Introduce Myself

Just wanted to properly intro myself.  I think I may have come onto this website through the "back door" somehow and have not went through all the steps I should have, so I just thought I might start over.  My member name is ibeckforme.  I chose that name because for me I am finding additional help reading Judith Beck"s book, "Beck Complete Diet for Life".  I am not here to promote the book or the diet, I am here to find support and other people who are on the same journey as me.  I am using this book because it is helping me to change how I think about food and that in itself is making it so much easier for me to make the changes I need to lose this weight.

     I am a type 2 diabetic, I have signs of kidney failure beginning and neuropathy in my feet, so I am feeling like the road of choice for me has become very narrow.  It's now become do or die, literally.  But I am so filled with hope and energy right now, I feel as though a miracle is happening for me.  Each day my blood sugar numbers are coming down and I feel a little better.   It is so exciting to get on this website and read about people who have a hundred or more pounds to lose,and they are making headway everyday.  When you are this much overweight it is so easy to get into a hopeless mindset.  When I read your victories , I feel victorious as well.  Thank you all for sharing. 

     I live in MIchigan and cold weather is so just around the corner and the exercise thing is going to be a challenge.  Anybody who would like to share any indoor mini workouts would be apprecitaed.  As of right now I don't have any equipment.  I can drive about 20 minutes to walk in a mall though.

     Again, I am so glad I found this website and so happy to be here!

I am also type 2 diabetic. My blood sugars were completely out of control. I almost never eat pasta, rice, potatoes, corn, or bread anymore. About 3 years ago I started to get a weird burning in my heel near my ankle that just got worse and worse and more and more - eventually yes, I was told this was neuropathy. Several months back I really noticed how the above mentioned foods made me feel a few hours after (complete with blurred vision) and I'm pretty sure I was getting gout also. All of which I don't ever get even a tiny sign of anymore!

I started taking Byetta Oct 1 and since then my blood sugar went from fasting 170s to fasting 130s.

So, I super watch my carbs and am good with pointers as daily almost i'm finding better carb choices - like low carb/high fiber/low fat tortillas and pita bread. that is about the only breads i eat but i did just start buying light wheat also.

Is your blood sugar worse fasting, or after a low carb meal, or only after high carb meals? If the blood sugars become normal, how will that effect the kidneys?

I am told that losing weight and getting my b/s in the normal range will improve or possible stop the progression of kidney disease.  I have been on januvia, but just last month my health insurer announced they would no longer cover this drug for anyone.  So next week when I see my endo, we will talk about alternatives.  I was wondering how you are getting along with the byetta but you answered that question.  With the right diet it soounds like it is working well.  I have shyed away from trying it because I have heard people get nauseous with it, plus it is an injectable, which sounds like no fun.  But you know, testing my blood sugars became no big deal pretty quickly, were you afraid to inject yourself?  I was also having ALOT of blurred vision and I need to go get my eyes checked again.  But you know what, when my eating is out of control, all self-care is out the door and I just seem to hide from life like a hermit.  I get scared, don't seem to care, and stuff the emotions with food.  That is why I feel like a miracle is happening for me.  It is such a high when the food is under control.  It is a miracle for you as well to eliminate your symptoms only by taking better care of yourself.  Diabetes is not a nice disease, but at least we have some hope that with good self care we can manage it.  I think that is why when I was diagnosed I went into such denial.  It felt like a death sentence....it was the worst disease for a compulsive overeater/binger.  I felt hopeless.  If you can't discipline your eating you can't manage this disease, period.    Drugs may help in the beginning,  but soon it is obvious that without the food control, the drugs become worthless.  that is where I was.  The januvia plus   the glyburide did nothing but keep me from going over a bs of 400, and if I binged it would soar anyhow.  Last fall my husband and I were on vacation and I couldn't sleep.  I polished off a box of crackers, plus some cheese and trail bologna by myself.  I fell into a "drugged" sleep and woke up around 4am in a sweat with a racing heart.  My b/s was 520!  I am just plain lucky that I didn't go into a coma.  It stayed in the 400's the rest of the vacation....but still it took me most of this year to come to terms that I had to get my eating under control.  I really feel blessed right now that I am able to do this.  I take it a day at a time, expecting my miracle.  I think I will ask my endo about this byetta next week.  Please, if you have the time let me know what your experience has been like on this drug.  It really helps to hear from someone who is doing so well.  Today I had a fasting bs of 140...went to 174 2 hours past breakfast.  I haven't seen numbers this good in a long long time.  I am counting carbs and I am also doing Br Bernsteins diet which is controversial.  It is low carb, but for now it is getting my numbers down and I am ok with it.  I am open to change in the futre if needed but for now I feel confident it is right for me.

ibeck,

Oh, I read your post and edited mine.  So I know you are eating low carb.  Don't forget your vitamins.  Very important.  Get some sunshine, get out and meet people.  Have some fun.  All very important, just don't make eating the center of your world anymore!!!

I am guessing that you use either a low carb or modified carb diet then.  You really do need the extra water to wash the ketones and lactic acids out of your body, especially since your kidneys don't work so well.  Are you putting out a lot of less filtered urine or decreased amounts?  I guess what I mean is,  are you nearing the need for dialysis or just somewhat compromised?  will the extra water tax your system.

Sorry, but being a nurse makes me overly curious sometimes about people's health situation. 

Losing weight is only going to help all this.  Congrats on your decision.  Are you on oral medication or insulin?  Be sure to check with your doc.  Let him know you are changing your diet so together you can keep a check on the amount of medication you should take as your diet changes and your weight decreases.

My husband takes Lantus.  He lost 125 pounds thru stomach surgery (not what you think...stomach cancer) and we finally took him off all oral hypoglycemics and decreased his insulin by half.  Now if I could get him to lose some more, he might be able to get off it all together, but ...you know people have to do it for themselves.

The doctor told me I am showing "signs" of kidney failure and if I keep going at this pace I am 5 years or less away from dialysis.  I will know more next week.  I have never been put on isulin.  He is insistant that I can do this myself, and is pressing lifestyle change really hard.  But I have been avoiding him for some time, so i will find out soon how much that avoidance has cost me health wise.  I drink alot of water and green tea.  I am eating around 30 CHO's a day, 1000 to 2000 calories and only lean meats and good fats. 

You are saving your own life then.  It isn't easy, but you can do it.  Just remember that this isn't a race.  It's a nice easy jog you can maintain through the rest of your life, which can be a long and prosperous one.

I know your endocrinologist will be pleased.  And you are right.  It is a miracle.  I believe your guardian angel must have finally gotten through to you, even if it cost some physical discomfort to you and a good scare to get you to stop and look at yourself.

I am so happy for you.  If there is something I can do to help you, just give a holler.

Oh, and I want to tell you a horror story that you can put in your memory banks when things get tough.

My cousin Tony had diabetes.  He didn't think he had to take good care of himself and went blind from diabetic retinopathy.  He lost one leg and then another.  He lost both his kidneys and went on dialysis.  He had to spend 4 hours a day three times a week in dialysis.

His mother had to take care of him because he really couldn't do so many things for himself any more.  His hands hurt him so he could hardly push his own wheelchair.  She died suddenly of a heart attack and left him without a caretaker, so he moved in with his 80 year old grandmother and she struggled to help take care of him.

He recently went to dialysis and while there died because his blood sugar dropped too low during dialysis that he went into a coma. 

I know you don't want this kind of life for you and your family.   You have made the right decision.  I am smiling when I think that you won't have this kind of end.