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Stunned and Dumb on this

8K views 50 replies 11 participants last post by  Team-zr1 
#1 ·
Hi all,

I am a 68 year old male which was just told 3 days ago that I have type 2, idiot doctor just simply told me when my blood was analyzed that some number was like 310 !

He told me nothing else and simply prescribed some pill with just1 refill of Metformin 500 MG 2 times a day.

I guess as soon as I told him I am on medical and social security. he sees no large profits and treats me as a lowlife ?


I am 5" 10" tall, weigh about 200 pounds. I live alone so this is over my head to wrap around as I went to hospital to be told I also have bronchitis and pneumonia !

I am still in shock about this and totally dummy where to even start other then I just ordered some books from Amazon, no clue if they are useful or not and some meter to stab myself for blood like a vampire


I read somewhere a clue to type 2 is when taking a leak that there is foamy bubbles.

heck I have seen this like for 2-3 years and just thought it was the cleaner for toilet, just how dumb I am

I never drank any type of booze including beer or wine. All I drank is like 6 bottles of water a day, maybe V8 or grapefruit juice in AM.

3 times a day I drink water with some fiber product

OK maybe boring you but if you could is start me off, tell me how to know by how I feel is low or high values,

where is some info to tell me what all I can or cannot eat.?

Maybe what off the self products I should use like drinks for type 2 people ?

Clueless and need your experience !

Thanks JR
 
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#2 ·
Hi JR, you can eat and drink anything at all, but with moderation.
Of course, things with a high glycemic index (sugary stuff) is less good than things with low glycemix index (like e.g. lettuce, cucumber).
It's not just sugar that makes your blood sugar levels rise, but also alcohol and starch, everything that breaks down into sugar in your body.
Lots of members on this forum advertise that they benefit from a low carb / high fat diet. You might want to look into that.
But don't let the diagnosis "type 2 DB" keep you from eating or drinking your favorite foods / drinks completely, just be aware of their effect on your body and be careful with portion size or plan in excercise to get rid of the higher blood sugar levels from food.
 
#7 ·
Hi Silinde for the reply and information

Being single I rarely buy cakes, cookies candy, etc as it gets stale

I do eat lots of white and Jewish rye bread a lot as I stink in cooking so my best is like grilled American cheese sandwiches
Is rye OK to eat.
Also lots of frozen dinners :-(
Is it OK if the dinner says like 7 grams ?

I had a real bad day on 2/27 (last week) and you gave a clue as I eat frozen dinner of spaghetti the night before

I drunk no types of booze, never have

I am dumb on all this, do not even know what low or high carb means :-(
I ordered some book via Amazon, not sure if they are helpful or not or confuse me more
The drug doctor gave me for type 2 ( take 2 times a day) has not done anything for me yet though been about 6 days
Exercise will be tough as my spine is bent up and 4 dics screwed up and at this time weather has been in 20s and had to shovel 4 feet od snow/ice long sidewall and driveway was no help as also have pneumonia since early Feb and only getting about 4 hours max sleep per night

Thanks again
 
#3 ·
Welcome to the forum, JR!

First, a bit of housekeeping: As a moderator here, I've removed your essentially-duplicate post in the Diabetes Symptoms subforum. Doing this will let more people respond to you in one place and, hopefully, make it easier to get the information you're looking for (there's lots of information here!).

Silinde is correct in that no food or beverage is totally off-limits, but I'll add the phrase within the limits of what works for your body. Everyone's diabetes is a little different, and what works best for one person in food, medication, or exercise, may not work best for another. We can help you find out what works best for you.

What works best for many of us here is a way of eating that includes a very low amount of carbohydrates. Since diabetes at its simplest is a condition in which the body cannot properly regulate blood glucose and insulin levels in response to eating carbohydrates, to many of us it makes sense to not eat so many grams of carbohydrates that medication is required. You can find more information on low-carb eating at this site: Diet Doctor . Some folks also have success with "intermittent fasting" -- eating only at specific times of the day. I'm still too into food to want to try that myself right now :smile2:, but it certainly works for some.

You're off to a good start by wanting to learn more about diabetes and getting a meter to test your blood glucose. You'll find lots of information here, too. Take a look around and then ask the questions for which you haven't found an answer and I'm sure you'll get answers. And maybe find another doctor; this one does not seem well-engaged with your health.

As for your screen name, do you have a ZR1?
 
#14 ·
Here is my small Corvette forum
has only Corvette content, no vendors, ads, etc
Lots of techie content, U tube, ( only Corvette and racing)

BTW the nut I am did many Open Road races, that is where the event rents public roads and it shut down to public, roads are like 80-120 miles and mountain area such as in Nevada or Texas

Max speed I have done is 217 MPH so I am a bit of wacko :wink2:

Interesting then is I have no problem doing that but do not want to stab my fingers :plain:

Team ZR-1 Corvette Racers - Forums powered by UBB.threads

Welcome to the forum, JR!


