Diabetes, the good the bad and the ugly

[Anna114]

So, I was diagnosed with type II diabetes on Nov. 30,2009. It was found after my pre-op testing for a full hysterectomy due to cancer. My parents had both died that year 3 months apart. It is believed that stress helped my diabetes manifest it self earlier then it should have. Pls no sad moments, unless you care to share yours. I haven't shared that info other then for informational purposes. So through all the bad and the good I'm learning to live with diabetes. Through this thread I am hoping to hear anything and everything you care to share. I know, being with the disboards for years that, that there are many of us that want to share and help. I would love to hear any good experience with dining through Disney. We all know how accommodating Disney chef's can be for special diets.

I just went on Victroza last week. I spent hours looking at feedback. Through all of that time I came to my own conclusion about the drug. My weight loss is too far gone for me to understand.

I would love to hear any thing that helps you, hurts you or is simply a waste of time. The Disney community is SUCH a wealth of information. I hope to glean so much from those of you that have the same experiences that I do.

Here's to hoping that some of you would care to join in on our journey.

 

[PatsMom]

Hello, fellow Victoza user! Before Victoza I had been on insulin and then Byetta. At one point both Byetta and Lantus (a long acting insulin). I do prefer the Victoza even though there is a slight link to thyroid cancer associated with it. As a cancer survivor also, I am a little paranoid about that and I do watch closely to symptoms of thyroid problems. But the Victoza otherwise agrees with me. None of the nausea that I got with Byetta. I take glipizide as well, along with metformin. The glipizide can cause lows so I have to be alert to that possibility.

I have found that sugar free food is a waste of time to ask for. If you get the carb counts (and you won't get them from Disney) the sugar free is usually just as high as the regular version of the dish. And some of the sugar substitutes can cause some real gastrointestinal distress. I mostly just count carbs and estimate where I have to using the Calorie King book. If you happen to go to a restaurant that gives the carb counts, that is great. But estimates seem to work pretty well too.

I have tried cutting back my carbs to nothing and I will lose weight. But my blood sugars will also take a drastic leap. If I start to get too low, my body seems to be great at making its own glucose. So I try to stick to the recommended amount of carbs.

If I am good about exercising regularly my glucose numbers will be better and I do actually feel better. But especially in the winter for some reason I have a hard time making myself exercise all the time. I have some other medical issues that make it painful to do some types of exercise so I am a little limited there.

Diabetes is a tricky disease. When I am stressed, my numbers will be all over the place. And when I was first diagnosed with the bladder cancer, the numbers were higher than they had been in years. I guess it was just my body being busy fighting the cancer and ignoring the diabetes.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I have tried cutting back my carbs to nothing and I will lose weight. But my blood sugars will also take a drastic leap. If I start to get too low, my body seems to be great at making its own glucose. So I try to stick to the recommended amount of carbs.

It was so nice to read that someone else has this problem (well, not nice, but you know what I mean). I go on a low-carb diet and I lose weight like crazy, but my A1C goes up and doctor isn't happy. So I go back to the diabetic diet (or carb counting), my A1C goes down but my weight goes UP ... doctor still isn't happy. Latest advice I got was quit trying to lose weight and keep the A1C down. Whatever you say, doc.

I take Metformin ER 500mg/day. The regular Metformin was horrible w/gastrointestinal symptoms. I felt like I was a walking zombie. Switching to the ER was very helpful for me.

Exercising definitely keeps me feeling better. Even if it is just 5 minutes on the treadmill or a few laps around the house - the numbers on the meter show it, too. Right now, I walk 5 days a week and lift weights 3 days a week. My winter lull is over, too.

 

[Anna114]

I wonder if the victoza can be enough without the metformin. Yesterday was kind of scary. I got home from church at 9:45. Took my pills, 500mg metformin, niacin, coQ10 and a multi-vitamin, along with my victoza and ate a granola bar. I kicked back on my comfy chair and slept. I actually felt like I was drugged. At 3:15 my husband storms into the house and said he knew what was wrong with me, it was low blood sugar. Sure as heck, it was 83. I know under 80 is bad. So after a glass of OJ I felt much better. The victoza is great for both my weight (5 lbs in a week) and my blood sugar. I hope it continues like this.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I also found the regular Metformin to be...problematic.

 

[Anna114]

I also found the regular Metformin to be...problematic.

How so?

 

[BearcatsFan]

How so?

