diabetes

well, my hubby and i are both diabetic. his numbers are really high and outta control... but we are just starting to check our glucose levels and learn about this disease.

anyone else out there with it?

I have what is commonly referred to as sugar intolerrance. It is more of a precursor to full blown diabetes. I don't have to check my sugar level but I can tell when it bottoms out. I get dizzy, light headed and muscle weakness. As I have to do to fix it is eat something with sugar (ie. glucose so a simple carb works well). My doctor said it was a warning of an insulin future. I loved to eat (all the good fried foods, pizza (fav) and lots and lots of steak and taters (I'm Irish).
...so about 8 months ago I made a decision to change my lifestyle. I don't call it a diet (as those are short term) but since then I haven't eaten any fried meals (yes the occasional fry here or there, a piece of pizza) but no meals. I now eat a balanced meal 3 times a day (and 2 snacks). I excercise 4 + times a week (bike, run, lift weights).

The results -
It used to hurt to walk up the stairs (HS knee injury) now I can run up them.
I can run 2 miles in about 20 mins (might not sound like much but I couldn't run to the end of the street 8 months ago)
My blood pressure has dropped 20 points
No more sugar related issues
I cannot wait to go back to the Dr. and see what my blood work looks like this time.

So what's your story Aleesha?

well i'm more pre-diabetic i think. we are still in the early checking our glucose levels portion of this process. our doctor was not giving us the info we needed, nor was he taking it seriously and so he's been telling us that we are 'pre-diabetic' for a few years. turns out my hubby is full blown diabetic and has been all along. (we are currently hoping to find a new doctor although that is very hard to do here... most doctors will not take new patience and if they do, they won't take any who have access to a doctor already)

we don't eat normal meals... never have. often we only eat once or twice a day. so changing that to a better lifestyle is number one at this point. we do eat healthy when we eat... we just don't do it often enough.

i had gestational diabetes with my last baby... almost 9 years ago. so i'm at a higher risk for diabetes. mine will probably be totally controlled by diet, my hubby's made need medication since his numbers are so high... but again, we are just starting to learn about this... so who knows at this point.

i am not but my dad is. He had it really bad at first he had to go and et his glasses changed every other week because of it. he had to give himself the insulin shot morning noon and night. But after 6 months he got it under control and no longer has to take the shot he just takes the pills. even at that now he doesnt take his pills either he just knows when to eat something and manages it purely by diet.

oh that's good to hear... i'm hopeful my hubby will get his under control with his diet. :)

Aleesha from what I understand about diet and diabetes you need to learn a ton about the glycemic index as it relates to different foods. Here's a website I think will really help you and your hubby get a handle on that.

http://www.glycemicindex.com/

Girl, push as hard as you have to to get a new doctor or have a major talk with your current one. This isn't something that you can resolve in the future... sometime. Push, yell, do whatever it takes!

I know you have got to be frustrated beyond tears, but your and your husband's healthy is nothing to trifle with. :hug:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

well, my hubby and i are both diabetic. his numbers are really high and outta control... but we are just starting to check our glucose levels and learn about this disease.

anyone else out there with it?

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Why yes mamm i also have the diabetic blues :P .I slip once inawhile but adjust my insulin intake to level things out.

Was gestiational with my oldest boy and that was almost 11 years ago. Was diagnosed full blown diabetic four years ago.. I had all the classic symptoms.. constantly thirsty, blurry vision, the shakes, irritable & Moody (not a good time to pick a fight with me I would have killed someone). My sugars when tested were nearly 500.. after being on meds for a year and following a diet I became pregnant with my second son and maintined my sugars with diet and insulin. Once I had him, I was able to stay off the meds and maintain my sugars with diet.. Yeah I did cheat occassionally, but basically I was good about it. Then I became pregnant with my third and final child, still maintaining my sugars with diet, only using insuling during the pregnancy because of the hormonal and chemical shifts from carrying the baby. Both of the babies born while I am diabetic were perfectly healthy, no sugar problems.. and a very good weight of 7lbs 6 oz and 7lbs 2oz. one of the biggest culprits to look for when checking labels is HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. this not only raises our sugar levels, it also stops your brain from registering that your full when you eat, so you end up over eating (thus raising your sugar levels). Unfortunately, this ingrediant is in most foods out there, hence why most of our population is overweight. check to make sure that you do not ingest anything that has bleach or refined flour in it.. big no no's.. whole wheat or multi-grain products are best. Im still learning about it, but each improvement means a healthier me. Talk to your Dr. again, but the best thing is to do the research yourself. There are things that the dr.'s wont tell you that they really should. Research & trust your instincts.

I'm not diabetic, but my mom's twin is and my mom is hypoglycemic. I have all of the same symptoms as my mom does, but I haven't ever been tested for it. My aunt is able to keep hers under control by just diet (but I think she has pills if she needs them? I haven't really ever talked to her about it). I think the last time my mom saw her doctor he said something about her being in the begining stages of diebetes, which is weird, b/c she was told she was hypoglycemic a few years ago...I wasn't aware that it could change like that.