As for your screen name, do you have a ZR1?
 
#4 ·
I second dietdoctor.com. Lots of free info there on low carb, videos to watch etc. I would also google Dr. Sarah Halberg's Ted Talk on diabetes. It is very, very informative. I also do intermittent fasting. You will find videos from Dr. Jason Fung on dietdoctor.com that may help introduce the subject to you. There is lots to learn and I would venture to say, most of us learned it ourselves and not so much from our physicians.
 
#5 ·
teamzr1...welcome aboard!

I too am a 68 year old male with type 2 diabetes. Although, I was diagnosed over 12 years ago. I found this website in 2015 and I feel it saved my life. At that time I was on a daily dose of slow acting insulin, 2000mg of metformin, and a drug called Januvia! Even with all of that my average blood sugar (A1c) was approaching 8, which is a dangerous level if it stays at that level or higher for a long while. I get very concerned and started searching for a better way to control my diabetes. This website and the associated information taught me how to control this disease.

Within a few months I learned to eat low carb foods, yet supplementing the lack of carbs, by increasing my fat intake (butter, heavy cream, bacon, eggs, etc.). Doing this kept me from feeling hungry or craving sweets. When I got hungry, I ate! That was the "Magic" for me, I knew right away, if I had a 'diet' that allowed me to eat if I felt hungry or was craving a snack, yet still kept my blood sugar on track.....I knew I could do that...and I have!

It really did save my life! Below is the website links you need to review and understand. Then do your own research including this website and learn all you can. Your own knowledge is what will save you...

By the way I have never heard that 'bubbles in urine' is a sign of diabetes? There is a lot of misinformation out about our disease, so having knowledge is important! A common sign of diabetes is being excessively thirsty all the time and sudden weight loss. But, so people have no symptoms…this disease is very tricky, so be guarded in what you believe...

http://www.bloodsugar101.com/

http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf


Good Luck
 
#10 ·
Thanks div2live for the good information

Doctor only gave me Metformin 500mg, 2 times a day
Does that hinder me getting better as no help over 6 days ?
What does A1c mean ?

Problem for me at this time is I do not know what all these terms means, how to make use of what I read and not further get confused

Thanks again

teamzr1...welcome aboard!

I too am a 68 year old male with type 2 diabetes. Although, I was diagnosed over 12 years ago. I found this website in 2015 and I feel it saved my life. At that time I was on a daily dose of slow acting insulin, 2000mg of metformin, and a drug called Januvia! Even with all of that my average blood sugar (A1c) was approaching 8, which is a dangerous level if it stays at that level or higher for a long while. I get very concerned and started searching for a better way to control my diabetes. This website and the associated information taught me how to control this disease.

Within a few months I learned to eat low carb foods, yet supplementing the lack of carbs, by increasing my fat intake (butter, heavy cream, bacon, eggs, etc.). Doing this kept me from feeling hungry or craving sweets. When I got hungry, I ate! That was the "Magic" for me, I knew right away, if I had a 'diet' that allowed me to eat if I felt hungry or was craving a snack, yet still kept my blood sugar on track.....I knew I could do that...and I have!

It really did save my life! Below is the website links you need to review and understand. Then do your own research including this website and learn all you can. Your own knowledge is what will save you...

By the way I have never heard that 'bubbles in urine' is a sign of diabetes? There is a lot of misinformation out about our disease, so having knowledge is important! A common sign of diabetes is being excessively thirsty all the time and sudden weight loss. But, so people have no symptoms…this disease is very tricky, so be guarded in what you believe...



Good Luck
 
#6 ·
Welcome to the forum, Jr

You've joined a good place and are now among a group of folks who are dedicated to gaining good control of their diabetes. Do stick around, read the threads (especially others intro threads) and join in the discussions - ask any questions you have.

I was 63 when I was diagnosed with diabetes. Having some experience of low-carb eating before for weight loss, I immediately went low carb and saw immediate results in much lower BG.

I have learned a lot from the information and experiences shared here by other diabetics. Another good resource is www.bloodsugar101.com We have come to trust what is written there because the author, Jenny Ruhl, does the research and cites her resources.

