case of pancreatitis, which resulted in pancreatic lesions, and a lovely extended hospital stay. I also had severe adverse reactions to the general regimen prescribed by most primary care doctors (commonly prescribed by physicians under group health care programs) for Type 2 diabetics (statin drugs when there was no evidence of high cholesterol, and blood pressure meds prescribed with no history of high blood pressure).

At one point, my blood sugars averaged somewhere around 370, but through very hard work, better management (through extensive self advocacy, research into my condition, and finally locating a rare specialist) of my gastroparesis, I was averaging a 95 blood sugar for more than 3 years. The diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes was even removed from my health records until just recently.

I have had recent issues with the progression of my gastroparesis, surgical recovery, and the associated small amount of weight gain from inactivity following those surgeries. Then I had issues with my body adjusting while I attempted vegetarianism (due to how I feel about the horror that is the meat industry), and then realizing a better option for my health, would be pescatarianism.

Since putting my nose back to the exercise grindstone (as often as possible, with as much effort as possible), and adjusting my diet to suit my health needs, I have, once again, made very significant progress in bringing my blood sugar down without medication, and the extra weight has begun to drop off again.

As long as I am able to do this, my doctor agrees wholeheartedly with me, about staying away from any and all diabetic medications. He tells me that he admires my accountability, and celebrates my efforts and successes. He told me recently that when he tells other patients and doctors about my progress, that it generally falls on deaf ears.

My doctor and I also agree with the fact, that The ADA is an "association", and not a non-profit organization. They receive BIG $$ from major pharmaceutical companies (along with federal funding, and private donations). The ADA is not all bad, but big funding, from big pharma, notoriously leads to skewed information.

I'm not saying that what I am doing works for everyone, or will even always work for me. But, for some people, it is possible to stave off, or even avoid entirely, the progression along the path to the requirement for diabetic medication. Frankly, though it can be frustrating at times, I work hard at it, and will continue to do so for as long as I am able, because I am worth it.

My 86 year old grandmother is living proof, of what is possible for some people. She has been considered pre-diabetic (100-125 fasting glucose) for more than 50 years, and has steadfastly refused diabetic medication, as well as the diabetic dietary recommendations. She has no indications of diabetic associated health conditions (eye problems, circulation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidneys/heart problems, stroke, etc...). She is still thriving, active, living alone (with her goats, cats, and dog), and just as sharp as ever.

[MsTinkerbelly]

Thank you for you input Cindy, and I do appreciate your concern. I'm sorry that you have experienced those major health issues. You're right, monitoring is extremely important, and something I am diligent about.

Forgive me, but I am passionate about this topic, because it is something I have to think about on a daily basis. So, I tend to go on about it, because I have spent so much time, effort, sweat, blood, and tears on the ongoing project that is my health.

I'm assuming that the mild pill you're talking about is Metformin. Metformin generally does not cause side effects for most users, and works well to reduce blood sugar in most type 2 diabetics. For me, it did nothing to reduce my blood sugar, and was responsible for an immediate acute case of pancreatitis, which resulted in pancreatic lesions, and a lovely extended hospital stay. I also had severe adverse reactions to the general regimen prescribed by most primary care doctors (commonly prescribed by physicians under group health care programs) for Type 2 diabetics (statin drugs when there was no evidence of high cholesterol, and blood pressure meds prescribed with no history of high blood pressure).

At one point, my blood sugars averaged somewhere around 370, but through very hard work, better management (through extensive self advocacy, research into my condition, and finally locating a rare specialist) of my gastroparesis, I was averaging a 95 blood sugar for more than 3 years. The diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes was even removed from my health records until just recently.

I have had recent issues with the progression of my gastroparesis, surgical recovery, and the associated small amount of weight gain from inactivity following those surgeries. Then I had issues with my body adjusting while I attempted vegetarianism (due to how I feel about the horror that is the meat industry), and then realizing a better option for my health, would be pescatarianism.

Since putting my nose back to the exercise grindstone (as often as possible, with as much effort as possible), and adjusting my diet to suit my health needs, I have, once again, made very significant progress in bringing my blood sugar down without medication, and the extra weight has begun to drop off again.

As long as I am able to do this, my doctor agrees wholeheartedly with me, about staying away from any and all diabetic medications. He tells me that he admires my accountability, and celebrates my efforts and successes. He told me recently that when he tells other patients and doctors about my progress, that it generally falls on deaf ears.

My doctor and I also agree with the fact, that The ADA is an "association", and not a non-profit organization. They receive BIG $$ from major pharmaceutical companies (along with federal funding, and private donations). The ADA is not all bad, but big funding, from big pharma, notoriously leads to skewed information.

I'm not saying that what I am doing works for everyone, or will even always work for me. But, for some people, it is possible to stave off, or even avoid entirely, the progression along the path to the requirement for diabetic medication. Frankly, though it can be frustrating at times, I work hard at it, and will continue to do so for as long as I am able, because I am worth it.

My 86 year old grandmother is living proof, of what is possible for some people. She has been considered pre-diabetic (100-125 fasting glucose) for more than 50 years, and has steadfastly refused diabetic medication, as well as the diabetic dietary recommendations. She has no indications of diabetic associated health conditions (eye problems, circulation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidneys/heart problems, stroke, etc...). She is still thriving, active, living alone (with her goats, cats, and dog), and just as sharp as ever.

If I came off as a know it all or someone who knows better than you, I'm sorry for that Hollylane; it does indeed sound like you know yourself well.

Funny you should mention Metformin. All these years I have taken Glucotrol and recently my doctor asked me to try Metformin in an attempt to reduce the amount of Insulin I take. I have to say I have felt fairly sick since I began taking it Friday, with no noticible changes in my levels.

Thank you, I will have to give him a call.

[Hollylane]

If I came off as a know it all or someone who knows better than you, I'm sorry for that Hollylane; it does indeed sound like you know yourself well.

Funny you should mention Metformin. All these years I have taken Glucotrol and recently my doctor asked me to try Metformin in an attempt to reduce the amount of Insulin I take. I have to say I have felt fairly sick since I began taking it Friday, with no noticible changes in my levels.

Thank you, I will have to give him a call.

Oh no, not at all Cindy. I just get so passionate about this subject, and the approach to diabetes management being the same for every patient. Blindly following my doctors orders nearly killed me, so I feel it is important to share what I have learned, and continue to learn about what having diabetes means for me. I truly did appreciate your concern, and I understand the place you were coming from, when you responded to my post.

I hope that you find something that works for you, I know that when I was at my worst (averaging 370 blood sugar), I was using 2 different types of insulin, one of which was considered a "designer" insulin, and injecting 6 times per day, with no positive results. I found it absolutely maddening. Though having more food choices was nice, I actually find that what I am doing now, is actually much easier, and makes much more sense to me.

[Loren_Q]

I'm echoing Hollylane's sentiments. Managing diabetes is personal, but one thing I believe we should all have in common is a good dose of self-advocacy.

My doc insisted I go on medication, and I was just as insistent to *not* use medication. Also like Hollylane, I've had adverse reactions (not as severe though, geez). And I also think big pharma is the devil's spawn.

I did a ton of research, tried and dropped various regimens until I found something that worked *for me*. Monitoring my blood sugar was key, as is the discipline to maintain my regimen.

Mine is a combination of diet (what and when), supplements and exercise. It's not terribly rigid, or maybe I'm just used to it now.

My doc is impressed with my results and perhaps less skeptical now.

[Arwen]

I'm juiced!

