I don't want to inject myself with insulin

[size8hereIcome]

Hi, I'm currently doing the Boot Camp. Yesterday, we had someone come over and talk about their Diabetes and Atkins. This prompted me to come visit this board. I've been visiting this board for 1.5 years but have never really came over here. First, just let me say that I don't know/probably don't have diabetes. I'm at risk, however. Both of my grandmother's were insulin dependent. Four years ago the doctor was somewhat concerned but did not diagnose me. As both grandma's were Type I that was her concern and the type of tests she ran. However, I think I have a lot more symptoms of Type II. I am constantly thirsty, I feel fatigued even after just waking up from a full night's sleep, I've experienced tunnel vision, shakiness, and the most fearful one: it's kinda like I black out, but not really (hard to explain). Also, twice last year I developed ?can't remember the name? but it is a condition where from wounds I developed extreme infection, red streaking, and had to be put on an I.V. The doctor kept asking me: Do you have Diabetes? Later, I asked my friend who is a nurse and she said the only people she's ever seen have this had diabetes. Anyway when the ?blackout? type symptoms started getting worse, that is one of the reasons I went on Atkins. The symptoms went away. For the 1st time I felt normal, the way everyone else seems to feel. Then, recently I went on a 3 month cheat and all of the symptoms returned. I'm back, because I do not want to live the way my grandmother's lived. Again, I don't know that I have diabetes. When I saw the doctor 4 years ago she only conducted 1 fast test, not a glucose tolerance.

[not2late]

Re: I don't want to inject myself with insulin

Hi, I'm currently doing the Boot Camp. Yesterday, we had someone come over and talk about their Diabetes and Atkins. This prompted me to come visit this board. I've been visiting this board for 1.5 years but have never really came over here. First, just let me say that I don't know/probably don't have diabetes. I'm at risk, however. Both of my grandmother's were insulin dependent. Four years ago the doctor was somewhat concerned but did not diagnose me. As both grandma's were Type I that was her concern and the type of tests she ran. However, I think I have a lot more symptoms of Type II. I am constantly thirsty, I feel fatigued even after just waking up from a full night's sleep, I've experienced tunnel vision, shakiness, and the most fearful one: it's kinda like I black out, but not really (hard to explain). Also, twice last year I developed ?can't remember the name? but it is a condition where from wounds I developed extreme infection, red streaking, and had to be put on an I.V. The doctor kept asking me: Do you have Diabetes? Later, I asked my friend who is a nurse and she said the only people she's ever seen have this had diabetes. Anyway when the ?blackout? type symptoms started getting worse, that is one of the reasons I went on Atkins. The symptoms went away. For the 1st time I felt normal, the way everyone else seems to feel. Then, recently I went on a 3 month cheat and all of the symptoms returned. I'm back, because I do not want to live the way my grandmother's lived. Again, I don't know that I have diabetes. When I saw the doctor 4 years ago she only conducted 1 fast test, not a glucose tolerance.

Hi. After you finish boot camp, the first thing you want to do is visit your doctor ASAP. And explain what is going on in terms of your family history and your current history. Your doctor will most likely run you through a variety of tests including the fasting glucose and something called a hemoglobin A1C. From what I recall, they don't do glucose tolerance tests too often anymore.

The infection you described is "cellulitis" and it can be due to things other than diabetes.

Secondly, if you are diabetic or are "pre-diabetic" you have done yourself a big favor by deciding to lose weight and change to a healthy lifestyle. Modest weight loss alone (we're taking as little as 10-15% of your starting body weight) can improve your hemoglobin A1C levels significantly.

Also, please do see your physician. If you have diabetes, you need to be checked for the complications of diabetes, including eye problems, nerve problems, blood vessel and heart problems. There's more to total diabetes care than making sure your blood sugars are a certain number.

[Coop2004]

Re: I don't want to inject myself with insulin

I agree with what Not2Late posted.

One more thing, before you go for a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT), make sure you're not doing Atkins for at least 48-72 hours (somebody correct on the days please), otherwise it may give a false reading.

Wishing you the best,

Linda

[not2late]

Re: I don't want to inject myself with insulin

Yes, before the glucose tolerance test, you need to increase your carbs to at least 150 for a few days. Get your carbs from vegetables, fruits and whole grains...not donuts, candy, cakes and cookies

[Desertthorn]

Re: I don't want to inject myself with insulin

And read Dr Bernsteins book

[2big4mysize]

Re: I don't want to inject myself with insulin

yep what they all said. Dr Atkins has a diebetic book out too and one of ADBB's very own Canuck was featured in it as an Atkins diabetic success. We have had numerous folk who were on meds and diagnoises diabetic get of their meds and have normal blood sugar levels eating their Atkins. Make no mistake there is no cure for diabetes as yet but it can be managed with Atkins low carb eating ans you can be virtually symptom free. BUT you must never get complicent in your low carbing cause diebetes is called the wasting disease cause it is the cummulative effects of your out of control blood sugars cellular damage to your nerves and organs that finnaly cause the visible damge in our later yrs.

You should also discuss with your doctor having a personel blood sugar monitor so you can treack your sugar levels several times a day as you get control of it.

Happy low carbing.

[Randiman1]

Re: I don't want to inject myself with insulin

I can't agree more with everybody here. I agree that you need to go to doctor just to find out if you do have diabetes, because if you are a diabetic you could be doing a lot of damage to your body by having untreated high blood sugars.