Newly diagnosed type two diabetes!
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MrsATrotta
Posts: 278 Member
Hi guys! My name is Aletha I have been on MFP since spring things are going well with me almost 50lbs lost.... Unfortunately my lovely girlfriend was recently diagnosed with type two diabetes! She is now on MFP everyday trying to make better choices and joining me at the gym 
However this disease seems to be tricky and any info would help. Her mfp name is ktrotta3410, please add her and me if you have any suggestions or tips for living with this disease 
We are starting out shooting for 40 grams of carbs per meal and carb free snacks. That's a start I suppose. She is now starting metaformen (spelling?) and just got her testing supplies. I don't want anyone bombarding her with pages of info or scolding her when she eats something maybe not good bc we are just starting but maybe if you add her you can glance at her diary and give her some tips. Anything would be appreciated. Also shopping lists for diabetics??
However this disease seems to be tricky and any info would help. Her mfp name is ktrotta3410, please add her and me if you have any suggestions or tips for living with this disease We are starting out shooting for 40 grams of carbs per meal and carb free snacks. That's a start I suppose. She is now starting metaformen (spelling?) and just got her testing supplies. I don't want anyone bombarding her with pages of info or scolding her when she eats something maybe not good bc we are just starting but maybe if you add her you can glance at her diary and give her some tips. Anything would be appreciated. Also shopping lists for diabetics?? 0
Replies
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T2D here...diagnosed 2 years ago.
bloodsugar101.com is a great place to start
There are no diabetes police, btw...and what works for one person, may not work for others, it's very individualized, just too many variables.
Tell her to have a look at the site listed above & any questions she has, she can post to the T2D group on MFP.
Even better, check out Tudiabetes.com and ask question over there.
Between the first site mentioned & the last, I found my way to losing 30+ pounds, and normal blood sugars....not *normal* for a diabetic, but truly normal.
Good luck to you both
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Awesome thank you for the info!0
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Another T2D here. Has her Dr/dietician/diabetic educator given her a total carb goal? That really helped me. I was able to custom set my macros according to the daily total carbs I was supposed to eat. There is a group here too that has a lot of information and is really good at answering questions: community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1772-type-2-diabetes-support-group
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I'm not pre-diabetic or diabetic but I have insulin resistance and hypoglycemia and follow a diet similar to diabetics.
My dietician told me to eat between 30-45 grams of carbs per meal and 15-30 grams of carbs per snack. I typically eat less than 30 grams of carbs per meal because when I eat more, my blood sugar drops.
I take Metformin as well and have found it works most effectively when combined with a low carb diet.
Eat lots of: Lean meats, fish, non starchy veggies (spinach, broccoli, kale, romaine, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, etc), nuts, nut butters, seeds, avocados, olive oil.
Moderation: Fruit, potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, quinoa.
Limit: Baked goods like muffins, cookies, cake, ice cream, other highly processed foods.
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Diagnosed T2 in September of 2012.
When I first started out, I ate a lot of meat and cheese (I hadn't really started the weight loss thing just yet, so I didn't limit myself back then). I lived off of mushroom, onion and cheese omelettes for weeks.
Eggs are really good and they're very low carb. The rest of the suggestions above also work quite well.
I use Linda's Low Carb website for recipes - some things have turned out REALLY great from there. Find it at http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/. (I loved the soups there - the creamy nacho is to die for!)
I started out with a 14.5 A1C and a BG level of 370 - two forms of insulin, plus Metformin. At my last appointment in August, I had a 4.9 A1C, an average BG of 85, and am completely drug-free (I control it by diet and exercise alone). So it's possible!
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Hey! I've been a T2D for seven years and it's really easy to eat right if you get into a routine. Cutting carbs isn't that bad. there are a lot of substitutes. You can pintrest low carb meals/snacks and there are just pages upon pages of recipes. It's rally great and quite a few are really delicious.
In all honesty, this forces you to eat right and at the end of the day you'll end up feeling better. More energy, and proud of yourself.0 -
A visit with a dietitian and/or attending a diabetes education class will help increase your knowledge about diabetes and how to manage it. It's great that you're helping her find information and support. Testing her blood sugar will also give her useful information about how different foods act in her body. Exercise is also a part of diabetes management, and you can find more information on exercise here: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/fitness/ ~Lynn /Glucerna0
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Hey girl, I'm not a diabetic, but my mother is. I know a dietician might tell you 40g of carbs per meal is appropriate, but it's probably not. I'd shoot for a daily total intake around 120 / 100g. You might be able to increase this if you find your blood sugar is stable, but 40g per meal is quite high. Try to sub in more protein instead of carbohydrates and choose low GI foods.0
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I agree with classes, etc.
