Dear friend diagnosed with Diabetes type 2
jendiaz9732
Posts: 285 Member
I want to help her be healthy and maintain her sugar levels low. Currently her sugar is at 8.6 and needs to be at 6.5. I don't know too much about this diagnosis. Anyone have tips/ideas/suggestions? Anything helps! Thanks!
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Replies
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Do you mean a1c? It means her average blood glucose is normally very high and that she needs she needs to check and manage her blood glucose better. Be it with insulin or oral medications. There is a lot of long term damage from having elevated blood glucose for a prolonged time such as a blindness, kidney problems, need for amputations, etc. I see diabetics who don't give two craps about their blood glucose levels with horrible ulcers and amputations and coming back for more amputations because they just won't manage their blood glucose. So definitely encourage your friend to be responsible and listen to her endocrinologist.0
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Dr Bernstein' Diabetes Solution is an excellent book on learning how to control blood sugars. It really helped me. Dr Atkins' diet will be complimentary to it, if you wish to gift her some books.
It is very good of you to try to help her out.
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Do you mean a1c? It means her average blood glucose is normally very high and that she needs she needs to check and manage her blood glucose better. Be it with insulin or oral medications. There is a lot of long term damage from having elevated blood glucose for a prolonged time such as a blindness, kidney problems, need for amputations, etc. I see diabetics who don't give two craps about their blood glucose levels with horrible ulcers and amputations and coming back for more amputations because they just won't manage their blood glucose. So definitely encourage your friend to be responsible and listen to her endocrinologist.
Yes I believe that's what that was. It is all very new to her as well. Oh gosh that's what we want to prevent. I also signed her up with ADA free program for diabetics. I will definitely relay this message thanks a bunch!!0 -
nvsmomketo wrote: »Dr Bernstein' Diabetes Solution is an excellent book on learning how to control blood sugars. It really helped me. Dr Atkins' diet will be complimentary to it, if you wish to gift her some books.
It is very good of you to try to help her out.
Okay I am going to look that book up and get her it! Thank you Love her and want her to be healthy. Especially on this new road she just began! 0 -
8.6 is really scary. Without significant management it could lead to a lot of significant and serious medical problems. Encourage her to drop all carb heavy foods and drinks. Sugary treats are the obvious thing to cut out but even breads, mashed potatoes, etc need to go.
This is a big deal. Be supportive and find a way to cook for a day a mo and show her that she doesn't need a carb heavy plate for a good meal.0 -
She needs to see a dietician! She will be given a whole bunch of information about carbs...how many of them to each at each menu...what kinds of foods to eat. Lean proteins are very inportant to a diabetic as it kinda acts as a stabilizer with sugars. A lot of diabetics will binge on the sweets and eat a ton of protein to counteract it. This is not wise...the negative effects of high blood sugar is pretty devastating not to mention weight gain. I hope she has a good diabetic team that will help her. (Is she from Canada where she has plenty of access to health care such as diabetic nurse, dietician, pharmacist ect?) I'm not sure what the states or other parts are like as far as offering diabetic services so I can't really say what would be offered.0
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Eating low-to-moderate carb and getting a lot of exercise both help.
Encourage your friend to seek out all of the diabetes education possible. Doing active things together would also be a great support.0 -
jendiaz9732 wrote: »I want to help her be healthy and maintain her sugar levels low. Currently her sugar is at 8.6 and needs to be at 6.5. I don't know too much about this diagnosis. Anyone have tips/ideas/suggestions? Anything helps! Thanks!
Has her doctor referred her to a dietitian? That's who should be helping her manage her blood sugar, not her well-meaning friend getting advice from internet strangers.
I'm not sure what you can really do for her, aside from inviting her over for healthy meals or encouraging her to join you in activities. She may not want your input--she may simply want an ear for venting.
If this is your partner my advice would be different, but if this is just a buddy of yours, I don't know that there's much you can or should try to do.0 -
I had a friend that was diagnosed similarly and he completely changed his life. He takes 100-130 mi bike trips on weekends regularly and is healthier than he has ever been.
