Diabetes...

[Pearl_Fox]

Well I got the word and it is offical I have diabetes. According to the doctor it isn't too bad, I just have to check my sugar at Least once a month and I am on Avadament to control the diabetes but my sugar levels are stable... around 90 to 118....
He said that he was putting me on the meds to try to keep me from getting full blown diabetes and having to take meds for my sugar levels. He also said that I need to lose weight in order to help control it.
Gah! I have been trying but nothing seems to work for me...
Do any of you ladies (or guys if they are reading)
have any ideas that might help me? Diets that I might ask the doctor about?
Any help would be appreciated.

[Ysobelle]

Oh, my G-d, honey, that sucks! I'm so sorry! I'm glad it's not too bad, though. Why don't you ask your doctor about decent diets?

[Galleywench]

You're in good company...I've had issues with elevated sugar levels for about 10 years now. Luckily I am fortunate enough to have paid attention in nutrition classes and have the opportunity to work with some amazing chefs. By choosing foods and combinations that are low on what is called a glycemic index I keep my blood sugar level at around 80 - 85 by diet alone. No pills no needles. I work with newly diagnosed diabetics often and once they seem to work out the confusion as to what foods work best for them they find that they can manage levels better than just insulin alone. You can e mail me for sample menu ideas for low glycemic foods (remember just because something does not have sugar added does not make it acceptable for diabetics or anyone who needs to control blood sugar). Incorporating exercise into your daily routine is a must...even if it is just walking more...parking as far from the door as possible where ever you go, opt for stairs rather than elevators, walk around the building at lunch if you have an office job. Remember to include at minimum 64 fl oz of water each day, add an additional 8 oz for every 10 lbs you need to lose. Keep your meals moderate, eating as many as 6 times a day, small quantities of super nutritive foods. Your last meal of the day should be close to bedtime and including a simple protien while avoiding refined wheat or sugar products will help keep your levels on an even keel until morning.

Good luck, just stay focused and eventually you may be able to kiss those meds good bye!

[Foxglove2660]

I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis! :(

I have some advise about weight loss, at least as far as what has worked for me. (right, Ysobelle? ) First, fad diets don't work in the long run. Fad diets are easy to spot. They promise rapid weight loss and have strange restrictions. Anything that lets you lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time is more likely to set you on a rollercoaster than to help you change in the long run.

The above advise is really good advise. Lotsa water! *(you'd be surprised how many calories you're drinking! Carbonated acid water *(soda pop) is always bad for you, caloricly as well as for your teeth!

See a nutritionist! See a nutritionist! See a nutritionist!
Understanding why foods work the way they do & what amounts of calories, fat, sugar and protein you need on a daily basis is more importants than a magic list of foods to eat. Much easier to stick with as well because you can make more informed decisions about what you chose to eat. Makes allowances for those times when you just can't stick to the healthy & have to have a krispy kreme... makes eating out possible & fun as well... and let's the changes be less of an inconvenience to family/significant ones. Makes it more difficult for others to intentionally or unintentionally undermine your efforts... It's what a nutritionist does! In some few cases insurance will pay for it, but not too many. It is state mandated for a diabetic education class to be covered. Usually at a local hospital. Only helps you if you have insurance & your group follows state mandates (most do).

Change the eating habits first, then add an increase to activity level. The nutritionist I saw agrees with the personal trainers at my gym... #1 way to lose weigh is through diet change. #1 way to maintain is through exercise. I don't know what you have time for, but any increase of your activity level will help, even if it's just an early morning walk around the block. A program you can stick with will help! Find a buddy to motivate you & keep you company!

Being given a diagnosis like this will change your life. Make it a change for the better.

(okay, that all sounds kinda... hokey :roll: ... but, heh, still true! :P )

***HUG***

[Mairi the Herbwench]

Foxglove is so right - SEE A NUTRITIONIST! That's the best way to start. It might be a good idea to work with an endocrinologist too. Exercise- that's helps both the diabetes and te weight loss. Walk. That's the best exercise, the cheapest, and the most available.

Good luck!

