[alex5150]

Hi, my name is Mary and I am new to this forum. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in December after a year of not feeling well and no doctor knowing what was wrong with me. I happened to check my sugar at Christmas on my father-in-law's machine and I was at 425. I called the doctor 2 days later and was in the 600's when he admitted me to the hospital. There I was given insulin, papers after papers to read an then sent home after 3 days. I am 39 years old and have never been overweight until the past year when I started putting on pounds even though I wasn't eating except for one meal a day. After 2 months my sugar is still all over the place and I am wondering if I should stop letting my family doctor treat me and go to an endocrinologist. I feel like I was thrown into a disease that I do not know anything about. I would gladly welcome any advice anyone has,
Thanks!
Mary

[princesslinda]

Hi Mary, welcome! I'm glad you found the forum...its been such a big help and encouragement for me since my diagnosis with T2 18 months ago. Its scary to get that diagnosis, and finding a place where everyone knows how you feel is invaluable.

Are your blood sugars currently under good control? Do you watch your carbs? Are you checking your blood sugars regularly?

Please post often, ask lots of questions....knowledge is power and we're here to help!

[Kim_in_TN]

Welcome to the forum. You must have been scared to death to see those numbers with no clue that you had diabetes. I don't know what doctors you were seeing during your year of feeling ill but I can't believe they didn't check your BG along with other blood tests! I currently visit my regular internist as she has a full-time Diabetes Educator on staff and I really like him. I know that many others here do see Endocrinologists and you might benefit from one yourself!

Stay on the boards, do lots of reading and ask questions! You'll learn so much and have lots of support along the way!

[Sheralyn]

I just began insulin, Lantus. I take it at bedtime, but I'm on two doses of 1000 mg glucophage, morning and night. MY SUGAR WON'T COME DOWN. Doctor started me on 14 units of Lantus, upped it to 20 units, and my sugar is STILL in the mid-200's when I wake up. Sometimes, after I eat, it's in the 300's! I'm scared to death! Is there any hope for me? Can my doctor eventually get this under control? Ironically, I feel great and have no symptoms at all. Please help -- have any of you had your sugar in numbers that high and have you had to be adjusted quite a few times regarding your insulin? Thanks to anyone in advance who can help me. And good luck to you all.

[notme]

Hi Sheralyn, first of all relax. We have all had numbers way too high and you don't need to panic.

Your doctor seems to have left you in a tough spot. Did he talk to you at all about carb counting or seeing a nutritionist? The first thing you should do is find a new doctor if you don't feel confident in the one you are seeing right now. You should be seeing a nutritionist and you should be eating low carb.

Did your doctor do a C-peptide test? Are you certain you are a type 2? These are questions you should ask your doctor. If you cannot gain control by limiting carbs and the medications your doctor has prescribed, you need to talk to a doctor you trust and get more advice and help.

We all adjust our insulin dose all of the time.

Take a moment and read the boards about diet, exercise, lantus and other medications. You will learn a lot. Your doctor and mostly YOU will get this under control. Hang in there and post a lot of questions. That is why we are here.

[slipperyelm]

HI, Mary. What are you doing for your diabetes besides taking lantus?

Did you understand those papers they gave you in the hospital and have you made any changes as a result?

When you say your blood glucose is all over, what do you mean? What numbers, and when?

If your blood glucose is too high and/or too erratic, but your doctor is satisfied, then, yes, I think you should find another doctor. I think many GPs can handle it, but if you've got one who cannot or thinks that an average BG like, say 170 is good, then go for a different doctor. But of course, most of managing diabetes is up to you. The more you understand about it, the more you can help yourself.

EDIT: Oops, I got you mixed up with Sheralyn. You did not say, Mary, that you are on Lantus, did you?

[slipperyelm]

Sheralyn, it would be helpful if you could start a new thread about your situation. It does sound like you may need more intervention, perhaps a short acting insulin to be taken at meal times. Did you start glucophage before Lantus? If so, did glucophage help at all? How long ago was your diagnosis? Oh, maybe you could answer these questions on a separate thread. Do you know how to start one? I just don't want to get your situation and Mary's situation mixed up, even though you both might be able to learn from each other.

[mzteacher]

hi mary and sheralyn,
welcome to you both....all that comes with this disease can be a lot to take in....hopefully this forum will save you as it has saved me....i have learned so much here...checking is daily is now just part of my routine...i continue to learn....looking forward to hearingmore about you both!
susan

[Lulika]

Hi Mary and Sheralyn, I am also quite new to this forum but it was the best thing I ever did for my newly diagnosed diabetes. I feel free to ask questions without being thought silly and the people are so welcoming. Don't forget to tell us about yourselves...welcome!

