[SufeeGuy]

Hi Everyone,

I recently got diagnosed with T2. I have been lurking for a while, and I jsut can't thank everyone here enough for providing so much information and support for the community.

Here are my vital stats:
39/M/6ft/220 lbs (down from 230 lbs 4 weeks ago)
Diagnosed: May 6, 2011
No Medication
Low Carb diet <30 gms a day.
Family history: Mom, Maternal Grandad, Mom's sisters.

Thanks!

S

 

[Patdart]

Welcome, Guy!

I'm glad you've seen how good this list board is and hope you'll tell us more about yourself soon!

 

[moon]

Welcome to this great forum - glad you've taken some time to poke around.

Congrats on your weight loss -that's awesome. What were your numbers when diagnosed? I would imagine they're coming down nicely with your diet and weight-loss.

 

[SufeeGuy]

Some more info..

I basically diagnosed myself when I suspected that my extreme fatigue and insatiable apetite for Coke was quite unusual for me. But I have had these for a couple years at least and I put it down to bad sleeping and eating habits. On a whim I decided to test myself, and my random BG was 488!

My A1c a few days later turned out to be 10.6. Since then I have religiously followed Dr. B. diet and have lost not only 10+ lbs in a littel over 3 weeks, but my energy levels are a 100 times better, I stay calmer, and don't feel hungry all the time.

I test myself at least 12-15 times a day for now, and my BGs now hover between 100-125. On some ocassions they will touch 130 1 hour after a mean, but those times are rare now.

My biggest problem is my fasting BGs that range from 105-120, mostly on the higher side. Trying to get a fix on that.

Thank you

 

[SufeeGuy]

Thanks Moon. I just made another post with all the info. My numbers were always in the 200 range even when I started taking control of my diet the first week or so. But that was before I figured that I was following crap advice from ADA and my dietician friend who advised me to eat carbs!! But its been a dramatic turnaround after that. I can't thank the "Wisdom of the Web" enough - it might have saved my life and millions of others's as well!

Welcome to this great forum - glad you've taken some time to poke around.

Congrats on your weight loss -that's awesome. What were your numbers when diagnosed? I would imagine they're coming down nicely with your diet and weight-loss.

 

[moon]

You've done awesome! I'm assuming it was your family history - particularly mom - that alerted you to the diabetes symptoms.

Very impressive how you dove in, are following Dr. B, and have gotten where you are.

My hat's off to you! Glad you're here - you're an inspiration.

 

[SufeeGuy]

Moon- Thanks. Your A1cs are great - in terms of the drop. I wish to have that kind of a change when I get tested in about 3 months time.
A word about my Mom - when she was diagnosed all doctors advised was the suicidal ADA diet. But she knew intuitively that she needed to cut down on carbs. At that time she told me that that was the conventional wisdom when she was growing up in the 40s and 50s!

You've done awesome! I'm assuming it was your family history - particularly mom - that alerted you to the diabetes symptoms.

Very impressive how you dove in, are following Dr. B, and have gotten where you are.

My hat's off to you! Glad you're here - you're an inspiration.

 

[SufeeGuy]

Thanks Pat! I am happy for you that you caught it early. I genuinely wish that there was mandatory testing for BGs for everyone. Save lives, and decrease our deficit!

Welcome, Guy!

I'm glad you've seen how good this list board is and hope you'll tell us more about yourself soon!

 

[moon]

when she was diagnosed all doctors advised was the suicidal ADA diet. But she knew intuitively that she needed to cut down on carbs. At that time she told me that that was the conventional wisdom when she was growing up in the 40s and 50s!

Yeah, and it's still the conventional wisdom! Smart woman to go her own path, even without the internet. I'm not sure I would've been that clever. Most likely I would've been a lemming following my beloved fruit right off a cliff.

 

[SufeeGuy]

Well, I hope this high carb, low fat "fad" passes away soon. My mom has suddenly become an inspiration for me, more than ever before. Even after 25 years, and being nearly 80 - she has had no complications at all - in fact not even regular ailments that someone her age might have. This just shows that controlling your BGs will give you a BETTER quality of life than we ever had before - and better than so called "non-diabetics".

She does do Yoga though - about 20 minutes in the morning - just breathing. I plan to start soon with this. And someone posted on another forum about Fenugreek. She says it helps immensely. I try to include it as much as I can in my diet.

Yeah, and it's still the conventional wisdom! Smart woman to go her own path, even without the internet. I'm not sure I would've been that clever. Most likely I would've been a lemming following my beloved fruit right off a cliff.

 

[moon]

This just shows that controlling your BGs will give you a BETTER quality of life than we ever had before - and better than so called "non-diabetics".

So agree. I've said often that diabetes was a blessing for me. I feel a difference in my health already, and know for certain that without this kick in the rear axle I would have kept eating destructively (carbs on top of carbs, believing that eating the 'good' carbs would protect me) and seen my health decline, not improve.

