New to MFP - Recently Diagnosed Diabetic

LPS1986

Hello All:

I am a recently diagnosed diabetic with several other factors making my diet even more restricted. I only can have around 100-110g of carbs a day, and 110-120g of protein a day. Basically, it is a balanced, yet high, protein diet. I use a lot of atkins products, low-carb shakes (like EAS, despite the heavy metal claims), and workout an hour a day (30 minutes cardio, 30 minutes circuit). It has been a pretty hard experience and I currently weight 171 and would like to reach 130. Though, I really need to lose 30 pounds, according to my Doctor, by the end of February (from the day I got out of the hospital, traumatic experience included - December 1st, 2011). I have some confidence and started out at 186 but would like to keep going even after the Doctor's orders. I'd love some encouragement, suggestions, advice, whatever. Also, I know that EAS shakes have a pretty bad rap, so if people know of other low-carb, low-cal protein shakes that would be great!

Flyer615

Welcome, LPS. I'm new here also. Like you, I was diagnosed with diabetes a few days before Thanksgiving (fasting blood sugar - 262). The doctor prescribed two pills per day and told me I should see a dietician. I was shaking while he talked. I left his office with two prescriptions in hand and went back to work. When I got there, I looked up diabetes on the FAA (Federal Aviation Admin.) website. I found that diabetes is a disqualifier for the pilots medical certificate. I fly. I called the doctor and said that I wasn't going to fill the prescription for fear that the FAA would find out. I thought the nurse was going to have a stroke. She said, "You HAVE to take the medicine." I said, "Nope, I'm going to get things right."
Anyways, to shorten this, I quit sugar, white bread, white rice. No sodas anymore either. I checked my blood glucose a week before Christmas at 116 - still a little high, but coming into range. I've lost 38 lbs. as of this morning. I have a long way to go (another 90 lbs or so). I say this, not to brag, but to let you know that you can do this. You can be healthy. You can overcome. Continue the work one day at a time. Celebrate EVERY victory - no matter how small. Fear started this journey for me, but every accomplishment stokes the flame of my willpower.
Good luck with your journey.

Ken

meghanza01

Wow... Flyer 615 Your story is inspiring I am 26 & was told I could not have kids. So when I found out I was expecting it was flooring. Do to completions I was on strict bed rest for 6 months. I became diabetic and lost my job my ins and alot more. My baby is healthy I finally got my job back but can't get helth ins. So I to am doing it with out meds I have lost 17 pounds with mfp and 22 since I found out I was diabetic. Its seems that every days is a fight aginst food. I have 110 lbs to go but I can do this. I have been using food low on the GI anything under 55 and it has been working. I am a certified pastery chef so I could not stand the no and low carb thing. Hope you both the best on you alls fight for a happier helthier yous
Meghan

Flyer615

After re-reading my post, I feel like I may have taken over LPS1986's thread. That was not my intention. I just get so excited about all this. MFP has been great, so far. I log like a demon. I find myself trying to find wi-fi immediately after I eat ... anything. I have the worst willpower in the world. And, I'm grateful to my doctor for being so upfront with me about the seriousness of my condition. He didn't badger me about it. He just presented it in such a way as to convey the seriousness of the predicament that I had allowed myself to get into. It flipped my willpower switch.
Fear will only take your determination so far. A person will adjust themselves to overcome any fear over time. Excitement, on the other hand, remains a motivation. Luckily, excitement took over as my fear began to pass.
I can't imagine having other factors to overcome besides sugar, LPS1986. I do know that you have the power to do it. Just stick to your guns. I told a friend the other day that every time I have a success, I do the "Happy Dance" in my head. It doesn't matter whether it's at the scale, at mealtime, or just standing in my closet trying to decide which clothes are going away next (I find it fun to plan which clothes are about to be too big), every success is a party!
Meghan, I'm glad to hear that the baby is healthy! That had to be scary. And, being a pastry chef with a weight issue seems a little like being an alcoholic who is a bartender. That is a huge hurdle to overcome. I have no doubt that it is well within your capacity to take control of your health, though. It can be a great motivation to be an example for your child. You CAN do this. Everyday, look at him/her and say to yourself, "I'm going to see you graduate from high school. I'm going to play with my grandchildren." Find the thing that motivates you and stress that everyday, all day. Good luck with your program!

