Looking for other diabetics for support and suggestions

Hi there, I am a recently diagnosed type II (july) so am a bit lost with everything really. I am in the UK and they dont do self monitoring in my area at all, so I feel as if am doing everything 'blind' as it were.

Hi ladies,

I don't have diabetes but my DH has had type 2 for 13 years and I can be of some help, because I take care of his meds, testing and push him to exercise so if you have any questions about meds, what to eat, exercising...Add me as a friend!

Christine

Been diagnosed for about a year. I've had good success with diet and exercise. But it's alwaysva day tobday thing. Friend me if you want and maybe we can help each other!

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes about 7 years ago. I am taking medication but not insulin. I never did get into counting carbs, etc. and tried to follow a food guide. A few years ago I started following the GI Plan (books written by Rick Gallop) and really liked it. It was excellent for stabilizing my blood sugar and I also lost weight and inches. My doctor couldn't get over it. I fell off the wagon for a while and am getting back on but I know that for me, eating foods that are low on the Glycemic Index helps. And I find that Gallop's approach is easy to follow and doesn't involve calorie or carb counting. Hope this helps.

My name is Dorie White and I am a Type 2 insulin dependent diabetic. I was diagnosed about 13 years ago. I am about 95 pounds overweight due to I had Thyroid cancer in 1990 and they had to remove my whole thyroid because the cancer had spread all over. I had no thyroid & no medicine for about 3-4 months. I have been fighting trying to get the weight off every since. I am not a big eater & would go with only eating one meal a day alot of the times because I just wasn't hungry. Over the last couple of years my sugars has gotten out of controls and that was when they put me on the pump. But even then my numbers were still running up to 590. Sometimes I think that may have been the best thing that could have happened to me because they sent me to diabetes education classes (when I was diagnosed my husband was in the Navy & I didn't get the best info when they started me on insulin) and we learn more than we ever knew. I found out that I should be eating between 45-60 carbs per meal & men should have 60-75. Even though I have been following everything my sugars remained out of control. Then they decided to change the style needle that is going in my stomach & I think finally there is success. My numbers have been in the 90's -150's. Counting carbs & eating 3 meals a day has been really hard for me. It is just so much food. I have to struggle to find enough carbs to complete my meals. They told me not to worry about counting calories. So now I am on this new adventure again and I hope to lose weight. They have assured me I will. If nothing else it is getting my sugars under control and that is the important thing. This is my first day on here. My husband found it & although he isn't diabetic (he needs to lose some weight) he is doing the diet with me to support me. I am not sure how this works but I would love to have some support and would like to give support to others.

I am a type 1 diabetic (insulin dependent, not cureable) but some things I have found while controlling my disease:

-not all carbs are the same- if I eat cereal (whether its Kashi Lean or Captain Crunch) I get a sugar spike, if I eat white rice I get a sugar spike. However there are plenty of other carbs where I eat the same amount of carb I do not see that same sugar spike.

-carbs eaten with protien and fat will take longer to metabolize and you may see the spike much later.

One of the best thing to do is keep a food diary and for a few weeks go hog wild with the blood glucose readings. Take them before you eat and then two hours afterward. This will help you see how your sugar levels are reacting to your food and medicine. Many times your doctor can hook you up with a dietitian who can look over your food diaries and give you some suggestions of foods for improved control.

Hello!
I was diagnosed with Type 2 in May, 2010. I tipped the scales at 347 at that time and I had a medical issue which resulted in some hospital time - thus the diagnosis. For the day of that diagnosis, I have changed everything in my life. I was keeping a personal handwritten food journal/diary including blood sugars, etc. until I found mfp. I limit my carbs and I now listen to my doctor. He told me if I could lose the weight, I would see the improvements in my sugar and I have gone from 4 insulin injections a day plus metformin 2x a day to no medication at all. Major changes I made:

Gave up diet soda
Gave up alcohol
Limit my sodium intake
Eat mostly clean foods, very limited processed foods (good old home cooking and baking)
Food diary and calorie counting 100% of the time
I go to the gym everyday

I have done so much research and learned so much my husband tells me I should write a book. My husband and daughter have jumped on this train for the journey as well (they really didn't have much of a choice). I have to say even though I have been diagnosed with a disease, I feel like I am the healthiest I have been in such a long time.

I would love to be included in any groups for diabetics and please friend me also.

I've been a diabetic for 16 years on insulin for 13 and maintaining a steady blood sugar since I've been tracking my intake on food and excerise.I had an AIC of 10.2 in February due to medications.Since I've been tracking I haven't had a reading over 100 and went from taking 4 doses of insulin to 1 dose and will probably be coming off the last one soon.I was told by my doctor and an endocinologist that I was resistant but ,..I find that not to be true.After adding excerise and adding a protein with my carb i have great results.I keep an open dairy and feel free to add me also(that goes for all of you)

I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance in June. It's basically the step before Type 2 Diabetes. My dad is an insulin dependant diabetic. This will be my future if I don't get my blood sugar under control. I found out that people generally have Insulin Resistance for years before they get the offical diabetes diagnosis. If doctors would start treating IR as soon as they see an abnormal fasting blood glucose reading, patients would have a better chance of prolonging the inevitable. The good news is Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes can be reversed with proper diet and excercise. Some times we need that "kick in the pants" to take our issues seriously. My weight loss has been slow, but my goal is 1 lb a week and I've been achieving that. Keep in mind when you have insulin level issues it's more difficult to lose weight because your body is working against you. The extra insulin your pancreas produces that doesn't break down glucose is stored as fat (mainly belly fat!). I'm assuming you have been put on medication. This will help to regulate your insulin levels. Unfortuantely, the best diet to control your sugar in lose weight is a high protein, low carb diet. There are a lot of good cook books out there. You will be amazed at what you can eat!

Good Luck!

P.S. Feel free to friend me!

Hi Everyone, I have really enjoyed everyone sharing there experiences and history with diabetes. I got the result of my A1C and it was 8.7, higher than 3 months ago. With all the doctors on board and involved in my care and all I continue to log my food and activity and am confident we will collectively figure it out. I have other health issues I am dealing with as well and trying most importantly not to stress.

It's a comfort to know I am not alone. That the weight loss will come, and so will the answers I am in search of. I admire so many of you for your sharing and the inspiration and encouragement that is in your posting. Continue to share because it is helpful and so uplifting.

Thank you all and have a blessed day.

Thanks for this info, just joined after spending two weeks in hospital, horrible time. Been diabetic last 5 years but just taking meds that whole time. As result of emergency situation, I was given steroids which drove my bg to over 400, Dr had to inject insulin all day every day and sent me home with insulin pens. Fortunatly for me, I responded so well,bg was going below 70 after meals, he just took me off insulin and back on Metformin. I don't want to go back to that ever again, I am finding this site to be very helpful and I am tracking everything, I think the iPhone app is just fantastic, could not be easier.