Anyone else married to a guy who's a wimp when it comes to

[CarolMN]

needles??? Just had to share this - I'm still laughing!

Last night, I wasn't sure that my blood glucose monitor was working correctly - it was giving me numbers too good to be true. I asked my DH to test his blood because I had run out of the stuff you need to be sure your meter is working correctly. I thought if his blood got a different result than mine (which had been within 1 or 2 of the same number for the last 3 tests that day), that that would show the meter was working correctly.

Anyway, if you are a diabetic, you know about those little tools that prick your finger - it really doesn't hurt much (if at all) and you get a small drop of blood to put on the test strip.

Well! You think I'd asked him to give himself a vasectomy with a dirty table knife! He moaned and groaned and acted like pricking his finger would cause the kind of terrible pain that only morphine could ease. I was actually quite surprised - all this time I thought he was so brave and strong. His hands always have little scrapes and calluses from working on the yard or around the house.

I'm still laughing - he did eventually manage to do it (although he went looking for a bandage afterwards, the big baby)!

And my meter must be working OK because it gave him a totally different number (which of course it should). Guess those too good to be true blood sugar numbers are really true. I love Dr. Atkins!

 

[karebear1]

ROTFLOL!!!!!!!! A band aid! That is too funny!

Atkins is great for diabetics- I've had the same great results with my BS too!
CONGRATS!

 

[nativetxn]

I'm glad your husband went ahead and checked his blood sugar.

Kind of funny about that bandaid, though

Isn't Atkins just the greatest thing for type II diabetes? I wish my husband's nutritionist, dietician and physicians had just told him to try Atkins when he was prediabetic he would never have developed full blown diabetes

Unfortunately, although the doctors are coming around, the nutritionists and dieticians that I have come across still believe that Atkins is dangerous. I feel bad for their patients because Atkins could really help them control blood sugar and cholesterol, too.

Isn't it a great feeling, Carol, to have that sugar under control? I'll bet you are feeling lots better than before, too.

 

[Luvinit]

LOL...ROTFLMBO!!!!!!!!!

Yep...sounds JUST like my DH...a big ol baby...he passed out while I was getting my epidural...during labor...the nursed just slide him over with her foot...and passed out in the ER once when he was having blood drawn for kidney stones!!!LOL

Guess most of them are alot alike!!!LOL

Tracy

 

[house_of_princesses]

And that, my dear ladies, is why God decided it is the female of the species that gives birth, cleans diapers, (and other unmentionables) and has yearly exams the other half coldn't endure.

 

[Hannosmom]

My DH has no problems with needles. I, on the other hand, took forever to get over the needle thing. I would pass out when they gave me a TB test! It wasn't till I had my first baby, that I learned not to look when they drew blood.

When I had to prick my finger (type II diabetes) the first time, I sat with the little sticker thing pointing at my finger for about a half hour--saying "1...2...3... over and over till I was finally able to stick myself. LOL!

I take insulin now, so the "needle thing" is long gone. Doesn't hurt a bit. Since I've been on Atkins, I've reduced my regular insulin by 2/3rds! I love this new life of mine!!

 

[nativetxn]

Linda, have you noticed yet that you require less insulin?

My motherinlaw hasn't had to use her insulin since she began following the Atkins nutritional plan.

 

[Hannosmom]

Yes, I'm using a lot less insulin. Thank goodness! I was beginning to think I would have to hook up an IV to a tank. Not good, to say the least. I had to start regular insulin when I started chemo, because I had to take steroid pills (10!) before each treatment to prevent an allergic reaction to Taxol. Steroids cause blood sugar to go wild. The first treatment I had a blood sugar of 500!!. I had to use lots of regular to get it down to the low 300's, which is where it stayed for the quite a while. I got better at adjusting it with each treatment.

I was hoping that once I started Atkins my blood sugar would be totally normal, but I guess it's been out of whack for such a long time, it's going to take a while to get it back to normal. It is much better now, running between 120 and150.

