Hello All,
I am new here (My Fitness Pal) and have great hopes of loosing some serious weight over the coming months and year. Recently diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes (July 2012) and hi blood pressure. I expect the extra 70lbs + I am carrying around is adding to my issues. I have lost 25lbs over the last year and half but realize I need to do much better.
Diabetes is new to me and my meter is running between 6.6 to 14... with a average of all tests over 30 days at 9.4 based on my IBG star meter. I need to do better.
Hope to learn a lot from this Group that will help with my goals of losing weight and battling my diabetes.

Best of luck to all!
Burr
Ontario Canada

HOPE I posted this in the correct area!! Did not want to hi-jack anyones post

Welcome Burr, your post is fine. You have made a great start and will find lots of great ideas here.

Hi All,

My name is Kim and I have lived my whole life in a small mill town, Valley, AL. I always feel like I am posting a singles add when I write my introductions. So here I go: I am a single, white female, 40ish years old (light on the ish). I absolutely love reading, being outdoors, working with the children at church, working, shoot, I love life in general. God has been good to me and has blessed me with more than I could ever want.

I have been diabetic going on 10 years now. To be quite honest, I have never been in control of my diabetes. I have allowed my sugars to run rampid and I have pretty much tried to ignore the problem. Not acknowledging it was my way of not admitting I have a serious problem. I had a wake up call recently. I went to the doctor because I have just felt plain awful. I found out that my A1C was 9.8 and my blood pressure was high. I have never had high blood pressure or that high of an A1C. Now to be honest, my A1C has never been below 8.3 so that tells you how I have done with my blood glucose. At that point the doctor did a urinalisys and of course found protien. The numbers reflected kidney disease. I know that it is not the end of the world in the beginning stages but it is the beginning of multiple health problems related to diabetes. It just plain shocked me into reality, the reality that I have diabetes and that at the rate I'm going I am digging myself an early grave.

I did another test a week later and they found no signs of kidney damage (I did a little praise God dance ). I made a decision then that I needed to be diligent about my diabetes and my health (I also have hypothyroidism, which is running rampart right now as well). I was on the pump but after talking with my doctors, with an A1C of 9.8 we decided it was not working for me. I went back on Lantus and Novolog this past Monday and I am in the trial stage of getting my numbers worked out.

In the perfect world of fitness I need to lose about 50 pounds but in reality I would like to lose 20 - 30 pounds.... My head would be too big for my body!!!! :laugh: I am not looking at this as a diabetic diet, it is a lifestyle, the way that I have to live. Diets come and go but you live your life. With God's guidance and a whole lot praying, I know that I can do this. Change is inevitable in life. We should not cower from it but we should embrace it and look at it as a new adventure. As I told my doctor and dietician this week, I am treating this as if I just learned I am diabetic and that I no nothing about the disease. That is the way I have lived my life over the last 10 years and there has been so many changes in diatetes care.

I have a great support group in my family. I am close to them and they are on board with this as well. Diabetes runs in my family, well we don't run, it kinda comes in and lays on the couch. Anyway, my dad was diabetic and my brother is diabetic. My sister and mom do not have it but are both at high risk. We feel that we can work together to better our lives and the way that we feel. However, I feel the need to connect with others to learn from them and to seek guidance. I am the only one that is insulin dependent and it is just plain depressing at times. The repeated shots and finger pricking become tiresome and I just want to give up. Shoot, that is what has happened in the past, I get tired of it so I start ignoring it.... Can't do that this time and I am praying that by reaching out to like minded people and getting advice on how to deal with the day to day to day to day repeatedness of feeling trapped...

God is good and has been good to me. I really should not be as healthy as I am based on the way I have allowed my sugars to run. This is a new beginning to a new adventure in life and I look forward to hearing from you on how you have coped. Thank you for reading my "novel" so to speak.... Kim :bigsmile:

Welcome to the group to all the new members. There is information and interesting topics on here.

