overwhelmed...

seabreezelivin66

I really feel like crying. I've been T2 since pregnant in 2000, and insulin dep. since 09, taking Novolog 15u ss and Lantus 42u...I have been BAD at being a diabetic..never writing my #s down, forgetting to take inslun etc... my A1C was 11 last year, last one in Nov was 9.6. Had endo appt. Thurs. and with some of the symptoms I have, I know if I don't get serious, I will die. My whole family had horrible complications from diabetes. I am going to be truthful and admit I have been living on McD's for the longest time...rarely cook...have lung disease and even walking a short distance, I am out of breath, so I don't move..ever. I have been this way with my diabetes for years. It seems the dr ups my meds and I am hungrier and fatter each time! It my own fault, I know.
I started here Thurs. I have tested more than I was even told to. I was put on Invokana this week and wow...it really seems to be lowering... I was in 200-280 range a lot and the last two days my #'s have been so much better..131, 140, 161, 127... but im scared with the Invokana to keep taking 15u Novolog and 42u Lantus and like my previous post, feeling like a guinea pig. Also, I am on so many meds... Zoloft, klonopin, Colestid for high chol, which is killing my stomach, etcetc... Now I'm scared to take the Invokana, bc I read where you can have a heart attack the first month on it and it is new.

As far as what to eat...I feel like screaming! I don't know! I've been told so many different things! I've done low carb, Atkins, South Beach..could not adhere to it...for me, its not a lifestyle... then the ADA wants a lot of carbs. I don't count carbs, never was told to... I just got the Shred book by Dr. Ian Smith, but it seems to be a lot of eating...several times a day...so I don't know when to take insulin.... had oatmeal this am and yesterday am and #s were good for me. Seems everyone is 'eating to meter" low carbing, high fats..dr said mediterrainian diet was best..scream!!! There I feel better now.. lol I feel like this is a job..and it is...and I know it's important, but I cant sit every hour figuring out what to eat, how many carbs, how much insulin..now I am afraid of going low.... she yelled at me for lowering my novolog before meals at times....I wish they would just put me in the hospital and figure out something.....

carolemorden9

It sounds like you're overwhelmed. Do you like veggies and fruits? Try to incorporate more of those into your meals.

When I first started using MFP, I was taking 90 units of Lantus before bed and 15 units of humalog before breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I started monitoring my blood sugars more carefully once I started logging my food. I noticed that I started having lows when I first started MFP, so I'd check my blood sugar before eating and adjust the humalog from that.

I try to get as much protein in my diet as possible, but don't necessarily limit carbs. Just from logging my meals and eating better/healthier foods, I've been able to bring my A1C down to 5.6 and I am now off the humalog and take 25 units of Lantus before med. I also take 500 mg of Metformin twice a day.

There is a lot of information out there, and not all diets work for all people with diabetes. Incorporate more healthy foods and slowly cut out the junk so you hopefully don't binge if you'd cut the junk out all together.

I also find for me that I can have more carbs than others and still have good blood sugars, but that is just me.

Good luck with your diabetes!

GlucernaBrand

I'm really glad you're posting here and hope that you don't feel quite as alone. Please ask your doctor for a referral to a diabetes educator. They will answer all your questions and help you figure out a sustainable eating plan that can be a part of your lifestyle - not a diet. You're right that you have a lot going on, and working with a diabetes educator will give you individual attention to help you feel more confident. You're making several changes already: testing more often, paying attention to food choices, posting here. Feel good about those changes and keep moving forward. ~Lynn /Glucerna

docssj

hey

first of all can I just say hell no u are not alone I feel overwhelmed so much its so difficult tryin to figure everything out

I agree with Lynn u do need some help GP/Diabetic specialist/dietician I know dietican me using those words but they can help least point u in the right direction

I really hope this helps feel free to add me

S.J
xx

miriamgreeneyes

Same here, I went shopping a week ago, and all I wanted to do was just turn around scream and just cry.. I am T2 and high cholesterol 341, I love spaghetti, and when I tried to get all the condiments.. the carbs, sugar and fat went right up the roof, wanted to go home and just cry.. I was sooooo depressed, then I said ok.. lets do a subsitute, and I bought whole grain linquini and roasted garlice diced tomoatoes.. and with my seasoning.. turned out delish.. crazy as it may seem.. I did a wooohooo dance.. got my spaghetti in check.. now for the next hundred other recipes to tackle.... lol..

