38 Yrs. Old. Just Found Out. Devastated. Help.

[SCAPER]

I don't know that anyone wants to hear me whine. I just don't want to talk about this with friends or family right now. So I found this forum looking for a little solace.

It all started when I Went to the Urgent Care Dr. yesterday because of high blood pressure. Dr. confirmed what I already thought - my blood pressure is much too high. Stage 2 high blood pressure. 185/125 is a usual score for me. Put me on meds right away and set me up with a longer appointment with family Dr. next week for a physical and more exams/tests.

I was fairly devastated. I guess I've been in denial for a while. I'm only 38 and overweight, sure. But I'm not that huge. But I do have a lot of stress (President and owner of a small co. with 16 employees, work lots of hours, 3 kids, etc.) I have been regularly enjoying an energy drink every morning and a fair amount of caffeine throughout the rest of the day. I overdue it on salt. I generally overeat a little and too late at night. And I don't get much aerobic exercise. So it shouldn't come as a surprise but I guess I still thought I had my youth on my side.

It was just the knowledge that now I am going to have to radically change my diet, exercise habits, and lifestyle - or else be risking my life - that got me rather depressed.

Then today the big bomb dropped and took me further into depression. The Dr. called back and had my blood test results. The bad news was that my blood sugar was 300. I had just eaten lunch 60-90 minutes prior. But still, she explained, 300 is bad. Diabetic bad.

This has really hit me hard. For years and years I've tried to avoid sugars as much as I could. I always drink diet soda or water products. I don't really eat cake or donuts or those kind of sweets except on rare occasion. I avoid candy. I try to resist my biggest tempation; ice cream and limit that to only a few times each week. I generally avoid sweets - always because I specifically didn't want to ever have diabetes.

And now, despite all my best efforts, it looks like I may have a full blown case of it. I guess I'll know more next week after more thorough tests.

So - long story, I know. Sorry. Bear with me.

So in addition to being devastated emotionally, I am just frustrated. I feel like I can't hardly eat anything. With the high blood pressure I am sure they're going to tell me to avoid caffeine, salt, fats, red meats, alcohol, fried food, fast food, butter, eggs, anything with cheese, etc.

Then with the addition of diabetes I am sure I'm going to be told to avoid all sugars and sweets, all complex carbs, starches, juice, etc. And do I need to avoid fruits too? I am sure they have a decent amount of sugar, don't they?

So now for the rest of my life it's leafy greens, white meets, salads, beans, and maybe milk? WTF? I'd almost rather die than have to give up all the good stuff in life. Almost.

It's just depressing to know that from now on my life has to radically change or else I am seriously going to be risking my life. And risking my life is not acceptable. I got 3 young kids, a wife, 16 employees, and a growing business counting on me to stay healthy and provide for them.

Is there any chance I could reverse all this through diet and exercise and get back to a point where I don't have to take so many drugs and avoid everything good? Or am I just screwed and "welcome to the life" ?

I would love some encouragement...

:(

[Moonglo]

Welcome to the club you never wanted to join. The good news is that you're in great company.

I think we've all felt just like you did at one point. I know when I was diagnosed about 2 1/2 months ago, I thought my life was over. That turned out to absolutely not be the case. I have lost about 18 pounds, and until I got sick with the flu 2 weeks ago, I was feeling fantastic and getting compliments daily about how obvious it was that I was slimming down.

You asked if you could ever get off the meds with diet and exercise... more than likely, the answer is absolutely! But it's going to take some determination on your part. And once you get your bg under control, you'll even be able to enjoy small amounts of the foods that your normally ate pre-diagnosis... in moderation. So try to not grieve for them too much. They are not loved ones that you will never see again, just loved ones who need to go on a long vacation.

I find that I have the best success when I don't look at it as changing my whole lifestyle, but rather working the healthier details, like exercise, into what I already do. Otherwise I would give up.

Keep your chin up, and keep going. It does get easier.

[Granny Shanny]

Well Scaper . . . Moonglo said it all - welcome to the club you never wanted to join. And welcome to the forum where you'll find most of the knowledge you'll need to battle the " beast". Most of us here have learned more from each other than any of us ever learned from our docs, or dieticians or other professionals. It's just as simple as walking in the same shoes - unless your doc has diabetes too, he really doesn't "get" what you're living with.