This is life changing news. Some people use it to springboard themselves to a new life and some crumble. I don't know what your relationship is but if she doesn't handle it well make sure you get her the proper support, whether that is giving her a ride to see a dietition or what you will have to decide.0 -
Her doctor will provide her with medications to bring down that A1C number.0
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Did she ask for your help? Not trying to be rude, but I wouldn't want help from a person who hasn't never had to managed Type 2 Diabetes. Just being honest.0
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Did she ask for your help? If she didn't, I wouldn't meddle or insert yourself into her medical problems.0
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Key point is that blood sugar comes from digested carbohydrates not just sugars.
Control with diet is preferable to medication if possible.0 -
Key point is that blood sugar comes from digested carbohydrates not just sugars.
Control with diet is preferable to medication if possible.[/quote
With an a1c that high she's probably gonna need medications and can possibly work her way off them... I believe an 8.6 correlates with an average glucose of around 200 for the last 90 days.0 -
Different doctors treat it differently. There are so many different treatments and it varies by endo and patient.
All you can do is encourage her to follow her doctor's advice. But know this: many people don't. Either they think they don't really have it because they feel good or they think the doctors don't know what they're talking about or they plan to work on it - just not right now (which turns into never) or they simply don't care.
They lie their heads off and say they're doing it, but they don't. That's why the test result she got is so nice to have. You can't trick your way out of an A1c like you can a regular finger prick.
It's great that you want to support your friend, but she may not want to do what's best for her. She may not even agree that it IS best for her.
I hope it all works out. I hope she works on it and gets her stuff together and lives a healthy life. People do that, too!! 0 -
Coolhandkid wrote: »8.6 is really scary. Without significant management it could lead to a lot of significant and serious medical problems. Encourage her to drop all carb heavy foods and drinks. Sugary treats are the obvious thing to cut out but even breads, mashed potatoes, etc need to go.
This is a big deal. Be supportive and find a way to cook for a day a mo and show her that she doesn't need a carb heavy plate for a good meal.
Thanks so much. She is very depressed right now and I'm just trying to inform myself so that I can help her. She is all for help. I motivated her to start working out even before she found out she had it, but she would still eat bad stuff, even though she was working out. I'm just very worried and want her to be okay.
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She needs to see a dietician! She will be given a whole bunch of information about carbs...how many of them to each at each menu...what kinds of foods to eat. Lean proteins are very inportant to a diabetic as it kinda acts as a stabilizer with sugars. A lot of diabetics will binge on the sweets and eat a ton of protein to counteract it. This is not wise...the negative effects of high blood sugar is pretty devastating not to mention weight gain. I hope she has a good diabetic team that will help her. (Is she from Canada where she has plenty of access to health care such as diabetic nurse, dietician, pharmacist ect?) I'm not sure what the states or other parts are like as far as offering diabetic services so I can't really say what would be offered.
We're from TX. But thank you I will look into diabetic support teams with her.0 -
azulvioleta6 wrote: »Eating low-to-moderate carb and getting a lot of exercise both help.
Encourage your friend to seek out all of the diabetes education possible. Doing active things together would also be a great support.
Thank you. Yes we do cardio twice a week together I have been researching it all day for her. 0 -
barbecuesauce wrote: »jendiaz9732 wrote: »I want to help her be healthy and maintain her sugar levels low. Currently her sugar is at 8.6 and needs to be at 6.5. I don't know too much about this diagnosis. Anyone have tips/ideas/suggestions? Anything helps! Thanks!
Has her doctor referred her to a dietitian? That's who should be helping her manage her blood sugar, not her well-meaning friend getting advice from internet strangers.
I'm not sure what you can really do for her, aside from inviting her over for healthy meals or encouraging her to join you in activities. She may not want your input--she may simply want an ear for venting.
If this is your partner my advice would be different, but if this is just a buddy of yours, I don't know that there's much you can or should try to do.
I know there may not be much I could do, but it doesn't hurt to try. Just trying to educate myself so I can help her. She is feeling very down.0 -
Coolhandkid wrote: »I had a friend that was diagnosed similarly and he completely changed his life. He takes 100-130 mi bike trips on weekends regularly and is healthier than he has ever been.
This is life changing news. Some people use it to springboard themselves to a new life and some crumble. I don't know what your relationship is but if she doesn't handle it well make sure you get her the proper support, whether that is giving her a ride to see a dietition or what you will have to decide.
