Diabetes Diagnosis, In Shock

Things have been as good as they can be considering the more than a year of isolation we have endured.

I hope your physical therapist is good, they can vary a lot. I've had horrible ones and good ones.
JK

On physical therapists, I had a terrible ones at nursing homes, even though the first place had employees with college degrees. The second one had a terrible one who couldn't possibly graduated college and he didn't attend to the patient very well at all. The third place had good therapists, but they wanted to address my mental status and I challenged them on that because they knew nothing of my status or mental ability. The place I choose to go has done an excellent job in the past and were very tough on me, bringing me to tears at times, but they made progress and the pain stopped. Now that I have pain again, I am willing to listen to their advice and treatment knowing that my body is declining at age 85. I must keep at it or be in a wheel chair, it seems. Dorisena

Dorisena, perhaps your math is slightly off on your last reply.

Babette: Yes, as previously mentioned, 45 grams of total carbs per meal is a good way to plan. Learn to read the carbs on labels, or use one of the many sites on the web that tell how many carbs are in the things you eat.

Too little carbs mean not enough energy, and sets other body issues in motion to try to raise its own blood sugar. Too many carbs means higher blood sugar readings.

On labels, read the number of servings per pack, as that is one way that food companies try to hide the actual amount. For instance, a frozen food entree should contain one meal for you of a net amount of 45 carbs (total carbs in package minus fiber).

By the way, I eat a lot of meat because I have other conditions that require lots of protein. You have to find what works for you and satisfies your dietary needs and your own wants.

Make certain you stay active in exercising, etc as that will make a huge part in helping you manage things.

Additionally one item to look at in the future is glycemic loads, and glycemic indexes. I wish you all the best in your new lifelong journey.

Howard, perhaps there is a misunderstanding on my math. I was taught to count the grams of carbs and originally eat ten to 12 servings of carbs at 15 g. each which totals 180. This is too high for me, so I cut down to 10 servings per day. Even 150 grams is high and I have lowered that goal in the past few years. A Texas nutritionist guru recommends much lower levels but that is not sustainable for me.
My blood sugar has been below 100 the past two days even with a huge dinner the night before. I am pretty happy about it all after 15 years of change and better health. I am only taking one Metformin after dinner and plan to drop that this summer when my garden is producing. I can now eat thin spaghetti with my homemade tomato sauce with no sugar spike. I am beating back diabetes. Dorisena

@babette et al Hello, I was diagnosed w/diabetes when my glucose level was over 300 one day, out of the blue, while recuperating from CHF for several months. I take Janumex and it's pretty well controlled. Don't know why that happened, but several hormones went bonkers. I had other endocrine issues that caused the edema and CHF, now well controlled after a lot of work w/Mayo Clinic adjusting hormone levels.

I don't believe you mentioned seeing an endocrinologist or being under a diabetic specialist of any kind. I was diagnosed by my PCP, prior to my Mayo involvement, who sent me for a short visit w/diabetic nurse specialist for instruction on the what/when/how of diabetic health. It wasn't so great, but got me started.

I should have gone to an endocrinologist. They often have regular diabetic patient instruction, meetings and support. I've never had that help, but think it would be very helpful short and long-term. They offer guidance in controlling your diabetes w/diet, losing weight and all the do's and don'ts and lots of help.

I still need this help today, as I'm not controlling this as well as I want. My diabetes is overseen by my PCP. I need to have a Mayo endocrinologist, but don't at this time.

I can't cook much, so eat from the grocery deli, pre-packaged FRESH meals, delicious and only need heating, pricey but for one it's 2-4 meals and makes a lot of sense. Also, do the smoothie thing, with protein powder, w/no sugar or preservatives or additives. I've simplified my food, even frozen meals w/no preservatives, low sugar, low carbs, high protein. Do watch the sodium tho on the frozen foods....

Don't know if any of this makes sense, but it seems to work well for me at this point. Hope you find the best mix for you. Really think we need the added help of the diabetic support meetings and guidance from medical. Let me know how you do.....blessings, elizabeth

@babette A quick additional comment:

I can't imagine a stationary bike w/your knee or yoga if you're having weight surgery!!!! I go to a PT therapy pool for my exercise, 2X weekly, script from my mayo neurologist and he said I should use that pool, 94 degrees, the rest of my life. It's truly wonderful! Helps me more than anything I've ever done. The exercise is as smooth and comfy as you can imagine. Nothing hurts.....I get good work-outs, but no pain, lots of working using the water for strengthening and relaxation. It helps every part of my body.

