[hope704]

Hi everyone I'm a new member for this board but I'm not new in blood sugar control. I must say it's a lot different when it's happening to you and now it's happening to me after the thousands of patients that I've taken care of. I've noticed that I as much as I've learned about diabetes I need to learn more, And also learn everything over and over because of changes year after year.

[dano]

Welcome to the Forum!

I am glad that you are learning. Walking in our shoes will help you interact with your patients. Sometimes it is difficult to give advice, when you don't fully understand what someone means when they describe their condition.

Good luck with your control and management.

[marlenelin]

I am also a new member, but was diagnosed with Type 2 ten years ago. The first few years I managed to keep my A1C between 6 and 7 with diet and exercise alone. My doctor felt I could do it with diet and exercise alone. He encouraged me to lose the additional weight, and when I did lose weight, the A1C would come down. The last time i saw him (a year and a half ago) my A1C was up to 8.7. I was going through an extremely stressful time in my life. He insulted me and asked me whether I have breakfast at McDonald's, Burger King, or WaWa. I told him that I had nonfat Greek yogurt with blueberries every morning, and insulted him for drinking a diet coke while he was scolding me. I asked him how he could drink that crap. He said if my numbers did not come down in three months, he was going to put me on Byetta and Metformin. I read about the side effects of Byetta, and never went back to see him. This year has been an incredibly stressful year for me (family problems and also the death of my best friend) and I went into denial about the diabetes. Diabetes helped kill both my mother and brother so I should have known better. Recently I met a woman who very strongly recommended a naturopath and nutritionist about 90 minutes away from my house. I had a phone consult with her and was extremely impressed. She asked me to check my glucose several times a day and after my biggest meal of the day to test at 30 min., 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min. She wanted to see when I peak and what makes the glucose go higher. I had my first appointment with her on July 3rd. She was amazing. She did these strange muscle tests on me (my husband calls them witchcraft) to see what organs are not functioning properly and put me on specific supplements to help them. The next day after my appointment I tested my fasting and it was 263. I almost passed out from the shock. I called her and she told me to take several deep breaths and to calm down. She said we have a lot of work to do and there will be peaks and valleys, but things will improve. Since seeing her July 3rd and beginning on the supplements my fasting glucose has come down more than 100 points. I realized that I peak at 90 minutes after meals. She has me on a diet of vegetables, salads, 12 ounces of protein (in the way of chicken, fish, eggs) divided into three meals, and beans just twice a week, and nuts and seeds twice a week. Im allowed two fruits a day, and usually use one of them to make a veggie/fruit smoothie each morning using almond milk. No dairy products or grains of any kind are allowed. I'm finding this diet pretty easy. I do miss my nonfat greek yogurt and a slice of bread occasionally, but hopefully when we get the numbers under control, I may be able to have that occasionally. Since I started this diet I dropped only about two lbs and am getting frustrated that the weight isn't coming off more quickly (I have about 60 lbs to lose). Ny husband who used to run marathons before his back problems has lost three lbs (he is 5 ft 6 and weighs 128 lbs). I see my obnoxious, insulting doctor in mid August. i know my A1C will still be high then because it will include the high numbers that I had before July 3rd. I know that he will also poo poo my seeing this nutritionist. He has been pushing me to go on a liquid diet that he sells. I know I couldn't do that. I'm praying that this nutritionist can help me get my life back before more damage is done. Thanks for listening. Marlene