That's awesome! I'm glad he lives a much healthier life now thank you I will continue to support her. 0 -
dolliesdaughter wrote: »Did she ask for your help? Not trying to be rude, but I wouldn't want help from a person who hasn't never had to managed Type 2 Diabetes. Just being honest.
Not rude at all. I understand. But yes she knows I am researching for her, she doesn't know nothing about it and is bad with computers so she asked me to research whatever I could for her about it.
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jendiaz9732 wrote: »She needs to see a dietician! She will be given a whole bunch of information about carbs...how many of them to each at each menu...what kinds of foods to eat. Lean proteins are very inportant to a diabetic as it kinda acts as a stabilizer with sugars. A lot of diabetics will binge on the sweets and eat a ton of protein to counteract it. This is not wise...the negative effects of high blood sugar is pretty devastating not to mention weight gain. I hope she has a good diabetic team that will help her. (Is she from Canada where she has plenty of access to health care such as diabetic nurse, dietician, pharmacist ect?) I'm not sure what the states or other parts are like as far as offering diabetic services so I can't really say what would be offered.
We're from TX. But thank you I will look into diabetic support teams with her.
I work at a hospital in west Texas and there are absolutely diabetes education and groups In the U.S. and a lot of it is free etc. just look around. I think our hospital may even sponsor a cooking class or something. It may be fun to take a diabetic cooking class together or something or get a cookbook and try out a recipe a week or something.0 -
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jendiaz9732 wrote: »She needs to see a dietician! She will be given a whole bunch of information about carbs...how many of them to each at each menu...what kinds of foods to eat. Lean proteins are very inportant to a diabetic as it kinda acts as a stabilizer with sugars. A lot of diabetics will binge on the sweets and eat a ton of protein to counteract it. This is not wise...the negative effects of high blood sugar is pretty devastating not to mention weight gain. I hope she has a good diabetic team that will help her. (Is she from Canada where she has plenty of access to health care such as diabetic nurse, dietician, pharmacist ect?) I'm not sure what the states or other parts are like as far as offering diabetic services so I can't really say what would be offered.
We're from TX. But thank you I will look into diabetic support teams with her.
I work at a hospital in west Texas and there are absolutely diabetes education and groups In the U.S. and a lot of it is free etc. just look around. I think our hospital may even sponsor a cooking class or something. It may be fun to take a diabetic cooking class together or something or get a cookbook and try out a recipe a week or something.
Cool thanks so much! You're awesome! I'm going to look into that right now 0 -
jendiaz9732 wrote: »jendiaz9732 wrote: »She needs to see a dietician! She will be given a whole bunch of information about carbs...how many of them to each at each menu...what kinds of foods to eat. Lean proteins are very inportant to a diabetic as it kinda acts as a stabilizer with sugars. A lot of diabetics will binge on the sweets and eat a ton of protein to counteract it. This is not wise...the negative effects of high blood sugar is pretty devastating not to mention weight gain. I hope she has a good diabetic team that will help her. (Is she from Canada where she has plenty of access to health care such as diabetic nurse, dietician, pharmacist ect?) I'm not sure what the states or other parts are like as far as offering diabetic services so I can't really say what would be offered.
We're from TX. But thank you I will look into diabetic support teams with her.
I work at a hospital in west Texas and there are absolutely diabetes education and groups In the U.S. and a lot of it is free etc. just look around. I think our hospital may even sponsor a cooking class or something. It may be fun to take a diabetic cooking class together or something or get a cookbook and try out a recipe a week or something.
Cool thanks so much! You're awesome! I'm going to look into that right now
I'm reallllly passionate about diabetes management because in the area I work in I see so much of the end stage effects of poorly managed diabetes. It does not have to be that way and your friend is lucky to have support!
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Different doctors treat it differently. There are so many different treatments and it varies by endo and patient.
All you can do is encourage her to follow her doctor's advice. But know this: many people don't. Either they think they don't really have it because they feel good or they think the doctors don't know what they're talking about or they plan to work on it - just not right now (which turns into never) or they simply don't care.
They lie their heads off and say they're doing it, but they don't. That's why the test result she got is so nice to have. You can't trick your way out of an A1c like you can a regular finger prick.
