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Oh a couple of subsitutions i've made that have helped with my sugar levels....
Cut out the nondairy creamer! the box may say 0 sugars, but the first ingridant is high fructous corn syrup granuals. wow my spelling hurts today.... anyhows when in dry form this has "no" sugar.... however add water (or coffee in my case) and it will cause your sugars to go up! (or at least that happened to me) Also if your like mocha's or latte's ..... the milk in those is boiled, the sugars are more conentrated and if you can handle it yayyyy, but if you find that even with the sufar free flavorings, your sugars go up a lot..... try subsituting regular milk for unsweetened soy.... my normal drink is now a sugarfree hazelnut lattee with unsweetened soy and four splendas(for a 20oz) also be sure to ask if the shop charges extra for soy milk.... some do ... some don't oWheat noodles instead of regular noodles has helped as well..... and as much as i love yogurt!!! make sure to get the low/no sugar yogurt!! otherwise some of them (like yoplait) has as much as i wanna say 21 grams of sugar per serving!!!! (not sure on the number, but it's up there O_O ) |
Hi Andrew and kassykit :rrose:
I'm needle phobic and hate the idea of a tattoo, but that's one I'd get also Andrew. Wow...would be great to be able to glance at my tattoo instead of jab my finger....and save on the cost of all those test strips as well. I'll have to check this out! My family is the same way kassykit...lots of diabetes in my dad's side. I wasn't diagnosed til I was 40+ but they estimate that I went undiagnosed for 10 to 20 years based on the condition of my eyes (diabetic retinopathy). And you're right...horribly unfair. I know so many people who can munch away on candy bars, drink soda, eat fast food....not healthy but they're still okay. A snickers bar (which I adore) would send my sugars over the moon... I have the same effect from exercise...not that I can eat whatever I want, but my fasting sugar level is a good 10 points lower in the morning when I've exercised the day before....and I'm working on taking off a bit more weight as well...not for appearance really, more just for good health. Hugs to you both! |
I love Italian foods. Instead of giving up on eating them, I just switched the pasta I use. I use whole grain wheats instead. The flavor changes, but I do what I have too to survive. My diet has changed a great deal. I eat fruit and veggies every single day. I exercise by walking. I lift weights, and swim. I am drinking coffee maybe 2x a day. Once in the morning and once after dinner. That is it. Unfortunately I too have a very long family history of diabetes. It sucks. I miss eating like I used too. I miss the white pasta. Having a taco salad and eating the shell. Just the simple things like that. I just make changes to survive. |
walking is deffinately a good form of exercise!
My dog loves me for it :) she loves going for walks..... shoot she loves just being outside... too cold here to swim, and well i don't know the first thing about "working" out... i have been thinking of getting a gym membership but then it boils down to when would i go? Right now the fight i'm battling includes depression so sometimes even getting out and walking the dog is a huge battle! Ahh things will work out... Stress btw can affect blood sugar levels, so avoid drama.... drama = grrrr :) |
Stress is a major sugar elevator. I also have a head injury (tbi). That is why I cannot have any hormones. The docs fear that if my blood pressure goes up I could end up in a vegg. state. So, no "t" for me. I take blood pressure med. already as a prevention. I have been on that since I was a youngster. I have Asperger's too. I also suffer from depression/anxiety, seizures, learning disabilities, and so on and on as side effects of my tbi. It all goes hand in hand with tbi. I have left temporal brain injury. It shows up on MRI's, Cat Scans, and so on even today. It is just that obvious. A doctor told me once that it would be like for a human being to be driving at about 100 mph and hit a cement wall. Your head goes thru the windshield, and hits the cement wall. The after effects are what I am living with. I never had a chance. I have no clue as to what it is like to have a normal brain or to be normal. I am more vocal online than I am in person. Andrew |
Thought I'd come in and give this thread a bump...
I was a little concerned about my bloodsugar levels with the move. They had started to climb when I was going through all the stress of packing and trying to organize everything, but have settled down again now that I'm in a routine here. Been getting some uncomfortable reminders though about my diet...foods that other people can eat and enjoy make me feel horrible afterwards. I weakened and had a cupcake when we went to DisneyQuest on Saturday...it was gorgeous and huge and calling my name. Didn't even eat all of the frosting (there was a ton), but even so I felt sick within an hour. It's frustrating to have to skip all the "goodies" that others take for granted...but clearly I have to. How's everyone else doing? |
Hey all!
