Just found out I have diabetes.

tonidarr

It is going to be hard for me to figure out what I can and can't eat. I spent almost 2 hours @ grocery store reading lables.
I am very sad.........

sweetnessandlighter

Oh no! Type 2? Can it be controlled with drugs, or just diet? Losing weight can eliminate diabetes-- my father did it.

fearlessbetz

I'm sorry to hear that. I felt the same way when my doctor put me on a low sodium diet due to high blood pressure. I started looking at labels and was freaked out at how my diet was limited. Sometimes I have to think of it like a game to see how I can get the most with the least. Keep up your spirits. Seeing a nutritionist helped as well for suggestions.

tonidarr

Type 2. Hoping the weight loss will help things.

ChrisStoney

It takes time to learn 'everything' relax!! Aviod concentrated sweets, sugary drinks. A healthy diet and exercise will improve your health, sounds like you have good motivation!

TeenageSwag

Oh no! Do you have to take medication? or is the doctor letting u wait a couple months and test it again

tonidarr

In my community there is a diabetes specialist. She is a RN. Thought about going to her. Low sodium has to be very hard.

tonidarr

Yep. So far just the pills.

JoyceMccormack1958

Hi
I have type two diabetes which is controlled with tablets.

Just eat a fairly healthy balanced diet. I've found cutting out on sugary snacks and sugar loaded drinks to be really useful. I love cooking so that should give more control. I also have two teenaged sons . At the moment I am trying to make my lifestyle healthier. I know what I should be doing but I don't always do it.
If you take it a day at a time and avoid any high-fat and high sugar products that will be a good start. I have got fed up of taking pills, I also have an underactive thyroid and high-blood presure. If I lose some, well quite a lot, of weight then all these health issues should be reduced. This is my aim anyway., a friend at work has lost nearly four stone using 'myfitnesspal', so I am going to try it too. She says it has been a big help.

Don't get too bogged down by the diabetes. It can be managed and when my mum was diagonsed with it many years ago the diet was really limiting. Things are nowhere near so gloomy any more.

Good luck with the new regime.

ItsMeRebekah

In my community there is a diabetes specialist. She is a RN. Thought about going to her. Low sodium has to be very hard.

stick with fresh. fresh foods, fruits, veggies, lean meats. ditch the package stuff and its EASY to control the sodium! you can do this!

april522

Hang in there! My aerobics instructor had diabetes and high blood pressure before she started exercising; now that she's lost over 100 lbs, she doesn't have either!

gguynes

Keep your head in the game... you're obviously willing to make life changes by using this app and on the right path. Don' t let that get your down; plan on kicking some diabetes@$$.

melissam226

I feel you! I got diagnosed at 17 and cried in the dr's office. I didn't drink through college and ended up letting it completely ruin my day for years.

But then I got over it. I read up on dieting and foods I can eat, bought a low glycemic cookbook, started walking, then running,then doing a 5k. In 6 years I lost 80 lbs and my weight is no longer affecting my diabetes (I actually recently went from Type II to Type I but that was because they misdiagnosed me--Type II is WAY better and easier to control). PLUS I now how to eat and it's become a habit. When I have bad stuff, I get right back on the wagon.

I'm glad you're on here. That's a great first step. There's even a group on here you should join if you haven't: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/1789-type-2-diabetes-support-group

Good luck!

LadyIntrepid

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It definitely changes things. There are supplements that supposedly can help -- chromium picolinate and cinnamon (tablets). I take them since diabetes is rampant in my family and I also take care of my diabetic mom. I'm also on an e-newsletter from Diabetic Living -- they have easy recipes and tips. There are also a ton of "sweet" treat recipes that you can make with Splenda - some are really good. Good luck!

Psychoanalytic

I'm a type 2 diabetic. A friend suggested a paleo/primal style of eating to me. I looked it up, did some research, and started to follow it. In a nut shell, it's basically "clean eating" avoiding rice, bread, grains, processed foods, etc. Within a month I stopped passing out. Within 2 months I was off of the diabetic meds completely. Now, it's been about 4 months and I'm considered borderline instead since my A1C went down so much.