It's great that you want to support your friend, but she may not want to do what's best for her. She may not even agree that it IS best for her.
I hope it all works out. I hope she works on it and gets her stuff together and lives a healthy life. People do that, too!!
I can totally see that. She started working out with me, but she was still eating bad, (Popeyes, sweets, super carb heavy food) and instead of losing she gained 2lbs, and I told her it's because she wasn't eating right. Anyway, she is very upset and I hope this wakes her up. She is a beautiful person and I just don't want her to fall into a depression. I have already signed her up for a program through the ADA website and shes grateful that I am researching for her. Thank you!0 -
For the record I wish I had a friend like you! It's quite refreshing for someone to actually want to help someone with this disease! I was diagnosed at 35 and I had never felt so alone and scared. So when someone like you sticks their hand out to help trust me it is needed! If she is still struggling with the depression part of being diagnosed it wouldn't help to get her to talk to a councillor. Keep doing what your doing...one of the first things they ask is about support. So it's nice that you are there for support.0
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I had an elevated A1C in March. My Doctor said that if I could lose 20% of my body weight I would not have to take medication. At my July appointment I had lost almost 40 pounds, my A1C was down to six, in normal range. When I lose the full 20% recommended, about 5 pounds away, I plan to continue to eat at a deficit, but not as aggressively as in the beginning. Losing weight if she is overweight or obese will help. My sister in-law, takes Metformin to help control her blood sugar and it helped her to lose weight. Limiting carbs to 45-65 grams per meal or snack and eating enough protein and fiber can assist in keeping blood sugars within healthy ranges. Exercise is helpful in controlling blood sugar and depression. The best thing a friend might be able to do is offer to be a walking or exercise partner.0
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This is coming from another diabetic (type 1).
Do- Be there for your friend. Acknowledge that there is minimal s/he could have done to prevent the disease (both main types of diabetes have a huge genetic component).
- Keep a source of fast-acting carbohydrates with you (such as a small travel container of glucose tablets or a fun-sized packet of skittles). Though hypoglycemia is rarer in type 2 diabetics who are not on a sulfonylurea or insulin, it could still happen. For me, they tend to occur at the worst possible times, like when I'm out of the house and just used the last of the hypo treatment in my purse, and I would be forever grateful if someone had hypo treatment that I could have used.
- Understand what diabetes is and isn't. We didn't get it from eating too much sugar. If your friend hasn't consulted with a diabetes educator and a registered dietician, then suggest that they do. Having those first few hours of education from my CDE was game-changing for my diabetes control.
- Provide carb counts for something you make (if your friend requests for the carb counts). Everything is always better when I know exactly how many carbs are in a dish, and I can more accurately adjust my insulin dosage for it
Don't- Micromanage your friend's condition. Most of us HATE it if someone asks if we can have what we're currently eating (like a cupcake), and many of us also hate it if we get lectured about our diabetes control when our blood sugars are out-of-target.
- Make everything about his/her diabetes. If your friend doesn't want to talk about his/her diabetes, then don't talk about it. We're people first and diabetics second. Many of us want to be treated as normal people.
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You sound like a wonderful friend. Everyone should have a friend like you.jendiaz9732 wrote: »Different doctors treat it differently. There are so many different treatments and it varies by endo and patient.
All you can do is encourage her to follow her doctor's advice. But know this: many people don't. Either they think they don't really have it because they feel good or they think the doctors don't know what they're talking about or they plan to work on it - just not right now (which turns into never) or they simply don't care.
They lie their heads off and say they're doing it, but they don't. That's why the test result she got is so nice to have. You can't trick your way out of an A1c like you can a regular finger prick.
It's great that you want to support your friend, but she may not want to do what's best for her. She may not even agree that it IS best for her.
I hope it all works out. I hope she works on it and gets her stuff together and lives a healthy life. People do that, too!!
I can totally see that. She started working out with me, but she was still eating bad, (Popeyes, sweets, super carb heavy food) and instead of losing she gained 2lbs, and I told her it's because she wasn't eating right. Anyway, she is very upset and I hope this wakes her up. She is a beautiful person and I just don't want her to fall into a depression. I have already signed her up for a program through the ADA website and shes grateful that I am researching for her. Thank you!
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