Re: Newly diagnosed and need information

[Guest guest]

Hi, Anne. Welcome to the wonderful world of dm self management and our

list!

It sounds like you are motivated to manage your disease well, and that's

wonderful!

There is a book called " Diabetes Solution " by Dr. Bernstein

available at book stores and Amazon.com and others, of course. At the

bottom of this message is our website, which has some very useful

information as well.

Most of us on this list strive for good or tight control. The recommended

range for your bg numbers is 80 - 120.

Some of us on this list adhere to a moderate or low carbohydrate diet, and

quite a few have been very successful in losing a lot of weight. Perhaps

they will share their success with you. Some on the list adhere to the ADA

recommended diet and do well also. Personally, I eat around 100

carbohydrates per day to stay in good control. I work on a farm, so get

lots of exercise, which is also really important.

If you check the archives of this list, there is a wealth of wonderful

information, as well as great success stories. Someone posted one in the

past few days, but I don't remember who.

Stick with us, lady! We are not a glum lot :-) but we do take our disease

and its consequences very seriously.

Best wishes,

Barb

--------------

RAINBOW FARM UNLTD.

Breeding Premium Oldenburgs,

and fancy sport ponies.

http://www.rainbowfarm.com

Newly diagnosed and need information

>Hi -

>

>I was diagnosed about 10 days ago and told by my doctor over the phone to

>test my blood sugar before meals and before bed for the next 4 weeks and

>then I go back to see him with all the data. I'm doing what he said, but

>wondering what all the numbers mean and what range they should be in.

>

>My initial tests that he based the diagnosis on were 96 fasting and 226 2

>hours after breakfast. Since he told me I am diabetic, I've been very

>careful about what I eat. I need to lose a lot of weight ... suffice to

say

>that 100 lbs. is about the right amount to lose. Because I am curious as

to

>the effects of what I eat on BG, I have also been checking 2 hours after a

>meal once or twice a day and checking when I think it might be high based

on

>how I feel.

>

>The range I've gotten is from 40-164. I am not on any medication.

Probably

>1/3 of my readings are below 90, 1/3 between 90-126, and 1/3 between 126

and

>164.

>

>I just have no idea what that means. I know I start to feel shaky when it

>gets really low. I know that readings which are too high are also not

good.

>

>Is there something I could read that would show me in scientific terms,

with

>graphs, etc. what a normal blood glucose curve looks like? I want to know

>what it should be before a meal, what it should be 2 hours later, etc. so I

>can compare what I am seeing and know if I am doing a good enough job of

>eating right.

>

>In the 10 days since diagnosis, I have altered my eating habits enough that

>I've lost 5 lbs, but I need more information. I won't be seeing a

dietician

>until next month.

>

>Thanks,

>Anne

>

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Failed tests, classes skipped, forgotten locker combinations.

>Remember the good 'ol days

>http://click./1/4053/1/_/529507/_/959091421/

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>Public website for Diabetes International:

>http://www.msteri.com/diabetes-info/diabetes_int

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-05-23 17:13:52 EDT, you write:

<< test your blood,

and take a couple glucose tablets (available at the drugstore). Wait a few

minutes (15-20 minutes), and test again. Your bg reading should be

sufficiently

higher. If not, pop another tablet.

>>

I was told to wait 35 minutes before testing again...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-05-23 17:38:49 EDT, you write:

<< Seems like a shame to waste good calories on a glucose tablet. Is

there something tasty that works as well? >>

I assume you meant " carbs " instead of calories...the reason for the glucose

tabs instead of something else is because the rise is constant, steady and

measurable, about 20 points per tablet. With other foods -- even the old

standby orange juice -- it can be variable and may cause you to go too high.

Then the rollercoaster starts. V.

[Guest guest]

Hi Anne. Welcome to our little group ... altho' it would have been nicer to meet

under healthier circumstances

If you are having a low blood glucose reading (below the target range), and

feeling shaky you need to have some sugar and/or carb to boost your level.