There's a lot to know about diabetes, but as you will find as you read through the threads here, it isn't all that difficult to manage T2 diabetes. Your meter is your friend. It will tell you the truth about what you can and cannot eat. (I never trust anyone who says "this food is good for diabetics" without checking if it is good for me. I follow the "Eat to your meter" method and so I actually KNOW what foods I can and cannot eat.
https://www.diabetesforum.com/diabetes-treatment/78730-eat-your-meter-testing-method.html
 
#11 ·
Hi VeeJay
Thanks for replying and your hands on experience to share

This forum is rejecting any replies I do as to URL links even though those links are in those I am replying to with quotes such as yours so deleted them from below to be able to reply back :-(

Yes my problem is zipping through the Either of cyberspace has got me way confused, one say eat low and another says HIGH.
bought like 5 books to type 2 from Amazon and concerned it will confuse me even more

Views on ones I am getting like first to read, or book stinks and do not read
Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs

Diabetes For Dummies
Rubin, Alan L

Diabetes Meal Planning and Nutrition For Dummies
Smithson, Toby

Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies
Rubin, Alan L.

The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally
Fung, Jason


Thanks again

Welcome to the forum, Jr

You've joined a good place and are now among a group of folks who are dedicated to gaining good control of their diabetes. Do stick around, read the threads (especially others intro threads) and join in the discussions - ask any questions you have.

I was 63 when I was diagnosed with diabetes. Having some experience of low-carb eating before for weight loss, I immediately went low carb and saw immediate results in much lower BG.

I have learned a lot from the information and experiences shared here by other diabetics. Another good resource is We have come to trust what is written there because the author, Jenny Ruhl, does the research and cites her resources.

There's a lot to know about diabetes, but as you will find as you read through the threads here, it isn't all that difficult to manage T2 diabetes. Your meter is your friend. It will tell you the truth about what you can and cannot eat. (I never trust anyone who says "this food is good for diabetics" without checking if it is good for me. I follow the "Eat to your meter" method and so I actually KNOW what foods I can and cannot eat.
 
#8 ·
Thanks itissteve for all the help and info
and all the others who have responded
I will reply to each as I can as this is all over my head :sad2:

Yes the doctor I saw was via so sick I had to call a ambulance to the hospital. emergency ward, seems doctors there are part time as they also have their own business and office
In any case cannot even contact him as to meds issues as hospital does not give out his phone number.

Yes I have owned, wrenched and race Corvettes since 1974, all type of racing and at one time owned the famous Snake Skinner ZR1
Owned 10 Covettes since '74

I custom tune the controllers or older ECM to make them go lots faster

This forum is not allowing me to post a link to my Corvette forum so you can see lot of techie content, also went I replied to you went I clicked to reply it kicked back and said no links allowed but it was the links you had in your reply :-(


Thanks again
 
#12 ·
Hi teamzr1, welcome to the forum.

Some doctors are helpful to new diabetics but most are not. I was told I was borderline for several years before finally being told I was diabetic. You can get a lot of good info at the links given as well as here on the forum. Many of the abbreviations used on the forum can be found by clicking here

As far as posting links, after you have 5 post, you should be able to post links. That's why you saw the link dropped out of a post you replied to. You should be able to post links now that you have 5 posts.
 
#15 ·
Hey, JR,

Sounds like you've got a bunch of challenges right now. Let's see if we can start addressing some of them:

I really recommend taking a little time and looking at the Web sites and vidoes linked in this thread on this site. Many of them duplicate links other posters have mentioned here. They're a good starter on what diabetes is, how it affects us, and the effects of what we eat. Well worth the time to get you grounded in your new situation.

"High carb" is the way most Americans eat -- the sugary pop and breads and noodles and cereal and batter-fried foods and corn and peas and potatoes). Thing is, our bodies do not need that many carbs to function well -- and the body can learn to make energy from protein. Despite this, the "standard of care" for diabetics is a diet that's still too high in carbohydrates. As a result, many of us eat "low carb" -- just the number of grams of carbohydraates our individual bodies require to be healthy and no more. You have to measure what you eat, at least at first, but it becomes easier with practice.

Exercise? With the winter we've had in the northern U.S., I certainly count snow shoveling as exercise! :plain: It's good to get moving but sometimes weather and how we feel is a challenge. You can manage that a little by restricting what you eat and bump that up when you can be more active.

The metformin will take a little while to have a big effect. You probably won't feel it working (unless you're one of the people whose stomach is upset by it). When you start using your meter, you'll start seeing the effect of the metformin. Humans are really good at storing food energy so it will take a while of eating differently and using the metformin for your body to get used to the new way of things.

JR, I hope you don't get overwhelmed by all this. The info on the page I listed in this note will start filling in the gaps for you. Do what you can -- anything you can do is better than where you were -- and you'll be on your way. You'll be making a number of big changes in your life; so be good to yourself. At least in my view it's okay to ease into those changes as you can.
 
