a followup to my Diabetes thread, got a monitor

mnn2501 · #21 05/15/10, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutchie

I don't understand why anybody would try and regulate blood sugars without a doctor. That can be lethal!!

Because most doctors are truly NOT knowledgable about diabetes and think everyones body reacts to diabetes, eating habits, and medicines the same.
There is N-O-T a one size fits all when it comes to diabetes, my wife ended up in ICU because she listed to a doctor instead of her own body.

Dutchie · #22 05/15/10, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronbre

Dutchie I'm not trying to do anything without a dr..the dr can't see me until the middle of June..and I'll see the dr then..I'm just tracking my blood sugar and food intake until then as they suggested..i went and bought a monitor cause i didn't have one..this is just day 2 since i got it

obviously they didn't think it was an emergency or they would have set up a quicker appointment then June !! don't come down on me, I'm doing the best I can with what i have available.

i took the A1c test so the results will be back before the dr appt..i'll reschedule the dr appt that i was going to cancel..or get a new one..but i will see the dr.

they just aren't avail until mid June ..so I'm not doing anything but trying to find out what is going on inside my body..so don't jump on me..OK?

and I do appreciate the advice from people that know something more than I do..I'll definately eat some protein before going to bed..I love nuts and can eat them with no problem, also the cheese and other stuff was a good idea..don't have the beef jerky but sure wish i did..yummo..I'll continue to keep track and report my findings TO THE DR when i see her

Not jumping on you, Brenda. In the older days I would have done the same thing. But I was recently diagnosed with Type II and several times almost got into a coma because "I could do it". I am glad you are going to see the dr and I agree that they would have gotten you in if it were an emergency.

Dutchie · #23 05/15/10, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnn2501

Because most doctors are truly NOT knowledgable about diabetes and think everyones body reacts to diabetes, eating habits, and medicines the same.
There is N-O-T a one size fits all when it comes to diabetes, my wife ended up in ICU because she listed to a doctor instead of her own body.

I would agree with that, except that a trained medical professional has somewhat more of a clue than a layman.

I am diabetic and now take insulin. However, I listen to my body primarily.

Freeholder · #24 05/15/10, 02:02 PM

I have to agree about 'listen to your own body' (AND see the doctor!). I was having symptoms that made me wonder if I had diabetes, so went to the doctor a year or so ago. Blood work showed my blood sugar levels (fasting) to be at the high end of 'normal.' Diet and exercise alleviate the symptoms, so I suspect that I DO have diabetes, but diabetes for my body occurs at a lower blood sugar level than it does for other people's bodies. Doctors can be very helpful, but if they are going totally by blood test results and disregarding symptoms, you should look for another doctor, IMO. Vice versa might be true, also -- both need to be taken into account, because no two people are exactly the same, and that applies to body chemistry as well as to looks and personality.

Kathleen

Danaus29 · #25 05/15/10, 02:30 PM

My grandpa regulated his blood sugar through diet and excercise for 20 years with very little input from the doctor. On a couple occasions when he went into the hospital for unrelated complications the doctors at the hospital had his sugar so messed up he nearly went into a coma, a couple times for low sugar and several times for high sugar. They also refused to allow him any natural sugar and everything they gave him had artificial sweetener. Some artificial sweeteners he could take with no problem but a couple gave him sugar spikes.

Doctors do not know everything. One that listens to you and accepts that you are an individual and your body does not react to everything the same way someone else's body reacts is a gem, and very difficult to find. Most people (not medication dependant) can regulate their blood sugar through a strict diet and exercise program. Blood sugar still must be monitored and you should have a doctor who listens to you and is familiar with diabetes to guide you but it can be done if the individual is willing to be responsible for their own health.

