Why am I the diabetic when there are waaay fatter dudes and chicks who aren’t?

[944 S2]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

I just had some yearly bloodwork done and they told me i was prediabetic... I really know nothing about diabetes.. I'm sure there is millions of websites with info but can anybody recommend a site for a noob to read up on this?

Well I’m not sure about a website, but Omada thru my employer before I retired is a great resource for weekly short lessons on diet and exercise. They game me a scale that I still use today. Connects automatically to thier website and tracks your weight. I’m not overweight but did loose a few pounds which was a good thing. Maybe google them. They have an app that you use to track your progress.

[pwd72s]

Like I said, ask your doctor..I'm pretty sure all HMO's offer programs for both types of diabetes.. If pre diabetic, wouldn't hurt you a bit to attend a diabetic diet class or two.
Might make you want to cry..but won't hurt. Diet is much more than calories in=calories out.

(edit) Despite knowing this, I'm fortunate to be married to a lady who keeps a close eye on my diet. Without her, I'd probably be gone by now.

[Por_sha911]

The genetics lottery

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I exercise almost daily, walk/jog about 2.3 miles every time and also lift weights. I watch what I eat but ice cream calls my name on the weekends. Anyway, I have friends and family members who are way heftier than I and less active too, yet they’re not diabetic. Life truly isn’t fair. I thought I’d vent. Thanks fellas.

You’re right, life isn’t fair. It’s good to vent now and then. I wish my arthritis would let me jog 2 miles a day again. We all have our challenges, the best we can do is focus on our strengths.

[Starless]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Seriously? I have to find better, more uplifting type 2 diabetes reading material.

Yup, seriously.

[Skytrooper]

I was diagnosed as type II pre-diabetic in 1999 at 39 years old. Since I was an army flight crewman at the time, I had to work very hard to keep my numbers low enough to continue to fly. The army standard is higher than the civilian standard. Eventually it progressed to me having to take metformin to keep the diabetes under control. This was ok in the army at that time. In 2010 the army decided that you could not take oral medication the control type II diabetes. This put me on a medical profile and made me "non-deployable" (total BS). In 2011 I was medically retired from the army, because of the damn diabetes. I was 51 and fully intended to stay until 60. The rug was pulled out from under me, career wise.
Post retirement, after I got caught up on my chores around our little horse farm, I started dabbling in the kitchen. I have always liked to cook and since my wife was working, I just took over. I have never been a fan of processed foods so I went with doing complete meals with nothing processed (out of a can or box, nothing prepared).
To make a long storey short, at my next A1C, my levels had started dropping for the first time in 11 years. As of today my levels are below pre diabetic levels and have been for 7 years.

It worked for me, no telling what it could do for anyone else, but it sure beats being diabetic.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

The genetics lottery

Pretty much

I won that lottery

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by William930t

Great post for awareness. I have had at least two friends die from diabetes complications.

For those who don't get blood tests much or have a family history of diabetes, I suggest getting a One Touch Ultra 2 blood glucose monitor. We have one and I test monthly, first thing after waking. Finger prick for a drop of blood and then transfer to the disposable test strip. Knowing your numbers instantly, you can adjust diet to see if glucose levels drop. Very useful device.

Go get a prescription for a freestyle libre.
Seriously. Sits on your upper arm and you change every 14 days. Use a meter or your phone to scan. Constant monitoring is transformative.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Go get a prescription for a freestyle libre.
Seriously. Sits on your upper arm and you change every 14 days. Use a meter or your phone to scan. Constant monitoring is transformative.

I've been a user for a few years now. Amazing device. If you can't insurance to cover, still semi affordable out of pocket.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Just because I don't eat sweets doesn't mean life has lost its sweetness. Gratitude isn't about what you can't, it is about what you can. I can do a lot of things. I just can't sit down with one of those coffee drinks full of milk and sugar or I will drop like a mother. I don't fight that in my head anymore.

You can still have the coffee with CREAM but not the SUGAR.. Milk has 15G of Carb per cup...Cream is at almost zero because it is FAT. Splenda is a nice substitute

Bread, Pasta, Potato, Rice are to be limited. Sugar (deserts) ist verboten, soda is death in a can, Banannas and oranges have quite a few carbs. Pizza is also limited. BBQ sauce is loaded with sugar..

I eat riced Cauliflower instead of rice with oriental food...Fried Cauliflower instead of fried Rice..

I eat Trader Joes Organic Whole Nut and Grain bread for 12 Carbs per slice. When I make a Burger I just use one slice..

Corn tortillas are 11G per tortillia

Rye Bread is also at 15G

Beans are also pretty low in carbs.

Fruit, Peas and carrots have quite a few carbs

So if you know what you are eating and it's carb values then you can moderate and keep your A1C in line. After awhile it becomes routine.


Read the fkng labels on the food packages...

Everything either has sugar and or salt...in the food that you buy.

My suggestion is to restrict SALT as well...it retains water and drives BP.

[Alan A]

Not to be a broken record but you can easily figure out what you can tolerate if you monitor continually.

Bananas, OJ, pretzels, donuts, white rice and bagels kill my sugar #s.
Pasta doesn’t. Potatoes don’t.

