Diabetics?

Are there any other diabetics out there? I've had type 2 diabetes for nearly a decade. It's obviously connected to metabolic syndrome, and WAY too many pints of beer (I'm glad that's over with). Because of diabetes I have restrictions on top of my weightloss plan: for instance I've been told not to have more than 70 grams of carbs at one meal, and no more than 25 grams of that in the form of sugar (in fruit and milk as well as added sugar). So I thought we might chat.

In just over a year my husband went from a C1A of 11.5 down to a C1A of 5.5.  He did this mostly with diet.  The main thing we learned is two watch the GI.  One trick we learned is that to slow down the GI of whatever carb he ate was to ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS eat protein with the carbs.  The other thing is to be very sure to eat complex carbs (which most always the lowest GI).  He is not exactly counting his carbs now, just know how much of what he can eat and follows the carbs/protein rule.  Over all he lost 100 pounds.  It has been about 2 or 2 1/2 years now and he has started losing again after about an 8 month "vacation" from eating right.

Here is his original diet:

Breakfast - 3 carb choices (a carb choice is 15 grams) (about 1 cup oatmeal and milk) - 2 protein (also a carb choice) - total 3 carb choices (45)

Snack - 1 carb choice and a protein - usually a fruit and cheese or deli meat or a combo of both

lunch - 3 carb choices (2 veggie/1fruit) and 2 meat (about 6 oz total)

Snack - 1 carb choice and a protien (usually a yogurt and nuts)

Dinner - 3 carb choices (2 veggie/1fruit) and 2 meat (about 6 oz total)

Veggies with low cal and carbs were considered free choices and he filled in the gaps with those.

That was a total of 11 carb choices a day for a total of 165 carbs a day.

Don't know if this will help your or not, but it worked for him.  He is not logging his food now but is pretty much following the same pattern now.  He is now retired (work 20 hours a week for people interaction) and I work full time so he pretty much sees to his own food.  I make his lunch salad in the morning and dinner in the evening, so those are the only two meals I actually observe.  He is losing weight again and hopefully is A1C, which was up to 6.5 and cholsteral will be down on his next evaluation or is going to have to go on meds for both.

That's great! The approach I was taught was much less structured. The bit about combining carbs with proteins makes perfect sense - I tend to do it anyway.

I'm diabetic and have been for 10 years. I dont follow that carb/choice program. I've eaten however I wanted using insulin to balance it out. That's worked pretty well. My A1c's have been between 5.1-7.3 for about ten years.

I'm kind of both types, one and two... it's an interesting situation!

(flamel grumbles about his doctor not telling him the numbers) He says the A1C was much better this time! - He said "your hemoglobin A1C is much better than usual. Hmm, it's close to a healthy level"

My husband is not near so structured now as he was the first year.  He had to take a very drastic approach or be in real trouble.  It is a real long story but bottom line is that the doctor we were seeing January the year he was dianosed in September did the tests in January and "overlooked" the a1c report was elavated enough to dianose the diabetes so he went 9 months eating and drinking whatever he wanted (fat greasy hamburgers, fries, milkshakes you name it he ate it) and only found out when he was more dead than alive almost in a coma.  Then we went to the January doctor and he said "Oh yeah it's here in your tests from January."  WE CHANGED DOCTORS REAL FAST!!  So the new doctor (who by the way just won WA State family doctor of the year for the 5th time) got very agressive.  Paul promised to stick to the eating plan take pills and be very good.  Considering his brother's history, he didn't want insulin.  He also hates taking pills so he worked real hard to get off the pills.  When his A1C was normal last October he decided he no long was diabetic so he slipped in his eating plan but didn't go back to the trash food except for about a once a month "special treat".  That's why his A1C was up a bit in June.  He now knows he is still diabetic and that he does need to forever stick to a better plan although not so ridgid.  I think what he is doing now is good he occasionally has a little cheat but doesn't over do.  One good thing....he has never had sugar since he was originally dianosed.

That's really good, veevee - diabetes is the sort of thing that tends to get gradually worse and to reverse it like your husband did is not a small thing:)  Let's see if I can do as well: I don't mind being on pills, I've been on pills for other things for decades (I have a small pharmacy in my medicine cabinet) but I certainly would like to keep from being even more chemically dependent. Besides, I'm not sure how much more Glucophage my doctor can give me!