#18 ·
OK I will go watch that video and see if I understand better

Damn with fighting the pneumonia also, I have been eating a lot of canned chicken noodle soup :-(
Are cooked eggs OK, I cook them in a little butter OK ?
So I look at what stuff is made of and see how many carbs it has ?

I am in pacific NW, tons of snow here ( and more coming this week) but with pneumonia and 4 screwed up discs in spine I cannot do what most can to exercise along with the highs only being around 20 degs does not help


You think they have me taking Metformin 2 times a day, 500MG each only for 20 days max is enough to better type 2 level I have now ?

Thanks again

I assume if I was no fighting the pneumonia for last 5 weeks, maybe the type 2 effects would feel less
 
#21 ·
teamzr1 said:
Are cooked eggs OK, I cook them in a little butter OK ?
So I look at what stuff is made of and see how many carbs it has ?
Cooked eggs are fine, especially with some butter (you can use more than a little if you're eating low-carb).

One of the interesting things you'll learn as you read up is that a lot of what we all were told about nutrition over the past several decades is bad information. Fat is not the enemy. 100-calorie packets of cookies are the enemy. The eggs in butter are better for your blood glucose and cholesterol than a bowl of cereal and toast (as long as you stick with low-carb eating; high-fat/high-carbs is really bad for you).

There are smartphone apps and Web sites and little books you can get that list the major nutrients (carbs, fat, protein, calories, sometimes sodium levels, etc.) for pretty much any food you can buy -- some also include information on meals at the bigger chain restaurants (nachos at Applebee's, breakfast sandwiches at McDonald's, etc.). There also are Web sites which can show you what your carb/protein/fat/calorie intake should be based on factors like age, activity level, whether you want to lose weight, etc.

teamzr1 said:
I am in pacific NW, tons of snow here ( and more coming this week) but with pneumonia and 4 screwed up discs in spine I cannot do what most can to exercise along with the highs only being around 20 degs does not help.
Pneumonia definitely will slow you down! But don't get bogged down in some classic definition of exercise. You don't need to be lifting weights or jogging to get exercise. Shoveling snow is exercise (we got three feet of snow last month alone; I've been doing lots of shoveling). Walking or riding a bike or doing water aerobics is exercise. Don't sell yourself short.

teamzr1 said:
You think they have me taking Metformin 2 times a day, 500MG each only for 20 days max is enough to better type 2 level I have now ?
Metformin is a helpful medication for diabetes. I suspect they gave you only 20 days worth to make sure you see the doctor again for another blood glucose check and to see if the 1000 mg is enough and that you'll get another Rx. But, yes, well before the 20 days are up, I would expect you to see lower blood glucose numbers.
 
#24 ·
Hi itissteve

I have been on internet 2 whole days and more confused now :)

Thanks I ill re-read your contents again later and reply bettter

Cooked eggs are fine, especially with some butter (you can use more than a little if you're eating low-carb).

One of the interesting things you'll learn as you read up is that a lot of what we all were told about nutrition over the past several decades is bad information. Fat is not the enemy. 100-calorie packets of cookies are the enemy. The eggs in butter are better for your blood glucose and cholesterol than a bowl of cereal and toast (as long as you stick with low-carb eating; high-fat/high-carbs is really bad for you).

There are smartphone apps and Web sites and little books you can get that list the major nutrients (carbs, fat, protein, calories, sometimes sodium levels, etc.) for pretty much any food you can buy -- some also include information on meals at the bigger chain restaurants (nachos at Applebee's, breakfast sandwiches at McDonald's, etc.). There also are Web sites which can show you what your carb/protein/fat/calorie intake should be based on factors like age, activity level, whether you want to lose weight, etc.


Pneumonia definitely will slow you down! But don't get bogged down in some classic definition of exercise. You don't need to be lifting weights or jogging to get exercise. Shoveling snow is exercise (we got three feet of snow last month alone; I've been doing lots of shoveling). Walking or riding a bike or doing water aerobics is exercise. Don't sell yourself short.


Metformin is a helpful medication for diabetes. I suspect they gave you only 20 days worth to make sure you see the doctor again for another blood glucose check and to see if the 1000 mg is enough and that you'll get another Rx. But, yes, well before the 20 days are up, I would expect you to see lower blood glucose numbers.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Hi teamzr1, welcome to the forum. Don't be so hard on yourself. We all have to start somewhere. Even though T2 runs in my family, I was shocked when I was diagnosed 2 years ago.

I'm so glad I discovered this forum. I have learned so much from everyone here. I believe everyone has something to bring to the table. Read everything the forum recommends and watch that video by Dr. Hallberg. I still watch it :)

Diabetes is manageable. Good luck to you, and I hope you continue to post.
 
