Update on me.....

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
Update on me.....
11
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 9:20am
I first posted here the other day after my dr suspected I had type 2 diabetes after a high FBG. I had the 2 hr glucose tolerance test and a few other blood tests yesterday and saw my dr for the results this afternoon. The tests confirm that I have diabetes. My FBG was 8 again and after the 2 hr GTT it was 12.6. So not great I'm told, but it could be worse. Dr has referred me to an eye specialist and a diabetes specialist and wants me to be seen within the next couple of weeks. He said he would leave the question of home monitoring and medication to the specialist, but he was hopeful that exercise and diet might be adequate.He has given me some guidelines for my diet to follow in the meantime.I'm not sure how I feel about all this at the moment. My head is spinning.I've seen what can happen to a diabetic who doesn't look after themselves and it scares me. I just hope I can do this.So I hope you don't mind, but I think I will be visiting here quite a bit no doubt with lots of questions.

Thanks for listening,

Lisa.

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Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
In reply to: limasu
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 9:51am

I am sorry about your diagnosis Lisa!!!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
In reply to: limasu
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 5:53pm
Thanks for the welcome Cheryl.I have started looking in to hiring a treadmill so I can exercise and I am going to buy a set of bathroom scales today so I can track my weight. Time to pull my head out of the sand so to speak. Although my dr told me that my weight wouldn't have been helped by the fact I have been on anti-depressants for the past 3 years for post natal depression. In that time I gained about 15 kilos.Not to mention I was about 10 over to begin with. My next hurdle is to tell my parents. My mum has been at me for ages to do something about my weight and I am so expecting the 'I told you so" and at this point I really don't thinkI can handle that.I feel guilty enough that this is my fault.Although my dr did say that while weight is a factor, I was probably genetically predisposed to it and it was a matter of time till I got it. He said that people who aren't overweight can and do get it too.

I was wondering about something......about 4 yrs ago my dad had a blood test to check his glucose levels and was told they were high and he should diet and exercise. I'm not sure if he went back for a follow-up or not. He is not on a 'diabetic diet'. Earlier this year he had major bowel surgery and the wound has taken about 5 months to heal. Am I just reaching here or could there be a relationship? I guess he needs to be tested ?

Sorry for the rambling.

Lisa.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2003
In reply to: limasu
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 6:14pm

Hi Lisa, and welcome -


Fear is a very powerful motivator, and it can make things seem very daunting.

Blueliner4
(aka The Pixie Princess)

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
In reply to: limasu
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 6:56pm

First off Lisa you are NOT rambling and even if you were it would be ok.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
In reply to: limasu
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 9:07pm
Gabby and Cheryl,

Thanks for helping to make me feel better about this. I made my specialist appts and I see the eye dr next week and the diabetes dr in a bout 4 weeks. My gp said the 4 week wait would be ok if I was careful with my diet and he wants to do another blood test in a couple of weeks just to check what is going on. I called my sister last night and told her. I also had to tell her that my dr said she should be checked as my having it increases her chances.She was shocked but tried to be very positive about it.I have bitten the bullet and mum and dad are coming over for dinner tomorrow night. I thought about your suggestion to wait to tell them cheryl, but I talk to them all the time and I don't think I could not tell them for that long.Plus Dad will hopefully keep mum under control!i am actually quite anxious to talk to Dad and get him to be tested again as he is due for more surgery and this needs to be sorted out before then.

Thanks again.

Lisa.

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
In reply to: limasu
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 11:36pm

Well, I wish you good luck with your parents!!!

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Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: limasu
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 2:53am

Oh Lisa, I was so hoping to hear better news from you. I am so sorry you got diagnosed with diabetes. I am glad to hear that your doctor told you to see a specialist for your eyes and diabetes, because that is a step in the right direction. Good for him/her for giving you a guide line to follow until you get in to see the specialist, because that will be help you so much for now until you see the specialist. I know it seems so over whelming to you with so many questions coming to mind, but just remember you did not become diabetic over nigt and it will take time to get yourself adjusted with things. We will do everything we can to help you out since many of us have been in your shoes before. Just do your best to follow your doctors recommendations until you see the specialist. Do yourself a favor and begin to write down all the questions on your mind to take with you to the specialist so that way you do not forget to ask any of them.


