Diabetes Diagnosis, In Shock

@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!

@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.

@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!

Like 45 carbs meal i think it was

@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!

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? 🙂 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!

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