#26 · (Edited)
ADA = American Diabetes Association

BG = blood glucose (aka blood sugar)

As I outlined above, I test...
-- before a meal (for baseline - or to determine what my BG level is before I eat - that way I will know how my BG was affected by that particular meal)
--one hour after the first bite to see how high my BG went in response to the carbohydrates eaten at that meal

-- two hours after the first bite (optional) to see if my BG is going down toward the pre-meal level. For some diabetics (and for some types of food) it may take another hour for this to occur.

So, if I eat three meals a day, that's 6-9 times.

Then, you can add in the fasting BG. Testing when you first wake up and before you eat anything.

So, that's 10

Now, you can reduce the daily testing by chosing one meal a day to test around, make good records of the carbs you ate so you can make adjustments. Then the next day chose a different meal, and so on. Takes a bit more time to gather meaningful data but it is a way to reduce the number of strips you use.

It was through this method of testing that I discovered my body can only handle 8-10 grams of carbohydrates at one time. More than that, my BG went well over the 140 mark. Now I plan my meals so that I stay within my range.

All this is discussed in this thread: https://www.diabetesforum.com/diabetes-treatment/78730-eat-your-meter-testing-method.html

And is outlined in www.bloodsugar101.com under "How To Lower Your Blood Sugar"

I believe there are some online food calculators, others can fill you in on that. (I use a carb counting book and paper and pencil.)
 
#28 ·
Morning Veejay

So if I get it right you stab harrycary your fingers like 300 time a month, you must be a sadist ! :)

I hope you use all 10 fingers and toes ! :)
how the hell can fingers heal with that many times ?

Thanks for all the learning content you give to others
I too dumb on this yet but hard to see is per meal your only can only handle 8-10 grams of carbohydrates ?

I do not do this everyday but here is an example of the heart monitor I strap onto wrist, each point is from another day but right side shows once I got sick how the numbers jumped up

Thanks
 

Attachments

#27 ·
teamzr1...you probably do not feel like it, but compared to most 'newly diagnosed' diabetics you are off to a great start!

1st you are curious and seeking information! This is foundational to dealing with diabetes and seeking knowledge will help you find what is best for you!

2nd you have a sense of humor, as we all face challenges and sometimes we just have to sit back and smile about how screwed up things can get!

So...keep it going and it will get much easier as you more through this knowledge quest...

Briefly, here is a basic guideline I used early on as to what carb filled food I should stay away from.

Anything with grains, including rice, wheat flour, etc. no breads including dark breads, flat breads, etc (sorry).; no root crops, carrots, beets, potatoes including sweet potatoes; no fruits, although some of us can tolerate a small handful of blue berries, or 2-3 strawberries; nothing with sugar, syrups, or honey, like candy, cakes, pies, etc. etc. no sugar filled drinks including all forms of milk, except Heavy Whipping cream that is high in fat and very low in carbs, this is ok and good for us!

Of course their are exceptions to all those rules and some diabetics can tolerate more carbs than others, you will learn these as you go through the learning process, But when I started I avoided all carb'ie foods period!

Now what you can eat!

Generally all forms of meat provided no sugar or syrups are added like sugar cured ham (eat salt cured) and some types of bacon. Most all hard cheeses are ok, most all vegetables are ok, and for snacks, pecans are ok, walnuts are ok, almonds are ok, and my personal favorite Fried Pork Rinds they provide the salty crunch I miss and dipped in salsa, they are a great snack. They also add fat to my diet which offsets the loss of carbs so I still have plenty of energy....

I do not get hungry, I eat what I want (in the world of low carbs), I only count carbs I do not count calories or anything else. If I want a snack, I have a snack...I have lost over 70lbs. since May of 2015...which I needed to lose...

On the metformin, it is a tried and true diabetic medication. You are on 1/2 of the max dosage one can take. I take twice what you take and I cannot take anymore. It works slowly over a period of weeks and unless you are monitoring your blood sugar you will not know the slow change. But it is an important medication for diabetics to take if they can tolerate it.

As for 'finger sticks' if you get a meter & tabs, to start testing, you should know their is a proper way to do it that is fairly painless. Unfortunatly, many medical professionals do not teach new diabetics the painless way to take a sample. When you get to that point, come on this website and ask for that procedure so that you do not 'stick the tip of your finger' because that hurts....we stick the sides of our fingers where the nerve endings are less frequent...but you need to know more later about how to get a 'good' sample...

Also be advised that a new type of blood testing meter is out that involves no blood testing, no sticking, no pain. You wear a small testing module on the backside of your arm and to check your blood sugar, anytime 24/7 you simply wave your meter over that module. Many health insurance companies pay some or all of the cost on these. I do not have one yet, and I have not checked with Medicare. I also do not have the name of the product, but I do know that people who have them seem to love them. Someone here will give you more information or do a web search for the information...

