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Finally accepting my diagnosis

Q

Quanntum

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hello all,
I was diagnosed in August with type 2. I know it is a new development because I get my blood tests every year and in AUgust of 2014 my blood sugars were normal. However, I gained about 40 pounds due to dealing with depression/taking meds, and that may have been what sent me over the edge (but I don't really know I guess).
I'm only 22. I have a father with the disease (DXd in his early 30s) and a grandfather who didn't know he had it until he recently starting dealing with complications. I am also 295 pounds (which is 15 less than I was a few months ago), and so this is my biggest goal. I have about 140 pounds to lose, that's almost half my weight! Doctor told me that people who are in my position can see huge, long term improvements by getting to a healthy weight (including possibly having normal sugars again without medication until the disease progresses to a point I need it again). But even when I get there, I know I will always be diabetic. And I have finally accepted it.

I am joining this forum just to meet people and share experiences. Look for advice, and one day share advice as well. Right now, my biggest fear is telling my mother and my girlfriend. I do not want them to treat me differently.

Sorry if I'm rambling or if the post is too long, I ramble a lot in real life so I kinda just let this flow!
 
Welcome to the forum @Quanntum. You won't get judged here, people are a friendly bunch and helpful.

I'm tagging @daisy1 who can provide you with good general advice on joining.

Sadly we will always be diabetic but with diet and exercise you can ultimately control it, many people here do without meds.

Take a look around the forum, and you will find many success stories. As for treating you different that is their issue, but with a positive attitude you can not let diabetes rule your life.

Good luck - and welcome again
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.

As you have so much weight to lose, you might find the Newcastle Diet suitable for you. There's quite a lot of information about it in various places on the forum. You can see a lecture by Professor Taylor about the diet at:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/my-yours-daily-menus-woooooo.98667/page-2#post-1117531

Another alternative might be fasting. There's a long thread about it: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/fasting-for-type-2s.73800/

This video has a good summary of the science:

 
Hi and Welcome @Quanntum

This has been a great resource for me and I am sure it will be for you. I recall taking a few weeks to break the news to my family but they were great when I finally did (I think it was more about myself getting used to the idea). So my advice would be to tell them when you are ready.
Have a look they the forums and ask questions if anything grabs your attention.

Do you have or are you getting a Blood Glucose Meter for self testing? This will become your number one tool in bringing down those levels.
Cheers
 
Hi @Quanntum ,

Welcome to the forums, good luck with weight loss. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.
 
Generally reducing your carbs will produce striking metabolic improvements...

http://www.ditchthecarbs.com/2015/05/15/what-is-insulin-resistance/
rsz_insulin_resistance.jpg
 
Thank you all for the support! Wow it's crazy how fast that happened, I'm kinda emotional about it lol. This is a good community.
I am currently looking through all the links you guys posted.
@muzza3 I have my own kit for testing, but affording the strips is becoming a bit of a problem. Though I'm sure once I start to communicate better with my PCP he will have a good idea on what I should do about this.

@kokhongw I didn't know that this could cause chronic inflammation. I was diagnosed with costochondritis and chalked it up to an old football injury but i had no idea this could be part of it. And it makes sense bc it has gotten worse over time!
 
Quanntum said:
@kokhongw I didn't know that this could cause chronic inflammation. I was diagnosed with costochondritis and chalked it up to an old football injury but i had no idea this could be part of it. And it makes sense bc it has gotten worse over time
Click to expand...

Yes a lot of things suddenly become obvious after the diagnosis and especially after we start the carbs reduction. It was like a fog had lifted...the sun is out again...so many years have gone by.

After a couple of months of adjustment to carbs reduction, then it would make sense to start exercising. It would be much less strenuous and actually enjoyable.
 
+1 to @kokhongw on the wait to exercise. It took me a month and a half after being diagnosed and starting a low carb diet that I finally felt like getting out and walking. It take a body time to adjust to the food changes so just give it a bit of time.
 
@kokhongw @satkins I don't mind waiting to start exercising. I do plan on going Low carb soon. I guess I just have two questions:
1) What about work? I am a student who works part time in a lab (which requires a fair amount of standing) and part time in a fast food place (which requires a fair amount of moving/standing and lifting stuff).
2) How strenuous is the exercise you do? I used to to grappling martial arts 3x a week and would love to get back to that. is that going to be possible if i go LCHF?

Thank you for your responses. ANd all the information for sure
 
Quanntum said:
@kokhongw @satkins I don't mind waiting to start exercising. I do plan on going Low carb soon. I guess I just have two questions:
1) What about work? I am a student who works part time in a lab (which requires a fair amount of standing) and part time in a fast food place (which requires a fair amount of moving/standing and lifting stuff).
2) How strenuous is the exercise you do? I used to to grappling martial arts 3x a week and would love to get back to that. is that going to be possible if i go LCHF?

Thank you for your responses. ANd all the information for sure
Click to expand...

When you first go low carb. During the adaptation phase you may be more conscious of the tiredness. But it really isn't that different from having a high carb meal and feeling drowsy after that...After a couple of weeks of adaptation I feel ok even on fasting days. Sugar remain around 4-5 mmols. I get the shakes and heart palpitations when it stays below 4 mmols.

No strenuous exercise for me at all...only recently I am able to do 2 sets of 20 push ups and squats in a single session without any muscles ache. Previously I would be panting after 10 of either...or simply when I walk up a few flights of stairs...and the aches could be there for days...So it really depends on your fitness level. If you had been training previously it may not take you long to get back in shape.
 
You can do whatever you like on a low carb diet - you absolutely do not need carbs to exercise. I have been low carb for 8 months now and since starting that I have taken up lifting weights (nerve did this before) and running ( I used to be out of breath after a few yards but am now in training for a 10 k.. on a low carb diet you don't ever hit the wall as you are fuelled by fat not carbs and the fat never runs out)! I highly recommend HIIts (high intensity interval training) this got me really fit in just 4 minutes a day.
 
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