I also, occasionally, use the recumbant stepper that puts no stress on any of my joints.....I have severe arthritis in my joints, can't use bike or upward motion, no reg stepper, am overweight and yoga or other such are out of the question. So, pool, occasional recumbant stepper, easy walking as far as is comfortable and that's it. That's plenty! for me and has helped joints, fibro, muscles/all soft tissue, heart, head....I use my little pink walker and toddle at a slow pace safely.

Anyway, those are my thoughts on getting some good, reasonable exercise for weight and diabetes and everything else.....blessings again and more....elizabeth

I’m sorry if I misjudged your situation, but I assumed since you had been diagnosis with diabetes that you were already under the care of a doctor. Yes, by all means, this should have been your first step.

While having the care of an endocrinologist is often needed in advanced cases, most PCPs are capable of guiding the day-to-day care you need to take (mine is an internal medicine specialist). If you feel you need more care/oversight in your case, ask your PCP for a referral.

Depending on where you live, most areas have a basic care class for food for diabetics and a device testing class (you need to test at least twice a day, more if your on insulin). Again, your PCP should direct you to what care is available in your area.

Additionally, you should have the regular care of other specialists in your area if not already. I’m referring to an eye doctor, foot specialist, urologist, and dental care. Remember that diabetes affects your entire body, so you need to be proactive in your health care.

I myself had only basic diabetes classes, as you learn what works for you. You are in a good place, just starting your journey with diabetes; if you learn to test correctly, eat right, take your medication, and add exercise to your lifestyle as needed, you can manage and count on many years to spend with your grandkids and loved ones.

Most of the above is a given for your situation. If it hasn’t happened, you may need to consider another PCP.

As a side note, one of the serious complications (among many) of diabetes is neuropathy; consider asking your doctor about “Metanx”, which is what I’ve been taking for many years to help prevent this. I believe it is one of the main reasons I still have full feelings in my feet after almost 20 years.

Take care.

@howardm Love your comments and advice, Howard.

Tell me about Metanx, please. I have serious and growing peripheral neuropathy, I think it was working on me for a couple years prior to diabetes, was diagnosed so not caused by diabetes. I'm using MMJ lotion if I need it on hands and feet/legs, always use lotion of some kind at night, take MMJ 1:1 tincture for feet, legs, overall pain, arthritis, anxiety, sleep help....at night before bed. It's a gift~ helps me more than anything to date, plus robaxin for cramping, cymbalta for fibro and anxiety and requip for RLS.....dopamine help.

I'm regularly on the neuropathy site where a delightful man, John Bishop who's been dealing w/neuropathy for many years, has suggestions and insight. May I suggest you ck that site and @johnbishop to discuss Metanix? That could be a great discussion for all of us!

Thanks, Howard. Blessings to you. elizabeth

@ess77
Jeez Liz, are you going for the Guinness book of world records for the most illnesses?
I wonder if your Neuropathy & Fibromyalgia could be a result of undiagnosed Diabetes?
I understand Fibromyalgia is commonly found in people with diabetes, but more so in people with type 1 diabetes and in people with less well-controlled blood glucose levels. Just a thought.
Hang in there,
Jake

@jakedduck1 Oh, Jake! Sounds like it, eh? I nope not...but it has been a crazy road with a lot of poor and non diagnoses. Much I think was caused by medications for epilepsy since childhood. I think my body has suffered because of those and the large amounts of meds.

That's one reason I've been focused the last several years on getting off so many meds. I'm feeling the difference, in energy, thinking w/o fog!!!!! no dementia, less anxiety, less debilitating pain!, better sleep - w/c-pap which may be cause of so many other improvements. Also, more movement, pool, MMJ...Think each reduction in chemicals and each healthy change leads to more improvements?

I'm revamping my life, getting rid of some of this junk. Re diabetes and neuropathy....don't know. My glucose levels weren't high until after the CHF actually brought on by long-term Primary Aldosteronism which caused low potassium for years, caused edema for many years. Sodium levels got wonky. As did the thyroid! Man, it payed havok w/skin, anxiety, heart, thinking, breathing, fainting, weight, hair, nails, and everything else! That little thing affects it all....now resolved, but look what work it took to get there.

Who knows, Jake. I know I loved my chocolate, especially dark choc, as does someone else I know.....but never was diagnosed w/diabetes. Could be....Actually, I didn't begin focusing on all this stuff for real until after the heart hospitalization and the years of mis-diagnosed no treatment MS. At that point, my son got the pain pump, botox and was 'better' so my focus turned to my health. Thusly, Mayo and this lovely journey.

Better and fewer issues is key. ..blessings to you, my friend. elizabeth