Posted on 06/29/2011 7:50:49 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Went to my doctor for the first time in awhile and got some bad news. My A1C blood sugar was almost 12 and my blood pressure averaged about 190/110. They wanted to admit me right then and there, but instead gave me a shopping bag full of medications. Since my wife had her stroke I haven't really been taking care of myself and now it's come to a head. If I don't do a complete 180 I'll be dead before the year is out. I have committed to mall walking (exercising) seven days a week for 30 minutes a day and cutting my carbs and sugars drastically. Please pray for me or think of me as I try to save my own life. Thanks!
FReeper 2ndDivisionVet in need of immediate prayers.
Please reply to him.
You don’t know me from Adam, I’m a long time lurker who was moved to create an account just so I could reply to this thread because I think I can really help you.
You see, about a decade ago I was about where you are: Type II Diabetes starting to onset, resting BP of 110/200 oh and 368lbs. And this was after years of going to the gym, eating a low-fat diet etc, nothing seemed to work and I’d all but resigned myself to an early grave.
Then a friend gave me a book called “Protein Power” by DRs. Eades (they have a website these days). Iwas immediately skeptical because I’d heard of low-carb diets but I’d also heard they were a dangerous fad and unworkable. but the friend was someone I literally trusted with my life more than once, so I read the book cover to cover. Unlike Atkins and all his imitators this book actually explained how the low-carb thing worked metabolically and what I could expect from following it (lower BP, better breathing, lower weight, reversal of mild diabetes etc)
With great trepidation I gave it a try, (it still seemed crazy to me, especially all the fat you were allowed to eat, but at that point, what did I have to loose?)
I can’t swear this will work for you this way but here what it did for me:
After one week I started losing about 2lbs A DAY and never once felt hungry (before the diet I would get ravenous and start shaking if I went too long between meals) in the course of 3 months I lost 80lbs and being slightly less strict after that I lost about 100+ in 6 months
in less than two weeks My BP went from 110/200 to 85/135 without any medication (and stayed there)
My sugars went from routinely being in the 150-200 range to being around 45-50 most of the time (the low carb process re-sensitizes your body to insulin so you produce less, give your pancreas a rest and often reverse early type II diabetes)
My airways opened up so much that I could double my usual aerobic workout in less than two weeks
10 years later, I’ve been off the diet about 5-6 years , the weight’s never come back, my sugars have stayed noraml and my BP is a bit higher than it was but a daily pill handles that
Can’t swear this will happen to you but please, at least read the book and think about it.
good luck,whatever you decide, I’ll be praying for you
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Please excuse my ignorance. Does this include fruit? I seem to get conflicting info about fruit all the time and have really put on the weight in the last couple years. I'm the heaviest I have ever been and am trying to reduce sugar intake.
seems like whenever I try to limit the carbs at meals I get hungry an hour later.
Prayers for you to get a handle on this problem and get it under control with God’s help and with His hand guiding your doctors in the decisions they make for you.
We are all here for each other, no matter what! :)
You have so many friends. Here’s a low-cost idea: canned mackarel. Canned mackarel costs $1.50/pound. Canned salmon has 2.5x omega-3 than mackarel but it costs at least that much. Canned tuna has 10x less omega-3. White/albacore has more omega-3 than light tuna but has the most mercury.
Mackarel and ocean-caught salmon have minimal mercury. Avoid farm-raised salmon.
A can usually has three bodies stuffed in. You could separate each body and remove the vertabrae or just heat and eat the crunchy bites! Put the fish on waxed paper in a 10-inch plastic pan, roll the fish in the waxed paper and seal the ends. Heat for 2 1/2 minutes in microwave. Flip it over and heat for 2 minutes. I love it. Then take increasing longer walks.
I got bad news the other day too, my dog has a heart murmur has two weeks, six months or 3 years, depending on how he responds to medicine, walking him kept me from walking in circles.
There is so much conflicting advise out there, it will confuse the hell of us. I read everything I could get my hands, checked out every web site.
I get a blood test every three months and have managed to stay in the normal range.
It is tough, you will have good and bad days, I am down to maybe one bad day every two weeks and I think, I can rid my self of them by keeping a food diary.
I loved pasta, mashed potatoes and ice cream, now I have forgotten what they taste like and scared to eat just a spoonful, knowing it would set a off a craving.
I bought a copy of the Atkins diet and left it on my desk at home, now I going to put a copy on my Ipad.
Good luck and remember you are not alone.
I am only a few years younger (Male) and struggling in the 7-8
1AC range. (good to fair)I take metformon and am not taking insulin.
Its frustrating when the doc gives drugs that work on the chemistry but make you feel worse. I wonder if you should check into getting an insulin pump. (you still count carbs)
Doc had me try several cholesterol meds and nothing worked until I added slow-niacin (over-counter).
I advise more emphasis on the lifestyle change than all the damn meds but you must see the doc often for a while.
12 is real bad. Keep the convenience junk food out of the house!Go to a good butcher shop and get some good quality meats for protein.
Please keep us informed, I would really appreciate it.
How are your feet? Numb?
The swings in blood sugar are probably going to make you feel pretty bad.
My problem is when this happens where I should exercise after eating a low carb snack but, instead I will go lay down and nap. (Struggling with less activity during unemployment right now.)
ping
Thanks, I will look into his work.
Get on a low sugar, low fat and low carb diet ASAP! Walking the mall is a good start. I am praying for you my FRiend!
It CAN be done!!
My brother in law, former marine, had a similar experience as yourself. He committed to going back into the disciplines of training with walking and right diet. He turned his life around. He was a HUGE inspiration to me and using him as an example, I’ve turned my own life around, by God’s grace.
Do NOT give up on yourself or on the process. You CAN do it. Prayers are up for you and all who are struggling with similar situations of need.
Actually, I took off about 60 pounds by starting with a 5 minute walk and working up to 45 minutes daily, a fairly brisk walk but not a killing pace. Coupled with weight watchers diet I was taking off about 2-3 pounds a week, which is a good rate to lose weight. Don’t try walking any more than 45 minutes a day, that comes straight from my doctor. He recommended 3 days a week but I walked 5 days a week and took weekends off.
Prayers for you and your wife.....get yourself a pedometer and try to get up to 5000 steps a day....then go for 10,000....we want you to be here for a LONG time! I saw a colleague of ours the other day who has lost 40 lbs in 5 weeks...he’s on a doctor supervised diet using HCG....you might inquire into it....or do as advised....just cut out all carbs (at least the flour, sugar ones)....and DO NOT be afraid of protein, ie eggs....protein fills you up, and satiates you so you aren’t so hungry....plus it will likely help lower your A1C, because you will lose weight.
The good news is you know what your problems are and you are on your way to fixing them. The walking helps and if it’s difficult initially, you can break it up into ten minute walks with rests in between. As far as dieting goes, “eating for energy” is what helped me. In other words, eat just enough, not too little, and not too much (don’t eat so much in one sitting that you have to rest).
2ndDiv,
Take care of yourself buddy!
Make the time to exercise, your wife needs you, FreeRepublic needs you.
I was born in Stuart (Martin County) Florida, but live in Seattle now. We have HILLS, steep ones, and MOUNTAINS, steep ones. Last year I went to the 8900 ft level on Mt Rainier. What a fun hike that was. I have climbed several peaks around here now, some that were 4 miles up and 4 miles down (check out Mt Si on the internet, I did that one twice last year).
Exactly how high IS Mt Milton?
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