Take a deep breath. It seems like the end of the world today, but it isn't. Don't beat yourself up. You didn't cause this. There are risk factors, obviously, that some of us pushed the envelope a little farther than others, but in the final analysis, we did NOT cause it. And you DO have youth on your side! And you aren't whining! You're venting! :D

First you need a glucose meter, and those are available at any drugstore, Walmart, etc., etc. Check your insurance to know what they cover, because the testing strips are what starts counting up.

For now just avoid eating the "white" foods: anything with sugar and/or white flour, all the bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc. You aren't doomed to a life of rabbit food. Actually, just getting your blood sugar under control may be good for your blood pressure too; it has been for mine. Meat, fish, eggs, cheese . . . all are good diabetes-friendly foods, and protein like this fills you up & sticks to your ribs a lot longer than carby foods like bread.

As you surf around the forum, you'll notice it takes a lot of different methods for a lot of different people. There's never any "one-size-fits-all" with diabetes. Keep us posted and don't hesitate to post your questions & comments . . . this forum is what keeps some of us sane, when we really don't want to burden family members with it.

You'll wade into this & prevail, just like all the rest of us, because as you've already said, giving up is not an option.

[jps]

I understand the way you are feeling. We've all been there. It's tough to take, but you can at least take comfort in knowing that this is a disease that you have control over. You really do. Making up your mind to do something about it is the hardest part. Once you do that, don't turn back, do everything you need to do.

I can't eat as freely as I used to eat. I'm not denying that at all. However, I am still able to enjoy plenty of foods. The key is finding out which ones don't hurt me.

Some people stay in denial and end up suffering needlessly. Others do something about it. I'm one of the latter people. I took the news hard, but I hit back even harder. And because of that, I can say in all honesty, the diagnosis of T2 diabetes was actually one of the best things that has happened to me in the last 20 years. I got control of diabetes, at least for now, and in the process, I gained complete control over my life. I'm unrecognizable now. And I feel amazingly well. I never realized just how poorly I was feeling until I started feeling better.

My advice is to learn as much as you can about this and be vigilant. You CAN do this. It's mind over matter.

There are alot of varying opinions here, but alot of good advice. You'll soon learn that how our bodies process food is a bit different for all T2's. You need to hone in on what works for you and stick with it. This IS NOT a death sentence. It's manageable. You may not be able to see it at this point, but there is a beautiful silver lining if you remain focused.

[gingercake]

I was also diagnosed this year, at age 38. It totally blew my mind, and I was so depressed/angry/frustrated/scared...everything that you're feeling. (I had high bp too - not as high as yours, but high enough.) Personally, I think mourning is a natural and important part of the process because you are saying goodbye to the you that you were before you were diagnosed.

Because I was scared and wanted to get those numbers down, I initially went pretty low carb and tried to walk or work out about an hour a day 5 or 6 times a week. After a few weeks of being pretty low carb, I started doing more "careful carbs," and the biggest thing I avoided was stuff made with white flour. That is still my biggest enemy.

Anyway, I have been FAR from perfect, and four months after diagnoses my A1C went from 10.2 (by blood glucose test was 352) to 5.7 and my blood pressure is normal. Regular exercise, careful carbs, and overall trying to eat intuitively and balance protein and carb intake, and watch portions. (Also I take 1500 mg metformin.) Right now I'm traveling and it's a pain and my numbers have been running high, but I know when I get home I'll get back into a good routine.

This is life now...there are ups and there are downs. You have to figure out how to live in the present and also be thinking about your long-term health and happiness. Every day presents a bunch of choices, and sometimes you'll make great choices, sometimes you'll make ok choices, and sometimes you'll make baaad choices.

One thing I'll tell you that lots of people here will agree with: most doctors don't know doo-doo about nutrition and diabetes. You'll check out 10 books from the library and find 10 different opinions. Your doctor might tell you one thing and your nutritionist another. It's all totally confusing and annoying.

I can only speak for me, everyone's body is different!! But, just to potentially encourage you: my diet is heavy in eggs and I don't try to limit animal and dairy fat too much, and I have good cholesterol and blood fats. Lots of people here would say the same. The things I'm really careful about are the white flour stuff, and processed stuff (which I've always avoided anyway).