Listen to your body, if you feel shaky, or have blurry vision, hunger, sweating

(different people have different reactions to low blood sugar), test your blood,

and take a couple glucose tablets (available at the drugstore). Wait a few

minutes (15-20 minutes), and test again. Your bg reading should be sufficiently

higher. If not, pop another tablet.

The first thing you need to determine is how your body reacts to what you eat,

how it reacts when you have a low or a high bg reading.

[Guest guest]

Hi et al -

Seems like a shame to waste good calories on a glucose tablet. Is

there something tasty that works as well? So far from what I can see,

my body has both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic states without

medication. I've only just realized over the past week that the

" anxiety attacks " I thought I was having are really times when my blood

sugar is low. High blood sugar seems to hit me as fatigue and a vague

desire to sleep even though I'm not tired.

Do " normal " people's blood glucose levels rise after eating? How high

is considered ok? Two hours after eating, my BG has not always peaked,

but by 3 hours it is always going back down.

It seems like I can have fast rises and fast crashes, and eating

something isn't always the right answer when I feel shaky. Sometimes I

get shaky after meals and just have to wait it out until the food is

digested enough to hit my bloodstream.

I feel like a walking science experiment.

Anne

McErlean wrote:

> Hi Anne. Welcome to our little group ... altho' it would have been

> nicer to meet

> under healthier circumstances

>

> If you are having a low blood glucose reading (below the target

> range), and

> feeling shaky you need to have some sugar and/or carb to boost your

> level.

> Listen to your body, if you feel shaky, or have blurry vision, hunger,

> sweating

> (different people have different reactions to low blood sugar), test

> your blood,

> and take a couple glucose tablets (available at the drugstore). Wait a

> few

> minutes (15-20 minutes), and test again. Your bg reading should be

> sufficiently

> higher. If not, pop another tablet.

>

> The first thing you need to determine is how your body reacts to what

> you eat,

> how it reacts when you have a low or a high bg reading.

>

>

>

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

> Public website for Diabetes International:

> http://www.msteri.com/diabetes-info/diabetes_int

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Anne wrote:

<< Seems like a shame to waste good calories on a glucose tablet. Is

there something tasty that works as well? >>

That's why we recommend using glucose tablets instead of submitting to a

" hypo pig-out. " There's lots of testimony to the widespread habit of

diabetics using hypos as an excuse to go hog-wild in the kitchen ... which

causes a hyper, then taking more insulin or sulfonylureas, followed by

another hypo, etc. It is safer to remove the " reward " of feeding hypos with

high-carbohydrate foods.

Susie

[Guest guest]

>Seems like a shame to waste good calories on a glucose tablet. Is

>there something tasty that works as well?

****For me the glucose tabs work great, because I know what they will do.

If I use food, I tend to overeat, and the bg spikes way up again. Glucose

tabs are low in calories as well.

Barb

--------------

RAINBOW FARM UNLTD.

Breeding Premium Oldenburgs,

and fancy sport ponies.

http://www.rainbowfarm.com

Re: Newly diagnosed and need information

>Hi et al -

>

>Seems like a shame to waste good calories on a glucose tablet. Is

>there something tasty that works as well? So far from what I can see,

>my body has both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic states without

>medication. I've only just realized over the past week that the

> " anxiety attacks " I thought I was having are really times when my blood

>sugar is low. High blood sugar seems to hit me as fatigue and a vague

>desire to sleep even though I'm not tired.

>

>Do " normal " people's blood glucose levels rise after eating? How high

>is considered ok? Two hours after eating, my BG has not always peaked,

>but by 3 hours it is always going back down.

>

>It seems like I can have fast rises and fast crashes, and eating

>something isn't always the right answer when I feel shaky. Sometimes I

>get shaky after meals and just have to wait it out until the food is

>digested enough to hit my bloodstream.

>

>I feel like a walking science experiment.

