NGC: Just saw the Doc. For my physical. Got good news,..and bad news...

[Red07]

The good news is,..when he did my prostate exam, he went in fast, hard, and deep!!  Just the way I like it.  Bad news?... Found out I got Diabetes.

Don't really have a lot of info about my particular stats yet, other than they started me on Met-formin, one pill daily, and they have me scheduled to see a nutritionist in about a week or so.  Got limited info from the nurse over the phone.  I have a follow-up with my Dr. after that so will know more then.

My maternal grandmother died from complications due to diabetes at the age of 63.  My mother has it, as well as one brother.  Surely is quite the wake up call.  I certainly need to get more exercise, and get my eating habits under control.  Wouldn't hurt to lose a few pounds as well.  It certainly has me just a little rattled.

Any advise/pointers from my friends here at Wildguzzi?

Randy

[Guzzistajohn]

Listen to your Doc. Lots of people have Diabetes, you're not alone, I take metformin too.


Colon exam, glad you had a good time, wish my doc would get a manicurist.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Diabetes is rampant any more. Fast foods. About anything quick and easy is loaded with carbs. Carbs turn to sugar. Bread, potatoes, the fast food staples.

[Guzzistajohn]

My doc say not to eat anything white, unless it's cauliflower. For all the reasons Chuck said.

[Rough Edge racing]

About 3 years ago my doc advised me of my blood sugar rising over the last few years... pre diabetic. I am thin,eat properly, no fast foods, and am active, seldom drink alcohol.... How can this be? Sugar in my coffee, sugar in my tea, gallon of OJ, a few pounds of grapes and bananas a week....I cut out fruit except for blackberries and an occasional pear, increase raw veggie intake, eat only sprouted wheat bread, no sugar on beverages, and so on. Fasting blood sugar levels back to around 90, no signs of diabetes in any other blood tests...And I lost about 7 pounds I didn't need to lose and my energy increased...This worked for me....your situation may be different.

[PJPR01]

If you are interested in a very quick course on nutrition...read a book called Eat to Live by Dr. Fuhrman.  You can read it in a day...and it will give you a very clear view on nutrition and relation to diabetes.  Very good stuff.

[wrbix]

Would question the advisability of stating oral hypoglycemics such as Metformin without trial of non pharmacological therapy (diet, exercise, wt loss) first.....but what do I know I'm only a Dr, but don't play one on television!

[Gliderjohn]

I started a thread a couple a years ago on this subject when I had a wakeup call of going pre diabetes at age 57. I knew that my diet sucked as I dislike 90% of veggies and love anything fried. I was a active person but did not exercise and needed to lose about 30+ pounds.
Just had my annual physical. My diet is a bit better but would still make a nutritionist cry, however I have lost the 35 pounds and exercise about 40 minutes a day informally at home generally six days a week. My last stats were a bit above the middle range for blood sugar and my cholesterol has dropped from 212 to 160 and dealing with the bikes are easier. My exercise routine is sit ups, leg lifts, pushups, along with barbell weights routines and either a stationary bike or walking.
GliderJohn

[lucydad]

Randy,

You can manage the diabetes.  Have had friends make remarkable life changes.

Eat to live, not live to eat. 

Kale my friend, kale.

[Sasquatch Jim]

 I got diagnosed with diabetes about 2006.  They put me on glyburide however that is spelled.  By watching my diet, no more donuts etc.
 They finally took me off the medicine.  I have been on two different blood pressure meds for about the same time or longer.
 About a year ago the VA got tired of watching me stagger and gave me a wheelchair.  I went nuts with it rolling it 2 to 5 miles a day and getting the benefits
 of increased blood circulation.  About early november I bought a total gym like Christy Brinkly uses on TV.  As I exercised I got to feeling better
 and bought some dumbbells, (the cast iron type), and began working with them.  My BP readings began to drop and I worked harder.
 By the time I had lost about 12 pounds I spoke with my VA nurse and stopped the nifedapine and worked harder.  I have now dropped 22 pounds
 And blood pressure is reading an average of about 122 over 70 with a pulse of 67.  I have cut the dosage of lisinopril by half and am still dropping weight although very slowly now.  My arms and shoulders are as buff as they were 15 years ago and I am feeling much stronger.
 I just wish something could be done about my dead legs.
 My recommendation to you is that exercise, LOTS OF EXERCISE, will make more improvement in your health and well being that all the meds they can give you.
 When you eat, do not eat until you are full.  
lay out the amount of food you are supposed to have and eat that.  The feeling of fullness will arrive about a half hour later.
  If you eat until you feel full you have over eaten.
  Take your exercise seriously .