I'm not diabetic - but there is a history of it in my family. I am Ojibwe, both my parents were diabetic, a brother is diabetic, a sister is pre-diabetic. I think both sets of grandparents were - I know a lot of my aunts and uncles were. There is also a history of heart problems on my mother's side of the family. I'm not very good about watching what I eat or exercising consistently. Oddly enough - when I was working I was more diligent about exercising - my weight got down to about 210 lbs. But now that I'm unemployed it seems I find other stuff to do to keep myself busy - and my weight has shot back up. I live with my pre-diabetic sister. Lately I've been trying to cook more healthy meals for us: soups, salads, more veggies, not as much red meat. We've both noticed that we're not as tired as we used to be. Right now she has a problem with her foot so we don't go for the long walks in the evening that we used to go on. |
Jo this is a great thread being checked for diabetes because of weight gain and drinking alot and peeing alot too. Symptoms of diabetes but could be because I am dieting and drinking a lot of water too so I don't know. But the HA1C will tell me next Tuesday, everyone else take good care of yourself and your diabetes!!
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My hypoglycemia is still here and I'm dropping to the 40's at least 3 times a week. At 30 or 40, I will aura. 4 Glucose tabs and a sandwich will get it back up to 110 on average. One of my docs just had me take a fasting blood work up, including vitamins and iron levels and I'm waiting on those results.
One thing that interests me is that my blood sugar levels only bottom out like this in the evening and never in the morning. Does anyone know why this is? |
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I'm curious about your bottom numbers....do you only notice when you hit 30-40? I can tell I am dipping when I hit under 80...tingly fingers, trouble concentrating, sweating, shaking.... At 30-40 you are nearly comatose! What time of the evening is this happening...before dinner, after dinner, before bedtime? |
For the most part, yes, that is the only time I notice but by the time I do, the aura is strong. Others notice it way before I get that low and ask if I've checked my blood levels. I'm trying to learn the signs before it gets that low but haven't really noticed anything other than, perhaps, fatigue. Yes, 30-40 are extremely low levels and by the time I aura, I am shaking and clammy. You and I, clearly, do not share the same low blood level experience.
It happens mostly after dinner, before bedtime, and will wake me up when I'm falling asleep at night. Quote:
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The one thing that comes to mind is your protein level....are you getting enough protein? Protein gives me a much more even blood sugar level, and will help keep me from the early morning dips I often have. I wake up sweating, shaking, and delusional....usually I am around 40-50 at that point, and require assistance from my spouse. I have noticed a lot more dips since becoming vegetarian, and have had to really concentrate on uping the protein. Even in the afternoon I now get dips...but like I said since I am awake I notice them a little sooner. Good luck with finding a solution (f) |
LOL Well MsTinkerbelly, this isn't my first rodeo but what it is is annoying and very tiring. You may have hit upon the answer: Protein.
The way I was advised to manage this is with 4 meals a day that are equal in protein and carbs. The problem is I am way more into carbs. Perhaps I just need to increase that a lot? Having the low blood sugar in the morning would really be difficult. I'm sorry that you have to have some mornings like that. Thank you for the good wishes and best wishes for your levels too! Quote:
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I wonder if you're eating mostly simple carbs instead of complex carbs... I know that when I eat simple carbs (white bread, potato without the skin, white rice), then my blood sugar spikes high for a bit and then bottoms right out. The complex carbs (also called low glycemic carbs) digest more slowly and steadily and don't give me the spike and bottoming out effect. It's a bit of a pain to follow the glycemic index, but I can feel a big difference when I do. Like many of you, I struggle with fatigue when I'm not managing my numbers well....and by 7 pm I'm almost nodding off on the couch. Wryly, I had to chuckle...I seem to be better at exercising more when I'm busy then when I'm not, too. Weird how that works. If your sister can't walk well right now, can you get access to a swimming pool? I found that walking in a pool is actually even better than walking on land in some ways...takes the weight off the joints and feet, and makes you work against the resistance of the water, too. Hugs to all of you...and I hope your test results come back with good news Lips. :rrose: |
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I am Type 2 on the lower end of the spectrum. It also runs in my family.
