Re: Newly Diagnoised.....long

[Guest guest]

Welcome to our group, Suzie. Your doctor has prescribed for you

glipizide, a sulfonylurea. They are known to cause hypoglycemic

episodes. You are feeling awful because your glucose readings are all

over the place. Ordinarily we wouldn't feel " hypo-y " unless we

actually are (e.g., I feel fine at 75). But because your numbers are

reading so high so much of the time, you are feeling hypo-y when you

are 150-200. (Your numbers are 160, then 400, you mentioned.) When

you actually lower your carbohydrate intake and keep it on an even

keel, you will likely feel better, but you are perhaps feeling hypo-y

and then giving in to the Glipizide and eating quite a few

carbohydrates to get rid of that awful feeling (dizziness, weakness,

crabbiness, perhaps tunnel vision, etc.), and that sends your

readings on what we call the " glucose rollercoaster ride. "

All your feelings are understandable, especially after hearing about

your mother's surgery. We go through all the stages of grief,

including anger and denial and finally acceptance before we can

settle in and manage this disease successfully. It will just take

time. You are doing the right thing by becoming " carb-aware " and by

working so very hard to lose weight. It is reported that even a 15%

weight loss can result in a 50% improvement in insulin resistance,

which is our real problem. Our cells become so saturated with glucose

and insulin and we lose our ability to use our insulin to convert the

carbohydrates we eat into energy. Eventually, it becomes like eating

a picture of food instead of the food itself. We get no energy from

it, and wind up still feeling hungry and weak even after eating -

even eating a lot. We can break that cycle by working on the insulin

resistance, and that is what you are doing.

The fear of heart trouble can be pretty overwhelming, but don't feel

that you have been handed a death sentence. Many of us have lived

with diabetes for many years and have managed to prevent or undo many

diabetes complications. I hope and believe that you will find

acceptance and companionship in a good group such as this one.

Welcome, Suzie. We look forward to hearing more from you about your

progress in diabetes mananagement. You will probably be able to help

your mother a lot in the future as well.

Susie

[Guest guest]

Suzie wrote:

>Hi all my name is Suzie and I was diagnosed with diabetes 2 weeks ago

>after 6 months of monitoring by Dr. I'm really scared and actually

>started crying in Drs office after being told. ..... Am I right to be scared or

am I just making this

>into more than it is?

>

I know getting diagnosed is scary, but it's really not that

bad. While it's true that some bad things can happen to you if you

don't take care of yourself, it's really not that hard to take care of

yourself. You just have to be aware of some things. There are a few

things you need to learn. Some new habits to make. But there's no

reason why you shoudn't have a long healthy life and do whatever you

want to do. All sorts of people are diabetic, athletes, adventurers,

movie stars, and lots of our favorite politicians.

A list like this is a good place to get your questions answered and

support when you need it. Welcome to the group.

> 6 months ago my

>mother had massive heart attack and had to have quadriple by-pass

>surgery. The Dr.s told her that is was caused by diabetes that she

>never knew she had. She is now type I.

>

Doctors like to scare us. Maybe her heart attack was caused by

something else.

The definitions for Type 1 and 2 have changed. Using insulin

doesn't mean you're a Type 1. Type 2's use insulin sometimes too. You

don't change from one type to another. If your mother has been

diabetic for many years and did not use insulin, then she is still a Type 2.

>The day I found out I was

>diabetic I swore I was going to change my lifestyle right then and

>there and acually did pretty well for the first 3 days. Then I

>started feeling really angry at everyone and everything. Already I

>hate this.

>

You're going through the normal stages of grief. Everybody gets

depressed and then pissed off after they get diagnosed. Do what you

have to do and then you can get down to business.

>To be perfectly honest I feel worse on the low sugar, low

>carb diet. I'm tired all the time and feel really weak.

>

It sounds like you're coming down from some very high numbers.

Most likely you've been diabetic for some time now and your body, in

some ways, has gotten used to being high. But being high is bad for

you. You need to continue bringing your numbers down and give your body

some time to get used to the lower numbers. After you adjust to them,

you should find yourself feeling much better than you have in a long

time. High numbers make you feel tired, crappy, sleepy and all sorts

of bad things.

When you first come down from high numbers, especially if you do it

quickly, you may get false feelings of being too low. You really

shouldn't worry about being too low until you get near 65. But these

false lows feel like the real thing and that's lousy. When you feel

that way, you might take a small snack. That will send you back up a

bit temporarily, but it should make you feel better. The important

thing is to be on a downward trend so you can ultimately adjust to

normal levels.

