Hi There

[Discolemonade]

:wave I'm mostly from the century club but as of recently I need to know more about Atkins and diabetes. Some of you may know, but for those who don't, my mom is a diabetic, and a recent amputee. She has moved into my home and we have been considering trying to control her sugars on the atkins diet. She learned she was diabetic about 2 years ago and was given insulin shots. She was taken off of the shots because they said she was doing so well, but they put her on the pills, gly something or another.she also takes a high blood pressure pill. They want her to begin meds for high cholesterol, but they told her she'd have to take it the rest of her life if she starts it, so we haven't turned in the 'scription for it. The pills they gave her for her diabetes has caused 4 instances of low sugar comas. this last one resulting (though not caused by ??) in a below the knee amputation.

Our questions:
1. Can I start her on a 2 week induction as I did myself (and I will be starting clean also) or does she go into maintenance at start (she weighs 145 but wants to drop about 20 lbs.)?

2. Her next appt for the blood screening (cholesterols) is in Feb, I know bad numbers drop but I think it takes a few months, should we expect higher numbers, no change or improvement in that month and a 1/2? and when should we see the improvements?

3. Any diabetics here whith amputations? any advice on the emotional aspects? talk about damage!

I know i have more questions but I am at work and have to close.
Sorry this is all over the place and maybe jumbled, but any and all advice appreciated! :nod

XOXO

[2big4mysize]

:wave :wave you have come to the right place. I rememeber your post in the CC about your mom. Dr Atkins has a new book out for Diabetics and our Canuck is a succes story in there. He was working on it at the time of his death and 2 of his collegues finished it at his wife's request. You might want to get a copy for her.

First if she isn't monitoring her blood sugar several times a day get her started.

Next Dr Atkins does warn all diabetics to work with their treatment team as their medications will need to be adjusted as their blood sugar drops due to the control Atkins Low carb eating gives them. Many are able to get off all meds as you will see if you read some of the stickies above.

My Grandmother was an amputee due to diabetus gangrene. Is your mother getting an artificial leg and going through rehab? There should be a support program in your area for her and as her kid you can attend with her and get some very valuble info about adaptive programs and stuff that are out there. things we never even think about like the effects having no feeling in an artificial foot has on balance and motion.

I hope she will do Atkins for her health and not because you want her to as internal motivation works much beter then external.

[canuck]

Hi there, welcome.
If she was put on insulin her BG would go right almost immediately and then going off insulin if she doesn’t eat low carb and low GI her BG will eventually move up.

But you don’t know how and what to eat unless you test immediately upon awakening and then two hs after a meal. I assume she has a blood monitor, as you cannot be on insulin and know the right dose without one so If wish can post her bg numbers here a few days and show us what is happening and we can guide you to a point but you need to work with her doc too.. Find exact name of drug, some can cause lows but not like the insulin.metphormin is the drug of choice according to Atkins.

The lows are not what causes the amputation, it’s the highs so assume she was diabetic and out of control for long time before diagnosed.

Having tight control of BG, 80 to 110 will help her blood pressure and her chol but it all goes hand in hand. Diabetes is not just a blood sugar issue it affects heart, kidneys, limbs, eyesight and only way to manage it so it minimizes damage to bode is to take tight control over bg and only way to do that is to test test test.

Unless she tests she won’t know if she needs to do induction or follow Atkins Diabetic revolution program, I can’t do his revolution program as he says oatmeal and I can’t eat it or BG soars, so it’s all trial and error knowing how body reacts as we are all different.

Is she interested and has she read the book, that is a must so she gets her head around changing habits as diabetic assoc has probably drilled in her to eat hi grains and low fat and low protein so she will need to be motivated as 2 big says otherwise you will be her policeman and we all know that doesn’t work.

Hang around, ask questions, we like to help and maybe when at home your mom would come and read us and maybe sign on. It can be managed very well with this program and many are off meds or lowered meds.

Talk with her doc but unless he is well informed they will be against it of course, you know how folks are.

I know amputation is ugly, I wish I could help you more with that but can’t but her rehab team should include you so ask and be assertive as she will need a lot of support and since it’s your mom you will need a lot of support too.
All the best.
:wave

[Coop2004]

Hi Disco, :wave

Just adding a couple of things to the great advice from canuck and 2big!!

First of all, my late maternal grandfather, who was a diabetic, also had both his legs amputated due to diabetus gangrene. That was in 1972, when I was 18. So I understand the emotional part of it.

Also, in addition to the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and Dr. Atkins Diabetic Revolution, another worthwhile book is "Dr. Bernsteins Diabetes Solution (2003 Version). Below is a site which has excerts from the book.

http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/readit.shtml

Here's wishing you and your mother well. As canuck suggested, let us know some of her readings.

:hug :hug

Linda (Coop)

[Discolemonade]

thanks for the heads up and the first step directions. We're gonna get the book, make a menu and go for it. see what works.