[Malina]

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnoses. But it is good they caught it eary. If you can control it with diet and exercise, you have a much better chance of never having to go on lifetime pills/insulin shots.

Take care of yourself and good luck.

[Pearl_Fox]

Thanks so much everyone... all the advice that you gave me has given me something to think about.
I have to go and see my doctor here in a few days so I am going to discuss with him diets and about a nutritionist. I am on the "state" insurance so I should be able to see one with his written permission or something like that.

Yeah the news bites but I figured that I would be diabetic someday... I have tried some diets... mainly the liquid diets, the slim fast diet, and other diets, and then the Adkins... and they worked but I always gained the weight back. The test came back negative last fall; but he said that the trama of loosing my mother could have triggered it. But he did say that other than my weight and diabetes I am pretty healthy. So that was some good news.

Thanks again everyone!
:)

[Galleywench]

Thanks so much everyone... all the advice that you gave me has given me something to think about.
I have to go and see my doctor here in a few days so I am going to discuss with him diets and about a nutritionist. I am on the "state" insurance so I should be able to see one with his written permission or something like that.

Yeah the news bites but I figured that I would be diabetic someday... I have tried some diets... mainly the liquid diets, the slim fast diet, and other diets, and then the Adkins... and they worked but I always gained the weight back. The test came back negative last fall; but he said that the trama of loosing my mother could have triggered it. But he did say that other than my weight and diabetes I am pretty healthy. So that was some good news.

Thanks again everyone!
:)

Part of the difficulty that you have encountered is your mindset. You need to decide to make a lifestyle change and NOT start a diet. A diet is percieved as something temporary, a punishment or culinary incarceration with the grail of thinness as reward for time served at the rainbow's end. Decide that today, right now you will change your lifestyle by changing small things. Don't even try to look at the big picture right now, until you find your bearings you'll be overwhelmed. Want to see if this works? Get up RIGHT NOW from the keyboard, don't log off...just get up and go get a glass of water. Drink it. Come back and post. There you go...you're on your way.
Always remember that you are not alone. I know it is difficult, I am living it as well. Last year I was well on my way to being at goal then the bottom dropped out of my weightloss world...an unexpected baby, loss of my income after being poisoned at work, emotional issues that I allowed to be comforted by food...I am now starting back at square one. I'm not afraid...I know that I have company in this...you are here with me!

[Nevada]

I feel like Horshack here going oh oh oh and waving my hand...my bday present to myself this year was a physical...I have type 2 diabetes..now on Glucophage and Diabeta...have to check my sugar twice a day...ick....they have me on a carb controlled eating plan....I am losing around 1-2 pounds a week. at least 30 min of exercise a day (as soon as my back stops spasming I will try that again) is recommended...best idea to keep sugars level is 5-6 mini meals a day....I am allowed 17 carbs choices a day...15gms equals once choice...as the other wonderfull folks have suggested if you can get to a dietician or nutrionist go for it...also check out the american diabetes association.....they are having expos across the U.S. in major cities...Dallas is scheduled for March 2005... http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

[Saucy Ria]

LOL I MUST tell you GalleyWench...... before you even said it, this post prompted me to get up and get one of my rotating water bottles and chug it down..... i usually drink about 3 ltrs a day but i do forget once i sit down to read the boards!

See ya in less then NINE days!!

Ria

[Pearl_Fox]

Okay Galley I did get me a bottle and I drank it. I am going to buy me a special mug to keep with me during the day while I am keeping the kids, to use to drink water, if not then I will do no nos and get soda etc....
I will probably also have to start taking lunch with me to work... and all that good stuff.
But in 3 weeks I will be living on campus and eating out of the caf. there and they have one that is like a buffet type. And in it there is a grill, a salad bar, etc... so I am going to talk to my doctor and see what is right and I know that I can follow my plan there. They also have a gym, pool, and tennis courts that I can use. (Just learned how to play tennis last semester and am hoping to find a partner at school.)

Right now though I do go swimming with the kids twice a week and play games like basketball, kickball, tag, races, jumprope, etc...

so... I am starting and trying...
wish me luck!!!