Wellness

[Moonchilde]

On 8/17/2014 Issiestorm said:

On 8/17/2014 moonchilde said: I think it's a bit harsh (and not really helpful, when the OP came looking for help and support) to assume, as some posters have done, that she is a clueless newbie who has to be told every basic, or chastised because she is probably not "following the rules" based on the assumption that she doesn't know what she's doing. I didn't get that impression from her post. It may be true, but I wouldn't assume it, and treat her as if she is being willfully ignorant and naughty, somehow. She is under stress, worried, and asking for help. Now is not the time for strangers to blast her for her perceived inadequacies. She may have been fairly recently diagnosed. Low doses of metformin don't do diddly for most people. Many GPs don't give newly diagnosed patients any guidance (mine didn't - I had to do it all myself). The OP may not have an easy way to make or go to doctors' appointments. It's easy for people to say "well you have to just DO it (or whatever happens to you is your own fault)" but reality may be different. She may not have a thorough idea of what a low carb diet consists of, and that isn't necessarily her "fault." Maybe she grabbed what she did to eat out of necessity. I just can't be that quick to judge.

Well, I certainly hope I haven't come across that way and if I did, I'm sorry. As someone who has this condition, I honestly do believe that the OP needs to see her doctor about this, but at the same time there are many people on these boards who offer very good moral support (including you moonchilde) along with good advice. I tried to address that in my earlier post. It took me a while for my health care giver to figure out what works best for me as regards meds, and I still have a real problem figuring out a healthy diet for myself, so I totally sympathize with the OP. And having a stressful situation in one's life can of course aggravate any type of condition.

Nevertheless, I think having a competent doctor is very important. I wish the OP all the best.

Oh, you definitely didn't come off as judgmental, only supportive :-) When I was diagnosed, my blood sugar was 550 - and all my doctor did was write me a prescription for lowest dose metformin - nothing else. No instructions, nada. I had some of the very nasty side-effects of high sugar and was alone (no nearby family) with no one to talk to - and had to keep working as if nothing was wrong. But I have worked in hospitals 45 years, and I am a researcher by nature, so learned all I could online. I also joined an online diabetes forum (there are 2-3 good ones), where I learned that each diabetic's body is individual in its responses. It was very helpful to me to have that forum to lean on in the early days. I do my best with "healthy" but I'm not perfect. I believe in a mostly healthy diet I can live with and the occasional cheat, as opposed to the rigid book-perfect diet no mortal can stick to ;-) and my A1C has been consistently below 6 for 5+ years, so my doctor is happy.

[emmysmom]

On 8/17/2014 moonchilde said:

On 8/17/2014 Issiestorm said:

On 8/17/2014 moonchilde said: I think it's a bit harsh (and not really helpful, when the OP came looking for help and support) to assume, as some posters have done, that she is a clueless newbie who has to be told every basic, or chastised because she is probably not "following the rules" based on the assumption that she doesn't know what she's doing. I didn't get that impression from her post. It may be true, but I wouldn't assume it, and treat her as if she is being willfully ignorant and naughty, somehow. She is under stress, worried, and asking for help. Now is not the time for strangers to blast her for her perceived inadequacies. She may have been fairly recently diagnosed. Low doses of metformin don't do diddly for most people. Many GPs don't give newly diagnosed patients any guidance (mine didn't - I had to do it all myself). The OP may not have an easy way to make or go to doctors' appointments. It's easy for people to say "well you have to just DO it (or whatever happens to you is your own fault)" but reality may be different. She may not have a thorough idea of what a low carb diet consists of, and that isn't necessarily her "fault." Maybe she grabbed what she did to eat out of necessity. I just can't be that quick to judge.

Well, I certainly hope I haven't come across that way and if I did, I'm sorry. As someone who has this condition, I honestly do believe that the OP needs to see her doctor about this, but at the same time there are many people on these boards who offer very good moral support (including you moonchilde) along with good advice. I tried to address that in my earlier post. It took me a while for my health care giver to figure out what works best for me as regards meds, and I still have a real problem figuring out a healthy diet for myself, so I totally sympathize with the OP. And having a stressful situation in one's life can of course aggravate any type of condition.

Nevertheless, I think having a competent doctor is very important. I wish the OP all the best.

Oh, you definitely didn't come off as judgmental, only supportive :-) When I was diagnosed, my blood sugar was 550 - and all my doctor did was write me a prescription for lowest dose metformin - nothing else. No instructions, nada. I had some of the very nasty side-effects of high sugar and was alone (no nearby family) with no one to talk to - and had to keep working as if nothing was wrong. But I have worked in hospitals 45 years, and I am a researcher by nature, so learned all I could online. I also joined an online diabetes forum (there are 2-3 good ones), where I learned that each diabetic's body is individual in its responses. It was very helpful to me to have that forum to lean on in the early days. I do my best with "healthy" but I'm not perfect. I believe in a mostly healthy diet I can live with and the occasional cheat, as opposed to the rigid book-perfect diet no mortal can stick to ;-) and my A1C has been consistently below 6 for 5+ years, so my doctor is happy.

