Busy Month Of May...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
May 31, 2010 7:27am CST
Well, I finally did it. Earlier this month I finally went to the doctor, I’ve been having a lot of problems with my diabetes and have been putting off going for the longest time. They diagnosed me as an out of control Type 2 Diabetic and started me on medication (pills). My sugar was running between 300-500 normally which is wayyyy too high. The doctor wants it right around 140 so I have a lot of work to do.
The pills are really hard on me, they give me upset stomach, diarrhea and massive headaches but the doctor says that is because we keep having to change the dosage to try to find the right amount, at the right time, the right number of times a day.
She (the doctor) also started me on a low-carb eating plan that is a challenge to learn. She said it’s not really a diet b/c with a diet you get to go back to your old way of eating once you lose weight…I won’t get to. So I get no bread, no rice, no pasta and no potatoes…and no baked goods. But I can live with it b/c the thought of having to go on insulin and stick a needle in me everyday is the alternative…and that’s not happening.
I’ve also had to learn to stick my finger twice a day and that’s hard on me too b/c I absolutely hate needles. Add to all this that my pc got infected and had to be reformatted and I’ve had a roller coaster month. Hopefully, June will be better.
Do you have medicines that make you sick when you take them? Have you ever had to go on a low carb eating plan? Would you give up some of your favorite foods if you had to? How was your month of May?
[b]**AT PEACE WITHIN** 
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]12 people like this
26 responses
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
31 May 10
I'm sorry you're having such a bad time! 
My mom needed to lose about 20 pounds and refers to her diet as an eating plan because she won't go back to what she was eating before. She will stick to her eating plan with a few modifications to maintain her ideal weight. She feels better, is healthier and now more active at 86 than she's been for years. The right eating plan can truly change your life and I hope your changes your life in a positive way.
My mom needed to lose about 20 pounds and refers to her diet as an eating plan because she won't go back to what she was eating before. She will stick to her eating plan with a few modifications to maintain her ideal weight. She feels better, is healthier and now more active at 86 than she's been for years. The right eating plan can truly change your life and I hope your changes your life in a positive way.2 people like this
@dheckerz (473)
• Philippines
31 May 10
Good for you. I'm glad that you were able to overcome all those medications and needle stuffs. I'm an asthmatic and its not just an ordinary asthma rather its acute chronic bronchitis and i take corticosteroids and inhalers everyday. Not surprisingly i gained weight because of the steroids and it also makes me feel bloated. I also have to maintain a lot of anti asthmas and avoid foods that would trigger it. I'm glad May is over because i don't have to remember all those meds to take. My doctor gave me prescriptions that needs to be taken daily.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
31 May 10
THey now have qa device that you just stick your belly once for a tubelike thing and you put the insullin in it and it regulaes your dosage as you need it pretty sharp I think as I watched a friend use it ask abut it not sure what it is called
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
31 May 10
It is an insulin pump. I had a friend that used one. She was healthy and active but still could not keep her diabetes under control.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
31 May 10
sorry dear to hear this. I do not have diabetes though I have some other chronic idiotic illnesses [UTI] which I have to be very conscious about in keeping it at bay. HOwever, for your diabetes, keep taking some sort of food [say a sice of apple, a biscuit, some fat free item ] every three hours. THis would help the body maintain the insulin levels. YOu are also supposed to take a brisk walk , for 25 minutes at least 5 times a week. I have psoriasis on my feet and this prevents me from going for long walks ; I wish to get some respite from this , so that I cAN resume my walk at least after the weather becomes better.It is very hot and humid here.
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
31 May 10
I can't strongly urge you enough, twoey, to keep to your diet..My sister became a diabetic by 18 and because she didn't stick to her diet or take her meds, within a few years she had to take insulin with a needle..Then because she still didn't keep to her diet as well as she should, she became what they call a "brittle" diabetic.
A brittle diabetic is where no matter what you do, you can't control you sugar level..for example, I remember my sister saying how she would stay on her diet and yet her levels went up over 500..Then she said one time she ate a couple brownies and her sugar level was at 50.
With your diagnosis, you can still live a good life as long as you are careful with your meds and what you eat. My sisters daughter was able to control hers enough that now she is no longer on meds, but controlling it with her diet..
@BarBaraPrz (47693)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
31 May 10
May wasn't too bad, for the most part.
I have high cholesterol, but can't take any of the usual meds for it as I'm allergic to statins (I get itchy all over). I take Ezetrol, but it isn't as effective.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
4 Jun 10
yea a lot of meds do for me.some i do get a benefit from,but you get borderline sick in trade,like pain killers.they almost always make me queasy.i have to really,really need them to take one.
my godmother has a machine that sticks the arm instead of fingers-she says it's really quick,you might like one of those better?at least then you don't get the sore fingers..
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
3 Jun 10
I guess I'd go on the low carb diet too rather than have to deal with daily needles. I went on a no dairy diet for a while. It was a pain because milk protein (casein, whey, etc.) are in everything processed pretty much. Can't eat out, can't have processed food, ugh!