My A1C came in at 6.7. :D Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Exercise, diet, Metformin as Rx have been key. I also think the new supplements I've been on for about 5 weeks have been HUGE in helping me lose weight and have more energy. If you are curious, I started with the 24 Day Challenge here (https://www.advocare.com/12055038/Store/default.aspx). (this IS an affiliate link but it is NOT mine. It's my best friend. Took her 2 years to convince me to try this out. Sorry I waited now. :D ) It's pricey but, for me, it's been worth it.

6.7, y'all! That's down from 9.3 a year and a half ago. :D

[MsTinkerbelly]

I'm juiced!

My A1C came in at 6.7. :D Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Exercise, diet, Metformin as Rx have been key. I also think the new supplements I've been on for about 5 weeks have been HUGE in helping me lose weight and have more energy. If you are curious, I started with the 24 Day Challenge here (https://www.advocare.com/12055038/Store/default.aspx). (this IS an affiliate link but it is NOT mine. It's my best friend. Took her 2 years to convince me to try this out. Sorry I waited now. :D ) It's pricey but, for me, it's been worth it.

6.7, y'all! That's down from 9.3 a year and a half ago. :D


Way to go!!!!

[MsTinkerbelly]

Well despite my cholesterol going down as well as my weight, I had another blocked artery and another heart attack. God damn diabetes!

[Hollylane]

My diligence is paying off. Still without meds, but with diet & exercise, I now have a fasting blood sugar of 98 average. I gained a small turkey, then lost a big turkey in the last 20 days (gained 10 because of water bleeding into my cells, and then lost 15 once I learned how to add the right electrolytes into my water intake).

[Rockinonahigh]

My diligence is paying off. Still without meds, but with diet & exercise, I now have a fasting blood sugar of 98 average. I gained a small turkey, then lost a big turkey in the last 20 days (gained 10 because of water bleeding into my cells, and then lost 15 once I learned how to add the right electrolytes into my water intake).


Holly I havent thought about that part cause I have put on 2 1/2 pounds since I got back from the pool tournament.I also am a tad off the food plan with a little more fruit(apples) than I usely eat plus a couple of oatmeal raisin cookies over the last fue days.You would think in Vegas I wouldnt have a problem keeping on the plan but it was harder than I thought it would be as meals were catch as I could because of haveing to be at the tournament room most of the time so what I got was at the vendors so there wasnt many good choices.There was avendor that opened up on the last three days that had salad and fruit so I ate there a lot,one day I had salad for breakfast cause the only other thing was muffins,sweet rolls and such.When I did manage to get to a buffet the choices were a lot better but it was still not easy or maybe I didnt look hard enough but I shure tryed.

[tiaras-and-books]

Hey all! :) I was recently diagnosed with type 2. I've been counting my carbs for only about a week or so, but I swear I already feel better. I didn't even realize how constantly awful I was feeling, as it'd become normal.

Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I saw the term "diabadass" on another site. So hey there, fellow diabadasses! :D

[Rockinonahigh]

I pulled a stupid thing yesterday,I made a sweet potato pie,the last one I made I used splenda instead of sugar,well I didn't have any splenda so I went with regular sugar.The pie is as good as I ever made,the problem is even having a small slice will trip me into light headedness with some upset stomach to go with it.I though it may have been because I had eaten so many carbs with dinner I had an hour before,this after noon I ate another thin slice and the same thing happened.I can eat a candy bar and this wont happen but this sugar in the pie made me feel like crap.I swear I wont use regular white sugar in anything I eat ever again,when this happened again I drank lots of water to hope to flush it out or at least thin the effects with water.This is the first time I ever had a reaction like this

[tiaras-and-books]

I pulled a stupid thing yesterday,I made a sweet potato pie,the last one I made I used splenda instead of sugar,well I didn't have any splenda so I went with regular sugar.The pie is as good as I ever made,the problem is even having a small slice will trip me into light headedness with some upset stomach to go with it.I though it may have been because I had eaten so many carbs with dinner I had an hour before,this after noon I ate another thin slice and the same thing happened.I can eat a candy bar and this wont happen but this sugar in the pie made me feel like crap.I swear I wont use regular white sugar in anything I eat ever again,when this happened again I drank lots of water to hope to flush it out or at least thin the effects with water.This is the first time I ever had a reaction like this

Ugh, that's crummy, Rockinonahigh. :/ My mom's like that. (She's T2 too.) Some things are totally fine for her, other things send her blood sugar skyrocketing.

[Rockinonahigh]

Ugh, that's crummy, Rockinonahigh. :/ My mom's like that. (She's T2 too.) Some things are totally fine for her, other things send her blood sugar skyrocketing.

Yes, it is crummy,I do like my pie's.It has been a long time since I used white sugar for anything so it was a big surprise,I get off my food plan hear and their and don'y have an issues with flair up's.Halloween should have done me in with all the candy I ate but I never had anything happen.

[Paradox]

Interesting thread. My best friend informed me over the weekend she's been diagnosed as diabetic (low range) T2. She obviously not happy about it, but determined to reverse it. And I am sure she will. I'll help anyway I can (even remotely)

She's been monitoring her nutrition for awhile and exercising just over a month ago so this was a surprise. My step mom is also T2 diabetic and her health has improved.

Very happy to see the progress many of you are making. Nutrition is paramount along with exercise and the appropriate type of exercise - work those muscles.

Congrats to you all on your perseverance. :)

[Rockinonahigh]

Interesting thread. My best friend informed me over the weekend she's been diagnosed as diabetic (low range) T2. She obviously not happy about it, but determined to reverse it. And I am sure she will. I'll help anyway I can (even remotely)

She's been monitoring her nutrition for awhile and exercising just over a month ago so this was a surprise. My step mom is also T2 diabetic and her health has improved.

Very happy to see the progress many of you are making. Nutrition is paramount along with exercise and the appropriate type of exercise - work those muscles.

Congrats to you all on your perseverance. :)


Exercise is the big key for me,I do have a sweet tooth but it runs to fancy pastries plus some down right trashy candy,I don't eat bananas much anymore
more because of the high carb count.I get gala apples that are a bit smaller than a closed fist that satisfy my craving for something crunchy + sweet now it's really fine with peanut butter or sharp cheddar cheese goes really well with it.Eating healthy meals isn't a problem as I always eat healthy but it's desert and something to hold me till the next meal is where the junk food comes in.Raw veggies has helped to change that issue,but I do really miss eating a four pack of peanut butter cups with a root beer.

[tiaras-and-books]

I'm hanging out with friends tonight, and boy it's hard to eat toward a good blood sugar. The girls brought over snacks, and I am having a haaaaaard time not just diving in. (They brought snickerdoodles! My favorite! AND THERE ARE PLENTY! AND THEY'RE HUGE!) It should be fine, given that we're at my house, but I haven't been able to go grocery shopping for a couple weeks, so what's left in my cupboards is what I've been avoiding eating because it isn't great for my blood sugars.

I need to be better prepared, and as this becomes more a part of my life I think my friends (who are considerate folks) will increasingly include me-friendly things in their snack-bringing efforts.

But right now I just wanted to say SNICKERDOODLES! WHYYYYYYYY???? to somebody.

(Although I am totally having one later. Maybe half of one split with a friend. We'll see.)

