I first experienced gestational diabetes 11 years ago, while I was pregnant with my third child. About a year later I was told I was pre-diabetic, and then I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2005.
The first year after I was diagnosed, I dropped around 30 pounds and was able to control my diabetes with diet and exercise for the next couple years. I was first prescribed metformin, and then glyburide a short while later. I kept the weight off and my diabetes was more or less under control until February of 2010 when my A1C hit 9.6.
I was told I was peri-menipausal (big surprise I was 50), sent back to the dietician, and told to control my diet better. I did try with disappointing results. My period became irregular and I started having monstrous hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats. In August of 2010 my A1C was 10.2 and I was put on insulin for the first time.
My doctor is about ten years younger than I am, and she was somewhat dismissive of any significant connection between menopause and the worsening of my diabetes. I admit that when the menopausal symptoms were worse, it was much more difficult to make myself eat and exercise like I knew I should.
I after I started insulin I could control my blood sugar better, but it shocked me that my weight steadily increased. My next A1C was 8.2, not good but certainly better. Most of the time I kept my blood sugars below 130—they are always high in the morning—170 at best. The better controlled my blood sugar was, the more regular my periods were. But, when the hot flashes and *****iness started in my blood sugar level soared. This was the first time I experience number in excess of 300.
About a year ago I experienced an irregular heartbeat after taking Sudafed, which I was told to never take again. After that I had a rapid heartbeat at every medical exam. My periods seemed to stop in March of 2011. In May of 2011 an irregular heartbeat was detected at an exam and I was diagnosed with Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVCs). I have had stress tests, worn heart monitors, and tried to stick to the medical advice I was given, but I have felt wrung out, depressed, with no energy and my weight crept up until I had gained 22 pounds.
I have also been having digestive issues and problems with diarrhea bad enough to miss several days of work.
I am not willing to give up. My doctors have pretty much told me to accept that diabetes is a progressive disease, and that I just had to work harder to control the factors that I could. My cardiologist told me my heart is strong, but the diabetes and my excessive weight are putting it under stress and it would not remain strong if I didn’t do better. I reached the point that if one more person told me to try harder it was ready to really hurt them—yes I am sure part of this is menopausal *****iness.
Early last summer someone recommended I read the Reversing Diabetes book and I bought it. I didn’t read it until about seven weeks ago. I found this forum because earlier today I was looking up information about the book online. I decided to give it a go and spent the next three weeks finding appropriate food choices and recipes that I can live with. I already eat many meals that qualified as vegetarian, but dairy was a huge part of my life. I start the diet in earnest four weeks ago yesterday. The only time I deviated from it was by accident, mostly when some food had ingredients I wasn’t expecting. I am definitely not trying to start another thread on the Barnard book, just looking for help in making practical sense out of what I have been experiencing.
In the past four weeks I have lost 14.6 pounds, my glucose levels are mostly down in my target range of below 130, I have several below 90 (which hasn’t happened for a long time), I have more energy, I have had no problems with diarrhea, and my heart is beating slower and regularly. I went to the doctor for a sinus infection yesterday, and my pulse was regular and the slowest reading they have recorded in the last three years.
I am eat a lot more food than I have in a long time, but without meat and dairy it is lower calorie food. I am not eating a lot of bread and pasta, but more beans and whole grains than I have eaten since I was diagnosed with diabetes. I don’t crave meat or dairy very much at all. I do want fish and seafood back in my diet, and in the last week I have relaxed in this area. I do seem to crave eggs.
I hadn’t had a period in seven months and my menopausal symptoms had significantly reduces until ten days ago—darn. My doctor says it isn’t connected, but I feel sure that the weight loss and better control of my blood sugar is responsible. I think that eliminating dairy is responsible for the diarrhea disappearing.
What I am doing is working for me right now and I feel better. I think it is much more complicated than just going vegan, which really hasn’t been nearly as hard as I expected.
When I registered with the forum today, I didn’t think I wanted to have to say anything about myself, but I guess really did have a lot to say. Thanks.
