Attention Diabetics - New to the fold

Self | 25MAY09 | Tennessee_Bob

[Tennessee_Bob]

Wow.

Had a doctor's appointment last week for a completely different issue. First thing the doc says is, "the weight loss is great!" That's when I explained that the 30-35 pounds I had lost had all been in the last month or so. That I was constantly thirsty, and "peeing like a race horse."

That's when the original reason for the appointment got pushed to the back and that's when life changed. That's when we tested my blood sugar and found it at 297, and shortly after that was when I did my first injection of insulin.

Yes, the symptoms were there, but I did the man thing and ignored them. I made an appointment for an unrelated issue, and made a list of things to discuss with the MD, and this was on there, but it was like three down the list.

So, here I am, testing my blood four times a day, injecting insulin five times a day (4 times on Humalog, 1 time with Levemir). Here I am, arguing with my pharmacy benefits manager about why Levemir is the only non-preferred insulin on the list. Here I am now, trying to restructure my budget so I can afford the medications, trying to figure out what I can and can't eat, when to eat, how much to eat.

So, who else out here is a diabetic? Type I, Type II, gestational - I'm looking to talk to anyone about self-education. I'm supposed to be going to some sort of course, but it's going to take some time before that gets arranged, and I believe in educating myself as much as possible.

I'm looking for tips, support, whatever you can tell me about what I need to know about this sudden change in my life at age 45. I figure - the more I can learn now, the better able I am to get on top of this thing and stick around for awhile. Yes - I know, it's not a death sentence, but you'd be surprised (or possibly wouldn't) how many people are turning sad eyes towards me, and saying "Aww, man, I'm sorry to hear that."

[Tennessee_Bob]

So....talk to me, point me in different directions. Let me know what's going on and where to go, etc. I need to learn as much as possible about this stuff.

[DooDahhhh]

Get the treatment, whatever it is. My sister ignored it and died from those causes at age 68.

[libh8er]

Can you tell us your age bracket (30s, 40s, 50s...) ?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Bob, look on line at recipe sites - I’m sure you can find some geared toward diabetes that might help you with some food questions - good luck!

[svcw]

Not a death sentence but certainly an annoyance.
It just takes some training. I think you will enjoy the classes. I went with my husband when he was diagnosed with type II.
Some adjustments to be sure but we are all living a more healthy life style.
Good luck, but shortly it will be second nature.

[libh8er]

Never mind...

[avacado]

My neighbor is a type I diabetic. Him and his wife eat really fresh foods. In fact, from hanging out with them, I have learned to eat proper and ended up losing 25lbs and have kept it off easily. Stay away from the frozen section in the grocery store that has all those boxed foods. They are loaded with preservatives and junk. Eat fresh foods.

Sorry I can't be more help, but those are my observations from hanging out with a type I diabetic.

[chris_bdba]

I’m type 1 48 yo. Diagonised at age 9 in 1970. Doing fairly well still with only fixable side effects over the years.

[ziravan]

Diabetes is manageable. It’s a lifestyle change, to be sure. Get your daily blood sugars under control, and keep your HgbA1C (a longer range indicator of control) as close to normal as possible, and there is no reason why you cannot have a long and healthy life.

In the near term, controlling your blood sugar should put that thirst, need to pee, and hyper-ness (as your body is desperately trying to gin up energy because it can’t use the energy floating uselessly in your bloodstream) under control, and that should be an improvement.

It’s OK to be freaked out about a new dx like this, just know that you can control it. It takes some effort and resolve, but more than doable.

Remember - with major dx changes, a few weeks out, it’s common to feel depressed. As soon as you can, put your finger on the cause - this new dx - because being able to identify the cause will help you resolve it.

Good luck, FRiend.

Timothy, RN.

[chris_bdba]

Yes fresh made food is the best way to help deal with it. There are lots of hiden stuff in processed foods. White stuff elevates bloodsugar faster which means whire bread, potatoes, rice etc. Eat that stuff in moderation whole grains will spike your BS much less. Lean to read the labels and find what a real serving is. Good-luck. I’ve been carb counting for several years now and haven’t had an A1C over 6 for 3 years.

[The_Sword_of_Groo]

Two great places to start are your local hospital, which more than likely has a care coordinator in charge of local patient education and can likely point you in the direction of the appropriate resource in your area, and perhaps surprisingly the local library which will often have similar information as well as reference information regarding disease state management.
WebMD and similar websites offer good information. Also try the manufacturer websites of your meds, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. NN in particular sponsors many programs designed for patient education.
Let me leave you with one caveat....while its great to be educated, any information gleaned on the net will be general. Heed your doctor's advice. He/she most certainly will be able to not only share advice on disease state with you, but how to best treat the disease as it relates to you personally.
Best of luck to you

[Marysecretary]

I’m a type two diabetic on Humalog, which seems to work for me if I eat properly. Why are you on it five times a day? Are you that bad off?