As long as the Glucophage is working I don't think there is a limit as to how long you can take it.  OR...are you telling me he keeps upping the dosage?  If the latter is true, then you do have to get more ridgid about you diet.  Eat lots of fresh organic veggies and low sugar fruits and as many as possible raw.

I know my sister has a hard time but then she eats a lot of foods she shouldn't.  She never eats sugar but does eat other carbs without protein and so on and so on.

Good luck to you, I'll be checking on you to see how you are doing.  I am going to add you to my friends list, if that is okay.

He's upped the dosage of glucophage a couple of times, but I should be able to turn this around without too much fuss. Exercise really matters, for one thing, and I'm doing that now.

Yes, friends are good!

Hi, my mom told me just this morning that she has to go back to the doctor.  She went last week and had blood work, and her numbers were way too high.  Her doc told her last time that she was borderline diabetic, and now he thinks she may be diabetic.  She is obese and can not stick to a diet.  She's struggled with her weight for years.  I told her about this site, but she's also too lazy to log her food and activities :(  Anyway, she was asking me what she should be eating since she has to avoid sugars.  She said that all the alternatives then cause her cholesterol to spike.  I suggested more fresh fruits and veggies, but she says she can't just eat that.  I was just wondering if you have any suggestions as to what she can eat that won't cause her cholesterol levels to rise?  Veevee, I read your husband's food regimine, but I know she couldn't stick to it.  She seems to think that she has to eat a full plate of food at every meal, even if the serving sizes are too much.  That's another problem of hers.  I ate dinner there last night, and I had one serving of tater tots, which is only 9 (they were the one 'unhealthy' thing on my plate).  She laughed at me because she thought it wasn't enough.  But I also ate grilled shrimp and fresh veggies.  She doesn't understand that you don't have to eat 5 servings of one thing, especially if you're eating other foods with it. 

I get frustrated with her because I try to be healthy and I try to help her do the same, but it's like she just doesn't want it.  I know I can't make her get healthy if she won't do it for herself.  As of right now, she's on all kinds of meds for cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.

Cecily

I just read your journal.  Looks like you had a bad night.  Gotta hang in there.  You can do this.  When you can't sleep exercise, take a shower and go back to bed.  Obviouly reading the threads contribute to you not being able to sleep so set a cut off time for yourself (Like I do food).  You should also establish a cut off time for eating.  My daughter says it takes two weeks to make a habit, but you have to do it every day for the two weeks; once you break it the two weeks start again.  So set a plan and I will be here to help you work it out, along with everyone else on this site.  GO FOR IT!!

Oh, yeah, at first they upped Paul's Glucophage a couple times but then he started having good readings so they slowly brought it back down until he was totally off.

Cecily,

I missed your post this morning while I was still 1/2 asleep.  If your mom is now diabetic, the first thing they will do with her is send her to a nutritionist.  There she will learn about food choices, portion control, the whole nine yards.  The one thing you gotta know (and this is really hard) is that she has to do it for herself, no one can do it for her.  I know a lady who is type 2 and she has never learned to control her eating; she says eating is her social life.  Very sad.  She has to just keep upping her insulin and has so many diabetic illnesses it is unbelievable.

We had some battles when my husband was first dianosed, in fact at one point I said I could not stay and watch him die of his own stupidity.  We have been married a long time though a lot of stuff but this was the one thing I wouldn't stay for.  As long as he was willing to work, I was willing to stay but I couldn't watch him die like his brother did.  Because he loves me and our marriage, he pulled himself up by the boot straps and got to work and stuck to the program.  Remember, he was near death when he was dianosed so he had only two choices....Stick to the program or die.

I am sorry for your mom and will pray for her to find something that makes her want to make a change in her life.  I will also pray for you to have strength to help her but know she has to do it herself.

Good luck!