ronbre · #26 05/15/10, 06:26 PM

Brenda here again, this all started with me when i hurt my back and had to see the dr for a refill on my meds..hadn't seen him in a couple of years. I had a list of things to discuss with him and one of the things on the list was blurry vision (i suspected that it might be related to blood sugar or something similar)..that is WHY he asked for the blood test..but didn't ask for me to fast for it..and i had just eaten..i was a bit surprised at the phone call i got that said.."your have diabetes, your blood sugar was 166 and you need to see a specialist" I said, shouldn't I have a fasting blood test first? nurse said "no 166 is high for even non fasting so we want you to see the specialist"..well after talking to some people I though, I probably should either pick up a meter or ask for a fasting test before seeing the dr..(i don't have insurance)..so that is when i called and told scheduling i wanted a fasting blood sugar test before seeing the dr..(on Fri)..got the blood glucose meter on Sat afternoon and with the way the levels are bouncing around figured i'd better go ahead and see that dr as soon as i can..so am rescheduling it first thing Monday morning..probably mid June..in the meantime i'll keep a record of my readings around 4 times a day, or so..and try to eat better, also keep a food diary (hate doing that but i do it on www.fitday.com for free anyway..so i'll do it..and also keep a record of any exercising.

my two readings this afternoon were 170 and 161..so I was not too pleased with those..earlier it was 99 so going back up so high was quite a surprise seeing as how i had eaten really well

also mailed out the A1c test today and will get response in my email in 5 to 7 days..it was only $8 at Walmart

**Terri** · #27 05/15/10, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronbre

my two readings this afternoon were 170 and 161..so I was not too pleased with those..earlier it was 99 so going back up so high was quite a surprise seeing as how i had eaten really well

HMmm...

1 carb exchange is 1 slice of bread or 1 piece of fruit (excepting bananas) or one small potato (about 1 small McDonald fries) or 5 saltine crackers or one serving of peas or about 1/4 cup of rice.

Look at what you ate before the high tests and tomorrow eat one carb exchange less.

If you wish more food than that then eat more lean protien. Lean protien is less likely to make your blood sugar spike.

Judi Reilly · #28 05/15/10, 07:05 PM

Get a good diabetic specialist...along with your reg. Dr..my Dr. told me not to bother with the OTC A1c test..they do not give good readings many times..just like the OTC cholesterol test..don't do a good job..anyway..eating right and plenty of exercise is the ticket to being a good diabetic...and unfortunately none of us are "good" diabetice..its ll up to you..good luck...

Buffy in Dallas · #29 05/16/10, 01:04 AM

Doctors are the number one cause of death in the US.

Go here:

http://www.rawfor30days.com/index4.html

ronbre · #30 05/16/10, 07:09 AM

well I did look up and read most of the excerpts from one suppposed to be good diabetis book last night..it eliminates nearly all carbs and I look around and am not quite sure that i can do that..i tried to go to the high fiber ones like oatmeal and beans..and that is what i ate yesterday that spiked the readings up to 161 and 170..so I'll try to eliminate more of them today. I had also had a salmon patty, but it did have crackers (ww) in them for filler...not sure what kind of low carb thing i could use as a filler for a replacement. the numbers got lower before bed but were back up higher again this morning...this is hard..maybe i need medication..will see when i see the dr.

Elffriend · #31 05/16/10, 08:36 AM

I eat low carb and once you get through the first few days of it, when you will be craving sweet stuff and maybe have a massive withdrawal headache, it gets easy. The desire for carby stuff pretty much goes away.

For filler when I'm making things like meatloaf I use oat bran.

You might want to google low carb and diabetes. There are some low carb message boards out there where you can talk to other diabetics who are trying to control their blood glucose with diet.

ronbre · #32 05/16/10, 03:40 PM

thanks for the tip..i have eaten very low carb today..mostly proteins and fats with a green salad and only 3 cherry tomatoes on it and some low cal dressing..very little..so i'm probably doing better..

i'm just having a little trouble getting my mind about this way of eating.

ronbre · #33 05/16/10, 03:48 PM

one more thing, i feel stomach hungry all the time now..maybe it is psychological but i mean sick hungry, even right after i've eaten plenty of food, really hungry..i thought maybe it was just thirst but drinking water hasn't really helped? hope this feeling goes away as it is really not pleasant

SpaceCadet12364 · #34 05/16/10, 03:53 PM

Probably not all psychological......if you are used to eating larger quantities of food, it will take a bit to get used to the lower levels of food. Try getting some fresh veggies to snack on, that may help a bit.

ronbre · #35 05/16/10, 07:47 PM

ate a gob of raw cauliflower and it did take the edge off..thanks.

