If you are diabetic - this would be considered a success story, no?

sazziek

Hi all,

although I haven't hit my "goal" yet with my body, I am very happy to announce that at my last doctor visit this past week, I have great news! (if you are diabetic, you'll understand a little more lol)

So When I was first diagnosed with the beetus, at 10 years old, my A1C was at 13. yikes.
Years went by and I could not get lower than 9. ugh
Divorced, lost my job, my parents moved down south. A1c spiked back to 11. wah
This year one of my goals was to get my A1C level below an 8 (perfect would be a 6 but its taking me foreverrrrrrrrrrrr)

Well, since getting a trainer, watching what I eat, and staying positive - My A1C is 7.7!! Still not perfect, but I almost cried when she told me. I am almost 32 and it has taken me so long to get on track with this disease, and I can proudly say I am finally starting to kick it in the butt. She also switched my short acting insulin from humalog to novalog and with my working out and carb counting the RIGHT way, I only need to take ONE dose per day! Sometimes two, but I was usually taking it every time I ate and correcting all the time. Next step is working on the Lantus dose, because I've been going low almost every morning (without taking novalog at dinner) so any tips or advice is welcome!!! Thank you for listening and good luck to all those diabetics out there who are in the same boat as I am!

Debbjones

What a real success story!

I see so many people complain about their diabetic condition and do nothing to make change. I too was diagnosed a Type 2, and reversed my diagnosis by eliminating virtually all sugar from my diet.

So pleased to see you take charge.

CBworkout91

That's great. I went to the doctor after having some bloodwork done, and he says that I now have Diabetes (A1C of 6.8). So far I have not told anyone I know, but I am working to get it in control. Mainly by returning to MFP and being much more strict with what I eat. But it seems like ever since he told me the news, I have been feeling frequent pins/needles in my feet and now my eyes are sore... really scary, but homefully I can handle it like you have handled yours OP.

DEgal99

That's great! Keep up your amazing work!

sazziek

Thanks everyone!

@CNoitez welcome to the club! lol. Just be careful of the carbs you intake and try to start off slow with working out - like walking 30 min a day to help control the sugar levels. I too get pins and needles / arms feeling numb once in a while which is scary, but its all part of the disease. Sucks, but we have to learn to live with it and take care of ourselves! Good luck!

jamie_lee80

Congrats on the A1C! It is a daily struggle

I am also type 1 and diagnosed at age 10. I am now 34! We have similar stories, I had plenty of A1Cs in the 10, 11, 12+ range. I went to my endo on Tuesday and I am a 7.2. I started pumping in November of 2013 and it was the best decision that i have ever made. I just recently started having my first complication and am dealing with retinopathy which is terrifying. I had some laser correction last year which my opthamologist said stopped it and that it was actually healing. I went for my annual eye exam at my optometrist last night and they found additional damage and now I have to go back to the specialist. I really wish that there was a way that my 34 year old self could go back and shake some sense into my 20 year old self, I didn't realize the damage that I was doing to my body.

cwolfman13

that's what you call an NSV...Non Scale Victory

T1DCarnivoreRunner

That's great! It sounds a lot like my story...

I was diagnosed as type 1 at age 9. You probably remember the exchange diet back then? It was basically the CDE's saying, "eat, eat, eat!" for me. I doubled my weight the first year and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 13 (so I actually have both type 1 and type 2).

A1C's finally got below 7 for the first time at age 29 after I started losing some fat. I'm 30 now and still trying to lose fat, but the type 2 has changed tremendously. At the peak of double diabetes, I was taking 150-200 units of U-100 insulin through a pump daily. Now I'm taking abour 70-90 units daily because I'm less resistant.

You might consider switching to a pump in order to have more control over basal insulin (which can be used to improve your A1C).

JohnBarth

Congratulations! The dedication you've made to yourself in an extremely difficult situation is quite impressive! I was diagnosed T2 in 2008. My initial A1C was 9.8. I guess it scared me enough that I lost almost 100 pounds that year and had it down to 5.9. Poor diet and lack of exercise had had me on a roller coaster the past few years, and I'm finally in a better place now. My last A1C in September was 6.8. I'm expecting a solid mid-5 number by September this year.

