Messages
24
Welcome to this wonderful forum Silverback! I wondered if I could ask you what your diet was like for most of your life before diagnosis. I suspect my own father, who is 80, has been eating in a similar way, skipping breakfast and lunch then eating a healthy dinner, and I thought it should protect one from diabetes. if you didn't eat processed carbohydrates or fast food, I'm wondering what lead you to a diabetes diagnosis if it was something about your diet.

This might be a rather rambling response so take what you will from it.

I have always tried to eat properly but there were occasions when I might over-indulge. I tended to instinctively fast after such occasions.

There is some research that indicates a connection between high stress levels and the onset of diabetes. In 2001 my wife presented with cancer with a prognosis of perhaps a year. I sold my company and devoted myself to her care. I also began changing her diet ( and mine) to pure foods. Nothing that was not fresh and certainly nothing with additives. The prognosis wass not realized but the treatment she underwent devastated her body and I became her ongoing caregiver. I would not have traded that time with her.

Five years ago, she presented again and this round was metastatic. I knew this one was not going to have a good outcome. It was about that time that my weight began to slide from a robust 175 to 140 within a year. I knew there was something going on but it was not possible to be sick or take the time for treatment if it was a severe medical case. So I put it to the back of my mind and dealt with everything else that was going on.

After my wife died, I must admit that tubs of ice cream and absolute junk food took me over for a few weeks; and that, combined with my ongoing joy of baking sweeties I am convinced sent my blood sugar rocketing. Finally, when I went to the doctor, diabetes was confirmed and all of the symptoms that I had experienced made sense. In fact, the diagnosis was strangely a relief because I think I had constructed a strong case for pancreatic cancer.

Yesterday was a benchmark day for me. My blood was 8.3 at midday a dramatic decrease from 12.3. So one continues to be hopeful.

Anyway, I hope this answers your question. This dissertation is not intended to elicit sympathy but rather candidly, to respond to your query

All the best to you and your father, Cocosilk
 
Last edited:

Cocosilk

Well-Known Member
Messages
818
Type of diabetes
Gestational
Treatment type
Insulin
This might be a rather rambling response so take what you will from it.

I have always tried to eat properly but there were occasions when I might over-indulge. I tended to instinctively fast after such occasions.

There is some research that indicates a connection between high stress levels and the onset of diabetes. In 2001 my wife presented with cancer with a prognosis of perhaps a year. I sold my company and devoted myself to her care. I also began changing her diet ( and mine) to pure foods. Nothing that was not fresh and certainly nothing with additives. The prognosis wass not realized but the treatment she underwent devastated her body and I became her ongoing caregiver. I would not have traded that time with her.

Five years ago, she presented again and this round was metastatic. I knew this one was not going to have a good outcome. It was about that time that my weight began to slide from a robust 175 to 140 within a year. I knew there was something going on but it was not possible to be sick or take the time for treatment if it was a severe medical case. So I put it to the back of my mind and dealt with everything else that was going on.

After my wife died, I must admit that tubs of ice cream and absolute junk food took me over for a few weeks; and that, combined with my ongoing joy of baking sweeties I am convinced sent my blood sugar rocketing. Finally, when I went to the doctor, diabetes was confirmed and all of the symptoms that I had experienced made sense. In fact, the diagnosis was strangely a relief because I think I had constructed a strong case for pancreatic cancer.

Yesterday was a benchmark day for me. My blood was 8.3 at midday a dramatic decrease from 12.3. So one continues to be hopeful.

Anyway, I hope this answers your question. This dissertation is not intended to elicit sympathy but rather candidly, to respond to your query

All the best to you and your father, Cocosilk
Oh, it is a heartbreaking story though... Sorry to hear what you and your wife went through. I understand stress is a cause for many a health problem, and grief, I imagine, is one of the biggest stressors we experience. I have no such excuse for eating icecream before bedtime other than cravings.. which I am happy to say are not bothering me recently since eating a more low carb diet. Well, you are in the right place to get the best advice.
 

