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....

[jcpoole]

Yup..I have 3 sizes in my closet...I was taken off hydrochlorothiazide in July and have managed to put 10 lbs on!!  I still don't eat sweets, candy, no pasta bread or potatoes either!! 10,000 steps about 3 times a week. I am not giving up, I don't crave any of that stuff. Just keep on trying! Have a wonderful vacation!

Jonica

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

[WillowTheWhisp]

I have fat clothes and thinner clothes but no really thin clothes.

As I lose weight I am determined to get rid of the clothes which become too big so I have more incentive to keep on top of weight control.

I've been having a crazy few days with my blood glucose and now today my right eye is playing up with floaters and fuzziness. Diabetes is so frustrating isn't it?

[JustMike]

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@WillowTheWhisp wrote:

I have fat clothes and thinner clothes but no really thin clothes.

As I lose weight I am determined to get rid of the clothes which become too big so I have more incentive to keep on top of weight control.

I've been having a crazy few days with my blood glucose and now today my right eye is playing up with floaters and fuzziness. Diabetes is so frustrating isn't it?

---

LOL, skinny is a relative term.  Even if I weighed the right amount to fit into my skinny clothes I would still have a BMI that falls into the obscene, er, I mean obese category.  And being diabetic doesn't help - being told what I cannot eat or do just brings out my inner 12 year old.  🙂

Sorry about the eye issue.  I bet that's been a pain for you. 

[Elendili]

I have noticed my eye shight blurring over the last couple years.  It is related to higher blood sugar levels.  I am trying to get my A1C down closer to 6 and see if that helps.  In the mean time, I'm struggling with digestion issues.  I am sure they are all diabetes related.  It isn't fun, but it is a challenge.  The pay off is staying healthier longer.  Lower A1C helps prevent other diabetes issues that are super serious.  But I agree with all of you, it can be so frustrating.  At least we have each other here to relate to.  It is really nice for me to talk to you all about diabetes issues.  I have no one at home.  So thank you all for being here!

Elendili

[rminto]

All for one and one for all.

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Here's an interesting snippet for those who query whether a diabetic person can become non-diabetic.

I have a diabetic cat. He's a big cat and has been on 6.5 units of insulin twice a day. Last time he had his monthly check up his blood glucose was way down so the vet advised us to reduce the insulin to 6 units twice a day. Then last night he went for another check up and his count was down to 3.3 - so we are reducing the insulin again. 

When I discussed  this with the vet he informed me that he has had diabetic cats which spontaneously become non-diabetic cats with no obvious explanation. He has't known it happen in any other animal but the very fact that it can happen in cats shows that there is still a great deal we do not understand about diabetes.

My eye specialist wants to see me on Sunday morning! SUNDAY? Yep. So no church for me this week. I could be there hours if past visits are anything to go by. I just hope he doesn't want to keep me in 

[Elendili]

@WillowTheWhisp  I never heard of a cat clearing up like that!  How wonderful for your kitty!  Wish people could do that too!  Good luck on your eye appointment.  The only thing that scares me more than losing my hearing is losing my sight!  I hope yours is going to be OK.

Elendili

[dancefoxtrot]

justmike

You have a great sense of humor. You can eat carefully and healthy on vacation! Parent the inner 12 yr old with love and firmness. 12 yr olds don't get the idea of long term complications of destroyed organs but we do, us grown ups.  

Enjoy your vacation in your new shorts that you won't need next year.

Barb G

[PhatD]

Hello all. I've had my fitbit for months but not been really seriously active. Just happened upon this forum today. Trying to get some motivation. Due to family history I was prepared for becoming a diabetic later on in life. Thinking though that it could probably be controlled with a pill or two.Uh yes somebody slap me.Anyway I just continued on consuming a diet high in sugars and fats till I landed in the hospital. And I was shocked,yes shocked, to learn I had become an insulin dependent diabetic.Not only am I on pills but also started out on four shots daily.I too have been told I can come off the insulin if I lose weight and I also have other health issues that can only be helped with diet,exercise,and weight loss . But I'm still trying to overcome that "I can't understand why I can't eat whatever I want in moderation" mentality. So thank you all for the comments I've been reading here. I've learned some new things and this group is so motivating.

[dancefoxtrot]

Welcome PhatD

You came to the right place. Just wishful thinking anything you want in moderation. NOT.  But eating lots of veggies-non-starchy ones, only lean protein, the size of your palm, not your plate, drinking lots of water and dancing, swimming, walking or running each day can lower your BG and help you lose weight. You get used to eating in this healthy way and being active and your body and mind will love you for it. Check out DrFuhrman.com for recipes. Have you read his book about reversing diabetes. You can at least get it under control, and save your eyes, brain, kidneys, heart, nerves and skin. 

We are here to help you face this disease and turn toward health. 

Set a goal for your A1c and weight to go lower. Then charge forward and kick that crappy junk food to the curb. Stay in close touch with your MD as you lower your sugar and carb intake you lower your need for insulin. Are you testing before injecting insulin each and every time?  It is absolutely vital since you can end up in a coma from too much insulin. Take a diabetic nutrition class and go to a nutritionist too. 

Learn as much as you can. Take wonderful care of yourself and good things will happen.

Best,

Barbara 

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi Willow,

I have a floater too in my right eye. All the best in your continuing to burn those extra lbs away. 

Barb G

[dancefoxtrot]

Willow

So glad that you are using a meter now. It is crucial to know what effect your diet and exercise are making. Are most of your fasting levels close to 5.2 or 93.5?

Are you keeping a log as this provides vital info for you and your doctors. 

