Vicki

Hi,
I am from Perth, Western Australia and I was diagnosed with Type 2 5 weeks ago after trying to ignore the symptons for a couple of years. - I know! - not very clever especially since I have discovered that nearly all of my relatives on BOTH sides of the family developed type 2 in their later years.
Finally I had to admit there was something terribly wrong.
I started on metformin but after 4 weeks my levels were still in the teens and the Dr put me on Actos as well - which lasted a week before I refused to take it when I found out it stopped you losing weight and made your ankles swell (and didnt seem to make any difference anyway.)
The diabetes educator talked about a new drug called Janumet, which I talked the Dr into giving me. For the first time I managed under 10 after one dose (admittedly after lots of exercise).
Has anyone else any experience with Janumet? This is my 3rd day on it and it is making a notable difference but my levels are still way too high even though I have been eating properly and exercising.
Regards
Vicki

warrenh

Hello Vicki!

I was diagnosed this year too. I was started on Metphormin, but it caused swelling, joint pain and numbness, so I quit taking it. My first doctor then tried Actos, which caused weakness and major numbness in my legs and arms, so I immediately quick taking that as well. I then saw a specialist, endocrinologist, and he gave me a prescription for Januvia, but said I could try to control it on my own first, using exercise and diet.

I never tried the januvia, afraid of more side effects. I did however dive deep into the study of diet and began a work out schedule which I increased over time.

The biggest thing was counting carbs, looking closely at everything I was eating and making sure I kept the carb count down, avoiding sugar and processed carbs altogether. I did eat some carbs, but stuck with wheat. I dropped eating cereal as well, as I found that milk and the cereal itself will both jack my BG way up!

I started eating hamburgers minus the bun, or eating one bun, or even better, a lite wheat piece of bread. It's all about counting the carbs and watching what type you are eating. I continued to increase my 5 day a week exercise routine from walking 1-2 miles, to eventually running 3-4 miles, and added push ups, sit ups and over the last month, on demand tv workouts, like abs, etc.

In late July I also began taking an average of 1,000 mg of cinnamon a day. One pill with lunch, and one with dinner. I made sure to consult with my doctor. In August my A1C was down to 5.3, from my initial diagnoses in April of 11.5. It didn't happen overnight, but I found that I definitely had major control over my type II.

Make sure to consult with your doctor about taking cinnamon, but I would highly recommend it, as it has made my ability to maintain a lower level much easier. The kind I take also contains chromium, which also aids with metabolism. Now I have adde some carbs back in, as I have lost over 40 lbs. For the first time in years, my stomach is flat! I am still careful though. I also test before and 2 hours after each meal, which isn't required by my doctor, but not a bad idea, if you can afford the strips. This way I have kept a tight reign on what jacks me up and when something is causing me to go higher than normal. In time I may back off a bit on the testing.

One day, I know I will no longer be able to do this without meds, but even so, it is still a disease that can be controlled. Read up on diet, excercising, carb counting, supplements and find a good doctor that is really interested in helping.

Oh yeah, welcome to the club. You are in good company and there are a lot of people out there with good information, especially on sites like this one.

I hope you find a combination that works for you soon.