Finally, an A1c is a blood test your doctor should require you take every time you see him/her. This is a 90 day average of what your blood sugars have been and give the doctor and patient a good picture of how well your diabetes is being controlled. It is an important benchmark we all use...if you doctor is not testing this and then going over the results with you....change doctors!

Well I have babbled enough...hope some of this is helpful and not to overwhelming....
 
#30 ·
Hi div2live

Well off to the wrong start then as I read somewhere white rice was OK
so crappy frozen dinner that had white rice, chicken and cheese

It is hard for single person as food goes bad or stale before eating it all
so things like veggies go bad soon and worse is my eating style, if it even looks like it is getting bad I throw it out.

I cannot boil water with out screwing it up
Twice a week I try to fry eggs and that end up looking like they were bombed

Also I always tend to eat the same things
Now all blown to hell such as
in most mornings I eat couple of frozen pancakes, which are thin
1 frozen shredded potato patty and a American cheese on toasted bread.
so now I see why many say they lost weight
Because your starving !

You have to be a mad scientist to work all this out.

Lastly anyone find this new device you mention, any type of cost and I also have only Medicare so be nice if they would give me some of the damn money I paid into for over 50 years it for a test tool like this !

By the way, I made decent wages for decades, lot of money forced from my pay checks for Medicare, now once signing up to Medicare the fed yank off like $200 a month for Medicare which I only have used twice in last eight years
If no women were here I have choice words for what I think about that :smile2:

teamzr1...you probably do not feel like it, but compared to most 'newly diagnosed' diabetics you are off to a great start!

1st you are curious and seeking information! This is foundational to dealing with diabetes and seeking knowledge will help you find what is best for you!

2nd you have a sense of humor, as we all face challenges and sometimes we just have to sit back and smile about how screwed up things can get!

So...keep it going and it will get much easier as you more through this knowledge quest...

Briefly, here is a basic guideline I used early on as to what carb filled food I should stay away from.

Anything with grains, including rice, wheat flour, etc. no breads including dark breads, flat breads, etc (sorry).; no root crops, carrots, beets, potatoes including sweet potatoes; no fruits, although some of us can tolerate a small handful of blue berries, or 2-3 strawberries; nothing with sugar, syrups, or honey, like candy, cakes, pies, etc. etc. no sugar filled drinks including all forms of milk, except Heavy Whipping cream that is high in fat and very low in carbs, this is ok and good for us!

Of course their are exceptions to all those rules and some diabetics can tolerate more carbs than others, you will learn these as you go through the learning process, But when I started I avoided all carb'ie foods period!

Now what you can eat!

The monitor tool got here last night
Have to read a damn 52 page booklet first so sock it too me on how to do this test correctly so I can then go stab myself

Wonder if we can be arrested for stabbing a human :)

Generally all forms of meat provided no sugar or syrups are added like sugar cured ham (eat salt cured) and some types of bacon. Most all hard cheeses are ok, most all vegetables are ok, and for snacks, pecans are ok, walnuts are ok, almonds are ok, and my personal favorite Fried Pork Rinds they provide the salty crunch I miss and dipped in salsa, they are a great snack. They also add fat to my diet which offsets the loss of carbs so I still have plenty of energy....

I do not get hungry, I eat what I want (in the world of low carbs), I only count carbs I do not count calories or anything else. If I want a snack, I have a snack...I have lost over 70lbs. since May of 2015...which I needed to lose...

On the metformin, it is a tried and true diabetic medication. You are on 1/2 of the max dosage one can take. I take twice what you take and I cannot take anymore. It works slowly over a period of weeks and unless you are monitoring your blood sugar you will not know the slow change. But it is an important medication for diabetics to take if they can tolerate it.

As for 'finger sticks' if you get a meter & tabs, to start testing, you should know their is a proper way to do it that is fairly painless. Unfortunatly, many medical professionals do not teach new diabetics the painless way to take a sample. When you get to that point, come on this website and ask for that procedure so that you do not 'stick the tip of your finger' because that hurts....we stick the sides of our fingers where the nerve endings are less frequent...but you need to know more later about how to get a 'good' sample...

Also be advised that a new type of blood testing meter is out that involves no blood testing, no sticking, no pain. You wear a small testing module on the backside of your arm and to check your blood sugar, anytime 24/7 you simply wave your meter over that module. Many health insurance companies pay some or all of the cost on these. I do not have one yet, and I have not checked with Medicare. I also do not have the name of the product, but I do know that people who have them seem to love them. Someone here will give you more information or do a web search for the information...

