Hi my name is Amy I am a stay at home mom now of three kids ages 13,12,and 10.I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a few months ago along with neuropathy in my legs and hands after a year of going to doctors who said nothing was wrong but severe sprains.We finally found a doctor who did the correct tests and found the problem.I am now on metformin er,capoten,and lyrica daily which the side effects are still coming and going when theyw ant to.The dr also put me on migraine pills to control the migraines that have cropped up even worse from the new meds.He put me on the 1500 calorie a day diet in order to get me into the target weight for my size.And let me tell you the diet plan is worse than the meds I have to take daily lol.I have always eaten healthy and have made sure my family does also but the diagnoses opened up a whole new playing field on the foods you can and can't eat.My husband has shown me 100% support and at times I want to smack him since he checks everything I put in the buggy at the store but I know he's doing it out of love.The day we found out we sat our kids down and explained to them just what was going on and how some days mom just wouldnt be up to being supermom due to the tiredness and other effects the meds have on me.They have been real troopers from day one and try to help as much as they can.I am a researcher of everything so I have surfed the web and read every book I can get my hands on but would love to hear about other tips and tricks others have used or have that might help.I know it's not my fault on the days I can't do as much as I used to but there is always a little tug of guilt that it's my fault even though I know it's not.The doctor said mine was hereditary since it runs rampant in my family and I was the one who drew the short straw out of my siblings lol.

Hello everyone! My name is Najah, I'm the proud mother of 3 beautiful children, 2 adorable gransons, a wonderful husband, and have been diabetic for nearly 3 years now. Diabetes and heart disease runs in my family on both sides (maternal and paternal). And though I was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago, I sat and did nothing at all to help my situation until recently. This past year, I've watched my Hemoblogin A1C level go from 6 to 11...! Awful, but of no fault but my own. For years, I've used all sorts of excuses as to why I couldn't eat healthier and/or exercise regularly. Years prior to being diagnosed with diabetes; my weight went from 160 lbs. to 323 lbs. It took a few years to get most of the weight off and down to 212 lbs., but I did so and naturally. At that point, I was at a stand still for several years, and couldn't drop below that weight. Then a few years ago, I started to lose a few more lbs, and was able to drop down to 188 lbs. Since then, I've been losing a pound here and there...slowly...but surely. I'm grateful to MFP and to some of the groups that are out here. I've been blessed to have met some really good people that can identify with what I've been through and that have become a very meaningful part of my health and life...Alhamdu Lillah...

Hello. New to online support groups and prediabetes. Not sure I am but thinking I will be as of tomorrow after the doctor appointment. Just about everyone on my mothers side has it....so why not me.:ohwell: Last fasting blood test was 6.4 A1C and 137 blood glocuse with the high triglycerides, high LDL, OK HDL. 55 pounds overweight. Think I am going to get yelled at.

So...anyway...could use any suggestions for losing weight. I am very active. I do a lot of house remodeling with my husband and I do a lot of the work along with swimming, gardening....etc. I seem to have too good of an appetite ; ).

So...question. I listed myself as lightly active and I have 1500 calories allotted to me every day. When I do some activity like gardening or canning, should I be adding those as extra and therefore getting the benefit of the extra calories. I have lost about 2 pounds in the last two weeks. That seems about right I think. What do you think?

Welcome Najah,

You have done a great job losing weight already. I'm glad you've decided to take control of your diabetes.

I have found that watching carbs really helps me. I now keep mine hovering around 100-125 per day. I mostly watch my BG to make sure I'm in line. Before the dr. put me on amaryl and I was just on metformin I was eating 25-60 which still didn't keep me in control. The amount that works for you can only be found with lots of testing. Eventually, you will figure out how much of what you should be eating. If you have to go extremely low then you will probably want to talk to your dr. to see if different drugs may help you. I feel much better now that I can eat more normally. The low carb left me very drained and I couldn't workout well.

Hello, Diagnosed Type 2 diabetes over 10 years ago. When I first heard it scared me and I started watching everything I ate and exercising. Dropped 60 pounds but over the years have gotten used to the Idea and started putting the weight back on. Now have gained the 60 back plus another 30. My sugars and A1C skyrocketed . Sugars averages were in the 300s fasting and A1C was 10.7. The doctor started increasing and adding more and more meds. Metformin, Glibizide, and Januvia. Along with Statins and blood pressure meds (even though I my cholesterol and Blood pressure were fine.) This past January I found MFP. Have really taken to it and have dropped 46 pounds. (went from hating exercise to thinking about it as "me" time) A1C has dropped to 6.7 and fasting blood sugars are below 120. Blood pressure and Statin meds (cholesterol now 120 total with HDL higher than LDL) are gone and diabetes meds have been reduced. Still have a lot of weight to lose and a lifetime of control concerning the diabetes. Want to get rid of the medications and will work till that is a reality. Looking for whatever tips inspiration or anything can help with my journey. Thanks, Dennis

Hi Dennis, I'm glad you find the MFP programme helpful. Well done on your success to date. Hopefully you have realised that dealing with Diabetes requires a lifestyle change and a lifetime committment. Take your time to have a look at the various boards where you will find lots of tips on managing your Diabetes. There are lots of knowledgable people in this group who are always willing to share what they have learned and to provide encouragement. I wish you well in your quest to achieve better control.

Welcome Trindukath. You sure have been through a lot. As your body gets settled with your thyroid meds it should be a little easier to lose weight. I'm glad you found us. This group is great for support and suggestions.

Hi Trindukath,

Welcome to the T2 group and mfp I love this place!

