Any diabetics using the FB?

[llchevy56]

Wondering if there are any diabetics out there who are using the FB and working towards weight loss?  I'm insulin dependent and trying to lose weight but more importantly trying to regain my health and physical strength while balancing everything.  A challenge a day! Love to hear your stories....

[Havenocents]

Actually type 2 is curable as long as your pancreas is still functioning. You cannot cure type 1, but many have been cured of type 2.

[Lightsinger]

If only that were true, I would be lining up for the cure.  While there is some indication that certain diabetics have seen a reversal of their diabetes from gastric bypass surgery, for those of us who are not morbidly obese, this is not an option, and even for those for whom this is an option, it's radical surgery and the impact on the lives of those who have it is pretty extreme. I've known three people who had it, none of them diabetic, and the restrictions on eating and the need for supplemental nutrients made it less attractive then my taking meformin will ever be.

Diabetes is NOT curable, and I hate people saying this, adding to the burden that diabetics must face every day.  It CAN be controlled, which is not at all the same thing.  Believing in a cure leads many to fall prey to what can only be called "snake oil" salesmen who promise the moon and never deliver the desired "cure".   Then diabetics are left feeling that they somehow failed to cure themselves when it was never an option to begin with.  I've read a lot of research over the last 14 years about this disease, and I would be happy if there was any credble evidence of a cure for all of us.

[Havenocents]

Yes there are no quick fixes. Some people can make a lifestyle change and never have diabetes again. To me, that is a cure!! Not everyone can do it, but some can. Your negativity is crazy, and not based on fact.

I would say the opposite, not believing there can be a cure through lifestyle change is a travesty. You make people give up before they even make an attempt. Spend another 14 years studying this if you want, but I choose the lifestyle change. It has worked for many.

[Lightsinger]

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@Havenocents wrote:
Yes there are no quick fixes. Some people can make a lifestyle change and never have diabetes again. To me, that is a cure!! Not everyone can do it, but some can. Your negativity is crazy, and not based on fact.

I would say the opposite, not believing there can be a cure through lifestyle change is a travesty. You make people give up before they even make an attempt. Spend another 14 years studying this if you want, but I choose the lifestyle change. It has worked for many.

---

Yes!  Lifestyle change does work to help people control their diabetes, and it isn't that hard to do.  What I'm trying to avoid is people falling prey to those people who will sell them on the idea that once they are "cured" they never have to worry about diabetes again.  Because that leads to non-compliance, and after years on the American Diabetes Association forums, I can tell you that it does happen.  I can't count the times that some poor desparate person has come back to the forums to admit that they thought they were "cured" because after months of hard work, their doctors took them off medication.   I despair that doctors so often don't communicate well with their patients.    

I just got back from my doctor's office after my latest A1c, and it is 5.6 (same as last time) and she's taking me off metformin.  That's great news, and I couldn't be happier about it.  But guess what?  I'm still diabetic, and I will continue to need to live this lifestyle and eat this way for the rest of my life.  I don't kid myself that now that my blood glucose levels are in the non-diabetic range I can eat whatever I want without a care.  I'm one plate of spaghetti away from a reading of 250+ and I know it.   I'm a really well controlled diabetic, and have been for 14 years.   There are no quick fixes, no miracle cures in a bottle or pill.  I don't want people to give up, because this is entirely doable, and I have seen it work for hundreds of people. 

[Havenocents]

A lifestyle change MEANS you don't go back to your old lifestyle. Therefore if you stay with the program, are no longer on medication, and you have normal hbA1c levels then you ARE CURED of diabetes. I think we can agree on that.

[Kuila]

whether you say your diabetes is managed, or I say mine is cured? Its
purely semantics. So let every individual decide what they are going to
call THEIR diabetes. Just respect the efforts to change environmental
factors, since its really freaking hard!

I don't have diabetic numbers in the lab and I've never needed medication.
I say "I have diabetes that I manage with diet and exercise". And every
once in a while, some idiot will say something like "oh, you're so slender,
you can have cake!", or even "you're so thin, you can't have diabetes!".

This is a GREAT line, I love this: "I'm one plate of spaghetti from 250+".

I do think the vast majority could get their numbers into the non-diabetic
range....but not without enormous support, which is difficult to find.We
just live in an environment which promotes terrible habits very strongly.