Finally, an A1c is a blood test your doctor should require you take every time you see him/her. This is a 90 day average of what your blood sugars have been and give the doctor and patient a good picture of how well your diabetes is being controlled. It is an important benchmark we all use...if you doctor is not testing this and then going over the results with you....change doctors!

Well I have babbled enough...hope some of this is helpful and not to overwhelming....
 
#32 ·
You can buy a couple double cheeseburgers, but just take off the bun and eat with a fork. With a side of pork rinds for crunch.

Try making scrambled eggs on a non-stick pan, with plenty of butter. Don't cook on a very high heat, and stop when eggs are set. They should just slide out of the pan. Top with some hard cheese and real bacon bits (if you aren't up to frying your own bacon) or chopped up deli ham.

I know it takes some getting used to when faced with a new way of eating. That's why we suggest all the links we have - it can take the mystery out of "what to eat".
 
#34 · (Edited)
OK VeeJay and other type 2 pros (frankly I rather be a type 3'er :)

Tell me what was wrong with this I eat last night

Marie Callenders - Cheesy chicken and white rice

22g of protein
430 calories
6g salt fat
870mg sodium
5g total sugar
45mg cholesterol
54g total carbohydrate
4g fiber
14g total fat
and some V8 juice
So you getting me up to speed which are bad, which to stomp on,
which should have lower values or not used at all ?

On another note does type 2 cause the skin to get reddish ?
I have seen this on me for like 2 years and not from the sun
like face and hands are reddish and shinny

Wow, so pay for a cheese burger and blame them and then skin it and throw it away !
Mc"d will hate me :smile2:

This would be much easier if 20 years old but tough on some in there 60s to change their lifestyle

You'd have a fit if you knew what I'd eat when car racing !

Many thanks !
 
#35 ·
Label reading is the way to do it.

Your frozen dinner looks pretty good. A little high on carbs though. But, it has a decent amount of protein and fat. If you look for dinners that have the carbs(potatoes for instance) separate from the other ingredients, you could just skip them.

Many fast-food places will offer a "low carb" version - burger wrapped in lettuce. I used to get separate breakfast patties - without the biscuit. They were used to this kind of order and had a separate price for them. Didn't have to be tempted by the biscuit.
 
#36 ·
Thanks VeeJay

So it was OK with the white rice ?
As I had read it was bad for us ?
As to carbs how much lower ?

In back of my mind thinking of making some spreadsheet I could simply add the values and with some formula and macro it computes end results which would help me do this right

Not sure for a guy telling a McD counter gal in front of everyone to pansy up a burger :)

OK so going to read monitor tool's that damn little sized booklet with small print and if if I understand and just for you stab myself :)

I have heard other go ... yourself but this is a new one for me :laugh2:
 
#37 ·
No, rice is not a good food for diabetics. It turns to glucose when digested and raises blood sugar. The dinner wasn't too bad except for the carbs, which were about 50g net - not good for one meal, but probably much better than you've been having, so its a step in the right direction.
 
#40 · (Edited)
teamzr1....hell, I too like to eat out often including fast food! You still can do the same, you just have to make a few changes...I eat on the road when traveling all the time. Stop at a Sonic and get a double cheese burger with mustard please, no catsup. Mayo is ok too! I take of the top bun, pitch it in the bag for trash, and use the bottom bun to allow me to hold the burger! When I take a bite I put my bottom teeth on top of the bottom bun, then take a big bite. When done I have a clean bun in my hand that I throw away. Not a problem at all.

Kentucky Fried Chicken is another easy to find meal! They have Roast Chicken, I order 2-3 pieces with their green beans....oh they do it right! Low Carb High Fat all the way!

It can be done and you do not have to cook!

For breakfast I have a large coffee with heavy whipping cream HWC (to add some fat) and a small tub of low fat Greek Yogurt with a fruit added... that has around 12-14 carbs. I add a little HWC to cream up the yogurt adding more fat. I know you think of yourself as not being a 'Yogurt' type of guy, but do you like tapioca pudding or vanilla pudding? Well this stuff is better, and is high fat and fairly low carb....keeps me full till lunch time!

Here is the real deal...you can manage your diabetes by eating low carb! Many do, but if you don't your doctors will put you on more meds to try and control your diabetes. Many of these newer drugs have some bad real side effects...

If you do not control your blood sugars in time, you will start having diabetic complications. We are all different and we get different problems at different times, but the better you control your blood sugar, the better chance you have! These complications are serious including loss of sight, loss of toes, feet, etc. Heart attacks, strokes, etc. etc. are all tied to diabetes...so this is serious stuff! One way of the other you will have to deal with it! Now is the time or it will be more difficult to get control as time goes buy....