>

>Anne

>

> McErlean wrote:

>

>> Hi Anne. Welcome to our little group ... altho' it would have been

>> nicer to meet

>> under healthier circumstances

>>

>> If you are having a low blood glucose reading (below the target

>> range), and

>> feeling shaky you need to have some sugar and/or carb to boost your

>> level.

>> Listen to your body, if you feel shaky, or have blurry vision, hunger,

>> sweating

>> (different people have different reactions to low blood sugar), test

>> your blood,

>> and take a couple glucose tablets (available at the drugstore). Wait a

>> few

>> minutes (15-20 minutes), and test again. Your bg reading should be

>> sufficiently

>> higher. If not, pop another tablet.

>>

>> The first thing you need to determine is how your body reacts to what

>> you eat,

>> how it reacts when you have a low or a high bg reading.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

>>

>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

>> Public website for Diabetes International:

>> http://www.msteri.com/diabetes-info/diabetes_int

>>

>>

>>

>

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>BeMANY, where eGroups members SAVE on long distance.

>http://click./1/4121/1/_/529507/_/959117769/

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>Public website for Diabetes International:

>http://www.msteri.com/diabetes-info/diabetes_int

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

My dear Susie,

You are so right! I carry my glucose tablets MOST OF THE TIME but as luck

would have it just recently my blood sugar dropped really low while

" prowling " in Walmart. I knew I was going to pass out and my friend who had

taken me there grabbed a package of cookies and I gobbled down 4 of them. I

know.....that was not a good thing.....It was just like a recovering

alcoholic when I got a taste of those yummy cookies. I had been doing so

good and not even thinking about eating anything sweet but that sure got me

thinking bad thoughts again. Yep! Better stick to the glucose tablets.

(Coming from the voice of experience)

Love to all,

Tootie

Re: Newly diagnosed and need information

Anne wrote:

<< Seems like a shame to waste good calories on a glucose tablet. Is

there something tasty that works as well? >>

That's why we recommend using glucose tablets instead of submitting to a

" hypo pig-out. " There's lots of testimony to the widespread habit of

diabetics using hypos as an excuse to go hog-wild in the kitchen ... which

causes a hyper, then taking more insulin or sulfonylureas, followed by

another hypo, etc. It is safer to remove the " reward " of feeding hypos with

high-carbohydrate foods.

Susie

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public website for Diabetes International:

http://www.msteri.com/diabetes-info/diabetes_int

[Guest guest]

Tootie wrote:

<< ... recently my blood sugar dropped really low while

" prowling " in Walmart. I knew I was going to pass out and my friend who had

taken me there grabbed a package of cookies and I gobbled down 4 of them.

>>

I do the same ... if I'm feeling hypo-y while shopping, I just grab some

food and pay for the wrapper at checkout. Because I don't use sulfs or

insulin, they are rare occurrences. Only one time did I feel I was in

serious trouble. I'm relieved not to have to face the prospect of severe

frequent hypos. They are scary!

Susie

[Guest guest]

Hi Susie,

I have to admit that I frequently overfeed a hypo out of panic and just

wanting that horrible feeling to go away.

Bye

Re: Newly diagnosed and need information

Anne wrote:

<< Seems like a shame to waste good calories on a glucose tablet. Is

there something tasty that works as well? >>

That's why we recommend using glucose tablets instead of submitting to a

" hypo pig-out. " There's lots of testimony to the widespread habit of

diabetics using hypos as an excuse to go hog-wild in the kitchen ... which

causes a hyper, then taking more insulin or sulfonylureas, followed by

another hypo, etc. It is safer to remove the " reward " of feeding hypos with

high-carbohydrate foods.

Susie

------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLICK HERE AND START SAVING ON LONG DISTANCE BILLS TODAY!

http://click./1/4125/1/_/529507/_/959118866/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public website for Diabetes International:

http://www.msteri.com/diabetes-info/diabetes_int