[Rockinonahigh]

I finely did it and wen't full blown diabetic,I am now on metform 2x a day and will start taking them as soon as I get the pills.Over the last few weeks I have had major problems with my back and knee so I have had to take it easy and not do to much till I get the pain issues back under controle,at the moment I am getting an injection next week and am also working on getting the dose right for new pain pills.I know what being diabetic is and how it is supposed to be handled,what I need to find is a support group cause other than hear I don't have one.The doctor said she had someone come in once a month at her clinic for individual support that I can get,and I will,but I wan't to talk to people who deal with this in real life not a doctor who is talking over my head for the most part.What is metform,how dose it work and what are the negative side to it,what can I do to deal with this on a daily basic all I got was the normal speal of doctor talk.I would appresheate any information I can get.

[MsTinkerbelly]

I finely did it and wen't full blown diabetic,I am now on metform 2x a day and will start taking them as soon as I get the pills.Over the last few weeks I have had major problems with my back and knee so I have had to take it easy and not do to much till I get the pain issues back under controle,at the moment I am getting an injection next week and am also working on getting the dose right for new pain pills.I know what being diabetic is and how it is supposed to be handled,what I need to find is a support group cause other than hear I don't have one.The doctor said she had someone come in once a month at her clinic for individual support that I can get,and I will,but I wan't to talk to people who deal with this in real life not a doctor who is talking over my head for the most part.What is metform,how dose it work and what are the negative side to it,what can I do to deal with this on a daily basic all I got was the normal speal of doctor talk.I would appresheate any information I can get.

Hi Rockin,

I took Metformin briefly and had severe Nausea and pain...they say the long lasting pills are better than the 2x daily, but i don't know as i won't try them. They don't bother everyone, and they are supposed to help with weight loss as well as sugar levels; i hope they work for you.

[TruTexan]

Hi Rockin,
I take Metformin 1 time a day of 500mg pill after breakfast. I get diarrhea from it so my doc also put me on Welchol 625mg which helps combat the diarrhea and also helps me with my sugar level too.
Diarrhea is a common side effect of Metformin. Here is a link to the web so you can read up on Metformin side effects and other things.

Metformin (http://www.medicinenet.com/metformin-oral/article.htm) <<<<click the link for drug information.


I haven't had any of the side effects listed other than diarrhea. So, my Welchol is another diabetic drug that helps with that issue. I'm doing pretty well on it.

Your main goal is to cut out any sugars in your drinks and food, which includes food like potatoes and bread which are starches that turn to sugar when eaten and broken down. You should see a nutritionist if you aren't sure which of your foods turn to sugar, and they can help you remain on a diabetic diet, which you will need to do. I have pretty much stopped all foods that turned to sugar, except the occasional potatoes which I eat very small portions of when I do have them. If you can keep your blood sugar under control and remain on a diabetic diet, you will do fine I"m sure. Your body as you age tends to stop producing enough insulin from the pancreas to reduce the amount of blood sugar and A1C in your blood which lowers your overal sugar in your body. Please take heed to taking care of you feet, your body tends not to heal up very well because your immune system is now compromised....why diabetics don't heal well or tend to get infections in their feet and toes.
If you can keep your A1C down and your blood sugar levels within the range that is acceptable while using Metformin, then you will more than likely if not have to use Insulin shots. This is why it's so important to take care of yourself now that your diabetic. I hope you understand all that I'm saying to you.
I read up on things and asked my doc to explain things to me in layman's terms, and it helps me to understand also about my dad taking insulin shots. He's a full blown insulin dependent diabetic, which is taken after each meal for him. Insulin keeps his blood sugar and A1C under control most of the time. Right now he's dealing with the bottom of his large toe being infected and not healing, they have pretty much done everything possible to get it to heal, next step is surgery to explore why it's not healing and possible he will lose his large toe. I hope not though. Anywho, ask your doctor to refer you to a dietician to help you with your diabetic diet to get information about which foods you shouldn't eat,etc.

Remember to always eat something before you take your metformin, so your blood sugar levels don't drop too low on you and cause issues. You should always eat while taking this drug.
Read and follow the directions from your doctor about this medication, and read the drug insert pamplets about it. That way you know more also about the drug.
PS: right after you take your metformin, stay close to someplace with a bathroom as you may have diarrhea hit you, you're probably going to need one without warning..........just so you know.

I hope this helps.
Justy

[Rockinonahigh]

Hi Rockin,
I take Metformin 1 time a day of 500mg pill after breakfast. I get diarrhea from it so my doc also put me on Welchol 625mg which helps combat the diarrhea and also helps me with my sugar level too.
Diarrhea is a common side effect of Metformin. Here is a link to the web so you can read up on Metformin side effects and other things.

Metformin (http://www.medicinenet.com/metformin-oral/article.htm) <<<<click the link for drug information.


I haven't had any of the side effects listed other than diarrhea. So, my Welchol is another diabetic drug that helps with that issue. I'm doing pretty well on it.

Your main goal is to cut out any sugars in your drinks and food, which includes food like potatoes and bread which are starches that turn to sugar when eaten and broken down. You should see a nutritionist if you aren't sure which of your foods turn to sugar, and they can help you remain on a diabetic diet, which you will need to do. I have pretty much stopped all foods that turned to sugar, except the occasional potatoes which I eat very small portions of when I do have them. If you can keep your blood sugar under control and remain on a diabetic diet, you will do fine I"m sure. Your body as you age tends to stop producing enough insulin from the pancreas to reduce the amount of blood sugar and A1C in your blood which lowers your overal sugar in your body. Please take heed to taking care of you feet, your body tends not to heal up very well because your immune system is now compromised....why diabetics don't heal well or tend to get infections in their feet and toes.
If you can keep your A1C down and your blood sugar levels within the range that is acceptable while using Metformin, then you will more than likely if not have to use Insulin shots. This is why it's so important to take care of yourself now that your diabetic. I hope you understand all that I'm saying to you.
I read up on things and asked my doc to explain things to me in layman's terms, and it helps me to understand also about my dad taking insulin shots. He's a full blown insulin dependent diabetic, which is taken after each meal for him. Insulin keeps his blood sugar and A1C under control most of the time. Right now he's dealing with the bottom of his large toe being infected and not healing, they have pretty much done everything possible to get it to heal, next step is surgery to explore why it's not healing and possible he will lose his large toe. I hope not though. Anywho, ask your doctor to refer you to a dietician to help you with your diabetic diet to get information about which foods you shouldn't eat,etc.

Remember to always eat something before you take your metformin, so your blood sugar levels don't drop too low on you and cause issues. You should always eat while taking this drug.
Read and follow the directions from your doctor about this medication, and read the drug insert pamplets about it. That way you know more also about the drug.
PS: right after you take your metformin, stay close to someplace with a bathroom as you may have diarrhea hit you, you're probably going to need one without warning..........just so you know.

I hope this helps.
Justy

Thanks Justy,I have enough gut problems cause of acid re flux now I may have more issues,how the heck dose anyone have an active life taking meds.I guess it's dam if you do and dam if you don't,I will get something to combat the diarrhea...so glad to have two bathrooms hear at home.

[TruTexan]

Hey Rockin,
Next blood work, ask your doctor to do a Vitamin D check as well, just to make sure your vitamin D blood level is where it's supposed to be. The older we get, the less Vitamin D levels many people have. I have low Vitamin D levels, and I take a Vitamin D3 supplement of 5,000 IU dosage one capsule a day because that level is what my doctor told me to buy and take. Just make sure you check your level first and see what the doctor says about it. Vitamin D is good for your bones and as we age, we tend to have bone density loss as well. Just be sure to ask about that first though.

[ruby36]

Yep - I am in my 40s and have recently been diagnosed with diabetes - not sure why as I am small framed and not overweight - just one of those things I guess. Fortunately I don't need meds yet and hopefully if I eat well I wont need them either. Thanks for this post. It's nice to share with others apart from the doctors lol.