I'm not horribly carb conscious, as I know my triggers. Learning how my body treats different foods with regard to blood sugar readings allows me to be very flexible in my eating as long as I avoid my triggers.

Keep up the great work! Stories like this are truly inspirational!

sazziek

jamie_lee80 wrote: »

Congrats on the A1C! It is a daily struggle

I am also type 1 and diagnosed at age 10. I am now 34! We have similar stories, I had plenty of A1Cs in the 10, 11, 12+ range. I went to my endo on Tuesday and I am a 7.2. I started pumping in November of 2013 and it was the best decision that i have ever made. I just recently started having my first complication and am dealing with retinopathy which is terrifying. I had some laser correction last year which my opthamologist said stopped it and that it was actually healing. I went for my annual eye exam at my optometrist last night and they found additional damage and now I have to go back to the specialist. I really wish that there was a way that my 34 year old self could go back and shake some sense into my 20 year old self, I didn't realize the damage that I was doing to my body.

Look at us! twins! I am so afraid to go on the pump. They tried it out on me and the minute they stuck my side I passed out..I am the weirdest diabetic ever. I can give myself shots all day long, but when it comes to blood tests or anyone doing it TO me, I am OUT lol. AHH I say that all the time!! I wish I wasn't stupid in college and didn't care what I ate or even drank. I sometimes get the pins and needles and my vision is sometimes blury. It is the scariest thing but we have to take control before things get worse...I have yet to make my eye appointment, I have to do that soon! Good job with your A1C at 7.2!!

sazziek

cwolfman13 wrote: »

that's what you call an NSV...Non Scale Victory

Amen!

Sabine_Stroehm

This is a FABULOUS thread.

sazziek

midwesterner85 wrote: »

That's great! It sounds a lot like my story...

I was diagnosed as type 1 at age 9. You probably remember the exchange diet back then? It was basically the CDE's saying, "eat, eat, eat!" for me. I doubled my weight the first year and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 13 (so I actually have both type 1 and type 2).

A1C's finally got below 7 for the first time at age 29 after I started losing some fat. I'm 30 now and still trying to lose fat, but the type 2 has changed tremendously. At the peak of double diabetes, I was taking 150-200 units of U-100 insulin through a pump daily. Now I'm taking abour 70-90 units daily because I'm less resistant.

You might consider switching to a pump in order to have more control over basal insulin (which can be used to improve your A1C).

Oh I do remember the exchange diet! I didn't know you could have both 1 and 2? I'm so afraid to get on the pump because of the above post I just wrote back ^^^ lol I am such a baby!

sazziek

JohnBarth wrote: »

Congratulations! The dedication you've made to yourself in an extremely difficult situation is quite impressive! I was diagnosed T2 in 2008. My initial A1C was 9.8. I guess it scared me enough that I lost almost 100 pounds that year and had it down to 5.9. Poor diet and lack of exercise had had me on a roller coaster the past few years, and I'm finally in a better place now. My last A1C in September was 6.8. I'm expecting a solid mid-5 number by September this year.

I'm not horribly carb conscious, as I know my triggers. Learning how my body treats different foods with regard to blood sugar readings allows me to be very flexible in my eating as long as I avoid my triggers.

Keep up the great work! Stories like this are truly inspirational!

Thank you for the compliment! WOW you go!!! That is some accomplishment yourself!! Love the goals you've set for yourself too Everyone reacts to foods differently. For me, bagels, Chinese food and pizza are the death of me, which stinks bc I could eat those everyday and I am constantly craving them!!

TR0berts

"If you are diabetic - this would be considered a success story, no?"


I am not diabetic, but yes - I'd definitely consider this a success story.

Ibknute

Awesome report and congratulations!

