[Ilysa]

Hey everyone. My name is Ilysa and I am new to the community. I have dealt with depression for quite some time and have just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (as well as some fatty liver issues).

I am sort of at a standstill as to what I need to focus on. I love food and cooking and I find myself going up and down the isles not knowing what to grab because there is so much conflicting information out there. Also, I am trying to focuss on the GI but then there are also the caloric intake of foods because i have about 100 pounds still to lose. I am really bad at eating regularly (and often enough) so my metabolism is kind of shot to begin with.

I am trying not to panic and be worried about small things (like my eyes being dry (i've always thought it was because i dont sleep enough- but know i am paranoid its because of the diabetes)...

I am on Metformin 2/day and checking my BS levels 2/day. It's only been 5 days since I have been diagnosed and am working on controlling things.

I have seen some small changes in my numbers (from the teens (and once spiked to 16) to under 10 for the last 3 readings)

I don't know if this is too early to be taking any of those lower numbers as truth...

sorry for ranting, but this is something that I am not sure about how to deal- too many things at once...


I appreciate all the tips and advice that I can get and I hope that I can be here to continue my journey and be able to turn around and say "yay! I am at my healthy weight and I have been able to reverse or practically stop my diabetes in it's tracks!"

Cheers, here's to progress.

[waterbaby]

Hi, Ilysa!

I was diagnosed with Type 2 last week, although my doc and I are pretty sure it started back in February.

Anyway...I have a tip for you.

Richard Simmons' FoodMover is based on the ADA (American Diabetic Association) food plan and is very easy to use. I bought one on ebay two or three years ago and kept it for some reason. Now I'm glad I did.

I've been using it to keep my intake of the food groups like they're supposed to be and even have the two little cookbooks that go with it.

My next purchase is going to be his Steam Heat steamer and the cookbook that goes with it.

I figure it this way -- I check my blood sugar before and after meals and before I exercise -- and go on with my life.

Hopefully, this information will prove helpful. Welcome to a great community. I believe there is another thread about dieting with obstacles. There may be a diabetic forum in there - I haven't checked.

Cheers!

Claire

[meowee]

Okay . . . ILYSA . . . calm down and take a deep breath. Good. . . . you've definitely come to a great place for lots of support and encouragement as you travel down the long and often bumpy road to better health and fitness.

I've been dealing with type II for a long time, sometimes better than others. If you haven't done so already, go up and take a look at the "Getting to Know You" thread up in the Sticky area to learn more about some of the regulars around here (me included). There's a lot of good information available in this forum as a matter of fact.

As you doctor has no doubt told you, losing the excess weight is probably the one single most important thing you can do to control this nasty little disease. There is no one particular diet that is perfect for diabetics nor is there any one particular plan that is perfect for anybody for that matter. Personally I think that the ADA and the CDA are both a little too heavy on the carbs for good diabetic care these days. The ADA is only starting to think in terms of GI/GL and the CDA, although definitely further along that road than the ADA is still pushing a little too much carb.

IMHO, (with apologies to you, Claire -- I'm really glad it's working so well for you ) the old Richard Simmons Plan (although a good diet program) is also a bit back in the dark ages based on some of the knowledge we have now. Even the ADA has modified their guidelines since Richard developed that plan.

From my experience . . . GI is definitely the way to go and although I don't follow any particular GI/GL plan they are all very similar in nature and stress the quality of the carbs you eat as well as the quantity. Calories do count, unfortunately. My personal plan is a cross between the GI programs and Volumetrics which tells you how to get the most food for your calorie buck. Since I got very serious about things at the beginning of 2006, I've lost almost 70 pounds and managed to get off insulin and Actos completely although I still take Glyburide and Metformin.

Has your doctor made an appointment for you to see a DEC (Diabetic Education Centre) yet? they have lots of great information to provide for you. Although their advice about how many carbs might be a little 'iffy', one thing that definitely rings true is the information about balancing your carb intake as evenly as possible throughout the day.