Diabetes doesn't have to be hard. You just have to be smart. It's honestly no different than watching what you eat for weight loss.

Edit: Also, take a lot of advice on which fruits to eat and not eat, what nuts, herbs, spices, what to drink, etc all in stride. When it comes to diabetes, (along with everything else) everything has different effects on people. (For example, my grandmother can only eat a dozen grapes or else her sugar spikes. I can eat a whole bag and my sugar won't move much.) It's a matter of figuring out what works for YOU.

Perfectdiamonds1

it will be fine. Found out myself 2 months ago that I have it. Just cut out the white bread, flour, pasta. Everything in moderation. I found that I cook more now instead of eating out all the time. Eating more veggies. I was told by my doctor to stay away from the grapes and bananas and some melons. I can have some fruit: kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries. Find what works for you.:flowerforyou:

I also eat a lot of chicken, turkey, and fish. Try to stay away from the beef, but thats just me. There are so many choices now ground turkey and chicken you can prepare so many ways.

leslisa

No. No sadness, especially if this is type 2. Type 2 is totally manageable IMHO. I'm Type 2 and technically I am no longer diabetic. I'm completely diet/exercise controlled.

Follow the charts the doctor gives you, get your rear to a nutritionist. If you don't have the money for one, call one. A lot of them will give you advice for free over the phone. Join a support group.

Now, my little bit of "insight".

First, try to drink as much green and black tea variations as you can handle. 4.5 8 oz cups is recommended for 140 lb person. It's pretty amazing the positive effects it has on Type 2ers. See here: http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/572.html (this only talks about the effects of green tea, but in lab rats black works just as well just don't have time to research this am).

Second, cinnamon and almonds help with your sugar levels. See here: http://www.livestrong.com/article/224450-about-cinnamon-glucose-balance/ (this is the cinnamon, research the almonds if you have time). Be careful, cinnamon can poison you if you ingest the wrong amounts or the wrong parts. Almonds are most beneficial eating 24 or more a day. I spread mine out over 4 sets of 6 cause I like the flavor they add to say, Fage Plain Greek yogurt (almonds, sugar free preserves, and a 1/2 cup Fage, awesome snack .

Best of luck to you. Watch the sodium as well as the sugars and you are going to be fine.

:flowerforyou:

wonderwomanwannaB

Losing weight can eliminate diabetes-- my father did it.

Although losing weight helps reduce symptoms and complications, it does not cure either form of diabetes.

OP, I'm sorry about your diagnoses. I don't know where you live, but there should be a diabetes education place near you where you can get some expert help. There are dietitians who would even be willing to meet at the grocery store with you to help answer questions about products and foods while you shop. It's scary at first, but the diet is very doable and you'll get it. Never be afraid to ask for help and know there are a ton of people out there rooting for you!

Crochetluvr

I have T2 as well. If there is any upside to being diagnosed its knowing that you MUST do something about your weight. You dont have much choice unless you want to spend the rest of your life on pills....and eventually, even the pills will be less effective.

Just keep your carbs low. Avoid processed foods. Eat fresh whenever you can. Plan your meals and try to fill in your diary BEFORE you eat so you can see how much of all the number you are eating. That way you can add or subtract things if you need to.

It CAN be done. The weight wont fall off....it takes time...but it will come off. Be patient and it will happen. Diabetes is a controllable condition...and you can control it with diet.

UsedToBeHusky

Don't get overwhelmed. You can get through this. And you will come out the other side feeling so much better than you ever did. I don't have the disorder myself, but several relatives do.