>Also in the

>past week I have had 3 episodes where I felt dizzy and lightheaded. Had to sit

down before I feel down.

>

These are symptoms of lows or perhaps false lows. It would be a

good idea to test your blood when you have these feelings so you will

know what's going on in your body. If you are genuinely low, it's

important to know so you can eat something. You're taking glipizide.

That can sometimes cause real lows. So it's important to know.

> I have started using my

>treadmill twice a day for 20 minutes at a time and increaseing slowly

>the amount of time that I walk. I have also recently lost 35 pounds

>and plan on continuing to lose more.

>

Exercise is very good. It will bring your numbers down

immediately and help keep them low for hours afterwards. It would be

good to test before and after exercise so you can see what it's doing

for you.

Ironically, there are certain circumstances in which exercising

strenuously can actually raise your glucose levels. Exercise is still

good for you. But if this happens to you, let us know and we can give

you some tips.

>My Dr. put me on Glipizide 5mg

>once daily. My morning testing is always high around 250, but the

>afternoon levels are around 160. They have been as high as 399 and

>as low as 140 but not very often. I feel like I just can't get

>control of this disease.

>

Clearly these numbers are too high. Your doctor has started

you on a low dose. This is common. He may be planning to increase the

dose until you achieve good control. A lot of us control with exercise

and diet, but especially at first, the most important thing is to bring

your numbers down as quickly as possible and that means medicine. It's

not your fault your numbers aren't down yet. Your doctor needs to

increase your dose. If you don't have an appointment scheduled soon,

then consider talking to him on the phone.

>I am already on disablitly for sever

>depression and take alot of meds for that.

>

Sorry to hear that. Many diabetics also struggle with depression.

> Maybe the dizziness was

>from the new meds for the diabetes reacting with other meds. I have

>never been dizzy before.

>

As I say, a real low or perhaps a false low can cause this

feeling. Dizziness is not normally a side effect of glipizide, but it

can be caused by low glucose levels. Test when this happens.

>I also noticed about 3 months ago that my

>vision was getting really blurry, my glasses are not the right

>prescription for me any longer.

>

Perhaps it was about 3 months ago that you actually became

diabetic. Fuzzy vision is a common experience in new diabetics. It's

a harmless and temporary thing. High glucose levels change the

opitical density of your eyes. That's why your perscription is

incorrect now. Once you lower your glucose leves and they stabilize for

a while, your eyes will return to normal. The only thing is, if you

got a new prescription while your glucose levels were high, then you

will need a new prescription after you stabilize at a lower level.

Wait until you stabilize to buy any new glasses. The good news is,

you'll be less nearsighted.

>My mother says her feet hurt her all

>the time and the Dr. did look at my feet in the office the other day,

>but I have never had any problems with them before. Is this

>something I need to be concerned about?

>

You should certainly be aware of it. Foot problems are a danger of

diabetes. It sounds like your mother has perpherial neuropathy. The

nerves in her feet have been damaged by poor circulation, so they are

sick and malfunctioning. This can cause numbness or burnining pain.

Doctors often say this is irreversible, but many diabetics find they can

reverse some or most it with improved glucose control and certain

supplements. It's good that you haven't developed this. You can

prevent it with good control.

Doctor's often prescribe neurotin (sp?) for peripheral neuropathy.

Also, many dibaetics find that taking supplements, alpha lipoic acid

(ALA) and Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) is helpful, though is a slow

process. And recently, a study found that l-arginine cream can help

the feet.

>Also at the same time that I

>found out I had diabetes I found out that my cholsterol is 459. The

>Dr. said that it's lucky that I don't fall over with my own heart

>attack yet and but me on Lipitor.

>

Good. take the Lipitor.

>I don't under stand why all this

>is happening to me. I have never been a big eater and I hate greasy

>foods, and never been a sugar addict or anything. I did like a can

>of pepsi once a day.

>

Stop blaming yourself. You didn't cause your own diabetes. It's

not caused by eating too much or eating junk food. It's a genetic

disease. You and your mother both inherited those genes from your

ancestors. Luck of the draw, kiddo. We all got screwed.

>I do smoke, but have been trying to quit, could

>this have caused my diabetes and high cholsterol levels?

>

As far as cholesterol goes, some people just run high cholestoral.

Remember how they used to tell us not to eat mean and eggs in order to

lower our cholestoral? Well that turned out to be bogus. They found

out that people make their own cholestorol. If you don't eat enough

cholesterol, then your body will make it up. Take your Lipitor.