[nellborg]

Don't take this as prof. advice or info that might specifically apply to you, just something to think about:  

If you've got diabetes as an adult, it's called type 2, or "insulin resistant" diabetes.  Some people are more prone to getting it than others - that's your genetics.  Why is it called "insulin resistant"?  Because blood insulin levels are too high on average.  Why?  Possibly from eating a diet that's too high in carbs and too low in healthy fats.  

Oftentimes, the cure is nothing much more than training your metabolism to become more insulin "sensitive" and you can do this by eating low carb, or very low carb, paleo, or by intermittent fasting (even changing to 1 or 2 meals per day without snacking in between is sort of intermittent fasting), and by adding regular exercise, and losing excess weight.

If your dietician is current and progressive, and an independent thinking, they can be helpful.  However, if they're just spitting out what's PC , and the gov't / big pharma / big agric. party line BS, their dietary advice could make your diabetes worse, i.e. you don't want  lots of small meals, low-fat, lots of fruit, grains, etc.  

If you've got an inquisitive mind and are a reader, Gary Taubes wrote an excellent book entitled "Good calories, Bad Calories", and while not entirely correct, it is an eye-opening read for those who have unfortunately an incorrectly  put their eggs in the fat and cholesterol = heart disease, stroke and diabetes basket.  "The Perfect Health Diet" by the Jaminets is another good one.

[dilligaf]

A different type of diabetes but oldest Granddaughter was diagnosed at age 9.  We were all devastated.  Well a great grandson later she is still going strong and is very active.  ;D  ;D  ;D  :BEER:
Matt

[Red07]

Great advice guys.  Thanks for your replies.

wrbix, I also questioned this.  I actually called Dr. office the following morning (after stewing over it all nite), I told them that I wanted the opportunity to lower the numbers on my own.  Work hard, exercise, start eating right etc., and if I couldn't lower the numbers on my own, then go the plan "b" route.  They strongly advised against not starting on the med.  Not sure why, but was told Dr. Would explain more when I go back to see them in a few weeks.

I really need to be more accountable for my health.  Definitely going to make some serious changes.

Randy

[pressureangle]

My GF has type 2, and an old family friend has had it since...16 and he's 70 now...crushed his pancreas in an auto accident.

First of all, the most important thing is maintenance. Start and end your day with maintenance. Keep data records of what you eat and how your sugar follows. It's a PITA at first but soon becomes routine.

As far as food-after watching these two for ~30 years- If it didn't have roots or legs, don't eat it. No boxes, no bags, no fast food unless it's green.

Nobody follows that regimen strictly, but if you go cold turkey on the crap food for a couple months, a PBJ will taste like a quart of good ice cream and Soda will be so sweet you won't even be able to drink it.

I went off sugar a while ago, and one of the best trades I ever made was to quit sugared drinks altogether and switch to flavored soda water-which is often cheaper than bottled plain water. You get the carbonation and bite that satisfies without all the sugar.

Don't try to switch to artificial sweeteners either, in many people they raise blood sugar also through some process I don't understand.

[Lannis]

The good news is,..when he did my prostate exam, he went in fast, hard, and deep!!  Just the way I like it.  Bad news?... Found out I got Diabetes.

Don't really have a lot of info about my particular stats yet, other than they started me on Met-formin, one pill daily, and they have me scheduled to see a nutritionist in about a week or so.  Got limited info from the nurse over the phone.  I have a follow-up with my Dr. after that so will know more then.

My maternal grandmother died from complications due to diabetes at the age of 63.  My mother has it, as well as one brother.  Surely is quite the wake up call.  I certainly need to get more exercise, and get my eating habits under control.  Wouldn't hurt to lose a few pounds as well.  It certainly has me just a little rattled.

Any advise/pointers from my friends here at Wildguzzi?

Randy

Yep!!

My blood glucose was 212, my A1C was 11.0, which means that I was slam-on Type 2 diabetic.   I was already on two Metformins and one daily Onglyza ($10 A PILL) a day.

Reason I was diabetic - I weighed 300 pounds, wasn't exercising, and not watching what I was eating.

Started watching what I was eating, exercising more, lost 40 pounds, and checking my blood glucose every day.

Now my daily glucose averages 95, my A1C is 5.7 .... and my doctor says I may consider myself no longer Diabetic.

So you CAN get rid of it, and not have to worry about things falling off or going blind ....

Lannis

[mojohand]

that's really great, Lannis.

[Guido Valvole]

Type 2 is easily dealt with if you're a do-it-yourself person. Which you probably are or you wouldn't be riding Guzzis…

I found out I had it back in 2003. About the only thing my father *didn't* have. No record on my mother's side either (aunt had gestational diabetes) so definitely out of the blue. At about 5' 5" I weighed 140 lbs so chubby but not overweight. And I had been following the supposedly good lotsa carbs diet for years and was reasonably active.