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
2 Jun 10
Its good to hear that you went to the doctor and that your taking steps to getting better. I know it won't be easy, especially when your used to eating a certain way, and it seems like everything you love you have to stop eating, I know it can get discouraging, but keep remembering what the alternative is when you feel like giving up. I'm a Type 2 Diabetic also, but mine is well-controlled, I take a pill once a day for it, but I've been diabetic so long, that now I know what I can and can't eat, and how much I can eat, I know when I've had enough of something. After awhile you'll get that way too, that's why they want you to test your sugar all the time, so that way you'll be able to figure out what certain foods do to your sugar, which ones raise it, and which ones don't, then you'll know how to keep it controlled more. I take all kinds of medicines, but none of them make me sick, guess I've taken them so long my body is used to them. I have given up some of my favorite foods, I've seen family members struggle with their health because of diabetes and I don't want to do that, so I try to take good care of myself. My month of May has been pretty good, now we'll see what June holds for me...Good luck and take care..
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
31 May 10
I am sooooo sorry you're having so much trouble with your diabetes!!! I'm not diabetic yet, but my Mom was. When she became so sick, the nursing home controlled hers with a carb diet. They didn't cut out the carbs, but they have a somewhat complicated formula where you can eat a certain amount of sugars, potatoes, bread, etc. Before she got sick, she kept her carbs to a minimum except for potatoes. She said she'd rather die than give up her potatoes. She kept herself on pills for over 20 years by adjusting her carbs. She just refused to take the shots. She increased the amount of good vegetables, left off bread except for cornbread & then ate a small amount of potatoes. That was enough to kill her cravings for potatoes so she didn't jump overboard & eat too many at once!!! Near the end of her life, she had herself so under control that her doctor was worried because she was staying too low. The one thing I have learned is that diabetes if DIFFERENT for EVERYONE!!!
I worked with a girl who just could NOT keep hers under control & she never got to where she could give herself the shots, so her doctor put on the Insulin Pump. The pump did an automatic read & released the exact amount of Insulin she needed at the moment. I have NO clue how much the pump costs & assume it is expensive since every diabetic isn't on it. But that might be an option you might want to discuss with your doctor. I think it fits under your clothes as I NEVER saw hers.
@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
2 Jun 10
I had to diet onnce when I was in the service. I did not like it at all. I did have to give up some of the foods I love eating and some of the things I like to drink as well. I also had to excersie which I did not like. I do not have to take any meds and that is a good thing for me and I can't recall any of them making me sick. after my dieting experecne in the service, I do not want to give up my favorite foods again.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
2 Jun 10
I am lucky that I don't have any chronic illnesses at this point in my life. However, I know that I would be willing to make a lot of sacrifices in my life if they were to mean that I would have to add less medications to my regimen.
That said, there has been one thing that I have had to take that made my physically ill when I had to take it. That was when I was pregnant with my son and the medication that I had a problem with was my prenatal vitamins. By the end of my pregnancy with him, I was taking children's vitamins because I had a much easier time dealing with those.
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
31 May 10
I am glad you went to your doctor. I have family members who are on insulin and meds and still do not keep good control, but there are other lifestyle changes they need to make. I have not been diagnosed as diabetic or even borderline, but I have not had a physical in years. I either have insurance, but no time or time but no insurance. I am pretty certain that I am not diabetic at this time, but it would not hurt me to change how I eat and lose a lot of weight, and it might prevent me from becoming diabetic.
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
1 Jun 10
Hi twoey68 I know I have not been around here for about 12 months and I glad to be back.Sorry to hear about you being unwell, with diabetes.I sure it is something you will eventually get use to.So far I am not on regular medication for anything, but both my parents are diabetics, so I stand a good chance I will get it as well, especially later on. I think that your body will start to adapt to the medication soon and the upset stomach and headaches will eventually go. Keep strong.
@amanda333 (739)
• France
31 May 10
Hi twoey68,
I also count carbs as last year i was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
I am a very active slim 44 year old, so to say i was shocked is an under statement
It will be a year in July, but i'm getting use to it now and my levels are not to bad most of the time, with exercise and the right diet, good healthy foods.
I love to walk and although i was afraid to go back to my dance classes after being diagnosed..i did. So life is fun even when sometimes it comes back to bite you in the bum, always stay positive.
I have to jab my finger around 7 times a day, more after exercise or if i have an hypo (shaking, sick, near collapse).
I inject insuline 4 times a day.
You will start to feel better when you get use to having less carbs, i don't cut them all out, but have smaller portions, i hope your feeling better soon, sorry you had a terrible month, hope june is a good one
@celticeagle (168420)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jun 10
Wow! You have quite a time ahead of you. I have tried every anti-depressant on the market back in 2006-7. I to sick, had horrible headaches, stomache pain, sleep problems, body aches, etc. At this point in my life I wouldn't give up foods that I like. I went the healthy, give it all up, route and now I am in a place where I just DON'T CARE ANYMORE and I will eat what I want and do as I please. My life is the pits and I am just waiting to die. I really am. I just don't care what I eat or do anymore.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
1 Jun 10
It is a good thing that you saw the doctor. It must be hard to change your eating habits like that but, as you said the alternatives are much less pleasant. I haven’t been advised to change my diet although I know it should be a lot better than what it is. I wouldn’t mind giving up certain foods if I had as long as I could still have a couple of coffees each day other wise it would too much of a challenge. Take care...