[sweet_starlite]

Hi Laura, 

I have been diabetic for over five years. I have been on pills, until recently I now on a small dose of insulin along with one oral pill a day. I am hoping the FB will help me control my sugar levels and see a decrease in my AC1 level when I go to the doctor next month. By chance, have you or anyone on the forum notice, that your weight is not chaning much, but have notice a change in your overall sugar levels? 

Tanya 

[Lightsinger]

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@sweet_starlite wrote:

Hi Laura, 

I have been diabetic for over five years. I have been on pills, until recently I now on a small dose of insulin along with one oral pill a day. I am hoping the FB will help me control my sugar levels and see a decrease in my AC1 level when I go to the doctor next month. By chance, have you or anyone on the forum notice, that your weight is not chaning much, but have notice a change in your overall sugar levels? 

Tanya 

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I count carbs, and that doesn't always mean a reduction in weight, but it has definitely helped with the sugar levels.  What regimen are you using? 

[Lightsinger]

---

@Kuila wrote:
whether you say your diabetes is managed, or I say mine is cured? Its
purely semantics. So let every individual decide what they are going to
call THEIR diabetes. Just respect the efforts to change environmental
factors, since its really freaking hard!

I don't have diabetic numbers in the lab and I've never needed medication.
I say "I have diabetes that I manage with diet and exercise". And every
once in a while, some idiot will say something like "oh, you're so slender,
you can have cake!", or even "you're so thin, you can't have diabetes!".

This is a GREAT line, I love this: "I'm one plate of spaghetti from 250+".

I do think the vast majority could get their numbers into the non-diabetic
range....but not without enormous support, which is difficult to find.We
just live in an environment which promotes terrible habits very strongly.

---

If you haven't visited yet, I highly recommend the American Diabetes Association on line community.  I've been a member for years, and there are people there at every state of control and every type of diabetes, as well as a variety of different medications, from metformin to sulfaneas and insulins.  Check it out.  🙂   Folks there have been dealing with diabetes for a lot longer than I have, and they are happy to support people in their efforts to manage their health and live happy, heallthy, full lives. 

[LewWagner]

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@LewWagner wrote:

Just got back my blood test results from Jan 18th.  A1C is 5.7 (first time in 8 months since I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes).  My other blood values are all within normal ranges (for a 58 year old, that's not bad). 

I'm keeping track of my exercising using FitBit and TomTom GPS SportsWatch and for the first time ever, I will have done over 40 miles walking in a week this week.  I'm still eating the same food I have talked about before but now my body is "waking up."  It's more efficiently consuming calories and I'm walking faster and faster during my walks.    Today, I actually felt my endorphins kicking in and making my body feel good.  I haven't felt that in a long, long time. 

Heck, I just reached 194.5 lbs (from 300 back on Nov 1, 2013), and I'm about to get to 190 lbs by the end of June (I had originally forecast that weight for July 29th).  I can't wait for the doc to tell me when I get to 180 lbs, that I can stop taking my Metaformin.  I want so much to be done with this chapter of my life (the past 8 months with Type II) that I can taste it....

If I can do it, you can, too.  Say it with me, "I CAN, TOO..."

---

Too all....my apologies, I too have been to ADA and seen where I'll never be "cured" but I will be well within A1C glucose levels even for someone without diabetes.  My exhortation to "do it" wasn't meant to pull the wool over anyone's eyes (much less delude myself) that the fight is over.  Just that a major milestone can be accomplished (attain weight goal and live a normal A1C diet/exercise life style).

Lew

[Lightsinger]

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@LewWagner wrote:

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@LewWagner wrote:

Just got back my blood test results from Jan 18th.  A1C is 5.7 (first time in 8 months since I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes).  My other blood values are all within normal ranges (for a 58 year old, that's not bad). 

I'm keeping track of my exercising using FitBit and TomTom GPS SportsWatch and for the first time ever, I will have done over 40 miles walking in a week this week.  I'm still eating the same food I have talked about before but now my body is "waking up."  It's more efficiently consuming calories and I'm walking faster and faster during my walks.    Today, I actually felt my endorphins kicking in and making my body feel good.  I haven't felt that in a long, long time. 

Heck, I just reached 194.5 lbs (from 300 back on Nov 1, 2013), and I'm about to get to 190 lbs by the end of June (I had originally forecast that weight for July 29th).  I can't wait for the doc to tell me when I get to 180 lbs, that I can stop taking my Metaformin.  I want so much to be done with this chapter of my life (the past 8 months with Type II) that I can taste it....

