In which I am royally f&cked

[MoonCat]

Thanks Victory Sabre. I already gave up soda a while ago. I still eat fried foods sometimes, usually chicken. Won't be doing that again, at least not until I get this under control and lose the weight. Then, MAYBE once or twice a year for a special treat.

Not sure I could drink apple cider vinegar. We use it for cooking and I've found it makes a great hair rinse mixed with water I do like sour things in general (dill pickles, lemons, etc) so who knows, I might like it.

I like whole grains, too. We grew up eating rye bread, I like it more than white bread anyway. Whole wheat is ok as long as it's not too dry. Not sure about the whole grain pasta - the one time I tried it, it seemed very heavy. But that was years ago, so it's worth trying again.

I do own a meter and I'm using it again, checking at least 3 times a day. Today wasn't bad so far - both times under 100 which for me is an improvement.

I emailed my doc's office to ask for a referral to a dietitian and for some advice on goals: What kind of numbers should I be aiming for on the meter? What's too high (meaning call the doc ASAP)? What's too low? Etc. Hoping for an answer from them tomorrow.

[fireheart]

One trick I've found (not diabetic, just need to drop around 20kgs) that has basically helped me cut my soda intake (this is for anyone else who's interested): mineral water. I've found that it tricks my body into thinking I'm having something "bad" when in fact I'm just drinking carbonated water.

Occasionally I'll get the mineral water with a hint of "flavour" but I READ the labels first, so the amount of sugar in them is negligible.

[freeatlast]

I do own a meter and I'm using it again, checking at least 3 times a day. Today wasn't bad so far - both times under 100 which for me is an improvement.

I emailed my doc's office to ask for a referral to a dietitian and for some advice on goals: What kind of numbers should I be aiming for on the meter? What's too high (meaning call the doc ASAP)? What's too low? Etc. Hoping for an answer from them tomorrow.

My doctor told me to try to keep my blood sugar no lower than 95 and no higher than 200. The highest it has been since leaving the hospital was 148 - and that was because the worker at McD's gave me raspberry iced tea instead of diet iced tea. I had never had the diet before and thought didn't realized it wasn't right.

[EricKei]

Mine seems to hover around the 110-120 range, but I'm (slowly) pushing the average lower. Just on pills as it stands *crosses fingers*

Just for, uh, educational purposes -- I know that one of the things to watch out for with diabetes is those times when your breath comes out smelling like nail polish and/or ripe berries. I know that indicates either dangerously low or dangerously high blood sugar. Can anyone elaborate? (I've not had that happen...yet *fingers still crossed* but it's very useful info to know about and be prepared for)

[MoonCat]

EricKei, I think it's when the blood sugar goes too high that your breath develops a sweet smell - but I'm not sure. I know I saw a mention of it online but now I can't find it.

However, diabetes.org has a lot of useful information, including symptions, diet advice, etc. I signed up for their Living with Type 2 Diabetes program to get emails from them. I need all the info I can get.

[Food Lady]

Eric, that's called ketoacidosis, I believe.

[Sapphire Silk]

Just for, uh, educational purposes -- I know that one of the things to watch out for with diabetes is those times when your breath comes out smelling like nail polish and/or ripe berries. I know that indicates either dangerously low or dangerously high blood sugar. Can anyone elaborate? (I've not had that happen...yet *fingers still crossed* but it's very useful info to know about and be prepared for)

Food Lady is correct; that's a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis. It's an extremely high blood sugar (often 500 or more) accompanied by ketone bodies in the blood and urine. Ketones are a byproduct of protein metabolism. In DKA, no blood glucose moves into body cells. The body thinks it is starving and starts consuming itself to produce more sugar . . . which can't be moved into cells pushing the blood sugar even higher. Eventually muscle mass is broken down for fuel, hence the protein metabolism.

The ketone bodies are acidic in nature, which pushes the pH of the body below the norm of 7.35 to 7.45. It puts the body into a life threatening shock state, but is very treatable if caught early.

People with hyperglycemia may smell like they've been drinking, and act drunk. It's easy to confuse this state (which is not DKA) with common drunkenness. Low blood sugar may act the same way, though without the fruity breath. So the first aid is the same: quick sugars (if the blood sugar is too high you have time to fix it; if it's low you don't).

[MoonCat]

People with hyperglycemia may smell like they've been drinking, and act drunk. It's easy to confuse this state (which is not DKA) with common drunkenness.

