diabetic thread

[Hopeful]

Fell off the wagon a bit, forgot to take my meds last night and didn't write down my blood sugar last night or this morning. But that's okay, that's okay, I'll get right back into it today.

The "log" is your life line!!!
"Forgetting" and "skipping" control measures guarantees failure.

 

[ezrider]

Blood sugar was (I think) 170 this morning. I left my log at home, so my memory may be off.

What is your fasting blood sugar? In other words, nothing to eat or drink except water for 12 hours. Mines been around 115-120 or so. I just fasted this past weekend so I could get my bloodwork done. Find out Friday what my A1C is.

Trust me, I already have some complications with my feet. Your blood sugars are pretty high and you need to take it seriously. Metformin is not insulin. You need to take take regularly. I take it twice daily, as well as an insulin injection once a day, but diet is a must. WIP was correct above in that you should try and limit your carbs to about 40g per meal. If you real active, you might be able to have a few more. If you're not real active, then you should have a few less.

 

[evenifigoalone]

The "log" is your life line!!!
"Forgetting" and "skipping" control measures guarantees failure.

It's just a bit of a struggle for me to keep up new habits. I do good for a few days and then at some point I mess up and need to start the process over again. I did take my meds and wrote in my log tonight.

What is your fasting blood sugar? In other words, nothing to eat or drink except water for 12 hours. Mines been around 115-120 or so. I just fasted this past weekend so I could get my bloodwork done. Find out Friday what my A1C is.

Trust me, I already have some complications with my feet. Your blood sugars are pretty high and you need to take it seriously. Metformin is not insulin. You need to take take regularly. I take it twice daily, as well as an insulin injection once a day, but diet is a must. WIP was correct above in that you should try and limit your carbs to about 40g per meal. If you real active, you might be able to have a few more. If you're not real active, then you should have a few less.

Last time I checked fasting blood sugar it was 139.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Does anyone else struggle to, in a way, remember that this is a serious disease? Like, the fact that there are not usually immediate consequences makes it hard to keep in mind sometimes. Like, I know I want to keep my eyesight, I don't want to lose limbs or have other serious complications, but...... the sense of urgency and panic I felt when first diagnosed was good at initially motivating me to improve my lifestyle. But that sense of urgency and panic didn't last and by itself doesn't seem to be a good long-term motivation.

But like...... I've heard it said that nothing gets done if you wait to feel "motivated". Motivation can help, but in the long run you just have to develop discipline.

Lastly, well......I struggle really hard with any skills that require long term organization and stuff. Maybe it's because my working memory isn't the best, who knows. But I feel like that adds another layer of difficulty for me.

 

[WIP]

It's just a bit of a struggle for me to keep up new habits. I do good for a few days and then at some point I mess up and need to start the process over again. I did take my meds and wrote in my log tonight.

This is exactly why I created the spreadsheet for my phone. I have my phone with me most of the time so I can record my carb intake immediately. Without it, out of sight and out of mind takes over and I begin to drift. Keeping a close record helps me keep on task. Here's a screenshot of my spreadsheet. I use Google Sheets so I can access it with my phone or on my computer. As you can see, I keep a daily total and at the bottom a monthly average daily. I didn't set the monthly average to only use data from filled fields so it isn't accurate until the end of the month but it works well enough for what I need.

 

[WIP]

What is your fasting blood sugar? In other words, nothing to eat or drink except water for 12 hours. Mines been around 115-120 or so. I just fasted this past weekend so I could get my bloodwork done. Find out Friday what my A1C is.

Trust me, I already have some complications with my feet. Your blood sugars are pretty high and you need to take it seriously. Metformin is not insulin. You need to take take regularly. I take it twice daily, as well as an insulin injection once a day, but diet is a must. WIP was correct above in that you should try and limit your carbs to about 40g per meal. If you real active, you might be able to have a few more. If you're not real active, then you should have a few less.

I hear you on the complications with your feet. In July 2011 my doctor commented that my blood glucose was elevated a little so "we should keep an eye on it." Six months later in February 2012 my glucose was over 350 and he said I was type II and prescribed Metformin. I also noticed about that same time that my feet had this numb sensation but my doctor didn't think it was related to my glucose because it hadn't been elevated very long yet. We had a neurologist have a look and he said I suffered from diabetes nerve damage. That damage was actually done in about two months time. To this day my feet are numb down the center on top and bottom from my three middle toes to my shins. I have to be extra careful when I am outside in cold weather because its not so easy to know when my feet are getting cold. I also am very uncomfortable walking barefoot anymore so I must wear slippers indoors and loose fitting shoes outdoors. Damage can be done quicker than people realize.

