OT: Does anyone here have type 2 diabetes?

[jennifer293]

As I was at my DD's school today helping out I get a phone call from my Dr. telling me that I have type 2 diabetes..OK yeah and so that sent me into an emotional roller coaster (her teacher said I was as white as a sheet). So I got over that and he says he is gonna call me in a RX for Glucophage. Well I took one at 4 pm and I am sooooo sick to my stomach right now...IS it the medicine ..am I just nervous or stressed or WHAT??? If this is gonna make me feel like this every day I cannot do this...Also do I need to have a very strict diet and do I need to start testing my BS levels everyday again. He really didn't tell me much at all.

I had gestational diabetes with my second pregnancy and I have always had this gut feeling that I would be the one out of the 60% that would get it back and sure as snot I did. Man the LUCK I have!!!

Any way if someone can give me some insight on this and make me feel better about this I would appreciate it.

 

[mom2dil]

That sounds just like me! I also have type 2. I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant so I knew that it was coming. I also take meds- metformin which is the generic version and it makes me sick still to this day (I have been taking it for a year) but it is not has bad as it was when I first started taking it. REally this disease is easy to control if you diet and exercise but I am not always so great with that. If you want to talk just PM me- keep your head and up and know that you can work with this!

 

[problemchild718]

Hi-it may be the medicine, but is probably a combo of stress and emotions. As far as the diet, if you control your weight and diet, you probably will be able to stop taking the medicine at some point ( many type 2 diabetics as over weight) You might want to try contacting your local hospital-many have free diabetes education programs thet include teaching and nutrition. Lots of people have this and you will be able to get a handle on it-give it time

 

[klynninkc]

I had gestational diabetes with my first child and was diagnosed with Type 2 a year after that. I am on Glucophage right now. It can make you sick to your stomach. Aso, the stress from finding out you have this can well be causing you to feel sick. Until your blood sugars are straightened out, you may feel "off." I recently lost 70 lbs on the South Beach diet and have been able to get off one medication completely and my Glucophage is cut in half. Give the meds a few day to get used to the medicine, but if it's still making you sick, call the doctor. There are lots of medications out there.

 

[JustInLouisville]

My DR called me a few days after my appointment and asked "are you feeling ok?"

It turned out that my BS was over 300 fasting! So I had quite the wakeup call.

Goto http://www.diabetesforums.com/ - very active forum that can help you out.

Most insurances cover appointments with a special Diabetes nurse and an 8 hour diabetes course. (My Dr. prescribed it, but I could have gone to anyone since my plan doesn't require referrals) They are usually a part of the hospital.

I do not take any meds - I control it by diet. South beach diet really works for me.

I have heard that metformin can do that - but it does get better for some. Eating alot of carbs can also aggravate nausea when taking it.

 

[daisylou]

Hi,
I personally do not have type II diabetes, but I do take glucophage for a condition called PCOS. At first, when I started taking gluc I had some diarrhea and nausea, but my body usually adapts in a few days and I feel fine. The only bad part is if I forget to get my prescription refilled for a few days I have to readjust to the medicine all over again.

Are you on the glucophage xr (extended release)? That form is a bit easier on the stomach since it releases slower into the body.

The good news about glucophage is that it can cause or help weight loss. Most diabetes meds don't!

 

[da-winnie-pooh]

I had gestational, then ended up with type 1 instead of type 2. If your blood sugar was extremely high (350+) or if you tested positive for ketones, OR if you've lost a lot of weight without trying, you should have an islet cell antibody test. I was originally diagnosed as type 2, and my doctors refused to believe I was really type 1 (I figured it out) until the antibody test.

But, yeah, the Glucophage can do funny things. It messed up my "cycles" big-time.

Also, the stress can be bad. Ignore those commercials that talk about how diabetes can be prevented if you just eat right and exercise. Yeah, sure, sometimes, not always. My mother thinks I got type 1 diabetes from being fat. Yeah, right.

Anyway, I hope you feel better soon, and that your doctor gives you the information you need!

 

[jennifer293]

My DR called me a few days after my appointment and asked "are you feeling ok?"

It turned out that my BS was over 300 fasting! So I had quite the wakeup call.

Goto http://www.diabetesforums.com/ - very active forum that can help you out.

Most insurances cover appointments with a special Diabetes nurse and an 8 hour diabetes course. (My Dr. prescribed it, but I could have gone to anyone since my plan doesn't require referrals) They are usually a part of the hospital.

I do not take any meds - I control it by diet. South beach diet really works for me.

I have heard that metformin can do that - but it does get better for some. Eating alot of carbs can also aggravate nausea when taking it.