Maybe for the same reasons I did. For me, it caused horrible gastrointestinal symptoms - diarrhea, vomiting - and I just felt like crap in general. Had no energy at all. Yeah, I lost weight on it, but not the way I wanted to LOL

Have not had the same issues with the extended release; however, I don't lose any weight on it. Go figure.

 

[buffettgirl]

I wonder if the victoza can be enough without the metformin. Yesterday was kind of scary. I got home from church at 9:45. Took my pills, 500mg metformin, niacin, coQ10 and a multi-vitamin, along with my victoza and ate a granola bar. I kicked back on my comfy chair and slept. I actually felt like I was drugged. At 3:15 my husband storms into the house and said he knew what was wrong with me, it was low blood sugar. Sure as heck, it was 83. I know under 80 is bad. So after a glass of OJ I felt much better. The victoza is great for both my weight (5 lbs in a week) and my blood sugar. I hope it continues like this.

Just so you know - 83 is not really low. A normal person without diabetes can run happily around 70's or so. But what you're having happening is that your body is used to being much higher and when you get down into the 80s your body thinks OMG LOW. Over the next few weeks as your blood sugars come down you'll be trying to actually train your body to not freak out at 83. 65 is usually a symptom number for a lot of people. Also, a whole glass of OJ (4oz? 8oz?) is probably way too much to treat an 83. Did you recheck in an hour or so to see where it had gone?

 

[Anna114]

Just so you know - 83 is not really low. A normal person without diabetes can run happily around 70's or so. But what you're having happening is that your body is used to being much higher and when you get down into the 80s your body thinks OMG LOW. Over the next few weeks as your blood sugars come down you'll be trying to actually train your body to not freak out at 83. 65 is usually a symptom number for a lot of people. Also, a whole glass of OJ (4oz? 8oz?) is probably way too much to treat an 83. Did you recheck in an hour or so to see where it had gone?

Actually I do know that 83 is not really low, but for me it's been unattainable and I agree that I think my body is not use to such a low number. As for the juice it was only 4oz and when I re-checked it has risen to 95. The highest my BS has been for the last week is 135, after eating.

 

[buffettgirl]

Actually I do know that 83 is not really low, but for me it's been unattainable and I agree that I think my body is not use to such a low number. As for the juice it was only 4oz and when I re-checked it has risen to 95. The highest my BS has been for the last week is 135, after eating.

sounds good then! It's really fairly normal to feel that way early on. Your body just gets used to where it's been. On the same token, sometimes after having diabetes for a long time and having lots of lows people lose that ability to sense their lows because their body thinks it's normal.

Such a lovely disease with no rules.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Problematic as in...well how should I explain this...? Do you remember the scene in Finding Nemo when Nemo first goes into the tank at the dentist's office and the treasure chest opens and all the bubbles come out? That's how my stomach felt at all times on the regular Metformin.

 

[Judique]

I just started taking Metformin last week. One hour after the pill, I was cramping and in the bathroom.

Fortunately for me, that symptom has not continued. It seems to be okay.

Of course I'm only one week in, so it may be too early to tell?

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

I'm an adult-diagnosed Type 1 (You can read that as "weirdo" ...it's not unheard of, but it is odd). So my experience will be a bit different from yours. But then, with diabetes, everyone's experience is a little bit different!

I take two types of insulin--one fast-acting insulin at meals and a slow-release type before bed. I test my blood sugar at least four times a day, often more. It can be a pain to get the insurance company to pay for more than four strips a day, but usually your pharmacy can do an override if you need them to.

I keep a very tight rein on my carbs, and I eat significantly fewer than what is usually "prescribed" for diabetics. My total count for a day is typically under 100 grams. To me, this made sense. It allows me to take MUCH less insulin than I was taking when I was released from the hospital. Plus, if your body can't appropriately process carbs, it just makes sense to minimize the number you're eating. Others here have different experiences. This is all so individual!

I totally agree with PatsMom that sugar-free packaged foods are basically worthless and are very often higher in carbs than their normal counterparts. I do cook with Splenda at home, but I'm in control of the whole process so I know what ELSE is going into my food. I almost never use wheat flour in my cooking anymore. I opt for alternatives like almond and coconut flour. These don't behave like wheat flour, but with a good recipe you can make just about anything! I also use cauliflower in place of potatoes in nearly every application--pureed to become mashed potatoes; finely chopped and sauteed with onion/celery as a rice substitute; etc. There are TONS of great low-carb recipe blogs with fabulous ideas. I rarely feel like I'm missing out on anything these days, and I've found that a lot of times when I "splurge" on a "normal" flour-and-sugar type treat, I'm disappointed! My tastes have just changed.