The first year after I was diagnosed, I dropped around 30 pounds and was able to control my diabetes with diet and exercise for the next couple years. I was first prescribed metformin, and then glyburide a short while later. I kept the weight off and my diabetes was more or less under control until February of 2010 when my A1C hit 9.6.
I was told I was peri-menipausal (big surprise I was 50), sent back to the dietician, and told to control my diet better. I did try with disappointing results. My period became irregular and I started having monstrous hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats. In August of 2010 my A1C was 10.2 and I was put on insulin for the first time.
My doctor is about ten years younger than I am, and she was somewhat dismissive of any significant connection between menopause and the worsening of my diabetes. I admit that when the menopausal symptoms were worse, it was much more difficult to make myself eat and exercise like I knew I should.
I after I started insulin I could control my blood sugar better, but it shocked me that my weight steadily increased. My next A1C was 8.2, not good but certainly better. Most of the time I kept my blood sugars below 130—they are always high in the morning—170 at best. The better controlled my blood sugar was, the more regular my periods were. But, when the hot flashes and *****iness started in my blood sugar level soared. This was the first time I experience number in excess of 300.
About a year ago I experienced an irregular heartbeat after taking Sudafed, which I was told to never take again. After that I had a rapid heartbeat at every medical exam. My periods seemed to stop in March of 2011. In May of 2011 an irregular heartbeat was detected at an exam and I was diagnosed with Premature Ventricular Contraction (PVCs). I have had stress tests, worn heart monitors, and tried to stick to the medical advice I was given, but I have felt wrung out, depressed, with no energy and my weight crept up until I had gained 22 pounds.
I have also been having digestive issues and problems with diarrhea bad enough to miss several days of work.
I am not willing to give up. My doctors have pretty much told me to accept that diabetes is a progressive disease, and that I just had to work harder to control the factors that I could. My cardiologist told me my heart is strong, but the diabetes and my excessive weight are putting it under stress and it would not remain strong if I didn’t do better. I reached the point that if one more person told me to try harder it was ready to really hurt them—yes I am sure part of this is menopausal *****iness.
Early last summer someone recommended I read the Reversing Diabetes book and I bought it. I didn’t read it until about seven weeks ago. I found this forum because earlier today I was looking up information about the book online. I decided to give it a go and spent the next three weeks finding appropriate food choices and recipes that I can live with. I already eat many meals that qualified as vegetarian, but dairy was a huge part of my life. I start the diet in earnest four weeks ago yesterday. The only time I deviated from it was by accident, mostly when some food had ingredients I wasn’t expecting. I am definitely not trying to start another thread on the Barnard book, just looking for help in making practical sense out of what I have been experiencing.
In the past four weeks I have lost 14.6 pounds, my glucose levels are mostly down in my target range of below 130, I have several below 90 (which hasn’t happened for a long time), I have more energy, I have had no problems with diarrhea, and my heart is beating slower and regularly. I went to the doctor for a sinus infection yesterday, and my pulse was regular and the slowest reading they have recorded in the last three years.
I am eat a lot more food than I have in a long time, but without meat and dairy it is lower calorie food. I am not eating a lot of bread and pasta, but more beans and whole grains than I have eaten since I was diagnosed with diabetes. I don’t crave meat or dairy very much at all. I do want fish and seafood back in my diet, and in the last week I have relaxed in this area. I do seem to crave eggs.
I hadn’t had a period in seven months and my menopausal symptoms had significantly reduces until ten days ago—darn. My doctor says it isn’t connected, but I feel sure that the weight loss and better control of my blood sugar is responsible. I think that eliminating dairy is responsible for the diarrhea disappearing.
What I am doing is working for me right now and I feel better. I think it is much more complicated than just going vegan, which really hasn’t been nearly as hard as I expected.
When I registered with the forum today, I didn’t think I wanted to have to say anything about myself, but I guess really did have a lot to say. Thanks.