If it's white and/or instant, bye bye! Regular white rice is evil, brown not much better. Get used to testing your blood glucose after meals (half an hour, then an hour, then hour and a half) to see what works and what doesn't. Reduce portions (Guzzi content: it's cheaper that way!) I went cold turkey on sugar and anything with it, was put on metformin (which is actually pretty healthy even for non-diabetics, unlike so many meds) and cut back on what I ate. Dropped 20 pounds in about 4 months and am now at 115 +/- mostly -. (Makes old smallblocks faster:)

Weight loss also dropped blood pressure. And I try to get as much exercise as possible, mostly cycling. Need upper body workouts but an old metal Nikon with either the 300/2.8 or 80-200/2.8 can work there, oof. A1C is now within normal range. And sweet, sugary things taste HORRIBLE!

Re: sugar - after 5 or 6 months off of it completely, I was coming back from the Hanford CA bike show & swap meet with a friend. We stopped in at the Superior Creamery in town on the way out (highly recommended if you can eat that, made on the premises fresh). I had a "small" cup, no cone. Little Calvin was bouncing off the ceiling feeling dosed with amphetamines -- yes kids, sugar really *is* an addictive stimulant drug. And it's everywhere. Read label before consuming!

Otoh one of the better days was after making a small portion of pasta with home-made pesto seeing that my blood glucose barely raised at all. YMMV on that but works for me as does risotto, in small portions. Check your own reactions. I could live happily on pesto!

Yeah, Type 2 diabetes is a potentially fatal chronic disease. But among those, it's about the best to be afflicted with if you can adapt. And "adapt or die" is the motto of life on this planet…
cr

[johnr]

From what you have said it would seem that your diabetes is quite mild at the moment.

Mine was too when first diagnosed, in fact the Doc said that not long ago it would not have even been called diabetes. I was put on a Metformin dose (1 a day) and warned about diet and exercise.

At the time of my 2nd heart attack it was found that my sugar levels were dangerously high and I'm now on 4 times the Metformin dose and a jab of insulin once a day. I test my levels twice a day with a CareSens thingie.

Now I'm unclear about this and stand ready to be corrected by any doctors on board, but it would seem that there is a relationship between sugar levels and heart attacks. In fact it is my impression from what I heard while in hospital that this was the cause of the HA. No other cause was found.

My advice at this point other than that which has already been given, is to make sure you have a sugar level tester so that you can keep an eye on things, and maybe get a sense of the foods that tend to shoot it up. It can be quite surprising what does and what doesn't. Oh, and alcohol=sugar.

[toma nova]

Another book is "Wheat Belly" - very easy to read / skim in a few days.  It will teach you why white bread and potatoes are bad for you so at least you understand the chemistry that you're trying to change.  Then, google "glycemic index" for a list of foods and their GI and glycemic load - you'll learn that a baked russet potato has a higher GI than straight sugar!  There's a Harvard list of ~100 foods that will get you started on what to cut out and what to add in.

Good luck.

[Red07]

Thanks for all the advice and tips guys.  Much appreciated.

Randy

[John Ulrich]

My blood glucose was 212, my A1C was 11.0, which means that I was slam-on Type 2 diabetic.   I was already on two Metformins and one daily Onglyza ($10 A PILL) a day.

Reason I was diabetic - I weighed 300 pounds, wasn't exercising, and not watching what I was eating.

Started watching what I was eating, exercising more, lost 40 pounds, and checking my blood glucose every day.

Now my daily glucose averages 95, my A1C is 5.7 .... and my doctor says I may consider myself no longer Diabetic.

Good to hear!!!   ;-T
My hit 211ish on my annual physical and dropping 10 lbs dropped my glucose to 175.  To get my insurance discounts I need it below 200.

[keuka4884]

Lots of solid info here. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and started on 2 metformin a day. I cut way back on carbs. Found the white and processed foods are the worst for me. I can tolerate some sugar and alcohol. I switched sweeteners to stevia. That is a naturally based sweetener.
The most important add has been an elliptical machine. I do it 3 times a week for 30 minutes a pop. If I dress so that I perspire after 10 minutes or so it is a godsend. Cannot say enough for its benefits.
I agree with the good doctor's advice above. If you have only been placed on one metformin a day, start with lowering carbs and sugar and getting some good cardio exercise. I found it to be not hard at all to reduce white carbs.
Get a good blood sugar test kit and test twice a day. Second test 2 hours after dinner. I'll bet you will have made major progress when yo next visit your doctor. Many people I know have gotten off metformin completely by a dietary change and cardio exercise. I'm now down to 1/2 a metformin per day. I take the other half if I feel like consuming some alcohol. Or chocolate chip cookies. Or Perry's ice cream. And I feel much better.