New to type II, any natural paths out there?

[tkl]

HI,
My husband was just diagnosed with type II this past week. A total surprise since I work for a natural path and the fact that he has lost 40 pounds over the last two years. We both feel better and look better than we have in years and this is a shocker. He is in the 250-320 range with sugars and 10.5 on the AI scale.
We eat very clean - no sugars and exercise seems to be the only thing that brings the numbers down.

I am in the process of gaining new information and hoping to cure him the natural way - even though Docs want to start janumet right away.

If anyone out there is into natural vs prescription, I'd love your advice - trace

[Patient254]

It's important to get those numbers down. I don't know of anything, if the exercise doesn't bring him down - those numbers are too high to exercise, I believe.

[princesslinda]

Welcome tcl, glad you found the forums. You will find many here who are able to successfully control their blood sugars with diet/exercise alone; however, sustained elevated blood sugars as high as your husband is having can lead to all kinds of complications. Do whatever it takes to get better numbers. If he can control them w/o meds great, but if not, it might be a good idea to use the meds to get things under control, then look to a different approach after the numbers normalize.

You mention not eating sugars...how about carbs? Foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta, bread can cause blood sugar to be elevated.

Also, you mention "curing" him the natural way...there is no cure for diabetes, one a T2, always a T2. To be totally cured would be to have the option of eating anything without elevated blood sugars. He may become diet-controlled, but unfortuantely he will not be cured. He can however minimize his risks of complications and lead a long and healthy life with diabetes.

It's great that you both are so health-conscious. Diet and exercise does help in getting better blood sugar numbers, though exercising with blood sugars near the 300's is not recommended.

Hope you post often, there's lots of good information to be found here.

[riosmom]

Hi, I really don't have anything to offer as far as advice, but I just wanted to say, that this forum is WONDERFUL! A true G*d send. My husband was diagnosed about 6 weeks, and I found this forum, scared and confused. The kind, compassionate, and incredibly knowlegeable people here, have helped me, and perhaps even saved my sanity, more than once. I feel among friends here. You will too.

[fgummett]

What is a "natural path", do you mean Naturopath..? :confused:

[Evermont]

I'm one of those diet-&-exercise only types. I've learned a lot, much of it here on this forum, so now I know how to do it. I started right out trying for control through diet and exercise so I've never taken any meds for diabetes. Yet. I started at A1c 8.8 with about 40 extra pounds around the middle. Slowly losing weight is helping me get better control. If I had no weight to lose - I would not be getting as much improvement. Tricky huh?

I agree with pretty much everything the others have said already. No cure. Don't exercise with BG over 250. Reduce the high glycemic carbs (bread, pasta, rice). We'll get to the alternatives later. ;)

I'm a little curious about the dynamic between you and your T2 husband. Is he as motivated as you are? Would he scarf a bag of cookies when you're not looking? Are you working on this as a team, or are you driving and he's some kind of passenger on this journey? Why is he not the one chatting with us here on DF? Could you invite him to join us as well? We're glad to have you here too, and your support is important, but I want to talk to the diabetic.

If I were in his shoes, I would consider going straight to insulin. Insulin is natural. Think about that.

It's not surprising that his Dx caught you off guard. People do have an image of the typical T2 - overweight sugar muncher holding down the couch. Obviously this is not always the case. The top risk factor is genetic. That means sometimes it just happens regardless of what you do with lifestyle.

So study up starting here on DF. Get those numbers down with more scrutiny on carbs. Exercise when lower than 250 only. If this doesn't work, talk to doc about insulin - or other meds.

[Patient254]

(snip)
If I were in his shoes, I would consider going straight to insulin. Insulin is natural. Think about that. (snip)

Exactly what I was going to say

[orpy]

I only wish that I'd done the insulin from the beginning! They will try all sorts of stuff for some strange reason instead of prescribing insulin...insulin would be a good start although it doesn't take the place of decent low carb eating.

[mazea]

Welcome to the forums. You will find lots of helpful threads here.There is damage when the blood glucose level 8 /144 for long periods of time. I agree w people above that if you can't keep the blood sugar levels stable it is time to see the doctor. A HBAC1 of 10 is going to cause long term damage.

no sugars and exercise seems to be the only thing that brings the numbers down.
I'm a bit curious about your reasoning no sugar keeps blood sugar down. This isn't true. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate. 15g carbohydrate in sugar (about 16g) will bring the blood sugar level up to the same level as 81g of bannanna( 15g carbohydrate). The sugar being a high glaecemic food is broken down easily and makes this rise in blood sugar happen quicker over 1/2 an hour rather which is why sugar is a high glaecemic index food. They both in the end put the blood sugar up and it is the total carbohydrates that count.

On the nutrition labels the carbohydrate total includes sugar.

[Keezheekoni]

What is a "natural path", do you mean Naturopath..? :confused:
Exactly what I was thinking... especially if you work for a Naturopath, you'd think you'd know the correct term.

But anyway, your hubby needs to be on insulin. He may be able to cut down on carbs and get lucky with the pills for T2, but I don't think you're ever going to find a natural cure for it.