New to forum

[suzzannec]

Hi my name is Suzzanne and i am new to this forum. I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. i am not on any meds ...yet. i have an appointment with an endocronogist on monday. Both my parents have type 2 diabetes as do my 2 brothers and my sister. My sister is diet controlled and the boys and my dad are on meds. My mother is now on insulin. Because my sugars have been high, i will most likely be on pills too.
Does anyone ever get bad pains in the stomach?

[UpNorth]

Welcome to the forums :)

[matingara]

Hi! i used to get bad stomach pains. turned out to be pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

this was likely to have been caused by out of control blood sugars.

but there are many causes of stomach pains - just relating what happened to me.

welcome!

-- Joel.

[mzteacher]

hi suzzane...welcome to the forum....sorry about your diagnosis...but you landed in a fabulous place....i hope you enjoy it here as much as i have!
susan

[Jan B]

Glad to have you on board Suzzanne,

In your family, diabetes sure loves company doesn't it! Welcome :wavey:

[Kim_in_TN]

Welcome! Talk to your doctor about the stomach pains. It might be related to something in your diet!

[princesslinda]

Hi Suzzane, welcome to the forums! Let us know how your doctor appointment goes. Not sure what to tell you about your stomach pains. I'd make sure to mention them to your doctor, so they can r/o potential problems.

[kgm0612]

HI & Welcome. Glad you found us!

Karen

[morrisma]

Welcome to the club. Sounds like you should invite the whole family in to our forum. Genetics rears it's ugly head yet again.

Stomach pain is so general and could be caused by so many things - most transient and easy to fix, others more serious - it makes sense to have a pro look at them and help you figure it out.
Mike

[pixiefae]

hi and welcome...

i have tummy pains too the GP has put down IBS :(

[Jill-O]

Hi and welcome here from Virginia http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys-91853/aiw/bye.gif

You will find lots of nice people and good advice here http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys-91853/aiw/yes.gif

[suzzannec]

I was diagnosed with IBS about 20 yrs ago, but this is not the same type of pain.

you have horses! i love horses, even the minature ones. When my dad and step mom divorced she got custody of one horse (they had no children together) i used to go up and ride. He was put down several yrs ago. I miss riding him.

[notme]

Welcome to Diabetes Forums. Glad you found us and joined in!

[Jill-O]

http://www.whinny4me.com/Smileys/happy0064.gif

I love horses too http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys-91853/aiw/smile.gif Most of mine are minis, but I have one full size riding horse. I had two, but had to put the other one down last summer (elderly). He was my first horse http://www.whinny4me.com/Smileys/love0034.gif

[suzzannec]

I am going to have a total knee replacement next month. i would like to know if anyone with type 2 diabetes has undergone surgery and did you have any problems because of the diabetes?

[xMenace]

Sounds like high BGs for sure. The mental and physical stress will likely screw things up enough, but knee surgery sounds like it might need steroids. Steroids and BGs don't mix well at all. Discuss a planned care routine of your sugars with your doctors.

[suzzannec]

i had my appointment with the diabetic dr yesterday, i have to test my bs twice daily. once before breakfast and once before dinner. He also put me on metformin 500 mg, one tab with dinner for a week and then one with breakfast and one with dinner. I am also to take 1 cap of gen- fenofibrate micro 200 mg for cholesterol. plus i have to attend a diabetes education class. My doctor is going to try and arrange this when i am in the hospital for my knee surgery. so this morning was my first testing of bs, it took me an hour to get up the nerve to do it. i know it really doesn't hurt all that much, it's just the thought of inflicting any amount of pain on my self. Any suggestions on how to overcome this?

[princesslinda]

Any suggestions on how to overcome this?

The best way is to "just do it." This is a part of your life now, one that's not going away, so you just have to set your mind to it and "just do it." I'm not meaning to sound harsh, I do remember how hard it was to stick myself...but, speaking as someone who has tested 4-5 times a day for the last 18 months, you'll get used to it and think nothing of it. It will become as natural to you as brushing your teeth.

I would encourage you to test more than twice daily, esp here at first. If you test 2 hrs after your FIRST BITE of food, you'll learn which foods cause your blood sugars to elevate and be able to make smarter food choices. I kept a journal the first month or two after diagnosis, listing everything I put in my mouth and corresponding blood sugars. Before too long, I had a lot of foods I knew were blood sugar friendly. Be very careful with your carbs, esp. potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.

With metformin, you will have to really watch your diet to keep you numbers in check, as it doesn't lower your numbers as significantly as some of the other meds do, rather it helps your body better utilize the insulin you are making. Regular exercise will also be very helpful.

Hang in there....the first few months are the hardest...you'll do fine!

[morrisma]

Suz,
I have a meter that encourages me to test on my forearm which, for the 5 years I've been doing it, is virtually painless. (It also doesn't interfere with my guitar playing.;) ) I'd look into that as an alternative to finger sticks which can sting.

A buddy of mine had 2 knees done but not at the same time. They did one and waited to see if he'd really need the second one. A year later he did that one too. He's got Type 2 and I don't remember him having any issues at the time although he's pretty relaxed about his very mild (so far) diabetic condition.

Hope your surgery goes well.
Mike

[artlizard]

Welcome to the forums! Just make sure your surgeon knows you are diabetic. I hope you 1) don't have problems with Metformin, it can be a devil! 2) are used to Metformin before the knee surgery!

Good luck!

[suzzannec]

I went to see the endocronolgist monday, He put me on medicationd for cholesterol and metformin for the diabetes. i have to check my blood twice a day. yesterday morning it was 17.2 , before dinner it said it was too high and couldn't read. this morning it was 16.9 still high but lower than yesterday. my biggest problem is getting up the nerve to poke my self. i also have to see a diabetic educator. my dr is going to try and set it while i am in rehab after surgery next month.

