In denial of my type 2 diabetes

Re: In denial of my type 2 diabetes? Not me.

I do not think I posted here before.
I was diagnosed with type 2 in March and I have licked it. I was also very dismayed. Then I dropped 90% of my carbs at once. I started taking something called GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE as 10 drops in a little water 3 times daily and as a tea (BestNutrition.com) and this controlled my addiction to sugar which was the cause. I avoided all injections and medicines and passed my glucose test a little while ago but now enjoy my food and it does not feel like a diet. I can even watch my kids eat chocolate or bagels.

I take rough oatcakes with organic peanut butter as carbs if I go out and have nothing suitable to eat. My other carbs are the batter on fried fish occasionally. I eat high protein, do not avoid fats unless hydrogenated or transfats. So plenty of eggs (cooked in butter!), cheese, Greek strained yoghurt (with blueberries or unripe chopped conference pear) fish and some chicken grilled once or twice a week. Lots of nuts, some fruits, plenty of avocado, some lentils, sweet potato, hummus, sugar snap peas and loads of raw vegetables. Very little tinned or manufactured foods. Bowels open daily with no problems even on minimal carbs. Now aged 71, lost one stone in 6 months and now stable even on this diet.

I found the books Waist Disposal and Beyond the Diet Trap by Dr John Briffa the most useful.

I do not belittle your feelings nor do I feel smug, but I hope my success encourages you.

Hi Cuddles

That is not good news that your not having a trip to Scotland near loch ness in a log cabin. The rain and bad weather in Scotland is somehow very beautiful.

I was wondering if your wheelchair was one of those modern motorised ones. Also are you housebound.

Looks as if your keep chasing may be better than you think. Somehow you must find some kind of company that understands your situation. The point I am getting at is that, many people like you would love to share the well deserved break you need.
Something like "arranging care on holiday"

I do hope you have some kind of holiday or break which you will love and treat as good medicine.

Best wishes

Roy,

Hi ! Cuddles. Hang in there Love. Diabetes is a pain, but dont let it beat you! I decided, when first diagnosed that it would have to learn to live with me & not me with it!! Remember, if you can get your BS under reasonable control, you do feel better. The anxiety should lessen & you should have more energy. Its early days yet, keep reading, & trying, juggle your diet/ meals to find the best foods for you. We are all different. That is what makes each one of us unique! Happy New Year. Bye for now. Gran Rita

"moaning" is never something to apologize for. Life is hard, especially with these kinds of conditions, and all the complications that can come with them. It is indeed a hard and slow process, but starting as you are by learning about the disease and its implications, in this great community is a wonderful start. You'll find ways to start to make improvements and progress, but it is and will be hard. This forum is a place to learn, to complain as the days difficulties set in, and get advice and actively plan how to work on your condition. You've made a great start, just keep going!

Hi, Cuddles

Sounds good that you use your arms to propell your wheelchair, a form of exercise cant be bad.

I see what you mean being very independent, ( not stubborn I hope )

I think you should find out from proper people (maybe a excuse for someone to talk to) the ins and outs of 4 wheel drive electric wheelchairs, Blimey I am being like a salesman, sorry.

The point I am making is if you did go to somewhere like Scotland with its braes etc; you would get much more out of a electric chair thing.

Another point is I bet you did not like the idea of using a computer, but you do now.

Someone will come soon and tell you to take bg test more often as control is important, Your diabetic nurse should be told,waiting till you feel ill before a test is rather daft.

Anyway all I would like for you is for as many ways for you to get good company to talk to for whatever reason.

You could also get yourself on a train to Scotland or somewhere nice, then Phone your 5 Sons to come and get you. they will soon come running to their mum.

By the way I have man Flu at the moment so please forgive and bad manners or odd ideas.

All the best

Roy.

Sorry, I've come late to this posting and may have missed something...

Why exactly are you so against taking insulin? Insulin is one of the safest drugs on the market and if you need to take it to get your blood glucose under control, then please take it. When we know that high BG will cause diabetic complications and taking insulin will help us avoid those complications, why wouldn't you take it? Type 2's don't necessarily need to take it forever. Why the reluctance if it will help you to normalise your blood glucose?

Hopefully if you read the following it may help put your mind at rest regarding using insulin :thumbup:

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/15478720.php

Best wishes,

Cuddles said:

Hi it's me again, I don't understand what has happened with my bg tests.
Yesterday before breakfast it was 8-3 then two hours after breakfast it was 12-5 I'd had two pieces of whole meal toast with butter and crab paste on. I had lamb casserole for dinner with no spuds, tea time I had some pork about five o'clock ,then when I went to bed at eleven I took my bg again and it was 5-8 ! I thought great. So when I woke this morning after not eating at all since tea time I thought it would be low! Mistake it read before breakfast 10-2 ! I think either my machine isn't working properly or I'm doomed! What is everyone's thoughts on this please?ive got until eleven o'clock before I test again after breakfast which I might add was the same as yesterday's .

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We are all doomed Mr. Mainwaring.

If you don't eat for a long period (5 or 6 hours) then your liver provides some sugar to keep you going. Some people call this the dawn phenomenon since they have not eaten overnight. Others call it the liver dump because it can happen any time you starve yourself. I expect this accounts for your before breakfast reading.

Secondly, if I ate two pieces of toast I would expect a reading in the teens since I and many other diabetics cannot tolerate flour based products.

I believe your machine is probably behaving correctly.

Cuddles said:

My reading now is two hours after breakfast is 11-4 how does that rate? I'm going to have roast pork dinner without the spuds mostly veg, am I starting to do things right? Also in future ill only have one slice of toast or Greek yogurt for brekkie. Is that ok?

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I'd not bother with any toast at all myself. I get similar results when I eat bread. Breakfast for me now is usually scrambled eggs with diced plum tomatoes or else a cheese omelette. I find this has a negligible effect on my glucose levels.

Lunch is usually a salad with cheese or some cold meat. Dinner involves using sweet potatoes or celeriac or spaghetti squash or zero noodles. I stick to less than 20 grams of carb at any one meal.

Although you will potentially have trouble with flour, rice and potatoes you can try a compromise and not give them up all together.

Try your one slice of toast and note if an improvement happens. If your reading at 2 hours after breakfast is more than 8.5 then you cannot tolerate even one slice.

The same applies to all other foods. Cut down on those that give you a high reading (they will probably be the ones above) and eat more of food that gives you readings that are in spec.

Cuddles said:

I was diagnosed last in 2011 as type 2. I still cannot accept it, I don't understand anything about the diet, medication or hba1c. I'm 58yrs old this month and feel my life is over. I'm confined to a wheelchair, for9yrs, and can't find anyone to help motivate me to loose weight. I'm lost and feel alone, I've only just joined the forum. Can anyone help me?

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hi
hi i am sorry to read this i myself was diagnosed last year in 55 this year i joined this site today and feel very positive with the feed backs i don:t understand it iether my sugur levels go down to 3 to 4 then i eat glcose tablets to raise it then they go up to 8 or 10 then drop fast so ive been advised to go back for second diagnoses as they are leveling out fast im so glad i came on here im here if you want to chat please dont feel alone kim

Hi Cuddles
Can I suggest a book ? It's Diabetes for Dummies written by Dr Sarah Jarvis GP and Alan . L Rubin MD. I found it REALLY helpful when I was diagnosed over 10 years ago. I refer back to it quite often. I was diagnosed type 2 at age 64 (ish ) and have coped well. Please don't feel that you're alone as I'm sure folk on here will rally round you. As for using WW food ..... beware the hidden sugars. I wish you luck and know you'll get through this