Diabetic anyone?

JustJo · 05-07-2010, 07:41 AM

Hi everyone...

Didn't see a thread on this topic, and wondered if any other planeteers are living with diabetes.

I got diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic just after my 40th birthday...runs in my family something fierce...but had evidently been walking around undiagnosed for a decade or more (according to the opthamologist and my retinopathy). I'm not insulin dependent (thank goodness...cuz I'm also needle-phobic), but control it with oral meds, diet and exercise.

I'd love to exchange tips, support (and sometimes just a good whine about what a pain it is to live like this) with others....

Sabine Gallais · 05-07-2010, 09:28 AM

Diagnosed with Type II last year this time. Also controlling with diet, exercise and whatnot. Doing well mostly. Difficult to "live with" but not impossible. Lots of dietary changes obviously but being a former chef helps make this part of the deal is easier.

I also grow a lot of items which makes eating fresh and clean a lot more enjoyable.

MsTinkerbelly · 05-07-2010, 10:10 AM

Insulin dependant Diabetic diagnosed at 18, considered childhood onset.

I have had a heart attack at 39 (almost 40), and had a triple bypass done at 46, almost 3 years ago, largely due to the years I spent not taking care of myself properly.

Great thread idea!

Gemme · 05-07-2010, 10:15 AM

I am not diabetic, but am highly predisposed to it. I think this could be a very useful and informational thread for those who live with it and those who are trying not to develop it.

diamondrose · 05-07-2010, 10:33 AM

I have a good friend that lives with type II diabetes. She still loves her sweets but I try to encourage healthier options considering her situation. We also try to exercise regularly together to help manage her weight. Once we were at a store and her sugar droped. Since then , I carry a kit to test her sugar and things she made need if needed. Its serious stuff.

Andrew, Jr. · 05-07-2010, 10:50 AM

Yes I am diabetic. I am Type 2 as well. I was very thin, but got very sick with pneumonia and bronchitus (sp??). I was on steroids, and gained a ton of weight. That did me in. I am on pills now. I was on insulin, but with loosing weight, exercise, and so on, I am on the pills. WooHoo!

I have a long family history of diabetics in my family. I also have a long family history of cancer as well. I am not sure of the connection of the two diseases.

I have neuropathy in one of my feet. It feels like I am walking on a sponge. And the pain...the only way I can describe it is that I feel like a burn victim. It is just horrible. On a scale of 1 to 10 I am at a 10++++.

My eyesight was good, but I am loosing it each day. I highly recommend everyone who is diabetic to wear sunglasses, and to go get their eyes checked each year.

Don't take your health for granite. I used too. But boy was I taught a hard lesson.

GeekBear · 05-07-2010, 10:53 AM

I'm type II, diagnosed 3 years ago. I control my diabetes with diet, exercise and oral meds. I always knew it was coming because it does run in my family something awful but I try to make healthier food choices and exercise as much as I can. don't get me wrong, I still love my sweets and I'm a mountain dew addict, I just do everything in moderation now and some diet sodas like diet wild cherry pepsi are pretty darn tasty. I think this thread is a great thing and I have a ton of recipes to share if anyone likes a good guilt-free dessert

let's keep each other motivated to live happy and be healthy ya'll!

~geek~

nycfem · 05-09-2010, 07:28 PM

Subscribing. I found everyone's posts very helpful to read. I am pre-diabetic and have been for quite awhile. Generally I do my best to eat healthy and exercise but when out of town or at a party or over-tired (the usual changes in routine or stress) I sometimes slip. There is diabetes in my family, and I know that I am insulin resistant (I am about 200 lbs). I keep a daily journal of what I am eating and when and what exercise I am getting. I also sometimes jot down feelings. I find it very helpful in that it keeps me more mindful.

JustJo · 05-09-2010, 07:34 PM

I'm glad you joined us nycfembbw...I'm an emotional eater...and being aware of my feelings can make a big difference in what and how much I eat. It helps.

It's good that you're aware of being pre-diabetic...doing what you can to take care of your health now can really help in the long run!

ravfem · 05-10-2010, 10:46 AM

hey y'all

When i was pregnant with my son 20 years ago i developed gestational diabetes and the mid-wife told me that it would put me at increased risk for developing diabetes later in life. Well, i assumed she meant "later" as in 30-40 years later, not 12 years later! There is no family history of it at all.