Best,

B arbara 

[PhatD]

I'm already having the numbness and tingling in my fingers and in my lower extremities. I wonder if this is reversible? I'm also concidering finding another family doctor,one maybe that has a history of dealing with diabetic patients. I don't think my present doctor is as concerned with my diagnosis as I am. I had lab work routinely and never asked to view the results because the office has a call system where you call and get a msg recorded by the doctor informing you of any negative results and his plan of care. After landing in the hospital I requested to see past labwork results and noted that my fasting blood glucose and A1C levels were steadily rising with each test, yet he never mentioned it.

[LaQuita]

I've been insulin dependent for over 25 years. My internal medicine doctors managed my diabetes. For two years now my diabetes has been managed by my endocrinologist. I couldn't stand her at first because I went from taking 2 shots a day to taking 5 shots & 2 pills. My whole lifestyle become centered around taking my daily injections (thank goodness for the Fitbit silent alarms). Today, my A1C is down significantly, my injection doses have decreased 3-4 times. I still suffer from the tingling, numbness, and burning thigh. I've lost 30 pounds since April 1st. I said all that to say this --find a diabetes doctor who is better able to manage the disease. Not only that, become your own advocate by increasing your education of the disease by reading credible information like Diabetes Forecast magazine and such.

LaQuita
Sent from my iPhone

[soapsuds]

I do believe that the general opinion that diabetes only gets worse with time is incorrect. I have had diabetes for 30 years, and this year became aware of Dr. Fung (see his u-tube videos) and his program to reverse diabetes. Website - google search - intensive dietary management .
I have been on his program since March and have lost 25 lbs. My BP has returned to normal. My A1C is going down. I am off insulin. It is not easy to do, but, as he says, it is easier than having your feet chopped off. You can join on his website but your own doctor needs to follow you through the process.
Good luck.

[Elendili]

@soapsuds Here is the issue with what you are saying: you are assuming that the reason your symptoms are getting better is because your diabetes is getting better.  To understand what is happening with your body you need to understand that there are many places in your body that produce and release insulin and that anyone of these places being out of whack can increase your symptoms.  Also it is a known fact that weight loss will improve symptoms  for an individual for up to 10 years.  This time span is not arbitrary.  It is the time your body takes to adjust to weight loss.  Durring these 10 years your body is still producing the same amount of insulin it was when you were heavier, this is why your symptoms are getting better.  This is a good thing by the way because it helps reduce your chances of getting more diabetic complications.  The problem with this whole idea of reversing diabetes is that it people think they are all better.  They are not.  Eventually your body will readjust to the weight loss and your symptoms will slowly return.  Please continue on your weight loss venture though because you are doing your body a really good thing.  You are keeping yourself healthier longer and you are helping to stave off or prevent (depending on how long you live) any further diabetic complications.  Sometimes what I am saying sounds harsh, but I don't want you to fool yourself into thinking that you have conquered diabetes.  It doesn't work that way.  But do think of it as adding to your life expectancy and your overall health.  This is the most important thing you can do for yourself.  Keep healthy despite having diabetes.

Elendili

[Elendili]

@LaQuita I whole-heartedly agree with this.  There are many doctors who specialize in treating diabetics.  Find one that helps you manage your disease better.  Read information on WebMD about diabetes or better yet, read what the CDC has to say about it.  Make a list of questions to ask a potential doctor and when you meet with him or her, ask those questions.  If a doctor doesn't answer your questions to your satisfaction, he or she is not the doctor for you.  Try another.  Don't give up, but don't settle.

Good luck in your venture!

Elendili

p.s. there are better solutions if you keep looking you'll find what works best for you!

[dancefoxtrot]

Soap suds,

Congrats on your great progress. After 30 years to have such great results is awesome and gives others hope. Normal BP and lower A1c is sooo much healthier. I will go to Dr. Fung's u-tube to learn from him, too.  Some people are able to reverse their T2 to a very large extent. I agree with you and think it is good to do everything we can to reverse this disease. This is something to be celebrated.  

Dr Joel Fuhrman and Dr Mark Hyman, MD also support the reversal notion and many patients are getting off many meds and getting to a healthy weight and active life style. 

We are on the verge of far better treatment through diet, exercise and better drugs. 

Thanks for sharing your progress and I hope people are encouraged to make even healthier food choices.

Barbara G

[dancefoxtrot]

Hi LaQuita,

Congrats on your weight loss and lower A1c. Keep up the good effort as you are seeing results. No carb and sugar ladden food is worth destroying your organs. Non starchy veggies and lean protein are our friends. 

Stay strong and determined,

Barbara 

[dancefoxtrot]

PhatD

Fire that doctor for negligence!!! Get a new MD and get an endocrinologist for your diabetes since that is their specialization. Get to a diabetes nutrition class and a nutritionist. These are very important steps. If you change your refined carb and sugar intake and lose the weight you are bound to find improvement in many parts of your body. You can stop the neuropathy from worsening by keeping BG in strict control.

"According to the University of Chicago’s Center for Peripheral Neuropathy (UCCPN), nearly 60 percent of diabetics have some sort of nerve damage (UCCPN, 2010). This damage is often due to high blood sugar levels, and risk for neuropathy increases for diabetics who are overweight, have high blood pressure, or are over the age of 40."

I have read and believe that the goal in to drop our a1c under 6.0% to avoid complications with a very low carb and sugar diet for life! Test fasting BG aiming for 70-100 and 2 hrs. after a meal aiming for 120.

 You can eat lean protein and non-starchy veggies and even some beans as they have resistant starch. Log your food and test results so you learn what you need to do to change your diet and activity levels. You can do this and you will be so proud of your results.

Best,

Barbara G