Im a type 2.  I have known for a long time, only worried when I gained more than 10 pounds.  If I went over a certain weight, I would start to feel the effects of being type 2.  So  I would take diet pills, get back down to normal weight and move on (BAD!).  Until I hit 30.  The weight has been harder to take off. I felt shaky, sick and my legs hurt really bad.  I had to do something.   I become 15 pounds over what is in "normal range".  ON June 26th I started the  South Beach Diet.  I have lost 7 pounds so far.  This has been the hardest 7 pounds I have ever lost.  I hit the gym at lunch and after work.  I always log what I eat, which helps.  THe 4 of July was difficult, you know, holiday food. :(
BUt I made it (yeah).  I have 13 more pounds to go.....

that is really good!!! maybe you can help me i have always been over weight and now i am trying to lose wait because i have been told by my doctor that i have PCOS which is insulin resistence(type2) they say that you lose weight easily by taking medicine for diabetic is this true because i have not lose any weight please help me on some pointer for losing weight as a diabetic

Thanks, Veevee.  I wish she would see a nutritionist.  In addition to her poor diet, she doesn't exercise at all.  She needs knee replacement in both knees, but one is already bone on bone.  She has a very hard time just walking around the house.  I thought she might be more inclined to take better care of herself because I have a 3-month-old, her only grandbaby.  She takes care of him while my husband and I are at work.  I'm mainly doing this to lose weight and stay healthy for my son.  I don't want to end up like my mom.  I've already told her that I don't want my son eating junk and sweets all the time.  But that's all she has at her house, so I'm going to have problems when he's old enough to eat that stuff.  She thinks that just because I had that stuff when I was little, I'm mean for denying it to him.  Luckily, my husband is pretty health conscious, too, so my son will learn good eating habits at our house.  But your right, my mom does have to do this herself.  I just wish she'd listen to what me and her doctor are telling her!

Cecily

Cecily,

That is so sad.  If she truly has diabetes, she will have no choice about the nutritionist it is part of the program.  Whatever or whoever they send her too it will do no good unless she decides to get healthy.  I went with Paul and had open discussions with the three of us so he couldn't bluff his way through the classes.  If she goes, try to go with her, otherwise she will never admit what her true eating habits are (although they can probably take one look and tell, if she is like Paul was).  She needs to purge her house of all sugars and high GI foods so they aren't around to tempt her.  Does she live with a partner?

I know what she is going through with the knees.  I am in the same boat.  My daughter got me started on taking an herb, which helps my knees a lot.  I am trying to lose 100#s so I can have my knees replaced.  Sounds like our knees are about the same.  I am going to try water areobics on the advice of my doctor.

Keep me posted on how your mom is doing.

Veevee,

Her doctor also recommended water aerobics, but she has yet to go.  She has a ton of excuses.  She wants to find an all women gym, it's too far away, she doesn't have time, it hurts too much, etc.  I even offered to join a gym with her (because I also need the exercise), but it's just one excuse after another.  My neighborhood has a rec center that includes a fitness room.  I've asked her to be my 'guest' so she could use all the equipment free of charge, but she's never taken me up on it. 

Unfortunately, I don't live with her to monitor what she's eating.  My dad is there, but his eating habits are terrible.  My mom is a horrible cook, so he doesn't eat much of what she makes, just junk.  He likes to eat whatever is sitting out.  If there is cake or cookies, he'll eat that rather than cooking something for himself.  He went on a 'diet' (I use the term loosely) and lost some weight.  He was not eating much at all at meals and snacking on cookies in between if he got hungry!  He was only losing because he was eating so little.  Not healthy at all!  On top of that, he complains if she doesn't buy the sweets because he wants it.  He thinks she should just stay out of the cookies, but he knows she has no willpower.  He's always telling me that he tries to make her eat better, but he's contributing to the problem.  They both need to ditch the sweet stuff! 

My mom was complaining this morning that there is nothing sugar free to eat that won't raise her cholesterol.  I suggested Cheerios for breakfast (I have 1 cup most mornings along with a piece of fruit), but she found an excuse to not eat that.  She eats scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits with butter most mornings I think.  Do you have any suggestions?

BTW, I added you to my friends list if you don't mind.

I thought a long time about whether to post this, hope this is the
right thing and helps rather than hurts: my mom was diabetic and didnt
care. she died two years ago - had a heart attack and they said she had
many, that it is common for diabetics, especially females, to have
silent heart attacks. she would take medicine, or not, and did not eat
for all day , then would have 3 peices of chocolate cake, and smoked
two packs a day. it was heart breaking and she was so committed to
doing things her way. absolutely nothing to do about it. so i know how
you feel cecily. figured the only good thing could come out of it that
i could do it different for my kids and grandchildren. i started
exercising the next week and have gradually improved my diet - she
taught me how to eat, after all. my heart is with you. hugsssssss, kathi

http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/8532 .html  (you may have to copy and past to your bowser, I can't get the link to work)

Cecily,

I have been thinking about my response to your request for help for hours now.  I so wish I could wave a magic wand and make your mom and your dad WANT to get healthy.  Then I get home and read Kathi's post and my heart breaks even more for both you and Kathi. 

