My first time here

[Elmsted]

I found out Wed. that I have Type 2 diabetes. My blood sugar is still at 342 this am despite taking Actoplusmet for 2 days. I don't know anything about this & so ar surfing the net has brought no answer to questions like when does the damage to organs begin? How long does the medication take to stabalize blood sugar? My eyes are already showing evidence of damage. I am 51 & just married last Nov. to a wonderful man so I need to get this straight. Does anyone use any types of natural treatments? I know I'm jumping around a lot but this has kind of overwhelmed me. My mind is fuzzy too. Is this normal? WHat do you guys drink? I refuse to use sugar substitute so is there anything else? Amy help would be welcomed. Thanks.

[xMenace]

Welcome.

Natural remedies are abound, but none are 'proven' to work. I won't say you won't find something that will help you, just don't bank on it. We all know our bodies are very complex and often behave differently from each other. You should really follow the meds your doctor prescribes.

You can still eat anything, yes even type 2's can. But you can't eat everything. Moderation is the key. Move towards a more high fibre low wer carb diet, get more exercise, lose some weight ... get healthier, but still induldge when you need to. Many of us found that improving our diets actually decreased our desire for sugar. I never use substitutes, except for sodas, but I hardly ever use sugar either.

[Penny]

Hi Elmsted and welcome. I drink a lot of water, but also have iced tea. Some people can drink it without sweetener, but I am not one of them. I use my sweetener (which ever brand is the cheapest..I don't see much difference in the taste) for a few other things. I sprinkle it on toast and add cinnamon, or sprinkle it on my sweet potato with butter and cinnamon. Cinnamon and sweet potates have been discussed on this forum as natural ways to lower BS, as has vinegar....I have been experimenting with this with good results, but it taste so bad. I thought insulin was natural, but I cannot manage my diabetes without it. I resisted medication of any kind for a long time, I was 51, when I had the first heart attack. I don't know if diabetes caused that, but I often wonder if I had tried to get control much earlier, if I could have avoided it. Listen to your doctor, but do a lot of testing and experimenting on your own. See what works for you, as we all seem to be different. The blurry eyes will get better with control, and seems like it helps with the foggy thinking, too.

[spirosway]

Hi!!!forget natutal treatment and go to doctor to give medication....if you listen you doctor your bg may stable forever,offcourse i you eat healthy!!!

[CaptainMike]

It can take as long as several weeks for your medications to work up to full effect. The question of when does organ damage start is a very tricky one, lots of people will tell you that a BG (Blood Glucose) level above the 'diabetic' diagnosis range of 126 will eventually result in damage over the long term. But it is one of those things with a whole lot of individual variability.

Best of luck, keep learning, don't get discouraged!!
Mike

[notme]

Hi Elmsted and welcome to the forums.

I think everyones head was swimming on diagnosis and this is a normal response to any large life change. I think it is important that you see a nutritionist to help you understand what you can and can not eat. Sugar substitute can take some time to get used to, but once you have stuck with it, there is no going back to the real sugar. It taste as bad as sugar substitute tastes to you now. You must make changes if you are going to get healthy and saying you "refuse" is probably not a good start. I would say give it a try for awhile and see if you can adjust. I said the same thing about "nonfat" milk, but found that I needed to adjust.

I know this is a big life turning event for you. I am sure it is frustrating and a bit overwhelming. Read the gylcemic index on the internet. This will help you make good food and drink choices. Read the boards here and you will find tons of information.

Good luck to you and hang in there. Life will get back to a "new" normal and a more healthy one. Glad you found us and decided to join in.

[shockme]

welcome elmstead!actoplus met is 2 meds-actos and metformin.actos can take 6-8 weeks to work...so please be patient!i take it plus insulin.i know it's early,but has your dr suggested insulin?my control is sooooo much better since i started insulin!have you met with a dietician yet?take care,trish

[kgm0612]

HI & Welcome to the forum. Nice people & a ton of information to be found here.

Karen