Guest guest Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 Hello, I'm a newbie to this list as well as newly diagnosed with type II. I have a couple questions for the more experienced folks. * My doctor is my family internist. Should I also consider seeing a diabetes specialist or is this sufficient? I have insurance for now but that could end soon (employment situation) * My doctor simply informed me of the diabetes (139 BS /fasting), said to reduce portions enough to lose 1 pound/week (need to lose 50 lbs), break meals up into several small meals/day, eat a healthy lowfat diet of fruits, veg, non-red meat, whole grains, and exercise. (I'm using Weight Watchers guidelines, it's working so far.) I'm taking Metformin 500 mg/3x day with meals. She wants me to get monthly fasting blood sugar tests at the lab, along with a monthly doctor visit. Hopefully if I lose the weight, the diabetes will go away. I asked about whether I should get a meter & do my own testing and she said no, just follow the regime for now. Does this sound sufficient? * I've been told to never mix alcohol with the Metformin. Does anyone have any experience with this? I miss my small glass of red wine with dinner now & then. * I've been having a problem with occasional numbness in my upper outer thigh, left side, only when I stand up. I remember this symptom from when I was pregnant 20 years ago (maternal diabetic, had to shoot insulin). Could this be a symptom of diabetic neuropathy? * This year I had a bunion operation, combined with excising a Morton's neuroma on the same foot. The neuroma surgury has left me with some numb areas on the ball of the foot & toes, possibly permanent. Could the neuroma have been caused by the diabetes? Should I be concerned about the diabetes/foot connection? FYI, I'm also taking meds for high blood pressure & cholesterol, which are now under control. I'm a 50 year old female. I'm not sure how long I might have had the diabetes undiagnosed. Thanks in advance, Betsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 What city or town are you in, Betsy? Could be someone on the list is near you and can give a personal recommendation. Vicki Re: newbie questions > Thanks to all who responded so quickly and generously to my request > for > information. I am going to take your collective advice and find a > better > doctor. What is the best way to find a good local diabetic specialist > and/or endocrinologist? There's always the phone book and my insurance > website. But how to find a _good_ one? > > What screening questions would you suggest I ask the doctor, to see if > they are competent? How do I find one who is open to more than the > ADA/food-pyramid style guidelines? For example, I know my internist is > very down on lowcarb, yet when I scanned Dr. Bernstein's website, it > seems that may be better for diabetics. Or should I just assume any > specialist is better than the care I'm getting now and just throw a > dart > & make an appointment? > > TIA, > Betsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 What city or town are you in, Betsy? Could be someone on the list is near you and can give a personal recommendation. Vicki Re: newbie questions > Thanks to all who responded so quickly and generously to my request > for > information. I am going to take your collective advice and find a > better > doctor. What is the best way to find a good local diabetic specialist > and/or endocrinologist? There's always the phone book and my insurance > website. But how to find a _good_ one? > > What screening questions would you suggest I ask the doctor, to see if > they are competent? How do I find one who is open to more than the > ADA/food-pyramid style guidelines? For example, I know my internist is > very down on lowcarb, yet when I scanned Dr. Bernstein's website, it > seems that may be better for diabetics. Or should I just assume any > specialist is better than the care I'm getting now and just throw a > dart > & make an appointment? > > TIA, > Betsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 What city or town are you in, Betsy? Could be someone on the list is near you and can give a personal recommendation. Vicki Re: newbie questions > Thanks to all who responded so quickly and generously to my request > for > information. I am going to take your collective advice and find a > better > doctor. What is the best way to find a good local diabetic specialist > and/or endocrinologist? There's always the phone book and my insurance > website. But how to find a _good_ one? > > What screening questions would you suggest I ask the doctor, to see if > they are competent? How do I find one who is open to more than the > ADA/food-pyramid style guidelines? For example, I know my internist is > very down on lowcarb, yet when I scanned Dr. Bernstein's website, it > seems that may be better for diabetics. Or should I just assume any > specialist is better than the care I'm getting now and just throw a > dart > & make an appointment? > > TIA, > Betsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 I use a smaller dinner plate so I don't waste food. Vicki Re: newbie questions >> What do you feel is the likelihood of regain, though? Is >> there >> benefit from losing only to regain? > > Some people *are* able to keep the weight off. As for the relative > benefits > of losing and regaining vs not losing, I think the evidence on that > isn't > clear yet. > > If someone loses and is able to keep normal BGs for an addition couple > of > years, that might reduce possibility of complications more than any > damage > from losing and regaining weight. > > I think someone who has been through cycles of loss and regaining is > probably less likely to be able to keep the weight off. These would > be > especially true for those with real physiological differences in > appetite > control. But for those who are overweight simply because they like to > eat a > lot, the shock of diabetes Dx might be enough to get them to eat less > on a > permanent basis. > > I lost 30 pounds right after Dx, and I've regained 10. But not the > whole 30. > I simply eat a lot less than I used to, and it now seems like enough. > But I > was eating a lot because I'm a Clean Plates Club type. I couldn't > stand to > waste food. It wasn't driven by hunger, so it's easier to avoid > reacquiring > those habits. I've learned to waste. > > Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 I use a smaller dinner plate so I don't waste food. Vicki Re: newbie questions >> What do you feel is the likelihood of regain, though? Is >> there >> benefit from losing only to regain? > > Some people *are* able to keep the weight off. As for the relative > benefits > of losing and regaining vs not losing, I think the evidence on that > isn't > clear yet. > > If someone loses and is able to keep normal BGs for an addition couple > of > years, that might reduce possibility of complications more than any > damage > from losing and regaining weight. > > I think someone who has been through cycles of loss and regaining is > probably less likely to be able to keep the weight off. These would > be > especially true for those with real physiological differences in > appetite > control. But for those who are overweight simply because they like to > eat a > lot, the shock of diabetes Dx might be enough to get them to eat less > on a > permanent basis. > > I lost 30 pounds right after Dx, and I've regained 10. But not the > whole 30. > I simply eat a lot less than I used to, and it now seems like enough. > But I > was eating a lot because I'm a Clean Plates Club type. I couldn't > stand to > waste food. It wasn't driven by hunger, so it's easier to avoid > reacquiring > those habits. I've learned to waste. > > Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 I use a smaller dinner plate so I don't waste food. Vicki Re: newbie questions >> What do you feel is the likelihood of regain, though? Is >> there >> benefit from losing only to regain? > > Some people *are* able to keep the weight off. As for the relative > benefits > of losing and regaining vs not losing, I think the evidence on that > isn't > clear yet. > > If someone loses and is able to keep normal BGs for an addition couple > of > years, that might reduce possibility of complications more than any > damage > from losing and regaining weight. > > I think someone who has been through cycles of loss and regaining is > probably less likely to be able to keep the weight off. These would > be > especially true for those with real physiological differences in > appetite > control. But for those who are overweight simply because they like to > eat a > lot, the shock of diabetes Dx might be enough to get them to eat less > on a > permanent basis. > > I lost 30 pounds right after Dx, and I've regained 10. But not the > whole 30. > I simply eat a lot less than I used to, and it now seems like enough. > But I > was eating a lot because I'm a Clean Plates Club type. I couldn't > stand to > waste food. It wasn't driven by hunger, so it's easier to avoid > reacquiring > those habits. I've learned to waste. > > Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 > Do you feel comfortable estimating the odds of keeping it off? I've never been good with odds. As I get older and am able to get less exercise, I might put some back on, but I won't let myself put it all back on. It's simply so much more comfortable without it. However, the best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can't, so this is a challenge: 99 pounds here we come. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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