[Penn]

I have working for the last 18 months to get my #s in normal range

without meds--I got the BP back to normal but it was so far out of normal that I had to take a med for that one

however dr thought with diet and excerise I should be able to get chlestrol and BS down so I dont have to take anything for them

so for the last 18 months I watched what I ate and added either walking or the "gerbil wheel" (thats what I call the treadmill)

and slowly I got the #s down each of the last 4 test were down from the time before--then came today

total chlestrol went from 213 to 276!!!!! god only knows why!!!!
triglcerrides actually went down 151 to 119WOW

HDL went up!! 65 to 78 again WOW

LDL 119 to 175 again god only knows!!!

BS wasnt much better

A!C went from 5.9 to 5.6 down dont know why
since 12 hr went 103 to 115!!!!!

2 hr after eating was 106 which is what is has been around
while I know this wasnt great its better then it was

I feel so bad like the past 18 months were wasted what good did it do!!!

any adice tips or reasoning as to what would make the chl

go so high would be appreicate

the dr did do an NMR chl I dont know since it checks for different things if the #s come out different

Im jsut besides myself

please help!! Im listening

 

[ThoseBackPages]

The easiest answer is:

"Welcome to Diabetes" where 1+1 does NOT always equal 2

unfortunately thats just the way it is.

Your A1C went down, and thats ALWAYS a GOOD thing in my opinion.

so keep the positives in mind here.

have you lost weight? do you feel better? these are important things to keep in mind.

i dont know anything about you, but if you're like i was before diagnosis, everything was out of control, and now i have a grip
on things. not that everyday is sunshine and roses, because it isnt

 

[RobertIA]

Things don't always go the way we want. Nothing to get depressed about.

Do you keep a food log? This might give you a clue as to why some numbers are up. Every day can be different and trends are as important or more so than daily numbers. For three years, I had everything going the right way and then in Feb of this year - lipids jumped up. Even the Good HDL, but the triglycerides jumped back over 230 and LDL was higher. then in May they were back down in the normal range. August were still in range but on the high side. And then in November all were on the low side. Go figure.

This can happen, so please lighten up and see what next time brings. Then you will know if you have to change eating habits or up the amount of exercise - which never hurts to be regular with in any case.

Good luck, and keep a positive attitude.

 

[Jen]

Penn - it's easy to be down when you see the gross numbers, but....your trigs went down - that is good. Your LDL is up - that's the "good" cholesterol. Your HDL is up - minimally. Your A1C is great.

You are working hard and are actually seeing decent results. Keep at it. Over time, as you continue to low(er) carb you'll see continued improvement. Don't sweat the small stuff!

Jen

 

[fiesta]

Hi Penn,

Meat is where the tryglicerides are. I only eat meat at dinner time. Meat will not raise your blood sugar since it is protein. Take the skin off of the chicken, that is where the fat is. Fish is great for you too. I have salmon 2 times a week.

Cholesterol comes from milk and other dairy products. Only use non fat milk. For dessert I like to eat Fat Free Yogurt with a tablespoon of preserves.

Always go by the portion size that it says on the food that you are going to eat. Check the carbs saturated fat and cholesterol, no more than 30 carbs a meal. Some people believe that is too high, but it works for me.

When I add a food, I check to see if it spikes my BG. If it does, I do not eat that food anymore.

You are the one who has control over your diabetes. It is good that you are bringing up things you do not understand or need help with.

Ruth

 

[Penn]

thanks

for the words of advice

the dr said since I got over 2 risks factors Im no longer

borderline diabetic

I lost over 50 lbs in the last 18 months--I dont feel any better

actually worse since Im always hungry and I dont eat the things I shouldnt have at least most of the time and BP is way down

My husband had an app. with the dr the day after I got my #s and had a chat with him about the #s

dr is very confused since nothing changed in the last 3 months since the last set of #s why it would go up 63 points!!!

didnt make sense to him he said if I would have gained alot of weight

or the A1c went up but nothing--the only thing was the fasting went up from 103 to 115 that has me upset again no reasoning for it

last time the trigly. went from 139 to 151!!! again I was very upset

as you can see I get upset easy over this--I worked so hard and now it seems like it was all for nothing!!!

thanks for listening--any more words of advice Im listening

 

[fiesta]

You should not feel hungry all of the time. I do not. I go by the Low Glycemic Index Diet. There are a lot of foods you can eat without going hungry. Buy the book and learn how to eat without being hungry.

Are you exercising?