So I eat a varied diet - eggs (like almost every day), chicken, fish, beef now and then (I get local grass fed). Over the summer I usually eat way less animal protein just because. I use olive oil, canola oil, and real butter. I use real half and half in my coffee but I've cut way down on caffeine - one or two cups is plenty, where I used to do 3 or 4. If I want a sandwich I'll have half a sandwich with 1 slice of an all-whole-grain or really high fiber bread instead of a whole sandwich on regular bread. If I order breakfast out I eat about 1/4 of the potatoes instead of cleaning the plate. I do eat a lot of protein/vegetable meals with no carbs and really, you learn to enjoy those meals and - as long as you're not sitting there thinking, "This is all I can eat the rest of my life." Plus, if you eat that way whenever you can control exactly what you're eating, you don't panic so much when you're in a social situation and can't be perfect. When eating out with friends, I think I have sampled every Cobb salad in town. I eat beans and some brown rice, I eat whole wheat pasta now and then. I eat berries and apples, almonds, peanut butter. I've eaten just about everything at least once since diagnosis... A few times when I've really, really wanted it, I've had a scoop of really good ice cream. A square of dark chocolate has been a good regular treat for me. You learn to figure out what's worth it, and how satisfying even a small treat can be. You learn that tastes are as good as a serving. If you'd told me this a year ago, I'd laugh, but I've learned that 3 french fries really are as good as 30 and you don't feel like **** after.

You learn a lot about yourself and just how adaptable and strong you are! And sometimes you'll still get pissed off with those WTF feelings and frustrations, but you learn how to deal with those, too, and you'll develop various approaches and tools that will work in various situations. You might come here on a bad day to the forums and get encouragement, of you might get frustrated when you read about someone who can eat a waffle and not get a spike, while 1/2 tsp. of sugar in your salad dressing raises your numbers, or whatever the thing is. Our bodies aren't machines so they all act differently, but there are some general truths that seem to be the same for everyone and you'll figure those out.

Anyway, this response is probably wayyyyy too long! But I hear your anger and frustration and SO REMEMBER feeling that way, and I still feel that way sometimes. It's a journey, a process, a roller-coaster...it's life!

[Granny Shanny]

Good post, gingercakes, and I particularly like your description "careful carbs". So very apt!

[SCAPER]

Thanks very much Ginger. And thanks to everyone who has replied. I am still so angry and depressed that I don't even know what to do. I hope I can overcome the anger and feelings of hopelessness soon. This is so unlike me.

Anyway, one of my biggest frustrations is what to eat! I have barely eaten a thing all day. I work out of my truck all day and can't ever go home. I don't have the time for sit-down restaurants. So what the heck can I eat that won't raise my BG and also my BP (Blood Pressure).

I am familiar with low-carb. Did Atkins years ago for almost 2 years. But back then I ate a lot of red meats, eggs, cheese, etc. I can't eat any of that now because that all would elevate my BP too much. I can't eat fruits because that would elevate my BG too much. I can't eat carbs.

So what the heck can I eat? Salads, egg whites and fish??? WTF man! I can't find that stuff at 7-11 or any fast food place. I could get salads at some fast food places. But dang. How many salads can you eat before you just go crazy? I hate salad! I guess I could buy a few chicken breast burgers and just eat the chicken. But how annoying is that???? I guess maybe I could drop in a 7-11 and find a few hard boiled eggs and just eat the whites but again, how frustrating is that?

I'm freakin' hungry and don't have any time to go home or to a real restaurant. Can anyone tell me something I can make a lunch out of that is available quickly somewhere on the road? It's almost 2:00 here and all I've had all day was a very small piece of this health bread made out of rye and nuts and stuff. Low carb, nasty dense bread with a little fake butter on it. I'm starving over here but too freaked out to eat anything.

[princesslinda]

Welcome SCAPER! Glad you found the forums. As you can see from the replies you've already received, it's a great place for encouragement and support.

Keep in mind that all of us have been just where you are now...and we're proof that life does go on, and that with a little practice, your diabetes will become just another chapter in your life story. If you read many of the posts here, you'll see that most of us are managing quite well. It's a balancing act, one that does get easier as time passes.

