Newbie

[livwell]

Hello everybody,
I'm so glad I found you guys :wave I was just diagnosed diabetic last monday. I weigh 235 and am 5'5". My doc gave me a prescrip for a bg monitor and some pamphlets on diet and such and left for vacation :yikes I hope she has a good time :yes Needless to say I'm a tad overwhelmed.
Luckily I was able to find the Atkins diabetes book at the library and that has helped some. But my thinking is so foggy that I'm not able to make sense out of much that I do read and forget about retaining it.
I think I have the use of the monitor down, the tips here helped a lot.
My glucose was 161, aic 7.6, ldl 123, hdl 30,vldl 44, triglyceride 222, and mono % 12 (?). Of course my doc handed out info on the standard diabetic diet. But I think atkins is a better choice, although I'd rather have the carbs on the ADA one. :icondance
I called today and made another appt to discuss starting the atkins diet and am requesting the 2 hour postprandial test that the atkins diabetes book recommends for the newly diagnosed before starting the diet.
I'm a little scared cause I realize I've had symptoms that indicate glucose problems for a number of years and I didn't recognize them for what they were. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago, but I think that's way off the mark.
Does anyone have any suggestions for things to tell or ask the doc? I'd really appreciate the feedback. Thanks for being here & listening and congrats to all the "losers".
Thanks,
Debbie

[canuck]

Well for starters, you did come to the right place.
First of all you can do the two hr test at home with your meter, eat a meal if two hr later your bg isn’t under 110 then you are not eating right for your diabetes.. It’s the Glucose Tolerance test you need but you cannot do Atkins and have that test, you need to be eating how you regularly do when tested, read above sticky about that otherwise you will get a false reading.

You know though with an A1C of 7.6 you are diabetic, non diabetic is under 6.1 so you know from other test rather than waiting unless its only a short time.. Only value of that at this stage of the game is to reaffirm your diagnosis.With an A1C at your rate your average BG is about 8 or 8x18=144, too high.Now best results are under 110.

Chances are your doc won’t support you doing Atkins, as they are uneducated and full of myths so unless she is well informed and reading the newest research she will freak and say no no no.

I am on page 151 of that book, my doc didn’t want me doing Atkins at first either, now 14 months alter I am down 65 lbs, I have an A1C of 5.8 and feel awesome and look better than I have in yrs. She reasoned with all the myths about Atkins but now she thinks it’s great for diabetics.I have not gone off the program in 14 months, it is just how I live now.

I suggest reading the book, and probably the Dr Atkins New Diet revolution as well as once you lose weight your Bg will drop quickly, only need to lose a bit before you see a diff.

If you eat the ADA diet, you will gradually see a rise in your bg as it is low fat and high grains, carbs kill diabetics so you must get well educated about low carb eating so you can stay the course.

Keep coming here, keep reading, see if we can help you, and ask away, I recall how frightening it was.

Keep a journal of the tests you do and what you ate so you can being to see a pattern.
Read Dr Bernstein’s The Diabetic Sol'n as well as then you can really wrap your head around why low carb works and it is not jut a fad.

It takes awhile to being to eat fat and feel ok about it as we have all been brain washed.

Stock your house up in good low carb natural foods, don’t waste money on frankenfoods as for first many weeks you cant even try them anyhow and for many diabetics the chemicals in them make your bg go up and make you crave.

Once you follow induction you won’t crave, do it by book, don’t try reinventing your own way as that’s when we witness members fail and fall off the wagon.