To the ones on insulin, have your Dr's ever thought about trying you in Byetta? I was diagnosed during a surgery pre-op, was thrown on insulin to control it thru surgery then after surgery he put me on Byetta which controlled it fine and then we dropped to pills. My brother is a raging diabetic, was on insulin for several years and his sugar still bounced, I told him about Byetta, his Dr was willing to try it and now his sugar is well under control. Sometimes taking insulin isn't the answer I've found out. You can find out info on Byetta at this link. www.byetta.com There is also an excellent website out now with all sorts of helpful info as well as recipes and what foods will trigger your sugar to rise etc. www.dlife.com Also someone mentioned calorie king which is a little book you can carry with you which lists the carb content of foods and fast food restaurants. You can pick up the book at most bookstores or you can access the info online or purchase the book online at this link. www.calorieking.com |
For the insulin takers, has anyone heard about the i-port? i found this while surfing a few days ago.
http://www.i-port.com/ It's an alternative to a pump. i'm going to ask my dr about it at my next appointment, i'd really like to try it. The thought of one stick every 3 days vs 2-3/day sounds great to me! |
Well it turns out that I'm pre-diabetic so I have to watch my carb intake!! I have been checking with a glucose meter and they have been in the 100's every morning so that is good I think.
hope you all are taking good care of yourself and on the mend. |
Type 2 here. Diagnosed six months ago with no family history. First thing I did was get enrolled with a dietician and then a doctor who specializes.
Cut out sugery drinks. Changed over to complex carbs. Got an exercise program going by walking 2 miles a day four times a week. Taking metaformin. Reduced stress. A1C went from 13.6 to 7.6 in 3 mts. Lost 30 lbs in 6 mts. Blood pressure went from 140s/90s (yes take bp meds) to 126/72 2 mts ago to 100/68 last wk. Not there yet but on my way. Good luck to you all! |
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That's tremendous improvement, and soooo much better for your body. I bet you feel better too. :rrose: |
Thank you JustJO!!!!! It is a journey finding out the best way to live well with diabetes but it can be done! And we can still be a happy productive person as well. :goodluck:
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http://www.dreamfieldsfoods.com/index.php |
Got my results back from my latest blood test...a1c was 6.6 - not fantastic, but I'll take it. Unfortunately, triglycerides are back up to stupid levels, so I'm on a new medication to bring them down. Cholesterol is up a bit too, but my good cholesterol is quite high, so she's giving me a pass on that.
I know the best tihng would be to get strict on the diet and walk an hour a day again...just so hard to maintain. Ugh. On a brighter note, Scoote rubs my feet when they're bothering me...it may not be romantic to some, but it sure is to me. :) |
Just Jo, 6.6 isn't bad!! But they want us under 6 right? Keep up the good work!!! I know it is hard to find time to take that walk with a new home to get ready, a small child and a love plus work. A lot on your plate!!! You will get there!
I am walking at least 2 miles six times a week now. I do not work. I do not have small kids. I am single. So I can find the time. The latest labs were all good. And the muscles in my calves are awesome! LOL Take care everyone!!! |
Not sure about other areas & doctors, but mine wants my A1C below 7.
Keep up the great work Jo! (and give Scoote a nice bop over the head for me, would ya?) |
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It's incredibly hard to do, especially since I'm an emotional eater (and a mild self-harmer, but that's another story) when I'm in distress. So....difficult times....and all I want is chocolate, ice cream, chips, and anything baked. Combine that with the fact that I have an exceptionally low actual tolerance for those things as far as my body goes....and I'm in a bind. I worry about you being over 10 rav....that's high. I hope your doctor is working with you on it....and having you work with a nutritionist as well. I live in a great deal of fear about what unchecked diabetes can do to the body, after watching my aunt die horribly at age 58 from complications. Please, please....to all of us who are living with this disease....please love yourself enough to take care of yourself. I know it's hard. I struggle with it daily, but we really are worth taking care of. :rrose: |
My A1C was like a 6 or so and I have to check every morning and the levels have been running about 110 to 120 some mornings when I cheat with a baked good is up to 130 but I crave anything baked or sweet!! Good luck to those on the diet and Jo good luck to you on a 6.6 on your A1C!! have a great day everyone..
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Always amazed at what a difference exercise makes....doesn't need to be vigorous or intense either...
Scoote and I went for a long, slow stroll on the beach yesterday...just enjoying the sunshine and the waves...hunting shells....we walked a couple miles no doubt, but I didn't even break a sweat....and this morning my fasting blood sugar was 97 :) |
Hey there diabetic planeteers....