When i was diagnosed, my blood glucose levels were mid 400s. The dr tried pills and diet first, and my levels kept rising. A couple years into it, she said i'd have to go on insulin. It felt like a death sentence to me. i envisioned lost limbs and eye sight, and quickly spiraling towards death. For a short while i did consider saving up all my insulin and then taking it all at once to just get it over with.

Even with insulin & oral meds, my levels are still pretty high. The only time i get near normal is when i drop rapidly, which sends my body into survival mode even though i'm reading at 140-170. 2 years ago, my endocrinologist told me that for all intents & purposes i have morphed into a Type 1, and that for any medical related situations, i needed to make it clear to the people treating me.

Exercise does help bring me down below 300. i am by no means great with my diet (i am and always will be a chocolate lover, and refuse to give it up completely), though i do try to be conscious of what i eat.

Getting diagnosed and starting treatment immediately put an end to the chronic yeast infections i'd suffered since being a pre-teen. i kinda wonder if i wasn't diabetic back then...they didn't test like they do today, and i remember many times my mama giving me pineapple juice to "bring me back around".

Really, my biggest symptom has always been no energy. i can sleep 12-15 hours with no problem. Some days are worse than others.

Thanks for the thread Jo!

rhonda

JustJo · 05-10-2010, 11:40 AM

(((( ravfem ))))...thanks for joining us. I also had gestational diabetes...although we now believe it was actually just undiagnosed diabetes that we happened to catch when I was pregnant since I had what looked like 20 year old eye damage.

I also had chronic yeast infections...in fact, any little infection would run wild with me as a teenager and young adult. I also had high blood pressure even as young as 18, and always showed blood and protein in any urine test in college. Looking back...either diabetic or close to it, but as you said - they weren't testing then like they do now.

My hug for you is also about the fatigue...which I feel. There are days when I am so exhausted that all I want to do is sit down and cry, even when I feel like I haven't done enough to warrant that level of tiredness. And times when I will sit down on the couch to relax for a minute in the late afternoon or early evening and find myself sound asleep ...or struggling to keep my eyes open.

And, even more, for the feeling of helplessness and depression. When I was first diagnosed and told was the medications were, the blood testing, the diet, the needles...to poke my finger in the beginning and the prospect of injections in my future...it was all pretty overwhelming and depressing. For me, food has been a big part of my comfort, an expression of love, all of that emotional stuff hooked up with it. I remember sitting there and telling myself that all I had to do was get my son grown...and then I could stop taking meds, eat what I wanted and...well...if I died from diabetic complications young then I wouldn't be the first one. My feelings about that have changed (thankfully), but I still feel the depression and frustration more often than I'd like.

Hugs to everyone...feels good to be able to share this stuff.

ruby36 · 10-19-2014, 06:08 AM

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 · 10-21-2014, 10:29 PM

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 · 10-22-2014, 01:19 AM

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.

Logicaly · 10-22-2014, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desd

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 · 10-22-2014, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logicaly

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 · 10-22-2014, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 10-22-2014, 01:14 PM

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.

05-07-2010, 07:41 AM	#1
JustJo Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: pushy broad Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: Follow your heart; it knows things your mind cannot explain. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Southeast corner Posts: 5,633 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 24,417 Thanked 25,407 Times in 4,661 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Diabetic anyone? Hi everyone... Didn't see a thread on this topic, and wondered if any other planeteers are living with diabetes. I got diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic just after my 40th birthday...runs in my family something fierce...but had evidently been walking around undiagnosed for a decade or more (according to the opthamologist and my retinopathy). I'm not insulin dependent (thank goodness...cuz I'm also needle-phobic), but control it with oral meds, diet and exercise. I'd love to exchange tips, support (and sometimes just a good whine about what a pain it is to live like this) with others.... __________________ I'm not tall enough to ride emotional roller coasters

05-07-2010, 09:28 AM	#2
Sabine Gallais Junior Member How Do You Identify?: Adeodatus Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New York Posts: 43 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6 Thanked 59 Times in 23 Posts Rep Power: 7870	Diagnosed with Type II last year this time. Also controlling with diet, exercise and whatnot. Doing well mostly. Difficult to "live with" but not impossible. Lots of dietary changes obviously but being a former chef helps make this part of the deal is easier. I also grow a lot of items which makes eating fresh and clean a lot more enjoyable. __________________ Meallan muilte Dé go mall ach meallan siad go mion.