 

[Dan1966]

I feel so bad like the past 18 months were wasted what good did it do!!!

You have shown progression so nothing has been wasted, be proud of yourself.

Wasted is having no progress, sitting around all day, not doing things you should do, simply saying "The heck with it."

The biggest battle we face with this disease is that of the mind, it's not only a battle requiring focus of the possitives in life but one of where a focus should lie.

I'm not doing these things for myself, my wife was the first to point that out..."To whom are you responsible? To you?"

It's not "us". We do these things, we must do the things required to control this affliction for the sake of others. Perhaps our spouse, perhaps our children, perhaps to our parents and family and to the larger extent to our society. With Diabetes poised to become a greater weight on our national budgets, bring upon our society greater and greater stresses and pressures...it isn't just "about us."

The goal of course is life. To live as full and healthy life, not as we want, but for what is the greater good beyond our immediate desires.

Place your mind and thought to this purpose, vow not to let setbacks and numbers cast upon you doubt. There is too much at stake to let Diabetes have another day of your life, certainly when others would suffer from losing you too soon.

 

[fiesta]

for the words of advice

the dr said since I got over 2 risks factors Im no longer borderline diabetic
last time the trigly. went from 139 to 151!!!
thanks for listening--any more words of advice Im listening

Penn, I am glad that you are listening. I care about you.
You say that you are no longer borderline diabetic. What kind of diabetes do you have?

Tryglicerides come from meat, saturated fat and milk fat. I have only non-fat milk and non fat yogurt. I avoid saturated fat like the plague. We are going to get a little but you control how much.

Read labels, eat only the portion sizes and count your carbohydrates. No more than 150 carbohydrates in a 24 hour period. For lunch, I have 1 slice of bread, wheat only, with tuna fish on it. I fold it in half. I also have an apple with it.
I put my food on a salad plate so I do not overeat.

You have to do housework, exercise and go for walks. Doing things will keep your mind off of your problems. Depression, stress and illness will up your numbers. When I was ill and under stress my A1c went from 5.5 to 11. My BG went up, as well.

For instance, I fell down on cement about 6 weeks ago. I fractured some bones in my face and by my eye. I am doing things. Right now, since I have insomnia, I am doing housework. I just stopped to see who was on the internet.

You have a challenge like I do. You can either stop doing things, like always watching the TV or being on the computer all of the time. Your challenge is to get up and start doing things and learn more about diabetes.

Ruth

 

[Penn]

thanks all

for the advice and encourgement--I appreicate it more then youll know

I had a dr app. last thurs to go over the #S

I really wish we all were on the same page--in July he said since I got
rid of 2 risk factors (lost weight and lower BP)I was no longer prediabetic--thurs I noticed in his notes it said pre diabetes--when I asked he just said that now it was listed for them to enter it that way otherwise it said abnormal blood sugar he did say Im prediabetic

which of course set me off even further!!

then he was explaning the chl. how some is large and sticky or small and dense something like that so I asked what mine was since he was doing NMR test he said that wasnt done this last time

he told me in July he was going to do it--so 2 weeks after my last blood work I drag myself back to the clinic for more blood work that should have been done 2 week earlier!!

then to make matters worse the tech handles me a cup and says they need a sample--I told her I did that last time

first she said I didnt--then she changed her story oh yeah but it wasnt enough!! no one told me!!!
She said could I do it now!!! AH no!!! cant go on demand!!!

she asked if I wanted to take it home--last time I tried at home it still wasnt enough but nothing more was said--
I try to follow the directions where you go alittle then go in the cup which is where I cant go anymore--no matter how bad I have to go I cant-once it stops thats it!!!!

she wasnt happy with me but I wasnt happy with all the changes and no one ever tells me!!!

I have been testing again mostly fasting since that was higher and coming up with under 100 why the 115 which freaked me out

as Im sure you all can tell I freak out easy

on top of everything else Im now vit D difecient so now I have to take that

sorry for rambling--I guess I needed to get that all out

Im just so tired of watching what and how much I eat--when Im hungry I just want to be able to sit and enjoy eating what I like without thinking of #S or if I eat this now I cant have that later

dr and the Rn tells keep doing what youre doing--your doing great

well what Im doing is making me very miserable!!!!!

thanks again all for listening--I needed that

 

[ThoseBackPages]

glad you "got it out"

but this:

"Im just so tired of watching what and how much I eat--when Im hungry I just want to be able to sit and enjoy eating what I like without thinking of #S or if I eat this now I cant have that later
"

is how life is going to be from now on.