 

[ezrider]

Does anyone else struggle to, in a way, remember that this is a serious disease? Like, the fact that there are not usually immediate consequences makes it hard to keep in mind sometimes. Like, I know I want to keep my eyesight, I don't want to lose limbs or have other serious complications, but...... the sense of urgency and panic I felt when first diagnosed was good at initially motivating me to improve my lifestyle. But that sense of urgency and panic didn't last and by itself doesn't seem to be a good long-term motivation.

But like...... I've heard it said that nothing gets done if you wait to feel "motivated". Motivation can help, but in the long run you just have to develop discipline.

Lastly, well......I struggle really hard with any skills that require long term organization and stuff. Maybe it's because my working memory isn't the best, who knows. But I feel like that adds another layer of difficulty for me.

I got real serious about diet and exercise after I first came to grips with it. After a couple years, started slipping with the diet, but stuck with exercising. Last year when everything shut down due to COVID I was working from home, so I challenged myself to start walking more, get up and away from my desk. Was doing real good until last summer when the dry skin on the side of my foot cracked open and created a wound. That led to another complication and 3 months ago I lost a toe. The original wound on the side of my foot still isn't healed yet, and I've been undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the last 6 weeks.

It is not about trying to form new habits. It's about changing your lifestyle.

Couple books I would recommend would be "Eat to Live" and "The End of Diabetes" by Dr Joel Furhman.

 

[ezrider]

I hear you on the complications with your feet. In July 2011 my doctor commented that my blood glucose was elevated a little so "we should keep an eye on it." Six months later in February 2012 my glucose was over 350 and he said I was type II and prescribed Metformin. I also noticed about that same time that my feet had this numb sensation but my doctor didn't think it was related to my glucose because it hadn't been elevated very long yet. We had a neurologist have a look and he said I suffered from diabetes nerve damage. That damage was actually done in about two months time. To this day my feet are numb down the center on top and bottom from my three middle toes to my shins. I have to be extra careful when I am outside in cold weather because its not so easy to know when my feet are getting cold. I also am very uncomfortable walking barefoot anymore so I must wear slippers indoors and loose fitting shoes outdoors. Damage can be done quicker than people realize.

I have neuropathy too, so I never felt the crack in the skin of my foot. Then one morning I was in the kitchen making myself a cup of coffee and noticed a few spot of blood on the floor. My first thought? What's wrong with the dog?

 

[humble soul]

That led to another complication and 3 months ago I lost a toe.

There I was feeling sorry for myself

 

[daninthelionsden]

Can you clarify your statement please. I can't quite tell if you are saying the berries are good for you or bad for you?

All berries are good because they have little to no fructose.

 

[daninthelionsden]

What is your fasting blood sugar? In other words, nothing to eat or drink except water for 12 hours. Mines been around 115-120 or so. I just fasted this past weekend so I could get my bloodwork done. Find out Friday what my A1C is.

Trust me, I already have some complications with my feet. Your blood sugars are pretty high and you need to take it seriously. Metformin is not insulin. You need to take take regularly. I take it twice daily, as well as an insulin injection once a day, but diet is a must. WIP was correct above in that you should try and limit your carbs to about 40g per meal. If you real active, you might be able to have a few more. If you're not real active, then you should have a few less.

Dr Eric Berg among others say Type 2 is reversible with diet/fasting/moderate exercise.

 

[WIP]

Dr Eric Berg among others say Type 2 is reversible with diet/fasting/moderate exercise.

Not necessarily totally reversible but it can be managed. Diabetes is the result of bodily functions that begin to break down. Our bodies are not immortal and eventually if we live long enough some function of our bodies will stop working, however, there are things we can do to prolong our body's ability to function. Sort of like automobile maintenance. If we don't take care of our vehicles, such as changing the oil regularly, the life expectancy will be shorter. The fact that one has developed type II is an indicator that their body is no longer able to regulate glucose levels as well as a healthy individual but there are things that can be done to prolong the inevitable.

After I was diagnosed type II in February, 2012, I began to regulate my carbohydrate intake regularly. Over the next few months I lost about 30 pounds of weight. By September my body began to regulate my glucose levels better. My A1C went down from 10.2 to 5.1, which is normal for a healthy person and I stopped taking the Metformin medication and have been able to manage my diabetes with diet ever since. But, I can't just go back to my old ways.

As long as I regulate my carb intake and manage my diet to keep my weight in check, my A1C remains between 5.0 and 5.5....for now. I have noticed that if I get lazy and my weight increases even as little as 10 pounds, my glucose levels begin to rise. This past Tuesday I was up about 15 pounds above my current target weight and my A1C reflected it at 5.8. It is a matter of time and the writing is on the wall. Eventually, my body will stop being able to manage my blood glucose but I want to prolong that day as long as I can.