JoKalsbeek

Expert
Messages
5,937
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
This might be a rather rambling response so take what you will from it.

I have always tried to eat properly but there were occasions when I might over-indulge. I tended to instinctively fast after such occasions.

There is some research that indicates a connection between high stress levels and the onset of diabetes. In 2001 my wife presented with cancer with a prognosis of perhaps a year. I sold my company and devoted myself to her care. I also began changing her diet ( and mine) to pure foods. Nothing that was not fresh and certainly nothing with additives. The prognosis wass not realized but the treatment she underwent devastated her body and I became her ongoing caregiver. I would not have traded that time with her.

Five years ago, she presented again and this round was metastatic. I knew this one was not going to have a good outcome. It was about that time that my weight began to slide from a robust 175 to 140 within a year. I knew there was something going on but it was not possible to be sick or take the time for treatment if it was a severe medical case. So I put it to the back of my mind and dealt with everything else that was going on.

After my wife died, I must admit that tubs of ice cream and absolute junk food took me over for a few weeks; and that, combined with my ongoing joy of baking sweeties I am convinced sent my blood sugar rocketing. Finally, when I went to the doctor, diabetes was confirmed and all of the symptoms that I had experienced made sense. In fact, the diagnosis was strangely a relief because I think I had constructed a strong case for pancreatic cancer.

Yesterday was a benchmark day for me. My blood was 8.3 at midday a dramatic decrease from 12.3. So one continues to be hopeful.

Anyway, I hope this answers your question. This dissertation is not intended to elicit sympathy but rather candidly, to respond to your query

All the best to you and your father, Cocosilk
I didn't have to deal with a lengthy sickbed. Doug was just gone one day, poof, no warning, end of it all, the world collapsing in on itself. I know what kind of stress I went though, 20 years ago, and how deep into depression I fell. So I can only imagine what it must have been like for you, spending years trying to help, and at a certain point, watching her go. I understand the tubs of icecream and I understand not taking care of yourself. You had other priorities.

Bottom line, yeah, stress affects bloodsugars. Prolongued stress means your "fight or flight" response is on all the time, and with that, steroids are released, which in turn tell your liver to dump sugar, because you need to be able to act fast because there must be some sort of danger, and the boost of sugar/energy will surely help, right? No? Even with the sabretooth tiger long behind us, our cavemen-based bodies still react as if all stress comes down to running away from one on your heels, or fight it. How times have changed. All in all though, your body's been under a lot of strain. So yes, all this had an impact on your bloodsugars, developing insulin resistance, and coming to the point you're at now.

I'm sorry about everything you went through, and I'm sorry about your wife, and all she suffered. I hope you'll be able to get your health on track and find some joy in life. It usually starts with little things, -did for me anyway- so who knows... Maybe bake some sweet stuff from recepies over on dietdoctor.com? They won't raise your bloodsugars, and still provide some enjoyment, I hope.

Take a breath, then take care of yourself. Heal. You deserve it, after all this time.
Hugs,
Jo
 
Messages
24
I didn't have to deal with a lengthy sickbed. Doug was just gone one day, poof, no warning, end of it all, the world collapsing in on itself. I know what kind of stress I went though, 20 years ago, and how deep into depression I fell. So I can only imagine what it must have been like for you, spending years trying to help, and at a certain point, watching her go. I understand the tubs of icecream and I understand not taking care of yourself. You had other priorities.

Bottom line, yeah, stress affects bloodsugars. Prolongued stress means your "fight or flight" response is on all the time, and with that, steroids are released, which in turn tell your liver to dump sugar, because you need to be able to act fast because there must be some sort of danger, and the boost of sugar/energy will surely help, right? No? Even with the sabretooth tiger long behind us, our cavemen-based bodies still react as if all stress comes down to running away from one on your heels, or fight it. How times have changed. All in all though, your body's been under a lot of strain. So yes, all this had an impact on your bloodsugars, developing insulin resistance, and coming to the point you're at now.