[Logicaly]

So, I am newly diagnosed diabetic. I have known for about two months now. I started getting really crazy thirsty all the time, nothing I did would quench my thirst, and as a result I was obviously peeing all night. My vision also started getting blurry around that time too. So I e-mailed my doctor and said hey, something is wrong, you need to test my a1c and my fasting glucose. Sure enough, fasting glucose was 224 and a1c was over 10%. Immediately put on Metformin 2000mg every night with dinner and lipitor for my triglycerides and told to limit my carbs.

So here I am, struggling to get my numbers out of the 200s, not really enjoying what I am eating, cause I am not a vegetable kind of person. I grew up steak and potatoes. I have given up sugar, which is huge for me and now I severely miss baking because I loved to bake. I have increased my exercise as well. I am losing weight, around 30lbs thus far. At some point, these numbers have got to go down. I am trying to avoid insulin.

I really, really miss eating whatever I want.

[bright_arrow]

I have not had the weight loss or constant thirst, though some days over others I get insanely thirsty, and some days I just think water is gross, lol.

[Rockinonahigh]

So, I am newly diagnosed diabetic. I have known for about two months now. I started getting really crazy thirsty all the time, nothing I did would quench my thirst, and as a result I was obviously peeing all night. My vision also started getting blurry around that time too. So I e-mailed my doctor and said hey, something is wrong, you need to test my a1c and my fasting glucose. Sure enough, fasting glucose was 224 and a1c was over 10%. Immediately put on Metformin 2000mg every night with dinner and lipitor for my triglycerides and told to limit my carbs.

So here I am, struggling to get my numbers out of the 200s, not really enjoying what I am eating, cause I am not a vegetable kind of person. I grew up steak and potatoes. I have given up sugar, which is huge for me and now I severely miss baking because I loved to bake. I have increased my exercise as well. I am losing weight, around 30lbs thus far. At some point, these numbers have got to go down. I am trying to avoid insulin.

I really, really miss eating whatever I want.

I love to bake as well,instead of sugar I am using splenda that is equal in measurement with sugar,but if you think you need less cut it by a couple of heaping table spoons till you get it right.I bake about all I use to with no problem.Look for ways to sub diffrent things to use in the mix...like apple sauce for for oil..there are ways.Chef John Flose has a whole book on doing things like this and they work just fine.

[MsTinkerbelly]

Crap.

I have been having a lot of problems lately, and i found out yesterday that the diabetes has caused me to have stage 3 kidney disease. This explains some of my fatigue and especially the leg cramps...which has knocked me for a bit of a loop.

I am trying to get an appointment to see a nephrologist (sp), because i will do anything i can to avoid what my mom went through with kidney dialysis.

[Logicaly]

I have not had the weight loss or constant thirst, though some days over others I get insanely thirsty, and some days I just think water is gross, lol.

I have moments where I don't like how the water tastes either. That is most likely because I am spoiled by the fact that we have a uv filter at work. Perhaps need to look into getting one for the house so my water intake doesn't drop when I get home.

[TruTexan]

I have moments where I don't like how the water tastes either. That is most likely because I am spoiled by the fact that we have a uv filter at work. Perhaps need to look into getting one for the house so my water intake doesn't drop when I get home.

Try getting one of those Brita Filter Pitchers, it makes the water taste so much better and if you get bored with just plain water, try using fresh fruits, lemmons, limes in an infuser pitcher, it's natural. Just don't put so much fruit in it.


PS. As far as substitute sugar like splenda goes, my regular physician told me NOT to use artificial sweetners of any kind, they aren't healthy for you she says.

[Rockinonahigh]

The bigest problem I have had lately if the feeling like I am drunk as a shit house rat,my brain feels like its a sleep and I stagger when I walk.Exasution is in this too cause I am really week as a kitten.I finely ate some ice cream and a candy bar and started feeling better even tho I have had a couple of minor bouts of this when it hits I just go to bed and try to sleep it off.Yes,I called the doc and have an appointment for Tuesday.I did check my blood sugar and it comes in below or near as 100 when I test.My doc didn't seem to worried about it when I called. I have a nasty taste in my mouth too like real bad breath even tho I brush my teeth and use super pro mouth wash,I also keep pepper mints with me incase I need them.

[TruTexan]

The bigest problem I have had lately if the feeling like I am drunk as a shit house rat,my brain feels like its a sleep and I stagger when I walk.Exasution is in this too cause I am really week as a kitten.I finely ate some ice cream and a candy bar and started feeling better even tho I have had a couple of minor bouts of this when it hits I just go to bed and try to sleep it off.Yes,I called the doc and have an appointment for Tuesday.I did check my blood sugar and it comes in below or near as 100 when I test.My doc didn't seem to worried about it when I called. I have a nasty taste in my mouth too like real bad breath even tho I brush my teeth and use super pro mouth wash,I also keep pepper mints with me incase I need them.

Is this after you wake up in the morning Before eating a meal that your sugar is lower than 100 ?
You could be having a medication reaction, or could be getting ill with something too. Please have some blood work done and go to the doctor while you are fasting so they can do an A1C test and fasting glucose on you.

[Rockinonahigh]

Is this after you wake up in the morning Before eating a meal that your sugar is lower than 100 ?
You could be having a medication reaction, or could be getting ill with something too. Please have some blood work done and go to the doctor while you are fasting so they can do an A1C test and fasting glucose on you.
I have been testing in the morning right after I get up,it has been anywhere from 80 to 104,mostly it has been in the mid to high 80's.For it to be any higher than that I would have to eat something about 5 or 6 a.m. I test between 8:30 and 9:00 A.M.
I wen't to see my pain care doc for a follow up on my injection,he said the same thing about it could be the meds I am on.The meds he give me never bother me an do take care of the pain.He said one thing about the odd sleeping problems I am having that is the being tired a lot even tho I do sleep at night or think I do,with the exception of letting the girls out when they need to.He suggested I go to a sleep study just to make sure that I don't have some issue I am not aware of, I told him I would think about it..and I will.
Next Tuesday I an seeing my g.p. to check the rest out and change meds if need be as well as more blood work just to be on the safe side,I had some done two weeks ago that was just fine...at least they didn't call and say there was anything to worry about.

[Logicaly]

I do use a Brita Filter at home, I can taste the difference between it and a UV Filter unfortunately, but it is for sure better than nothing.

Now that I am up to my full dose of Metformin 2000MG a night, I feel like total crap in the morning. I have got to get past this part, cause I am tired of feeling bad in the morning. I have a job I need to be able to get up and go to.

[bright_arrow]

Oh metformin sucks, for sure! Blech.

Necessary evil until you're all healthy!

[Rockinonahigh]

I'm taking 500 m.g. of metformin 2 x a day morning and night,all I ever got out of it was quirky guts,just how do you feel that's making you feel difrent?I was wondering cause I could be having somthing going on and not realising it's from the metformin.

[Logicaly]

I'm taking 500 m.g. of metformin 2 x a day morning and night,all I ever got out of it was quirky guts,just how do you feel that's making you feel difrent?I was wondering cause I could be having somthing going on and not realising it's from the metformin.

My guts all messed up, and I feel pretty nauseous in the morning. I also take 40mg of Lipitor as well at the same time, so that could play a part, but I am pretty sure its the Metformin.