Now for some practical advice: Get the book "The First Year, Type 2 Diabetes," by Gretchen Becker. She's a T2 herself, and it is a great resource.

Test your blood sugar often. Testing 2 hrs after the first bite of food will show you how different foods affect your blood sugar and help you make smarter food choices. 140 or less at the 2 hr mark.

Watch out for "white foods" such as potatoes, rice, bread and pasta. These can cause quick elevations in blood sugar. There are plenty of things you can still enjoy. I enjoy fajitas on low carb tortillas, as well as steak, chicken, fish. I eat lots of green veggies, salads. I also enjoy nuts, cheese and fruit in moderation. Look at it this way: You can eat whatever you want, but you chose to avoid certain foods because they are bad for your blood sugar.

Exercise regularly, find something you enjoy doing, something you'll be more likely to stick with. Involve your family involved, as your kids now have a family history of diabetes, and the changes you make now will hopefully keep them from developing it themselves. Exercise will help your blood pressure as well.

As for ice cream, it's a biggie for me as well. I really like the Breyer's Carb Smart chocolate ice cream...try it and see what you think. You don't have to give up everything you enjoy, you will just have to make certain foods a rare treat.

You are still the same person you were before getting diabetes. Life will go on and you'll find you'll enjoy it more because you will feel better physically once your #s are in control.

Post often, take advantage of the knowlege and support that's here. YOU WILL BE FINE!

[yannah]

don't be sad, you are going to turn your whole life around for the better. you are going to be a better person. at least all this was caught and you can control it.

things will go up from here if you make it happen.

[Granny Shanny]

I'm not sure the red meats, eggs, etc., are such a danger to your blood pressure . . . they've gotten a bad rap for cholesterol, but many of us have found that even that isn't necessarily true. The primary culprit regarding your blood pressure is prob'ly excessive use of salt.

If you can build a menu regimen around moderate use of beef, pork & chicken, you should be able to find a way to pack a cooler to keep in your truck so you're not at the mercy of fast food salads & 7-11 stores.

I have to run right now, but I hope you'll stay with us & we can explore a few better options for you. I KNOW you don't have to live the rest of your life on egg whites & leafy greens! Hang on.

[gingercake]

I am familiar with low-carb. Did Atkins years ago for almost 2 years. But back then I ate a lot of red meats, eggs, cheese, etc. I can't eat any of that now because that all would elevate my BP too much. I can't eat fruits because that would elevate my BG too much. I can't eat carbs.


You know...don't listen to me because I'm not a doctor...but I don't know if this is actually true. If you're eating those things WITHOUT refined carbs and sugar, and if you watch the sodium, it should be okay. Eating all the stuff you list has no negative affect on my blood pressure (I have a cuff at home - get a cuff if you can and don't have one, I got mine on amazon - might set your mind at ease about this stuff).

First thing I would do, like, tonight, is buy a big pack of chicken breasts and cook them (grill, bake, broil, whatever). Then you have a protein source you don't have to think about. If it were ME I would boil some eggs and not worry about eggs right now. Eggs in themselves are not going to raise your blood pressure. I buy giant bags of raw almonds from Costco. You can get them at the regular store, too. They don't have salt, and though it might take a few handfuls to get used to them, you will, and they are satisfying and good for you. And then, whatever your favorite vegetables are.

When I'm in an omg I'm going to die panic phase, I rely on boring easy foods like the ones above to get through it until I relax. Bagged salads and slaws, chicken breast, eggs, nuts.

But really, really, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not think that eating a kind of Atkins way that you're used to is going to be a problem for your blood pressure. Most people see their bp go down eating low carb, even if they are eating the saturated fat. I mean you do want to watch the sodium and caffeine, but meat and fat should be okay as far as your bp is concerned. And getting in a half hour walk before bed and/or when you get up will do WONDERS.

As I said in my other post and I know many here will back me up, doctors are largely clueless and they have taken like one nutrition class and have been fed all this "conventional wisdom" that doesn't seem to have much to do with real-life experience of thousands of people with diabetes and high blood pressure. I really think if you just think low-carb for now (and watch sodium and caffeine) you will see your bp go down and not have to become a poached-fish and lettuce-eating sad person.

p.s. I just wanted to add I TOTALLY RELATE. I was re-reading some of my journals from diagnosis month, and there were days I was like, "I don't want to get out of bed today because that means I have to figure out what to eat." I PROMISE YOU it will get better. But first, it will suck.