Belfastlassie

Try to keep your chin up, when caught early enough you can control it by your diet, an keeping your weight down. My 24 yr old son was diagnosed with type 2.. after dropping a few lbs an watching his weight his sugar levels dropped an is normal again, but here in the UK now once they diagnose you as diabetic it never leaves you. I know in the states it is different. I am from there. But the Dr we see for my son said it is the easiest to control as it can be kept under control an you can avoid meds if you watch the weight an foods, an be more active.. my son has managed to avoid it at this point. This site is good as you are logging your foods an you can show the diabetes specialist. what your days are like from foods to exercise.. Good luck X

Crochetluvr

Losing weight can eliminate diabetes-- my father did it.

Although losing weight helps reduce symptoms and complications, it does not cure either form of diabetes.

^^^THIS. Diabetes is forever. BUT you can control it.

ndhawan81

It will make you feel better in the long run. I need to lose weight too. Let's do it together.

klbaierwalter

I am Type 2 as well. Diagnosed about a week beforeT I was supposed to move away from my family to a new place where I knew no one. I am on a controlled medication regimen (pill-form) and it is completely manageable. I can still eat, but it's about portion control. Instead of eating that huge baked potato, eat half and take the other half home. I only eat one roll when out to dinner, instead of a whole basket. If I make sandwiches, I will use the slimwiches, or I will just put the innards of the sandwich on the plate (lunchmeat and a few slices of cheese). You can do this! I cried when I first found out because I just didn't know what to do or how to handle the news. Then I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and to kick my butt into gear and to be able to manage or even overcome my diabetes. Type 2 is reversible with proper diet and exercise.

I wish you the best of luck! You can get through this, I promise!

zlatkovwechanged

Hi,

You can eat everything. But you have to consult your endocrinologist first. Most probably he/she will suggest more meals with less glycemic load, more walk/exercise since this generally helps. Being fit and loosing weight will help you lowering your blood sugar. As you can see, there are only few not so hard steps needed to be taken to make better control. Of course you need to stay informed, to know everything about the food you eat, so MFP is a good place for you.

AmyfromBama

Oh No! I'm so sorry to hear that!!!!

Less0Beth

First off, sorry to hear of the diabetes diagnosis. Second, losing weight will assist in helping you get the diabetes under control, but will not eradicate the disease. You have gotten some excellent advice here. Go with it. It will be a lifestyle change for sure, but a lifestyle change is always better than a diet. You have many friends here who would be willing to help--just ask. Keep you chin up....you can get the weight off as well as manage your eating to enjoy a healthier/happier quality of life.

slepygrl

I had gestational diabetes. And honestly, it SUCKED for about the first week. I would cry when I got hungry b/c I didn't know what I could eat. BUT!!!! It got better!
You will be a better person from this. Don;t dwell on the negative.

Everything will be ok!

Jodi

saxmaniac

Sorry to hear. My son is type 1, diagnosed when he was 4 years old, so I have a lot of experience managing it.

I advised a friend with Type 2 for a few *hours* and he got his a1c down from 10 to below 6. There is a lot of bad education about how to manage it, and it's all self-managed.

#1 misconception... it ain't about sugar, it's about CARBS. The are a million things that can raise your blood sugar, but eating carbs is the *biggest* one that you can control.

leslisa

Losing weight can eliminate diabetes-- my father did it.

Although losing weight helps reduce symptoms and complications, it does not cure either form of diabetes.

^^^THIS. Diabetes is forever. BUT you can control it.

Ditto. It's doc that says I'm a diet/exercise controlled diabetic. He indicates I'm still diabetic, I just don't have any symptoms. I'm not "cured" per say. If I slip up in my diet/exercise, I will exhibit symptoms again.

saxmaniac

It's doc that says I'm a diet/exercise controlled diabetic. He indicates I'm still diabetic, I just don't have any symptoms. I'm not "cured" per say. If I slip up in my diet/exercise, I will exhibit symptoms again.

This is very correct. Some thin people unfortunately get type 2 diabetes. It correlates with strongly weight, and the symptoms can go away if you control it well. But you still have it, it's just in remission.