[TruTexan]

My guts all messed up, and I feel pretty nauseous in the morning. I also take 40mg of Lipitor as well at the same time, so that could play a part, but I am pretty sure its the Metformin.

Metformin causes some severe diarrhea for sure and to combat this my doctor prescribed another similar drug called Welchol. It helps combat the diarrhea believe it or not. I take 500 mg 2x day of both Metformin and Welchol together along with Lipitor and Trilipix for my cholesterol at night. I don't have any other side effects going on from any drug I'm taking, thank goodness.

[MsTinkerbelly]

My guts all messed up, and I feel pretty nauseous in the morning. I also take 40mg of Lipitor as well at the same time, so that could play a part, but I am pretty sure its the Metformin.

I can't take metformin, it made me really sick and caused a great deal of pain.

I have however, taken Lipitor 80mg for a long time, and i have had to add COQ10 which helps me with muscle aches and memory. Doctors forget to tell you that you should take COQ10 with your cholesterol meds. It is a supplement you can buy over the counter.

[Logicaly]

I can't take metformin, it made me really sick and caused a great deal of pain.

I have however, taken Lipitor 80mg for a long time, and i have had to add COQ10 which helps me with muscle aches and memory. Doctors forget to tell you that you should take COQ10 with your cholesterol meds. It is a supplement you can buy over the counter.

I will look into the COQ10 and talk to my doctor about it. I don't really want to pop more pills if I can avoid it, but there is a chance we may have to add more pills to the list anyways as the metformin does not as of yet bring my numbers in under 200 like they should be.

I feel sick pretty much every morning due to metformin, however I always end up feeling better once I convince myself to get up, drink some water, and put something in my stomach. I don't really get muscle aches or anything like that from the Lipitor thankfully.

[Kenna]

I have a new, awesome primary care doc who has immediately set me up with an in-house, special pharmacist/diabetic class...(unlike the delays and mess ups when I worked for the hospital and then the state Medicaid office...both of which couldn't get it together regarding employee benefits or diabetic supplies) ...

I've had two, one hour meetings with my pharmacist where she goes over my meds in consideration to my other health concerns, nutritional stuff, paperwork, etc...

They set me up with a prodigy meter and tiny lancet.
When I told her I was having trouble each morning getting the lancet right (sometimes using 3 strips before I got the meter to read correctly)...she gave me "soft touch" lancets...maybe I'm still doing things wrong but I still had trouble this morning. It frustrates me because my skin is already very sensitive from the Lupus. My hands hurt every morning when I get up...so I tried the lancet on my legs. That just results in tiny bruises which started looking like track marks, but not enough blood for my strips to pick up.

Then...
I think the Metformin is causing issues...but I'm willing to wait it out for a while
My primary care had put me on steroids...which the pharmacist says will mess with my numbers. She was disappointed that we can't get a baseline until I'm off the steroids.

I deal with chronic, intense pain almost daily from other issues...I can't tell if it's the Metformin causing my muscles to hurt so bad, and making me so tired...or is it the Metformin or IBS messing with my tummy?

According to my last tests, my liver numbers were off...then the pharmacist said that during the night, my liver will dump too much sugar into my system, so she wanted me taking the Metformin at dinner. But I've noticed I've been waking up in more pain than usual. Not sure if it's the meds??

Life has been good to me and I'm blessed to have found a great doctor and care team...I'm sure we will work it out. It's just a bit frustrating.

[MsTinkerbelly]

Holy heck Kenna, that is a lot to deal with all at once!

I would not want to give you any advice, as your issues probably play off of one and other...hard to pin point one thing that will help. But... I will say once again that metformin is not for everyone, i can't take it and i have a cast iron stomach!

Also you mentioned your blood sticks for your meter...i can only draw blood on my ring and small fingers, and if you stick on the sides about a quarter inch below the nails they bleed pretty good with minimal pain later, as you rarely touch those areas. I hope you are using something that springs forward and sticks you, rather than jabbing yourself...that is very difficult to do on a regular basis.

Blessings! (f)

[TruTexan]

Kenna,
My diabetic nurse has told me to stick my fingers on the right side of thumb then move to different finger each day then go back to the thumb again and stick the opposite side and do that same thing on opposite side of the other fingers, that way no one finger gets stuck more than once a week. you can use both hands that way. It lessens the issues with pricking the nerves on the bottoms of your fingertips and causing nerve damage. She says it's the correct way to take your blood sticks. And Ms. Tinkerbelly is right, they do bleed the right amount there and you can always squeeze your finger to get more blood out to soak up to read. Try that see if it helps.

And if you have IBS , taking metformin can cause it to be more of an issue in my opinion, because metformin is widely known for causing loose bowels by itself. So that can be a contributing factor you may wish to discuss with your doctor. But always eat when taking metformin because you don't want a sudden blood sugar drop.
I take metformin during breakfast and at supper time... so 2x a day for me and I make sure I take it when I eat or there shortly after.

I'm sorry you are going through so much, I wish there was more I could do, but that's all between you and your doctors and care team. I can't speculate anymore than I have. I wish you wellness Kenna.

[Logicaly]

I have to say if you feel that your metformin is making you sick or worse in some way then listen to your body on that and make your doctor listen. I ended up in the hospital for almost a week due to an intolerance to metformin. I kept feeling worse and worse and my doctors told me to just wait a few more weeks. Needless to say it didn't do me any good and I should have forced the doctors to listen.

I am taking insulin now and I am so much better. I feel alive again. I have the opportunity to eat all the right and healthy things and exercise right and maybe eventually even get off the insulin.

[bright_arrow]

I have a new, awesome primary care doc who has immediately set me up with an in-house, special pharmacist/diabetic class...(unlike the delays and mess ups when I worked for the hospital and then the state Medicaid office...both of which couldn't get it together regarding employee benefits or diabetic supplies) ...

I've had two, one hour meetings with my pharmacist where she goes over my meds in consideration to my other health concerns, nutritional stuff, paperwork, etc...

They set me up with a prodigy meter and tiny lancet.
When I told her I was having trouble each morning getting the lancet right (sometimes using 3 strips before I got the meter to read correctly)...she gave me "soft touch" lancets...maybe I'm still doing things wrong but I still had trouble this morning. It frustrates me because my skin is already very sensitive from the Lupus. My hands hurt every morning when I get up...so I tried the lancet on my legs. That just results in tiny bruises which started looking like track marks, but not enough blood for my strips to pick up.

Then...
I think the Metformin is causing issues...but I'm willing to wait it out for a while
My primary care had put me on steroids...which the pharmacist says will mess with my numbers. She was disappointed that we can't get a baseline until I'm off the steroids.

I deal with chronic, intense pain almost daily from other issues...I can't tell if it's the Metformin causing my muscles to hurt so bad, and making me so tired...or is it the Metformin or IBS messing with my tummy?

According to my last tests, my liver numbers were off...then the pharmacist said that during the night, my liver will dump too much sugar into my system, so she wanted me taking the Metformin at dinner. But I've noticed I've been waking up in more pain than usual. Not sure if it's the meds??

Life has been good to me and I'm blessed to have found a great doctor and care team...I'm sure we will work it out. It's just a bit frustrating.

I went from Metformin to Metformin ER [Extended Release] and while it initially causes tummy problems, it seems to lessen [eventually]. My diabetic educator also told me that eating sugary stuff + metformin = increased tummy problems.

My liver enzymes were elevated last time they took blood for my A1C and the test after that, and then all was okay after they did a sonogram, etc. Tests came back clear.

