Hello!

I'm Cari, and I was diagnosed with Diabetes in January 2001, eleven years ago at age 31. I was diet and exercise controlled until a couple of years ago when we added Metformin to the mix. My A1C is currently 5.7, and my hope is to keep it there or better (my best was 5.3). I have lost 100 pounds over the years, which has been extremely beneficial! I try to keep my calories between 1200-1400/day, and my carbs about 12 servings of 15g/day maximum. I usually exercise 6-7 days per week if possible, mainly walking.

My motivation in all of this is that I want to keep my vision, my healthy kidneys and liver, and all my limbs, and never have to be on dialysis! And of course, I also want to feel healthy, look healthy, and have more energy! Unfortunately, my sweet new mother-in-law is experiencing the early effects of her Diabetes, as she is beginning to have difficulty walking, decreased kidney function, and keeping her glucose under control. I am hoping we can work together and I can help her make better choices with her diet and find a way to help her exercise.

Namaste, Cari

welcome....
this is what i have done in the past and it's just the basic setup. your doctor will give you what he/she wants you to start at.
first...your carbs should be even throughout the day. not just all at once.
breakfast 45, lunch 45, dinner 45, morning and afternoon snacks are 15, evening snack is 30.
my calories are set at 1600. all these numbers depend on your other blood work. your weight, height, all that good stuff. this should help you get started. also try dlife.com and the ADA site.
keep reading and searching posts here and you should find loads of help.

again welcome

Good morning everyone. I was dignosised about 5 years with type 2 and I have been very laxadaisycal in my thought process of this. I am currently losing weight and would love to get off all of my meds. I currently have two boys, 27 and 17 and will soon be adopting my granddaughter. This is what sparked my intrest again in losing weight. I have to get healthy for that little girl. My A1C level this go around was up so I am trying to montor my food intake so this will go down soon. Thank you guys for letting me join your awesome group.

Hi. I'm Lisa, type 2 for as long as I can remember, on insulin for as long as I can remember. This losing weight thing has been a challenge with the insulin, that's for sure. Also keeping blood sugars normal, sheesh. So much work.

Hello to all the new group members!

I just found these diabetic groups so I wanted to join. I had a family history of diabetes and when I gave birth to a baby boy who weighed 12lbs. 9 oz years ago I was told it was probably undiagnosed gestational diabetes (he was in NICU for a week) and if I was overweight when I was 40 I would become diabetic. I managed to hold off til I was 47- probably because I exercise LOTS. Then I went 2 years controlling it by diet. Then 50s and menopause hit- I can't lose weight, especially around the gut (i was told I have Metabolic Sydrome or Sydnrome X) and now I am metformin (glumetza- the time release form), januvia, diamacron and victoza. My last A1C was 8 I think (can't remember) but dr. said insulin is the next step. I am trying to get things in check and have had some success with better numbers lately but the weight still isn't coming off. I live in Ontario Canada so I would love to find some fellow MFP for support. I don't know how the numbers work in other countries- just that my target range is 5-7. Any new friends available??

welcome newbies......
spend some time just searching about the group. you will find lots in information. most common is a healthy diet and exercise are the key. lowering your carb count to what your doctor advises are important. spread your carbs out evenly through out the day. it helps keep sugars level. it takes some work to put a good plan together for you.

welcome.....

Hi...names Ellen, I'm 52, from Tucson, Az. New to this site and dx'd with type 2 on May 11th of this year with an a1c of 6.9. I'm on Metformin 500 twice a day and also have HTN (2 meds) and cholesterol/lipid issues (2 meds) and OA of the knees which thankfully doesn't bother me unless I'm trying to get up off the floor.

My insurance is the pits and only covers 50 strips per month and one meeting with an RD, no DM education classes. She told me to eat 1753 calories and between 140-160 carbs daily. My MD told me to eat between 1200-1500 calories. MD wanted testing 3x daily post prandial but after my one month visit, seemed "ok" with the meter readings and testing once (and cursed all insurance companies). I'm currently testing with AccuChek.

I've been a lifelong yo- yo dieter, WW and it does work IF you stick to it which I never seemed to do after losing the weight. I need to lose over 100 lbs but will be happy to lose the 100 at this point. I've lost 16 lbs since my diagnosis counting calories etc.
BMI says I should be 115-155 and I'd like to see 155 but am trying to not get disillusioned and am setting small goals, one day at a time, one pound at a time. I'm an emotional eater I've discovered so am making conscious decisions daily while working (work from home) to not get up when bored and rummage thru the fridge & pantry.

Not one for exercising (even when I was thinner), it's a struggle to get motivated to move (no desire, no energy). I've got a used treadmill I bought but am waiting till I get under the weight limit on it to use it. I did get a Kettlebell and later today will be off to get a jump rope and dvd workout, I just hope can find the get up & go to use them. I've also got some Leslie Sansone dvds that I haven't done anything with, one has a resistance band.

Never was one for cooking, as I hate leftovers (I live alone so hard to find things to make that I like and are single portion sizes). Portion control was an issue for me as well. I've been using a food scale, measuring/weighing out my portions and spending hours in the grocery reading labels (I always read calories on products but this carb thing is totally new to me). Picked up a copy of the Calorie King book and leave it in the car for when I'm shopping/eating out.

Slowly reading thru the postings in this group and hoping to find some tips, ideas, suggestions to lead me on track to manage (and possibly get rid of) my diabetes. I'm still sort of in shock over the diagnosis but wasn't totally surprised either. I knew I was bordering on it but it took the diagnosis to get me to wake up and start to change my lifestyle.

Thanks for listening

Hi Jill, the no man's land experience is someting many of us have to deal with. I don't profess to be an expert but the best explanation given to me is that our bodies seem to pause from time to time trying to decide if we are in a famine situation and therfore need to conserve fat stores. Stick to the programme and the gradual loss will resume. I assume that you are entering your new weight and adjusting the targets accordingly. Having experienced several episodes like you describe, I can assure you that, given patience and persistence, your weight loss will resume.

Hello,

My name is Farrah and I'm 31 years old. I currently take both insulin and oral medications for my diabetes. I was diagnosed with diabetes a week before my 22nd birthday. Yeah, what a great birthday present, eh? Alas, I've struggled with denial off and on over the last nine years or so. All four of my grandparents were/are diabetic, as well as my mother, my older sister, two aunts, and two uncles. In fact, both of my paternal grandparents died from complications of diabetes. My grandfather was 42 and my grandmother was 53. As I'm getting older, I'm realizing that diabetes is definitely nothing to mess around with. Actually, I don't think it's the age that was frightened me into almost complete compliance with the doctors. I have a fatty liver (thank you, high triglycerides) and was told that if I couldn't get my triglycerides, cholesterol, and diabetes under control, the fatty liver could turn into cirrhosis of the liver which can then lead to even worse complications like liver failure. I can do without that.

Having been around diabetics pretty much all my life and having been to my fair share of dieticians and nutritionists, I'm well aware of what to eat and what not to eat. I even have a pretty good knowledge of simple forms of exercises. It's just having the motivation to actually do it. That's how I found myfitnesspal. It's been a rather useful tool. I've used it for a couple months (more or less consistently), but now I need some encouragement from other diabetics that are actually doing something about their disease (my family is rather useless for encouragement). I want to be healthy and live a nice, long life with my wonderful husband.