New to Diabetes Type 2

[chomaee]

Hi Everyone,

I was diagnosed pre-diabetes a couple of months ago. I was prescribed the medicine but I rather try to work thru this by diet and exercise. I use Stevia in my drinks, take vitamin D(1000), and Metamucil if it goes too high. Exercise well haven't started that yet. But since I started on the vitamin D my blood sugar in the mornings are now 117. Where before it was 139. Hope I can learn something from the group and contribute my experiences.

[jenafl]

I am also pretty new to this dx in 9/08.I too take vit.D,but I take D3 2000U/day.It does lots of good things.I also went kicking and screaming into the exersize world,and go figure,,what a differencein my #'s and how I feel.Go ahead get going lol .Great to see you posting.

[slipperyelm]

Hi there. :)

You take Metamucil if what goes too high? Isn't that a fiber product to prevent constipation?

If you are taking it too help get lower blood glucose readings, don't you need to take it with your meals, before your blood glucose level has gone up?

[jdog]

One thing you should consider doing is keeping a record of your BS readings. Hopefully your next A1c will be lower the next time.

jdog

[Delphinus]

Hi Everyone,

I was diagnosed pre-diabetes a couple of months ago. I was prescribed the medicine but I rather try to work thru this by diet and exercise. I use Stevia in my drinks, take vitamin D(1000), and Metamucil if it goes too high. Exercise well haven't started that yet. But since I started on the vitamin D my blood sugar in the mornings are now 117. Where before it was 139. Hope I can learn something from the group and contribute my experiences.

Welcome to the forum.

Both types have their challenges, but to be honest, I admire Type 2's who can manage their diabetes well and keep good numbers.

I am not sure I could do it myself. It takes supreme will power, and setting personal healthy goals typically only using diet, exercise and determination.

Sure, there is a handful of Type 2's who use insulin... But the majority have to really work hard.

For Type 1's, pumps and MDI can be an inconvenience, and time consuming, but they do make managing blood glucose alot easier.

You will learn loads... Diabetic or not, any person, regardless of health, will learn a dozen lifetimes worth of life and health information here.

DF is a support and knowledge goldmine. Get your shovel, and pick,and dig in.

Enjoy!

[knorris]

sometimes I wonder if we arent the fortunate ones. We now have a "reason" to take care of our health instead of coasting along, eating what everyone else does. then ending up with strokes, heart attacks et al and wondering why. If we dont take care of ourself we know why!! Just thinking out writing!!!

[yannah]

the idea is to not have numbers over 140 2 hours post meal or numbers over 100 fasting.

to acheive this you will have to change up types of carbs, limit types of carbs or eliminate them almost altogether.

so you need to be testing.

when are you testing and what is your diet like?

welcome to df and let us know how it is going and post often.

[Josselyn]

Hey, Jenafl. How'd you get your doctor to prescribe phentermine? When I asked my doc for it (I have a LOT to lose), he acted as though I requested cocaine or something...

[GayleM]

Is your doctor educated in diabetes? Only reason I ask is a morning fasting of 139 is unquestionably diabetic...and in another post you said you got to 300 after a "body wrap." (Not sure what that is) 300 anytime is absolutely diabetic - and pretty uncontrolled, too. Not to bash your doc, but if you've read the forums alot (have you posted on the ADA board?) you know those numbers are not even close to "pre."

I totally applaud you for wanting to keep your numbers in check, but could you share your AIC or glucose tolerance test numbers? None you've given her are even close to pre-diabetic, but T2. It's easier to comment more accurately if you are okay sharing more info. And, if you can hit 300 I suspect you have been diabetic for some time.

Are you testing to see what you are at your peak after meals? (not at 2 hours - honestly, normal numbers aren't too hard to reach at that time early in the disease) If you are going over 145 or so at your peak, you are going past was non-diabetics ever do. If you want to aggressively control the disease most of us do not want more than a 30 point swing in our numbers and keep our peaks below the 145 at all times. i.e. in the same range as a non-diabetic.

117 is quite high still for the morning (non-diabetics never go over 100). What are you testing throughout the day? What are you eating? Just adding a sugar substitute won't do anything to control it. You need to limit carbs and exercise (plus lose weight if you need to) Vitamins are often good for general health, but they won't "cure" you or lower your blood sugar. That probably came from what changes you made in sugared drinks.

I am only pushing this because I am a little worried for you....I am concerned you've been labled "pre" by a doc who may not know much about diabetes and given you a false sense of security. There's a reason the doc gave you meds.

Just to be cautious, please re-visit this with your doc. If you haven't had a fasting glucose test (you drinkn glucose and they check you periodically over 2 hours to see how high you go), demand one. Demand an A1C. Those numbers are not reflective of pre (or the early stages of diabetes...I don't believe in pre...like being half preggie :o )

I would bet you are in full blown diabetes. Not to scare you, - even as "pre" it will never go away, you are just in the early stages. But if you are getting that high of BG readings you need to change your eating big time and add exercise and maybe give in to taking meds.

Please share more info on your numbers if you feel comfortable doing so. If not, for your own benefit, test test test, record everything you eat and how much and see how the food is affecting you. And do test to find your peak as that is the only way you will know how much your food choices affect you. Share as much detail as you want - heck, a whole week's menu if you like!:) along with corresponding readings, of course :D

I admit I am concerned that you are maybe not sure what to do yet to try and manage your diabetes through diet and exercise....we're happy to help, but we need more info.


Take care!

