Diabetics!

Congratulations on the weight loss! I am a pre-diabetic and am trying to figure all this balancing carbs with protein when I eat.
I have to start monitoring my levels to get a better baseline so I interested to see what everyone says.

I'm struggling with the same things. I really thought that when I lost weight and exercised that my glucose would take care of itself with no meds. - not yet!

Kissiefish: when are you experiencing your sugar spikes? have you seen a pattern as to when you experience them??

I am a Type 1 diabetic who was put on a pump in November because even though I was eating good, exercising and having great number, especially when going to bed -- I was waking up with my sugars ranging from 350-500. My Edno determined that I was one of those people who was experiencing Pre-Dawn Phenomenon. Basically what was happening is when it was time to wake up, your hormones start to kick in and it was shooting my numbers up.

My numbers are extremely affected by my hormone levels. When I am extremely stressed out or sick, my numbers are never right. My morning numbers have evened out because I am now on a continuous flow of insulin. But like Auticus said, you do have to watch your sugar and simple carb intake.

YMJAUTHOR: When I know I am working out, I do not wear my pump and adjust my insulin to carb ration a bit because I was experiencing a drop in my sugar when I was wearing my pump.

Hey, if you are a diabetic, lets talk about weird sugar spikes and how you handle them. I have lost 40 pounds since January, 12 since joining MFP...but my sugar is still relatively high.

Need advice on how to handle sugar with meds and diet. My goal is to get off the meds!

Help.

I am not trying to sound preachy, I am trying to educate and what works for those of us that are Diabetic.

In order to get off the meds, you have to severely cut the carbs. If you are eating carbs other than a LOT of vegetables and minimal fruit you are making your pancreas secrete too much insulin and your body is becoming more and more resistant to it.

Let me send you an article to read to REVERSE Diabetes.

Cut out all processed foods. I am sorry, but your health depends on it and "everything in moderation" is not going to work for someone with a broken endocrine system - which is what Diabetes essentially is.

I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, Hypo-thyroid, PCOS, and adrenal gland fatigue in 2003 and I have lived medication free from all these disorders since 2004.

Low Carb (higher fat, moderate protein, low carb) - keeps insulin stable and level.

Long slow walks a couple times per week - you may also suffer with adrenal gland fatigue and long slow walks keep cortisol from being too high and helps in the reversal of both Adrenal Gland Fatigue and Diabetes.

Strength training - Yes lifting weights is far more important than cardio.

Get plenty of rest, you need 8-9 hours of sleep her night

Fresh, plain water.

A Low-Carb Diet Shown to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
Study Proves Very Low Carb Diet is Effective
From Debra Manzella, R.N., former About.com Guide
Updated March 20, 2009

Does a low-carb diet really help control or even reverse type 2 diabetes? According to a study from Duke University, a very low-carb diet (20 grams or less a day) gave participants better blood sugar control and more effective weight loss than participants who followed a low-glycemic reduced calorie diet.

Eighty-four people with obesity and type 2 diabetes took part in the study. During the study, both groups also had the supportive benefit of group meetings, nutritional supplementation and an exercise program. After 6 months, the low-carb group had lower hemoglobin A1c results, lost more weight, and 95% were able to reduce or even totally eliminate their diabetes medications. The reduced calorie group did lose weight, and 62% of them were also able to reduce or eliminate their medications, but the low-carb diet group had better overall results.

"It's simple," says Eric Westman, MD, director of Duke's Lifestyle Medicine Program and lead author of the study. "If you cut out the carbohydrates, your blood sugar goes down, and you lose weight which lowers your blood sugar even further. It's a one-two punch."

The low-carb diet used in the study is very restrictive on carb intake, with participants eating under 20 grams of carbs a day. This may be difficult for many people to stick to, but as Dr. Westman says, "This is a therapeutic diet for people who are sick," says Westman. "These lifestyle approaches all have an intensive behavioral component. In our program, people come in every two weeks to get reinforcements and reminders. We've treated hundreds of patients this way now at Duke, and what we see clinically and in our research shows that it works."

Keep in mind that there is more to these results than just diet. Both groups also exercised regularly as well. Diet combined with exercise is the cornerstone of diabetes management. Before starting any diet program, please talk with your doctor, or healthcare provider.

Source:

(Jan. 5, 2009). Low-Carb Diets Prove Better at Controlling Type 2 Diabetes . Retrieved February 19, 2009, from DukeHealth.org Web site: http://www.dukehealth.org/HealthLibrary/News/low_carb_diets_prove_better_at_controlling_type_2_diabetes[/link">

Some interesting posts here, I am new to all this so don't have any answers, I was advised to eat low gi (I am type 2) but not sure about limiting carbs so will have to read all these posts first, thanks for all the info.

I set up a spread sheet and logged my glucose readings every day, and our lovely son had all ready told me about this site. I printed out my numbers and my food diary and took them with me to meet with a clinical dietician referred by my doc; she was able to help me adjust how I eat so the spikes really leveled out. Having said that I was never insulin dependent, and considered 'mildly' diabetic (if there is such a thing). I was taking Metformin twice a day and Victoza once a day; now I'm only taking a reduced dose of the Victoza and hope to be off it and my bp meds in another couple months when I go back to the doctor. I strongly recommend meeting with a dietician as it helped me enormously, and I can e-mail or call her when I have quesitons.

My blood sugar is still in control by eating beans and veggies. Better than any pills. I can't beleve it. it is a the answer to my prayers. I don't count my carbs just eat 1/2 c of beans with 2 or 4 veggiesI am doing great. My doctor is so please. So Am I