ArlineH,
I was told that the gastric by-pass surgery can work but only if you have had diabetes 5 years or less (saying dianosed is not always accurate since a number of people have been diabetic without knowing). I don't qualify through my insurance for the surgery because I don't weigh enough; my doctor refused to approve the surgery because she said it would not be of any benefit to me at this point.

I would like to think there is hope. I read some of the book you are talking about, it seems his view is that we become vegans and don't use oils. I have to eat out and can't afford to eat at expense restaurants, the coffee shops I use have good food but are primary meat and starch kind of foods. I hate salad and can't eat spicy foreign foods so I don't have much chance. Do you really want to go through life eating like that?

I certainly wouldn't want to live that way. For me it would be an impossibility - you really have to be a vegetarian to even consider Neal Bernard's book.

Booth - someone I worked with had diabetes for 30 years and had the bypass surgery and no longer has diabetes. She was on insulin and gained so much weight from it that her dr said the only chance she had was the surgery.

ArlineH,

This is very interesting about your friend. I do know that I have had to take charge of my healthcare. Doing research on the internet and listening to you guys. I know Drs are quick to say no when they don't have all the facts. I will be persistent. My only obstacle will be I don't weigh enough to have my insurance cover it. I could make the request and if it is not approved initially I can appeal the decision. I am in for the fight of my life now. I will do whatever it takes to explore other options. Thanks for the information and encouragement.

Booth - unless your health is compromised (as with my friend) or you are at least 100 lbs overweight, they will not do the surgery.

You should try my dad's Super Meal program. My dad (DeWayne McCulley) alomost died from a diabetic coma, but I helped him overcome the insulin shots and other drugs. Today, he is drug-free with an average blood glucose of 84.5 mg/dl and an A1C of 4.6%, and is helping other diabetics via support groups, workshops, and his book "Death to Diabetes". But, you should try the Super Breakfast* before buying the book.

*p.s. The breakfast protcol is explained on his website, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to give out that information in this forum. But, if you google on the book's title, you'll find it.

Booth......I have had diabetes since 1998. I lost over 100 pounds and needed no medication...but I was still diabetic. Two years later, I started putting the weight back on and I needed to go back on medication because my blood sugars were going up again. I am on oxygen because of bad asthma which gave me less lung capacity. I had open heart surgery to replace a mitral valve just a year ago. I have a pacemaker and had an ablasion done. I have right heart failure and two kidney stones causing more kidney problems and bad kidney function. You would not like having to lug around oxygen wherever you go and worrying about if you have enough. My passion in life is horses. I trained, showed and taught for years. I had to sell my two babies last year because I could no longer do anything with the pain of the neuropathy. I was and still am devestated over that. I loved to swim, but I couldnt swim with the oxygen... so I got a 50 foot hose, attached to my tank, which I left on the side of the pool. I am able to swim up and down the side of the pool with my o2 attached. I cant swim the crawl like I used to, but it is at least being in the water hand I love it! I have a grandson too that I want to see grow up and I enjoy every day I can with him and my family. I know there are people worse off than me and some better, so all I can say is eat right, excercise however you can and enjoy each and every day!

yI also have pulmonary hypertension with high lung readings.I will have to have another two operations to remove the two kidney stones. They are so large they are stretching my kidneys...

With all the complications I have I still find it impossible to follow a vegan diet. I usually eat right, but I do cheat. AND I tried chromium or 5 months and it did nothing.

DonnaB49-I agree with you. I too would love to think this is curable but I'm not sure. I have wondered about this too whether or not it
IS curable through things others here have mentioned but I'd need
to learn more about it. Hope you find what your looking for about it.
(I HAD thought maybe a pancrea transplant was one way-still not sure though).

Lots of GREAT replies. Am also reading the book--trying the diet. I love that it doesn't have a food group for milk/dairy, as I have an intolerance for both lactose and milk proteins.

vivrien - sounds funny but you're lucky you're intolerant to dairy - now what about the meat - can you stay away from that. If so, you've got it made.

I would love for there to be a "miracle cure"but as I have tried many different things I find thne same conclusion...eat sensible,watch carb intake,exercise more and watch weight.And test,test,test. A pain,but in light of the complications that diabetes can cause,it is neccesary.Thanks to everyone who contribute to this forum...I was completely clueless when I was first diagnosed and I have gained so much knowledge here.

You couldn’t have said this any better! It’s important for people to understand the quality of their food and products just as much as the diet as a whole.... http://medicationdiabetes.com