 

[breezeonby]

You are being very hard on yourself and you have something that most of us would love to have. You have the determination to at least try and see if you can improve the quality of your life. Maybe your tests are't coming back perfect or the way you want, but I think you will continue to try. Please pat yourself on the back and keep up your determination!

 

[fiesta]

Hi Penn,

I hope I have been of help, a little anyway. I would get a second opinion from another doctor.

We all need to vent at times. Do not worry about that.

All they need is a little in that cup to diagnose. They are just technicians, though, and they have to go by what the doctor says. They have to test everything that the doctor orders or they could lose their job. BTW, pre diabetic and prediabetes is the same thing. It is just different spelling.

Ruth

 

[Penn]

thanks all

for all the encouraging words its so nice to be able to vent-that really helps more then anything--my hubby gets so tired of me venting

that we usually end up in a fight

I just feel so miserable!!!!

as far as what I said about that when Im hungry I just want to be able to eat and not think of #S or if I have this now I cant have that later---its jsut less of a hassle not to eat--which I do alot of times

I know thats not good either I cant live on nuts and berries and bunny food! or reading lables all the time to figure out what I can eat

thanks all for the ear sorry I get so carried away but all this just kicked me for a loop

 

[fiesta]

It is not wise to vent to your hubby. Vent to us, we will not wind up in a fight. I understand about eating. skipping meals is not good for you. That will not keep your numbers stable. Unless your numbers were too high.

I still do not skip meals. I just eat less at the next meal. Otherwise your numbers get too low.

Most of us test 2-3 times a day. We concentrate on the good foods that we can eat.

Ruth

 

[Diabeticcookbooks]

Your comment about always feeling hungry reminded me of a change in my eating habits. A dietition suggested I eat a small snack between meals. She also suggested I include protien, complex carbs and a vegetable or fruit in each snacking session. Her intent was to help me keep my BS from dropping too far and to keep my metabolism up. That worked for me, but I caution that was advice tailored to my situation. - Ken

 

[DocWhitley]

Sorry in advance but, I think I will be the mean one here but if you read all the way through I think you will understand
You said:
as far as what I said about that when Im hungry I just want to be able to eat and not think of #S or if I have this now I cant have that later---its jsut less of a hassle not to eat--which I do alot of times

I know thats not good either I cant live on nuts and berries and bunny food! or reading lables all the time to figure out what I can eat

Well........... If you did this before and you ended up Pre-diabetic... WHY RETURN!!! You have a chance to post pone this disease from affecting your life! Are you Crazy to not take advantage of this Great Opportunity! If My Doctor would have opened has Damn Eyes and looked at my test results i would have changed my eating Habits a Year ago and never complained... Instead I am going to be Sticking my fingers Every day and soon taking a shot everyday for the rest of my life. Not one of us would not want to be in your shoes right now!

Now reversing Pre-diabetes... Well in my opinion it is Nothing but BULL CRAP that Doctors say to us because they feel we are too stupid to grasp the truth... If an Alcoholic goes to the Doctor and the Doctor tells him you are becoming an alcoholic so you need to quit drinking... So he quits for 6 months... Do you think he is not at Risk if he starts drinking again? And Just so you know... I am in the Process of "Reversing" this Disease. That Is what my Doctor said... BS!!!! I am just getting to the point I will not be taking pills and will soon be on a different medication.

Watching what you eat is now a part of your life whether you like it or not. If you want to believe the Doctor that you can go back to your old lifestyle then feel free to do just that... We will keep a spot here for you when you convert to Diabetic. Also Skipping Meals tells your Body you are starving and causes it to release Glucose and you can not control the amount... So Dont do it! Eat your meals!!! I have eaten my snack while Plunging a Customers Toilet because I had to eat my Snack! So it can be done

Now I hope you understand that I want you to be angry.. I want you to be thinking to yourself that DocWhitley is the Biggest Butthole on this forum!!!! Most of all I want you to say Damn This guy is right! He is a Butthole But, he is right! If I do not change my life and learn what I can eat I will eventually convert and I want to put this off as long as I can!

Again I want you to understand that we have both had many years with out this Disease and there are many on here who have had it forever... I do not think anyone on here would not change places with you at this stage in this diseases Progression!

Ok Tell me ho long I will be Banned for Being a Meanie Shanny

 

[RobertIA]

Well, Doc, I think you said the right things and much more tackful than I would have.

I would love to trade places with this person. Being a type 2 on insulin (my choice) is not that pleasant. But if people do not follow your advice or something similar, diabetes will be cheering him on and will be waiting to bring on the complications, amputations, and dialysis.