With me the problem is that our blood sugar will go up when you eat something with too much sugar or whatever, then just drop through the floor. When my blood sugar drops like that I get really shakey, and if it's bad enough really light headed, and I passed out once from it. In high school I was really bad about watching what I ate. I would munch on chips and have a soda for lunch, but by my last class I would be shaking so bad I couldn't even hold a pencil. I have learned to control it a bit better, and if I do start getting shakey now I know I can eat just about anything to bring my blood sugar back up.

shannon, my mom and brother are hypoglycemic and i believe you can go from that to diabetic... i know they were concerned my brother would. but that was many years ago and i don't remember it well.

thanks everyone... you have no idea how much i needed to hear some words of encouragement... this is soooo hard. i love my hubby so much and don't want to loose him to this... :hug: i'm so much more concerned about him, than myself since my glucose levels are much lower...

thanks for the link jo!

we never eat white flour... haven't for years. not much dairy to speak of as we use rice milk for our cereal and no milk at all in the house. he does loooove his snacks though... chips, ice cream, cake... all those are off limits until we get this under control and then he'll be able (maybe) to have small amounts here and there... we'll see. our next diabetes class is wed morning.

i'm so mad at our doctor christie... i could just slap him!

those classes are very helpful Aleesha.. take plenty of notes. heh.. glad Im not the only one who likes those snacks.. ice cream being my biggest downfall. give him the breyers no sugar added ice cream. if he gets his snack he'll be less inclined to sneak other bad stuff. this will help in the long run while your getting his levels lowered. my hubby has the potential of becoming diabetic due to it running in his family as well. So now my kids are learning to read labels to know what to avoid.

thanks doris... i'll do that!

I actually have type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes). I do not produce ANY insulin myself which means I take a shot with every meal. However, my sugars and A1C are in excellent control due to diet and exercise. I have had it since I was 12 and I am now 35 so I have had lots of practice. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Aleesha-

While I don't have diabetes, my grandmother passed away from the complications... she didn't take care of it when she could have, and ended up losing her sight, having several avoidable surgeries, and ultimately the congestive heart failure that ended it.

My understanding of diabetes is that it has to do with your pancreas being overworked... it makes the digestive enzymes used to break food down, and when it's having to deal with too much junk, it stops making metabolic enzymes. There is a doctor in this area that has helped people go from daily shots to needing nothing by monitoring their food intake and supplementing with digestive enzymes.

I know I haven't talked much with you personally, but I really enjoy the bits of sunshine you put into your posts, and I'm sure we would all like to enjoy them for a long time to come, so please take care of yourself. :)

thanks you aaron... :)

and you too zues... it's just nice to feel connected to others who are dealing with this as well.

I'm diabetic, diagnosed about 3 years ago.... I watch what I eat and take insulin usually once a day.

It's not a big deal taking it. There are more and more sugar free foods and drinks coming available.... bad part is we get ripped on the price of these foods. Which I think is sad, being testing supplies are not cheap, your limited on food choise to a degree and you get hit hardest at the check out.

I'm sorry to hear about that, Aleesha :( Diabetes isn't easy to deal with. I don't have it myself, but I've known people with it. Most of them didn't need to inject insulin--they were able to control it with good food choices. My grandmother controls it with a pill.

One thing I know a lot of Type II diabetics have in common is being overweight. I don't know if this is the case with you or your husband, but if it is, I would consider trying to get the extra off through healthy diet/exercise. Type II diabetics can sometimes get off of medication entirely (if they were on meds or were going to need them) just by dropping their weight.

I would also try as hard as you can to find a different doctor for another opinion...you definitely don't want a doctor who's going to shrug this off. Diabetes really needs to be controlled--and if he's not willing to help you, do try to find a doctor who will. :hug: Hang in there, sweetie--you and your hubby will figure it out and be just fine!

They have now determined that complex carbohydrates (pasta, white bread, etc.) are worse for you than simple sugars such as pop and candy. So much has changed since I was first diagnosed. With type I your pancreas cannot create any insulin which means it cannot be controlled with diet and exercise alone. Type II the pancreas is able to create the hormone insulin, just not enough....which is why with type II you can eventually get off of the pills. The body needs insulin to allow the absortion of sugars...otherwise it stays in the blood which eventually damages the organs (which is why one of the symptoms of high sugar is extreme thirst....your body tries to flush out the sugars).

I don't have either type one or two, mine is a result of Cystic Fibrosis.... I had a double lung transplant 9 years ago.... life is good!

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Originally Posted by AzureN1ght

One thing I know a lot of Type II diabetics have in common is being overweight. I don't know if this is the case with you or your husband, but if it is, I would consider trying to get the extra off through healthy diet/exercise. Type II diabetics can sometimes get off of medication entirely (if they were on meds or were going to need them) just by dropping their weight.

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yep.. losing weight does help. between losing some weight and watching what I eat I do not need to be on a pill. My grandmother in her 80's needs a pill now to control her diabetes, but for years she controlled it with diet. :D

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Originally Posted by zeus

body needs insulin to allow the absortion of sugars...otherwise it stays in the blood which eventually damages the organs (which is why one of the symptoms of high sugar is extreme thirst....your body tries to flush out the sugars).

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tell me about it.. right before I was diagnosed I couldn't get enough to drink. I also lost most of my appetite and just about drank away 40lbs.. (which was great for my wardrobe and my self-esteem :D ) and this was in a month's span. now I am careful about what I eat, although sometimes those bad foods and goodies do call me and sometimes I do give in.. but then again.. sometimes you need to give in just to shut that beast up!

my hubby isn't overweight at all... and it's his sugars we are most worried about. i definitely need to loose weight and have been working on it for years... i've recently lost almost 30 lbs... so it's coming off slowly. walking the dog is great exercise!