[jps]

Diagnosed with Type 2 in the middle of last week. I'm an idiot because I saw it coming long ago and didn't do a **** thing about it.

I'm a chemist and have been for 12 years, so I perform my own labs every six months. I saw my FBS rise from 72 twelve years ago to 114 six months ago. I knew I was IGT, but ignored it. My A1C was at 6.4. I figured I'd deal with it someday. Well, that day has arrived.

Funny thing is that my weight hadn't varied by more than 5 pounds in the last 5 years. I'm forty years old, overweight at 220 lbs. I don't get nearly enough exercise and have (had) the worst eating habits. My lipid profile is fine, Cholesterol 180, LDL 75, HDL 55.

I'd eat once a day, just dinner. No snacks at all. I did drink poison (Regular Coke), two bottles a day - one in the morning and one at lunch time. As far as food, just a big dinner and I really didn't care what it was, whether it be a big salad or fried chicken. And what's worse, even though I was eating once a day, it was no big deal for me to skip a meal. I knew it was a horrible habit but was just "too busy" to deal with it.

The day before I was diagnosed, I was dying of thirst. I couldn't get enough water. I drank over two gallons that day and I knew what the problem was at that point even without running my labs. So after a 16 hour fast, I did my blood work in the morning. I knew my FBS was going to be elevated but I was actually pissed when I saw it was 299. Also, my liver enzymes were all elevated (I don't drink, no drugs, no OTC medicines) which is a change from the normal liver enzyme levels I had six months eariler. I saw my doctor an hour later to get on some regimen. I also had an A1C run on myself as I headed to the doctors office. It ended up being a 10.2. Not happy with myself at all. After the fast, I was starving so I grabbed a sandwich on the way to the physician even though I knew my FBS was high. It was measured at 425 at his office. Fingers and toes tingled, eyesight became slightly blurry.

I guess I should be somewhat happy that I apparently caught this "early". I'll be ****ed if I'm going to let this thing screw with my life for any extended period though.

The good news is this disease now forces my hand because I now have to deal with it. I have no choice but to change my lifestyle for good. I've accepted that it's a lifetime commitment.

The doc put me on Lantus, 10U per day, to increase by 3U every three days until my FBS is 100. I'm at 13U now, FBS is now at 140. Don't know if it's all the medicine or the changes I've made over the last 4 or 5 days. I'm lucky in that I love almost every food, so cutting out the garbage food hasn't been too difficult. It's been baked fish and chicken, very lean meat, veggies, nuts, egg whites, and some fruit. I do love my pastas, breads and rices, but I'm passing on them.

What's been really frustrating is some of the contradictory information out there about what to eat and what not to eat. I realize I should set up a meal plan with a dietitian.

Anyway, that's my story. Thanks for letting me vent.

[alicat61]

Hi jps,
you wouldn't be the 1st person to bury your head in the sand when it comes to your own health. I'm sure a lot of people think if I ignore it it will go away or are scared of what might happen. At least you ran your own tests and went to a Dr when you started to get thirsty.
You also can see what you need to do to change things. That is another good start.
I was once told Diabetes is a life sentence to a HEALTHY LIFESTYLE I aways think that is a good way to think of it.
It can be very confusing You have found a good place here to gain information and support.
It is important to test often to see what works for you
research lots and workout what you feel comfortable with and if that is working good if not try something else.
Glad you have found this site

[matingara]

Originally Posted by jps

I'm lucky in that I love almost every food, so cutting out the garbage food hasn't been too difficult. It's been baked fish and chicken, very lean meat, veggies, nuts, egg whites, and some fruit. I do love my pastas, breads and rices, but I'm passing on them.

What's been really frustrating is some of the contradictory information out there about what to eat and what not to eat. I realize I should set up a meal plan with a dietitian.

for Heaven's sake - please tell me - what is wrong with an egg yolk???

IMO, from what i read above, you are automatically labeling "fat" as your enemy.

your enemy is probably more likely to be carbohydrates and the populist media.

yes, pastas, breads and rice are your enemies - for sure. but also so are, most fruits, fruit juices, milk, things like Yams and parsnips (this is a fairly long list).

i would encourage you to read here. fat is not likely to be your enemy.

despite what you have been brainwashed to believe.

my opinion,

-- Joel.

[davef]

JPS,

Ok so now you know that de-nile is a river in Egypt, but at least you are ready to move on. Welcome to the forums, I glad you found us. This is a great place for information and the people here are always ready to help you.

You are right there is a lot of contradictory information, one of the strangest things I encountered was being told to eat plenty of carbs, when in reality they are going to send your sugars high. I limit my carbs, and avoid things like white bread, pasta, rice and potatoes.

Testing is your most important tool, through regular testing (before and two hours after first bite) you will learn what foods work for you and what are best avoided.

I'd highly recommend the book "The first year: Type 2 Diabetes" by Gretchen Becker, I found it very informative and easy to read.

Visit here often, ask lots of questions and you'll get control of your diabetes. Remember you control your diabetes it does not control you.