A whole lot of us 'old guys' are on this same road you are now on! I made it, you can too...just jump on in, and learn the facts and start trying some new things....

Good luck
 
#46 ·
Hi div2live

With having pneumonia and also this type 2 crap, lots of overload :-(
Maybe once I know how to correctly use this blood monitor tool and see results before and after eating some thing I can move forward as all that damn doctor told me is some value seen in blood test was over 300 when it should be about 125ish

Funny thing is I rather pay income taxes then do this so that is pretty bad.

Thanks a lot
 
#42 ·
Hi JR...

I am so glad you have so many people providing you with great advice.

You mentioned in one of your posts that you would rather eat motor oil than how we low carb people eat.

Here is a typical day for me

Breakfast

3 egg omelet with sausage and cheese, side of bacon
Large coffee , heavy whipping cream, stevia


Lunch

Gyro plate with lettuce, tomato, onion and Tzatziki sauce over it all
Diet soda


Dinner

Steak covered in butter and sauteed onions , some vegetable
Juniors low carb cheesecake

Snack

Almonds, pork rinds, cheese crisps, Sugar free jello


Yeah... not really struggling that much

BTW - I was diagnosed with my BG at almost 400 and changed my diet so I am on no medication and I am healthier in all areas than I have ever been. My diabetes is controlled and no longer a factor as long as I stay away from carbs. AS a diabetic, I am carb intolerant

(side affect of eating the above type food is that I lost almost 100 pounds)


There are low carb TV dinners now and so if you dont want to cook, there are options

:vs_cool: - I am glad you're here asking intelligent questions
 
#43 · (Edited)
Hi hfmrock and thanks for sharing our experience

Sounds like you can cook, I hate doing so except I would hace liked to do so from my Ex mother :)

As example I tried to cook poke chops, and even up lousy :-(
I did defrost them, that is a plus but not knowing how I shoved then into the oven and just too a guess at setting if to 400 deg and as to cook time I just used a meat thermometer and keep testing till they were like 175 deg
end result they were dry and dry. Tasted like, who know what

Interesting I've design functions for NASA, or DOD, or how your computers exchange data via Vsats or change calibrations for vehicle's controls but really suck on this type 2 crap

Very happy you'd doing fine !
 
#47 ·
Team-zr1 …

I understand the 'burn-out' you are feeling. Been their, done that!

Take your time sorting things out, just know we are all out here in cyber space welling and able to share our experiences to help your perspective and knowledge.


Getting to feeling better is most important....so focus on that!


By the way, your doctor was probably telling you that your blood sugar tested at 400 which if really high and at that level would make you feel pretty bad! He was also suggesting that it should be somewhere around 125 which is far better, but above where I try to stay! So when you learn to use your meter keep these numbers in mind! These blood sugar levels is what our meters tell us....

Good luck...hope you get to feeling better soon...
 
#48 ·
Hi div2live

I will get there but problem is I do not know if the type 2 or lungs problems as which I am feeling or both

I have been searching for 3 days now for programs that are free, have been out for years. I have found some I downloaded from CNET that run on a P/C (mswindows) and they have some for you cell phone junkies

One I have started to use is called "Health"

Again this is coming from a guy who still have to use that needle BM tool

The program was written by some doctors and program was released back in 2004. I checked it for any virus or other crap but programs in 2004 time-frame. crap like that was very rare.

Check out CNET and search for diabetes type 2
You will see many programs.
Click on "free" and it will only show programs that are totally free to download

Health had no problem installing on MSwindows 7

Program is multi functioned as you see below

It stores the data you insert and then allows you to have any typed of graphs
Below I inserted some data of times I used my heart monitor and clearly shows the data before and then after the doctor stuck me with new illness

Maybe you pros at all this and even us newbies can use this and compare how the program works, and if data looks OK

One thing the install does not put the icon to task or start so go to the Health folder, right click on program and make shortcut the program to desktop

If mods do not mind I could give the URL directly to Health
 

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#49 ·
Not sure why I do not see a edit button

But on anther note i Mentioned that with type 2 at least
I see bubbles when I take a leak and read somewhere it is due to it

I called a friend, his wife has been a doctor for like 30 years ( I did not dare to ask her age) :smile2:

We talked for about 40 minutes and she said it is true about bubbles in urine, I forget what parts think she said like pankreous (SP?)
trying to convert something

In my case right our of the sack, I take a leak into a clear bottle ( do not know how women can do this) :vs_laugh:

In any case in the AM there are countless bubbles and they do not break up
as day goes on there is far fewer ones and break up quickly

Color in either case is light yellow
 
#50 ·
I think you have 15 minutes to edit your post after it is submitted and then the "Edit" button goes away.
 
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