Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Hi everyone, I joined a couple of days ago and was diagnosed last week. My BG level was 282 when I was diagnosed. With diet changes I'm getting it down to a high of 196 and a low of about 140. No drugs yet, I've got a prescription for Glucophage but my dr wants me to wait until after I've met with my diabetes educator (tomorrow) before getting on the drug. His reasoning was that I should measure myself with a meter before taking the drug so we would know the impact. Seemed reasonable to me so I'm following his advice. I've got a couple of questions for you. Does my drop of 100 or more in a week seem normal for someone who's just changed diet? I'm hoping that with weight loss (I've got about 60-70 to lose) and good diet that I can avoid needing drugs long term. I expect to be on them until then. I've been keeping a food journal. This has been a great help for me with regards to what I eat. Whenever I think of eating something " bad " I ask myself if I want to write it down or not. Sometimes I eat it but most of the time I don't. Do any of you know if there are any good pre-printed journals with diabetics in mind? Something that would let you track 3-5 meals, bg levels, weight, etc.? If not, what kinds of things do you recomend I keep track of. So far I'm thinking: Food intake (not specific to how many carbs, calories, etc.) weight BG level (maybe 4 or so testing times/day less as I learn more) exercise comments about general health (i.e. felt itchy, blurry eyes, etc.) With regards to the finger sticks. Anyone know how long before the skin is sealed over the hole you make? I was wondering about things like STD's or cooking for others. Not that I'm at a big risk for getting STD's (in fact, a little more risk would be nice, if you know what I mean) but all the finger poking made me curious. I'm really enjoying all the dialogue so far. Just reading all the positive responses to others has been helpful. Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 > I've got a couple of questions for you. Does my drop of 100 or more > in a week seem normal for someone who's just changed diet? Yes, that is normal. Not everyone has that quick of results but many do. I know I can see the same thing with me. It's quite shocking that certain foods can do such a thing. Seems too simple right? Just eliminate problem foods. I'm hoping > that with weight loss (I've got about 60-70 to lose) and good diet > that I can avoid needing drugs long term. I expect to be on them > until then. Great attitude and plan! > > I've been keeping a food journal. This has been a great help for me > with regards to what I eat. Whenever I think of eating something > " bad " I ask myself if I want to write it down or not. Good idea! Sometimes I eat > it but most of the time I don't. Do any of you know if there are any > good pre-printed journals with diabetics in mind? Something that > would let you track 3-5 meals, bg levels, weight, etc.? There is a diabetic 3 ring journal/planner which I am trying to find to order myself. If I find it I'll let you know. For now what I do is use a list I got thru diabetic education. You could also make one on your computer. > > If not, what kinds of things do you recomend I keep track of. So far > I'm thinking: > Food intake (not specific to how many carbs, calories, etc.) > weight > BG level (maybe 4 or so testing times/day less as I learn more) > exercise > comments about general health (i.e. felt itchy, blurry eyes, etc.) When you write down what you eat also write what time it is eaten. This will show you a pattern of how often you are eating and how much as well. If you also check your BG before/after meals record that. It really helps find patterns. Having the time written down also helps figure out if you need to go longer or shorter between meals. For instance I now know I can go 4 hrs between meals but if I wait 5 hrs I get a liver dump and my BG will go up. I used to eat every 3 hrs as some recommended at diabetes education but then my BG didn't go down low enough before having to go back up again. Times can really help. With exericse also record how long and what type. You will begin to see what type works better and how to space even exercise. Comments on health can also include feeling depressed, tired, or irritable. I have found in my records patterns of certain foods that I could then eliminate because of it. Also I can relate high BG to those types of feelings as well. I also list things like if I get congested with certain foods. I also record energy level. By doing this I have now a plan of eating foods which only give energy and no depression. You can also record things like certain ingredients that might bother you. Funny as it seems some of those extra additives can cause highs even though you would think the food is somewhat healthy. > > With regards to the finger sticks. Anyone know how long before the > skin is sealed over the hole you make? I was wondering about things > like STD's or cooking for others. Not that I'm at a big risk for > getting STD's (in fact, a little more risk would be nice, if you know > what I mean) but all the finger poking made me curious. That's a good question. I wondered about the germ thing myself. I just try and not touch anything right away. If you had a concern you could always try putting a bandaid over that particular finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 , Were you at 282 in the Drs ofc? Or was it a fasting number? Anyway, your numbers will be determined by what you are currently eating. Maybe last week for breakfast you had a bowl of cereal with sugarand milk, and a glass of orange juice and a piece of toast with butter and jam. Now today you had an egg, a piece of toast with butter nad NO jam, and coffee. You would have quite a lower blood sugar reading today, as the second meal is low carb. It's the carbs that are the nasty little culprits. AND you have to watch your portions. Amazing what I thought was a portion of pasta or rice, haha! Now, if you are adding any exercise, like a walk, that will also lower your numbers. Think of this as a game, and you are going to win it! Keep asking questions... Tucson Kitty Another newbie Hi everyone, I joined a couple of days ago and was diagnosed last week. My BG level was 282 when I was diagnosed. With diet changes I'm getting it down to a high of 196 and a low of about 140. Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 , Were you at 282 in the Drs ofc? Or was it a fasting number? Anyway, your numbers will be determined by what you are currently eating. Maybe last week for breakfast you had a bowl of cereal with sugarand milk, and a glass of orange juice and a piece of toast with butter and jam. Now today you had an egg, a piece of toast with butter nad NO jam, and coffee. You would have quite a lower blood sugar reading today, as the second meal is low carb. It's the carbs that are the nasty little culprits. AND you have to watch your portions. Amazing what I thought was a portion of pasta or rice, haha! Now, if you are adding any exercise, like a walk, that will also lower your numbers. Think of this as a game, and you are going to win it! Keep asking questions... Tucson Kitty Another newbie Hi everyone, I joined a couple of days ago and was diagnosed last week. My BG level was 282 when I was diagnosed. With diet changes I'm getting it down to a high of 196 and a low of about 140. Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Hi Kitty, Both were fasting numbers (pre-breakfast). You're right about the portions. My first thoughts were " I'm going to die, nobody could live on that much " The diet change has been working really well so far. I bought a couple of books the day I was diagnosed. The first was Gretchen Beckers " The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed " . That was a great book for me. The format worked well and she presents stuff in a rational manner that doesn't seem to emphasize one choice over the other but makes it clear that diabetes is a very individual disease and that people need to find the best method for managing it. The other was the AMA's Type 2 diabetes cookbook. The recipes in here are reallly good (except the veggie strata, yuck). I haven't tried them all yet but I've been able to turn the diet change into a fun adventure rather than a diet. At least it's been fun for the first week. Thanks, Another newbie Hi everyone, I joined a couple of days ago and was diagnosed last week. My BG level was 282 when I was diagnosed. With diet changes I'm getting it down to a high of 196 and a low of about 140. Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Hi Kitty, Both were fasting numbers (pre-breakfast). You're right about the portions. My first thoughts were " I'm going to die, nobody could live on that much " The diet change has been working really well so far. I bought a couple of books the day I was diagnosed. The first was Gretchen Beckers " The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed " . That was a great book for me. The format worked well and she presents stuff in a rational manner that doesn't seem to emphasize one choice over the other but makes it clear that diabetes is a very individual disease and that people need to find the best method for managing it. The other was the AMA's Type 2 diabetes cookbook. The recipes in here are reallly good (except the veggie strata, yuck). I haven't tried them all yet but I've been able to turn the diet change into a fun adventure rather than a diet. At least it's been fun for the first week. Thanks, Another newbie Hi everyone, I joined a couple of days ago and was diagnosed last week. My BG level was 282 when I was diagnosed. With diet changes I'm getting it down to a high of 196 and a low of about 140. Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Hi Wendel, Thanks, that's good to know. , You are asking the right questions and sound like you are off to a good start. Keep it up. I have been finger sticking for about 20 years and never have had any problems with the exception of a little thickening of the skin in my fingers which makes them a bit less sensitive to touch. I wash with plain soap and water before and after. Wendell Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Hi Wendel, Thanks, that's good to know. , You are asking the right questions and sound like you are off to a good start. Keep it up. I have been finger sticking for about 20 years and never have had any problems with the exception of a little thickening of the skin in my fingers which makes them a bit less sensitive to touch. I wash with plain soap and water before and after. Wendell Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Hi , Thanks for all the journal suggestions. If I can't find one, I do plan on making one myself. That would be great if you find the three ring journal. Re: Another newbie When you write down what you eat also write what time it is eaten. This will show you a pattern of how often you are eating and how much as well. If you also check your BG before/after meals record that. It really helps find patterns. Having the time written down also helps figure out if you need to go longer or shorter between meals. For instance I now know I can go 4 hrs between meals but if I wait 5 hrs I get a liver dump and my BG will go up. I used to eat every 3 hrs as some recommended at diabetes education but then my BG didn't go down low enough before having to go back up again. Times can really help. With exericse also record how long and what type. You will begin to see what type works better and how to space even exercise. Comments on health can also include feeling depressed, tired, or irritable. I have found in my records patterns of certain foods that I could then eliminate because of it. Also I can relate high BG to those types of feelings as well. I also list things like if I get congested with certain foods. I also record energy level. By doing this I have now a plan of eating foods which only give energy and no depression. You can also record things like certain ingredients that might bother you. Funny as it seems some of those extra additives can cause highs even though you would think the food is somewhat healthy. > > With regards to the finger sticks. Anyone know how long before the > skin is sealed over the hole you make? I was wondering about things > like STD's or cooking for others. Not that I'm at a big risk for > getting STD's (in fact, a little more risk would be nice, if you know > what I mean) but all the finger poking made me curious. That's a good question. I wondered about the germ thing myself. I just try and not touch anything right away. If you had a concern you could always try putting a bandaid over that particular finger. Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Good start, ! And you're in good company here! Tucson Kitty Re: Another newbie Hi Kitty, Both were fasting numbers (pre-breakfast). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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