Hello all! I just found TuD last night after wandering various diabetes sites,looking for other people who are going thru what I am,and able to put it into non medical terms,and not confuse my poor addled brain any more than it is! lol My name’s Mindi, i’m mom to one grown kiddo,Jeff,and mom to 3 furbabies-a Chihuahua,Black Lab,and a Fox Terrier.They are what keep me a goin’!
I was diagnosed with type 2 back in March 2011.the doc actually used the phrase “mix of type 1 and type 2”,which totally scares me.nobody I have talked to has ever heard of this before.I take it to mean I will eventually need insulin…ick.Currently I am on 2000 mg of Metformin a day,and I watch my diet.I’m trying to drop some weight as well,but is really hard with having neuropathy in my feet…and that was what led me to the doc and diagnosis.I had burning and tingling for 2 years,and i knew deep down what it was,but was,and am,still afraid of it. I also have deperssion,I’m on Celexa for that,was a before diabetes thing,but I dont think this has helped much lol.My boyfriend of 3 years recently broke up with me,so i am having a real hard time coping with that,so I hope to come here,make friends and distract.My sugar spikes badly when I get stressed over the slightest thing,its still got a mind of its own i guess. Grr at it!!!
The website bloodsugar101 helped me tremendously when first diagnosed as did Gretchen Breckers book “Type 2 diabetes the First Year” (although it may not be as helpful given your confusing diagnosis) Of course this site is a tremendous resource, spend some time reading old threads and check out the groups too.
I take R-ALA, evening primrose oil, and benfotiamin ( a fat soluble form of vitamin B1) and they have helped my neuropathy. I used to experience the burning every evening and it’s gone. Getting better control of my blood glucose also undoubtedly helped. Here’s a recent discussion about this. Here’s another link that references a study that says it may take 2 - 3 years for your nerves to heal, so don’t give up if it doesn’t go away right away. This is a catch 22 situation because if you can exercise more you will help your blood sugar and your neuropathy but if the neuropathy is preventing exercise …
Just posting shows you are motivated to deal with your condition and this is the most important factor in success, good luck!!!
Hi bunnypaws and welcome to TuD. You’ve definitely come to the right place to meet thousands of type 1 and type 2 diabetics with lots of experience and support to offer. I want to put in my 2 cents on your post: I strongly suggest you get an appointment with an endo. Your doctor saying you have a “mix of type 1 and type 2” proves he really doesn’t know what he is talking about. There are some Type 1’s who develop insulin resistance (a type 2 characteristic) but they are still Type 1. Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder and type 2 is not, so they are two different conditions. He might be suggesting you are LADA, sometimes erroneously referred to as Type 1.5 suggesting it is a “halfway between the two”. But it is not; LADA is just a slower onset form of Type 1 that happens in adulthood. I’m not saying you are LADA but if you are, you should find out so you receive the correct treatment. You need to find a doctor or endo who will test you for Type. Antibody and c-peptide tests are what you should request. When you know your Type you can get the appropriate treatment and come to terms with managing your condition. I know it’s scary and overwhelming at first but “knowledge is power”, no?
You’ve got a lot going on right now, so I encourage you to seek all the support you can get: from friends, family, perhaps a therapist for your Depression (the best treatment for Depression is usually a combination of meds and therapy), and last but not least, TuD. Welcome and don’t hesitate to ask questions. You are on the right track looking to improve your diet and lose weight, but again, I do encourage you to clarify your Type. Hang in there, it will get easier
Thank you BadMoon! I will take a look at bloodsugar 101,and see if my library has that book.
I started taking cinnamon pills,and drinking a Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (gags) that seems to help some.I only test once a day,doc said make it at varying times.Luckily I havent topped 300 since the day I went back for a recheck-it was 369.But idiot me,not knowing,had eaten a handful of Reeses minis before hand…what a shocker! And a wake up call.
I guess I should be glad for my burning feet in a way,I didnt have any other signs,save for below.No thirst,I heal fine,no rapid weight loss (shucks on that part).My feet probably saved my life,I’ve been in pain for 2 years now.I thought it was a B12 deficiency at first,so tried that for awhile,helped a little.but then the burning went to red hot pain,stabbing needles,and so forth.I learned there are many types of pain.I cant stand for anyone to touch them,it hurts something fierce.I’ve lived with it this long,I will try to be patient so my nerves can heal,thanks for giving me something to hope and work for!
One thing I did notice,not to be gross,but once I did cut back my junkfoods,the yeast infections I seemed to always have,have disappeared.So, that was another confirmation of diabetes,I’m still struggling with wow…I really have this?? and My body’s broken,kinda thoughts.I am working on my mindset,but its a struggle too,Thanks for listening!
Hi Zoe! I wasnt sure what kind of doc handles diabetes,i’ve just been seeing a GP.I appreciate you pointing me in the right direction there.My mom had said she never heard of a “mix” either.I always thought it was one or the other myself.That is a lot to handle,i’m gonna write down those tests,my poor brain will never remember otherwise.I agree,its better to know what I am dealing with,instead of burying my head in the sand,which I tend to be prone to do on unpleasantness.Whats keeping me on the straight and narrow is not wanting to go blind or lose my feet,tho they hurt like a hoo ha blah blah 99.9% of the time. I feel kinda bad for thinking that way,it seems vain,and I so try not to be like that.
Thank you so much for your positive word Zoe.I’m lucky to have a bunch of crutches to keep me from just staying in bed and moping.I am really loving this site,everyone is so down to earth and 'normal" =) I will definitely find out what I am,I do want the right treatment to keep me going for a long time!
It does take a while to get your head around your new reality just take things one step at a time. For me the burning in my feet was a constant reminder that change was necessary. You can do this, as the experience of many on this site proves.
I would especially recommend the link in the upper right of the bloodsugar101 home page , How to lower your blood sugar. Basically it involves doing a lot of testing in the beginning to find out which foods are causing you problems. The next step is eliminating or drastically reducing portions of these foods. Worked like a charm for me I went from an A1c of 13.1 to 5.6 in less than 6 months. Unfortunately this meant eliminating some of my favorite foods. But as you’ve seen with the yeast infections it’s worth it.
There are several groups here with lots of good tasting recipes to help you control your sugar. The Bernstein Group here, although its not about cooking per se, is a great source for good tasting food ideas. What ever you decide to change in your diet you must come up with a plan you can stick to long term.
Sometimes my toes will lock into place,like a claw,its kind of scary,most of the time it doesnt even hurt,just looks kind of gross.You are right,I have to make changes.And,I am finding I am going to have to make sure my family,particularly my brother,understands I cant have what he does.He was so nice and gave me Hot Pockets for supper,and i know I cant really have that,i just didnt have the heart to tell him.But on the good side,I stayed low cal and ,low carb all day,so hopefully it wont hurt too much.
I am finding I am going to have to plan ahead.If I dont,i’ll never decide what I want,and then skip eating all together.Not to mention trying to avoid boredom,which I kind of am with salads at the moment.Ugh.I’m checking out the Bernstein group too.Thank you for the help! And the listening too
