Young Type 2
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| Tue, 05-18-2004 - 10:28am |
I was diagnosed after a visit to the eye doctor to get new frames for my upcoming wedding (October 10th). And because i was due an eye check-up. Due to lack of insurance, I hadn't been to a regular doctor since my pediatrician. Ack! (yes, thank God, I have insurance now!) Anyway, eye dr. found that my pressure was about 30 in each eye and I had some reletively minor retinal bleeding. He asked if I was diabetic. I said no. He said, get checked. This week. The rest is, as they say, history. (and present and future now, unfortunately).
The kicker is.. I'm not overweight. 5'4", 140lbs. I had NO symptoms AT ALL. Still don't. My ONLY risk factor is a family history. (Oh, but its a STRONG family history) Dr. said that he probably wouldn't have even tested if I had just come in for a check up, and so its a good thing I was seeing a good eye doctor.
Anyway, that's me. Still trying to figure this food thing out. For some reason, it all seems to go clean over my head, no matter how simple the explanation. I figure at this point, I'm just doing good to have traded my LiveWire in for water. :)
~Christie

Hi Christie -
Don't feel too bad.
Blueliner4
(aka The Pixie Princess)
Christie,
I just returned from my annual continuing education marathon. I learned a lot of new things this year. even some that will surprised the grizzeled veterans around here.
One of the things that I have posted many times in the six years that I have been the moderator of this board is that parents who are type 2 diabetics need to teach their children to watch their diets and to get exercise. I never knew how correct I was in this advise until this weekend. And this is coming from a third generation type 2 diabetic!
There recently was a study done comparing offspring of non diabetics and of diabetics. They looked at how each utilizied glucose pre-exercise and post exercise. These folks were matched for age, sex and weight. The only difference was having a first degree relative (M-F-B-S) who were diabetic. People who's relatives were diabetic used the glucose at 1/2 the rate of people who relatives weren't diabetic and basically they used the glucose at the same rate as a non-exercising non-diabetic. What this showed is that the children of diabetics have a inborn deficiency in their glucose metabolism even though they aren't diabetic yet.
So it is very important that diabetic parents teach their children to eat properly and to get moving. One of the other changes in therapy this weekend was the new goal for exercise for diabetics which has been increased to four hours per week. It is very important that the children keep their weight as close to normal as possible. A small weight loss of 5 to 10 percent will do wonders to bring your blood sugar under better control.
There also was much push this week to start patients on either Actos or Advandia. Avandamet is a combination of Avandia and Metformin. One of the reasons that they are developing these combination drugs is costs and patient compliance. It costs the diabetic less to take one medication and it is more likely that they will take the medication if they only have to take one pill. There are people on this board who are on this medication and to date no one has reported problems with it. It is a very safe combination.
I hope this answers your question. Please pull up a chair and join our conversation. We are here to help in anyway we can. We look forward to hearing about all your wedding plans too.
A gentle hug,
Mary Frances
cl-maryfrances40
Co-Cl Diabetes Board
Hi, I sent you an e-mail, but for others, or in case you don't receive it. Please be sure to see a retinologist as soon as possible. That's an eye doctor who specialized in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. If your regular doctor saw some bleeding, you may need some additional treatment. I was diagnosed in '98, and have had laser surgery twice, but so far, I don't have any vision loss, and I plan to keep it that way.
Good luck,
Casey
Congradulations on the up coming wedding.
Christie,
I'm sorry for your diagnosis.
Nancy