I have lost too many friends and acquaintances to this disease for one reason or another because they refused to take care of themselves. Three of them because they refused to continue dialysis after a period of time, one for just ignoring getting his foot amputated and of course gangarene took him, and another from stroke and coma caused by his refusal to treat his diabetes.

I am not trying to use scare tactics, these are just facts that I have staring me in the face and memories that I can't forget. I do not like what happened to these people, and I am using these as motivators to take care of myself.

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Sorry in advance but, I think I will be the mean one here but if you read all the way through I think you will understand
You said:
as far as what I said about that when Im hungry I just want to be able to eat and not think of #S or if I have this now I cant have that later---its jsut less of a hassle not to eat--which I do alot of times

I know thats not good either I cant live on nuts and berries and bunny food! or reading lables all the time to figure out what I can eat

Well........... If you did this before and you ended up Pre-diabetic... WHY RETURN!!! You have a chance to post pone this disease from affecting your life! Are you Crazy to not take advantage of this Great Opportunity! If My Doctor would have opened has Damn Eyes and looked at my test results i would have changed my eating Habits a Year ago and never complained... Instead I am going to be Sticking my fingers Every day and soon taking a shot everyday for the rest of my life. Not one of us would not want to be in your shoes right now!

Now reversing Pre-diabetes... Well in my opinion it is Nothing but BULL CRAP that Doctors say to us because they feel we are too stupid to grasp the truth... If an Alcoholic goes to the Doctor and the Doctor tells him you are becoming an alcoholic so you need to quit drinking... So he quits for 6 months... Do you think he is not at Risk if he starts drinking again? And Just so you know... I am in the Process of "Reversing" this Disease. That Is what my Doctor said... BS!!!! I am just getting to the point I will not be taking pills and will soon be on a different medication.

Watching what you eat is now a part of your life whether you like it or not. If you want to believe the Doctor that you can go back to your old lifestyle then feel free to do just that... We will keep a spot here for you when you convert to Diabetic. Also Skipping Meals tells your Body you are starving and causes it to release Glucose and you can not control the amount... So Dont do it! Eat your meals!!! I have eaten my snack while Plunging a Customers Toilet because I had to eat my Snack! So it can be done

Now I hope you understand that I want you to be angry.. I want you to be thinking to yourself that DocWhitley is the Biggest Butthole on this forum!!!! Most of all I want you to say Damn This guy is right! He is a Butthole But, he is right! If I do not change my life and learn what I can eat I will eventually convert and I want to put this off as long as I can!

Again I want you to understand that we have both had many years with out this Disease and there are many on here who have had it forever... I do not think anyone on here would not change places with you at this stage in this diseases Progression!

Ok Tell me ho long I will be Banned for Being a Meanie Shanny

::applauds::

 

[DocWhitley]

Well, Doc, I think you said the right things and much more tackful than I would have.

I would love to trade places with this person. Being a type 2 on insulin (my choice) is not that pleasant. But if people do not follow your advice or something similar, diabetes will be cheering him on and will be waiting to bring on the complications, amputations, and dialysis.

I have lost too many friends and acquaintances to this disease for one reason or another because they refused to take care of themselves. Three of them because they refused to continue dialysis after a period of time, one for just ignoring getting his foot amputated and of course gangarene took him, and another from stroke and coma caused by his refusal to treat his diabetes.

I am not trying to use scare tactics, these are just facts that I have staring me in the face and memories that I can't forget. I do not like what happened to these people, and I am using these as motivators to take care of myself.

I had to re-write it 3 times
I help out my brother quite often Doing Plumbing and one of his employees is a Diabetic who does not care. I take the risk of being in an area where I get cuts and Burns all of the time from the Job... So I make sure that I take care of myself. I wont lie there are days I want to Cry because I get depressed but, when I get to that point I just think to myself "If I give up now what will I loose first... My toe or an entire foot" I hate when I here that someone believes if they loose weight they can go Back... Diets fail... All of them Fail.... The only thing that does not fail is changing the way you look at food. I still Eat and I EAT GOOD!!! But I do not need Potatoes and as much as I LOVE Bread... I dont need it. I substitute with a Big Scoop of Cream Cheese or Whip Cream with some Blue berries... So Many Options out there to worry about this... Heck I can give Slow cooker recipes out the Ying yang for meals that you can just toss it together and leave. It is Not Rocket science here.... It is Worse... IT IS YOUR HEALTH!