[jer.lawrence]

I had fried chicken for lunch today. It was delish!! :) KFC's an easy place to go for lunch -- Chic Fil A isn't too bad, but their breads are a bit carby for me. They may be fine for you.

Wendy's Jr. cheeseburgers (and jr. double cheeseburger, jr. bacon cheeseburger, jr. double bacon cheeseburger) only have about 30g carbs and don't spike me too bad. I know they aren't great for BP and cholesterol though. I guess you can't give up everything.

Unsalted peanuts are a great snack. Can you do microwavable stuff? There are a couple of the "Smart Ones" meals that are low in carbs, fat, calories, cholesterol, and sodium.. I've never actually tried them, so I don't know how good they are.

Just a few ideas -- Everyone else has covered the basics pretty well. :)

[jkane13]

I totally understand and agree with your assessment of life! If you can't enjoy it, why bother living. Now, you need to step back and allow yourself to think "outside the box". Quit looking for the "it has to be this or that" scenarios, or you will loose the will power to get through this. You have a family. Glob on to that! Use it as your crutch. Keep thinking about ways to have your cake and eat it too. It is not this OR that! It can be that AND that if you try hard enough to change the rules defining what "this" is and what can replace "that" with the same level of satisfaction.

Talk to your doctor and read around on this forum a lot. Get all the information you need to make an educated decision. I can't speak for high blood pressure as I don't have that problem. What I would suggest is to focus on getting the weight down and put at least a little trust that it will alleviate many of the complex issues you are about to work through.

Yes, you can do things to make it better. It's not easy, and there is no magic pill, nor a one size fits all solution! You have to learn what your body needs and keep whacking away at it until you find a combination that unlocks your own secret solution.

Most important, don't throw your hands up and see this as insurmountable. Treat it like an elephant for lunch. How do you eat it all? One bite at a time! ;)

Welcome and good luck to you. Things can get better. Not tomorrow, not next month. It may take a year or so if you just keep trying and retrying until it does work.

[sumi]

Hi Scaper, welcome,
You have gotten some great advice here. I think one of the hardest things , after getting over that deer caught in the headlights feeling, is the desire to DO something. You will have to try to get your diet together and because it is so individual, it will take time. However possibly the greatest change you can make is to increase your exercise level. This will be of tremendous benefit to your bg levels, your bp levels and your weight control. You may be amazed at how much difference it makes- I know that I was. If your exercise level is at zero, start with two 10 minutes walks a day, if you are quite fit, aside from your regular activities, walk or run at least 30 minutes a day. If you do this, and get your diet sorted out, you will be amazed at where you are 6 months from now.

[e||ement]

SCAPER...
i know this is scary. and maddening. and unfair.

but maybe if you change your perception of the disease, it might help. try not to think of it as something that imposes all kinds of difficult limitations, rather try to think of it as an opportunity.

an opportunity to be in better health for the rest of your life.
an opportunity to set a good dietary example for your kids.
an opportunity to appreciate that YOUR disease is manageable.
an opportunity to learn new things about yourself.
an opportunity to meet wonderful, supportive people here at DF.

i know it's not easy— but it does get easier. we are never given more than we can handle, even when it seems that way.

this forum is also a great resource for wonderful, delicious recipes that are very tasty, satisfying and D friendly.

welcome ;)

[dbaratta]

AH, I remember the day I was diagnosed. I ate a grapefruit for breakfast, doc called concerned about a glucose reading on my last visit and wanted to see me now. I went to the doc and one hour after eating my grapefruit I was 344. He said, you are diabetic and I said wait, maybe you are wrong......next thing I know he is getting me all the info, giving me meds, setting me up with a diabetes clinic,,,,,,I was over-whelmed, confused, mad.

