 |
|
Reply
| | From:  Cyndeone (Original Message) | Sent: 3/19/2008 6:55 PM |
May be a bit long, but will try to keep it short as possible. I have been a member of the board for sometime now. I am a lurker! When my Thom came down with Diabetes a few years back you help me cope with his mood swings and temper tantrams. Once we got him on track, he mellowed out. Thanks for all your help. Now I need you help. (I am not having temper tantrams). First let me start off with my mother-she is an insulin dependent diabetic. Has been for about 35 years. No meds, straight to the insulin. Blood sugar in the 400's when she doesn't take her insulin on time. Thomas had been diabetic for about 3 years. He controls his with diet and only diet...no medications. He is able to do this with walking and keeping on a strict routine. Time line. He fudges big time, his sugar rises, through the ceiling but lowers quickly. 6 months ago I was not Diabetic. I had normal sugar levels, infact, sometimes my sugar was lower than normal. (not much). My MD takes regular blood test for cloreseral. I have HBP and on meds for both conditions for about 2 years. My last 3 blood tests had higher than normal sugar (fasting levels). Each one was higher than the last. They ranged from 150-175-196. Thom would test my sugar and it was normal around christmas. Christmas cookies and all. But when I fast my sugar levels go up. I am following a strict diet and regime, but my levels just keep getting higher. I lost 5 lbs. in 6 weeks so that shows I am doing something right. But my sugar levels average around 220, somethimes very sledom 150's, if I look at anything white (bread, rice, flour) my sugar goes up. But I can eat a (medium)noatmeal raisn cookie or two and only have my sugar around 150. I seem to be backwards. Is this common in the beginning? My body craves sugar, I think it is pulling it out of my fat pockets. I am about 30 Lbs overweight. Oops only 25 now. I am using sugar substitutes and am OK with them, like the 2% milk, and the reduction of butter and fats in my diet. I had a 1/2 cup ice cream, total of like 25 carbs and my sugar went to 340. While Thom has about 4 scoops and his was like 179. I just do not understand. Is this normal.....Am I having this problem because of my mother being insulin dependent. All my MD says is we will have to wait and see, it is still to early. We will keep a close eye on it. I am trying so hard, but everthing puts my sugar over the top, in the mid 200's and as high as in the high 300's. Needless to say I feel tired and lousey most of the time. Dizzy, confused, and forgetful. I think that is high for only be diaignosed 6 weeks ago. In 6 weeks Thom's was under control, mine is running rampet. The MD told me this could happen, I could round the corner, but with Thom it was not as severe so suddenly and he is able to keep his under control. I turned the corner so fast I have whiplash! I keep following his diabetic plan to the letter and it doesn't help. The MD says while I have Type 2, Mine is not the same as Thom's. My body is not responing. He put me on medication to see if that helps. I haven't taken any yet. The perscription is being filled as we speak. I thought Diabetes (2) was all the same? Or is it that my body's matabolism is working different. I would think following a strict routine and diet, my levels would drop, instead they are going up |
|
 First
Previous
2-7 of 7
Next
Last
|
|
Reply
| |
Whew! Where to start? With type 1 diabetes (your mother is likely a T1) the body produces no insulin, and must take injections of insulin to survive. A type 2 diabetic (you and Thom) has varying amounts of insulin in the body, but does not use it effectively. With diet and exercise, some can control blood sugars. Some can't, and need additional help: either oral meds, insulin, or some combination. Diet and exercise are important to all diabetics, though. And different people metabolize food differently, so the effect upon one diabetic's sugar will not necessarily be the same as another's. Have you been properly diagnosed by a doctor? Sounds like you self-diagnosed, and are trying to control your sugars alone, without guidance or medical intervention. Not wise. The first thing you need is a complete check up, including lab word, an examination of your feet and eyes, as well as your heart. Often, complication arise when a patient goes undiagnosed and untreated. Next, you need to speak with a dietician, to get a diet that works for you. Your sugars need to be checked several time a day, around meals, so you can see how different foods affect your glucose. Give this information to the doctor, so he can see if you require medication to control your sugars. You can not compare what you eat to what your husband does...men tend to have a faster metabolism (which is why they lose weight faster, darn them!) Losing weight is a symptom of uncontrolled blood sugar. So is craving sweets! (when I was a kid, I would drink entire cans of Hawiian Punch, and eat waffles with half a bottle of syrup! EWWWW! Then drop 10 lobs in a week. I thought I had discovered the Holy Grail! LOL! I'm T1 for 35 years on insulin) No two diabetics are the same...just like no two people are. Men and women are always different anyways! LOL! But if your sugars are spiking into the 300s, there is no escaping that you ARE diabetic. You say your doctor wants to wait and see if your treatment works? Um...it only has a chance to work if you fill the prescription, and take the meds. You have to believe that you and your husband are not the same, and need to be a lot more aggressive if you want to avoid complications. Your health depends on it. I'm guessing you must have a glucose meter, if you are aware of your bg levels. Test, test, test! Avoid those things that spike you sugar...at least in the beginning, With time and perserverence, you will learn how to keep those sugars under control. If you need help, ask...either here, or your health care team. Much good luck! HUGS! sheryl |