 

[Christ_empowered]

it's me, yet again....the Schizophrenic recommending you think about taking high dose supplements. lol.

but seriously...Orthomolecular = inspired treatment (DIY, in my case) has been -very- helpful for me. Nothing against herbs and such, but vitamins, minerals, etc. don't seem to have as many supplement-drug interactions as the herbal products, so...that's been a definite + in my book.

usually, Orthomolecular protocols involve a multi-vitamin, loads of B-complex, C, E, some form B3 (I take niacinamide, niacin or the 'no flush' niacin might be a better choice if one is dealing with metabolic disorders), and then whatever drugs are prescribed by the doctor(s) involved.

here's a link to free information that I've personally found helpful, although....I don't know that I agree with everything that I've skimmed over (Gerson therapy for cancer, for instance...not really sold on that one, but it makes for interesting reading...) : www.doctoryourself.com and http://www.doctoryourself.com/diabetes.html

 

[WIP]

All berries are good because they have little to no fructose.

That's not it. Fruits actually have carbohydrates in the form of a natural sugar called fructose. Fructose is a type of sugar that has a low glycemic index. In other words its a complex carb so it does not digest as fast as processed sugars and less likely going to cause major spikes in blood glucose levels. Many fruits also contain good amounts of fiber which also slows digestion and helps keep glucose levels more steady. It's still important to count the carbohydrates in fruit as a diabetic diet plan.

In any case, certain things may affect different people differently. One person may see a significant rise in glucose from eating potatoes while another person not so much, for example.

 

[ezrider]

That's not it. Fruits actually have carbohydrates in the form of a natural sugar called fructose. Fructose is a type of sugar that has a low glycemic index. In other words its a complex carb so it does not digest as fast as processed sugars and less likely going to cause major spikes in blood glucose levels. Many fruits also contain good amounts of fiber which also slows digestion and helps keep glucose levels more steady. It's still important to count the carbohydrates in fruit as a diabetic diet plan.

In any case, certain things may affect different people differently. One person may see a significant rise in glucose from eating potatoes while another person not so much, for example.

Or even how the potato is cooked. Same with oatmeal. Cooked oatmeal raises the blood sugar a lot higher than it does if I make overnight oatmeal.

 

[WIP]

Or even how the potato is cooked. Same with oatmeal. Cooked oatmeal raises the blood sugar a lot higher than it does if I make overnight oatmeal.

Interesting. How do you make overnight oatmeal.

My wife recently purchased a different kind of oatmeal from Bob's Red Mill. It's not made with rolled oats but from steel cut oats. It is oats that are just chopped up so it has a nuttier texture and it takes longer to cook. I like it. Something different.

 

[ezrider]

Interesting. How do you make overnight oatmeal.

My wife recently purchased a different kind of oatmeal from Bob's Red Mill. It's not made with rolled oats but from steel cut oats. It is oats that are just chopped up so it has a nuttier texture and it takes longer to cook. I like it. Something different.

I've got to get ready to head off to my treatment shortly, so I'll put it up later. But, essentially, I soak the oatmeal in a pint ball jar with unsweetened almond milk overnight in the refrig.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Dr Eric Berg among others say Type 2 is reversible with diet/fasting/moderate exercise.

Technically yeah, though if you stop your diet it comes right back. The lifestyle changes to combat type 2 are a lifelong thing

 

[WIP]

Technically yeah, though if you stop your diet it comes right back. The lifestyle changes to combat type 2 are a lifelong thing

This is true for any diet, which is partially why those that go on diets usually struggle worse afterwards. It takes a lifestyle change.

 

[Hopeful]

Not necessarily totally reversible but it can be managed. Diabetes is the result of bodily functions that begin to break down. Our bodies are not immortal and eventually if we live long enough some function of our bodies will stop working, however, there are things we can do to prolong our body's ability to function. Sort of like automobile maintenance. If we don't take care of our vehicles, such as changing the oil regularly, the life expectancy will be shorter. The fact that one has developed type II is an indicator that their body is no longer able to regulate glucose levels as well as a healthy individual but there are things that can be done to prolong the inevitable.

After I was diagnosed type II in February, 2012, I began to regulate my carbohydrate intake regularly. Over the next few months I lost about 30 pounds of weight. By September my body began to regulate my glucose levels better. My A1C went down from 10.2 to 5.1, which is normal for a healthy person and I stopped taking the Metformin medication and have been able to manage my diabetes with diet ever since. But, I can't just go back to my old ways.

As long as I regulate my carb intake and manage my diet to keep my weight in check, my A1C remains between 5.0 and 5.5....for now. I have noticed that if I get lazy and my weight increases even as little as 10 pounds, my glucose levels begin to rise. This past Tuesday I was up about 15 pounds above my current target weight and my A1C reflected it at 5.8. It is a matter of time and the writing is on the wall. Eventually, my body will stop being able to manage my blood glucose but I want to prolong that day as long as I can.

5.I !!!!
Wow.
I have been lingering around 6.3 to 6.7 for a long time.