Most importantly keep involved here, ask away and see if we can help you.
Good Luck and I am happy you found us.
:wave

[4myself4mykids]

Just a helpful hint, since you forget things easily, what I did when I started induction is went to the www.atkins.com website and printed out the rules of induction and acceptable foods list: http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/15-325810.html

http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/15-464579.html

Actually, I made 2 copies-one posted on my refrigerator and one in my purse. That way I didn't have to take my book every where I went. It made it a bit easier too when I went to the grocery store to have the list of veggies on me, since some of the veggies on the acceptable list were new to me. I'm just a little over a month into this new way of life, but a diabetic for over 8 yrs now. I have to pat you on the back for immediately going for this type of program over the ADA diet. I've struggled all these years, been on oodles of insulin/pills and done what the Drs told me, but it just keeps getting worse. It took me this long to realize I needed to do what I thought was best instead of the Drs/ADA.
In the last month, I've reduced my insulin to about 1/3 of what I was taking, lost 17 lbs now and feel better than I have in years. I won't tell you it's a quick, easy fix. It's not, no change in dietary habits is ever easy, but I will tell you it's the best, and easiest I've ever come across, and plan to stick with it from here on out!

One other hint is that the no caffeine rule is a very big help. I had a major diet mt dew addiction, and have that licked now, but the few times I have had one since then, I did notice a "carb" craving. Not really sure if it's the caffeine or the nutrasweet, since that's the only time I have had either, but it is true that something in diet caffeine soft drinks makes you crave sweets. If I want a soft drink, I've been drinking the diet rite fruit drinks.

Good luck to you! I wish you well!

[livwell]

You guys don't know how much it means to me to be able to have this support system. I am so grateful, I feel like bawling my eyes out :hug
Thanks for the tips 4. I'll refer back to your post after I start the induction. Congrats on your success, it's so inspiring. I tend to not take a lot of the docs advice especially if it involves drugs and such. I've gotten into the habit of researching treatment options before I swallow their suggestions. Although if I'm hit by a truck or something they're the first people I want to see :yes
Thanks Canuck for all the info.. I read about you in the atkins diabetic book before I came here. You're my hero :nod
In the literature that came with my bg monitor it says that my bg level should be 80-120 pre meal, 160-180 2 hours after a meal. Another booklet says less than 180 post meal. I don't get it.
The reason I thought I needed the postprandial test was because of what the atkins diabetic book says on page 71- about being newly diagnosed and not stressing the system with the gtt test. Instead he recommends doing the postp test to see if the pancreas is still producing insulin. If it is he says the diet alone should be sufficient to manage my condition. That's my understanding but please correct me if I perceived the info incorrectly.
I think the doc may support my choice cause when I called her clinical assistant and told her what I wanted to do she spoke to the doc and called me back and said that there were some tests I needed before I started the diet. But I think as long as my pancreas is still producing insulin then the diet should be sufficient and I'll do it whether she likes it or not. I just want to be sure that I have the right tests and all my bases covered.
I'll find out Monday. But it's so hard to wait . I want to feel better now. I am feeling a little better cause I'm being more mindful of my eating, not skipping meals and such. And I'm not eating a bunch of garbage.
Again, thanks for all the info and tips:hug
Debbie

[2big4mysize]

:hug congrats on getting started on Atkins to control yor diabetus. One test you will want before you start is a chem8 so you can see if your kidney function is normal and you can handle the extra protein you will be eating on Atkins.

Since your doc didn't give you and meds only the meter RX your doc thinks your insulin is sufficient already but the test as Canuck said you can do at home. You are just looking to see if you do get a sufficient change in your blood sugar level toindicte you are producing enough insulin. You need that insulin production on Atkins because it is the regulator for liver conversion of proteins to blood glucose too.

Happy low carbing

[canuck]

Its a creatinine level you need done,assesses kidney funtioning.

[livwell]

Thanks so much guys. The fog is lifting a little and I'm not freaking out anymore. I checked my lab results and my creatinine is normal, .7. So I'm good to go. The funny thing is that for the past 3 days since I've been "trying" to follow the atkins db diet my bg numbers are really good.
I did slip and eat some organic blue corn tortilla chips last nite with some cream cheese. Maybe it's time to get a firm grip on the program and clean out my cupboards and get rid of the stuff I bought pre program :yes
I was such a mess, I had trouble getting my thoughts together, driving and doing errands was a nightmare. And this has been going on for a long time.
Thanks sincerely for the inspiration and the tips. Now on to more research to firm up my program :joy

[canuck]

ya it wont work if you do it half assed, do it clean and how his sciecne showed it works, you;'ll be amazed....