Have I told you how much I hate diabetes?

 

[karebear1]

Hannosmom- it sounds like you are thriving on Atkins and that it is the right meal plan for you. Hang in there- it won't be long until your numbers are running way lower! How long have you been doing Atkins? Just the fact that your numbers are running closer to normal AND the fact that you've been able to cut your insulin way down is very exciting!! I've been low carbing for 2 weeks and on Atkins induction for 1 and my numbers also dropped dramatically. I have not only cut my glucovance in half- taking only one pill a day instead of two, but on Thursday- my doctor actually cut the original strength of the glucovance in half! I am now taking 1/4 of the meds. I was taking 3 weeks ago! I like you am hoping that this will eventually lead to me not having to take any meds for diabetes.
Good luck in your continued journey. You will be successful!

BTW- I hate diabetes as well!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Congratulations to everyone doing so well on Atkins.... with diabetes. I hear all the time on many boards LOTS of people with being able to reduce their meds/etc. It's so great!

I had to set someone straight today. Bet I didn't get through-in one ear and out the other with some people- but I was talking to my neighbor (who incidentally had started atkins after seeing me lose some weight in the beginning but only did it one week and even though she bought the book she wasn't doing it RIGHT AT ALL. She was stuffing herself with meat all day- even admitted she was getting stuffed with every meal and not eating any veggies. *sigh* then wondered why she gained 4lbs in a week so she quit. But now that I've lost even more weight and continue to- and she sees me with more energy/etc- she keeps asking about it)- anyway- we were talking about it and she asked how I didn't get bored with it and I said how? The only things I'm avoiding are pastas, breads, flour and sugar. There's a WHOLE LOT of meat, poultry, fish, eggs, veggies, cheese, etc out there to eat- no way to ever get "bored" (and I've started eating fruits now too finally). well her MIL overheard it and said don't talk her into doing Atkins- she has diabetes as she walked past us on the porch to her car.
*rolling my eyes*
I just said I don't know why you would say that since the Atkins diet HELPS those with diabetes. I told her I couldn't count how many people were actually taking less meds/etc while doing Atkins and having diabetes. She just ignored me and got in the car but the neighbor friend said she had heard that too- so ignore her MIL.
LOL

 

[off2disney]

Please help me out here. I've had diabetes for 7 or 8 years, was on four different medications, then graduated to meds and insulin, and am now on insulin twice a day, with no meds. And I too hate diabetes!

I have heard of the Atkins diet but not in relation to diabetes. Why hasn't my doctor recommended this??? Is this something that medical doctors don't believe in? All he tells me is to watch my weight.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by off2disney
Please help me out here. I've had diabetes for 7 or 8 years, was on four different medications, then graduated to meds and insulin, and am now on insulin twice a day, with no meds. And I too hate diabetes!

I have heard of the Atkins diet but not in relation to diabetes. Why hasn't my doctor recommended this??? Is this something that medical doctors don't believe in? All he tells me is to watch my weight.

First of all, please understand that I am not a doctor and am only speaking from my own experience and from what I have read.

It's carbohydrates that cause your blood sugar to rise/spike - protein and fat do not (or at least do so in a more gradual way). Some carbohydrates are better for you than others as they also do not cause those sharp spikes. They have a relatively low glycemic index (a way to measure the impact of food on blood sugar). Sugar itself and refined starches are especially bad forus!

Many doctors still believe that the diet promoted by the American Diabetes Association is the way to go. That diet absolutely DID NOT WORK for me. The Atkins diet however, is working for me. Atkins emphasizes a higher ratio of protein and fat than almost all other diets. The foods containing "bad" carbs (such as table sugar, white flour, any refined starches, etc.) are not allowed. You eat controlled amounts of the good carbs - like many of the fresh vegetables, berries.