If I can do it, you can, too.  Say it with me, "I CAN, TOO..."

---

Too all....my apologies, I too have been to ADA and seen where I'll never be "cured" but I will be well within A1C glucose levels even for someone without diabetes.  My exhortation to "do it" wasn't meant to pull the wool over anyone's eyes (much less delude myself) that the fight is over.  Just that a major milestone can be accomplished (attain weight goal and live a normal A1C diet/exercise life style).

Lew

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And I didn't mean to discourage anyone from taking control of their lives, as you are doing.   🙂

My doctor took me off metformin yesterday, and I'm nervous about it, frankly.  I've been using it as a kind of "training wheels" thing, knowing that if I ate reasonably well, I could always count on being part of the 5% club that you have now joined.  My doctor is telling me that my numbers might go up as much as a point -- meaning I could see a 6.6 next time instead of my 5.6, because at my age, "that's still a good number".  We'll see how it goes, but given that I haven't had a number over 6.0 since my diagnosis, and no complications in all this time, I'm wondering if it's worth it not taking the metformin, when it has worked so well for me. 

[LewWagner]

Well, we've all heard the excuses about holidays being a reason for overeating.  I went to a fireworks event last night with my wife and ate way too many BBQ ribs and two small snack packs of Lay's BBQ chips and pulled chicken.  Result of my weakness and lapse in judgement?  2.5 lbs gained in one night and my glucose reading this morning was 134!!!  It's usually around 90-104 with just Metaformin.

Anyway, I went for my exercise walk this morning (walked about the fastest I ever have for a 3.12 mile walk) and wound up losing some of that excess poundage.  Now down to 195.75.  Still with all that sugar in the BBQ sauce, no wonder....

Just a word of caution from someone who was "just there."  Don't give in to temptation...that's what got us all here in the first place.

I'm rededicated and will stay on my path now regardless of major events or holidays.

Lew

[Lightsinger]

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@LewWagner wrote:

Well, we've all heard the excuses about holidays being a reason for overeating.  I went to a fireworks event last night with my wife and ate way too many BBQ ribs and two small snack packs of Lay's BBQ chips and pulled chicken.  Result of my weakness and lapse in judgement?  2.5 lbs gained in one night and my glucose reading this morning was 134!!!  It's usually around 90-104 with just Metaformin.

Anyway, I went for my exercise walk this morning (walked about the fastest I ever have for a 3.12 mile walk) and wound up losing some of that excess poundage.  Now down to 195.75.  Still with all that sugar in the BBQ sauce, no wonder....

Just a word of caution from someone who was "just there."  Don't give in to temptation...that's what got us all here in the first place.

I'm rededicated and will stay on my path now regardless of major events or holidays.

Lew

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That's part of the lifestyle thing, it has to be something that will allow you to eat in a diabetes friendly way, through life crisises, social events and unusual circumstances of every stripe.  The good news is, one day -- or one meal -- won't really derail you.  You pick yourself up, dust yourself off, as you are doing, and go at it again.  We're human beings and sometimes we will give in to temptation.  We just have to make sure that we don't do it often.  As for your overnight weight gain....my guess is that it wasn't the sugar, but maybe the salt.  If I gain two pounds overnight, I almost always have had too much salt the night before.  The morning read on your meter though....that probably was the sugar in the sauce.  Sometimes we need those little reminders. 😉   Then we climb back in the saddle.  Good for you that you rededicating yourself to a healthier lifestyle.

[LewWagner]

Thanks, Lightsinger.  I'm back on track and have lost most of the weight I gained from my night's indiscretion.  I've also upped my physical exercise to "react" to the additional caloric input with said result being my weight loss program is pretty much back on track.

It's always nice to have great comments and support from you and others here in the forum.

Lew

[DKK]

I posted in May after being diagnosed with an A1C of 6.1.  I did meet with a dietician who recommended I follow the WW Simply Filling plan (which I'm familiar with) and watching labels very closely.  I have lost 14.4 lbs so far.  Work is very hectic in the summer so I don't get in as many steps as I should each day.  I'm watching the sugar content of foods (under 5 g) and upping both my fiber and proteins each day.  She wants me to add in some nuts during the week and an avocado if I can.  I'm feeling good.  My fasting levels are still between 105-115 in the mornings but when I test in the later hours they are in the 90's.  Back to the doctor in September.  I just wanted to "catch up" on this forum 🙂

[Vi2]

Hi Laura,  

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during both my pregnancies.  I worked hard to keep weight off because the Dr. told me that due to genetics and having gestational diabetes, chances were high that I would be diagnosed later years.  Well, the ol menopause has struck and my weight has skyrocketed.  I was recently diagnosed prehypertensive and prediabetic.  Right now I am diet controlled and only taking medication for prehypertension.  The dr. told me if I lose weight, It is likely I could get off all medication.  I purchased a fitbit to keep track of my steps and physically see what I am doing.  Please keep me updated on your weight loss.  I've only had the fitbit for a month but I'm walking everyday.  Good luck to you.