05-07-2010, 10:15 AM	#4
Gemme Practically Lives Here How Do You Identify?: Queer Stone Femme Girl of the Unicorn Variety Preferred Pronoun?: She, as in 'She's a GEM' Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The roads are narrow here Posts: 36,589 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 182,212 Thanked 108,770 Times in 25,661 Posts Rep Power: 21474887	I am not diabetic, but am highly predisposed to it. I think this could be a very useful and informational thread for those who live with it and those who are trying not to develop it. __________________ Gemme's Journal I'm misunderestimated.

05-09-2010, 07:34 PM	#9
JustJo Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: pushy broad Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: Follow your heart; it knows things your mind cannot explain. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Southeast corner Posts: 5,633 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 24,417 Thanked 25,407 Times in 4,661 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	I'm glad you joined us nycfembbw...I'm an emotional eater...and being aware of my feelings can make a big difference in what and how much I eat. It helps. It's good that you're aware of being pre-diabetic...doing what you can to take care of your health now can really help in the long run! __________________ I'm not tall enough to ride emotional roller coasters

05-10-2010, 10:46 AM	#10
ravfem Senior Member How Do You Identify?: i'm a girl Relationship Status: negative Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,811 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,239 Thanked 3,126 Times in 1,269 Posts Rep Power: 1969285	hey y'all When i was pregnant with my son 20 years ago i developed gestational diabetes and the mid-wife told me that it would put me at increased risk for developing diabetes later in life. Well, i assumed she meant "later" as in 30-40 years later, not 12 years later! There is no family history of it at all. When i was diagnosed, my blood glucose levels were mid 400s. The dr tried pills and diet first, and my levels kept rising. A couple years into it, she said i'd have to go on insulin. It felt like a death sentence to me. i envisioned lost limbs and eye sight, and quickly spiraling towards death. For a short while i did consider saving up all my insulin and then taking it all at once to just get it over with. Even with insulin & oral meds, my levels are still pretty high. The only time i get near normal is when i drop rapidly, which sends my body into survival mode even though i'm reading at 140-170. 2 years ago, my endocrinologist told me that for all intents & purposes i have morphed into a Type 1, and that for any medical related situations, i needed to make it clear to the people treating me. Exercise does help bring me down below 300. i am by no means great with my diet (i am and always will be a chocolate lover, and refuse to give it up completely), though i do try to be conscious of what i eat. Getting diagnosed and starting treatment immediately put an end to the chronic yeast infections i'd suffered since being a pre-teen. i kinda wonder if i wasn't diabetic back then...they didn't test like they do today, and i remember many times my mama giving me pineapple juice to "bring me back around". Really, my biggest symptom has always been no energy. i can sleep 12-15 hours with no problem. Some days are worse than others. Thanks for the thread Jo! rhonda __________________

05-07-2010, 10:10 AM	#3
MsTinkerbelly Timed Out - TOS Drama How Do You Identify?: ... Preferred Pronoun?: ... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ... Posts: 6,573 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,737 Thanked 22,957 Times in 5,020 Posts Rep Power: 0	Insulin dependant Diabetic diagnosed at 18, considered childhood onset. I have had a heart attack at 39 (almost 40), and had a triple bypass done at 46, almost 3 years ago, largely due to the years I spent not taking care of myself properly. Great thread idea!

05-07-2010, 10:33 AM	#5
diamondrose Member How Do You Identify?: . Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 1,384 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2 Thanked 2,895 Times in 923 Posts Rep Power: 13536273	I have a good friend that lives with type II diabetes. She still loves her sweets but I try to encourage healthier options considering her situation. We also try to exercise regularly together to help manage her weight. Once we were at a store and her sugar droped. Since then , I carry a kit to test her sugar and things she made need if needed. Its serious stuff.

05-07-2010, 10:50 AM	#6
Andrew, Jr. Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Me Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Over the Rainbow in a House Posts: 5,072 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 16,004 Thanked 5,249 Times in 2,216 Posts Rep Power: 0	Yes I am diabetic. I am Type 2 as well. I was very thin, but got very sick with pneumonia and bronchitus (sp??). I was on steroids, and gained a ton of weight. That did me in. I am on pills now. I was on insulin, but with loosing weight, exercise, and so on, I am on the pills. WooHoo! I have a long family history of diabetics in my family. I also have a long family history of cancer as well. I am not sure of the connection of the two diseases. I have neuropathy in one of my feet. It feels like I am walking on a sponge. And the pain...the only way I can describe it is that I feel like a burn victim. It is just horrible. On a scale of 1 to 10 I am at a 10++++. My eyesight was good, but I am loosing it each day. I highly recommend everyone who is diabetic to wear sunglasses, and to go get their eyes checked each year. Don't take your health for granite. I used too. But boy was I taught a hard lesson.