When I'm sick, my numbers go absolutely crazy no matter what I do. In those cases, just stay hydrated and keep a very close eye on your numbers. Your doctor can give you guidelines on when you should call--if your blood sugar is over X reading or stays above X for a certain period of time.

Most things now are just second nature. I've learned to pretty accurately guesstimate carb counts in just about everything. I'm not always spot-on, but I'm usually pretty close. Diabetes doesn't stop me from doing anything I want to do.

 

[Anna114]

As for carb counting... my Dr. said 5 servings of carbs a day. 15 grams is a serving so I'm usually keeping my carbs to 75 grams a day.

I'm not looking forward to my "dieting" at Disney. I suppose I will just have to ask for more healthy options.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

I'm not looking forward to my "dieting" at Disney. I suppose I will just have to ask for more healthy options.

I've had really good luck with this, and I've found that with all of the walking, I typically need to eat a few more carbs than usual to prevent lows.

We did the dining plan when we were at WDW for three days in January/early February. TS restaurants are typically no problem at all. The wait staff was always happy to sub non-starchy veggies for potatoes, etc. CS can be a little trickier. We had good luck at Contempo Cafe, Columbia Harbor House in the MK and Tangerine Cafe in Morocco at the WS. I was also able to share a number of desserts and snacks with my husband that I would never eat at home simply because I was burning up carbs with all the walking.

 

[Ambassador]

It takes some time and effort, but you will learn the carb content of most foods. On this basis, we enjoy normal meals at WDW, and don't bother with special dietary requests.

I am pretty certain my adult-onset T1 was caused by stress. And although I am not happy to have T1, I am thankful that I did not have to suffer through childhood with the illness. It has been very manageable, and I am perhaps healthier now than before!

 

[buffettgirl]

I'm an adult-diagnosed Type 1 (You can read that as "weirdo" ...it's not unheard of, but it is odd). So my experience will be a bit different from yours. But then, with diabetes, everyone's experience is a little bit different!

actually, not even that odd anymore. Seems that drs have finally figured out that just because a person is 1)over the age of 20 and 2) perhaps carrying some extra weight, (like most of us do once we get up there in age) doesn't necessarily mean they have type 2. I read stories online of people misdiagnosed as type 2s, over and over, how frustrating that is because they just get sicker and sicker. Plus, you have the whole category of people with MODY and LADA which are all classified as variations of type 1. Many of those folks used to be misdiagnosed as type2 right off the bat. So, you're not at all odd or weird. Not by a LONG stretch.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

actually, not even that odd anymore. Seems that drs have finally figured out that just because a person is 1)over the age of 20 and 2) perhaps carrying some extra weight, (like most of us do once we get up there in age) doesn't necessarily mean they have type 2. I read stories online of people misdiagnosed as type 2s, over and over, how frustrating that is because they just get sicker and sicker. Plus, you have the whole category of people with MODY and LADA which are all classified as variations of type 1. Many of those folks used to be misdiagnosed as type2 right off the bat. So, you're not at all odd or weird. Not by a LONG stretch.

It's nice when the medical community finally catches up to the rest of us!

One of the residents at the hospital actually asked me "if I was really fat as a kid or something" because I just didn't fit the profile of a typical adult-diagnosed diabetic (and I had a bunch of other crazy medical stuff going on that they were trying to figure out...long story). Fortunately, my actual endocrinologist was a bit more on the ball!

 

[buffettgirl]

it's scary really. And the guilt that they place on people when Met. and other other oral meds fail them. They are "threatened" with insulin "if you don't shape up you're going to have to go on insulin". I know one guy - training to be an olympic snowboarder - and they actually told him he needed to lose weight and exercise more. LOL. Meanwhile he was wasting away to nothing. To see the size of this guy now, fit, in shape, it only makes you scratch your head at how some doctor could say these things to him. Scary because it CAN be fatal. He said that first shot of insulin, was like instant rejuvenation. And I remember how sick my own child was at diagnosis and how 12 hours later he was running to the hospital play room, when just a few hours prior I thought we were going to lose him. I can't imagine an adult going months being misdiagnosed.