I'm scared!

[fluffy51]

Hi everyone. I started Atkins a couple of years ago but dropped off the wagon...couldn't stand the headache! Poor excuse. I'm terrified as I write this.......I haven't been officially diagnosed yet (that will happen on Wednesday)..I went to see a doctor last week due to bladder control issues. Gave a urine sample, got a call saying there was a lot of glucose in my urine so had to go have blood work done Saturday morning. Got a call this afternoon saying I need to get in asap to see the doctor. Way, way, way too much glucose in my blood. Not even going to give you guys the number. I'm so scared! My best friend in the world (you all know her as Sweet Strudel) has lost a lot of weight on Atkins so I've made up my mind that when I get home from vacation it's Atkins for me. I refuse to let this horrible disease get me. I'm going to need lots of support from all of you. Sorry this is long, I just need to get this off my chest!

[kibskix]

Re: I'm scared!

you're in the right place, and you have a good friend who already knows the ropes, i'm sure you'll do just fine!

[imagood1]

Re: I'm scared!

Hi fluffy --- Atkins headaches only last a few days so you'll need to get past them but once you do this WOE is very satisfying.

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last summer...after a few months of trying to loose weight (ok I was eating out of control but saying I was trying to loose weight) I made a decision around Christmas to do something -- that something was Atkins. I'm happy I made that decision.

There are a great group of dedicated moderators here and lots of other wonderful helpful people who are here for anything you need! Have a great vacation and come back with a new resolve to change your life!

[transypodge]

Re: I'm scared!

Try to turn your fear around. You've now had a huge wakeup call. Sometimes that is what one needs to change her life and break a lifetime of bad patterns. Good luck! You'll get support and tough love here!

[fluffy51]

Re: I'm scared!

So I was officially diagnosed yesterday. At 4 in the afternoon my blood glucose was 338!! I have to beat this. I promise to be really careful while away on vacation and when I get home, there will be a huge life change. Wish me luck everyone!

[JulieB]

Re: I'm scared!

We'll be here for you - you CAN do this

[imagood1]

Re: I'm scared!

what medication were you put on? The meds should start bringing your glucose numbers down within a few weeks. Make sure you eat properly during the first few weeks and call your endocrinologist if anything doesn't feel right. While you are on vacation start making changes in your eating - order a salad instead of fries, take the bun or bread and throw it away - you will learn quickly how small changes make a huge difference.

I was afraid when I was first diagnosed but soon realized there are so many Type 2 diabetics in the world that we are truly lucky now - there are meds other than insulin shots for us to take, low carb eating is much more widely accepted and this is a part of your life that you will really have to take control of to make things better for you.

Don't use it as an excuse because the way you have been eating have lead up to this point. My mother was diagnosed last March, I was in July and my husband was sitting at his cardiologist office in October and said he was feeling "funny" so I took his blood sugar (don't ask why I'd never done it before but something told me to) - it was 455 - the cardiologist said we should probably go to Emergency - instead I called my endocrinologist and got him in within a half hour. When we got home we knew his A1C reading, he had been briefed on diabetes and had a prescription for glyb/metformin. Of the 3 of us with diabetes I am the only one following Atkins - my mother's endocrinologist isn't strict with her because of her age....my husband and I have the same endocrinologist but because he's a heart patient "they" don't believe Atkins is good for him...that's all he needed as the excuse not to get healthy. I believe in the plan and am living by it - you can to.

Good luck -

[graesack]

Re: I'm scared!

Fluffy51, how are you doing? One of the best things you can do is stay in touch. We're all dealing with similar problems. I read these posts to reinforce my own determination to take control.

All the best!

Graeme

[Miss Phode]

Re: I'm scared!

About the headaches...you don't have to be brave. It's OK to take an aspirin.

[Mikaella]

Re: I'm scared!

My heart, prayers & support go out to you.

[fluffy51]

Re: I'm scared!

Hey all--thank you so much for all the support thus far! I'm doing okay. My glucose reading has come down and is averaging somewhere between 150 to around 180. Once in a while it's up to 200. Always higher in the morning. I haven't officially begun Atkins yet but will do so Monday. I have orders from my friend that I WILL register with fitday, I will weigh and measure before I start and I WILL SUCCEED! I'm already being extremely careful about what I eat and did okay when I was on vacation. Sorta blew it big time the first day by having dessert.......it was sooo good but after that ate only sugar free desserts, didn't eat bread or pasta. I'm very anxious to get going to see how it affects my readings.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you!

[imagood1]

Re: I'm scared!

hi fluffy!! You are only hours from starting the best thing you'll ever do for yourself. I'm glad to hear your numbers are coming down - mine did and they are "normally" in the low 100's fasting and in the 80's before dinner (around 5:00 p.m.).

You are doing a good thing by getting a FitDay account and measuring before you start - FitDay is such a useful tool - I don't think I would want to be without it.

As far as sugar free deserts...make sure they aren't made with aspartame - that is known to stall weight loss. The first 2 weeeks only eat things on the acceptable food list, it's 14 days to a better you. Just think of all the days you have stuffed your mouth with junk ... you can now do 14 days of wonderful food that will make you feel so much better and help your glucose numbers!