Its GREAT you are doing this with her. It will help a lot!
You've got this!0 -
Type 2 here, well was, no sign of it now. Read my intro on my main page for what I did to get rid of it... Yes, technically I'm still diabetic but you can't tell. Even my A1c levels are 100% normal, and have been for nearly two years! Last one was 4.9, can't get better than that. My diabetes was totally related to eating crap and being overweight and I'm proof you can reverse it! Good luck! She's lucky you are there for her during this! 0
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Thanks all so much for the info!! The doctor said shoot for 40g per meal and carb free snacks so we are starting there! She is VERY much wanting to control this without medication in the future. She has been on Lovastatin for 6 years and JUST got off that bc her numbers were good for her cholesterol. One thing I am worried about is if I feed her cheese, fish, and eggs am I gonna do harm to her cholesterol while avoiding high carb lol. It's crazy I just want her to be as healthy as possible but we just started monitoring her blood she has to test 3 times a day now and record it. Also do you guys find your sugar is high in the morning? Yesterday she did 3 tests 1st was 240 2nd and third were closer to 150. She went on the elliptical for an hour so maybe that's why the other 2 were better but just curious! I love fitnesspal and I knew I could count on you guys for some info and advice, we did talk to a diabetic specialist and I will be contacting someone else bc she just didn't seem able to answer some of my basic questions
We are completely uneducated about this disease so were reading alot on diabetes.org too.
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rogers_aletha wrote: »Thanks all so much for the info!! The doctor said shoot for 40g per meal and carb free snacks so we are starting there! She is VERY much wanting to control this without medication in the future. She has been on Lovastatin for 6 years and JUST got off that bc her numbers were good for her cholesterol. One thing I am worried about is if I feed her cheese, fish, and eggs am I gonna do harm to her cholesterol while avoiding high carb lol. It's crazy I just want her to be as healthy as possible but we just started monitoring her blood she has to test 3 times a day now and record it. Also do you guys find your sugar is high in the morning? Yesterday she did 3 tests 1st was 240 2nd and third were closer to 150. She went on the elliptical for an hour so maybe that's why the other 2 were better but just curious! I love fitnesspal and I knew I could count on you guys for some info and advice, we did talk to a diabetic specialist and I will be contacting someone else bc she just didn't seem able to answer some of my basic questions We are completely uneducated about this disease so were reading alot on diabetes.org too.
151.
As far as the cholesterol thing, low carbing (check out ketogenic diet as it relates to T2D) is known for decreasing it. However, if she has a genetic pre-disposition to high cholesterol independent of T2D (entirely possible) then she will have to do additional research as this is outside of the scope of what I'm aware of & practice.
Again, many variables here. It will depend on how much research you guys do and how you apply it.
I was diagnosed at 44, as a result of my high blood sugar, my triglycerides were high, my cholesterol was high, my blood pressure was high, my weight was high -___- See how that works =P
I was able to keep off of statins & high BP medication because I researched everything & brought my plan to my doctor. While he didn't agree with me, he agreed we could try it my way & if I couldn't effectively lower these numbers, we'd try it his way (medications).
That was 2 years ago & he's *never* had to give me any other Rx's other than the one I started out with (Metformin XR)
One thing's for sure, he never asked me to decrease or cut my carbs.
He never told me to test & I had to ask him for a glucometer, though he gives me as many strips as I want. This is important as strips are expensive, especially if 'you eat to your meter' like I do.
This may be because all of his patients are geriatric patients, so I'm guessing non compliance or complacency is what he expected of me, so his advice was lax to say the least. I'm in NY, btw...no shortage of doctors here, especially in Great Neck lol!
More stuff to think about:
Glycogen in your muscles (once it gets there) cannot be used in any other way for anything else. If you decrease that, circulating glucose can be replaced in the muscles, thereby decreasing blood sugar.
How do you do that?
Exercise.
Something as simple as jumping jacks, arm circles, a brisk walk etc. can decrease your blood sugar by as much as 50 mg/dl depending on the person and the activity.
Why are BG's higher in the morning:
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/17561156.php
What are normal blood sugars?