You know, this puts a new light on some of the stories we've all read (or contributed) about people acting drunk in public. Now I wonder if some of them may have had this issue instead.

[EricKei]

Mkay. Useful info to have, which is why I asked Thanks!

[Food Lady]

Ketoacidosis isn't to be confused with ketosis, by the way. Ketosis is a state most people can get into by cutting carbohydrate below a certain level. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketosis People do it to lose excess weight or control diabetes without meds/insulin.

[Sapphire Silk]

You know, this puts a new light on some of the stories we've all read (or contributed) about people acting drunk in public. Now I wonder if some of them may have had this issue instead.

More than likely. I've run into this issue with my legal cases; in one case a man was arrested for drunk driving. He did have a history of alcohol abuse, but not DUI. He was also diabetic. It was actually the diabetes at play. He died in jail as a result, because he didn't get treatment

Ketoacidosis isn't to be confused with ketosis, by the way. Ketosis is a state most people can get into by cutting carbohydrate below a certain level. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketosis People do it to lose excess weight or control diabetes without meds/insulin.

Correct.

I don't recommend this, btw. It is risky, even though an acidotic state is rare.

[Food Lady]

Oh, that is so sad. I never just assume someone is on drugs or alcohol because I know it could be so many things.

[Seshat]

I skipped some pages, so if I'm repeating advice, that's why.

1. Sometimes diabetes is just bad luck. My father-in-law (Bast's father, not Toth's) had ZERO risk factors other than genetic, and has diabetes. Bast's mother ran his diet, there was never anything in the house that would contribute - other than the genuinely 'special occasion' birthday, Christmas, etc.
He's been an enthusiastic sportsman all his life - as you know if you've been reading about my life, Bast is my exercise-advisor. This is because she's been skiing, swimming, running/jogging (for pleasure!), doing long rambling bushwalks, and etc, since she could toddle.
Both her parents are/were into it.
He's not exactly 'skinny', but he's bone and muscle and not much fat at all. As in, the palms of his hands and soles of his feet have their cushioning, but you can't actually SEE fat on him.
And he has the type of diabetes that people assume is 'always' due to being obese and sedentary and eating badly.

I know that one example is just .. well, one example. But my point is that sometimes it's just bad luck. I suspect Sapphire Silk and our other medical people can state that they've seen other such cases.


2. Continued effort, sustained effort, is more important than being right every day. If you screw up, keep going.

2.5 If you consistently screw up in the same way, that particular screw up is telling you something. You have a need in your life that the 'screw up' fills. Find out what it is, and figure out a way to fill the need in a way that suits your new lifestyle.

EG: I consistently drink caffienated sodas. Bast recently found out that caffiene (apparently) both assists with reducing depression and boosts the effectiveness of some painkillers.
Sooo.... I need to talk to my doctor and my pharmacist about finding a different way to achieve the same effect. Boosting my dosages, or finding caffiene pills or learning to drink (ugh) unsweetened coffee (I hate the smell and taste, but ... well ...). Or something.

So yeah, consistent screw ups MEAN something. Pay attention to them.


3. Expect to feel different every time you make a change. You're changing your metabolism, deliberately and intentionally. Don't expect to feel the same.
If you can't tolerate the way the change feels, or if it's making things hard for you, talk to your support staff.

4. Which reminds me. You want a dietician, and a physiotherapist (or some other exercise specialist) on your side. And the physio should be the sort who's just as happy to recommend walking the dog or weeding the garden as lifting weights. You want one who will help you find sustainable activity that you can build into your life.

I HATE doctors who say 'lose weight' or 'lose X kg in Y months', and don't give you any advice on how to do it. If I knew how to do it (in my situation), I wouldn't HAVE my pudge! I run a Red Queen's Race just to maintain my weight where it is!

5. It's your life, not your doctor's. Work out a new way of life that YOU can sustain, and that fills all your needs - mental, physical and emotional.

[gremcint]

if you're body is like mine you will not be able to have instant oatmeal without toxic gas because of the metformin.

[Aethian]

I'm kinda glad that even with my diabeties I'm not stuck to some of the rules others are stuck to. I guess I was lucky there.

I do however have the problem of slow healing. I used to be one of those that could heal quickly and now a simple paper cut is about a week or sometimes more.

Don't listen to those that put you down and please don't say your now royally fucked. This is a life change moment yes but there are plenty out there that don't see the same problems and besides you don't know what all issues your going to have.