[wrongway]

Hi, I have had my fitbit since Apr and have lost 35 lbs so far.? I make sure I get out and walk alot and never eat less than 1200 calories and seldom eat more than 1500.? Good luck with your journey and you can add me as friend if you want.

[Lightsinger]

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@Vi2 wrote:

Hi Laura,  

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during both my pregnancies.  I worked hard to keep weight off because the Dr. told me that due to genetics and having gestational diabetes, chances were high that I would be diagnosed later years.  Well, the ol menopause has struck and my weight has skyrocketed.  I was recently diagnosed prehypertensive and prediabetic.  Right now I am diet controlled and only taking medication for prehypertension.  The dr. told me if I lose weight, It is likely I could get off all medication.  I purchased a fitbit to keep track of my steps and physically see what I am doing.  Please keep me updated on your weight loss.  I've only had the fitbit for a month but I'm walking everyday.  Good luck to you.

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Being in the diabetic club isn't necessarily fun, but it can be a great motivator.  I managed to lose 70 pounds after diagnosis, but the most important thing is that I got healthier.  If you concentrate on getting healthy, the rest falls into place.  So work at getting healthy and taking less medication and controlling your diabetes with diet and exercise will help you live a longer, healthier, happier life.  Fitbit is a good tool, but the most important part of this is the person wearing it. 🙂 

[LewWagner]

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@Lightsinger wrote:

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@Vi2 wrote:

Hi Laura,  

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during both my pregnancies.  I worked hard to keep weight off because the Dr. told me that due to genetics and having gestational diabetes, chances were high that I would be diagnosed later years.  Well, the ol menopause has struck and my weight has skyrocketed.  I was recently diagnosed prehypertensive and prediabetic.  Right now I am diet controlled and only taking medication for prehypertension.  The dr. told me if I lose weight, It is likely I could get off all medication.  I purchased a fitbit to keep track of my steps and physically see what I am doing.  Please keep me updated on your weight loss.  I've only had the fitbit for a month but I'm walking everyday.  Good luck to you.

---

Being in the diabetic club isn't necessarily fun, but it can be a great motivator.  I managed to lose 70 pounds after diagnosis, but the most important thing is that I got healthier.  If you concentrate on getting healthy, the rest falls into place.  So work at getting healthy and taking less medication and controlling your diabetes with diet and exercise will help you live a longer, healthier, happier life.  Fitbit is a good tool, but the most important part of this is the person wearing it. 🙂 

---

I view the FitBit device as a tool to assist me in tracking and meeting my nutrition, exercise, and weight goals.  I've lost over 114 lbs since Nov 2013, and the forums here, inspirational stories like yours, and tracking my metrics have been very helpful to me.  Keep up the great work, Vi2!!  I also agree very much with what Lightsinger has said here as well.

Lew

[Superfan]

Hi, it's Superfan, again. I wanted to thank everybody who has taken the time to participate in this forum - your stories are inspiring and motivational. It helps to know that I'm not the only one with questions and concerns about how to approach my diabetes.  Even when there is a disagreement, I find something of value from each discussion and enjoy comparing my own experiences with that of others. 

Okay, so I've been using the Fitbit Flex for a little over a month now and have religiously walked every morning for an hour.  I'm very gratified that the pounds have slowly started to come off and I'm now in "One-derland" (as my wife calls it) being under 200 lbs for the first time in over 25 years.  I know I shouldn't be "thankful" for having diabetes, but it has changed my life for the better.  I had been on medication for hypertension for over 30 years and cholesterol meds for the past couple years.  I also had chronically high uric acid levels.  With the loss of 30 lbs, most of my numbers are down in the range where my doctor says I can probably go off the meds.  I'm not comfortable doing that until I have proven that I can keep up the momentum.  After all, I'm in a fight for my life.  That's where you-all come in, helping to keep me motivated with your own stories and struggles.  Thanks, again!