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I have just the opposite issue in the summer. Because I am a sweating machine, I have a very difficult time keeping enough carbs in me to keep my blood sugar from plummeting. I am in the process of getting a continuous monitor the will help me on the golf course to eat and drink enough and also sound the alarm if I have any lows. I recently had a very scary 27 that being at home alone could have been disastrous. I am looking forward to have something tell me before I get in a danger zone. Did I understand you to say that you are not on any medications for your diabetes? I may be confused with someone else, but it sounds like a long acting insulin may help with stabilizing, but that is just what it did for me and I have days I only take 4-8 units of short acting because of activity. Don't know if that helps at all, but will try to answer any questions that relate to my experience.
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Managing your numbers with your diet is admirable. I was able to do so until things went south with my pancreas and now I don't have enough beta cells to produce insulin. As long as you can avoid the drugs, that would be ideal. Very difficult to control weight once the insulin becomes required.
That’s why I take one day at a time. I know that there are many bad side effects from diabetes. I try to be aware of my body and really know myself. I should be familiar since I will be 74 years old in February.
I am going to stay away from meds as long as is possible.
retiredteacher
@gman007 Hi Gary:
You mentioned, "Very difficult to control weight once the insulin becomes required." I did not know that. Can you explain more about that?
Teresa
I thought I better check my information and make sure I had not gotten mixed up about something else. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/tips-for-managing-insulin-weight-gain
I think there are more scientific explanations and there are also issues of some diabetics becoming less active and that is what makes any exercise we feel like doing so important, because the weight problem can become a vicious negative cycle. The more weight we gain, the more insulin we need, etc...
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You are right. I do not take any medication for my diabetes. When I was diagnosed, my numbers were just a few above normal. My A1c was 6.0---right on the line for diabetes. I had all the blood profiles and except for being overweight, my numbers are all in range. My endo was quick to say I could take metformin, and I was quick to say I would control my numbers with diet. So in the 22 months I have been a diabetic, I have managed my numbers. Unless there is a really valid reason to take a medicine, I am not going to take it. I have been fortunate. My blood stays within range; sometimes it is higher, and then it levels off. I have no other symptoms.
Maybe the high/low issue is a gender problem. I'll research that and see if I can find any information. I know for the diet, women are always given fewer calories than men. Perhaps carbs differ as a result of gender, age, physical activity, diet, and all the other areas of difference for everyone. I have found out and finally accepted the fact that we are all unique, and we have to deal with this disease with what works for us individually. It is frustrating, but I do what works for me.
Maybe people who have to take insulin can chat with you. If I ever reach that point, I will check with you then. Until that time, I am going to try to avoid medicine like the plague.
retiredteacher