[princesslinda]

Your numbers are WAY TOO HIGH. I wouldn't want to have surgery with them that high, as there may be problems with healing. If they stay this high, i'm betting they will put you on insulin at the time of your surgery...though they may not even DO your surgery with #s that high (since its not an emergency situation...our docs won't operate on anyone with #s that high unless its a true emergency, and then they are usually put on insulin before the surgery by their primary physician).

Are you watching the amount of carbs you are eating? If your #s are that high BEFORE your meals, you should definitely check 2 hrs after your first bite so you'll know what to eat to keep your blood sugars from rising any further.

It can take metformin up to 3 weeks to reach optimal levels, but you don't want to go 3 more weeks with numbers that high.

[suzzannec]

I am having a hard time figuring out how to use this forum, i know i have asked some questions, but don't know how to find them again to check answers, especially if i haven't been on for a couple of days. i did post somewhere about my doctors' appointment. but i will do it again.

I went to the endocrinologist on feb 11. he said i am to check my sugars twice a day....before breakfast and before dinner. this in itself is not easy for me, it has taken me quite a while to get up the nerve to do it. i just get seem to inflict pain on myself, even though it really isn't bad.
i am also on a medication for cholesterol that i have to take with my dinner.
i am now on metformin, 500mg twice a day (with breakfast and with dinner) i started off with 1 tab a day for a week and now have to take 2 tabs a day. My sugars have been high, the lowest was 10.9, My sister said to have a snack at bedtime and it should lower the morning reading. and i don't always have 3 meals a day, and was told to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, so i have alot of adjusting to do. tonight at dinner it was 13.9 which was lower than this morning.(i had lunch today) so i hope it will go lower.
I also have to go to a diabetic educator, my dr is going to set this up while i am at rehab after my knee surgery next month (there is a clinic at the rehab hospital)

[suzzannec]

I just wrote a reply about not knowing how to find responses to my questions and then when i posted it, there were my responses, i am so computer iliterate. If my #'s don't get lower, they will postpone my surgery i think. it was 13.9 at dinner, not great but lower.

[suzzannec]

the funny thing is that is exactly what i tell myself...."Just do it"
I am soaking my fingers in warm water before sticking myself and letting my hand hang low befoe sticking it. i am not taking as long these last couple of days. friday we had pizza and by the time i stuck myself, it was cold. also i haven't been eating right either, i would not eat 3 meals a day, today i did and the dinner testing was 13.9

[matingara]

i find the site that is the most painless and always gets a good droplet is either side of the tip of my pinkie finger.

i don't even think twice before i do it.

what is your carbohydrate intake like?

-- Joel.

[princesslinda]

....friday we had pizza ....

Pizza is something many of us have problems managing. While your #s are still so high, i'd encourage you to cut WAY back on your carbs. Eat lots of salads, lean proteins, green veggies.

It may take your metformin 2-3 weeks to reach optimal results, but on metformin, you'll STILL have to watch your carb intake to keep your blood sugars in check.

Its difficult making a lot of changes all at once..I know, i've been there. Its scary to be diagnosed and even scarier when those numbers just aren't coming down like you'd like them to...and its scary when you first starting sticking your finger regularly...but I PROMISE...it does get easier as time goes by....AND you will not believe how much better you will feel when your numbers normalize.

[suzzannec]

I am starting to watch the amount of carbs i injest. yesterday, my daughter and i went to the store and everything i bought i checked sugar content and carbs. i have switched from haveing toast in the morning (2-4 slices) to a small bowl of cereal, less carbs and i have milk, which i don't usually have.
pizza isn't very often, so it won't be hard to cut that out.
last night as i was getting ready to test, i put the lancet in the tester and went to put the cap back on and it slipped and i ended up jabbing myself..........ouch, but at least i got a sample. the reading was 11.7, still not ideal, but lower than most readings. this morning it took 3 attempts to get a sample big enough to test, this after soaking fingers in warm water and letting them hang down, the reading was 14.9 not happy with this but it's the second lowest reading for the morning, so i am hoping to keep it going lower.

[princesslinda]

I'm not sure what type lancer you are using, but it should have a "depth selector" you can turn in one direction or the other to make it go deeper or less deep. I set my one-touch lancer on the 2nd setting and I don't have difficulty. If your fingers are calloused, you may need a deeper setting. I know of some who don't even use a lancer, just holding the lancet and sticking their fingers. This might work for you as well. You definitely shouldn't be having to try 3 times before getting an adequate amount of blood!

Also, not sure what meter you're using, but the newer ones use lots smaller samples of blood.

As for your breakfast, with your morning #s as high as they are, it might be best if you ate a VERY low carb breakfast instead of cereal (many of which are pretty high carb) and milk (which contains lactose...and can raise blood sugars). Try having eggs (boiled, scrambled, omelette) and see how that works for you. I know this keeps me full much longer than a small bowl of cereal would.

[suzzannec]

Just wanted you to know, that my readings are getting lower, i actually had one that was 7.9 , still a bit high but it is getting lower. today it was higher 11.3 at breakfast and dinner. i am trying to watch what i eat, but have slipped up a couple of times (due to stress....comfort food) I am using a depth of 4, but sometimes i have to go as high as 6. I am trying to soak the fingers first, doesn't work so great except for the pinkie and ring fingers. unfortunately it still isn't so easy for me to test, but it doesn't always take so long to do.
eggs upset my stomach. but i may try and have some for breakfast sometime. thanks. I am reading a book called Diabetes for Canadians for Dummies, its' very interesting, i haven't got to what to eat yet. i may get another that i saw that is all about what to eat.