brit49

Welcome, LPS. I'm new here also. Like you, I was diagnosed with diabetes a few days before Thanksgiving (fasting blood sugar - 262). The doctor prescribed two pills per day and told me I should see a dietician. I was shaking while he talked. I left his office with two prescriptions in hand and went back to work. When I got there, I looked up diabetes on the FAA (Federal Aviation Admin.) website. I found that diabetes is a disqualifier for the pilots medical certificate. I fly. I called the doctor and said that I wasn't going to fill the prescription for fear that the FAA would find out. I thought the nurse was going to have a stroke. She said, "You HAVE to take the medicine." I said, "Nope, I'm going to get things right."
Anyways, to shorten this, I quit sugar, white bread, white rice. No sodas anymore either. I checked my blood glucose a week before Christmas at 116 - still a little high, but coming into range. I've lost 38 lbs. as of this morning. I have a long way to go (another 90 lbs or so). I say this, not to brag, but to let you know that you can do this. You can be healthy. You can overcome. Continue the work one day at a time. Celebrate EVERY victory - no matter how small. Fear started this journey for me, but every accomplishment stokes the flame of my willpower.
Good luck with your journey.

Ken

So happy you are on the right track!!

polarsjewel

*waves from the pacific coast of Canada* Hi all! i too am diabetic and am just starting to try to get my weight under control. My doctor has me on two different medications right now. The medications have made weight loss very difficult (he told me when he put me on them that i would gain weight) Seems counter intuitive to me. He is sending me to a dietician soon, I hope. I am trying to eat low GI foods. I would love to have you all as friends!

Cheers

jewel

jokenme

All of you who have type 2 diabetes should thank your lucky stars that you have the ability to rid yourself of this horrible disease through diet and exercise. My best friend is a type 1 insulin dependent diabetic and has been for over 27 yrs. Unlike you she cannot diet and exercise her way out of this disease she does it to keep herself as healthy as she can so she can live. I see the hell she goes thru everyday dealing with it and a simple cold can mess her up for days. She did not ask for this disease nor does she want it but unfortunately that choice is not hers. You have that choice, please choose wisely....

michiganmama33

Ken, that is wonderful. So glad you became proactive and took the care into your own hands. So very glad for you....and good job on everything.

LPS1986

All of you who have type 2 diabetes should thank your lucky stars that you have the ability to rid yourself of this horrible disease through diet and exercise. My best friend is a type 1 insulin dependent diabetic and has been for over 27 yrs. Unlike you she cannot diet and exercise her way out of this disease she does it to keep herself as healthy as she can so she can live. I see the hell she goes thru everyday dealing with it and a simple cold can mess her up for days. She did not ask for this disease nor does she want it but unfortunately that choice is not hers. You have that choice, please choose wisely....

I actually have Latent Autoimmune Diabetes (which is basically type 1 but presents itself later in life - I am 25 years old). I can diet and exercise to be healthy and losing weight will assist with it, for sure. However, I will NEVER get off insulin. I also have a few other autoimmune involvements which can send blood sugar out of control. I feel for your friend since BEFORE MFP, I actually lost 16 pounds in one month. They tell me this is the honeymoon period of easiness. It will start getting harder. In defense of the Type 2 readers on here, it is also still difficult and once you are on insulin, diet and exercise do not always equal working your way out of the disease!

michiganmama33

LPS1986.... so very young to be going through so much. I don't have much advice to offer except I will pray for you. How high was your sugar? So young to be diagnosed with this disease especially with you only having to lose 30 lbs.

LPS1986

Do you mind my asking which? I am on novolog and lantus. I've not had to much trouble but I also really restrict my carbs. No more than 32g a meal and snacks are between 10-15 (only have two a day). Though, I do eat a TON of protein (over 100g a day).

LPS1986

It is the same thing as T-1, though. So, I am at an older age of diagnosis. I also have some autoimmune involvement in the liver and intestines (not just the T-1). I lost 15 pounds already. It's really crazy. I appreciate your prayers!

LPS1986

Do you mind my asking which? I am on novolog and lantus. I've not had to much trouble but I also really restrict my carbs. No more than 32g a meal and snacks are between 10-15 (only have two a day). Though, I do eat a TON of protein (over 100g a day).

auticus

Roughly eight years ago I could not stand up off of the toilet at work and went to the doctor. I had a fasting blood sugar of 512. I should have been in a coma. I was 265 lbs. My max weight was 272 lbs. I am 6'2, and should weigh 205 lbs. I got down to about 240 lbs and stayed there until last summer when I finally got up to lose the rest of my weight.