No, smoking did not cause your diabetes. But it's bad for

you to continue. I know it's tough, but you need to stop when you

can. One of the big problems with diabetes is that it tends to damaged

the small blood vessels around the body, the capillaries. Smoking

constricts these blood vessels more and limited blood flow. This

chockes off the oxygen supply to sensitive organs, so they tend to go

bad on us. Blindness, and kidney disease can result. The leading

cause of amputation of the feet is diabetes. And I've read that 80% or

90% of the diabetics who suffer amputations are smokers. I know you're

stressed out now, but when you get a handle on your diabetes, try to

give up smoking again.

>I had

>gained alot of weight over the last two years {mental meds do that to

>you} but Dr. had changed my meds and I was finally able to lose the

>35 pounds without changing my lifestyle or anything. I also noticed

>that when the Dr. put me on the Glipizide that I stoped losing

>weight, but at the same time I haven't gained any weight either. My

>mother said that she has gained alot of weight since being put on

>meds for her diabetes and that it will cause me to gain weight

>to....is this true?

>

Yes, it's possible. Weight gain is a common side effect for all

diabetic medications except Glucophage. Of course, not every one gains,

but it's common. Glipizide may be the reason you've stopped losing.

Ironic, huh? They tell us to lose weight and then they give us

medication that makes us gain. And then they blame us for eating too

much.

Don't worry about it now. Deal with it later, if it comes.

Everyone bitches about weight, but the most important thing is to

control your blood glucose (BG). Most Type 2's are overweight and you

can control our BGs even without losing weight.

You've got three major tools to control your BGs, diet, exercise,

and medication. They're all important, and some combination is bound to

help. You have to decide your own trade offs. Low carb is a great

diet to follow, but some people just can't give up their baked

potatoes. If that's the case, then you just need to get more execrise

or perhaps increase your meds. There isn't just one way to do this.

There are many, and with a little time and determination, you'll be able

to find a way that works for you.

Bear in mind that diabetes is a slow disease. There's plenty of

time to learn what you need.

What kind of doctor do you have? Not all doctors are good with

diabetes. What's his experience?

Come back with any questions.

Edd

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Suzie - some of the weakness, dizziness,tiredness, etc., that you are

experiencing is normal for the beginning of a low-carb diet. Your

insides have to get used to being fueled by protein and burning fat

instead of being fueled by sugar and storing fat. This causes some

confusion in all those organs that do things to food during the

digestive process. Give it a full two weeks and you should, hopefully,

get past the detox part. There is no good reason for a diabetic to gain

weight. If Mom is a type 1 she's on insulin, so she may be eating

anything she wants to and covering it with the insulin. If she's not

active enough to cover all those calories she's going to gain weight.

But it sounds like your program is a good one - diet, exercise and meds.

Stick with it for 90 days before you decide it doesn't work, please.

Give yourself a good chance to get better.

CarolR

Suzie wrote:

> Hi all my name is Suzie and I was diagnosed with diabetes 2 weeks ago

> after 6 months of monitoring by Dr. I'm really scared and actually

> started crying in Drs office after being told. 6 months ago my

> mother had massive heart attack and had to have quadriple by-pass

> surgery. The Dr.s told her that is was caused by diabetes that she

> never knew she had. She is now type I. ... Then I

> started feeling really angry at everyone and everything. Already I

> hate this. To be perfectly honest I feel worse on the low sugar, low

> carb diet. I'm tired all the time and feel really weak.

[Guest guest]

anne wrote:

>Edd,

>I just *had* to say that this is the best of your posts to date! You come back

with some wonderful, insightful stuff all the time, but this tops the lot! I

got so much out of this, and I'm not new to diabetes at all. With your

permission, I'm going to forward this on to my own newly diagnosed sister. I

just know that this will help her heaps!

>

>Thanks

>

Oh, my goodness. I think I'm in love! Will you marry me?

;-)

Edd

[Guest guest]

Welcome to this list. I'm sorry that you had to join us but you've

joined a good list with a lot of great folks. Several of your new

list-mates have already given you some great advice, so I'll not repeat

that advice.

I'll just say that you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions. The only

'dumb' or 'stupid' question is one that you, or someone else, doesn't

ask. For example a question many newcomers ask is what is 'YMMV'? I

think you may have seen in one of the responses to your intro message.

It stands for 'Your Mileage May Vary'. It means that what works for one

person may or may not work for another person. That can be one of the

more frustrating aspects of this affliction.

> Hi all my name is Suzie and I was diagnosed with diabetes 2 weeks ago

> after 6 months of monitoring by Dr. I'm really scared and actually

> started crying in Drs office after being told.

Maurer

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