Being over-weight makes it harder to control glucose levels but is not the reason you are diabetic, most people are diabetic because it is in the family gene. Don't get me wrong, some people have problems with glucose levels because of weight, but, those people can usually lose weight and come out of it quickly and it is very well controlled, they are the lucky ones. (my opinion)

It is not just about sugar, it is about carbs and sugar which are 2-in-the-same. You need to regulate your sugar intake but also your carb intake and the types of carbs you eat. Simple carbs that you find in processes foods obsorbe into the system quickly and raise blood glucose quickly, as does fruit (for me). Get your carbs from nature that will help. eat smaller more frequent meals, that will help too. Drink lots of water!!! Water flushes extra glucose from the system (this is what my diatition told me).

There is so much to learn...............it is very frustrating for sure.

Keep in mind that everybody is different, you will need to do what is best for you and take advise from this forum as just that, advise, personal responses to certain things, and not what you need to do for yourself, just guidelines.

[imac]

No one can really help you except yourself, I look upon diabetes as a challenge, something to be overcome, with the help of proffesionals, doctors etc. and some of them are not real smart.

[ljjhouser]

Welcome to the forum. All the above is EXCELLENT advice. Get you BG numbers under control. You will feel better. I diagnosed about 2 months ago. I was sick. But now I feel better that I have for 2 years. Consider the following guidelines to help get numbers under control -
1. Test often to find how risky foods affect you BG number. If you want to eat something, test it before you eat and 2 hours after. If it increases you BG a lot (some say above 180), it may not be good for you. Set that food aside for now until numbers are better, then you can try again if you want.
2. Cut down or eliminate (until BG is under control at least) those white things, white bread, white flour, white rice, potato, corn products. If you can eat bread, get something such as Orowheat double fiber bread (only WHOLE grain wheat products.
3. Read labels. Know what you are eating. Watch for foods with a lot of simple forms of sugar. Be aware of "sugar free" foods - look for ingredients such as "sugar alcohol."
4. Exercise - Know the value of your exercise.
5. LOSE weight if needed. Try to get to the correct body mass index for your body. Increasing muscle mass to fat ratio decreases insulin resistance in the body.
6. READ and learn. Take from all sources only what works with you. Go to the library. Check out "Diabetic Solutions" by Dr. Richard Berstein. Read the part about diabetes and how the body processes carbs, protein and fat.
7. Focus more on protein (with every meal) and good fat (almonds or nuts (unsalted)) and fewer and better (complex - as in apple) carbs.

Remember, lettuce sounds good but basically has no nutritional value. Don't waste too much time feeling sorry for yourself. We are lucky. We are here. Many health conditions don't give us any second chances. Diabetes does. For once, you future health is in only your hands.

I was over weight. I loved chocolate shakes, pizza, and FRENCH SILK PIE. I would not take any of these habits back in trade for being blind in 20 years. Eat to get you numbers down for about 3 months. You will probably find that those things you love will soon not even be missed. It will also take time for meds to really take effect and for you eating habits to totally bring numbers down. We wish you the best. Check in often. I hope you can cheer up. You are not alone. Hang in there, Larry

[ljjhouser]

More infor about #3 above:
Be aware of "sugar free" foods - look for hidden sugars such as "sugar alcohol" (such as sorbitol) or ose ending (lactose, fructose, dextrose, maltose, etc.) They will raise you BG numbers.
Welcome to the forum. All the above is EXCELLENT advice. Get you BG numbers under control. You will feel better. I diagnosed about 2 months ago. I was sick. But now I feel better that I have for 2 years. Consider the following guidelines to help get numbers under control -
1. Test often to find how risky foods affect you BG number. If you want to eat something, test it before you eat and 2 hours after. If it increases you BG a lot (some say above 180), it may not be good for you. Set that food aside for now until numbers are better, then you can try again if you want.
2. Cut down or eliminate (until BG is under control at least) those white things, white bread, white flour, white rice, potato, corn products. If you can eat bread, get something such as Orowheat double fiber bread (only WHOLE grain wheat products.
3. Read labels. Know what you are eating. Watch for foods with a lot of simple forms of sugar. Be aware of "sugar free" foods - look for ingredients such as "sugar alcohol."
4. Exercise - Know the value of your exercise.
5. LOSE weight if needed. Try to get to the correct body mass index for your body. Increasing muscle mass to fat ratio decreases insulin resistance in the body.
6. READ and learn. Take from all sources only what works with you. Go to the library. Check out "Diabetic Solutions" by Dr. Richard Berstein. Read the part about diabetes and how the body processes carbs, protein and fat.
7. Focus more on protein (with every meal) and good fat (almonds or nuts (unsalted)) and fewer and better (complex - as in apple) carbs.