My story is similar..way to go!!! I too have done alot of research online. My BS was in the 400 range..my last A1C was 5.4. Its hard work but it pays off. I use lantus, the met didn't work for me and I do low carb.

[issiestorm]

On 8/17/2014 moonchilde said:

On 8/17/2014 Issiestorm said:

On 8/17/2014 moonchilde said: I think it's a bit harsh (and not really helpful, when the OP came looking for help and support) to assume, as some posters have done, that she is a clueless newbie who has to be told every basic, or chastised because she is probably not "following the rules" based on the assumption that she doesn't know what she's doing. I didn't get that impression from her post. It may be true, but I wouldn't assume it, and treat her as if she is being willfully ignorant and naughty, somehow. She is under stress, worried, and asking for help. Now is not the time for strangers to blast her for her perceived inadequacies. She may have been fairly recently diagnosed. Low doses of metformin don't do diddly for most people. Many GPs don't give newly diagnosed patients any guidance (mine didn't - I had to do it all myself). The OP may not have an easy way to make or go to doctors' appointments. It's easy for people to say "well you have to just DO it (or whatever happens to you is your own fault)" but reality may be different. She may not have a thorough idea of what a low carb diet consists of, and that isn't necessarily her "fault." Maybe she grabbed what she did to eat out of necessity. I just can't be that quick to judge.

Well, I certainly hope I haven't come across that way and if I did, I'm sorry. As someone who has this condition, I honestly do believe that the OP needs to see her doctor about this, but at the same time there are many people on these boards who offer very good moral support (including you moonchilde) along with good advice. I tried to address that in my earlier post. It took me a while for my health care giver to figure out what works best for me as regards meds, and I still have a real problem figuring out a healthy diet for myself, so I totally sympathize with the OP. And having a stressful situation in one's life can of course aggravate any type of condition.

Nevertheless, I think having a competent doctor is very important. I wish the OP all the best.

Oh, you definitely didn't come off as judgmental, only supportive :-) When I was diagnosed, my blood sugar was 550 - and all my doctor did was write me a prescription for lowest dose metformin - nothing else. No instructions, nada. I had some of the very nasty side-effects of high sugar and was alone (no nearby family) with no one to talk to - and had to keep working as if nothing was wrong. But I have worked in hospitals 45 years, and I am a researcher by nature, so learned all I could online. I also joined an online diabetes forum (there are 2-3 good ones), where I learned that each diabetic's body is individual in its responses. It was very helpful to me to have that forum to lean on in the early days. I do my best with "healthy" but I'm not perfect. I believe in a mostly healthy diet I can live with and the occasional cheat, as opposed to the rigid book-perfect diet no mortal can stick to ;-) and my A1C has been consistently below 6 for 5+ years, so my doctor is happy.

OMG, that doctor sounds totally irresponsible to just let you sink or swim like that! When I was first diagnosed my blood sugar was so high that my doctor put me in the hospital. I'm glad you at least had a very supportive forum at a time you really needed it. I'm really glad to hear that you're doing much better. And no, I'm not totally rigid either and I fall off the wagon once in a while as well. All the best to you.

[sage4]

I was recently told I am a type 2 diabetic. I am on insulin twice and Metformin (500mg)twice daily. Lost weight while on the Metformin and have no problem if I take it after eating. I was told to eat 45grams of Carbs for each meal. Once in a while I go over that amount but so far my readings are under 100. In the beginning it was 300 with an A!C of 8.5 now after 8months my A!C is 6.5.

I need to walk 30 minutes a day but sometimes I dont. I realize how important it is to walk and will be doing it more often.

Hope you can get in touch with your Dr soon or if you keep feeling dizzy, please go to to ER.

[hyacinth003]

You need to talk to your doctor. Take more blood sugar readings in the meantime. An A1C will tell you how you are doing over the last few months. Perhaps you need a medication change. I take Metformin and Levemir insulin. I am a type 2 diabetic and a registered nurse. Hyacinth

[Moonchilde]

On 8/17/2014 Issiestorm said:

On 8/17/2014 moonchilde said:

On 8/17/2014 Issiestorm said:

On 8/17/2014 moonchilde said: I think it's a bit harsh (and not really helpful, when the OP came looking for help and support) to assume, as some posters have done, that she is a clueless newbie who has to be told every basic, or chastised because she is probably not "following the rules" based on the assumption that she doesn't know what she's doing. I didn't get that impression from her post. It may be true, but I wouldn't assume it, and treat her as if she is being willfully ignorant and naughty, somehow. She is under stress, worried, and asking for help. Now is not the time for strangers to blast her for her perceived inadequacies. She may have been fairly recently diagnosed. Low doses of metformin don't do diddly for most people. Many GPs don't give newly diagnosed patients any guidance (mine didn't - I had to do it all myself). The OP may not have an easy way to make or go to doctors' appointments. It's easy for people to say "well you have to just DO it (or whatever happens to you is your own fault)" but reality may be different. She may not have a thorough idea of what a low carb diet consists of, and that isn't necessarily her "fault." Maybe she grabbed what she did to eat out of necessity. I just can't be that quick to judge.

