I just have to ask again sorry.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-05-2003
I just have to ask again sorry.
6
Sun, 07-04-2004 - 3:07pm
Hey yall..

Today I went to eat lunch with family and I think I did okay ..We went to Chedders.. and I had a salad and I had a Marinated Chicken soup it had tomato sauce in it. after I ate it I thought hmm I dont know if I should of had that because of the tomato sauce.. but anyway if I was not suppose to have that I have learned not to. I will test in about an hour from now and I should know if that was the wrong thing to eat probley. At the table in front of me was fried onion rings croussants.. broccoli rice cassarole.. chips .. a chicken pasta stuff oh man that looked good but I didnt eat any of it:) I was proud of myself for being that strong today..""Pat pat patting" on my back..

We were talking about the diabetic and my dad said well Melody you could get where you are not a diabetic anymore if you lose weight and eat healthier like the doctor's told you to do.. I am.."was" 122 over weight.. so if I lost all of that or most of that.. IS THERE A CHANCE I MIGHT NOT BE A DIABETIC? I just want to know the answer to this if anyone even knows the answer to it.

And I am like a few others in here my numbers are not bad at all. they are like in between like last night and this morning the number was only 102 before I ate anything this morning.. and last night it was 102 when I went to bed.. I just think in my head there is not a problem here I am not sick ..<< this is where I go into denial. I have wanted the past couple of days chocolate really bad.. I Just keep holding off and not eating any of that. so anyway thanks for listening everyone bye for now I hope everyone has a GREAT JULY 4th:) bye for now Melody

Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 07-04-2004 - 4:34pm

As far as I know the diabetes just doesn't go away, but it is possible to not need any medications by watching what you eat and excercising. Loosing weight does help out tremendously, but there is always that possibility of some day needing medication again after a period of time. So basically diabetes doesn't go away, but more or less lingers there in some until the pancrease begins to produce less insulin or the body becomes even more insulin resistant.


Now I am not a doctor, but this is pretty much what I have seen happen to so many people. They try to hold off as long as possible with not needing medication until one day they get to that point in which the body needs some help. Remember each person is different in that some might need medication sooner than some, but you first have to get your weight down, eat right, excercise, and get into absolutely great control. I know that is a lot to deal with right now, but eventually it will become much easier and a routine that you don't even know your doing.


I hope this helps you out some. The best source to get information on something like this is from your doctor though since they are educated on things such as this. Wishing tons of the strongest of luck with everything. Take care and do have a super fun 4th of July!

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Registered: 06-02-2004
Mon, 07-05-2004 - 1:01am
Melody,

Like Denise, I am not a medical professional...I was diagnosed type 2 in Jan. 2003, it was the kick in the pants I needed to take better care of myself. Diabetes can affect so many of your vital organs, that scared me. My endocrinologist recommended diabetes education classes which I attended (in Feb. 2003) reluctantly, much to my surprise I found it very informative, the CDE is fantastic and the dietician extremely supportive. Those classes also gave me the opportunity to meet other folks in the same boat as me. In those classes I learned diabetes is now a part of my life...with weight loss, better eating habits, medication (if necessary) I could possibly get it "under control" but it would never go away.

I say this diagnosis was the kick in the pants I needed because I was overweight, did very little in the way of exercise and had many other health problems. I decided it was time I took control of my life and made the changes I needed to make. The dietician worked with me to set up a meal plan, diet alone didn't work my BS kept getting higher so I had to go on medication. Now 16 months later I have lost 97 pounds (only 9 pounds to get to my goal), I walk (in the pool) 90 minutes each day, have an exercise (strength) program I do every other day and have adapted to the meal plan. I don't look at this as a "diet", this is a lifestyle. As others have posted, grocery shopping was very challenging in the beginning but now it's like a habit because I am more comfortable with the labels and my daily requirements. Eating out was nerve wracking in the beginning, the temptations were sometimes tough to overlook, now it is like second nature...I tend to drive the wait staff crazy with the questions I ask, but I want to make the right choices for me, so I ask. I do look forward to the occassional "treat", I don't do well in the deprivation mode so do give in to the cravings, like others, in moderation.

I hope this is somewhat helpful, it does get easier with time.

Jmcruisin

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 07-06-2004 - 12:59am

jmcruisin,


You have given Melody some very sound advise. Thank you for your comments and a huge congratulations on your weight loss. You can be an example for all of us.


A very gentle hug,

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40

Co-CL Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
Tue, 07-06-2004 - 3:00pm
Thank you Mary Frances and Welcome Back! Hope your trip was a wonderful adventure, I do look forward to hearing the details when you get caught up.

Jmcruisin (Jan)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2004
Wed, 07-07-2004 - 12:34am
Hi Melody,

I haven't said hello or introduced myself yet, and I wanted to do that. I've been reading your posts, and I can really identify with your frustration and fears, etc. It can be extremely overwhelming to suddenly have this dropped in your lap. I know the first time I was diagnosed, which was 7-8 years ago, I completely freaked out. I lost 10 lbs. in a week because I simply was afraid to eat anything. I hadn't met with the dietician yet, and didn't know what to eat!!