**Terri** · #36 05/16/10, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronbre

one more thing, i feel stomach hungry all the time now..maybe it is psychological but i mean sick hungry, even right after i've eaten plenty of food, really hungry..i thought maybe it was just thirst but drinking water hasn't really helped? hope this feeling goes away as it is really not pleasant

No, it is NOT pleasant!

For me the cure was 5 saltine crackers. Just 5. That is one carb exchange, and just 15 grams of carbohydrates. I ate it whenever I got that famished and and distracted feeling. 9 times out of 10 it helped.

Your body does not know what to think about your change of diet, yet! And, yes, I rarely feel like that now.

Elffriend · #37 05/16/10, 08:36 PM

If you go very low carb, something like Atkins which starts at 20 grams per day, you will be hungry for the first 3 days or so, around day 3-4 you might have a headache or flu-like symptoms and then start feeling really good by day 5-6.

If you are hungry, eat, just make it something low carb. I snack on cheese, nuts, celery with peanut butter or cream cheese, raw veggies with dip. Skip the low cal dressing and go for regular. The fat will make you feel fuller longer.

ronbre · #38 05/17/10, 10:48 AM

yeah, that is just what i had in the house..of course..as i was on a high carb low fat way of eating up until the 12th..duh..of course i was..they say eat fruits vegetables and whole grains..so that is what i've done..for like 30 years !!!! OK now I get it, thanks Elffriend..you have been a big help (well all of you have)..

i'll make a list..i have cheese (but like a dumby i bought low fat cheese..duh ! gotta break bad habits, i do have some full fat stuff though, cream cheese, always bought fat free, so i gotta change that, nuts..ok i can do that i love nuts, have you tried bold habanero bbq almonds..woo hoo..they will pull me through.
ok, my brain is getting around this..shopping list now..
buy full fat stuff, cream cheese, nuts..lots of nuts, meat, gotta buy meat i don't generally use the stuff, dip, what kind of dip doesn't have carbs, ???? maybe like french onion??? i can do that.. ranch full fat..can handle that too..have celery, have peanut butter, what about jerky, i could do that..can it be flavored?? ok i need to get to the store..maybe on Wed when paycheck arrives..thanks so much..i also found a low carb cookbook dusty on the back of my shelves..so i'll read that too..

Jenni979 · #39 05/17/10, 12:17 PM

Ranch dressing on a celery stick, or cream cheese on celery, is what I will snack on if I start getting that naggy-hunger feeling.

My nasty habit is that I don't eat enough... I have always had it in my head that snacking=BAD, so I broke myself of it when I was about 20... Now, at 30, I learn that snacking is actually good for me... **sigh**

About the jerky: I would watch the sodium in most kinds... No carbs, but often lotsa salt. 8-)

mekasmom · #40 05/17/10, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronbre

ok I'm going to keep the appointment cause when I woke up this morning after 11 + hours with no food it was back up..when I went to bed it was 109 and when I got up it was 140..and I figured that wasn't good..right? so they are probably right..but I'm glad I went ahead and decided to do the fasting test first..I'll call Monday and reschedule the appointment..thanks all

Almost everyone has a higher blood sugar level in the am because your liver releases more glucose. It's a natural thing, to wake you up in the morning. One forty isn't perfect, but it's not 200 either. I personally wouldn't be concerned about it.

Honestly, it sounds like you are just starting to show a few symptoms of beginning DM. At this point it could probably be easily controlled with diet. I would have the HgA1c, then decide how fervent I wanted to be based on that result. If it is below 7, I would just watch the carb intake, and not worry to much. Why go on a bunch of pills if you can naturally control it.

Mainly though, stay calm. It's not that high at this point. Really, it isn't.