I thank you all for your replies. An open question: Do any of you know of diabetics living to older age (80s), limbs and eyesight intact, with relatively few complications, excepting the usual complications attendant on old age? Has anyone here lived with type 2 diabetes for more than 40-50 years, without insulin? I often hear the word "progressive", is it true that even with good control, that insulin use is an inevitability? I must say I find that discouraging.
FatGenes999: You mention neuropathy. I've read that poor circulation alone could lead to amputation. I can't seem to find any definitive information about what leads to amputation--whether neuropathy precipitates it, as one loses all feeling in the extremities, or if poor circulation itself can cause it. I already inherited hyperuricemia (gout) from my father, despite abstaining from red meat and alcohol, so I already have aches on my right foot from uric acid. I walk my dog everyday, and even that has become a source of dread. The thing is, I feel like I've gotten two diseases associated with excess, despite not being a hedonist.
Mud Island Dweller: I'm afraid I won't be able to contribute much to your recipe collection. I used to have a food blog of sorts, and my sources included Ina Garten and Julia Child--not exactly known for their moderation in using fats. I'll miss things like this homemade tomato soup with French bread croutons, since canned San Marzano tomatoes, tomatoes in general, and artisanal bread, are a no for diabetics: http://individual.utoronto.ca/montag/food/tomatosoup.html
DiamondAsh: I sincerely hope you never get this diagnosis. For me, it's been a crystallization of many years of fear and anxiety. And you're right, I am a worrywart, so this is possibly the worst disease for an obsessive personality-type. I am a girl, incidentally, though I realise my avatar of Matt Smith makes that ambiguous.
Cara: I think the I've taken a fight or flight approach to my diagnosis. I am definitely trying to stop it from progressing by severely restricting what I'm eating. I've even signed up for a clinical trial at a hospital, that will attempt to 'rest' and allow the beta cells to repair themselves, through intensive insulin therapy. I do wish I could be as practical as you, and 'pick myself up by the bootstraps', as it were.
pavlosn: Thank you for your kind and thoughtful reply. As I mentioned, I am a worrier, with a tendency towards grim ideation. The complications of diabetes are what dominate my thoughts. I can't seem to find a definitive answer about neuropathy, whether poor circulation ALONE, or poor circulation coupled with injury/infection leads to complications.
May I ask where you got your statistics, regarding a reduction in the HbA1c reducing our risk of complications by 10%? Do you mean a drop from say 7.0 to 6.8, or a drop 7.0 to 5.0? The same question applies to our post-prandial blood-glucose numbers. If one's normal glucose level is 5.0, should the post-meal mmol not exceed 7.0?
Right now, it does feel like I am between Scylla and Charybdis. I really do not know how diabetics walk this tightrope between survival, discipline, the constant checking of numbers, not worrying about the uncertainty of the future, or giving yourselves over to fatalism, whilst having lives and careers. All of you are made of such mettle that I fear I do not possess. It's not been two weeks since my diagnosis, and I feel like I am ready to go gentle into that good night.
Whatever happens, I do wish everyone here a good, and long life.
I was diagnosed with type II diabetes on January 27, 2014--something I had been trying to stave off these last few years with regular walks, and expunging things like white rice, bread, and pasta from my diet. Still, heredity did out. My GP has all the bedside manner of an espresso maker, i.e. none at all, and didn't really give me much in the way of guidance, except to write a prescription for Metformin, and to tell me that diabetics are at risk for amputations, blindness, and infertility.
I was tested again on February 6 by another doctor, with an HbA1c of 7.7, and a resting blood glucose of 7.0mmol--not ideal numbers.
<snip>
I read about diabetic socks, and never going barefoot.
<snip>
I only just turned 31, and in a very visceral sense, it feels like I've already died. It's not been two weeks since my diagnosis, and I'm already tired of life.