300 FASTING???? OMG I would be passed out in the floor. My fasting was 77 my 1 hour was 89 and my 2 hour was 158.

Yes I have some weight to lose and he told me that this medicine does cause weight loss, and I go to the YMCA all the time already so I am HOPING that with the meds, the YMCA and diet I will FINALLY lose some of this mess.

My downfall in life is CARBS ...I love all high carb food..I am gonna have a hard time cutting them back out of my diet...Whoof !! this is a lot to take in!!

 

[gr8ful4Him]

My downfall in life is CARBS ...I love all high carb food..I am gonna have a hard time cutting them back out of my diet...Whoof !! this is a lot to take in!!

That's probably why you have the diabetes...all CARBS are is a form of sugar. I too recommend the South Beach Diet...but make sure you READ the book and understand the diet. It is truly an informative book and after the first few days, the cravings generally go away...
Best wishes to you.

 

[moniot]

I helped my MIL with her diet when she found out she was diabetic. South Beach is a wonderful way of life. When you read the book and understand how your body breaks down foods it will be like a light bulb going off and things will make sense. We found what worked best for her was to make sure that her protien and carbs were equal amounts and the rest of her meal veggies (low carb of course ) I found lots of information on line to go along with her education classes. Read everything you can get your hands on and research to answer any questions you can think of. So far she has been able to keep it under control with out meds but hers tends to be low and not high.

 

[tink2dw]

I have type 2 Diabetes. I didn't have it with my pregnancy. But do have have a family history of Adult onset or type 2 Diabetes. I've been over weight all of life from 3rd grade on. I had battled my weight most of my life. If I walked by the bakery and inhaled I gained weighted. In my 40's I had just come to terms with the weight. I had decided to never diet again because it just caused more weight gain. I had just set out on a couse to eat healthy. I love veggies,and fruit, so was going to cut back on meat and potatoes. And slowly make healthlier food choses. This felt very good.

Well.....

Bam
I get sick I can't eat anything but veggie soup and My eye site got so bad I thought I had washed the prescription out of my glasses. My Dh a nurse, took me took the dr that very day. And the Dr. said Diabetes!!

THEN......







I was Pissed!!! Oh I was Mad!!! I had just gotten to a place where I was FINALLY comfortable with my body and food wasn't a major THING and now it was all blown to BLOODY HELL!! And you BETTER not tell me that I was lucky! And that this is a Liveable Disease!! Because you didn't see my Great Uncle Richard with both legs amputated above the knee due to diabetes, wishing he could die in place my mother and the cancer that was killing her when I was 14.


So, Ok I had to settle down. It took some time to work through all the anger


But the Dr explained that there are 100 times better medicines now than when I was 14 and when Uncle Richard had diabetes.

I took the Diabetic classes and I started with a pill that is suppose to help your body make insulin but it was pretty clear pretty quickly that it wasn't working.

So they started me on Glucophage. Oh my, that about killed me!! After 6 weeks of constant diarrhea I called the Dr. and told him I'd rather die than take Glucophage anymore and he said to stop it and to come in to talk about insulin.

At that point I was so tired of being sick I was ready to do anything to feel better. And Insulin has made me feel better more normal. It is worth the 2 shots a day to not be sick and be able to live more normal.

Yes I still have days when I feel like if I have to think about food 1 more time I could scream but it passes. I wish they would come up with a better way to test your blood sugar,too. Oh well, maybe one day, I'm still hoping for the watch!!

Test! do your medicine! eat well! Exercise! and live long!!You Can do it!!
And Even Still Go To WDW!!!! Check out the advice on the disABILITIES! board
http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=20

 

[nordkin]

I have had type 2 diabetes for ten years. I have been taking glucophage the entire time and there are still days it bothers my digestive system. I reached a point that I was taking the maximum dose and my A1C's were in the mid 6's so my doctor added Avandia and oh what a difference. My A1C's are now in the high 5's or low 6's and I feel so much better. The key is also diet and exercise. Watch the carbs they turn to sugar in your system. I also recommend a diabetes education class. They are wonderful for teaching you about testing, nutrition, and reading nutrition labels. The last one I went to actually went to a grocery store for a tour and class on reading labels. I would also recommend that your significant other attend the classes with you so both of you understand the disease. It made it so much easier for me when I felt like someone understood my daily battle and the signs to look for to determine if I had low or high sugar levels as most diabetics do not see the signs themselves. Hang in there and you can learn to live a healthy active life with the disease. I remember when my doctor told me and thinking no food is worth my life.