Anyway . . . enough of my preaching for now . . . hope you will come over and join our regular chat thread "Dieting with Diabetes" in this forum . . . http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143222

And we'd love to see you over in the "Sugar Shakers Forum" . . . http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=62 Right now it is mostly about Sugar Busters which is probably the oldest of the well known low GI plans, but we are in the process of expanding it to cover all of the newer GI/GL plans as well.

Finally . . . here's a link to the lastest "Volumetrics Thread"as well . . . http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141261

I notice you've already found "The Crazy Canuks Cluck Club" and I'll be looking forward to getting to know you over there, too.

So . . . have a good day, buddy and try to remember that too much stress is very bad for those Blood Glucose Levels, too.

[meowee]

BTW . . . CLAIRE . . . hope you will be a regular around here too. This Diabetes Support Forum is a sub-forum of the Dieting with Obstacles Forum.

You are vey right . . . we have to go on with our lives . . . and a good exercise routine is also very important to controlling BGL.

[waterbaby]

Meowee --

SugarBusters is almost as old as that FoodMover -- sigh -- and I agree with you that the information has changed some, but still current enough for me to use the FoodMover as a tool until I get used to all this...

I forgot to mention that I have been using Volumetrics for awhile (and am embarrassed that I haven't posted over there in awhile) and completely agree that it's AWESOME. I use the nutrition listing on 3FC all the time to look up the ED of something I'm thinking of eating.

Doc hasn't sent me to a class yet; I'll remind her.

I'm so glad you're doing well and thanks for giving out information based on both experience and education. It sure helps.

I'll mosey over to SugarShakers and have a look-see...

See everyone on the main thread!!!

[Ilysa]

Thanks again M.

before i actually got diagnosed, i was sent to a gastro doc for some fatty liver stuff, and he booked me with a dietician on July 7th. I think that my reg gp wanted to see how that went and maybe that's why she didnt book me with anyone else. She did mention that she would refer me to a diabetes spec. although, the wait times are usually long and i havent heard when i will be seeing them.

i know that stress and depression have always been a major factor. i'm a insomniatic worrier and always have been...

this seems like a cool community, i'll just have to get used to the organizational aspect of it since it seems like it can get a little confusing...

i am seeing my reg gp on Friday, so we'll see how that goes. Right now i dont have any coverage (for the small things that are covered) and am poor (and will be even poorer once i start school and only work pt).

anyone know of any help out there to cover the costs? For students?

Thanks again,

hope everyone is having a great day

finally not raining today and seems like its gearing up for a "summerish" weekend...

[meowee]

Originally Posted by waterbaby

Meowee --

SugarBusters is almost as old as that FoodMover -- sigh -- and I agree with you that the information has changed some, but still current enough for me to use the FoodMover as a tool until I get used to all this...

I forgot to mention that I have been using Volumetrics for awhile (and am embarrassed that I haven't posted over there in awhile) and completely agree that it's AWESOME. I use the nutrition listing on 3FC all the time to look up the ED of something I'm thinking of eating.

Doc hasn't sent me to a class yet; I'll remind her.

I'm so glad you're doing well and thanks for giving out information based on both experience and education. It sure helps.

I'll mosey over to SugarShakers and have a look-see...

See everyone on the main thread!!!

Yep, Sugar Busters is quite old, but once you get past the "carrots are bad" part, the principles are decent. As I mentioned, I use principles of GI and principles of volumetrics -- hope to see you back on the volumetrics thread, Chickie.

Originally Posted by Ilysa

Thanks again M.

before i actually got diagnosed, i was sent to a gastro doc for some fatty liver stuff, and he booked me with a dietician on July 7th. I think that my reg gp wanted to see how that went and maybe that's why she didnt book me with anyone else. She did mention that she would refer me to a diabetes spec. although, the wait times are usually long and i havent heard when i will be seeing them.

i know that stress and depression have always been a major factor. i'm a insomniatic worrier and always have been...

this seems like a cool community, i'll just have to get used to the organizational aspect of it since it seems like it can get a little confusing...

i am seeing my reg gp on Friday, so we'll see how that goes. Right now i dont have any coverage (for the small things that are covered) and am poor (and will be even poorer once i start school and only work pt).

anyone know of any help out there to cover the costs? For students?

