Help?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
Help?
15
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 1:34pm
Hi. I think I've had diabetes (type 2) for about 2 months, but my doctor keeps changing

her mind..... First she told me I was borderline diabetic, then I was diabetic and now I'm

sugar intolerant. Help? I'm now confused. My blood sugar is usually around 8.4-10.6 de-

pending on what I eat. I've been acting like I am diabetic and cut pop (I use to drink about 8 cans a day) right out and am now trying to cut out potatoes and things like that. Its hard to do. Should I get a new doctor? How do I find out for sure if I am? Thanks for the help and support.


Teri

Pages

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
In reply to: teri2472
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 10:03pm

Welcome Teri!

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2004
In reply to: teri2472
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 10:03pm
Getting a second opinion from another doctor for any diagnosis is never a bad idea!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
In reply to: teri2472
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 10:40pm
Thanks for the help. I live in Ontario Canada. I know our number systems are different. I

can't figure out what "normal" blood sugar levels are. I see my doctor on the 9th of June

I'll talk to her about it and see if she has changed her mind again.LOL. If she doesn't

give me answers I guess I'll look elsewhere. I'm really glad that I stumbled on to this message board. It's nice to know I'm not alone. Thanks for replying so quickly. Talk to you soon.

Bye for now............ Teri

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: teri2472
Thu, 06-03-2004 - 2:16am

Terri,


Everywhere else in the world uses the same numbering system that you use but us here in the USA! Don't ask me why! Anyway the blood sugars that you posted are between 150 and 190 which is too high. (A 7 is equal to 126 here in the USA. You devide my numbers by 18 to get your system and I multiply your numbers by 18 to get my system.) Eventually you will be confortable going back and forth.


The A1C test that Cheryl mentioned is an appropriate test to do here and the numbers are the same the world over. So I suggest that you ask your physician about having this test done.


There is no such thing as borderline diabetes. Anyone with a fasting blood sugar between 100 and 125 (5.5 to 6.94)is now called pre-diabetes. The reason for this change are several fold. But the most important reason is the tissue damage done when insulin resistance starts and the blood sugar begins to rise but isn't high enough to be diagnosed as diabetic. 7 is diagnostic of diabetes as a fasting blood test.


Cheryl also gave you the address to a wonderful web site and I hope you check it out. There is also a Canadian Diabetes Association and you need to check them out too. You will find that the care of diabetic in Canada and the US is very similar as information is flying back and forth across the border. Right now we havea number of Canadians on this board and I am sure they will soon be chimming in with their comments and support. Diabetes is epidemic the world wide and so we are all in this together.


How frequently are you testing your blood sugar? Did your doctor refer you to a diabetes treatment program to start your education and to a dietitian for meal planning help? Did she talk to you about the standards of diabetes care? If not ask her and if she doesn't give you a full enough answer please come back here and we will explain it to you. You may have to wait for an appointment to get the education that you need so don't dispair.


So please pull up a chair and join our conversation. Unfortunately I think you have joined our sisterhood.


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
In reply to: teri2472
Thu, 06-03-2004 - 8:17am
Hi MaryFrances,

Thank you all for the support. I think I need to change doctors. My current doctor said that all I had to do was cut sugar completely out of my diet. I did that and I still

had high levels. I visited the canadian diabetes website and found out that potatoes and other foods are also bad as they turn to sugar in my system. I am a real meat and potatoes fan. This is gonna be hard! My doctor didn't even want to give me a prescription for the monitoring strips so that I could get a machine, I had to beg her almost. So she hasn't given me any referrals to a doctor who could help me plan. My father and my grandfathers (on both sides)have diabetes so I was pretty sure I'd get it eventually. I just didn't think it would be this soon. When I first got the machine I checked my levels 4 times a day. Then I wrote down everything I ate in a day and checked it 2 times a day. Now I'm down to once a day (usually after my nap in mid afternoon). I never use to need naps but I find I'm always tired. Is that a side effect of diabetes? My doctor also put me on Alti-Metformin 500mg. Does anyone know what this drug does? My doctor has been too busy to answer my questions so far. I see her again on the 9th. I'll see how it goes. Thanks for the information. I'm so glad I found this board. I'm not as scared as I was before. I'll be back again soon..........Teri
Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
In reply to: teri2472
Thu, 06-03-2004 - 3:22pm

Yes, it isn't just sugar you need to stay away from..... your body uses carbs the same way as it does sugar.

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
In reply to: teri2472
Fri, 06-04-2004 - 12:49am
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 18 months ago, it was a kick in the pants but I decided I was going to get my blood sugar under control and asked my doctor for a referral to an endocrinologist. It was the best decision I ever made, the endocrinologist recommended education classes and arranged a meeting with the dietician. The classes were very helpful and the dietician is fantastic, she works with me on meal planning and helps me with adjustments to those plans when requested. One of the best features from those classes and the dietician is they are available by phone 5 days a week at no cost to answer questions and concerns (I attended the Joslin Diabetes Center classes).

The most important thing I learned in those classes is that I (the patient) am 90% responsible for the management for my healthcare and my doctors are my partners not my boss. It is an amazing dose of power, my primary care doctor didn't quite agree with the meal plan I went on, he thought it too drastic; I told him he was either with me on this journey or I would find a different doctor, he got on board the train and works with me now. I have lost 87 pounds during these 18 months, am now on only one oral medication and my last A1C was 5.5 (down from the original 12.6), this is a lifestyle I can maintain. I wish you the best of luck at your next appointment. Jmcruisin

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: teri2472
Fri, 06-04-2004 - 1:49am

Dear jmcruisin,


Welcome to the board and thank you for your testimonial about patient empowerment. What you say is absolutely true. We must must manage our disease 24/7 and know when to seek the help of the physician. And a huge congratulations on losing all the weight.


Please continue to visit and share your insight.

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40

Co-CL Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
In reply to: teri2472
Fri, 06-04-2004 - 8:34am
Thanks Mary Frances, I just stumbled onto the board this week; what a wonderful support system! I've learned alot reading through the posts. It's great to have a place to chat with others, I plan to visit regularly. Jmcruisin
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
In reply to: teri2472
Fri, 06-11-2004 - 11:09am
WOW! That's a lot of weight. Congrads! What med and what dosage are you on? I'm on 8mg Amaryl and 500mg Glucophage-XR. Not losing weight. DX was 1-23-04. Talked to one of my endo's nurses Wednesday, and said I wasn't losing. She said I had to be on 1000mg to lose. (MaryFrances-- this sounds hinkly, huh?)

Anyway, I'd called them because I had a 53 at 3:30AM Monday morning. Figured they'd be closed on Memorial Day although I did have my MRI on that day. Didn't eat well Sunday night. She said the Amaryl had kicked in, and if this happened again, I should only take 4mg of the Amaryl. Had called Tuesday AM, but never got a response. This has been a real trial of a couple of weeks for me.

Glad you're getting good results. Really would like to know how much or what med you're on. Thanks bunches.

K

Pages