|
Reply
| |
Sheryl gave great advice... I just want to ad one thing. If you are following his plan, say the carb amount allowed per meal. Well I can tell you right there you are getting too much carbs. As a woman doesn't need as many as a man does. It sounds like you are doing something right as far as the amount of Ice cream you eat when you have some... but keep in mind, that if you test 2 hours after eating you will know what your sugars are like. And, it also depends on what you had to eat prior to the ice cream. So say you just had a hamburger on a tortilla shell (low carb shell) with light or no mayo or ketchup and a salad with some low carb dressing then having your ice cream shortly after should not be a problem. However, if you had say the same hamburger on a bun with mayo, ketchup and the works (including cheese), and a baked potatoe or fries, and then had your ice cream, you are getting more than you should with your carb intake. Women need to have if they are moderately active 45 grams of carbs per meal. And that means only doing house work and walking daily and getting some exercise, then you do the 45, but if you are doing less than that, you will have to have even less carbs per meal. And if you are very active and exercise a lot and I mean like those fitness nuts like Denise Austin or some such then you will be able to have at least 65 grams of carbs. But never think you can have the same as a man and have it work for you. Huggles... Debra |
|
Reply
| |
I guess I was kinda vague. Thom has been a type 2 diabetic for over 3 years. We have had training with a dietician. I try follow all the rules. OK sometimes I slip. It works for him, it should work for me. I have just been offically dianosed, around the end of January. I had not been following the low carb diet, I ate things that Thom couldn't have (Pasta, Rice, Bread). Now I have elimated them from my diet since January. The weight loss comes from following the diet, and the reduced number of calories. A little walking here and there. These sugar changes have only been these last 6 months. They where taken at the Dr's office and sent to a lab (viles, not meter). When I was there in late Jan. He took a test that is specific to Diabetes. I had broncial pneumonia at the time. So I honeslty wasn't paying too much attention to what the test was. I go to the Dr. every 3-4 months, to regulate my HBP and Colestrial. (Which I have under control, Dr is very happy with me there). These last few months, I have been going , because I had a higher than normal blood sugar count. I have had 3 higher than normal in a row. Each progressivly higher. I have a meter and the Dr. calabrated it. I self test and do try to expirment some. If I have a hamburger, I only eat 1/2 the bread and would never have ice cream on top of it...I would wait at least 2 hours. I am only allowed so many carbs a meal and snack and I usually stay below that. 3 meals, 3 snacks. I get a salad with low fat, low carb dressing instead of potatoes, and if I get a craving for fries, I get the small or at a restraunt only eat 1/3 -1/2. I pack my lunch so it is diet specific. It also keeps me from cheating. This is why I am so confused. The Dr. gave me a percription on Tues, and I started last night. It starts with an " F". Dr. said it would take a while for my sugar to level out. It won't happen overnight. I have an appt. in a month. I called my mother last night to double check on her status. She is definately type 2. But cannot take the meds. Also this was back like 35-45 years ago. She also sees her doctor regularly. But she cheats a lot on her diet. Says her sugar drops and needs to get it back up. Will that happen to me? OK now what do I do with the chocolate cream filled donut, that was just placed on my desk, mighty tempting...I know what I should do with it. Ok so I will have a small bite or two (throw it out to the birds, so I cannot get at it) and skip my apple snack. Make sure to eat a proper lunch. So far so good, but it is still stareing and beckonnning me. This is so hard...I do not have to tell you guys. You know better than I do. Thanks for your help... |
|
Reply
| |
The meds that my Dr gave me was mentorin? I was taking one pill at night then after a few days I was to take 2. Dr said my blood sugar would not fall that fast, but even on one pill I was down to 138 in 3 days which to me was great, I was starting to feel normal again. I started getting severe pains in my stomach, I mean double over pain. Uncomfortable and some slight bloating. I started taking the 2nd pill, my overnight sugar jumped to 199, I bloated so bad, I looked like I had a beach ball under my clothes and someone was pulling a belt tight around me. My skirt was riding up to my bra line. I had so much gas, I had to ask to be excused from a Board Meeting. I am all out of wack with my diet because of the stomach pain (I take Previcide, every day), I called the Dr. He told me to "quit taking the meds". At once. They were not working the way they should. He perscribed Amaryl instead. I have to go without meds till my stomach straighens out. I lost a total of 6 lbs, but you cannot tell with all this bloating. I look like one of those clown dolls, that have a round bottom (like a ball) and rock back and forth when you put them on the floor. Come to think of it that's just about how I feel. Rocky! How long can it take until you find something that works? |
|
Reply
| |
Cyndeone, Your loss of that much weight in that short a period does not indicate you are doing something right but is a symptom of diabetes. Trav |
|
|
First
Previous
2-7 of 7
Next
Last
|
|
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
Recommend
Return to Type 2