Re: Type 2 Diabetes

tototwo · ‎03-09-2010

@Munchkincat -- Sorry for your diagnosis. Your doctor should have given you more guidance. I had gestational diabetes in my early 20's, and found out I was Type 2 a few years later.

There's a diabetic clinic here and my doctor referred me to weekly classes and appointments with diabetic nurses. Plus, he recommended a few books to read. I read them all!

A good one is: Type 2 Diabetes, The First Year by Gretchen Becker.

Also: The Calorie King, Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter (Or: www.CalorieKing.com)

There are oodles of diabetic support groups and forums on the internet, but I found they spread opinions and old wives' tales, not truth.

Your doctor should refer you to a local clinic or nursing service for diabetes. If not, call a hospital to ask for diabetic specialists.

Edited: I just remembered -- when I went to my pharmacy to fill my first diabetic prescription, the pharmacist gave me pamphlets listing resources in our area such as support groups, dieticians, education resources, etc. Plus, she talked to me about how to use the blood meter, blood sugar levels, etc. So maybe a good starting point for you would be to talk to a pharmacist....?

Good luck.

* A woman is like a tea bag. You can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. *
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Lipstickdiva · ‎03-10-2010

My DH was diagnosed a number of years ago. The best thing we did was take a nutrition course for diabetics. It was offered through our hospital.

Q4u · ‎03-17-2010

I was diagnosed over 20 years ago and had no clue I was Diabetic, just felt awful by the afternoon, sluggish, tired, sleepy and when I was first tested my A1C was 12.... I was with Kaiser (Calif) at the time and they hustled to help me and sent me to a Diabetes class and gave me all kinds of information about it. I immediately started a no sugar, low carb diet and three months later when I had my next A1C it was 6.4, and I was on my way to losing an inital 30 lbs. I took it very seriously and still do. Yes, it's very confusing at first but you'll get the hang of it very quickly. I've eventually lost over 60 lbs which has also helped me.

I was very frustrated at first because of products with "No Sugar Added" to entice me then would find out that a single portion of it would have like 30 grams of carbs, essentially making the item impossible for me to eat because our bodies convert carbs to sugar and our bodies can't tolerate sugar....

Go to your local hospital's Diabetes class, the classes are invaluable, ask your insurance if they will cover a class, or ask your doctor to help you find one. Very important and interesting information. Good luck, stay on track.... you'll do this just fine!!

*~"Never eat more than you can lift......" Miss Piggy~*

Sushismom · ‎03-09-2010

I don't really deny myself anything. But high-carb items I eat only once in a while.

As for the weight, please remember that some people, even at an average weight, get diabetes type 2. My mother's family is that way.

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

@Munchkincat wrote:
I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes today. I am a little overwhelmed-especially as to what I can and can’t eat. Does anyone have any advice for me?

Lots of information on line. A consult with a dietician is an option. Many hospitals also offer classes, hospital classes not only cover diet but exercise, what to do if blood sugar is too high or too low, medications, etc

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

Sorry about your diagnosis @Munchkincat . I have Type 1 diabetes for fifty years but much advice is the same.

1. Get a good endocrinologist who not only understands diabetes but also agrees with how you want to eat. There are a variety of diets recommended for diabetics and only you know how far you want to go with any of it. If you cannot live on a low carb diet, then you need to get real and adjust your lifestyle with medications.

2. Get a C-Peptide test. The results will tell you just how much insulin you are actually making. Many diabetics actually have Type 1 1/2 diabetes where insulin is recommended with oral medications.

3. If you need to lose weight consider that it may actually put you into remission dependent upon how much insulin you produce. (Type 2 only)

4. Avoid the diet gurus who claim eating a lot of carbohydrates is the path to ridding yourself of diabetes. I assure you that carbohydrates are not necessarily your friend and make controling the disease much more difficult.

5. Get yourself a glucometer and test, test, test. Morning, noon and night. Walmart has a line of Relion products that are less expensive (test strips and meters) that I find very accurate.

6. Get some exercise even if it is just walking around the block. It helps good glucose control and a feeling of well being as diabetes often causes depression. Diabetes with all the flucuations of blood sugar can be daunting to control.

7. Please don't be overwhelmed. Yes, any chronic illness is difficult but with knowledge and the right tools it will be like second nature to watch your diet and test your blood sugar. Just remember, a lot of this is under your control.

Lipstickdiva · ‎03-10-2010

I want to add that some of this is going to be trial and error. That's why as @Trinity11 said, it's very important to test, test and test.

My DH can eat a plate of white pasta and his numbers are fine. But give him a banana and his numbers are through the roof.

Trinity11 · ‎11-16-2014

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
I want to add that some of this is going to be trial and error. That's why as @Trinity11 said, it's very important to test, test and test.

My DH can eat a plate of white pasta and his numbers are fine. But give him a banana and his numbers are through the roof.

@Lipstickdiva, that's funny about the white pasta. I find the same. A banana puts me over 200, pasta with a very small amount of insulin, I am fine. Good point about trial and error...

marky · ‎03-10-2010

Be careful with some of the sugar free products out there. Maltitol is one of the major artificial sweeteners in such products. This can cause spikes in blood sugar for some people. You need to experiment and track when you eat such products and be mindful. Everyone is different. I was giving my mom the Russell Stover sugar free candy a few years ago only to find out later that it was full of maltitol. Also, these items should be as a special treat, not a daily thing.

michmi · ‎12-15-2020

I have very good insurance, yet for some reason it didn't cover a visit to a dietician when I was diagnosed in August 2019.

Labeling food as "can't eat" isn't going to work. What DOES work is exercise, making sure you are taking your medication properly and definitely testing, testing, testing to find out how different foods affect your blood sugar. I am on metformin twice a day and it works for me.

When I was diagnosed, my A1c was 8.7. Over the following year I lost 30 pounds through exercise and replacing much of the food I was eating with healthier food (instead of chips I have an apple, etc.). My 1-year A1c was 5.7, which is better but I still have weight to lose so still working on that.

My meter and test strips come through a program at work so for a long time as I was trying to find out what triggered high/low sugar I was testing 6 times a day. I am much more confident in my diet now, so I still check at least once a day and if I'm not feeling well it might be 3 times. I also recommend the Walmart meters/strips as they are accurate too and are low cost so you can test more.

It is overwhelming, especially since the nutritional education doesn't seem to be there anymore, but it can be done. The American Diabetes Association has lots of info on their site.