Coming out of the closet

[tabekat]

Ok, I'm coming out of the closet. I'm a diabetic too. (Type II) I've wanted to post in this forum for a long time but I've been ashamed to talk about it because I ran out of medication a long time ago and I don't have insurance or a doctor who cares about me. And I pretty much gave up on myself until Atkins. I have felt SO much better since sticking to this WOE that I'm thinking I never will go back on medication. But I'm wondering if I'm missing something important. Anyway, just wanted you to know that I've been lurking in here, reading posts and noting opinions. If anyone knows something they think I should know, speak up now or forever hold your peas. ha

[canuck]

Well I don’t do peas tab so that’s not a prob.

Welcome.

I know there are many lurkers as can see all the views and sometimes no one comments.Thats ok but I get bored!!!

One thing I know through and through about diabetes is it is ridden with shame, guilt and depression.

For many reasons:

Some are biologically induced thru enzyme changes within us living with a chronic illness, some are from media saying diabetes is wide spread and we eat too much and are inactive ,some is from medical community who feels hopeless as they pushed low fat hi carbs on us for decades and we grew fatter and fatter and our bg more and more out of control.....so many things contribute to how we manage our illness.

I read once that a diabetic can take 8 yrs to get totally out of denial.

So having said all that I want to tell you I HEAR YA and am happy you decided to speak out.

Not only for you as I know it can only help you but for others reading here who I know feel the same bloody way but are holding back. In addition, we need to have participants here as when I check in every day and nothing posted it makes me lonely and feel unneeded. I mean don’t we all volunteer to feel needed.

So tab: here is what I would like to know about you so I can give you an opinion. LOL
1. What are your bg now doing Atkins,
2. do you test at all
3. do you have agencies that will help with some testing supplies for free
4.Do you now have a doc who gives a dam and will support you.
5.What do you eat and how do you feel on Atkins.


Do you have any questions of us, obviously, you think we are a tad safe for the tab to come out or you wouldn’t have.....so ask away.

Oh ya, I also believe since we live inside our bodies 24/7 and docs don’t we are ultimately responsible for self care and making sure we live long, if we place that burden on someone else we will die younger and our quality of life will not be as good, anytime we ride with a bg over 140 we are adding nails to our coffin so ultimately I do believe we must stay focused on good bg management and if from that comes weight loss then aren’t we just bloody fortunate to have found that too.
ATKINS ROCKS FOR DIABETICS!!

Welcome tab and hope you stick around.
:wave

[2big4mysize]

yea what Canuck said.

oh and you should go read about diabetic complications and know that thoses are the sum of a life time of microscopic damamge done by thosands of days in a life time of blood sugar being too high. SO even though you are felling better ating your Atkins and many many of our type 2 folk have been able to get off their meds you still need to check your blood sugars and check with your doc.

Happy low carbing.

[tabekat]

you asked questions, i have lame answers

thank you for your response Canuck and 2big...

1. What are your bg now doing Atkins,

Is that blood glucose? Do you mean done by a doctor?
I have no clue.

2. do you test at all

Not at this time

3. do you have agencies that will help with some testing supplies for free

I have a freestyle meter, but I would have to pay for the supplies.
I'm not familar of any agencies that would pay for me.

4.Do you now have a doc who gives a dam and will support you.

Nope - and since I have just taken a job where there are no benefits,
I've got limited options. There is a free clinic every other week at the hospital but they don't give long term care.

5.What do you eat and how do you feel on Atkins.

I'm doing induction - I feel very well. I no longer experience
the up/down/ fall into a coma type of reaction I used
to have when I was eating carbs. I used to feel so hollow
and hugry all the time too. That feeling has really eased
by eating food - whod' have thought? heh, heh

My exercise is going well. I am able to jog a mile without
stopping.

As for the diabetes, I have the same symptoms I have
always had - fuzzy vision, and a total inability to focus
But then I'm a bit of an airhead, and that might just be me.

[2Bthin]

I'm another lurker in this forum. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes in Aug. 04 and have been reading here since then. I'm on Metformin 850mg per day for the diabetes and Altace and Toprol for the blood pressure. Luckily my dr. said my chlosesteral was great (I think he was rather surprised at that). With keeping my carbs down and exercising and the meds all my numbers were great at my checkup last month. Hopefully with more weight loss I will be able to get off the meds.