Your mom sounds awesome. Staying active is so important. My mom is 92, and sadly with dementia and macular degeneration, but when she was in her mid-80's we spent 6 weeks in the Canadian Rockies doing many sometimes-rugged 5 mile hikes. I have fibromyalgia and it was usually harder on me than her. She would always say, "if this is too difficult for you tell me and we can turn back!" Not a chance I'd be shown up by my 85 yr old mom! We'd get back to our lodging after a full day out, I'd collapse, and she'd go out for a stroll before bed.

 

[Shanny]

So SufeeGuy, you've joined this exclusive club that NONE of us wanted to join? Welcome aboard! You and your mom are outstanding in knowledge & intuition, not to mention independence! I'm sure she knows how you feel about her . . . what a great example she's been. And what a great job you've done following her example.

I hope you'll be able to visit us often & get better acquainted . . . take care & thank you for joining us.

 

[jwags]

Welocome to the Forum. I think we were all prescribed the ADA death diet at one point. I found Dr B pretty soon after. It makes so much sense. I started out with an HbA1c of almost 11 and now am 5.3. It took time and a lot of willpower. I am also back to my college weight. That is not bad for a 60 year old woman with 5 kids. My 91 year old dad was dx'd with D 2 years ago, but I was the first in a very large family to get D. It is hard to explain to my dad that his dietician is giving him lousy advice. He is in that generation that believes whatever their medical team tells them. My husband and I are both D and we follow a pretty much organic, low carb diet. We try not to eat any processed foods. It has really helped both of us.

 

[Patdart]

What I don't get is why A1C tests are not ordered for those of us over 65 at least, if not before annually. Mine had never been tested and if it were not for a friend who had recently been diagnosed after two heart attacks and a bypass, I'd not have thought to ask, but remembering how my Dad after having many problems with his 'high' blood sugar some 20 years ago and now I know what those problems mean, I asked on a hunch for mine to be tested. Am I glad I asked...I believe my children should be watched after 40 on an annual basis and most people after that at least. It should be part of the 'annual' physical!

 

[Shalynne]

What I don't get is why A1C tests are not ordered for those of us over 65 at least, if not before annually. Mine had never been tested and if it were not for a friend who had recently been diagnosed after two heart attacks and a bypass, I'd not have thought to ask, but remembering how my Dad after having many problems with his 'high' blood sugar some 20 years ago and now I know what those problems mean, I asked on a hunch for mine to be tested. Am I glad I asked...I believe my children should be watched after 40 on an annual basis and most people after that at least. It should be part of the 'annual' physical!

Hear, hear!

Oh, and if the A1c is positive, a complete diagnosis including Type, current level of pancreas function and the like, would also be nice.

Welcome, SufeeGuy! :welcome:

Your insight is delightful. Very glad you found us!

 

[SufeeGuy]

Thank you everyone!
I am kinda angry at the whole process of diagnosing diabetics. About 3 years ago I had a BG test done at a lab, along with my regular blood work, and my fasting came out to 107. The doc said "Its perfect" - and I never thought of it again. Now that I think about it, that was a HUGE mistake. If I could have taken some action then (knowing what I know now), I would have been in a much better state. I tell all my friends who care to know that a fasting BG of anything above 100 (and probably 95+) definitely needs further investigation.

To be honest, this is negligence of the highest order, on the part of the medical community in general - not that its their fault - but the system's. I am at peace with myself now, but being from an engineering background, I find it incomprehensible that simple and early diagnosis can prevent so much struggle and social costs down the line, and no one does anything about it.

Having said that - I feel that something like this had to have had happen for me to change for the better. And I have not felt better about myself in years - in control, and optimistic about the future.

And thats the sentiment I see in these forums as well.

so Kudos to everyone!

Thanks

 

[SufeeGuy]

Pat,

This is what the problem is with our healthcare system. Its either too many tests (for ailments that do not exist, or are relatively rare), and too little for those that are an epidemic.

A1C tests cost very little. Using something like healthcheckusa would cost probably 50 bucks give or take.

I think everyone needs to take charge of their own health. But that only goes so far. As a community we depend on institutions such as our medical establishment, and quasi government organizations (FDA, EPA etc) to provide us relevant information. None of us can be a master of all there is to know. This is how modern society is supposed to work.

But in the case of diabetics, and diet and health in general - these institutions have failed us. Miserably. The inertia that these bodies have to change is literally killing or maiming citizens.

But the answer lies not just in saying that individuals need to take charge of their own health (that is obvious) because all of us cannot be doctors - at some point we have to rely on the trust and expertise of others. We have to reform these institutions so that they are not only nimble and responsive to change, but are run by true scientists and researchers rather than by bureaucrats.

Now I wonder what other areas are we being misled on (not in a conspiracy theory sort of way) by people and institutions that are stuck in the past and are slow to change.

Thanks for listening!

What I don't get is why A1C tests are not ordered for those of us over 65 at least, if not before annually..... It should be part of the 'annual' physical!