I don't quite know what to despair about most: the fact that the pleasures of food are forever barred from me, that I must exercise slavishly, and eat the blandest of diets just to stay alive, or that every physician and nurse has told me it's a "progressive" disease, and that no matter what I do, I will deteriorate and need insulin.
Touchett
I understand how you feel! When I was diagnosed a week before xmas (such a nice present) I was devastated and left floundering as to what it all meant. I was given a useless leaflet and told to book myself on a course. Unfortunately, I didn't find this site for a month so was unable to benefit from the experience of the people here and they are experienced and many have been through the same emotions that you find yourself having now.
I initially filled the gap of knowledge of the condition by reading up on the metabolism in my daughters university texts and following the scientific papers and it suppressed the desperation I felt; other people find other coping mechanisms. By the way I still do this but that is just my nature
I also at the time was extremely worried about my eyesight (I had just failed the field vision test at the opticians as I saw nothing in his machine) and thought omg I have destroyed my eyes and will never be able to drive again. But there is nothing I can do about the past it is the future that counts so I focussed and directed my efforts into turning the diagnoses into a force for good and that is precisely what you will do I am sure. Blood Glucose Control is the key so get a meter and be obsessed for a month or two so you understand the effect everything has on you metabolism.
You life isn't over, you are now a member of an exclusive club that the rest of mankind try their hardest to join but just fail miserably. We are the lucky ones. Make sure you use this as a positive in your life - remember you are in control it isn't in control of you
I am still somewhat "obsessed" with taking my BG readings, although I'm in my third month after diagnosis, and I know that many other members here are doing the same.
Here's the latest news on my foot neuropathy, which I have. The neurologist gave me a series of EMG diagnostic tests and said that, fortunately, the larger muscles have not been affected by the diabetes. But, when my BG is even a little high I notice I get the foot neuropathy symptoms. The key is good glucose control and not putting unnecessary strain on the feet. Cold will sometimes be an instigator.
An inexpensive remedy for the discomfort of foot neuropathy, which seems to work for me, is cayenne powder mixed with olive oil, and rubbed on the feet and then covered with socks. This has provided relief for me.
Hi Touchette,
I read your thread just yesterday, so I'm a late joiner. I read the supportive, encouraging, and informative replies to your original post. This forum gets input from some truly fine people.
My contribution picks up from your concern about a life-long sentence of bland dining, a particularly cruel punishment for one who enjoys cooking. Take a look at Lee Shurie's personal history and systematic documentation of his approach to combating Type II:
http://www.shurie.com/lee/writing_defeat_diabetes.htm
He too was a young man when his high readings were first seen, but he says it was years later when he tried to manage it. Determined to do so without medication he tried a change in diet, added exercise, and then added a form of fasting that began as not eating until his BG was low.
I'm not a young man like you and Shurie, -- 1951 is not a random number -- but my fBG was similar to yours. Like Shurie, I decided to try imposing long periods between meals and cutting carbs to a minimum, under the belief that: if successful, I will be able to enjoy occasional meals with bread stuffing and roasted potatoes and all those other yummy things that got me here in the first place. It will be a while before I get an answer. You and I learned about our conditions at about the same time, and it looks like we've scored the same numbers. Like Shurie, I'm documenting my progress on a web site:
http://web.ncf.ca/fx536
Take a look. Maybe it's information that's useful to you, maybe not.
Best to you,
George1951
I am so pleased to hear about your health news! And your blood glucose readings are terrific, in non-diabetic range. You mentioned that you live on the East coast, so you've had to endure an especially harsh winter. I'm not sure if it's peripheral nerves, or just hypochondria at this point, but I have found this winter bitingly cold, and find that my toes and hands hurt if I'm outdoors for any length of time. Of course, I didn't sense any of this prior to diagnosis, so I will assume there is some valetudinarian paranoia at play here.
Hi touchett
I don't have a lovely poem like Cara's. Just a saying we have in these parts: "You die if you worry. You die if you don't." Please be aware that stress can raise blood sugar levels. Best wishes for a long, healthy life
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