05-07-2010, 10:53 AM	#7
GeekBear Member How Do You Identify?: transgender menace Preferred Pronoun?: he, him, his Relationship Status: Married to the RyRy! Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 124 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 70 Thanked 227 Times in 64 Posts Rep Power: 1775740	I'm type II, diagnosed 3 years ago. I control my diabetes with diet, exercise and oral meds. I always knew it was coming because it does run in my family something awful but I try to make healthier food choices and exercise as much as I can. don't get me wrong, I still love my sweets and I'm a mountain dew addict, I just do everything in moderation now and some diet sodas like diet wild cherry pepsi are pretty darn tasty. I think this thread is a great thing and I have a ton of recipes to share if anyone likes a good guilt-free dessert let's keep each other motivated to live happy and be healthy ya'll! ~geek~

05-09-2010, 07:28 PM	#8
nycfem Moderator How Do You Identify?: femme sub Preferred Pronoun?: Baby Grrl Relationship Status: Attached Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 6,776 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 52,859 Thanked 21,737 Times in 5,088 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	Subscribing. I found everyone's posts very helpful to read. I am pre-diabetic and have been for quite awhile. Generally I do my best to eat healthy and exercise but when out of town or at a party or over-tired (the usual changes in routine or stress) I sometimes slip. There is diabetes in my family, and I know that I am insulin resistant (I am about 200 lbs). I keep a daily journal of what I am eating and when and what exercise I am getting. I also sometimes jot down feelings. I find it very helpful in that it keeps me more mindful.

05-10-2010, 11:40 AM	#11
JustJo Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: pushy broad Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: Follow your heart; it knows things your mind cannot explain. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Southeast corner Posts: 5,633 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 24,417 Thanked 25,407 Times in 4,661 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	(((( ravfem ))))...thanks for joining us. I also had gestational diabetes...although we now believe it was actually just undiagnosed diabetes that we happened to catch when I was pregnant since I had what looked like 20 year old eye damage. I also had chronic yeast infections...in fact, any little infection would run wild with me as a teenager and young adult. I also had high blood pressure even as young as 18, and always showed blood and protein in any urine test in college. Looking back...either diabetic or close to it, but as you said - they weren't testing then like they do now. My hug for you is also about the fatigue...which I feel. There are days when I am so exhausted that all I want to do is sit down and cry, even when I feel like I haven't done enough to warrant that level of tiredness. And times when I will sit down on the couch to relax for a minute in the late afternoon or early evening and find myself sound asleep ...or struggling to keep my eyes open. And, even more, for the feeling of helplessness and depression. When I was first diagnosed and told was the medications were, the blood testing, the diet, the needles...to poke my finger in the beginning and the prospect of injections in my future...it was all pretty overwhelming and depressing. For me, food has been a big part of my comfort, an expression of love, all of that emotional stuff hooked up with it. I remember sitting there and telling myself that all I had to do was get my son grown...and then I could stop taking meds, eat what I wanted and...well...if I died from diabetic complications young then I wouldn't be the first one. My feelings about that have changed (thankfully), but I still feel the depression and frustration more often than I'd like. Hugs to everyone...feels good to be able to share this stuff. __________________ I'm not tall enough to ride emotional roller coasters

10-19-2014, 06:08 AM	#12
ruby36 Junior Member How Do You Identify?: stone femme Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: currently single Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: australia Posts: 6 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 7 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts Rep Power: 0	Diabeties 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.

10-21-2014, 10:29 PM	#13
Logicaly Member How Do You Identify?: Transgender Male Preferred Pronoun?: Male Relationship Status: She is the gamer girl to my gamer boy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: California, Bay Area Posts: 683 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 395 Thanked 1,744 Times in 513 Posts Rep Power: 8641137	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. __________________ ~Logicaly~ Geeky guy extraordinaire Always and Forever

10-22-2014, 01:19 AM	#14
bright_arrow ☆ the stars are aligned ☆ How Do You Identify?: strong, independent, badass redhead Preferred Pronoun?: babygirl, buttercup, sugah Relationship Status: married to my Boo Daddy <3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: east bay, cali Posts: 2,907 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,643 Thanked 9,359 Times in 2,295 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	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.

10-22-2014, 01:14 PM	#18
MsTinkerbelly Timed Out - TOS Drama How Do You Identify?: ... Preferred Pronoun?: ... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ... Posts: 6,573 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 30,737 Thanked 22,957 Times in 5,020 Posts Rep Power: 0	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.