[Marysecretary]

The American Diabetic Association has recipe books for ideas. Be sure to measure your portions. My husband feels I can eat almost anything I want as long as I measure what I’m eating. Fresh fruits and veggies are good for you, measured of course. You can also buy a glycemic index that will tell you what the sugars are in each kind of food. Vanilla ice cream actually has lower sugar than a potato, which is very starchy. And be sure you exercise. That helps keep your blood sugars down.

I didn’t take care of myself and ended up on dialysis. Be careful, please.

[GeronL]

I will not go to a doctor. I will bury my head in the sand and cover up my fat butt.

[ziravan]

Why are you on it five times a day?

That's very common dosing with the new insulins: 1 shot with a more or less 24 hr range, and a short acting with each meal and bedtime. The goal is hyper-control - keeping bld glucose under 200 more or less all the time. Some doctors are aiming for 150 or less. Five shots, four checks, with each meal and bedtime.

We are currently putting almost half of critical care patients on insulin drips, diabetic or not (stress/surgery can raise blood sugars for non-diabetics). For example, with open heart surgery, research is showing that keeping sugars down under 120 throughout the first 48 hrs reduces 5 yr mortality by FORTY PERCENT. That one thing, alone. It's so important, the national reporting agencies are requiring hospitals to report how well they DO keep glucose under control for open heart surgeries. It's a publicly available statistic.

[Marysecretary]

I had open heart surgery in a hospital in Syracuse, NY, and the food they gave me ON A DIABETIC AND DIALYSIS DIET was full of carbs. My sugars were high all the time. You’d think a hospital would have a better handle on these kinds of things but not all do.

[pallis]

Nine years ago, I was on diabetes medication and taking insulin twice a day. Following a rupture after a cancer surgery, I fasted for thirty days, fifteen before another surgery and fifteen after. It was a complete fast. My blood sugar went to normal. Soon after that I went on a high protein, low glycemic diet, no sugars, including fruits, no starches, breads, no snacks period, ever. There are a number of low glycemic vegetables that can be eaten in moderation. I managed to go without diabetes medication until a few months ago. An antibiotic resistant UTI has ruined my health for the past six months, and recently I went back on diabetes meds plus insulin once a day—that will need to go up for now. If I can beat this infection; get on an energetic exercise routine and fast again, I think I might be able to get back off the meds. Good luck. Diet and exercise are your best bets. Exercise helps the insulin do its job.

[ottbmare]

1. Live on the South Beach Diet. It’s delicious and will keep your blood sugar consistent.
2. Plan your life around having constant snacks.
3. Take Vitamin D supplements.

[Gay State Conservative]

My case,in short....which may or may not apply to your situation is...

1)Gained lots of weight (laziness,mostly)

2)Was told by various specialists that my heart was damaged,I had high blood pressure,my kidneys were compromised and my blood sugar was chronically elevated... all because of my weight.

3)Discovered Atkins and "power-walking" (walking at a brisk pace).

4)Lost 30+ pounds in about 3 months thanks to Atkins and power-walking (every *single* day).

5)Was told,some time after my weight loss,that my BP was way down,my blood sugars were normal and my overall health was *much* better...all thanks to the weight loss.

And P.S.,regardless of what you've heard about Atkins my doctors (all faculty members of Harvard Medical School) approved of it and it was *amazingly* easy for me,the worst junk food addict ever born,to follow.

[alicewonders]

I had the same story, diagnosed at 45 with Type II diabetes. I too, went to the doctor for an unrelated issue & found out my blood sugar was over 660! I was peeing all the time & thirsty constantly. It was devastating to me. They put me on insulin & oral medication & counseled me on diet & exercise.

I started following the diet & walking everyday. Within 6 months, my doctor took me off the insulin because I was controlling my sugars so well. That was 7 years ago.

Long story short, sometime after that we suffered through a financial crisis, & being self-employed, had to eventually let our health insurance go. Very scary, especially for a diabetic. I continued to cover my own medical costs for as long as I could, but it was getting increasingly difficult. I think, because of the stress - my sugars started gradually increasing, even with the oral medication I was taking. My doctor switched me to several different ones, but I was still having problems.

Finally, I was getting tired of being anchored to the whole medication thing - so I started weaning myself off of it. I stick to a walking schedule everyday - I avoid white flour, sugar and starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, peas. I eat salads with lots of different greens and vegetables twice a day, in addition to other high fiber vegetables and meats. I eat fruits in moderation.

I am now keeping my blood sugar levels under 120 by eating right & staying active - with no medication. I feel better than I have in a long time & have lost about 40 pounds.

Hang in there, and watch what you put into your body - it isn’t a death sentence if you take care of yourself. Another huge thing, watch your stress levels, that can really get you.