I have an initial appointment in the next few weeks with a female doctor that specializes in OBGYN but also is a GP and familiar with diabetes. All-in-one for me and she is in my network so hoping she is pretty awesome. I've been haphazard with my meds but eating better than I ever have (with the occasional boba tea night) and getting back to exercise so I am crossing my fingers and hoping a lot my A1C has dropped from the 9.9 it has raised to.

:praying:

[Logicaly]

My journey with diabetes has certainly been interesting. What I was originally told was Type 2 is actually Type 1. The doctor insinuated that because of their misdiagnosis originally with the meds they put me on it most likely made things worse for me. At this point I will be insulin dependent for life. She said there is really not much known as to how it happens. Since it runs in my family line it's a good chance that my genes caused it. I can own it though and say up until recently I wasn't a super healthy eater.

So going forward it is all about managing it as best as I can. I am eating more salad then I have ever eaten in my life. I am exercising a ton and just trying to be healthy in general. As always I say though listen to your body and if you feel something is off push your doctor to listen.

[Kenna]

I went from Metformin to Metformin ER [Extended Release] and while it initially causes tummy problems, it seems to lessen [eventually]. My diabetic educator also told me that eating sugary stuff + metformin = increased tummy problems.

My liver enzymes were elevated last time they took blood for my A1C and the test after that, and then all was okay after they did a sonogram, etc. Tests came back clear.

I have an initial appointment in the next few weeks with a female doctor that specializes in OBGYN but also is a GP and familiar with diabetes. All-in-one for me and she is in my network so hoping she is pretty awesome. I've been haphazard with my meds but eating better than I ever have (with the occasional boba tea night) and getting back to exercise so I am crossing my fingers and hoping a lot my A1C has dropped from the 9.9 it has raised to.

:praying:

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ya!
I had been on the extended release... but since my last post it caused me major issues, so they recently switched me to Actos. I'm not familiar with it but seems I'm tolerating it well so far. I don't wake up with so much muscle pain.... but with everything going on, it's hard to judge if pain is disability related or medication induced.

Just Monday my doc sent me for special tests on my liver ("numbers jumped high since last labs) and an echocardiogram on heart for recently diagnosed chronic tachycardia.

The last day of February, I met the new "Lupus doctor" (rheumatologist) who put me on antibiotics and wants to "dump me on" Plaquinil (spelling?)...

Today I got approved for a special pharmacy program where six of my nine meds will cost only $20 total....including the Actos and Lidocaine patches.

I can certainly say that my tummy sure is better on the Actos. ...The Metformin was so bad that I stopped taking it about 2 weeks before my follow up with my diabetes coach and doctor.

I do hope the Actos keeps my numbers down like the Metformin had. For years I've struggled with the thought of "I don't want to be as bad as Gramma was."...

At least I haven't been on steroids in a couple months...
And I've been trying hard to eat better, especially at breakfast.

They tested my A1C last week....I won't know the update until next follow up in 3 weeks.
I hope the month that I had to do the "on again off again" with the Metformin to control side affects, that it didn't drive my numbers back up. Dr. A will not be happy.

[bright_arrow]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for ya!
I had been on the extended release... but since my last post it caused me major issues, so they recently switched me to Actos. I'm not familiar with it but seems I'm tolerating it well so far. I don't wake up with so much muscle pain.... but with everything going on, it's hard to judge if pain is disability related or medication induced.

Just Monday my doc sent me for special tests on my liver ("numbers jumped high since last labs) and an echocardiogram on heart for recently diagnosed chronic tachycardia.

The last day of February, I met the new "Lupus doctor" (rheumatologist) who put me on antibiotics and wants to "dump me on" Plaquinil (spelling?)...

Today I got approved for a special pharmacy program where six of my nine meds will cost only $20 total....including the Actos and Lidocaine patches.

I can certainly say that my tummy sure is better on the Actos. ...The Metformin was so bad that I stopped taking it about 2 weeks before my follow up with my diabetes coach and doctor.

I do hope the Actos keeps my numbers down like the Metformin had. For years I've struggled with the thought of "I don't want to be as bad as Gramma was."...

At least I haven't been on steroids in a couple months...
And I've been trying hard to eat better, especially at breakfast.

They tested my A1C last week....I won't know the update until next follow up in 3 weeks.
I hope the month that I had to do the "on again off again" with the Metformin to control side affects, that it didn't drive my numbers back up. Dr. A will not be happy.

Without meds, my fasting is averaging 250. Since the A1C is every three months, I imagine not being on it for a month will have an impact.

I had managed to get my number down to 7.8 but then I was no longer being held accountable and not managing my meds well so it jumped up again. I just met with my new primary and she was very nice, she can fill my meds, and I went in for bloodwork for my A1C so we'll see! I am assuming they will call me because we never scheduled a F/U appointment.

I have never heard of the new med you're on but I am glad that you got them discounted!

[Kenna]

Without meds, my fasting is averaging 250. Since the A1C is every three months, I imagine not being on it for a month will have an impact.

I had managed to get my number down to 7.8 but then I was no longer being held accountable and not managing my meds well so it jumped up again. I just met with my new primary and she was very nice, she can fill my meds, and I went in for bloodwork for my A1C so we'll see! I am assuming they will call me because we never scheduled a F/U appointment.

I have never heard of the new med you're on but I am glad that you got them discounted!

Actos = Pioglitazone...I hadn't heard of it but am willing to give it a huge try. I know my coach is doing her best to help me have more "good days" instead of struggles. She knows what I go thru with my other heath issues and works closely with me to overcome barriers. Unlike one of my specialists who has been an ass (to say the least) about the new meds he switched me to, after insulting and contradicting the other specialist. (He even argued with me when I said I had too many prescribers, that I wanted to coordinate with my coach (who's a pharmacist) and Primary Care.)

Yes, I was very happy to get approved for my discounted RX's ...especially with the cost of the patches and Plaquinil...I've been very fortunate to have found an amazing Care Team who have helped me navigate things and cope.

[MsTinkerbelly]

Actos = Pioglitazone...I hadn't heard of it but am willing to give it a huge try. I know my coach is doing her best to help me have more "good days" instead of struggles. She knows what I go thru with my other heath issues and works closely with me to overcome barriers. Unlike one of my specialists who has been an ass (to say the least) about the new meds he switched me to, after insulting and contradicting the other specialist. (He even argued with me when I said I had too many prescribers, that I wanted to coordinate with my coach (who's a pharmacist) and Primary Care.)

Yes, I was very happy to get approved for my discounted RX's ...especially with the cost of the patches and Plaquinil...I've been very fortunate to have found an amazing Care Team who have helped me navigate things and cope.

There is currently a lawsuit regarding Actos and bladder cancer, so maybe look up what signs you should watch out for and just be cautious. I was put on Actos several years ago and i had problems with weight gain and stomache pain.

I am currently on insulin only, as i don't tolerate (or frankly trust) all the new medications touted as the next new "wonder drug".

[Kenna]

There is currently a lawsuit regarding Actos and bladder cancer, so maybe look up what signs you should watch out for and just be cautious. I was put on Actos several years ago and i had problems with weight gain and stomache pain.

I am currently on insulin only, as i don't tolerate (or frankly trust) all the new medications touted as the next new "wonder drug".

Thank you, Ma'am. .Good information to know. My coach promoted Actos as "no side effects as like Metformin"...I'll mention this to her during our next meeting.