Thanks again,

hope everyone is having a great day

finally not raining today and seems like its gearing up for a "summerish" weekend...

Don't know of any actual agencies that might offer help . . . but I do know that a lot of the metre and strip manufacturers are pretty good about providing free (or lower cost) stuff to those having difficulties. Take a look around the internet and see what you can find. Also, get in touch with your Provincial Medicare office because they might be able to steer you toward some assistance as well. Don't forget to ask the dietician that question, too.

See you both soon . . .

[justducky2]

Hi Ilysa, and welcome! I , too, have about 100 lbs to lose. I"m trying to look at it in 10 lb increments. The main thing I have found with the diabetes is finding what works for me in keeping my BS under control. I found the ADA diet (my doc sent me to a nutritionist) to be way too high in carbs. Atkins made me feel better, and made my numbers great because it was so low carb, but personally, I felt it was too much meat and fat and not healthy for me. I agree with Meowee on the low GI... for me, it keeps my BS in the right range. I'm also doing vegetarian and low fat (Dr. Neal Bernard's plan, but I haven't quite gotten to the absolute vegan part, it's hard for me to completely give up the cheese and eggs, although I don't eat them much).

I find that keeping a food diary helps me to figure out what affects my BS. Who'd have known that having a serving of vegan lentil soup would give me a reading of 100 2 hours after my meal! I also find that even taking a 15 minute walk on my break time at work can lower my BS 50 points!!!

So part of this is figuring out what works for you. Best wishes, and we're all here for support!

[pkend4593]

Hey
Welome aboad, jus like you I need to lose 100+ and type 2 diabetic, I was diagnosed in 2000, when i found out I was in denial, I just recently woke up, I want to see my kids grow up, I've been doing low carb, and my highest BS lately has been 130, compared to the over 200 readings, just stay focused on your goal, and make small changes every day
paulas

[cardinalsfan]

Originally Posted by Ilysa

Hey everyone. My name is Ilysa and I am new to the community. I have dealt with depression for quite some time and have just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (as well as some fatty liver issues).

I am sort of at a standstill as to what I need to focus on. I love food and cooking and I find myself going up and down the isles not knowing what to grab because there is so much conflicting information out there. Also, I am trying to focuss on the GI but then there are also the caloric intake of foods because i have about 100 pounds still to lose. I am really bad at eating regularly (and often enough) so my metabolism is kind of shot to begin with.

I am trying not to panic and be worried about small things (like my eyes being dry (i've always thought it was because i dont sleep enough- but know i am paranoid its because of the diabetes)...

I am on Metformin 2/day and checking my BS levels 2/day. It's only been 5 days since I have been diagnosed and am working on controlling things.

I have seen some small changes in my numbers (from the teens (and once spiked to 16) to under 10 for the last 3 readings)

I don't know if this is too early to be taking any of those lower numbers as truth...

sorry for ranting, but this is something that I am not sure about how to deal- too many things at once...


I appreciate all the tips and advice that I can get and I hope that I can be here to continue my journey and be able to turn around and say "yay! I am at my healthy weight and I have been able to reverse or practically stop my diabetes in it's tracks!"

Cheers, here's to progress.

your story was mine to a "T" about a month ago. recently diagnosed and scared and i didnt have a clue what to do. i was getting advice and answers from everywhere, but it was all different. then i scheduled an appt with a local diabetic specialist and it was great. they did a full workup and i got to talk to a doctor that knows about diabetes!! i talked with a nutritionist and she helped immensely. since then, ive lost 32 pounds and its still coming off. my BG (blood glucose) is under control and i feel great!! think about seeing a specialist, its worth the price!!