Thank you thank you to this community!

[patticakes789]

hi - I haven't posted alot since I joined this forum - mainly because I don't have alot to offer right now - but I read here almost every day. I just want to say THANK YOU to the community at large, and I am sure there are other lurkers or semi-lurkers like me who would agree that this forum, and those of you wise experienced diabetics that post here, do such a wonderful service. I can't say enough how much reading here has helped me through the last 6 weeks and how many times I read posts that encouraged and reinforced for me that the path I've chosen is not crazy, that it will work and to stay firmly on the path of frequent testing and low carbing.

Thanks to you, I've taken control of my own health. I've ignored my GP's advice to test 4 times a day and eat "very strict low fat, low cholesterol, low carb" (exactly what did he think I was going to eat?). Instead I test 10 to 15 times a day, and follow Dr Bernstein's advice the best I can when it comes to diet. I found that I definitely suffer from the Dawn Phenomenon - which I never would have understood with all of you explaining it over and over on multiple threads! I avg 75-80% calories from fat and under 20 total carbs a day. I learned that if I eat too little I can't lose weight. I log everything I eat and I keep my BGs logged on Sugarstats.com daily. I've lost 11 lbs and my morning sugars are now typically under 130 and can go as low as 115. I am so excited that I could accomplish so much in 6 weeks!

I was so afraid when I went to my first endocrinologist appointment yesterday. I'd read so many horror stories, so I went prepared, with 30 pgs of medication and BG logs. I had my monthly nutritional pie chart from Fitday showing my carbs/fat/protein and my weight loss chart just in case I had to argue. I was so nervous that he'd scold me for doing all the wrong things. I had everything I was doing documented - and I was so pleasantly surprised when the doc beamed at me across his desk and instead of lecturing me about my sins, he told me that I was clearly in control of my diabetes and that I should continue to do exactly what I was doing. He asked me what I wanted from him and I said I needed a partner and he said he could definitely do that for me. He said I should keep on testing, that clearly the testing was reinforcing good habits and that it was clear to him that it motivated me to stay on track. We didn't discuss alot of details about my diet other than I was very low carb and he said it was a major factor in my improved BGs and that I should continue. He told me that eventually I'd probably plateau on weight loss, but that we'd deal with that when we got there. He upped my metformin from 500 mg bid to 1000 mg bid - smiled at me and said lets see how far you can go before we do anything else! And as for testing - instead of pleading and arguing with him for a generous test strip prescription like I had to at my GP, he said - no problem, we have people here that test 15 or 20 times a day!

I just walked out of that office with such a smile on my face. I am so relieved! And thanks to this community, I've learned so much and while you were rarely posting to me, I was so helped and encouraged in my struggle to wrap my arms around the changes I need to implement.

A diabetic colleague of mine said to me that I had to build a team to manage my diabetes. And I am slowly doing so. I consider this forum a huge part of that support network. Thank you for the time and effort all of you put in here. I hope one day I can pay back what I have received here. And I am sure I speak for other lurkers out there finding comfort and some wisdom on this boards!

[jbmacomber]

So happy for you success and great endo visit!!! Keep up the good work. I too have learned so much here.

[sweetstar]

I just want to congratulate you on your accomplishments. You have done a great job and all because you took control.
I want to echo your kudos for this forum. I have learned so much from these folks and when I joined I had been a diabetic
for over 10 years. Keep plugging away and you will reach the goals you set.

[FeistyRedhead]

Congratulations Patticakes! I'm having a rough day today and reading your message really inspired me. I'm really struggling and your message was so inspiring and uplifting. I'm so happy for you! I meet with my doctor tomorrow. My first follow up after being put on Metformin. I hope and pray my visit goes as well as yours did. Thank you so much for brightening my day.

Keep up the good work. Hope to read more messages from you.

[Nana215A]

You're absolutely right, Patticakes, this IS a really good support group. When diagnosed with D a bit over two years ago, I was quite shocked and out of control with a lot of things. Even though my hubby and I had changed to eating a very healthy diet some years ago, it was still a bit tough to give up some of my "old faithfuls". I LOVED my plain Cheerios in the morning. I LOVED my little piece of chocolate in the evening. The metformin tore up my stomach so I had to deal with gurd and heatburn within the first few weeks, too. I also had to search for a really good endo since my family doc didn't know as much about diabetes as I had learned by reading three very good books about it. So, now my meds are under control and I am under control and I now only need to test twice a day and it's all because of some very special people who are on this board. I give my thanks to you all, too. And please have a wonderful Fourth of July. God bless all of America.