Well, I certainly hope I haven't come across that way and if I did, I'm sorry. As someone who has this condition, I honestly do believe that the OP needs to see her doctor about this, but at the same time there are many people on these boards who offer very good moral support (including you moonchilde) along with good advice. I tried to address that in my earlier post. It took me a while for my health care giver to figure out what works best for me as regards meds, and I still have a real problem figuring out a healthy diet for myself, so I totally sympathize with the OP. And having a stressful situation in one's life can of course aggravate any type of condition.

Nevertheless, I think having a competent doctor is very important. I wish the OP all the best.

Oh, you definitely didn't come off as judgmental, only supportive :-) When I was diagnosed, my blood sugar was 550 - and all my doctor did was write me a prescription for lowest dose metformin - nothing else. No instructions, nada. I had some of the very nasty side-effects of high sugar and was alone (no nearby family) with no one to talk to - and had to keep working as if nothing was wrong. But I have worked in hospitals 45 years, and I am a researcher by nature, so learned all I could online. I also joined an online diabetes forum (there are 2-3 good ones), where I learned that each diabetic's body is individual in its responses. It was very helpful to me to have that forum to lean on in the early days. I do my best with "healthy" but I'm not perfect. I believe in a mostly healthy diet I can live with and the occasional cheat, as opposed to the rigid book-perfect diet no mortal can stick to ;-) and my A1C has been consistently below 6 for 5+ years, so my doctor is happy.

OMG, that doctor sounds totally irresponsible to just let you sink or swim like that! When I was first diagnosed my blood sugar was so high that my doctor put me in the hospital. I'm glad you at least had a very supportive forum at a time you really needed it. I'm really glad to hear that you're doing much better. And no, I'm not totally rigid either and I fall off the wagon once in a while as well. All the best to you.

And to you :-) I take the max dose of metformin now, try to do low carb most of the time, and take an occasional generic Prandin for higher carb meals. So far so pretty much okay.

[Moonchilde]

On 8/17/2014 hyacinth003 said: You need to talk to your doctor. Take more blood sugar readings in the meantime. An A1C will tell you how you are doing over the last few months. Perhaps you need a medication change. I take Metformin and Levemir insulin. I am a type 2 diabetic and a registered nurse. Hyacinth

OP, this reminds me - if you want to know what your A1C (cumulative blood sugar over the last 90 days) is and your doctor hasn't done one or you want to know "now" you can buy A1C kits at CVS and probably other pharmacies, following the instructions to provide a blood sample. You mail it in, and in a week or so they send you your results. Over 6 is not great, and over 6.5 your doctor should be unhappy.

[Gooday]

DUH!!! What a moron I am. I was thinking OP's blood sugar had dropped. I am sorry for posting such dumb advice.

Now, there are so many different medications. The Metformin works for me but DH and my dad are on Glipizide and DH also takes weekly injection of Bydurian which is working wonders for him.

[Gooday]

On 8/17/2014 moonchilde said:

On 8/17/2014 hyacinth003 said: You need to talk to your doctor. Take more blood sugar readings in the meantime. An A1C will tell you how you are doing over the last few months. Perhaps you need a medication change. I take Metformin and Levemir insulin. I am a type 2 diabetic and a registered nurse. Hyacinth

OP, this reminds me - if you want to know what your A1C (cumulative blood sugar over the last 90 days) is and your doctor hasn't done one or you want to know "now" you can buy A1C kits at CVS and probably other pharmacies, following the instructions to provide a blood sample. You mail it in, and in a week or so they send you your results. Over 6 is not great, and over 6.5 your doctor should be unhappy.

It's funny (not ha, ha funny) because last month mine was 6.7 and I thought, "oh boy, he's not going to be happy". He said it used to be that they did not want it over 6 but now the standard has gone to 7 and under. He did say that he would prefer it to be lower but he did not seem fazed at all. Things that make you shake your head huh???

[ID2]

On 8/17/2014 Tissyanne said: Exercise is dangerous for anyone with a blood sugar reading over 180. It can raise your bs even higher. Call your doctor.

Huh?? Whenever my bs isn't where I want it I jump on my treadmill for a good workout and walla! my bs is back down to the normal range! This is how I keep my A1C levels in the 5's!