You will find what foods agree with you and which ones don't. If you try something and don't really like it wait a few months and try it again. The foods I eat now are so much different that 4 months ago. Before Atkins I would start with a large piece of meat and work the meal around it -- now I eat so many vegetables and small amounts of meat it's amazes me.

I wish you much luck on your weight loss journey. Sherri was able to reverse her diabetes after just a very few days on Atkins and has had no problems for 5 years - she is the person I want to be like! I go to my endocrinologist June 2 and can't wait to see what my blood results are this time. Each time I've gone to see her my A1C has been lower - the last time it was right at 5 (down from 11) so I'm hoping there will be no less than a reduction in my medication again.

Here are some links to help you -- read through them and find a few new recipes - that was the most fun part of me when I started. If there is anything you need please don't hesitate to ask!!

The Rules of Induction can be found here:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6782 (What are the Rules of Induction?)
The Induction Acceptable Foods List can be found here:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6781 (What foods can be eaten on Induction?)


Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Daily Menus
Sugar Free Sheila's Atkins Low Carb Induction Friendly Recipes!

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html

This is from the "Read before you start" post on the induction thread

Be sure to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day, including:
Filtered water
Mineral water
Spring water
Tap water

Additionally (after your 64 ounces daily), you can have the following:

Clear broth/bouillon (not all brands; read the label)
Club soda
Cream, heavy or light (limit to two to three tablespoons a day; note carb content)
Decaffeinated coffee or tea*
Diet soda made with sucralose (Splenda); be sure to count the carbs (may cause a stall in weight loss)
Essence-flavored seltzer (must say "no calories" and should not contain aspartame)
Herb tea (without barley or any fruit sugar added)
Lemon juice or lime juice (note that each contains 2.8 grams carbohydrate per ounce); limit to two to three tablespoons

*Excessive caffeine may cause unstable blood sugar and should be avoided by those who suspect they are caffeine dependent. Everyone should try to avoid caffeine. Grain beverages (coffee substitutes) are not allowed. Alcoholic beverages are also not permitted during Induction; those low in carbohydrates are an option, in moderation, in later phases.

[fluffy51]

Re: I'm scared!

Okay, I need some assistance. I have a question and I hope someone can answer it for me. My glucose readings have been slowly inching downward, a few days ago as low as 105. For me, that's a miracle cause when I was diagnosed at the end of April it was 338. Okay, so my question is.....I've been sick since Saturday...fever, headache, cough, sore throat.....turns out I have a bronchial infection. Is it true that this can affect one's glucose readings? AND....I had blood work done on Tuesday, a doctor's appointment yesterday. My blood work showed that my A1C reading was 12.6. I'm not quite understanding this.......if my glucose levels go down, doesn't that reflect in my A1C reading? My doctor didn't explain this to me. And there's no way I will know my A1C reading except by going to the doctor to have blood work done, correct? I'm sorry if I'm sounding stupid here, I'm so new to this and am very confused by the whole thing.

Another thing......how will my doctor know if it's the "low carb" that is bringing my glucose readings down or if it's the medication? I did not tell her I'm doing Atkins...I just told her I was doing low carb and sugar free. She hasn't said one word about my weight loss and says I have three months to get the A1C reading down or I will have to do insulin! I REALLY don't want that to happen!

Can anyone help me!!???

[imagood1]

Re: I'm scared!

In answer to your question yes being sick can mess with your glucose readings. Your A1C reading isn't going to go down overnight -- from one 3 month test to the other mine has come down as I've lost weight.

I ask you before what medicine you were taking. As far as the question about the A1C this is what I found online:

This is from the Diabetes Care Coalition (Diabetes Care Coalition : What is an A1C?):

Your A1C is measured by a simple blood test that’s ordered by your healthcare provider. Your A1C result shows your average blood glucose (or blood sugar) level for the last 3 months, so it’s different from the tests you do at home with a glucose meter.

The A1C goal for most people with diabetes is less than 7%. Unfortunately, almost half of adults with diabetes have an A1C of 7% or higher.

When I was first diagnosed my A1C was over 11 -- after loosing 20 pounds (the last time I was at my endocrinologist) my A1C was just at 7 - that was almost 6 months after I was diagnosed. I didn't start loosing weight right after I was diagnosed, if I had my number may have come down faster. My endo also said if the meds didn't do enough to get my A1C down she would put me on insulin also -- the last time I saw her she adjusted my meds down and hasn't said another word about insulin.

[fluffy51]

Re: I'm scared!

Thank you so much for the information! Sorry I didn't get back to you about my meds. The first thing she put me on was metformin, twice a day. At my appointment this past Tuesday she added the gly...something something. I don't remember the exact name of it. And of course a z-pak for my infection. So Thursday morning my glucose reading was 102, Thursday night it was 92, this morning it's 82 so I don't know what's going on. It can't keep going lower can it? That's not good either. Oh, and I'm not seeing an endocrinologist, just a GP. She didn't check my A1C with my first blood work so can I assume that the 12.6 is basically my starting point? I'm so confused and even more scared now thinking that I may need insulin. And how are we supposed to lose weight when one of the medications' side effects is weight gain? And weight loss is supposed help control blood sugar? OMG........this is just nuts!