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045621.php
How to lower your blood sugar
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
send a FR if you'd like
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rogers_aletha wrote: »Thanks all so much for the info!! The doctor said shoot for 40g per meal and carb free snacks so we are starting there! She is VERY much wanting to control this without medication in the future. She has been on Lovastatin for 6 years and JUST got off that bc her numbers were good for her cholesterol. One thing I am worried about is if I feed her cheese, fish, and eggs am I gonna do harm to her cholesterol while avoiding high carb lol. It's crazy I just want her to be as healthy as possible but we just started monitoring her blood she has to test 3 times a day now and record it. Also do you guys find your sugar is high in the morning? Yesterday she did 3 tests 1st was 240 2nd and third were closer to 150. She went on the elliptical for an hour so maybe that's why the other 2 were better but just curious! I love fitnesspal and I knew I could count on you guys for some info and advice, we did talk to a diabetic specialist and I will be contacting someone else bc she just didn't seem able to answer some of my basic questions We are completely uneducated about this disease so were reading alot on diabetes.org too.
151.
First, long term use of statins is one of many risk factors for diabetes so it is good that she is off them. (SSRI antidepressants is another. I have been on them for 12 years and cannot go off them). Someone mentioned bloodsugar101. There is an article there about why a T2D did NOT cause their diabetes. Good article explaining the risk factors and how so many of them are things we have no real control over (like genetics, medication use, etc)
Second, yes, some of us have our highest number in the morning. It is called "dawn syndrome" and the body releases glucose into the system to give you that jolt of energy in order to wake up and get the day started. Remember that a single test is just a snapshot of one single point of one day. 15 minutes of exercise usually lowers blood sugar, but 60 minutes can actually raise it for about 2 hours after because the muscles release glucose into the system to fuel the activity. It is called a "glucose dump" and it is a good thing. The nights I have my water aerobics class are always higher readings than the nights I do not because class is from 4-5 PM and I usually eat supper around 6:30. I still have the excess glucose from the exercise in my system. The A1C test is really the marker for how well you are doing because it gives an average BG over a three month period.
Be patient. It took me about 2 months to really feel like I had a handle on the testing, eating, etc. to where it was starting to become second nature.
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We actually just read about a lawsuit in regard to medication linked to type 2. I hope she never has to go back on the statins and I hope we can get off the metformin in a reasonable time period. I see this is going to be so much more trial and error than I had anticipated when I posted this topic! And I realize from talking with my mom who is also type 2 that monitoring bs regularly and keeping in contact with our doctor is what is going to work best. I may not know a thing about diabetes but knowledge is power and I am going to get as much info as possible and hearing stories from other ppl and how they have coped and succeeded helps too!0
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Maybe look into The Primal Blueprint Diet/lifestyle if you haven't already yet tried? A very low glycemic real foods diet does have a very good chance at REVERSING diabetes, not just controlling it.0
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excellent post and advice.rogers_aletha wrote: »Thanks all so much for the info!! The doctor said shoot for 40g per meal and carb free snacks so we are starting there! She is VERY much wanting to control this without medication in the future. She has been on Lovastatin for 6 years and JUST got off that bc her numbers were good for her cholesterol. One thing I am worried about is if I feed her cheese, fish, and eggs am I gonna do harm to her cholesterol while avoiding high carb lol. It's crazy I just want her to be as healthy as possible but we just started monitoring her blood she has to test 3 times a day now and record it. Also do you guys find your sugar is high in the morning? Yesterday she did 3 tests 1st was 240 2nd and third were closer to 150. She went on the elliptical for an hour so maybe that's why the other 2 were better but just curious! I love fitnesspal and I knew I could count on you guys for some info and advice, we did talk to a diabetic specialist and I will be contacting someone else bc she just didn't seem able to answer some of my basic questions We are completely uneducated about this disease so were reading alot on diabetes.org too.
151.
As far as the cholesterol thing, low carbing (check out ketogenic diet as it relates to T2D) is known for decreasing it. However, if she has a genetic pre-disposition to high cholesterol independent of T2D (entirely possible) then she will have to do additional research as this is outside of the scope of what I'm aware of & practice.
Again, many variables here. It will depend on how much research you guys do and how you apply it.
I was diagnosed at 44, as a result of my high blood sugar, my triglycerides were high, my cholesterol was high, my blood pressure was high, my weight was high -___- See how that works =P
I was able to keep off of statins & high BP medication because I researched everything & brought my plan to my doctor. While he didn't agree with me, he agreed we could try it my way & if I couldn't effectively lower these numbers, we'd try it his way (medications).
That was 2 years ago & he's *never* had to give me any other Rx's other than the one I started out with (Metformin XR)
One thing's for sure, he never asked me to decrease or cut my carbs.
