Hello everyone

[LRM704]

My name is Lou and I am a 55 year old from Brooklyn, New York. My doctor had started me on insulin flexpens in March 2009. Six months later I now take 40 units of Humalog 3x a day and 60 units of Levemir once a day. I hope to learn from all of you on how to cope with diabetes. I think this a great forum and I am so glad I stumbled upon it. In closing I am scared to death I won't get to see my kids ( male 23 and female 20) get married and get to play with my future grandkids. I hope I didn't bore anyone reading this.

[ramon]

Hey buddy glad you found us. First of all you are still a baby with a long road ahead of you. Im sure you will have grandchildren on you knee one day and when that day comes you will find a new innocence in life that really helps. You are taking a lot of insulin and there are ways you can cut that and be healthier. Folks here love to help cause they have all been where your at right now. Nobody here will try to sell you anything but encouragement and good will. When I was in the hospital in Aug my Bg was in the 300,s. Since joining the forum I am somewhat in control from 80-120 but still have a spike to the 160's and that will improve too. Please ask all the questions you want and give the seniors your BG levels and time of levels and they will help. Take your BG before you eat and 1hr after then 2hrs after and see how the food you are eating effects you. Try eating no more then 100 carbs a day and stay away from sugar,pasta,rice and potatoes. Eat meat,fish eggs,bacon and lots of chicken and veggies and you should note a big difference your bg.Most important of all is to stay and get involved in the forum cause we can learn from you too. Hang in there amigo, it can be done.

[davef]

Hi and Welcome to the forums,

You have found a great place for information, help and support. You most certainly didn't bore anyone!

The good news is that there is every reason to look forward to playing with your grandkids in the years to come, you can and will control your diabetes.

Ramon gave you good advice about watching your carb in take. Carbs will have a huge impact on your levels. I personally tend to avoid things like white bread, rice, pasta and potatoes as they are high in carbs.

Testing is probably your best tool, as Ramon mentioned test before each meal and two hours later, this way you learn how foods impact on you and so can decide what to eat and what to avoid.

I know you are six months into your new life, so you may well already most of what is below.

A while ago somebody asked what our top tips for the newly diagnosed would be, well here are mine for a Type 2:

1. Relax, I know it seems like the end of the world right now, but it really isn't that bad. You can and will gain control, you will feel much better. But you have to give yourself time.

2. It's normal to feel a whole range of emotions, anger, greif, denial, sadness, fear and to feel overwhelmed. Yes, diagnosis is a big thing, it's a milestone but you will feel better. Grasp it as a chance to live a healthier life and don't ever feel alone, the forums are full of great people here to help and support you.

3. Test, test, test. Testing is probably your best tool in gaining control. Test morning, before each meal and two hours after first bite and last thing at night. By testing before/after meals you learn how different foods work for you, we are all different and it's only through testing that we learn what works best for ourselves. As Art here on the forums once wrote "Test, Eat, Test, Learn".

4. As another wise person (xMenace) once said, you can eat anything you want, but you will choose not to eat somethings. Don't get frightened about the idea of being on a special diet, you are not, you will find what works for you and you will find treats that you can eat from time to time.

5. Exercise, if you have not been exercising then fit some into your life. Don't try and do it, there is no try there is only do or do not (Yoda I think said that ). It really does help, especially with fasting numbers - in my experience.

6. Watch those carbs. Many of us find that reducing/limiting the number carbs we eat really helps. I have found that it helps to avoid high carb foods such as white bread, white rice, pasta & potatoes.

7. Get the book "The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes" by Gretchen Becker. I found it easy to read and very informative.

8. Relax (I know I said that, but do try)

9. Visit these forums, ask lots of questions, never be afraid to ask for help/advice, if something works for you then do it, if not then don't. Know you can come here to vent to people who will just "get it".

10. Build new habits. I found that working to build new habits, whether it's about what/how you eat, when you test etc. it really works. Once a habit has been established it's hard to break it.

11. Build a relationship with your Doctor, drug store etc, they are all part of team you. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your Doctor. Become the captain of your team, work with your team and draw on their knowledge/experience.

12. When I joined these forums, I was told to remember that "You control your diabetes, it does not control you" - it's true. Don't let it rule your life, there's is no such sentence as "I can't I have diabetes" - you can do what ever you choose to do.

13. Oh yeah, relax

Remember you are not alone. Will you stumble? quiet possibly, most humans do stumble from time to time, the important things is to get back up and start over.

Visit and post often,

[ljjhouser]

Welcome to the forum. Glad you are here. Later, Larry