Thank you/long

[Guest guest]

Hi All

I want to thank this group, particularly, for all the information they

were able to give me in a short time to handle my husband's diabetes as soon

as it was diagnosed. There is too much literature out there to be able to

make sense of it in a short time. ADA and Bernstein among others.

Happily, you didn't just give a reference, but told of your real life

experiences. Actually, you gave both so that I could use the information

immediately and read further as time and emotional pressure allows.

Bill went from 15 units of Lantus (reading 589) raised to 25 units to, last

night 10 units. Plus 500 units of Metformin three times a day. His readings,

four times a day, after the first week have been running 50 (once in morning)

to 137. Only three times over that and generally his is in the 70's to 80's.

Bill generally tests right before meals so we don't know of spikes. However,

after my famous thin crust Greek pizza, about 38 carbs, he tested 90 minutes

later and it was only 108.

Between the medicines, exercise and carb counting, we are really making way!

I talked with my endocrinologist, very briefly about Bill, (Bill will see him

for a first appointment in June), and he said to put him on the Atkins diet.

I asked about Bernstein, and this name didn't appear to register with him and

he just repeated Atkins. I said that this certainly was different from the

ADA and he said to me in a very pointed way, that endocrinologists have a

different standard than the ADA and don't go along with ADA's at all.

Glad I had the background from this group to understand what he was talking

about or I probably would have canceled Bill's appointment and sought help

elsewhere as I have always hated the Atkins diet.

After leaving the doctor;s office I picked up Atkins book, just published

this year, Diet for Life. In it he talks of the Glycemic Index and I think,

raises the carbs he allows. Emphasizing vegetables. We will see what the

endo has to say about this.

In short, we are happy with Bill's numbers. And his WOE has changed and will

continue to change. He needs to lose weight and now that we have some

experience with lower carbs and lots of exercise, we can start on lower

calories.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions, please post. We are still

learning. Bill feels like he has not fingers left that don't have holes in

them. Says the needles can't go straight in, but hit an old hole and slip

side ways. I did buy him a FreeStyle but he has only used that once as the

doctor's nurse gave him the Accu-Chek Advantage on his first visit. She also

told him he could eat 210 carbs a day. Oh well. Luckily he didn't feel he

had to follow that. And enough of you have mentioned the delayed readings

from non-finger stick readers, that I have hesitated recommending it too.

However, since he only tests before meals, I shouldn't think that would be a

problem.

Janet

Wife of diabetic diagnosed April 3rd 2003

Lantus / Metformin

down from bg 589 to (66 to 95 generally)