So, I’m 7 months into this and it seems to be much easier than I thought to cut the carbs, lose weight, and keep the BG level stable. I guess I should consider myself lucky. I have been able to lose 35 pounds and so far, with one exception I have not seen a fasting BG level above 101 and 155 after meals. One night I had a bowl of cereal with raisins about a hour before bed and my morning BG was 145. I have been able to learn what foods cause a spikes and also that my BG can drop (55) if I skip lunch.
I guess I should consider myself lucky, because I know it can be such a struggle for so many people. I feel a little guilty even posting my success. Everything I read seems to indicate that the key to sustaining my health is to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m afraid that I will see a curve ball at some point without explanation. How can it be so easy for me when it’s so hard for others to control no matter what they do? The thing I am most surprised about is that I have a very high stress job. I have read so much about how greatly stress effects DB and really don’t get why I am not experiencing more trouble. Like I said, I am always in fear that the bottom will drop out and I’ll go into a tail spin.
I’d love to hear from some of the veterans around here. Is it realistic to expect this to continue for a good while? I know that the progressive nature of DB will eventually require more than diet and exercise, but I don’t know what to expect next week, next year and way down the road.
I think personally speaking for myself - if you are doing a good a job at maintaining your health - you’ll continue to do it. I know for myself - sometimes work has taken advantage - and I have a few problems - but I know what is causing it (like you say - stress plays a big effect). The one most important thing I think - like you say you have a stressful job - do you enjoy it? There is good stress and bad stress - and they can play around with the body in some strange ways as I’m sure others will agree . Just keep up with the good attitude like Ryan says - and do not feel bad to be telling us all about how you’re doing. Darn, you may become a guru (I’m thinking of the Mike Myers in the Love Guru here - LOL) to someone who needs some help in coping with their own diabetes!!!
I would suggest that you get on insulin to keep your pancreas alive for as long as possible. When it dies as it will without supplementary insulin the disease becomes a nightmare instead of a happy experience as you have now. when I first was recognized with full fleadged diabetes I lost 85 lb and exercised 2 hours per day and had a happy period The Doctor advice given in the stone age of diabetes was that no insulin was allowed then until my pancreas was toast.
Now suicide looks like a “viable” option because I have a dead pancreas and insulin resistance, an unbelievable nightmare. Last night I had a bowl of the stuff with raisins and my BG went into the 300’s regardeless of the amount of insulin injected. Took hours to stabilize and fall asleep, not fun at all.
It’s easy for you because you’re cutting carbs. So many people who have trouble are told to eat low fat diets filled with grains and pasta. Not surprisingly they have a lot of trouble.
But most people I’ve run into diagnosed with Type 2 get dramatically better control as soon as they cut back on carbs. It is tragic most doctors don’t know this.
Diabetes does not have to be progressive, if you keep your blood sugar under the levels known to destroy beta cells. Stay under 140 at all times if you can, and you should have many happy healthy years ahead of you.
Thank you all for your kind words. It’s so nice to be able to share with people who understand and have experience. As for the Guru thing, I’m not sure I have the wisdom to lead myself, let alone anyone else.
Reading about the struggles so many of you are having really breaks my heart. I do hope, like someone here said, that just some upbeat sharing can be a little uplifting for someone.
Yeah - raisins - or any type of dried fruit is a really hard on the us. My Mum used to pack a little Sunmaid box in my lunch box as a kid - but I think it was only 1 tablespoon which is worth a fruit exchange or something according to ADA. Now, tell my adult BIG hand that’s reaching into the bag of raisins that I should wow down on eating “x” amount - well <<grin>>. I try to steer away from them if I can (now you’ve got me hankering for some ). I tend to carry a mixture tho’ of raisins and nuts when I’m hiking - it’s good energy food - and the nuts slow down the sugar absorption into the ol’ body of mine.
My guru (or at least someone I really respect and look up to) is Jenny - who posted here. Do yourself a favor and visit here web site and/or get her book. Her site is http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/.
Bless your success! You are so smart to make these changes early into your diagnosis. Keep it up!
your post is exactly what i was interested in discussing.
I was diagnosed 5 months ago and everything is going better than expected. I’ve lost 45 pounds with the goal of hitting 60 pounds by my birthday in June. I’m controlling my consumption of carbs and swimming every day for an hour. My morning BG are generally between 100 and 115. My mental health couldn’t be any better especially after living with untreated diabetes for a couple of years when i mistook the symptoms for depression. My doc is actually worried that my A1c will be too low next month so we’re considering lowering the amount of Metformin i take (2000mg daily).
i would like to hear from others who are successfully controlling their T2 diabetes with only lifestyle. I’ve heard it’s possible but I have yet to interact with someone has done it. i’m not sure how feasible of a goal it is.
So encouraging to hear great news like yours! Congratulations on your hard work.
Check out Mr. Peachy’s page. You can go to Members & do a search. Put in Craig & scroll down until you see Mr. Peachy. He’s a Type 2 controlling beautifully through lifestyle.
The idea that your A1c can be “too low” is the latest piece of imbecility from doctors who only read summaries of studies not the actual studies themselves.
The only time lowering A1cs seems to cause problems is when it is done in people who have had diabetes for decades and who are eating very high carb/low fat diets and then taking huge doses of many drugs all at once to lower the resulting blood sugars.
Hi Hutch,
Do not feel guilty for your success. I think it’s great! Keep doing what you are and maybe you won’t have to go through that much bad stuff. Take life one day at a time and be happy!
Yeah - I am right behind you there with your comment Jenny - about how doctors are about lower A1C’s. Mine tends to be in the upper 5% and it’s not because of having hypos (which sometimes can bring the A1C down - which isn’t good). I wrote about a new way of seeing how your diabetes is doing using “estimated average glucose (eAG)”. It may have already been discussed here. You can read about it at this link - http://www.diabetes1.org/blogs/Annas_Blog/2009/3/11
Thanks Jenny. Kudos to you for being the voice of reason. Raising an A1c is senseless because higher averages mean increasing the risks for complications. There is no upside to having a higher A1c.
But it’s still crap. These averages work for large populations, but individuals differ markedly and very consistently. I measure a LOT and I have never seen the “average” 126 mg/dl I supposedly have. But I always get a higher A1c than predicted from testing. So do many others.
If you are testing on a regular basis and catching your spikes, that is a much better guide to how high your blood sugar is than the A1c and it is important to note that A1c DOES NOT CORRELATE TO NEUROPATHY, but POST-MEAL GLUCOSE DOES.
End of story. The A1c is for the convenience of people too lazy to test or for doctors too lazy to look at logs. Studies have shown over and over that it is often wrong for indivuduals though it works on average for groups.
Hi, I think if you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep succeeding. I did years ago, got off all meds., but fell off the wagon. So I’m back to square one again, but going to try and get off meds again by being more diligent and exercising. Don’t listen to the nay sayers who tell you you’ll have to eventually need to go on meds., prove them wrong. Keep on, keeping on!