[CookD]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I understand denial also. With a family history of Types 1 & 2 I should have seen it coming. Luckily I too found this forum after diagnosis and it has been such a benefit.
Being a fairly new member here I found the support and info here has made dealing with all of the issues so much easier. What to eat? When to test? What am I doing wrong and/or right? The list goes on and on.
A diet rich in whole foods and lower carbs has improved my health immensely.

[d_k_moon]

Oh, don't feel bad, you're not alone. For me, it took an MI while on vaction in Canada three weeks ago to learn that I am diabetic. I didn't have many of the signs of diabetes. I wrote the frequent thirst off to the fact that I work outside in Las Vegas. It's a desert. It's summer. It's hot...lol. No blurry vision, or tingling of feet etc.

While in the ER, my blood sugar was at 47.4 mmol/l or about 853 mg/dl. At that point I really didn't have blood, it was more like Log Cabin pancake syrup.

My initial A1C was 12.5. I'm on 16 units of Levemir, and 10, 8, and 9 units of NovoRapid. Since being discharged from the hospital my B/S has ranged from 3.7 mmol (68 mg/dl) to a high of 7.0 mmol (126 mg/dl). It usually hovers around 5.6 mmol
(100 mg/dl).

Not only do I have to count my carbs, I have to keep track of sodium intake, and fats.

[jps]

Thank you all for making me feel so welcome.

As for the egg yolk, I realize there's nothing wrong with it as far as diabetes. I need to lose weight anyway, so I figured in areas where it is simple to cut out some fat, I can do that. I don't feel like I'm missing anything without the yolk.

d_k_moon, I'm in Vegas too, have been for 35 years. As you know, it gets hot as ****. But the intense thirst was abnormal, even for here.

I'm glad I found this forum, I'll tell you that. I've got a lot of reading to catch up on!

[davef]

Originally Posted by jps

Thank you all for making me feel so welcome.

As for the egg yolk, I realize there's nothing wrong with it as far as diabetes. I need to lose weight anyway, so I figured in areas where it is simple to cut out some fat, I can do that. I don't feel like I'm missing anything without the yolk.

d_k_moon, I'm in Vegas too, have been for 35 years. As you know, it gets hot as ****. But the intense thirst was abnormal, even for here.

I'm glad I found this forum, I'll tell you that. I've got a lot of reading to catch up on!

If you watch your carbs, you will be amazed how you'll lose weight and you will be able to eat the egg yolk without worrying about it.

My principle is that since I'm being careful about food, everything I eat has to be worth it, in terms of flavor, quality and working for my numbers.

[d_k_moon]

Originally Posted by jps

Thank you all for making me feel so welcome.

As for the egg yolk, I realize there's nothing wrong with it as far as diabetes. I need to lose weight anyway, so I figured in areas where it is simple to cut out some fat, I can do that. I don't feel like I'm missing anything without the yolk.

d_k_moon, I'm in Vegas too, have been for 35 years. As you know, it gets hot as ****. But the intense thirst was abnormal, even for here.

I'm glad I found this forum, I'll tell you that. I've got a lot of reading to catch up on!

I agree, the thirst and urination was abnormal, but I think I was in denial. I had planned to go see the Dr. after the vacation was over, but the MI took care of that.

It's quite amazing how a 30 minute trip in a air ambulance can affect one's outlook on thing.

[matingara]

Originally Posted by jps

As for the egg yolk, I realize there's nothing wrong with it as far as diabetes. I need to lose weight anyway, so I figured in areas where it is simple to cut out some fat, I can do that. I don't feel like I'm missing anything without the yolk.

In my opinion, cutting out fat will not lead to weight loss. Cutting out carbs will.

Fiddling with natural foods is also a bad idea - just as a general practice.

i avoid (almost) anything that is not natural.

my thinking is that our bodies have developed the diet it works best on for many, many years. a "reduced fat" something or "lite" something smacks of danger to me.

so i use real butter, full fat cheese and ice cream, free range eggs etc.

the only non-natural thing i eat is "no added sugar chocolate". But then again, how "natural" is chocolate as a food anyway?



-- Joel.

[shutterbug]

Many of us here felt this way at diagnosis. I'm one of them.
The good news is with your access to lab and test etc, now, I guess you can control it better than ever!

Welcome to DF

[jillrapp]

Hey JP,
Glad you found us, even though it was because of bad news. Don't fret the pasta thing, most of us here eat Dreamfields Pasta. Sometimes hard to find but you can always find it on Amazon. It's extremely tasty and doesn't affect BS much at all!

Good luck and welcome again!

[kgm0612]

HI & WELCOME!

Karen

[jps]

Thanks for the advice about Dreamfields. I figured it would taste like cardboard since it was so low carb, but I was amazed. Nobody that ate it could tell the difference.

Thank you. It increases my ability to cook at home ten-fold.

[shutterbug]

Wow.. a reply after 2 weeks.. Have you been to mars?

I love DF pasta. I can eat a big bowl full and still stay under 140 (after 2 hours). One more tip - Make sure you don't cook it too much. Cooking it more helps our body to break it up more and hence get more sugar out of it. (thats what people here told me and it seems to be right)