All in all your not alone, but I am going to say one thing.. you have to make some changes, life is beautiful.. just do your research and take your meds till you get it all together..

Not sure if your interested in documentaries.. check out the documentary called "Knives over Forks" maybe you might want to go that route.. take this serious.. please...

blackiris49

I know what you mean about shopping. Just wish I could click my fingers, or wriggle my nose lol, and all the 'bad' foods would just disappear leaving the good things to choose from.
Reading labels is such a pain, portion sizes not clear or very small print. I take a small magnifying glass and calculator with me. get a few strange looks lol :ohwell:
Get's a bit easier as you go along. As far as cooking goes, back to basics is usually the best place to start.

shadylady_57

I know what you are going thru I went through
a simular thing. I too was a bad Diabetic ,my blood
sugars were in the 200-300 range, my liver enzymes were
over 1000, my choleserol was over the top and I weighed
my heavyest at 266 I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery. The best
decision I have ever made for myself. I have lost a total of 92 lbs
so far, my blood sugars are staying around the 80's - 120, I've been
able to drop my Lantis from 50 -18, my Humalog to 1-2 units every once
in a while and completely stop my Byetta.I hope when I see my Dr.,at
the end of the month I can get complefely get off. Try reading thGlycemic
Index it helped me a lot. I have been trying to get my family to go on
the Medditraina diet but so far no luck. I hope you don't feel so alone now
we are all here for you. Good Luck Louise

javonjay76

I'm really glad you're posting here and hope that you don't feel quite as alone. Please ask your doctor for a referral to a diabetes educator. They will answer all your questions and help you figure out a sustainable eating plan that can be a part of your lifestyle - not a diet. You're right that you have a lot going on, and working with a diabetes educator will give you individual attention to help you feel more confident. You're making several changes already: testing more often, paying attention to food choices, posting here. Feel good about those changes and keep moving forward. ~Lynn /Glucerna

I absolutely agree! I know exactly how you feel! Many days I want to cry over this but instead I'm going into COMMANDO mode and getting my life and food straight!

sounds like you do need a Diabetes Educator & an Endo. Go to them, tell you don't understand, have them cater a meal plan to your life & be an ADVOCATE for you HEALTH. Make them LISTEN to you and HELP you get you where you need to be.

nczuczu

I agree with the others...getting to a diabetic educator is probably the first step. And getting the referral or recommendation from your endo is important, because they would have worked together in the past and the educator can work as a communicator with the doctor. It really can be overwhelming, but it will eventually become 2nd nature. Don't try to change everything all at once. Take little steps. If you are living off of McD's food, then it is time to find things that you like that you can make easily enough at home or if you don't have any interest in cooking, then find healthier alternatives at McD's (you can order your food without a bun, might sound weird; or you can throw out the bun or only eat half). It is time to take care of yourself and no one can do that for you.

Regarding the exercise, my doctor always said to just get up and start walking. Even if it is just for 5 minutes or to the mailbox. Just getting up and moving is the first step. You just have to make that first step.

I had been struggling with diabetes for the first 7 years after being diagnosed around the time I turned 40. My endo kept telling me to exercise and to cut out all the junk, but I didn't listen. Rather than take his advice, I went on insulin and the doses kept increasing. I just didn't get it. Last year, I found MFP and started logging everything and started moving. It was amazing that everything the Doctor told me to do, really did make a difference. I took a little break last year and my numbers started going up again. I am back at this and already things are improving again.

I wish you all the best. You will find a lot of people in this forum that can give advise. Take care!!!