I just got back from the eye doctor, and am wondering if anyone has had any work done on their eyes (lazers, etc.) and if they'd be willing to share their experience... I doubt I'll be going back to this doctor, just because I had a bad feeling for a whole variety of reasons, but he was advocating lazer treatments pretty aggressively and it got me wondering. Anyone? |
My latest A1C was 4. In fact, for the last year it has remained at 4. I no longer have to prick my fingers, or follow the diabetic diet, but I do. I want to keep my blood sugar low. Being diabetic sucks. It really does. Every once in a blue moon will I allow myself to have dessert like rice pudding or a slice of cake. Everything is fruit. In sticking with this, I am pretty much off all of my diabetic meds, and am left on just 1 pill of Actos a day. And the dosage is low. I still have my 3 month blood test to follow my sugar level, but for the most part my endo. has told me that I am no longer diabetic by the truest sense of the disease. I just got bifocals. However, I am in my late 40's. I never wore glasses before 2-3 years ago. Then my arms weren't reaching far enough away for me to read anything. I am having inserts put in my eyes for dry eye today. I have had dry eyes since I was a youngster. I just poured over the counter eye drops into my eyes to help. Now, I use the lubricating eye drops, which help a little. I don't have the gland that most people have that produce the lubrication/wash. My eye doctor told me that every time I blink it is like a vaccuum sucking out all of what is on my eye causing the dry eye. Now, after years and years of research, finally, there are these inserts that are suppose to help folks like me. And in fact, most diabetics suffer from dry eye. However, you have to ask your eye doctor if you have the gland or not. You may not be able to have this surgery. I hope and pray that one day diabetes will have a cure. This disease really destroys one's body. |
Nikki, I cannot find Dreamfields pasta. Where did you find that? I have tried the whole wheat pasta by other brands, but...gross. I just cannot take it. It doesn't taste "right" to me. But I enjoy whole wheat pizza for a bite or two. For me, I love baked cheese & veggies on top. I tend to eat what is on top of the pizza and leave the crust for the trash or someone else to eat. I have always done this. I am not a bread person. |
A not-so newbie
I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago with Type 2. It was a shock, to see the letters A O D M on my doctor's diagnosis sheet. Adult Onset Diabetes Mellitus.
Wow is this a crazy ride or what. Last time I went to the dr. and got my blood sugar tested 3 weeks ago, it was 141 and that was the highest it had ever been for someone who was normally 80-100 for 39 years! Scary stuff. That measurement was 4 hours post-lunch, too. My mom got Type 1 at the age of 12 and valiantly struggled and coped with it until she died at the age of 59 in 2006 from cardiac complications and a systemic staph infection/cellulitis. She had also been on dialysis for 3 1/2 years at that point, had significant neuropathy in her hands and feet, and had problems with her eyesight. It was absolutely devastating to watch her health deteriorate more and more with each trip home for the last year or so (she was in NJ with my stepfather and her friend Eileen who helped care for her 24/7). Now I have the disease things have changed overnight. My eyes are dry most of the time (and I have to make the initial appt with the eye doctor - someone kick my femme butt to get on that phone! :) ). My fingers and toes tingle from time to time. I find I now have to put on extra lotion on them every night and every morning. And one day I didn't eat for 7 hours straight after lunch because I was busy.... then fell asleep on the couch. Got up 20 minutes later to answer the door and thought, "well, I should be able to just walk across the room like normal and answer the door." Nope - I immediately got dizzy and fell over the coffee table! THAT scared me. Just got a bad bruise but it shook me up emotionally that not eating could affect me so profoundly. I've taken extra care not to let that happen again... I'm on oral meds and haven't been instructed to get a glucose test kit yet, but it's scary thinking that I might have to (18 years of growing up hearing my insulin dependent mom say OUCH twice a day made me very phobic of blood and needles). Watching my mom almost die several times during her life from insulin attacks gave me an appreciation for the seriousness of this disease. Also is scary because my boi is Type 2, takes double the dose I do, and my boi refuses to test because it hurts her fingers (despite the doc telling her to do it). I don't want to get to the point where I have to give myself injections or get an increased dose of meds. So I guess I can say I'm going through a big grieving process right now. I have been a struggling recovering compulsive overeater for the last 13 years. Due to my mother's death, diagnosis of a disability and losing my job of 9 years then being unemployed for 2 years, I gained 150 pounds from 2006-2009 and am now maintaining around 290-300. I am looking into a residential treatment facility for eating disorders at the suggestion of a friend in OA. We will see what happens next, there are a lot of steps to be taken before I consider something like that. But something needs to be done when I can't go up and down stairs comfortably anymore. It means a lot to have other bf folks in my life to help me along the path of diabetes recovery and health improvement. Thanks for being here. Good health to all, Dressy |
(((((( DressyFemme )))))) ...I know what you're feeling right now and it's a shock...and scary...and depressing....and I know it made me more than a little angry too.