Like karebear1, I had been "low-carbing" it for awhile and saw that my blood sugar tests were better (but still not great). Today is the beginning of my second week of Induction on Atkins (Atkins diet consists of 4 phases and Induction is the first). After the first few days, my blood sugar tests are now consistently ranging from 85-105, no matter when I test. Awesome! Have never had results like that before. (That's why I thought my meter was on the fritz, LOL) So far, I have eliminated my glucotrol pills and cut my metformin dose in half. I still test frequently and may have to add some meds back as I add in more carbs in later stages - we'll see.

Anyway, I'll be talking to my doctor about this at my next appointment. Don't see how she can argue with the results. Also, there are several studies on the Atkins website that invlolve diabetics. They show that the diet is very good for diabetics. Many others that post here can attest to that. Do a search for posts by nativetxn and read about her husband's experience. It's very inspiring and helped me to read up on Atkins and give it a try.

Before you decide what to do for you, you also might want to do some reading - buy the Atkins book and/or read the articles on the website:

www.atkinscenter.com

Again, I am not a doctor and obviously do not know anything about your situation. I just know that Atkins is helping me (I do feel so much better). I am not yet on insulin and hope that Atkins will help me delay the day that I must use it.

Good luck and best wishes - this is a great place to get support so feel free to post whenever you need a boost!

Carol

 

[off2disney]

Thanks, CarolMN

I will certainly look into this. I remember trying the Atkins diet years ago and having to test for keytones (sp?) in my urine and somehow this stuck in my mind that this caused a situation similar to diabetes (isn't it amazing how dangerous a little knowledge--right or wrong - is?)

I've been on insulin for about a year, and the first time the doctor told me the medications weren't working, and that I would have to go on insulin, I cried like a baby in his office. It was like a death knell for me! I have since adjusted to it, and actually feel much beter since I got off the oral medications, but it would be so nice to be able to cut down on the dosage of insulin. My numbers average etween 130 and 150. I'm now on the insulin pens and not the vials, and it is much easier to handle.

Thanks again to everyone - I may be your newest member to join W.I.S.H. - I've been lurking and reading and amazed with the support and caring I've read on this board.

 

[Hannosmom]

Karebear, Carol, and BBB, it's so great to read about diabetes successes. These posts really keep me going forward. When I finally started Atkins, I was out of choices. Nothing else worked, mainly because I couldn't stick with it. After humbly accepting the fact that I cannot eat refined sugars, pasta, bread etc., I have had no problems staying on Atkins. The fat, protein,and lo-carb keep me from being hungry. And I have had very little or no emotional hunger. I seem to have a clearer head and really notice if I'm bored or upset, when before I wouldn't have even thought about, just would have gone for the cookies, or candy.

Off2disney, please join us, this is a wonderful, supportive group. And I can't emphasize enough how importand good support is. You will have a bunch of friends all doing the same thing as you, and sharing experiences can really help get you through tough times and its a great place to come and share your good times, too.

 

[karebear1]

off2disney- Please do join us! We have so much fun on these boards and you'll make so many friends. The support you will get from this board is unbeatable! Come on and join the FUN!!

 

[off2disney]

Thanks so much, you all sound like wonderful friends and supporters. I went online today and printed out some information about Atkins. I manage a small yacht club and one of our members (who is a chef) has been helping us out since our regular chef quit. I was asking him about the diet and he really got excited and offered to cook me special meals when he was a the club and to help me learn what foods to eat. Talk about lucky. Thats almost like having a personal trainer. I'm going to take advantage of it while he's there.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by off2disney
Thanks so much, you all sound like wonderful friends and supporters. I went online today and printed out some information about Atkins. I manage a small yacht club and one of our members (who is a chef) has been helping us out since our regular chef quit. I was asking him about the diet and he really got excited and offered to cook me special meals when he was a the club and to help me learn what foods to eat. Talk about lucky. Thats almost like having a personal trainer. I'm going to take advantage of it while he's there.

That's good news!

Glad you are going to join us.