Kathi - I am so sorry for what you went through with your mother and end up losing her as well.

I copied the link to the above post address for you.  It has a wealth of good info for helping to get healthy.  Read over the good information and visit the sites she has posted.  The real problem here is that it does not sound like either of your parents want or are even interested in exploring getting healthy.  My first reaction when I read your describtion of their live was that the are two co-dependants feeding off each other's addictions, each blaming the other because the house is full of unhealthy food.  If even one of them were healthy, that one could help and support the other. 

Here's what I think I would do:

If your mom truly is diabetic and the doctor sends her to "diabetic school" (a nuritionist) arrange for both you and your dad to go with her (to learn how to help her live with this).  That way you will be there to make sure your mom does not bluff her way through the classes AND your dad will hear just how serious this is.  Sounds like he might be at risk of the same thing down the road even if he has lost weight.  I think your only hope of getting them to turn their lives around is that the diabetic classes will wake one or both of them up and decide to work at getting healthy.  If you want, at some point, feel free to share my husband's story, give them my contact info I will help in any way I can.   Is there a YMCA in your area easy to get to (I just joined today)?  Y's are family oriented and loving and no one looks at your shape or size especially at the WA classes.  Take her for a tour, don't tell her where you are going until you get there, if you have to, do an intervention, let her know you are there to help her through all this.  [By the way I know how hard it is to be your mother's caretaker; I took care of my aged mother for 3 1/2 years.  She said terrible things about me but always gave me credit for how healthy I kept her.]

I so hope this pending dianosis works for good in your family.  I am more than glad to talk whenever you would like, it you think it would help.  If you email me your email address, I will send you my tollfree number so you or you mom can call me, if either of you would like.

Remember....I will be praying for you all.

alisha: diabetic eating is pretty straightforward. The advice generally given around here (like in ix's thread veevee just gave a link to) is sound. There's only a few things: keep your fat down, don't consume more than 35% protein in your calories, and limit the amount of carbs in each meal. You should eat plenty of carbs, but not too much at once, so, for instance, a big plate of spaghetti might be too much, but a small one is fine. Especially limit sugar. I was told not to have more than one piece of fruit at a meal, and if I have fruit not to have any other dessert. I hope that helps.

veevee: my doctor waited four or five years before sending me to a nutrition seminar for type 2 diabetics. I'm so glad I went!

Edit: these are guidelines for people with relatively mild diabetes. I think this sort of approach would be good for someone like cecily's mom, who isn't prepared to follow stricter guidelines.

Kathi, I'm so sorry for your loss!  Your mom sounds a lot like mine.  She's obese and on all kinds of medication, but she just won't commit to the diet thing.  I decided a long time ago that I would never be like her.  I was always very thin, but unfortunately, I was taking several meds (at different times) to control my migraines.  They never helped my headaches and actually caused me to gain weight.  I was finally getting my weight back on track when I got pregnant.  Now that I have my son, I'm getting back into my eating/exercise routine.  I want to be healthy for my son.  I was at my mom's yesterday, and she admitted that if she doesn't start taking better care of herself, she won't be around to see him grow up.  The sad thing is, she's been saying things like that for years, and has yet to do anything about it.

Veevee, an intervention is a good idea, but I don't know how I'd do it.  My parents moved to the Houston, TX area two years ago.  My husband and I moved here about a year later.  All of the rest of our family is in San Antonio, three hours or more away.  Another thing, everyone else in my family is like my mom.  Her oldest sister is a chain smoker, but she's thin so she thinks she's healthy.  She's already been treated for cancer.  It's in remission right now.  Her other sister is severly obese and has as many health problems as my mom.  I may be able to talk to my cousin about it.  She's a nurse and she's been struggling with her weight for years.  She's recently lost a lot, and she and my mom are close.  She comes to Houston a lot, so I think I'll see if she can help.  Also, I'll find out if she's going to be going to a nutritionist.  I'd like to go with her.  I might learn something, too! 

On a lighter note, I've lost five pounds since I started this site last month.  It's not two pounds a week, but it's something!  I'm excited!!!  Now I only have 22 more to go!