Diabetic anyone?

[Andrew, Jr.]

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.

[Andrew, Jr.]

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.

[DressyFemme]

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

[JustJo]

(((((( 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.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by JustJo

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.

This is the device I use...Accu Chek Soft Clik lancet pen... http://www.americandiabeteswholesale...e_1206_143.htm

[JustJo]

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?

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......

[lipstixgal]

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!!

[Rockinonahigh]

Originally Posted by JustJo

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?

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 dont blame u for being pissed,I would be too.I am not in any way looking forwards to the dam diet list when it comes in...at all.