He never told me to test & I had to ask him for a glucometer, though he gives me as many strips as I want. This is important as strips are expensive, especially if 'you eat to your meter' like I do.
This may be because all of his patients are geriatric patients, so I'm guessing non compliance or complacency is what he expected of me, so his advice was lax to say the least. I'm in NY, btw...no shortage of doctors here, especially in Great Neck lol!
More stuff to think about:
Glycogen in your muscles (once it gets there) cannot be used in any other way for anything else. If you decrease that, circulating glucose can be replaced in the muscles, thereby decreasing blood sugar.
How do you do that?
Exercise.
Something as simple as jumping jacks, arm circles, a brisk walk etc. can decrease your blood sugar by as much as 50 mg/dl depending on the person and the activity.
Why are BG's higher in the morning:
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/17561156.php
What are normal blood sugars?
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045621.php
How to lower your blood sugar
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
send a FR if you'd like
there is also a dedicated diabetes forum on here with a lot of great info.
diabetes t2 is beatable back to a pre- diabetic i state.
iknow this as i have achieved it from diet and DAILY exercise.
start with small steps.
kudos to you for helping your partner.
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I would definitely look into any education program - her dr should be able to recommend one and will be covered by insurance.
I am a T2 diabetic - was taking metformin and insulin for 10+ years. When I moved to AZ, my new dr here promptly put me in one of those classes and I finally learned everything I should have paid attention to in the past. Now I watch it just with diet and exercise - still test blood sugars and watch carb intake currently, but haven't had any problems
Its manageable - I wish you both luck working on this0 -
Managing blood sugar within normal ranges (to avoid medication) is not the same as reversing diabetes. Please always be aware that diabetes is something that does not have a true cure. The key is what you and your friend are trying to do which is to manage the disease without medication. This will need to be a lifestyle change because if she reverts back to a "non-diabetic" way of life (i.e. gain weight, stop working out, eating high carbs, etc.), she could easily see the diabetes go out of control again in the long term.
It is great to see that you are trying to educate yourselves on the topic. Take a look at Glycemic Indexes and Glycemic Load of foods (the lower, the better for both). You can google this and though it isn't an exact science, you will be able to avoid some of the higher GI and GL foods. This will help you make more educated choices on the foods that you're eating. Education and lifestyle changes are the best route for you and your friend. Good luck! 0 -
Managing blood sugar within normal ranges (to avoid medication) is not the same as reversing diabetes. Please always be aware that diabetes is something that does not have a true cure. The key is what you and your friend are trying to do which is to manage the disease without medication. This will need to be a lifestyle change because if she reverts back to a "non-diabetic" way of life (i.e. gain weight, stop working out, eating high carbs, etc.), she could easily see the diabetes go out of control again in the long term.
This is a very important point.
There is no cure.
Some folks would like to think there is & they are cured, but if 'one eats to their meter' they will be well aware of this fact as immediate results are seen in the way of ridiculous numbers.
Something also to consider...T2D begins with Insulin Resistance, you can make yourself more sensitive to the insulin your body already makes by exercise. Testing frequently and taking notes after specific exercise will tell 'you' lots & you can then be able to figure out the patterns.
It's all about patterns....and they change from time to time. It's up to you to figure out those patterns and manipulate the outcome to your benefit.
Getting your period?....BG may unexpectedly go bananas =P
Getting sick or coming down with a cold?....BG may go bananas
The good news is that even if for whatever reason, someone falls the wagon (birthday, party, holiday) you can get right back on. A problem only arises if one decides to let it ride. I don't recommend that for obvious reasons.
Also, someone mentioned to be patient. I wish someone said that to me when I first started. It took me 2 years to get this far, though some people are able to get there faster, it doesn't always happen that way...and that's ok
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The best advice I could give would be to get some exercise every day. I'm walking or bike riding. The other thing I would suggest is to buy a good food scale and use it religiously. I love mine. When I have to weigh and calculate everything and then log it, I find myself cutting back on things naturally to avoid having to log them. Like using a teaspoon of mayo per slice of bread instead of a tablespoon. It's the small things that add up.
My own plan seems to be working. I just try to eliminate 200 calories from my regular intake every day and walk off another 100-200 calories. As long as I'm staying at or under my max for the day I'm happy. It will take awhile to get to my goal, but it's a steady movement in the right direction.
My sis used to have type 2 DM also. She lost weight and is no longer on meds and her bloodsugar is in the normal range. She did it by watching her carbs, portion control and walking.
Good luck to you both!0
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