Anyone find that foods listed as "safe" spike your blood?

@retiredteacher I can understand your frustration! Not getting good diabetes education or help from your doctor makes this whole situation more difficult than it needs to be. Are there any diabetes classes at a local hospital or community senior center? I hope that you find some answers. Teresa

Thanks, Teresa, but I live in a county that is poor in every way, particularly health poor---few doctors and a small hospital that takes care of the basics. The closest diabetes classes are at night over an hour away; my husband does not drive at night, and my insurance will not pay for it anyway. So, the education I have is what I get on the internet and read from other people who post on this site and one other one I am a member of. Most are like me; just tired of trying to do what a dr. should be doing. I'm too old to change everything I've been all of my life and resent having to give up the routine my life has always been. I was well, content, happy, and loved my work. Now I am just miserable and have become a recluse. I am just continuing to hit and miss, trying this and that. I not only hope to find some answers, but I hope to find a doctor who knows something about diabetes and doesn't just want to throw a pill at it.
God Bless America on this upcoming Memorial Day.
retiredteacher

@retiredteacher I'm glad that you found Mayo Connect. Reach out as often as you need! Teresa

Get the book Wheat Belly by Dr. Davis. It turned my type 2 to normal readings. No medication. There are groups on facebook to with the same results.

I feel your pain @retiredteacher. Type 2 diabetes sucks! I was diagnosed about a year and a half ago and was in denial for a while.
I do not have the aversion to pills that you do. I started on metformin but broke out in hives after about 10 days. Doc then switched me to Januvia which has worked wonderfully for me. In addition to whatever diabetes magic it performs, it also seems to mess with your appetite. I'm just not as hungry all the time as I used to be. I lost 30 pounds in a little over a year and a half. Slow weight loss but it works for me. As my weight came down so did my a1c numbers.
I only test first thing in the morning and my numbers stay fairly consistent. I know I should test more but I just don't take the time to do so.
I seriously doubt that I would have lost weight and lowered my A1c without Januvia. So I'm very pleased with the drug. The only side affect I had was a metallic taste in my mouth for quite a while -- but it eventually went away.
Is your diabetes type 2?

@pdilly Thanks for sharing the success you have had with Januvia with @retiredteacher as well as the rest of us at Mayo Connect. It is good to know of effective meds that have worked well without a lot of side-effects. Often meds can be very helpful, as in your case. Thanks again for your post. We learn from each other as we share our stories. Teresa

Personally, I think dealing with diabetes type II is a lifestyle thing. I handle it like just another chronic condition. Pancreas makes less insulin just from aging. That's normal. So eventually pancreas just can't keep up. That's how doctor explained it to me. So to me the most important thing is decrease demand for insulin. That's from exercise, eating less carbs, spreading out meals, lowering glycemic index of food by mixing carbs with other stuff like vegetables and meat. Right now I just aim to keep my a1c under 7. I'm not trying for really tight control. But I am doing healthy living program and that's working on all your stuff like your fitness, body composition, resilience. I make goals that are short and long term. I made a goal to deal with ticks because they were bothering me so much to find ticks stuck on my body. I am afraid of Lyme Disease more than diabetes. So my patient with chronic condition advice is LIVE!!! Live the best life you can in every way. Find things you like to do. Go camping. Ride a bike. Volunteer at food shelf. Have a tea party. Be happy. Then it does seem like chronic conditions aren't so overwhelming any more.

Hello @ihatediabetes, I have always appreciated your balance approach to life style changes. While diabetes has affected your life it has not affected your attitude and that means a lot! I like what you said, " Right now I just aim to keep my a1c under 7. I’m not trying for really tight control." I'm sure that helps your frustration level. Your activity level is good and that keeps you from dwelling on all the things in your life that have changed. Thanks again for a great post. Teresa

I love your advice to live a full life. That's what i do as well. Once I adjusted to T2 Diabetes, I stopped trying for perfection. Now I'm working on living a healthy and active life. Thanks, Gail

@gailb Thanks for your "no worries" approach. While you are definitely proactive in treating your diabetes you have come to peace with this disorder. I'm sure that you would agree that the more we dwell on something, the worse it becomes. Teresa