[Josselyn]

Hi Everyone,

I was diagnosed pre-diabetes a couple of months ago. I was prescribed the medicine but I rather try to work thru this by diet and exercise. I use Stevia in my drinks, take vitamin D(1000), and Metamucil if it goes too high. Exercise well haven't started that yet. But since I started on the vitamin D my blood sugar in the mornings are now 117. Where before it was 139. Hope I can learn something from the group and contribute my experiences.
Welcome; I'm fairly new here. You will learn quite a lot from the great folks on this site. Like you, I'm toughing this one out with diet, and to a lesser degree due to a recent injury, excercise (walking and dancing)...until it makes more sense TO ME to go on Metformin.

Keep me/us posted on your numbers and progress.

BTW, how does Metamucil affect blood glucose???
All the best.

[Josselyn]

Hi Everyone,

I was diagnosed pre-diabetes a couple of months ago. I was prescribed the medicine but I rather try to work thru this by diet and exercise. I use Stevia in my drinks, take vitamin D(1000), and Metamucil if it goes too high. Exercise well haven't started that yet. But since I started on the vitamin D my blood sugar in the mornings are now 117. Where before it was 139. Hope I can learn something from the group and contribute my experiences.
In reading GayleM's post to you, I've only just realized that you see yourself as pre-diabetic. So did I, and with your same numbers (or better). BUT I am diagnosed as a Type 2...and it's been tough to accept it.

GayleM is right. Have the tests done. At least know what you're working with.

[GayleM]

Hey, Josselyn!

I think some folks try to use Metamucil when they eat to slow the absorbtion of the carbs, which in theory would keep them from spiking as high since the conversion of carbs to glucose would be spread out over a longer time.

I suppose in large enough amounts it may have some impact, try googling it. I'm guessing that just drinking it doesn't have the same impact as fiber added directly to the composition of a food product. Like Dreamfield's pasta where the pasta is chemically altered to have that protective barrier on it.

Vitamin D is another unknown. There is nothing definite in on that yet, just another one of those things where in a study some people had an interesting result. (like the cinnamon and vinegar things) Can't hurt as long as you keep the IU's at a reasonable level. If you take large amounts over a long period of time it can be toxic as it is stored in your fat cells.

For me only, I guess the upshot of both of these are if they really were the answer those results would be all over the news :o Sadly, there isn't alot of INDEPENDENT research out there on these things. I don't trust studies done by entities that have a monetary interest in the outcome ;) There are interesting sprinklings of info on all these things, but no science to back it up as of now.

How are you doing? I hope things are getting a little easier for you now.

Take care!

[jenafl]

Hey, Jenafl. How'd you get your doctor to prescribe phentermine? When I asked my doc for it (I have a LOT to lose), he acted as though I requested cocaine or something...

On my third visit,and a good one at that,numbers and weight down.I asked what I could do to help with the pretty tough hunger pangs mid to late afternoon.He said here ya go.This should help.I take it ( 1 ) just after lunch,and it really does help.I'm not so hungry by 5 or 6 to blow the carb limits,and as a nice perk...I have the energy to still get in 6miles on the stationary recumbent and hit the heavy bag a bit.It really helped me hit the 100lb lost mark last wekk!!! (Whoo-hoo).I see him again on Weds.Can't wait to see my #.Ask you DR again...I don't think it is that hard of a drug..Good luck!

[cgphilly]

I am new DX (may) and I took a different approach. My MD wanted to put me on Metformin 500 x1 a day and I went along with it on the condition that if I worked hard and ate better and lost weight, he would agree to have me off of it
As far as numbers go, My FBS in May was 124 A1c 7.1 which is diabetic numbers but I also was on a statin which may or may not have contributed to the numbers (there is some evidence of spiking). A reading of 124 still had my MD saying Diabetes(yours were 139). As others have asked not sure why the Metamucil but when i changed my diet I hardly needed that since the foods I'm eating keep me regular and I wouldn't take it to slow down carbs because it's cheating in my Opinion. I do low carb, not as low as some on here but under 100 G a day which is more than enough. My waking BS is usually 100-120 with an occasionally higher reading maybe 130 but once I eat and throughout the day up until bed my readings (including 2 hour PPG) are always usually 120 or under. My numbers were higher before change in diet and a lot of exercise. Besides better numbers I just plain feel better. My numbers probably still indicate A DX of Diabetes but depends on what source you consult (AdA, AACE, other sources) As others have said we can say Pre now but I too am also having a hard time coming to grips with my DX and I am also waiting to do a GTT for another 2 months when my next set of labs get done if they do not show MAJOR improvement. Good luck either way

[GayleM]

HUGE congrats on your weight loss, Jenafl!! BRAVO!!!

The drug you are using is recommended only for 12 weeks or so by the FDA. It can be addictive and does have withdrawl symptoms. As you come to the end of your use of it, I'm sure your doc will talk to you about weaning off of it so you can avoid some or all of the withdrawl symptoms.

I'm sure your doc hasn't had you on it that long, so that is just FYI.

Anyway, if you are taking it to curb hunger pangs in the afternoon you can (and probably should) have a snack instead. A snack in the afternoon - if it is not too high carb - works really well in helping you keep your BG steady. I can tolerate a small apple at snack time.

As you wean off the phentermine experiment with other snacks that ward off hunger pangs. Your loss achievement is FABULOUS and since phentermine is for short term use only, have some fun experimenting with snacks that will do the same thing only naturally and without raising your BG beyond your limit goals.

Take care!

[Pacman77]

I have just been diagnosed with type 2 and now off to docs to get my box of goodies to deal with it,a bit scary at first but getting to grips with it now it is good to read of others who have been down this road already.