I've been avoiding this intro. board since joining a few weeks ago. I was diagnosed two years ago, and also had gestational diabetes with my son, now 5. My "compliance" is a bit of a roller-coaster ride, and I oscillate between wanting to care for myself to wanting to be pissed off/angry/resentful and then punish myself with eating everything in sight. I guess I have a couple of issues.

I know that for me, my struggles with carbs/sugar/exercise/weight will be lifelong journeys with high's and low's (lol - pun accidental, but fitting). I think that having an honest relationship with our bodies and with food requires a level of openness and vulnerability that is incredibly uncomfortable for me. I can tolerate vulnerability for a while, but then cross over into "shame" which pisses me off and lands me in angry denial. Usually an A1C or weight gain will wake me up. I'll fight for a while, and then I'll get back to an open and honest relationship with food and my body. ugh!

Currently I'm doing really well, have been re-losing the weight I gained back during a 6 month temper tantrum. My A1C is okay enough, 6.3. Exercise and diet is looking pretty good, and without too much agony. I'm hoping to ride this wave of self-care, self-love, and vulnerability... without retreating into my old habits. I have a long way to go, and a 4 year old with Autism as well as a 5 year old that need me at my best (and that I thoroughly enjoy helping to raise... and learn from every day).

I've enjoyed this group so far, and how supportive it is. I also hope it's a place we can be honest, throw our temper tantrums, wish outloud for a different "metabolism", reality check each other, and laugh with each other. I'm looking for a shame and judgment free zone, and can give that to others as well.

Best all,
Jessie

Hi! Lisa, 44, from Melbourne, Australia here. Diagnosed with T2 6 weeks ago. On my new journey towards a much fitter and healthier me! Hoping to be able to stop taking medication for T2 and high blood pressure one day...

Hi, I'm Steve, from Gloucestershire

Retired early in 2001 as I was too big to continue working in a skilled manual job; weight at that time 411lbs. I had to do something about this situation if I were to prolong my life and for my family's sake. I have been dieting all my life, tried them all except the latest fad diets. So I just decided to cut down on the was was generally excepted as junk or other fattening foods. I lost weight over the next 4 years and manage to get down to 365 pounds by February 2005 but it was too late to stop me from becoming a diabetic. I found I could not see very well even with my glasses on and I was drinking like a fish, anything and everything and I still couldn't satisfy my thirst. I visited my optician for an eye test and the potician reffered me to my doctor. My GP diagnosed as Type 2 after just one fasting blood test.

I was put on the standard regimen for Type 2 but found I could not cope with the side effects of Metformin; they put me on Gliclazide instead which for someone my size was the worst possible tablet to go on. I also take medication for; blood presssure, water retention, and for my heart (suffer from AF).

Last year I lost my head with food, don't do denial very well and always end up pigging out; why I don't know as I knew if I carried on I would end up on the surgeons table or dead. My blood sugars went through the roof and I was in all sorts of trouble with my weight, heart, eyes and muscles. I often became depressed, confused and very irritable. I had to visit a professor that specialise in Diabetes and nutritionists to get me back on track. The professor halved my Gliclaxide tablet, put me on a slow release metformin (I am tollerating that at this time) and on a daily injection of Exenatide. Now that injection is working well for me but I must take more advantage of it. Not only does it increase insulin levels, it increases my bodies ability to use insulin properly it also suppresses my appetite by delaying the emptying of my stomach. I need to full advantage of this and eat less ( why don't I, idiot I am). My blood glucose levels are now beginning to drop to normal values and I feel much better now but still have a very very long way to go. My weigh now is 291 lbs and I am considering rejoining the gym to improve fitness, burn calories and lower blood sugar levels.

All the very besy to you all,

Steve

Hi Caroline,

It is so hard when the drs. haven't figured out what is going on. My thyroid is in limbo right now because the dr. isn't sure why I have a goiter with normal levels. This has been dragging on for a while now and it is disheartening.

