Saw the doctor today and want to relay some positive things to others who are newly diagnosed -- and get all that cool praise that you experienced folks aways give!
Background: I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with an A1C of 8.6 and a fasting BG of 237. Big shock, totally unexpected. Beginning right then and there I started working hard on diet and exercise and using my monitor 3 times a day -- FBG, before dinner, and 2 hours after (would have done more if I could have afforded more strips). Still need to work on getting regular exercise, but after one week of struggling to figure out proper meals and snacks this past week has been much easier (with great support from my spouse).
I had two alternating patterns before the diagnosis: either stay really busy all day and eat one big meal in the evening followed by an hour or two of snacking, or eat a big lunch, get really tired, fumble around trying to do useful stuff in the afternoon, then eat a really big dinner and snack afterward. Not a breakfast person.
Last two weeks I've been on regular three healthy meals a day with a small healthy snack in the afternoon and sometimes one mid-morning. In the second week of this I stopped being hungry and craving second helpings and snacks, and I got my energy back, no longer having those spells of being tired.
I've also been on 2.5 mg glipizide per day.
Until a few days ago my BG was always too high. 160 to 200+ FBG. 120 to 170 before dinner then going up by 60 to 100 points 2 hours later although I did see better numbers when I got exercise (20 to 30 minute walks). I reduced portion sizes down to what they are supposed to be (I'd been cheating a little) and cut my carbs at dinner down below what I'd been told. Last two days I've had FBG of 130, before dinner at 110, and after dinner at 130.
Appointment with the doctor: A1C 7.7, down from 8.6 in two weeks. It was a different lab, but still.... I'm taking it as solid evidence that I'm doing the right things. I liked the doc (who sees a lot of diabetes patients) and, following advice given by some of you here, was prepared to ask him about metformin, but he suggested it without prompting. 500mg twice a day, says it will lower my FBG. And he gave me samples of that and the other meds I'm taking (not diabetes related) to carry me through another month when I will see him again.
I've had leg pain periodically for a long time and it's become constant in the last month or so. When I read about diabetic neuropathy I got worried. After some testing, the doc says that's not it and gave me med samples for restless legs syndrome. (Mirapex 0.25 once a day. If anyone knows about this drug I'd love to know about your experience.). If that helps I'll have more confidence that it's RLS, but he warned me it's expensive.
I'm without insurance and income right now but applied for a state sponsored program (in California) so I didn't have to pay for the visit; they assume the insurance will come through. Darn nice clinic.
Anyway, didn't think this would turn into a long essay. Just wanted to get the point across that it's possible to see good results in a short period of time. Much of it is due to the advice and encourage received here on these formus. So thanks for that!
Now I have to keep the trend going in this positive direction. Oh, and I lost 5 pounds.
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