Diabetes Diagnosis, In Shock

Posted by babette @babette, Mar 26, 2021

Some background: Once upon a time I was a healthy, active, 60 year old woman. I had low back pain, which I addressed by the occasional cortisone injection, and MS, in remission for years. My R knee began to be painful 2 years ago, and I had a total R knee replacement. The surgeon botched it, the device failed and I had to have another complete TKR on the same knee.

Next up was a long workup for ankylosing spondylitis, which I was diagnosed with one day, then diabetes the next day!

I'm a good cook but pain makes it hard for me to stand for periods of time. I think I know what I need to do, but when I ate high protein, low carb over the past couple of days I was **starving.** I am completely lost, I never thought I would become diabetic and here I am. I don't even now when to take my glucose readings. My dh is also a diabetic so I'm v. concerned for both of us.

Positive things I've done: I'm planning weight loss surgery which is probably the best thing I can do for all of my health problems; I've made 8 PT appointments for the AS; made an appointment for private yoga sessions, and I have a stationary bike.

I would love to hear about what have been your best resources for dealing with this head on?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Diabetes & Endocrine System Support Group.

@astaingegerdm

@babette - Welcome to Mayo Connect! I know you are in shock- I was there too. After 60 it seemed as if the warranty on my body ran out! I had also tried to live a healthy, active life. Genetics play a large role. I realized that I had inherited many of my father’s health problems, diabetes one of them.
After spending 10 years dealing with autoimmune and other issues I was well enough to deal with the diabetes. I knew I had to lose weight. My daughter had lost a lot of weight doing a low carb, high protein diet. I joined a program locally. It was very tough the first 2 weeks. I craved my carbs so bad! It got much easier and the pounds disappeared. I was never hungry. I ate a fairly similar diet as I did before minus all my beloved carbs! 45 lbs in a few months. My blood sugar was much lower and steady so I could go off my diabetes medicine and continue controlling it through my diet. You measure your fasting blood sugar- after you wake up. Keep a record.
There are many ways to eat to reach the same result- I was happy to like my diet since it did not vary much from my regular diet.
What does your doctor say?
My doctor told me that nowadays diabetes is considered a cardiovascular illness..that scared me.
The local hospitals usually have diabetes educators- check it out.
Moderate physical activity is important too.
Don’t wait! You can do it!

Jump to this post

That's what I need help with a diet plan

REPLY

@trellg132 - It is very difficult to know what and how you should eat. This is why you need specialized help from someone trained in diabetes nutrition.

REPLY
@astaingegerdm

@trellg132 - It is very difficult to know what and how you should eat. This is why you need specialized help from someone trained in diabetes nutrition.

Jump to this post

Like 45 carbs meal i think it was

REPLY
@astaingegerdm

@babette - Welcome to Mayo Connect! I know you are in shock- I was there too. After 60 it seemed as if the warranty on my body ran out! I had also tried to live a healthy, active life. Genetics play a large role. I realized that I had inherited many of my father’s health problems, diabetes one of them.
After spending 10 years dealing with autoimmune and other issues I was well enough to deal with the diabetes. I knew I had to lose weight. My daughter had lost a lot of weight doing a low carb, high protein diet. I joined a program locally. It was very tough the first 2 weeks. I craved my carbs so bad! It got much easier and the pounds disappeared. I was never hungry. I ate a fairly similar diet as I did before minus all my beloved carbs! 45 lbs in a few months. My blood sugar was much lower and steady so I could go off my diabetes medicine and continue controlling it through my diet. You measure your fasting blood sugar- after you wake up. Keep a record.
There are many ways to eat to reach the same result- I was happy to like my diet since it did not vary much from my regular diet.
What does your doctor say?
My doctor told me that nowadays diabetes is considered a cardiovascular illness..that scared me.
The local hospitals usually have diabetes educators- check it out.
Moderate physical activity is important too.
Don’t wait! You can do it!

Jump to this post

I often was annoyed at well meaning people telling me what I could eat, as though I was too uneducated to figure it out. I learned to hate the idea of angel food cake and would rather not have any cake at all than that gummy stuff. The only gummy food I like is no-cal Jello, sometimes with no fat cream cheese on top. I eat it for the flavor and I also have a cheese cake recipe with Truvia or Stevia in it. But I need crunchiness to be happy. Romaine lettuce has more flavor and more nutrition than any other lettuce. It needs to be dark green to be healthy for you. I am not giving up yummy food. I just don't have room for dessert after I have eaten all those veggies and some protein. Milk fills in the holes quit well and satisfies my hunger. And it metabolizes slowly so you last longer without eating. I repeat, I am not sacrificing or doing without. I continue to explore new foods I have never tried, skipping the sushi, however. Dorisena

REPLY
@trellg132

Like 45 carbs meal i think it was

Jump to this post

Three carbs per meal at 15 grams per serving, more or less, is a good goal. You count milk as a carb in some plans. AIt gets better. nice big bun is two servings, usually. Read the labels. In the beginning, if you are still hungry, by all means eat something but not carbs. Try nuts or cheese in small amounts. Yeah, I know, it is fattening, but at least you aren't suffering and complaining.