[livwell]

Ya know that's exactly how I would have described how I was doing the program, half assed :nod I went to the docs today, I've lost 7 lbs in 2 weeks. What amount of weight does dr atkins recommend losing in a week or a month? I haven't come across that info in the book yet. Oh yeah, she thought the atkins was a great idea and even knew a little about it.
I feel much better already.
Thanks for all your support,
Debbie

[4myself4mykids]

I don't think there's an exact science to amount of weight lost/certain time frame. I've lost 17 lbs in 6 weeks personally, but I've seen others who haven't lost as much or have lost twice that. A lot depends on your body type and how metabolically challenged you are, and how heavy you were to begin with. There is a scale in DANDR that shows on a 2 week induction how much you have lost/sex/lbs to lose, as to how resistant you are. Try looking there, in my DANDR book it's page 158 Degree of Metabolic Resistance. After a clean 2 week induction, refer back and it will tell you how resistant you are. Personally, I would think you were average since you said you did half a@@ induction and lost 7 lbs in 2 weeks, guessing that you have over 50 lbs to lose which according to the chart for average female resistance is 8 lbs. Just do your best and watch those lbs drop off! It also helps if you exercise often too as you should according to the program. Good luck!

[livwell]

Thanks Julia and congrats on the weight loss. I haven't been exercising as much as I probably should but I'm doing more than I have in the recent past. So that's progress and I'll take it and be happy and keep trying to do better
And I do have over 50 to lose but I'm not so much focusing on that mentally as I am on the idea of feeling better and getting my glucose levels under control. But it's a nice by-product of the changes I'm making
Thanks for the support & take care,
Debbie

[2big4mysize]

so now that you have finsihed your 14 days of induction Debbie how you doing? Are you doing a longer induction or moving to OWL?

[tish]

Congrats on finding your way here livwell, you are well on your way to making yourself well.

I started this program..with little hope... I admit I was a sceptic... but now with my sugar levels at a static 4.6 and a morning waking level of 5.6, endless energy, clear thinking and a bonus of 25 pounds shed... I am your quintisential conformed ex carboholic.

2big and Canuck are the most wonderful people and I credit them with the level I have reached... listen to them and take their advice... they are very intelligent and knowledgeable gals... not to mention kind and understanding.

I think it is more important for a diabetic to adhere to this program more than for anyone else.... Your doctor will more than likely wave it off and discourage you... don't be tempted... trust me and the others that have walked this path before... this is for life... and it will save your life.

I found doing a tour of boot camp ironed out the bugs for me ..it made me more diciplined... it can't hurt to try it.

The most important thing I will say to you is ... look at 2big and Canucks before and after pics...read their stories... then know that it works for us. They are the successes that we can achieve.

You have my support and the support of everyone here...I am still in my learning curve and still lean on the gals for information and help.. thank goodness for this way of life!

[canuck]

Thnx for the kind words Ozzie friend, you are doing great too, wow what a great A1C, your doc must be shaking his/her head ey????

[tish]

Heheheee my doc, is to this date unconvinced... impressed but unconvinced... he considers that my sugar levels are nearing remission if I can hold them another 3 months this way... piece of low carb flax cake I say!

I myself cannot beleive the change internally and externally that has taken place. At this point I don't need my doctors blessings... My blood pressure is sliding down... my sugars are that of a healthy woman..and my weight ...though slowing is still dropping... all of the above is more than I ever dreamed possible for me...

Last night girls...I went bowling with my husband and kids,( my little boy desperately wanted to go for his birthday). Only 4 months ago I would have sat to the side, because my weight would have prevented me from participating.... but last night...I was a bowling diva, and I had fun...finally I can taste life and I like it.

Thanks 2big and Canuck..... thanks for the bowls!