[Kenna]

Ok....so today was humbling and a bit scary.
Recently Doc put me on a double dose (20 days instead of 10) of steroids. Because it messes with my sugar levels they also increased my Actos.
This past weekend I had a really great physically able time. It was awesome! The steroids help with inflammation, bone pain and the nerves in my legs....
But today, apparently, I paid for it.
I didn't eat right over the weekend... but it wasn't terrible stuff. ...this morning my fasting sugar was 208...the highest I recall it ever being. After breakfast and meds, I got really sick. By noon it was only down 3 points...after that, I had to lay down in a dark room because of my busting headache and exhaustion. Sick to stomach, terrible hot flashes and soaking sweating...got up around 4 or 5....did chores, checked sugar again....237!!! The highest I've ever recorded!
Had dinner of nice salad topped with a bit of chicken salad. Sooooo yummy and fresh. My tummy did finally settle. But I am still feeling like I've been fighting the flu and the damn headache. Thank god the hot flashes and gut cramps stopped.

I took an extra Actos tonight in hopes it will help tomorrow...
I have a big day of chores and working with the new additions to the farm tomorrow...
Thank you for listening...it was really scary and I couldn't reach my health coach.

[MsTinkerbelly]

Ok....so today was humbling and a bit scary.
Recently Doc put me on a double dose (20 days instead of 10) of steroids. Because it messes with my sugar levels they also increased my Actos.
This past weekend I had a really great physically able time. It was awesome! The steroids help with inflammation, bone pain and the nerves in my legs....
But today, apparently, I paid for it.
I didn't eat right over the weekend... but it wasn't terrible stuff. ...this morning my fasting sugar was 208...the highest I recall it ever being. After breakfast and meds, I got really sick. By noon it was only down 3 points...after that, I had to lay down in a dark room because of my busting headache and exhaustion. Sick to stomach, terrible hot flashes and soaking sweating...got up around 4 or 5....did chores, checked sugar again....237!!! The highest I've ever recorded!

Had dinner of nice salad topped with a bit of chicken salad. Sooooo yummy and fresh. My tummy did finally settle. But I am still feeling like I've been
fighting the flu and the damn headache. Thank god the hot flashes and gut cramps stopped.

I took an extra Actos tonight in hopes it will help tomorrow...
I have a big day of chores and working with the new additions to the farm tomorrow...
Thank you for listening...it was really scary and I couldn't reach my health coach.

As you are aware, steroids can really mess with your blood sugar short term...actos is a medicine that takes a while (4-6weeks) to react properly with your body, and will not make up for a higher number simply by taking more short term. Once you stop taking the steroids your numbers should go back down to a more managable level. An interesting side note...you can actually get type 2 diabetes from long term steroid use!

Exercise, low carbs and LOTS of water will help get your numbers back down when steroids are in use. Your kidneys will suffer damage when your blood sugar is over 200 for an extended period of time, so you are right to be concerned if your numbers remain high, especially overnight.

I am not a doctor, nor do i play one on tv...so please get ahold of your coach for help when you can.

Blessings to you(f)

[Kenna]

Thank you very much MsTinkerbelly. You are above awesome! I sincerely appreciate your support.
It's been a tough day. I hurt from pain caused by other disability so in combination with how sick I got today, it was terrible hard to exercise but I honesty did try...especially in the morning and before noon when I had to tend to my new baby goats (that are soooo fun to see play and I enjoyed giving them breakfast)...I did other yard chores, tried to cut tree limbs and honeysuckle for the babies and did 2 loads of laundry until I couldn't take the headache any longer and laid down.

Dinner was refreshing...but damn, I didn't know that about the Actos not helping to bring down a spike. Sigh....
My health coach only works at the clinic part time and as a Pharmacy Professor as her other job. ...I'll call the nurse tomorrow because my head is still splitting and numbers have jumped to 241 instead of going down.
Thanks again! Especially for such a quick response.

[Rockinonahigh]

Being diabetic is a royal pain in the a**,so far I have gone from a 7 in my a1c test to a 5 on the last one I had. Even though I am keeping the numbers way down ...95 to a 100 most times in the morning then the highest I have been is 170 only one time and it scared me to no end that it would really get out of hand. I had baked cookies with splenda but they had fresh coco in it as well, I didn't feel bad just the numbers threw me for a loop, I ate six over the day but was active and did drink plenty of fluids. Today I am going to my first diabetic session at the hospital with a group of folks, my doctor has never set me up with one so I ended up calling the diabetic association to get with these folks...I do hope I get somewhere with this cause where I don't micro manage my meal plan I am careful for the most part, plus I exercise as much as I can without blowing my back. Today was a screwy day when getting out of bed I tricked into muscle cramps that kept on for ever to the point I thought I would end up in the E.R. but I got hold of my Doctors office plus took a 500 mg Robaxin pill ad a couple of pain pills I was due for anyway. I have to much to do to waist a day dealing with this, all I did was roll out of bed then "BAM" it hit, getting out of bed is the only way this starts so far. Who knew getting up in the morning could be such a trick.

[Kenna]

Yes. It is a royal pain in the ass. I do admire you for assertively sticking to your own plan (not micromanagement) and keeping your numbers as low. I can't wait for the day when mine are around 100-120.
I struggle sometimes with my food plan especially on high pain days. And it seems every time I see the Doc, they are changing my meds...recent additions are Neurontin for nerve pain, steroids, Prazosin and the increased Actos. On high pain days I can barely manage to get a decent breakfast to take my meds with. I'm happy the steroids help with a bunch of the pain and inflammation...but I hate the trade off with sugar levels.

[Rockinonahigh]

I'm taking 500 mg of metformin twice a day then working out as much as I dare without doing more damage to my back. If my Doc knew what I ate sometimes she would lay the golden egg. Today I ate a small bowl of honey nut cereal, two slices of whole wheat toast with pnb on it and an orange plus coffee straight up. I keep fiber one bars around of I want a sweet snack only 90 calories and 17 carbs is doable, I check the diet food area for anything that will work. I am a grazer and don't often sit for a meal so several small meals work best for me. Apples and oranges along with low call yogurt keep me going. In case of emergency I keep glucose pills with me right along with my extra test kit.I play on multiple pool teams so I need to keep things balanced as bar food is a touchy thing cause its not something I really need. The only issue I have with metformin is it sqiggs my guts now and again.

[Kenna]

After a huge struggle, I finally got my numbers back down to 147 (recorded at midnight) ...this was several hours after dinner of a no-carb salad with a bunch of meat and eggs for protein and much more water than I'm accustomed to. Since today was a high pain day, I did as much exercise as possible between the cool morning hours of 6:30-7:30...pacing myself as I fed all the farm critters. Then unfortunately I was hurting so bad I had to go back to bed a while after breakfast of block cheese, water and meds....I gave my Cherrios to the baby goats. They enjoyed them as much as I do...but I guess from here on out, I can't have my favorite cereal or hot oatmeal because of how high the carbs are.

I spoke with my Aunt (a medical professional as well as long term diabetic, and she cared for my Gramma for 15 years through her struggle with very chronic, extreme diabetes)...told her about the Actos...she said it seems my body isn't reacting to it like it should and she recommended I ask Doc to switch me to Glipiside...this is another med I've never heard of.

It's been a hard two days...much thanks to those here that helped me cope.

[MsTinkerbelly]

After a huge struggle, I finally got my numbers back down to 147 (recorded at midnight) ...this was several hours after dinner of a no-carb salad with a bunch of meat and eggs for protein and much more water than I'm accustomed to. Since today was a high pain day, I did as much exercise as possible between the cool morning hours of 6:30-7:30...pacing myself as I fed all the farm critters. Then unfortunately I was hurting so bad I had to go back to bed a while after breakfast of block cheese, water and meds....I gave my Cherrios to the baby goats. They enjoyed them as much as I do...but I guess from here on out, I can't have my favorite cereal or hot oatmeal because of how high the carbs are.