REPLY
@astaingegerdm

@babette - Welcome to Mayo Connect! I know you are in shock- I was there too. After 60 it seemed as if the warranty on my body ran out! I had also tried to live a healthy, active life. Genetics play a large role. I realized that I had inherited many of my father’s health problems, diabetes one of them.
After spending 10 years dealing with autoimmune and other issues I was well enough to deal with the diabetes. I knew I had to lose weight. My daughter had lost a lot of weight doing a low carb, high protein diet. I joined a program locally. It was very tough the first 2 weeks. I craved my carbs so bad! It got much easier and the pounds disappeared. I was never hungry. I ate a fairly similar diet as I did before minus all my beloved carbs! 45 lbs in a few months. My blood sugar was much lower and steady so I could go off my diabetes medicine and continue controlling it through my diet. You measure your fasting blood sugar- after you wake up. Keep a record.
There are many ways to eat to reach the same result- I was happy to like my diet since it did not vary much from my regular diet.
What does your doctor say?
My doctor told me that nowadays diabetes is considered a cardiovascular illness..that scared me.
The local hospitals usually have diabetes educators- check it out.
Moderate physical activity is important too.
Don’t wait! You can do it!

Jump to this post

Thanks for this empathy and support! I know I can do it but, like you, once I hit 60 I could not believe so many health issues would come my way. My parents lived in good health until nearly 90, so I think of 60ish as still young. My doctor is fully supportive of my newly adopted eating plan: mostly plants, seeds, nuts sometimes chicken or fish, olive oil. She's also very supportive of my weight loss surgery plans - that program takes a while so if I can have my surgery I by the end of summer I'll be thrilled. And who knows how much I'll lose in the meantime? đŸ™‚ As if this isn't enough I have ankylosing spondylitis so exercise has been challenging; I'm starting PT in April. And will increase my moving from there!

Thanks again for your kind post!

REPLY
@babette

Thanks for this empathy and support! I know I can do it but, like you, once I hit 60 I could not believe so many health issues would come my way. My parents lived in good health until nearly 90, so I think of 60ish as still young. My doctor is fully supportive of my newly adopted eating plan: mostly plants, seeds, nuts sometimes chicken or fish, olive oil. She's also very supportive of my weight loss surgery plans - that program takes a while so if I can have my surgery I by the end of summer I'll be thrilled. And who knows how much I'll lose in the meantime? đŸ™‚ As if this isn't enough I have ankylosing spondylitis so exercise has been challenging; I'm starting PT in April. And will increase my moving from there!

Thanks again for your kind post!

Jump to this post

Hi, @babette It's nice to "see" you again, although I am sorry for the circumstances that now bring you back to Connect.

I was diagnosed with diabetes back around 2009 I think. I lost a lot of weight and have almost maintained that (I have some extra pandemic pounds right now that I'm trying to lose) and now my A1c ranges from 4.6 - 5.5! Weight loss makes a huge difference. I try to keep my carbs somewhat low but I do not skip them entirely anymore.

I was not familiar with ankylosing spondylitis so I just googled it. I am sure it does make exercise more difficult but hopefully, the physical therapist you use will be able to give you some exercises that you can do successfully. I do cardio exercises daily and do some form of weights at least every other day. Cardio is important to me because everyone in my family has died from heart problems, plus it burns more calories. If there are any of those that you can do that would probably help with weight loss and your A1c but of course, check with the physical therapist.

I hope you will let us know how things are progressing.
JK

REPLY
@contentandwell

Hi, @babette It's nice to "see" you again, although I am sorry for the circumstances that now bring you back to Connect.

I was diagnosed with diabetes back around 2009 I think. I lost a lot of weight and have almost maintained that (I have some extra pandemic pounds right now that I'm trying to lose) and now my A1c ranges from 4.6 - 5.5! Weight loss makes a huge difference. I try to keep my carbs somewhat low but I do not skip them entirely anymore.

I was not familiar with ankylosing spondylitis so I just googled it. I am sure it does make exercise more difficult but hopefully, the physical therapist you use will be able to give you some exercises that you can do successfully. I do cardio exercises daily and do some form of weights at least every other day. Cardio is important to me because everyone in my family has died from heart problems, plus it burns more calories. If there are any of those that you can do that would probably help with weight loss and your A1c but of course, check with the physical therapist.

I hope you will let us know how things are progressing.
JK

Jump to this post

JK! So good to see you here. I hope all has been well for you.

REPLY

It is nice to see that everyone finds a way to deal with a diabetes diet that is suitable for that person. It is not realistic to follow a diet that is totally different from a diet that has been comfortable for years. We just have to tweak it some.

REPLY

If you feel better after eating a different diet, you don't miss some of the heavy food we ate in years past. I guess i was always trying new recipes and changing menus and my family enjoyed most of it. The hired man would eat any vegetable if you put cheese on it. Well, not beets, of course. They bought me a wok for Christmas and i spent an hour each night cutting up food and tossing it in the wok. They didn't know what it was, but they liked it when it was flavored with soy sauce. They liked left over beef, chicken and shrimp tossed with the veggies. i like soup made with left-overs and flavored with bouillion.
Milk based soups have good flavor when flavored with chicken bouillion. I guess i tweaked a lot of leftovers in that wok. Dorisena

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.