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[Aurora96]

Hello everyone! My name is CJ and while I'm not new to diabetes, I am new to this forum.

A little about me first - I'm a 43 year old university administrator. I'm married to a wonderfully supportive man (we celebrate our 10th anniversary in September) and we have one daughter who is 6 years old.

I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes days before my 40th birthday. I was put on metformin initially and then amaryl to bring my numbers down. Over the past year, I've tried Januvia (made my blood sugar skyrocket, heart palpitations so bad I couldn't sleep) and Actos (weight gain, constant hunger, joint/muscle pain, lethargy, fatigue). Yesterday I asked my doctor to go on insulin but she wants me to try Byetta first, so, my first dosage of Byetta was yesterday at dinner time.

My A1c is somewhere around 6.9. Right now I'm testing 5 times a day.

It's nice to meet you all!

[princesslinda]

Welcome CJ, glad you found the forums! Lots of great information and support here!

Do you watch your carbs? Did you have any problems with your first dose of Byetta?

[Evermont]

CJ,

http://www.limeylemon.com/images/XWelcometoDF.gif

Sometimes meds are no fun at all!

[Janlaton]

Welcome, CJ. What type exercise do you get? Remember exercise is important to keeping the numbers down!!!! So is discipline the meds can not do the work if we do not watch our food intake as well.:confused:

You will find lots of helpful information here as well as many friends. In about a month I feel I have a second family from around the world.

[Phonelady61]

welcome to the forum . I have learned so much while i have been here . I also have troubles with drs when i told them that i cannot take oral meds cause they all cause me to either vomit or constipated and sometimes drs just dont listen . I guess you have to make them listen .So welcome to the forum . I hope you will jump right in and post . welcome aboard .

[lewsterr]

Welcome, CJ! As you probably have already found out, there are a lot of wonderful people here. You'll be surprised how much you can learn from the experiences of others. Don't hesitate to ask questions and share your own experiences.

[buddy7]

Hey- CJ!!

Good evening and welcome to the DF, you won't regret it, there's loads of information, and a great team of people on here, who are willing to give their support.

B/7 ESSEX UK.

[Aurora96]

Welcome, CJ. What type exercise do you get? Remember exercise is important to keeping the numbers down!!!! So is discipline the meds can not do the work if we do not watch our food intake as well.:confused:

.

Ah yes, exercise. Well, I'm a baby-stepper... I think I'm finally getting a wake-up call and realize that this thing is no joke and I need to grab the reigns. I enjoy walking and love anything water related - I'm a big fan of water aerobics. I also like - don't laugh - bouncing. I got a small exercise trampoline in my bedroom and I love just jumping up and down on it. Gives my legs quite a workout!

Thank you for the welcome!

[princesslinda]

CJ, glad to hear you're tolerating the Byetta well. I had problems with extreme nausea the first 7-10 days, but fortunately it abated.

I can't stress enough how important it is to test regularly, so you'll know how different foods affect your blood sugars and be able to make smarter food choices. We're all different in our carb tolerances, so what works for me may not work for you...but you won't know unless you test.

I, too, was told to eat 45-60/meal....it didn't take many days of eating that way to see that I couldn't do it and get the blood sugars I wanted. You have to find the way of eating that works best for you, giving you the numbers you want.

[Aurora96]

Welcome CJ, glad you found the forums! Lots of great information and support here!

Do you watch your carbs? Did you have any problems with your first dose of Byetta?

Thank you for the welcome!

I met with a diabetes educator several years ago who indicated that I should keep my carbs 45-60 per meal and no more than 25 per snack. I'm starting to think that may be a bit too high and am going to start doing some experimenting. I've never really done much in the way of seeing how my body reacts to different foods. My A1c was always between high 5 and low 6 until this last one, so, it's time to try to get better control.

No issues with my first two doses of Byetta. Slight nausea, odd taste in my mouth and diarrhea - but after being on metformin for 3 years, it's hard to tell if it's met related or caused by the Byetta. ;)

[jacobsam622]

Thank you for the welcome!

I met with a diabetes educator several years ago who indicated that I should keep my carbs 45-60 per meal and no more than 25 per snack. I'm starting to think that may be a bit too high and am going to start doing some experimenting. I've never really done much in the way of seeing how my body reacts to different foods. My A1c was always between high 5 and low 6 until this last one, so, it's time to try to get better control.

No issues with my first two doses of Byetta. Slight nausea, odd taste in my mouth and diarrhea - but after being on metformin for 3 years, it's hard to tell if it's met related or caused by the Byetta. ;)Welcome to the forum I have been on Amaryl or its cheaper cousin for 4 years and one day it just stopped working. The Doctor upped the Amaryl from 1 mg to 6 mgs and its working again. I also take Januvia, my doctor took me off of it but I never stopped taking the pills I had just purchased a ninety day supply and I refuse to waste another bottle of pills. I think Januvia works best if it is taken at lunch time. I have tried taking it at night, in the morning, at dinner at 3:00 I just never seemed to do anything until I tried before lunch. Both Januvia and Byetta are part of the same class of drugs called Incretin Mimetic's they are the latest class of diabetes drugs. It looks like the next class of diabetes drugs will hit the market in 2010.;)Have you gotten in touch with your inner lizard yet.:D The Incretin Mimetic's were derived from lizards.:cool:

[mortis505]

CJ, Welcome to DF!!! The best site on the 'net for diabetes related info and great friends.

[kgm0612]

Hi CJ and Welcome! You'll find nice people and great information here. Don't be afraid to ask questions!

Your already testing 5 times a day and you're getting in some exercise..........so my advice would be to cut back a bit on your carb intake and see if that works for you.

Karen

[Janlaton]

Hey lady, wish my knees would let me bounce again! I really miss doing that but once you have no cartledge in your knee joints it is too painful!:(

Sounds like you have several things you enjoy so be sure to get in 30 to 60 minutes a day to help your body use the calories you eat.

Again welcome to the forum. Have a blessed day.

[tarik1109]

Welcome CJ: I am a cryer but have tried eating just vegetables, it is good.