At the time, I was almost 150 lbs. overweight - so dropping the 10 lbs. was not a bad thing!! - and just felt terrible all the time. But I got with the dietician, educated myself a little bit, and with diet and exercise got things under control. Back then, I was probably right where you are - my numbers weren't *that* high, but high enough that it warranted some changes, and they came back in line fairly easily and quickly.

In the meantime, I changed doctors for various reasons. This new doctor ran some tests on me, including an a1c, and she told me that she didn't consider me diabetic anymore. I believed her, and although I followed my diet, etc. for awhile after that, I slipped back into my old ways. Sure enough, several years later - despite the fact that I have continued to lose weight - my diabetes is back. It was never gone!! This time, it's not coming under control so easily, and I now understand that I am diabetic, I never stopped being diabetic, and I'll always be diabetic. This time I have decided to take the attitude that this will NOT get me and I *will* get control of it, one way or another.

I guess I wanted to tell you that because there are a lot of people who think diabetes can "go away," and I know why it's tempting to want to believe that. But I don't think it's true. I think you can get it under good control, especially right away; but you've got to stick with your lifestyle changes. Even at that, down the line, you'll probably need to make more changes. Just keep on top of it, and you'll be ok. Don't do like I did, and pretend it's gone.

I was glad to read that you're going to class. I think it will help you a lot.

I know these changes are really hard, especially when others around you continue eating the foods you love, however much they want, right in front of you! I don't know if you're like me at all, but for all my life, food has been my comfort and my friend. So to have to limit not only amounts, but the types of food I eat, is TOUGH!! I'm a chips-and-dip, pizza, pasta, bread, fries, potatoes, CHEESECAKE, etc. lover! But I decided my health was more important, and I have had to re-orient my thinking about food. I still eat things that I like and that taste good - like everyone says, just smaller portions. I really don't eat much in the way of potatoes or fries any more. That's mostly because I don't trust myself to eat just a little bit, LOL!

But there are all kinds of products coming out that make watching your carb intake easier - low carb breads and things like that - and still feel like you're eating kind of like you used to. If you really need a chip fix, Doritos and Tostitos are making low-carb chips now that really aren't too bad carb-wise per 14-chip serving. Again, I didn't buy them because I don't trust myself not to eat the whole bag. Super Wal-Mart sells a product in the deli section called Flatout Carbdown. It's flatbread that you can cut in half and make really tasty roll-ups with. I love this stuff. For a chocolate fix, look for Blue Bunny Health Smart or Carb Freedom products in the freezer. Really read labels and you'll find a lot of good stuff out there. There's some not-so-good stuff, too, so be sure check fat and calorie content on those labels as well.

This can all be very overwhelming and frightening, but really, the only thing you can do is take the attitude that YOU will be in control of it. Don't let it control you!! In the end, you can kind of turn this into a good thing. You will lose weight and you'll start feeling better. When you see weight is coming off, it will be easier to say "no" even while people are eating cake and fries and whatever in front of you.

I've lost another 21 pounds, and people are noticing and commenting... and it makes it EASY to say no to desserts and treats that people bring to work, etc. I still treat myself occasionally. At my nephew's birthday party, I let myself have a small bit of cake and ice cream. Checked my levels, and it was fine. But I know I can't do it every day.

Give yourself some time for these changes you're making to start taking effect.

A long message just to say hello, and that I can really understand how you feel!

- Gina

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-05-2003
Wed, 07-07-2004 - 5:32am
HI Gina:)

Thanks so much for the warm welcome and for your reply.. you explained alot how I have been feeling .. overwhelming and confused and upset. There are days I think alot of this is bull and nothing is wrong.. I start thinking because my numbers are not sky rocketed that hey I am not a diabetic.. when HEY I AM so glad that they are not high high numbers.. I couldnt even imagine it being something like 200 or 300 or shoot someone told me 600.. I think I would really be at a panic stage then.. shoot yesterday just it being at 155 before eating anything I was like OMG.. what is going on especially when I have been taking such good care of myself..with the eating and exercise.. I have lost some weight I know this week.. there are morning I wake up and think wow I feel so much lighter.. its a weird feeling and keeps me on tract more with my eating healthier.

I too use food as a comfort.. Sunday I went kind of nuts.. well all I had was HEALTHY FOOD IN THE HOUSE:( lol so I couldnt go to crazy lol.. but all I wanted to do for two hours was eat eat eat eat.. I could feel that I was eating because of something that was going on in the inside .. I deal with other issues as well besides just the diabetic mess.. I am a survivor of many things and this just added to that list of survivors .. GRRRRR..I am going to talk to my new counselor today about how I ate Sunday.. I knew it was something from the inside that was causing me to do this but I had a hard time making myself stop eating.. OH well I feel I am repeating myself so I am going to stop now:) Have a good day.. IT was nice meeting you Gina ..bye for now Melody:)