I'm sorry about everything you went through, and I'm sorry about your wife, and all she suffered. I hope you'll be able to get your health on track and find some joy in life. It usually starts with little things, -did for me anyway- so who knows... Maybe bake some sweet stuff from recepies over on dietdoctor.com? They won't raise your bloodsugars, and still provide some enjoyment, I hope.

Take a breath, then take care of yourself. Heal. You deserve it, after all this time.
Hugs,
Jo
Jo, I am sorry about your loss. Even after 20 yrs I am sure there are times you still feel that loss.
As hard as her journey, I would not change the time we had. I will heal but my joy is gone.
I won't risk baking now because I know that dastardly sugar will grab me by the throat.
Thank you
Denis
 

JoKalsbeek

Expert
Messages
5,937
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Jo, I am sorry about your loss. Even after 20 yrs I am sure there are times you still feel that loss.
As hard as her journey, I would not change the time we had. I will heal but my joy is gone.
I won't risk baking now because I know that dastardly sugar will grab me by the throat.
Thank you
Denis
I remember the first time I laughed after Doug's passing. It was little over a year after, and it made the muscles in my face hurt. The sound startled me so much, was so unfamilliar, so alien, that I immediately stopped. It takes a while, but the raw edges become a little smoother with time. We can't skip through grief, we go through it head on and get out on the other side, eventually. Changed, scarred, but grateful for what we did get to have. And yes, even 20-odd years on, sometimes it punches me in the gut: I still think he was better at living than I ever was, a braver and a beter person, and he should still be here. But I make the best of it, and I think he'd approve. Life didn't turn out the way I envisioned, but considering the circumstances, I'm doing alright for myself. I hope the same will be true for you: life not quite being what you'd planned on, but getting better and doing okay. Maybe someday even downright good. I really hope that for you.

For now, just take care of yourself, a day at a time. (And if you bake, make sure there's no sugar around, just erythritol instead. It costs an arm and a leg, but you can bake with it. And coconut- or almond flour....)
Hugs,
Jo
 
Messages
24
I remember the first time I laughed after Doug's passing. It was little over a year after, and it made the muscles in my face hurt. The sound startled me so much, was so unfamilliar, so alien, that I immediately stopped. It takes a while, but the raw edges become a little smoother with time. We can't skip through grief, we go through it head on and get out on the other side, eventually. Changed, scarred, but grateful for what we did get to have. And yes, even 20-odd years on, sometimes it punches me in the gut: I still think he was better at living than I ever was, a braver and a beter person, and he should still be here. But I make the best of it, and I think he'd approve. Life didn't turn out the way I envisioned, but considering the circumstances, I'm doing alright for myself. I hope the same will be true for you: life not quite being what you'd planned on, but getting better and doing okay. Maybe someday even downright good. I really hope that for you.

For now, just take care of yourself, a day at a time. (And if you bake, make sure there's no sugar around, just erythritol instead. It costs an arm and a leg, but you can bake with it. And coconut- or almond flour....)
Hugs,
Jo
Doug sounds like a good man. I would like to point out that brave is quite relative Jo and in the short time we have conversed I am sure you are equal to his character.
Hugs to you
 

JoKalsbeek

Expert
Messages
5,937
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Doug sounds like a good man. I would like to point out that brave is quite relative Jo and in the short time we have conversed I am sure you are equal to his character.
Hugs to you
That... Is just about the kindest thing anyone could say to me. Thank you. (Yes, tearing up a little.)

When we remember someone, it's good to see others remember the ones we loved with us, even if they never knew them. Just to acknowledge that they were important, and remain thus. Your love for your wife is a testiment to her character, and your own.

The hurt gets a gradually beter over time, given enough of it. I can tell you though, the love doesn't fade. Not one bit. I hope there's comfort in that.