I spoke with my Aunt (a medical professional as well as long term diabetic, and she cared for my Gramma for 15 years through her struggle with very chronic, extreme diabetes)...told her about the Actos...she said it seems my body isn't reacting to it like it should and she
recommended I ask Doc to
switch me to Glipiside...this is another med I've never heard of.

It's been a hard two days...much thanks to those here that helped me cope.

Glipiside is a great medication; the brand name is Glucotrol! It is an older medication that i took for YEARS in the extended release form, and it worked really well. The problem with the Doctor's these days is they are focused on metformin and actos...along with a few other new "wonder drugs", and sometimes refuse to prescribe Glipiside.

I'm glad your number was lower at midnight, but what was it fasting the next morning? Our bodies do a "sugar dump" in the wee hours of the morning which can increase those numbers drastically. Also, i am sorry to say that the milk in cheese will sometimes raise blood sugar as well. Try to keep some hardboiled eggs around as a quick source of protein when you are not feeling well enough to cook.

[bright_arrow]

Bumping because this is a good thread (and I feel like I need to post somewhere to try and keep myself in check) :)

[candy_coated_bitch]

I'm a type II diabetic that has been on long acting insulin (Lantus) for a while now. I'm also on metformin. My sugars were still high on those two meds, so I was put on a short acting insulin to be taken before meals (Novolog).

As a side note, I had been on a medication that had a side effect of high blood sugars. I got off that medication and slowly but surely my insulin levels have gotten out of whack and I am experiencing a lot of lows. I've been in touch multiple times with my diabetes nurse specialist and I thankfully see my primary care Tuesday.

We've lowered both my Lantus and Novolog several times and I'm still having lows every day. Usually at night. Sometimes multiple times. It's exhausting. In the past 24 hours I've had lows of 37, 46, and 59. What scares me most is at 37 I wasn't even feeling symptomatic. I'm afraid of not waking up and going into a coma. We bought glucose tablets, orange juice, and candy today to be prepared and I'm going to set an alarm so I can check my sugar in the middle of the night. Frankly, I'm scared.

I called my mom who is a diabetic and a nurse and her opinion and she said discontinue the fast acting insulin until I can talk to my nurse on doctor. I agree with her. I'm just going to try and ride it out this weekend. I'm feeling incredibly defeated though, like I'm doing everything asked of me and it's just not working.

How do you all deal with lows? What do you eat /drink? Has anyone else struggled with daily extreme lows? Any words of support? I need a boost!

[MsTinkerbelly]

The people that advise stopping the insulin before meals are giving you good advise. Do you test before you take the before meals shot? I have found that if my bs is less than 100 before meals, I get low blood sugar if I inject. I usually inject 2 hours AFTER meals based on a sliding scale. Your doctor can give you a sliding scale, and I have also found them on-line. i've done it so long I just automatically know how much to take.

It is scary, and yes exhausting to have low blood sugar...multiple times a night would be awful. I'm wondering if you even need insulin? Since you are not taking the medication that causes high blood sugar, maybe medication would be enough? My wife got off metformin which never lowered her properly, and is taking a combo of Jardiance and glimiperide that has gotten her well within normal limits without all the stomach stuff associated with Metformin.

Definitely have many small meals, with hi-protein like nut butter or cheese...you need protein to keep your bs on an even level without the highs and lows. Being vegaterian can make it hard to get enough protein, try adding a handful of black beans or chickpeas to a dish to add a little. You can drain a can of chickpeas, coat them with a little cooking spray and your favorite spices, and roast them in the oven for a yummy crunchy protein filled snack.

Just a few thoughts...I'm glad you are seeing your doctor soon.:bunchflowers:

[candy_coated_bitch]

Thanks MsTinkerbelly.

I had been taking the fast acting insulin before meals according to a scale depending on both my blood sugar and what I was going to eat. But it was just too much obviously.

I think I do need to be on something because since I stopped taking the insulin my numbers are on the higher side. Much safer than sugars of 37 so it's doable for riding out the weekend, but not where I'd want to be long term ideally.

I'm thinking of asking my nurse and doctor about a non insulin option when I speak to them. Both my parents are on bidureon sp? and doing quite well. My mother struggled a lot regulating her blood sugars with insulin as well.

I am trying to eat more often right now, and am doing the cheese and nut butters thing. Beans are a good idea to start adding to my meals.

I set my alarm to check my blood sugar at 5am just in case and it appears stopping the fast acting insulin took care of the overnight lows. I will wait until Monday and Tuesday for a solution.

Thanks for your response!

[candy_coated_bitch]

I just wanted to say I haven't had any lows since I stopped the fast acting insulin!!! THANK GOD.

[MsTinkerbelly]

I just wanted to say I haven't had any lows since I stopped the fast acting insulin!!! THANK GOD.

Wonderful news!

[MsTinkerbelly]

Hey CCB, how did your appointment go with your primary doctor?

[DressyFemme]

It's been a very long time since I've posted, but I have good news. I was diagnosed with T2 in March 2011. My mom died in 2006 from complications of type 1. I was on metformin for several years but went on insulin injections in March 2004 when my a1c was 12. I had relapsed in my recovery from binge eating disorder. I went to local outpatient and got back on track with mindful intuitive eating. I since have gone from 12 to 5.8 a1c and from 316 to 246 although weight loss is not my main focus anymore and health is. They have decreased my Novolog from 6 to 4 units and might be decreasing it more come March. I'm feeling better but scared of relapse so I commit to recovery every day. Hey, anyone using a CGM out there? I got the Dexcom G5 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System and have yet to start it but know it will really help because I have ADHD and routinely forget to test....

[Blaze]

This where you phone can help you! There are many apps. Care zone. Health choice. Vitality. Just type in apps ( apps to help remind you to take your meds.) And wahhh lahhh! They have alarms, incentives, some even have group conversations that you can get involved with. Some even give you coupons to help bring down the cost of meds. For my app. Work incentives and bonus points to cut my insurance cost has been a blessing and kept me on track to take my meds on time daily. Which is the key for my success as well as reminding me to eat, grab a snack, and how much sleep I should get. My A1C went from 13.7 to 4.9 with the help of my (New Doctor) I'm not much of a fan for technology. But the world of free apps has been an amazing change on how my health has improved dramatically. Good luck!

[DressyFemme]

This where you phone can help you! There are many apps. Care zone. Health choice. Vitality. Just type in apps ( apps to help remind you to take your meds.) And wahhh lahhh! They have alarms, incentives, some even have group conversations that you can get involved with. Some even give you coupons to help bring down the cost of meds. For my app. Work incentives and bonus points to cut my insurance cost has been a blessing and kept me on track to take my meds on time daily. Which is the key for my success as well as reminding me to eat, grab a snack, and how much sleep I should get. My A1C went from 13.7 to 4.9 with the help of my (New Doctor) I'm not much of a fan for technology. But the world of free apps has been an amazing change on how my health has improved dramatically. Good luck!

I'm using an app from my dr called MyChart that has an area for inputting medical data. My dr uses it to see where my levels are. I was using Diabetes Kit but had tech issues after the iOS upgrade to 10.0.2. Emailed them for support. That's why the CGM is so important, it will send all data to my phone automatically. I need reminder apps though so thanks for the suggestion! Need reminders for testing, checking levels and sending in my data....