You already know what you need to do. Just know we are all here for you and willing to do what we can to help out. With time you will learn what you need to know that it will be come a daily routine for you like it has for some of us. I do wish

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
In reply to: limasu
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 3:11am
Thanks for your kind words Denise. I am so glad I found this board. I do have a couple of questions...not sure if you can help.

What makes for a good snack? I am ok in the morning, but somewhere between lunch and dinner I need something. I would usually go for a muesli type bar, but I don't think that's a good idea now. Also I would normally have 4 slices of bread for lunch. Is that too many? What kind of bread is best or does it not matter much? I think I am ok with brekky and dinner.

I read my test results and discovered while my cholesterol is ok, my triglycerides are quite high. From what I have read, this seems to be another sign of diabetes. Am I right?

I spoke to my MIL earlier and had to set her straight. DH tod her last night that I had been diagnosed and today she tells me that it is probably a warning to lose some weight so I won't develop it when I am older, as it is something that older people get! I told her what my dr said....no such thing as little bit of diabetes. You either have it or you don't and if you do it's with you for life.She has a tendency not to listen sometimes.I'm actually suprised how much I've learnt in just a few days.

Thanks again.

Lisa.

Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: limasu
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 4:15am

I can help you out some with your questions. As for kind of bread wheat is best since it is lower in carbs than white bread, but personally I prefer a 12 grain bread myself. Now for lunch 4 slices of bread is to much since that would be considered 60 grams of carbs with 1 slice being 15 grams of carbs. In general most try to stick to 30 to 45 grams of carbs in their meal plans, which would also include a cup of milk. So if you have a sandwhich that contains 2 slices of bread you have used 30 grams of carbs and add a cup of milk at 15 grams of carbs you have a grand total of 45 grams of carb. For a snack I love to have cheese and crackers since it does contain some carbs and protein in it.


Now with me I get 45 grams for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also have a snack between breakfast and lunch with 30 grams of carbs, but also a snack between lunch and dinner with 30 grams of carbs. I even eat a bed time snack with 15 to 30 grams of carbs depending on how my blood sugar looks at the time. As you can see I do get lots to eat so it isn't like you have to go hungry.Make sure when you see the specialist you also ask to be seen by a dietician who can help you set up a meal plan set just for you while also teaching you about reading labels since that is so importan to know just what to look for on each of the labels.


Yes, triglycerides do seem to run higher in diabetics and can be a sign of it as well. That is why triglycerides are checked from time to time with diabetics. Just make sure to ask the specialist about it so that he/she can explain about it better since I am no medical professional at all. So that he/she can explain it better than most of us could ever.


As for your MIL you are 100% correct you are either diabetic or not since there is no such thing as in between and once you have the disease you have it for life. There are those who are what is known as borderline with being very close to being diagnosed with diabetes, which they can change with just eating right and excercising regularly. Only eventually they do become diabetic since it is not something you can hide forever and who wants to do that anyways since it is nicer to let others know in case of a problem. At least that is my honest opinion

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
In reply to: limasu
Sun, 10-10-2004 - 9:26pm
Thanks again for the advice. I have been trying to eat well, but I am finding it hard.Apart form being careful with sugars I am cutting down on fat as well for obvious reasons.I think it will be better once I have seen the dietician and have some more specific guides as to what I can have. Maybe I am trying to be too strict.....I don't know.

I told my parents about it and after mum attempting to make afew negative comments where I cut her off ( with regards to weight ) they were actually very good about it.I have convinced Dad to be checked again. He had a FBG and cholesterol 4 yrs ago. His FBG was 7.6 and while his cholesterol was ok his triglycerides were high. He never went back for any follow up. Both his parents and his brother had it.I don't like his chances.

Thanks again

Lisa.

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