Once I got under 230 lbs my problems seem to just vanish.

Welcome here, stay the course, and best of luck to you. I sincerely hope you are able to have as much good fortune as I had when I started losing weight and getting more active again.

sweetaddict123

I've been diabetic since I had my son in 95. Gradually it got worse and worse (as my weight gradually went up and up.. lol). For my daughter, I had to take 3 shots a day (uugghh), and about 2 years after I had her, my A1C was 9.4 so he stuck me BACK on insulin. Since I've lost 55 lbs and exercise pretty regularly, I'm extremely happy to say I'm not on insulin anymore, just 2000 mg of metformin. I'd still like to lose about 25 more to see what it does to my A1C, but it's a daily struggle with the numbers.
Good Luck in your journey!!

stormieweather

I am keeping diabetes at bay (had it with all three pregnancies and my mother and grandfather died of it) through exercise and diet. My partner got off his meds, metformin, and got his A1 levels normal through exercise and diet. I periodically test my blood sugar to make sure I'm controlling the issue.

Here is how:

No processed sugars or other processed carbs. That means white bread, white rice/pasta, mashed/fried potatoes, or sweets. Carbs should come from veggies mostly, with the occasional fruit, and very rare whole grain bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta, or potato in jacket. Keep to the limits your doctor gave you. I limit mine to 120-130g of carbs a day and I work towards 100-120g of protein.

Check everything you eat for added sugars. It's in dang near everything processed. I don't eat artificial sugar either, so that cuts out all the diabetic products. Just eat real food...as unprocessed as possible. If the carbs in something are high, chances are it has added sugar in it. Don't drink. The alcohol raises blood sugar and can interfere with your meds. Not to mention the empty calories involved.

Eat every couple of hours. This is not for weight loss purposes, but to keep your insulin levels even. Learn to eat breakfast with a protein and fat. I like an egg, turkey bacon, and slice of ezekiel bread with peanut butter, for example. Snack on low glycemic foods such as berries and nuts. Always carry snacks with you to make sure you don't crash and binge on the nearest carb (usually not a healthy one!).

Get some form of exercise at least 6 days a week. Even a walk is better than nothing. My partner has pretty bad diabetic neuropathic damage to his feet and it is painful to move, but he forces himself to do it anyway. He can't run, but he can walk and cycle and swim. If he doesn't and he continued the way he was, he will be an invalid in a few years.

Good luck! You can control this and get your health back.

rach06ao

All of you who have type 2 diabetes should thank your lucky stars that you have the ability to rid yourself of this horrible disease through diet and exercise. My best friend is a type 1 insulin dependent diabetic and has been for over 27 yrs. Unlike you she cannot diet and exercise her way out of this disease she does it to keep herself as healthy as she can so she can live. I see the hell she goes thru everyday dealing with it and a simple cold can mess her up for days. She did not ask for this disease nor does she want it but unfortunately that choice is not hers. You have that choice, please choose wisely....

I can relate.
My boyfriend has type 1 and is on an insulin pump 24/7.
He didn't ask for it either, hes 24 and underweight because of his high blood sugars.
To me type 2 is lucky compared to type 1.

Flyer615

All of you who have type 2 diabetes should thank your lucky stars that you have the ability to rid yourself of this horrible disease through diet and exercise. My best friend is a type 1 insulin dependent diabetic and has been for over 27 yrs. Unlike you she cannot diet and exercise her way out of this disease she does it to keep herself as healthy as she can so she can live. I see the hell she goes thru everyday dealing with it and a simple cold can mess her up for days. She did not ask for this disease nor does she want it but unfortunately that choice is not hers. You have that choice, please choose wisely....

You're absolutely right. Every day I feel truly blessed. I, too, have a couple of friends who are Type 1. My situation was brought on by me - and me alone. I don't blame anyone, and I try not to do the "poor pitiful me" thing. If it sounded that way, I apologize. I cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to have a condition that is beyond my control. In my case, inactivity, accompanied by the "eat-everything-I-see" syndrome, put me in a position of needing to take back control of my life. Luckily, I can. Many cannot. With the help of MFP and the encouragement of others, I will succeed. Little by little, ounce by ounce, I am going to make a change. I hope that everyone here can.