Hi everyone
Just thought I'd post a bit of an update to see if you think I'm doing ok.
BG
My BG meter tells me my average is 7 which I'm not too thrilled with. Testing 3-4 times dailt. Morning I'm between 6-7, after breakfast around 7-8. Pre evening meal is between 5-6 and afterwards is varying. I aim for 7-8 at most, sometimes it's a little less, and sometimes it's more. What's worrying me is I'm still getting these really random spikes - 10/11/12+, for no obvious reason, after something I've eaten before with no unusual spikes - and they're becoming more frequent. Is this anything to worry about?
Metformin
I've been taking 2 x 500mg daily. The morning dose after breakfast gives me no side effects beyond a little bloating. The second dose in the evening is giving me diarrhoea that goes beyond anything I've ever experience - and I've been in hospital with food poisoning before. It's like the minute I swallow it, I'm running to the bathroom - sometimes I'm not sure I'll get there in time. I've tried it before, during, after meals, a combination of carbs, low carbs, no carbs - it's ridiculous. My nurse says to give it a little longer because I'll adapt to it - it just seems to be getting worse - and also says it's pointless trying the SR version as it gives people the same side effects. I wonder if it would be worth trying them anyway. I'm utterly miserable and on the verge of giving it up altogether. Are there any alternatives at all? I don't think my DN will be forthcoming in suggestions and it will fall to me to mention them, but I don't know what's out there.
Exercise
I'm trying to exercise more but I have limitations. My thyroid problems have left me in a weird state of both under- and over-active levels - I don't have a thyroid gland anymore at all and take thyroxine but I have unusual reactions to this. I feel like I have a flat battery, and have a resting bpm of about 100-120. Any exercise raises this and I see stars and feel drunk. The op to remove cancer in my neck has left me with limited mobility of my right shoulder so worry swimming would be difficult - if I could even find a cossie to fit me! The DN has suggested I go for walks after every meal - I do this at lunch time, but I'm spending every evening post-tea in the bathroom, I CANNOT leave the house! Any suggestions?
Food
I am trying to reduce carbs but have decided no-carb or very-low-carb will not work for me - it makes me feel quite ill. I have drastically cut down though and have stopped snacking between meals and in front of the tv.
As for my eating disorder - I have been to see a private NLP specialist in my eating problems and it hasn't helped nearly as much as I hoped spending the £200 would. And he is very good, he's been on TV and is regularly in the press with excellent results. His 'failures' are in the single figures, and I've been added to that list. The point of the therapy was that it would leave me a 'scientific eater' - not afraid to try new food and THEN make the decision that I either like it, dislike it, or am neutral, taking away the guilt and pressure and fear. The best I've managed is I can occaisionally eat a few mouthfuls of cooked carrot, a few peas, and I don't mind wilted spinach/watercress/rocket mixed with something else eg chicken, noodles. Still no fruit and salads - I can't even pick them up, let alone eat them. The next step is a referal to the CBT eating disorders clinic at the hospital. If this doesn't work I have literally no idea what I'm going to do. The future seems very bleak, food-wise.
The DN has also referred me to WeightWatchers which I will start going to in the new year, but if I can't eat their meals/recipes, there's not much point.
I have also seen the practice dietician who SHOCK HORROR was ACTUALLY SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING, and didn't just tell me to eat vegetables and give me a booklet on heart disease like every other one I've seen. She's going to help as much as she can, but I know it's up to me.
So that's where I'm up to, not that any of you needed to know really, but it makes me feel better knowing you have a clue what you're talking about and can understand.
So if anyone has any suggestions re the bg spikes and alternatives to metformin I'd love to hear them.
Thanks!
Just thought I'd post a bit of an update to see if you think I'm doing ok.
BG
My BG meter tells me my average is 7 which I'm not too thrilled with. Testing 3-4 times dailt. Morning I'm between 6-7, after breakfast around 7-8. Pre evening meal is between 5-6 and afterwards is varying. I aim for 7-8 at most, sometimes it's a little less, and sometimes it's more. What's worrying me is I'm still getting these really random spikes - 10/11/12+, for no obvious reason, after something I've eaten before with no unusual spikes - and they're becoming more frequent. Is this anything to worry about?
Metformin
I've been taking 2 x 500mg daily. The morning dose after breakfast gives me no side effects beyond a little bloating. The second dose in the evening is giving me diarrhoea that goes beyond anything I've ever experience - and I've been in hospital with food poisoning before. It's like the minute I swallow it, I'm running to the bathroom - sometimes I'm not sure I'll get there in time. I've tried it before, during, after meals, a combination of carbs, low carbs, no carbs - it's ridiculous. My nurse says to give it a little longer because I'll adapt to it - it just seems to be getting worse - and also says it's pointless trying the SR version as it gives people the same side effects. I wonder if it would be worth trying them anyway. I'm utterly miserable and on the verge of giving it up altogether. Are there any alternatives at all? I don't think my DN will be forthcoming in suggestions and it will fall to me to mention them, but I don't know what's out there.
Exercise
I'm trying to exercise more but I have limitations. My thyroid problems have left me in a weird state of both under- and over-active levels - I don't have a thyroid gland anymore at all and take thyroxine but I have unusual reactions to this. I feel like I have a flat battery, and have a resting bpm of about 100-120. Any exercise raises this and I see stars and feel drunk. The op to remove cancer in my neck has left me with limited mobility of my right shoulder so worry swimming would be difficult - if I could even find a cossie to fit me! The DN has suggested I go for walks after every meal - I do this at lunch time, but I'm spending every evening post-tea in the bathroom, I CANNOT leave the house! Any suggestions?
Food
I am trying to reduce carbs but have decided no-carb or very-low-carb will not work for me - it makes me feel quite ill. I have drastically cut down though and have stopped snacking between meals and in front of the tv.
As for my eating disorder - I have been to see a private NLP specialist in my eating problems and it hasn't helped nearly as much as I hoped spending the £200 would. And he is very good, he's been on TV and is regularly in the press with excellent results. His 'failures' are in the single figures, and I've been added to that list. The point of the therapy was that it would leave me a 'scientific eater' - not afraid to try new food and THEN make the decision that I either like it, dislike it, or am neutral, taking away the guilt and pressure and fear. The best I've managed is I can occaisionally eat a few mouthfuls of cooked carrot, a few peas, and I don't mind wilted spinach/watercress/rocket mixed with something else eg chicken, noodles. Still no fruit and salads - I can't even pick them up, let alone eat them. The next step is a referal to the CBT eating disorders clinic at the hospital. If this doesn't work I have literally no idea what I'm going to do. The future seems very bleak, food-wise.
The DN has also referred me to WeightWatchers which I will start going to in the new year, but if I can't eat their meals/recipes, there's not much point.
I have also seen the practice dietician who SHOCK HORROR was ACTUALLY SUPPORTIVE AND UNDERSTANDING, and didn't just tell me to eat vegetables and give me a booklet on heart disease like every other one I've seen. She's going to help as much as she can, but I know it's up to me.
So that's where I'm up to, not that any of you needed to know really, but it makes me feel better knowing you have a clue what you're talking about and can understand.
So if anyone has any suggestions re the bg spikes and alternatives to metformin I'd love to hear them.
Thanks!