[canuck]

hey Cheryl, welcome and am happy to see you posting, I knew there were some neat lurkers out there and I love when they join in. I am glad you are examining you health bit closer and bet you feel so much better on Atkins too.

Do you use the metphormin just before bed, that is a baby dose really so might not be hard to get off it.( max dose is 2000mg a day)

Are you on induction or further along.

Do you have any questions?

I am so glad to see a new face and know if you have been reading you now feel safe enough to join us. Thanks.

It is a bloody hard disease to live with and sometimes can be overwhelming. We have so many cool folks here who have done so well and just plod along up and down trying to keep their bg numbers normal. With that often comes weight loss so join us, keep us posted how you are and if ever a question just ask.

We love it when we get new posters and they finally get the hang of how to handle diabetes.

Welcome I hope we see more of you around.
:wave

[sassyone]

tabekat- I had that fuzzy vison and unable to focus too before I got diagnosed with diabetes. It was scary. When I got the diabetes under control my vision totallly improved. But don't let it stay that way too long or it might not come back. Good Luck to you - I am so glad to hear you are feeling better- there is nothing worse than that terrible tired feeling all the time! Stay with Atkins and your eyesight should improve.

[2Bthin]

Canuck, I have been taking the metformin in the morning. Is it better to take it at bedtime? I think all my dr. said was to take it at the same time each day.

[borntolose]

:wave This WOL saved me from diabetes. It can change your life too.

My blood sugars are normal under 110 all of the time. Fasting 88. My A1C is still falling it is down to 5.2 now. I no longer wear glasses my vision is clear. I will never go back the way I was before.
BJ Webb

[david832]

Tabekat,

I started Akins on the 27th December 04 and had an out of control BG of 18 (English) 324 (US) and within days seen a huge improvement. This morning I tested pre breakfast 6.5 - 117 which is around about my average for first thing and after excercise I'm averaging 5.2 - 93.6.

Being on WOE is keeping me in control of my BG and losing weight as well :icondance

As Canuck said, you have taken the first step and your definately in the right place for support and advice.

Welcome :icondance

Dave

[canuck]

2bethin, duhhhhhh that is dumb advice from a doc, its a high dose to take all at once , not in a total day.....and normally spread through the day or if am BG is high then bedtime would be time to take it. I would ask him when and how to take, do you notice big diff after taking it ......... doing it all at once then other times of day would get a BG rise??????

[sassyone]

2Bthin- is your metformin in the form of Glucophage XR- if it is then you can take it all at once - because it is extended release and has a 24 hr time span that it is effective. My husband takes his 2 hours before his evening meal, it seems to work all day.

[2Bthin]

Sassyone, I think it is the extended release. It's one 850 mg tablet and you're not supposed to break or chew it, just swallow whole. My bg is usually between 90 and 110 now. It used to be 120-130 prebreakfast.

Canuck, I really don't see any big change right after taking it. It's just one tablet so I have to take it in one dose. 850 is the dose he started me at and hasn't changed it.

[borntolose]

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
There is no fixed dosage regimen for the management of hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes with GLUCOPHAGE or GLUCOPHAGE XR or any other pharmacologic agent. Dosage of GLUCOPHAGE or GLUCOPHAGE XR must be individualized

GLUCOPHAGE XR (metformin hydrochloride tablets) tablets must be swallowed whole and never crushed or chewed. Occasionally, the inactive ingredients of GLUCOPHAGE XR will be eliminated in the feces as a soft, hydrated mass. (See Patient Information printed below.)

Recommended Dosing Schedule

Adults - In general, clinically significant responses are not seen at doses below 1500 mg per day. However, a lower recommended starting dose and gradually increased dosage is advised to minimize gastrointestinal symptoms.

The usual starting dose of GLUCOPHAGE (metformin hydrochloride tablets) is 500 mg twice a day or 850 mg once a day, given with meals. Dosage increases should be made in increments of 500 mg weekly or 850 mg every 2 weeks, up to a total of 2000 mg per day, given in divided doses. Patients can also be titrated from 500 mg twice a day to 850 mg twice a day after 2 weeks. For those patients requiring additional glycemic control, GLUCOPHAGE may be given to a maximum daily dose of 2550 mg per day. Doses above 2000 mg may be better tolerated given three times a day with meals.

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/metformi_ids.htm

[canuck]

we dont use extended release one much here, sorry, totally didn't even think of it, thnx. Born