Metformin does NOT ruin your kidneys - diabetes does. I've been on Metformin for over 10 years now and so far no kidney problems. Your doctor sounds like a 'I don't give a damn about you" person and I would certainly try and get another one. Most meds, except Metform and Januvia have a tendency to put weight on.,

As far as knowing what raises and doesn't raise BS, last night I had a normal dinner and 2 hours later it was 156 for no reason at all. Before dinner it was 80. This morning it was 89 which for me was low. I usually have at least 112 in the AM. So much for knowing what to eat and what not to,

Tux, I drink saurkraut juice - not because of health reasons but because I love it. Can't do it often because of of the salt content.

I don't know if vinegar really stabilizes BS because I really never noticed a difference. The problem is we don't know what our numbers would be if we didn't use the vinegar. All I know is that there's been a lot of articles about it.

Oh heavens I adore sauerkraut and the juice in it. I too have been a pickle NUT lately LOL maybe we are all hormonal :0) I too have No worries in that baby department. No more for me all tied knotted burned and clipped :0)

Stress can be a sugar raiser for many.

As far as the doctor issues I went through a similar issue recently with a doctor Is your doctor a endo doctor??
if not than when you go in ask for a referral to one.
In all honesty a while back I too had feelings that i should change doctors. It ended up with me pretty much getting nasty with her because her lack of care and my short temper. She stopped seeing me
It was the best darn thing that ever happened to me.
I am seeing a new doctor who is well ??/ I am still unsure to be honest
She is a PA though and I have never seen the actual MD in the practice
i see her this week and if things do not go well this time I will be seeing a new doctor

The PA at my pain clinic found me a endo that takes my insurance in my town so i am looking into that this week as well One less thing the primary doctor needs to handle and we may see less of one another cause frankly I am NOT happy with her in regards to my diabetes care
It seems like they are determined to do it the same way for all patients and are not willing to talk and share the care
I have to admit while my last doctor done that she also was i still say taking kick backs from the drug folks but that is not something I can prove I do know she chrged medical assistance on mroe than one occassion for things she never did.
the fact that after I left i discovered she never told me about a growth they found on my pancreas LONG before i had diabetes BURNS me up.
But water under the bridge. had I followed my first mine I would have left ages ago. sadly i drug my feet

I guess I am going to have to start drinking pickle juice too! I have just taken the magnesium pill when I get crampy.

Everyone seems to have a story with their Doc, some of them are so good and careing and some need to work in soup lines. Most of them do get gifts for meds they prescribe, trips, cruises, cars, money. It is part of the selling game, but some Docs really live for their reps and presents and that is wrong.
I say walk out when you don't get along, it isn't worth it if you don't feel comfortable with them.
I am going to go look at the site you suggested Mary Ann, Thank you
I bought a book about vinegar years ago. I think the local newspaper put it out. It told of everything you can do with Vinegar from cleaning to poishing to headaches. I didn't have diabetes when I bought it so I don't remember if there was anything there about that. I would look it up but someone borrowed it and never returned it. And my memory stinks when it comes to things like that. So it's gone.
I know people swear by vinegar and some don't.

(Great Taste and no Pain).
I went to this web site it is an add to buy a book for $40.00.

The problems with all or nearly 100% of pickles is they have lots of salt and so I have to avoid them, but thats because of the salt water they feel the need to fix them in. I take pills about 1-2 hours before bed so I can get some good sleep, I don't miss waking up about 2-5 AM in the middle of the night and although the medical people think its totally boss to take pills on an empty tummy, I eat and then I take my pills, no matter which kinds of pills they are, and so I have to limit my amount of foods I eat with my pills. I eat my afternoon pills if that don't interfere with my afternoon nap, which is supposed to be after I rest, since I need to take a nap first and take my 4:30 PM pills and there are times I have taken my 4:30 PM pills at 7:00 PM because I needed rest since if I don't get enough rest during the day and I'm tired, I eat more food at that time so I try my best to get some rest during the day. I am sorry this is so long. My morning blood sugar has been much better in the morning and not as bad at night too.

I really appreciate you all saying that I diud the right thing about getting a new doctor. It's still hard starting all over again with someone new. I know my Blood pressure will be up when I first see her. That web site I used for my IBS, irritable bowel syndromne really helped me to know which foods to eat together and now my pains after eating are non existing and no more acid reflux at night. It's worth $40 if that is what they charge now, instead of buying medicines that have all kinds of side effects. I hope you all will at least read the web site and besides getting rid of stomach pain, you will lose weight. I llost 10 lbs in the first week. Your colon is working better so foods are eliminated quicker and not staying in your intestines building germs and wreaking havock with your immune system. Hugs to you all. Mary Anne

MaryAnne: Good luck with the hunt for a new doc. It's hard to take that step, but I'll bet you it will be worth it in the long run.
I tend to have the white coat syndrome when I'm in the doctor's off and it makes my blood pressure go up some. But, if I consciously try to slow my breathing and close my eyes for a minute it will bring back down to a more normal level.
I was shocked when I saw my new kidney doc for the first time because I just knew my BP was going to up there with seeing a new doctor and being nervous about a possible kidney problem. Miracle of miracles, my BP was spot on perfect. I didn't have a long wait in the office before being called into an exam room, his office staff was really nice and I did my best to relax while they were taking my blood pressure. Guess it all worked together that day. And, to top it all off I like the doctor. He was really nice and took a lot of time to explain everything to me in terms I could actually understand. What a pleasant surprise.
I'm not in love with my GP, but she's better than some I've seen over the years, so for now I'll stick with her. I use a one-stop shopping clinic situation for my diabetes docs and the doctors so far have been good. I just don't care for one of the educators in the office. The other one they have I really like, so I guess if I don't get stuck with the one dodo brain educator more than once in a blue moon, I'll stick with these guys.
Arline: I love sauerkraut too. I like mine really cold, and yeah I like to drink the juice too. I know it's salty, but sometimes I actually crave salt more than I do something sweet. I just have to watch out for the sauerkraut that's got the sulfites in it. That stuff sends my allergies into big time overdrive and I practically stop breathing. Not a good thing to run into. Fortunately, enough people are allergic to it that most food companies have stopped using it or at least put warning labels on their products.

Re the saurkraut - yes it has salt so I can't eat it all the time but no sulfites. I buy the fresh out of the barrel.

Well, I have to have a snack before bed, after my insulin. I usually have two toast and peanut butter, but my BS is high in the morning. I might try something else, but I have to watch the salt too.. even the least amount of salt and my feet swell up... not nice. huggs Joanne :)

try an ice cream soda - vanilla of course

mmmmm.. sounds so yummy

MAKE SURE ITS BREYERS CARB SMART LOL.

absolutely