Just Venting – I apologize for the wall of text and rambling

[Lurking Sockpuppet]

I am overweight, diabetic and a stay at home mom. I left my job as a marketing analyst when my oldest daughter was born. A few years ago I went back to work part time in a Deli. I was unable to find office work because I was “over qualified” for everything I applied for. Hello! I only wanted part time work. I didn’t want to re-start a career. I had to quit my deli job when it began to interfere with my family. They wanted me to work when my kids were home from school. The Mgr said I could just leave my 7 & 8 yr old (almost 8 & 9) home alone. NOT!
Before quitting my job I had managed over several years to loose over 40 lbs and had finally gotten below 200 lbs. I was so proud of myself. Fast forward to my battle with trying to get healthy and get my diabetes under control. Hubby finally got a job where we had insurance and I could actually seek medical help. It was discovered that I had cataracts in both my eyes at age 37. I got that fixed. I have been on every oral med for the diabetes to no avail. I was finally put on insulin early last year. I got up to taking over 150 units per day and still having readings over 300. I was put on a second fast acting insulin along with the 150 of regular. My numbers were better during the day but fasting was still running 220+. I am now on “super” insulin in the attempt to get it under control and it is erratic. Fasting is still over 200. The endocrinologist doesn’t know why I am so insulin resistant. To top that off last November I injured the bottom of my left foot. It has never healed. I am currently on my second podiatrist. He actually took biopsies and discovered that I had formed an A-Typical wart. So to combat it I am taking 800MG a day of Cimetidine to combat it. This is causing me all sorts of intestinal problems. Three months ago he gave me a brace to restrict the movement of my toes to try and limit damage while walking and told me to take it easy. I took this to mean I can walk and do my normal activities just no more long multi mile walks. My last appointment a week ago I was scolded because I should be sitting on the couch not walking more that absolutely necessary. Hello! My daughters are 10 and 11 now and are very active. Hubby is working all the time I am the only one to get them where they need to go and do the shopping and everything else that needs to get done at home. I now have an ugly soft cast to immobilize my foot and reduce the pressure on the injured area on the bottom of my foot. To top it off I have had to start taking anti depressants.
I feel completely useless. I HATE sitting around doing nothing. From the time I was put on insulin to now I have put back on every bit of weight I had lost. I cannot keep my house clean the way I want too. The girls help but it is a fight. I am scared I am going to loose my foot. I already cannot feel temperature or pain in them. So to summarize I have gained 40 lbs, I can’t feel my feet or walk. I can’t keep my house clean. I can’t even cook dinner for my family. I can’t get a job. I don’t sleep because of the medications and having to run to the bathroom every hour. I am team mom for my daughters cheer squad and feel like if I don’t do what is needed I am failing them but every time I am at practices walking around I am doing more damage to my foot. I just keep ballooning up more and the heaver I am the harder the diabetes battle but I can’t get out and exercise to try and loose the weight. I am 39 years old I shouldn't feel like my life is over.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

<--- sounds like you need one! (or more...)
Ask about exercise at your doctor's. Geriatric or physical therapy type exercise classes might be the way to go for the time being, seeing as you have mobility issues. Not all exercise requires feet. There are things that can mess with insulin resistance, I've heard cinnamon and vinegar but those are also still having experiments done on them! This all sounds scary and depressing to me, as well... and you might want to ask about what can be done for mitigating the 'intestinal problems' as well. Also ask about other things that can contribute to weight gain, I'm sure your diet is healthy, considering... thyroid might be a culprit, but usually that's very obvious, because you either can't lose weight, or gain weight.
But that just highlights how much I'm not a doctor.
(Are you seeing a psychologist? Even if you didn't/don't take antidepressants, you are going through tough stuff right now... )
It's good that your girls can help you with the chores.
And don't worry about other things-- focus on becoming well again-- because once you start feeling better, you can get your life back! You're right, you're young and you shouldn't feel like your life is over-- because it isn't!
( )
EDIT: remember: it wasn't always like this. You've lost weight before. You've been healthy before. They can happen again.

[Geek King]

If you can't do your long walks for exercise, you may want to look into finding a place with a pool and either lap swim or join a low-impact water exercise class. My aunt has somewhat severe diabetes, and says the extra exercise really works for her. She's still takes insulin daily, but it keeps her numbers really stabalized in comparison.

[Sapphire Silk]

I can't give you any medical advice, though your weight probably contributes to the insulin resistance. Losing it will likely help your situation, and help you reduce risks for other problems like cardiovascular issues.

It's interesting that it should be so severe, which makes me think something else is in play . . . puzzling as to what it could be.

As mentioned, not all exercises require feet. You can actually do some aerobic exercises sitting down.

They make bicycles meant to be pedaled by hand rather than by feet. They make them both as actual bikes, which would allow you to get fresh air, and as stationary bikes that are used in gyms. You can buy one for your home. Check out Craigslist, you may be able to find something used.

There are probably some strength training exercises you can do that can get you aerobic without your having to stand. A physical therapist can probably help you with that; discuss it with your physician (the endocrinologist, not the podiatrist) and see what he thinks.

[Lurking Sockpuppet]

If you can't do your long walks for exercise, you may want to look into finding a place with a pool and either lap swim or join a low-impact water exercise class. My aunt has somewhat severe diabetes, and says the extra exercise really works for her. She's still takes insulin daily, but it keeps her numbers really stabalized in comparison.

I would be at the pool in an instant. There is one locally I can go to for free. The only issue is it is an open wound on my foot. So, no pool's/swimming for me.