It will be healthier for your kids to learn to eat more like you are but it can take a while. If they are older then they most likely won't change at this point. What I do is cook a main dish that I can eat so it is generally some kind of meat. Then I make a veggie and a starchy side. Depending on my day and mood I eat the meat, a salad, the veggie and maybe some of the starch. By making everything separate I can control my carbs. Look around for recipes for lower carb foods. I have found that everyone will eat gravy thickened with xantham gum. Experiment a bit with your recipes and see if you can make lower carb substitutes.

Hello all! My name is Charlene and I've had diabetes for almost 5 years but only started meds in April. My A1C was 7.2. I'm on metformin and a 1500 calorie diet since. I've lowered my A1C to 6 and have lost 28 pounds. I do know that this is not my fault. That even if my lifestyle had been different years ago someday my diabetes would still have happened. I feel lucky that after being told about my diabetes that I was able to keep it under control with a diet. This web site has been a big help to me. Being able to keep track of what I'm eating, without all the looking up make it all easier. The nicest thing is to need to buy cloths because the old ones are to big, not getting to small. Both my husband and son seem please at my progress.

Just a quick G'day to all the new member's I am a type 2 diabetic.. Please feel free to add me as I am 32 days into MFP and was diagnosed in July 2012.. looking forward in getting to know you better...:flowerforyou:

Hi Deeschange and welcome to this group. While I can't answer your questions ref BG readings ,I can assure you that this group is an extremely supportive one and I trust you quickly feel at home. Take your time to read through the various boards and get a feel for things. When you're ready to ask questions you will find a number of experienced people on here who are willing to share from their own experience. You will quickly find that Diabetes is a very individual condition in some ways and what works for one person may not work for you. Don't let this discourage you, very often it is a case of trtial and error before finding what works for you. If you haven't yet been given an appointment with a Diabetes educator or a place on a Diabetes course you should try to arrange a training session as soon as possible. These courses are excellent and provide really important information. I wish you well in your journey to a healthy and active life and will certainly help in any way I can.

Thank you.

I eliminated oatmeal off my list of breakfast foods this morning.......

Hi Alan and welcome to this group. You are blessed in that you had a coworker who cared enough to urge you to get medical help. The good news is that there is a lot which can be done to help us to lead healthy and active lives. If you haven't yet been given an appointment to see a diabetic educator or attend a diabetic education course I would suggest that you follow this up and arrange such a session. Many of us in this group have found such education to be both informative and encouraging. The other good news is that the people in this group are very supportive and understanding. Take your time to read around the boards within this and similar diabetes support groups and get a feel for the site. When you're ready to ask questions you will find lots of knowledgable people on here who are willing to share their experience with those more recently diagnosed. One of the first things to learn is that we are all different and react differently to various foods. What foods or meds suit one person may not suit you. Don't be discouraged but keep experimenting and testing until you find what works for you. You also need to recognise the need for total honesty in recording your meals. You need to be persistent and patient. There is no quick fix answer because what you are engaged on is a total lifestyle change. It may seem daunting but it can be done as can be testified by many of the people in this group. I wish you well in your efforts and will certainly help in any way I can.

Welcome Allan

I am a newbie diagnosis as well (Sept 2012) , but here's a "win"....since starting Metformin for the first time in many many years my blood pressure is finally leveling out.....I'm commited to losing more weight and cutting the carbs. I've received a wealth of information from people on this board that has already assisted in reshaping my thinking and tweaking my meals....

I think for me I need to develop a mantra or moto something like.... in time all things are possible

Dee

Hi, my name is Carl..I live in the city of myrtle beach south carolina. I joined this group because I am new to the Diabetes world and don't really know what I am doing. Dr. said to cut carbs down to 120grams a day. It is working well..however I am always on the go and need ideas of quick meals....Any Ideas?