[bassriver]

I am type 2 on metformin and was thrown in the hospital with an infection at Christmas. My bs was over 500, and they put me on insulin and sent me home in 3 days! I didn't really know what was happening, and to top it all off, I had to change my health care and my Dr.! My first month was chaos -BS all over the place, Lantus was changed from 20 to 40 and then I went to 50, (plus 2000 of Metformin) After the worst month of my life, all of a sudden B S came down to 111 - Just like on the TV ads. Now my Doc. is gradually reducing the Lantus and I'm fairly stable and feel really good for the first time in years. I am eating VERY lo carb (much help on the WEB) and have educated myself about this disease - especially after I saw a dietitian who told me I could eat as many carbs as I wanted - just the right ones. I told her I was on 1 shot of Lantus each day and no meal booster shots and she told me that was fine. - Idiot! Help yourself, educate yourself - the medical pro's are not as educated as most of us are, and you have to know what's right for YOUR body. Good Luck!

[alex5150]

I am on 5mg 2x daily of glipizide and 10 units twice daily of Levimir, morning and before bed. I have made alot of changes in my diet since being diagnosed. I watch my carb intake, eat at the same times everyday and still my sugar goes up and down. I eat the same breakfast and lunch everyday but instead of the numbers staying the same I will go up to 180 and somedays down to 54. I read all the papers I was given and have bought some books and read them as well. I just don't feel I am getting the care I should from my GP.

[alex5150]

Did you see a regular dietician or one that specializes in diabetes? I wasn't sure if there is even a difference but I am thinking that seeing one would be good for me.

[Sheralyn]

Originally Posted by notme

Hi Sheralyn, first of all relax. We have all had numbers way too high and you don't need to panic.

Your doctor seems to have left you in a tough spot. Did he talk to you at all about carb counting or seeing a nutritionist? The first thing you should do is find a new doctor if you don't feel confident in the one you are seeing right now. You should be seeing a nutritionist and you should be eating low carb.

Did your doctor do a C-peptide test? Are you certain you are a type 2? These are questions you should ask your doctor. If you cannot gain control by limiting carbs and the medications your doctor has prescribed, you need to talk to a doctor you trust and get more advice and help.

We all adjust our insulin dose all of the time.

Take a moment and read the boards about diet, exercise, lantus and other medications. You will learn a lot. Your doctor and mostly YOU will get this under control. Hang in there and post a lot of questions. That is why we are here.

Hi Nancy - I have calmed down after reading your post and I thank you. I admit I panic very easily. I have a doctor's appt in 3 days and will ask him what I should do.

I'm so glad I found this forum; we're all in this together! I look forward to talking to you again.

[Sheralyn]

Originally Posted by mzteacher

hi mary and sheralyn,
welcome to you both....all that comes with this disease can be a lot to take in....hopefully this forum will save you as it has saved me....i have learned so much here...checking is daily is now just part of my routine...i continue to learn....looking forward to hearingmore about you both!
susan

Originally Posted by Lulika

Hi Mary and Sheralyn, I am also quite new to this forum but it was the best thing I ever did for my newly diagnosed diabetes. I feel free to ask questions without being thought silly and the people are so welcoming. Don't forget to tell us about yourselves...welcome!

Originally Posted by slipperyelm

Sheralyn, it would be helpful if you could start a new thread about your situation. It does sound like you may need more intervention, perhaps a short acting insulin to be taken at meal times. Did you start glucophage before Lantus? If so, did glucophage help at all? How long ago was your diagnosis? Oh, maybe you could answer these questions on a separate thread. Do you know how to start one? I just don't want to get your situation and Mary's situation mixed up, even though you both might be able to learn from each other.

Oh dear, it seems I've multi-quoted - I pushed the button without even knowing what it means! Sorry, I forget how to start a new thread although I think I did it at least once before. Please bear with me -- I am computer-illiterate! Yes, I started glucophage before the Lantus, but I don't think the glucophage helped all that much (1000mg 2Xday). Mzteacher and Lulika, it's nice to meet you also. I'm going to check this place every day or so; I have a lot to learn. I hate having diabetes -- I WANT CHOCOLATE.

Oh -- I used to eat those "sugar-free" angel food cakes from ShopRite - til I read how many CARBS they have -- so a lot of "sugar-free" stuff isn't truly without sugar, is it?

[Jill-O]

Hi, Mary --

I see just a "family doctor". It's working okay for me.

Pretty early on into my diagnosis, I went on insulin which I like (convenient and painless) and it has really helped my numbers.

Jill