Here's the good news...you really can do this. I'm the biggest needle-phobe you ever met, and I got to the point that I can test my fingers without pain. Try different devices if you need to...I use a testing "pen" that is very adjustable and, if I use the side of my fingers, it doesn't hurt. It also has an adapter so I can test anywhere. I haven't had to, but it's good to know that I can if I need to. I'm surprised that your doctor put you on meds without getting you a testing meter. It's really critical that you learn how your own body reacts to the disease. Some diabetics can eat things that others can't....and no one can tell you that. You've got to learn it through trial and error. Ouch on the fall over the coffee table...and I hear you...I've passed out in my own driveway shoveling snow and in my back yard weeding. It's really important to eat....small amounts and frequently. PM me if you like, and I'll be happy to share my yahoo with you too. This was a difficult transition for me, and I am totally here for you. :rrose: |
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Back from the doctor...A1c is still a solid 6.6...
She's hemming and hawing about upping my medication a little because she is pushing to get me below 6. I understand, but it's difficult to accomplish for sure. After a bit of back and forth she gave me that look and said..."I'm not changing your meds this time, but I want you to start to really watch your carbs closely again. Cut down on all of it...bread, potatoes, corn, nothing baked....you know how to do this." Truth is...I do know how to do this. I just hate doing it. It's kind of what I was saying in the deadly sin thread....this pushes all my envy buttons. Why can other people eat candy and cookies and ice cream and I can't? :overreaction: :badmood: I know what works for me...throw the sugar and the potato chips and the white flour anything in the garbage. Don't eat bread. Don't eat starchy veggies. Live on lean meat and vegetables and non-fat dairy products. If I must have a "sandwich", put it on a single whole wheat tortilla and wrap that sucker. Yep, I know how to do this. Grrrrrrrrr...... |
I'm on a low carb/no sugar diet and lost up to 7 lbs already and like it very much. Its heavy on the protein so that is good...good luck to all of you on the diet!!
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Hello all....
My numbers have been on the rise, for no apparent reason than they can. I am up to 40 units of 70/30 mix Novalog in the morning and at bedtime, regular Insulin as needed, and still take my 10mg extended release Glucotrol. I know from experience that I am a bit dehydrated which ups my numbers, but I have been so busy that I forget to eat and drink quite frequently....my numbers don't go down when I forget to eat...they just stay the same or go up if I get an internal sugar release. Sorry for whining, I'm in a bit of a funk. |
Whining is totally allowed MsT.... :whine: I get in that place a lot myself...like when all I want is a Snickers bar.
So important to eat regularly and stay hydrated....take care of yourself! :gimmehug: |
When I had my thyroids and whatever they can test for with blood,the only thing that my doc said was,your sugar is up a tad,no she didnt tell me how much b ut said to check out what ive been eating and see what I can change to something better.So I now use splenda for sugar if I need it,I have been exersiseing for three days a week for a while so thats covered.I do eat whole wheat bread for the most part I do like my french bread now and again.So yesterday I got a letter from the diatishion at the hospital for an appoingment wich I cant make cause of work,so I called her.I think she and the doc need to get on he same page cause she was going on like I was full onset diabeties,after she stoped talking my head off and I could geta word in edge wise I ask a fue questions and also told her what the doc said.She agrees im not diabetic but need to watch my diet and exersise.So I told her I already was watching my food better and have been working out for a while.Bytime we got off the phone I will be looking for some crazy weired diet to come in the mail for me to follow..I have no idea how they can get a reading on my sugar with one test, this was done dureing the thanks giveing holliday season,u can bet I was bakeing all sortd of goodies and tasting them.The diatishion said they run a 3 month average on the results...bull hocky.I may be in denial but if thay wanted a true reading they should have not done it dureing the hollidays when the doc knows im a bakeing fool at that time.At the moment im a lotta pissed about it all ...hells bells this is the last think I want to deal with.It dosent run in mu family at all,I had an ultrasound done a couple of months ago cause my gaull bladder was acting up so they checked my pancrease(sp?) and liver then and said they were in great shape.At the moment I dont know what to think,confused I am.
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