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes about 3-3.5 years ago and have been on medication ever since. My A1C reading at that time was 8 something (I don't remember the exact number right now). Started my journey to a healthier and fitter me back in October and in late January I was at 6. I go back in June for another check and as long as it has stayed there or even dropped more we will cut the medication dosage in half then check again in another 4 months. As long as my lifestyle change can maintain a healthy level then I can stop the medication all together. Currently on medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol as well and have a goal to eliminate those as well. I've lost 85 pounds so far and am going for another 40+ before settling in at a maintenance weight.

Keep up the excellent work and thanks for the inspirational story!

T1DCarnivoreRunner

sazziek wrote: »

midwesterner85 wrote: »

That's great! It sounds a lot like my story...

I was diagnosed as type 1 at age 9. You probably remember the exchange diet back then? It was basically the CDE's saying, "eat, eat, eat!" for me. I doubled my weight the first year and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 13 (so I actually have both type 1 and type 2).

A1C's finally got below 7 for the first time at age 29 after I started losing some fat. I'm 30 now and still trying to lose fat, but the type 2 has changed tremendously. At the peak of double diabetes, I was taking 150-200 units of U-100 insulin through a pump daily. Now I'm taking abour 70-90 units daily because I'm less resistant.

You might consider switching to a pump in order to have more control over basal insulin (which can be used to improve your A1C).

Oh I do remember the exchange diet! I didn't know you could have both 1 and 2? I'm so afraid to get on the pump because of the above post I just wrote back ^^^ lol I am such a baby!

I put the pump in myself so if it is just about whether others insert the needles or not, that should not be a problem.

As far as having both type 1 and type 2, it is commonly misunderstood that the same person cannot have both. I've often said that they should have totally different names because they are totally different diseases. Consider this:

Type 1 - Auto-immune disease, patient makes no insulin.
Type 2 - Metabolic disease, patient is resistant/inefficient with use of insulin.

If a patient has type 1 and does not take insulin, you know they would die in a short time. So we take insulin. We can be resistant to that insulin (whether lab-created or animal insulin) and therefore have type 2. There was an interesting study about this published in 1991 that is the earliest use of the term "double diabetes" that I have found in medical literature. Endocrinologists didn't start widely using the phrase until the last 10-15 years.

sazziek

TR0berts wrote: »

"If you are diabetic - this would be considered a success story, no?"


I am not diabetic, but yes - I'd definitely consider this a success story.

=P thank you!!

sazziek

Ibknute wrote: »

Awesome report and congratulations!

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes about 3-3.5 years ago and have been on medication ever since. My A1C reading at that time was 8 something (I don't remember the exact number right now). Started my journey to a healthier and fitter me back in October and in late January I was at 6. I go back in June for another check and as long as it has stayed there or even dropped more we will cut the medication dosage in half then check again in another 4 months. As long as my lifestyle change can maintain a healthy level then I can stop the medication all together. Currently on medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol as well and have a goal to eliminate those as well. I've lost 85 pounds so far and am going for another 40+ before settling in at a maintenance weight.

Keep up the excellent work and thanks for the inspirational story!

Thank you for your kind words! And you are doing an incredible job controlling your diabetes! You are an inspiration for sure!! Maybe in our lifetime there will be a cure

sazziek

I put the pump in myself so if it is just about whether others insert the needles or not, that should not be a problem.

As far as having both type 1 and type 2, it is commonly misunderstood that the same person cannot have both. I've often said that they should have totally different names because they are totally different diseases. Consider this:

Type 1 - Auto-immune disease, patient makes no insulin.
Type 2 - Metabolic disease, patient is resistant/inefficient with use of insulin.

If a patient has type 1 and does not take insulin, you know they would die in a short time. So we take insulin. We can be resistant to that insulin (whether lab-created or animal insulin) and therefore have type 2. There was an interesting study about this published in 1991 that is the earliest use of the term "double diabetes" that I have found in medical literature. Endocrinologists didn't start widely using the phrase until the last 10-15 years.[/quote]

WoW! You really do learn something new everyday! I have to read up on this..thanks!

MrsMizart

TR0berts wrote: »

"If you are diabetic - this would be considered a success story, no?"


I am not diabetic, but yes - I'd definitely consider this a success story.

This ^^^ :-)