Remember, lettuce sounds good but basically has no nutritional value. Don't waste too much time feeling sorry for yourself. We are lucky. We are here. Many health conditions don't give us any second chances. Diabetes does. For once, you future health is in only your hands.

I was over weight. I loved chocolate shakes, pizza, and FRENCH SILK PIE. I would not take any of these habits back in trade for being blind in 20 years. Eat to get you numbers down for about 3 months. You will probably find that those things you love will soon not even be missed. It will also take time for meds to really take effect and for you eating habits to totally bring numbers down. We wish you the best. Check in often. I hope you can cheer up. You are not alone. Hang in there, Larry

[Reba55]

Welcome Scaper!
I remember when I was diagnosed at Type2, I cried for a week. I just knew I would never be able to eat "good" stuff ever again! I was so wrong. I have found that I can eat about anything, you just need to test before your meal, then 2 hours afterwards to see how it affects your BG. This way, I found out just how many pieces of pizza I could eat before it would skyrocket! I have also learned to love foods that are better for me. I really don't like greasy food anymore, and to be honest, I don't have the sweet tooth I once had either. Just take one day at a time and remember that you are certainly not alone! This forum has helped me so much!

[SCAPER]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I've gotten over the depression stage now. I am actually in pretty good spirits and beginning to talk with family and a few friends about it. I couldn't even do that, at first. Just to think about it or discuss it just made me too sad. But I am happy to announce I am over that now.

After having changed to a low-salt, low-carb diet my BG levels are looking REALLY good. I got a 69 BG last night. A 85 BG night before. And otherwise, I'm in the low 100-140 range usually. So I'm happy with the results I've gotten so far and therefore not as scared of the disease. Seems like I'll be able to manage it - at least for now.

Now I just gotta get in shape and start exercising a lot! I'm hoping, eventually, I'll be able to eat a few more carbs one day. Otherwise, spirits are up.

[Granny Shanny]

Yay!! Wonderful to hear numbers like that & to know that you're feeling better about the whole thing. You've really taken the reins . . . good work!

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I've gotten over the depression stage now. I am actually in pretty good spirits and beginning to talk with family and a few friends about it. I couldn't even do that, at first. Just to think about it or discuss it just made me too sad. But I am happy to announce I am over that now.

After having changed to a low-salt, low-carb diet my BG levels are looking REALLY good. I got a 69 BG last night. A 85 BG night before. And otherwise, I'm in the low 100-140 range usually. So I'm happy with the results I've gotten so far and therefore not as scared of the disease. Seems like I'll be able to manage it - at least for now.

Now I just gotta get in shape and start exercising a lot! I'm hoping, eventually, I'll be able to eat a few more carbs one day. Otherwise, spirits are up.

[gingercake]

Awesome. There's something really empowering about taking control, and I think you will come to respect yourself and what you can do at a whole new level.

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I've gotten over the depression stage now. I am actually in pretty good spirits and beginning to talk with family and a few friends about it. I couldn't even do that, at first. Just to think about it or discuss it just made me too sad. But I am happy to announce I am over that now.

After having changed to a low-salt, low-carb diet my BG levels are looking REALLY good. I got a 69 BG last night. A 85 BG night before. And otherwise, I'm in the low 100-140 range usually. So I'm happy with the results I've gotten so far and therefore not as scared of the disease. Seems like I'll be able to manage it - at least for now.

Now I just gotta get in shape and start exercising a lot! I'm hoping, eventually, I'll be able to eat a few more carbs one day. Otherwise, spirits are up.

[jer.lawrence]

Now I just gotta get in shape and start exercising a lot! I'm hoping, eventually, I'll be able to eat a few more carbs one day. Otherwise, spirits are up.

I'm almost 2 months in now, and I'm still right there with ya. Exercising is hard work! :)

I guess that IS the point, though.

Great work with your numbers!

[lorilei]

scraper...welcome also..u have a tremendous advantage because you were wise enough to start a search on the internet for what may well be the best tool you will ever find..the advice and support here is invaluable..i hope you will soon look back at the start of your journey and realize that you will be able to make it work for you..