 

[shades]

Hi,
The only bad part is if I forget to get my prescription refilled for a few days I have to readjust to the medicine all over again.

Are you able to get your refills via a mail order program? I think Walgreens does automatic refills now and will ship them to you. You don't have to do anything other than set up your prescriptions the first time around - after that - refills are automatic and I believe they will mail them to you. I began requesting my refills the day I receive a refill in the mail. The pharmacy will not refill the med on that day - but, they do "tag" it in the system and it will be refilled/mailed when it is due. Maybe your pharmacy has a program similar to this - or, maybe your insurance company will cover an online pharmacy that does this.

 

[jennifer293]

My dr. never said anything about coming back to do an A1C, but he never did one when I was pregnant either when I had read about so many others having them during their pregnancies. I am just going to call the hospital and have them refer me to someone who knows what they are talking about.

I appreciate all your advice!!!

Thanks,

Jennifer

 

[disneysteve]

So I got over that and he says he is gonna call me in a RX for Glucophage. Well I took one at 4 pm and I am sooooo sick to my stomach right now...IS it the medicine ..am I just nervous or stressed or WHAT???

Glucophage (metformin) can definitely cause GI upset initially and sometimes ongoing. What strength did he start you on? I generally start at the lowest dose, 500mg twice a day, due to the side effects, and gradually move up the dose if the patient tolerates it okay.

The TZD class of drugs (Actos and Avadia) are quickly becoming the gold standard for treating type II so I would ask about one of those also, especially if you continue to experience side effects from the Glucophage. And yes, you should get an A1C level done as it helps assess long term control (or uncontrol).

Good luck. Diabetes definitely requires some lifestyle changes but it is very treatable and controllable today. Unfortunately, due to obesity and sedentary lifestyles, we are seeing a rapidly growing number of cases, and have started seeing it in children too for the same reasons.

 

[Tiffann4k]

I was diagnosed 3 years ago. Havent changed anything yet ( lifestyle wise) I never had gestational diabetes but did have babies over 9lbs so I knew I was a high risk for it

 

[kfeuer]

I'm another person who takes Glucophage for PCOS. When I first started taking it I lost 35 pounds without trying (if I ate anything fattening, it went straight through me). After 6-8 weeks this settled down and I've been taking it for several years now with no noticable side effects. Give it a little time.

 

[jennifer293]

Glucophage (metformin) can definitely cause GI upset initially and sometimes ongoing. What strength did he start you on? I generally start at the lowest dose, 500mg twice a day, due to the side effects, and gradually move up the dose if the patient tolerates it okay.

The TZD class of drugs (Actos and Avadia) are quickly becoming the gold standard for treating type II so I would ask about one of those also, especially if you continue to experience side effects from the Glucophage. And yes, you should get an A1C level done as it helps assess long term control (or uncontrol).

Good luck. Diabetes definitely requires some lifestyle changes but it is very treatable and controllable today. Unfortunately, due to obesity and sedentary lifestyles, we are seeing a rapidly growing number of cases, and have started seeing it in children too for the same reasons.

He has started me on 500 mg tablet 1 a day for a week, then 2 a day for 2 weeks and then 3 a day from the third week on. I am scared that if it is making me feel this bad at one how I am gonna feel taking 3 a day.

I thought prenatal vitamins were bad..they are nothing compared to this stuff. I am gonna try to eat a lot of high fiber foods I know that helped tremendously with my numbers while I was preggo it seems to soak up the sugar. Maybe it will help out my stomach too....

Lord Knows I don't need any help getting "things flowing" if ya KWIM!!!!

 

[kfeuer]

He has started me on 500 mg tablet 1 a day for a week, then 2 a day for 2 weeks and then 3 a day from the third week on. I am scared that if it is making me feel this bad at one how I am gonna feel taking 3 a day.

I thought prenatal vitamins were bad..they are nothing compared to this stuff. I am gonna try to eat a lot of high fiber foods I know that helped tremendously with my numbers while I was preggo it seems to soak up the sugar. Maybe it will help out my stomach too....

Lord Knows I don't need any help getting "things flowing" if ya KWIM!!!!

Something else I meant to mention--try to avoid high fat/fried foods while you're getting adjusted. It will exacerbate your symptoms. Stick to healthy foods and hopefully your body will adjust quickly.

 

[jennifer293]

Something else I meant to mention--try to avoid high fat/fried foods while you're getting adjusted. It will exacerbate your symptoms. Stick to healthy foods and hopefully your body will adjust quickly.

Thanks for the tip!!! I will keep that one in mind at the next grocery shop!!