I have a chair type stationary bike but I would have to petal with my heel to use it. Which isn't possible the way it is set up. The sore is on the ball of my foot and the pressure of the petal would be right on the wound.

I will look into what I can do sitting. I know loosing the weight would help. But keep in mind the insulin resistance was happening when I was 40 lbs lighter. I wish they would do tests to see if something else is going on. Instead they just check to see where my sugars are and then up my dosages. There has to be some reason for me to have an insulin crash (it was 58) at 2am drink 1 cup (8oz) of milk and go back to bed. Then wake up 5 hours later and it is 217.

The month before I went on the super insulin I decided to be extreme to try to make a point to the Dr's. I went on a modified Atkins Diet. No bread, milk, grains, fruit, sugar or starchy veg. My fasting sugars do not come down.

Because of all the expenses of the multiple doctors we literally are stretched to the max financially. I felt healthier when I was ignoring the fact that I had diabetes and didn't go to the dr's or take any meds. Yes I know that is why I now can't feel my feet. sigh

[Lurking Sockpuppet]

Pity party over. I prosmise. I am going to figure it out and get the weight off. The foot thing is what bugs me the most. I was used to taking 3 mile walks every day and going camping and hiking regularly. I feel tied down at the moment but I will prevail.

Sockpuppet

[teh_blumchenkinder]

make sure to come back if you need us... or just want to talk. Don't be so lurky.
and don't forget to ask about exercises you can do.
Feel better soon. I'm pulling for ya.

[AccountingDrone]

Have you done the nutrition counseling routine? I know it may seem like a dumbass question, but nutrition is just as important as exercise and you may have to restrict *what* you eat, not just the overall calories.

Different sugars trigger reactions in people, we don't know why. I know the advertising jackasses claim that high fructose corn syrup is the same as sugar, but it isn't ... it is a migraine trigger in some people, and can cause insulin reactions in some people that another form of sugar won't. You may also need to cut certain groups of carbs out of your diet, restrict potato wheat rice corn and legumes [heavy starches that convert quickly to glucose] and concentrate more on eating non starchy vegetables. One of the things I do is pretty much avoid convenience foods and make everything from raw materials. There is a lot of crap hidden that you have to be absolutely anal about reading the nutrition information on. You also have to be anal about serving size. Being diabetic is a royal pain in the ass.

Diabetic since 1980, and *no* retinopathy or neuropathy and I have a normal healing rate on my extremities. [despite being handicapped and pretty much unable to do normal exercise, and I only get 18 physiotherapy sessions a year from my insurance company.]

[teh_blumchenkinder]

there are low-glycemic diets out there. Glycemic is probably a word you're already familiar with, since you're diabetic!
Lentils are my friend. They're like a four on glycemic load, which is out of 100. (I'm not diabetic, but my mom and I do have hypoglycemia.)

[Lurking Sockpuppet]

I have read up on low-glycemic index diets. I don't follow any specific diet plan. I quit eating rice, potatoes (hardest thing ever to give up), white bread, I actually don't eat whole wheat that often either I try to stick to rye or pumpernickel. Pasta is very limited. My biggest down fall was before I went on the anti depressants I was drinking way too much alcohol. Mostly Cheery Rum and Diet coke. Which I know is a big no-no. There are days like today where I had to run some errands and my right knee is sore because of the boot on the left foot and me almost falling down the steps to the house last week. I managed to do a kind of jump instead of falling but twisted the right knee upon landing. Today is also one of the days where I have constant waves of nausea along with the continually running to the bathroom. Luckily I don't have to go anywhere else for the next four hours. I am going to lay down and hope it passes.

[Seshat]

Try doing reclining or seated exercise. Yoga in particular has many exercises which can be done without putting weight on the feet.

If you can see a physiotherapist, ask them to devise an exercise plan which you can do without putting weight on the injury. That sort of thing is one of their specialties.

[Antisocial_Worker]

I don't know how you'd feel about this, Lurking, but an exercise that I enjoy is to lay on your back with your ass on a pillow or two, and kick your feet in the air like you're pedaling a bike. It's undignified but it works. I can definitely feel the burn in my thighs by the time I'm done.

Best of all, you can do it while you're watching TV or -- and this is the way I do it -- balancing a laptop on edge on your chest while you surf the 'Net. I try to get in an hour of it every day.

[BlaqueKatt]

before I went on the anti depressants

some things to discuss with your health care provider:

um there are SEVERAL antidepressants that can cause severe blood sugar issues in both diabetics and those with no blood sugar issues. A few where patients in the drug trials died with blood sugar levels over 900, and they did not have diabetes(this was a study for zyprexa). One patient was on it for only two months and died with a blood sugar level 15 times normal, he was not diabetic.

Also some studies on Aspartame*(mice that ingest aspartame, develop very high blood glucose levels)

*presented at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) Scientific Sessions

also PCOS can contributeto insulin resistance.

Edited to add: for the foot ulcer possibly talk to your health care provider about MDT-It's healed bone infections where the only remaining option is amputation. And it's pretty inexpensive for a treatment.

[Seshat]

Edited to add: for the foot ulcer possibly talk to your health care provider about MDT-It's healed bone infections where the only remaining option is amputation. And it's pretty inexpensive for a treatment.

It gives me the absolute creeps, but the theory is sound and I've heard good things about it.

[BlaqueKatt]

It gives me the absolute creeps, but the theory is sound and I've heard good things about it.

hence the acronym or the euphemism "Bio-surgery"-which is pretty accurate, plus in the fight against MRSA-you have two things that kill it outright-the biosurgeons, or puree of roach brain(also good against e. coli), so yeah....