Hi Trindukath and welcome to this group. Take your time to look at the various boards where you will find lots of good suggestions and helpful and supportive people. As an athlete you start with a great advantage in that you have lots of knowledge about training and nutrition which will stand you in good stead. There are a number of experienced people on here who are always willing to share their expertise with the rest of us. It's good to have you with us and hopefully to learn from you about exercise and nutrition although not many of us will aspire to become triathletes. I look forward to your input to the group.

Hi Shelley and welcome to the group. I'm glad you're finding lots of help on MFP. You are already making great progress by realising the importance of exercise which can do nothing but good. You have also identified the importance of learning as much as you can. Information is indeed power. If your Dr has not yet booked you on to a Diabetes Education course, this is something which you should follow up as soon as possible. Assuming you have already input your personal data and have received a starting target, the next step would be to pick some aspect and tackle that before moving on to the next subject. A good starting point would be to try and gain control over your daily intake of carbs since this will directly affect your glucose levels. Many people would take say 45 gms of carb per meal with say 30 left for snacks if required as a starting point and then work from there. You can customise your proportion of micronutrients or simply accept what MFP gives. Bear in mind that the Carb target given by MFP is usually too high for diabetics and will require adjustment. You should also note that each diabetic reacts differently and that what works for one person may not necessaryily work for you. Each of us has to find out what works us by trial and error and if you test, by regular testing. The good news is that with determination, honesty, perserverance and persistance you can continue to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. I wish you well on your journey.

Hi, My name is Bobbie. I live in Ft. Washington, MD. I was diagnosed with Type 2 in 1996. I did everything the Dr. told me...quit smoking , lost 60 lbs and was working out 5-6 days a week. I still had to go on insulin. I got very discouraged and gained the weight back and went into a depression. I have other health prob's and take numerous medications. I am not on insulin anymore, but I take metphormin and glipizide. My A1c is 6.9. My Dr. tells me I have great control, but I can remember when it got down to 4.9, that's when I was working out 5-6 times a week. I do very well for a little while, then I get depressed again and stop taking care of myself. Does anyone else have the problem of getting so discouraged??, or suffer from depression?. I have recently started tracking my calories and have started walking on a treadmill. I want to be healthy for my daughter (only child), and be able to have granchildren someday, but it is so hard to be on track ALL the time. I tire very easily and really have to force myself to walk. When I don't see good results I feel like giving up again. I hate that is such a struggle on an hourly basis, constantly having to pay attention to everything that goes in my mouth!! I need encouragement and reminders to keep myself on track !!..Please!!

Hi,

I'm 35 years old and was diagnosed as a diabetic about 4 years ago, though realistically I probably have been for 5-6 years or longer but was avoiding doctors and avoiding facing my issues for some time. My mother has it as well, as did her mother before her. I brought on the disease faster that necessary with a sedentary lifestyle and fast food diet and what feels like a serious addiction to sugary sodas. I've been over 300 lbs for many years and hit a high of 350 last spring (I'm 6'4" fwiw). In past year I dropped about 25 pounds without changing my diet or exercise habits at all, just by controlling blood sugar with meds and by using a testosterone supplement (bloodwork showed that to be very low as well). But the weight loss stopped there and I finally began taking steps to improve my diet and exercise habits as well.

In the last couple months I've cut sodas completely out and began walking 5-6 days a week for 30 minutes. My appetite went crazy without the sugar from the sodas. Initially, I just ate and focused hard on avoiding the soda, but now I'm 5 weeks without a soda and feeling comfortable with that. The next step for me is to keep a better count of what I'm putting into my body. I've been eating more fruits and veggies and cut my bad fast food habit in half but really have no idea how many calories I was eating before. I've only been here a few days but already I feel like inputting all my details into MFP has been quite enlightening and helpful.

I currently take 1000mg of Metformin twice a day. I took glimperide for about 2 years but was able to get off of that 4 months ago. The worst A1C I ever had measured was 9.5%, but for the last year and a half they've been under 6.5%, at my last checkup a few weeks ago I believe it was at 5.8%. I'm really happy with all that but I know it won't stay like that forever if I don't make permanent improvements in my diet and exercise habits, and that's why i'm here and saying hi.

Richard

Thank you so much for your reply. It's not as daunting as it would have been to me a year ago since I have already been using MFP since March; it just seems like I need to continue doing what I'm already doing with an extra critical eye on my carbs and sugars. YOu kind of answered a question I've had, but I still wonder how do these numbers regarding carbs, sugars, etc., that have been given to me on MFP line up with what they should be now that I have been diagnosed? Shelley

Welcome Bobbie,

Diabetes is discouraging. I was diagnosed 14 years ago and have had my bad moments. It is a lifelong battle but you just have to keep forging ahead. I learned to accept that I'm T2, I will always be drug dependent and while I need to watch what I eat I can splurge once in a while. As you replace bad eating habits with good ones it becomes easier and you don't have to think about it so much because you just do it. Pretty soon that daily walk isn't a chore but some me time. It does get better. You have already come so far. You've lost weight, you quit smoking (that's a huge one, most diabetic amputees got there by smoking). It really does get better.

Thank you, Sharon. The suggestion of 45 carbs per meal is a good one. My daily allotment from MFP is 175, so I will definitely limit that to what you and Robert suggested. I will need to investigate and find a nutrition class and/or a support group here in my city.

This is a good starting level. I test a lot when I'm trying something new. You can then figure out whether that is an ok amount or whether you need to cut out more or have more leeway. You will also be able to figure out when to eat carbs. Before the dr. put me on amaryl I could eat carbs after about 3pm or I'd be really high in the a.m. Now that I have new drugs I'm having much better and more normal eating patterns.