[TeddySue]

You DID IT! LOL You did what I've been fearing for 2 months. You took control AND faced the doctor with faith and wisdom. Reading here is an education we all definitely need, and it's FREE! Thank you for finally posting, giving us all a boost toward taking control of our health.
What exercise do you do?
TS

[patticakes789]

Congratulations Patticakes! I'm having a rough day today and reading your message really inspired me. I'm really struggling and your message was so inspiring and uplifting. I'm so happy for you! I meet with my doctor tomorrow. My first follow up after being put on Metformin. I hope and pray my visit goes as well as yours did. Thank you so much for brightening my day.

Keep up the good work. Hope to read more messages from you.

I always remind myself on bad days that a good day is around the corner if I persevere. Lots of my bad days were spent reading these boards because I really didn't have any where else to turn at the moment. Thank goodness this group is out there - I've visited alot of other diabetes websites and really perhaps except for Dr Bernstein's forums, have not found other communities of experienced diabetics with such pragmatism and knowledge in the face of the almost insulting ADA mantra repeated everywhere. I've only been at this six weeks and I am sick of being talked down too by all those skinny non-diabetics that assume I'm undisciplined and ignorant to have been diagnosed in my early 40s.

Hang in there Fiesty! Tomorrow will be here soon. And who knows, maybe I'll be having a bad day and you can cheer me up!

[patticakes789]

You DID IT! LOL You did what I've been fearing for 2 months. You took control AND faced the doctor with faith and wisdom. Reading here is an education we all definitely need, and it's FREE! Thank you for finally posting, giving us all a boost toward taking control of our health.
What exercise do you do?
TS

Walking 30 minutes at least 6 days a week - its roughly a mile, but it is alot of steep hills! This is not enough, but for now, it's a huge change for me! I think I must have lucked out on the Endo, oh my I am so happy to have walked into his office yesterday! I have friends at work that have not been able to find an open minded endo - so I think God must have been looking out for me! I was soooooooooo afraid when I walked in there!

[janice21475]

Patticakes said it regarding this forum and it's part in helping diabetics, I second it:

I consider this forum a huge part of that support network.

Yeah! Diabetics Forums, Sis Boom Ba (or whatever they say in cheers), couldn't have done it without ya! Well, I guess we could have but wouldn't want to go it alone. The member input here is priceless.

Very happy for your improvement, Patticakes!!

Why not join us on the WakeUp BG reading thread? The more the merrier. Morning wake up readings - Part 7

Regards,
Janice

[jenb]

Now this is the kind of report we all love to read! Congratulations on all your hard work, Patticakes - it's really paying off. I hope you'll come out of the shadows more often to give other new inductees the inspiration they need to tackle diabetes head on, just like you have. Your post has made me smile!

Jen

[BriOnH]

Hang in there Fiesty! Tomorrow will be here soon. And who knows, maybe I'll be having a bad day and you can cheer me up!

Such a testament to your original post. Big thanks to Tony, the Mods, the posters, and the readers from me too; and to you patticakes for making me smile as well.

[patticakes789]

Thank you for the invitation! I'll pop on by

Patticakes said it regarding this forum and it's part in helping diabetics, I second it:

Yeah! Diabetics Forums, Sis Boom Ba (or whatever they say in cheers), couldn't have done it without ya! Well, I guess we could have but wouldn't want to go it alone. The member input here is priceless.

Very happy for your improvement, Patticakes!!

Why not join us on the WakeUp BG reading thread? The more the merrier. Morning wake up readings - Part 7

Regards,
Janice

[Moonpie]

YAY!!!!! Well done, you have made great progress in a short time. I hope you will continue to post, now you see we won't bite I agree these forums are great, I know it steered me on the right path, when I stumbled across DF a few years ago.

[Margie3]

YAY for Patticakes! And another YAY to all the people who have also helped me get to where I am today! You're right Patticakes, this is the best place for answers and support. Congratulations on taking that first step into your endo's office and doing such a great job taking control over your life. When I feel badly that I can't eat something I just remember all the years I abused my body and that puts it all into perspective. Not everyone that has D has done that, I know, but I did. Keep up the great work and if you ever need any help or encouragement this is the place to come to.

[sndc99]

And as for testing - instead of pleading and arguing with him for a generous test strip prescription like I had to at my GP, he said - no problem, we have people here that test 15 or 20 times a day!


My GP like yours said I was crazy. I love this forum as well. I too think I have the Dawn Phenomenon I have never been under 140 and then after being up for awhile it drops some. I think waking up a bit with my hubby at 4:30 am may be part of this...gonna start testing then.

Congrats on getting things in order...YAY