Diabetes Type 2 Support Group
Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not make efficient use of it. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert food into glucose, a sugar that the body uses for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose can accumulate in the blood, and can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes and organ damage...
My doc just got blood results back ... fasting glucose was over 250, triglycerides were off the chart (700+)
I know NOTHING about diabetes except the bare facts. There is a DELUGE of information, but it's a bit overwhelming.
All I know right now is to cut all starch, sugar, simple carbs out of my diet, lose weight, stop smoking, exercise and go see an endocrinologist.
There seems to be a whole lotta misinformation too (get on Atkins, don't get on Atkins, quit coffee, drink more coffee, go microbiotic, avoid microbiotic, eat fish, don't eat fish it has mercury! .. sheesh!)
I just want to know what I have, what are the consequences and what to do within AMA guidelines.
Sincerely,
Andrew
I know NOTHING about diabetes except the bare facts. There is a DELUGE of information, but it's a bit overwhelming.
All I know right now is to cut all starch, sugar, simple carbs out of my diet, lose weight, stop smoking, exercise and go see an endocrinologist.
There seems to be a whole lotta misinformation too (get on Atkins, don't get on Atkins, quit coffee, drink more coffee, go microbiotic, avoid microbiotic, eat fish, don't eat fish it has mercury! .. sheesh!)
I just want to know what I have, what are the consequences and what to do within AMA guidelines.
Sincerely,
Andrew
In the short term, you must stay away from anything white - potatoes, rice, bread. Eat high fiber foods, lean meat, chicken and fish and of course most vegetables. Salads are important but without store bought dressings which contain high fructose corn syrup with is poison for us. You will have to start reading nutrition labels on everything you buy to make sure there's not more than 15 grams of carb per serving. The Atkins diet and other specific diets are not advisable. You will have to learn to lessen the portions of food you are now eating.
To reiterate, try to get to a diabetic education class which will give you an overview of what to expect and what to do.
Some things work for one person and not another so you have to sorta experiment on yourself and see what you can do and not do.
Pretty much watch you carbs as Arline said, and walk. Walking is the best thing you ca do for your diabetes and yourself because it brings it down. So if you eat too much, just go out for a walk after your meal to help bring your levels down.
Go to the library and read a few chapter in every book to get ideas what others say to do or not to do. Diets and carbs take time but you will get the hang of it like most of here have.
Remember it is a life sentence not a Death Sentence! And eating better never hurt anyone!! Eat fish, just stay away from the sword fish cause it is loaded with Mercury!!!
Good luck to you!
I am an alcohol and I attend AA meetings -- as you might imagine a LOT of alcoholics also have diabetes.
I've been eating well, losing weight, feeling rotten sometimes ... but coming to grips with the total change of lifestyle required.
THanks again!
Dr.Abram Hoffer in the forward to his newest book "The Vitamin cure for Alcoholism", states that studies and metabolic tests show that alcoholism is a complex genetic-biochemical disorder more closely related to diabetes or to sugar metabolic syndrome than to any behavioral or psychological disorder.
From my own personal experience and knowledge I agree.
I've walked an hour per day every day since finding out, and as was suggested above, I have been avoiding the sugars and bad carbs. I've lost almost a pound per day.
I think it is important to buy a good book on the subject and learn all you can. I like my doctor, but these days of doctors that are so busy they usually can't remember everyone they see, I want to give myself every advantage to know what's going on and catch what the doctor may miss.
1. http://www.diabetes.org/
2. http://ndep.nih.gov/i-have-diabetes/ManageYourDiabetes.aspx
3. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DS01121
4. http://helpguide.org/life/healthy_diet_diabetes.htm
You will be in a position to better regulate your glucose levels when you become more familiar with diabetes and also experience your own individual response to different foods you eat and how they affect your glucose levels,. Diet and exercise play a major role in regulating normal glucose levels.
You might also want to consider herbal options, such as Green tea. I take a cup of CocoPure (http://www.newvitality.com/shop/coco-pure.aspx ), a cocoa tea, which contains a concentrated form of Green tea, pure cocoa and resveratrol. All three are antioxidants, but Green tea specifically supports healthy glucose levels in the body. Theres no sugar in CocoPure. It is sweetened by stevia. Some research also suggests that stevia is good for supporting normal blood sugar levels.
Thank you the links!
Information is powerful with diabetes. I did not know that I was eating myself to death. I suspected exercise might be a good thing and I had started some activities. But I did not realize that the food I was eating was garbage that raised my glucose, cholesterol, BMI, blood pressure and robbed me of energy.
It's not like the information is not available! But who is going to tell you? Food companies?
;-)
Your smart to read and find out for yourself. I spent two weeks in the bookstore reading when I first found out.
Everyone is different when it comes to this, so you have to experiment and see what works for you.
Walking is wonderful for you and your BS. I would walk every day and at lunch hour at work.
Watch your carbs and stay away from white foods. Just a new habit you need to get used to! Knowlege is power so keep reading and and ask if you have questions.
BS .. Blood Sugar .. ok got it .. check!
:-p
I just joined this group today (May 30, 2010) and find myself overwhelmed by all the info out there on the internet.
The doctors just told me I have type 2, prescribed Glucophage (plus some other meds after my heart attacks) and that's it. I have no test results, no figures, nothing!
I'll be getting myself a test kit soon, will have to do this all by myself, that's why I joined this support group.
Looking forward to meeting all on the group.
Danie (Oldcroc)
I gotta be honest with you and strongly suggest you check out what has worked for me the last 11mo. so far. Please let me know if, after going through the info. you might have any questions....
www.drmcdougall.com
My main problems are inability to properly exercise because of physical disability and as this quote from your pages states:
" . . .so where will the motivation to change come from? Money!"
I live in a country where I'm not quite poor enough to get free state medical treatment so day-to-day medical expenses must be paid for by myself.
Fortunately I do have excellent hospital coverage (also at a cost of course) but anything out-of-hospital is for my own account.
My first priority will have to be to change eating habits, so that's where I'll start.
Cheers.
If you are talking about my link there is no such quote, I can assure you.
AND, one of the real nice things about this program is that it is not necessary to exercise to get all your diabetic numbers under control. And, by eating better you will find some other aches and pains go away.
Wishing you the best!
BTW, what country are you in?