I also have that somyogi deal going on. I can see my sugar dip down into the 50s some nights and bump up to 140 when I wake up. Without actually seeing what’s going on I’d be a lot more concerned.

I’m convinced diet soda did this to me. Used to drink a lot of it.
I mean more than a gallon a day of that stuff. Been off it for 10 years and as far as I can tell nothings gotten worse since then.

[scott540]

Type 1 diabetes since I was 13. 40 yrs next month.
Totally sucks but like others said. Grateful for everything else.
In many ways I'm in better shape I think than most of people i know my
Age because I know food and exercise because I have to. .
Still have treats, beers etc. Just not every day

[brainz01]

There's some good advice above on figuring out what in your diet drives your sugars up. The Freestyle Libre would likely be a terrific tool for measuring glucose in real-time to get your diet sorted.

For you T2 or pre-diabetic folks, you should check out this book (no affiliation):

Jason Fung -- The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally
https://www.amazon.com/Diabetes-Code-Prevent-Reverse-Naturally/dp/1771642653

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

I just had some yearly bloodwork done and they told me i was prediabetic... I really know nothing about diabetes.. I'm sure there is millions of websites with info but can anybody recommend a site for a noob to read up on this?

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIe2pR6PE0dae9BunJ38F7w

I follow this guy's advice - it has helped me a whole lot.

I was diagnosed Type II a few years ago. I initially tried to cut out carbs but mostly relied on the Metformin to lower my glucose. However, that wasn't working well so the doc added Jardiance. I continued to rely on the meds and really wasn't watching my carbs very well. In fact, I'm a candy/cookie addict so I would have no problem eating a whole bag of cookies. The next dr visit, my A1c was 8.5 and the doctor added Junovia so I was now up to 3 meds.

At this point, I decided to take it seriously and went on a strict low-carb diet. I started testing my blood 3-4 times a day. I started watching dozens & dozens of vids on reversing Type II. I found that keto is better than low carb (they are both low carb but keto is higher fat).

Since that time, I still check my blood a couple times a day and it is generally 110 or lower. My last A1c was 5.6 so I have made a huge difference by being on Keto. And, I'm completely satisfied. Costco has has lot of keto snacks and a Keto granola that is fantastic.

Pre-diabetic is something to take seriously as it is just the mid point from Type II on a chart. Reversing diabetes II is much easier when starting early.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

The genetics lottery

This.

Be glad you don't have numerous other genetic disorders. I bet anyone with ALS would trade your type 2 diabetes for their disease in a heartbeat.

One of my cousins grandchildren is a skinny very active 16 year old girl. She had to have an insulin pump implanted to keep her healthy.

[LeeH]

I'm 6' tall and 165 pounds. I hike hundreds of miles per year. We walk regularly - 5 miles to pick up a few things from Sprouts last week. I mostly eat a healthy diet. Yet... my blood sugar level hovers around 100-110, putting me in the "pre-diabetic" category.

Yep... it's frustrating.

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by LeeH

I'm 6' tall and 165 pounds. I hike hundreds of miles per year. We walk regularly - 5 miles to pick up a few things from Sprouts last week. I mostly eat a healthy diet. Yet... my blood sugar level hovers around 100-110, putting me in the "pre-diabetic" category.

Yep... it's frustrating.

BG readings vary so much throughout the day that they are virtually useless. You need A1C testing.

[GH85Carrera]

I suspect it is much like cholesterol. My FIL biked 100 to 150 miles per week, was skinny and ate low cholesterol meals. His cholesterol was over 300 when his doctor first tested him. With medication and an strict diet he could get to 200.

I was a regular blood donor for many years, and they always did several health tests on the donors and after every donation they sent a report with the cholesterol levels. I was usually in the 80s and I eat lots of foods my FIL could not have.

Pure genetics.

[masraum]

This guy is a medical doctor and endocrinologist that specializes is diabetes and weight loss. There used to be a ton of entries on his website, but I think they are gone and he now wants you to buy his book.

I think the gist of his treatment and theory is that these days we eat constantly. Back in the day before diabetes was a big problem, folks at 3 times a day, no midday snacks or late night eating, no heavy sugary drinks in between meals, etc.... Obviously, I don't know what he does for treatment of diabetes since I don't have it, but based on what I read when there was a bunch of stuff on his website, it seemed to be mostly intermittent fasting.

https://www.dietdoctor.com/successful-reversal-of-type-2-diabetes-inspired-by-dr-jason-fung

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I suspect it is much like cholesterol. My FIL biked 100 to 150 miles per week, was skinny and ate low cholesterol meals. His cholesterol was over 300 when his doctor first tested him. With medication and an strict diet he could get to 200.

I was a regular blood donor for many years, and they always did several health tests on the donors and after every donation they sent a report with the cholesterol levels. I was usually in the 80s and I eat lots of foods my FIL could not have.

Pure genetics.

The Cholesterol thing has come up before. Yes, genetics will be a factor. I believe that eating fats (milk, cheese, meat) is actually much, much lower on the list than the rest of the world thinks. I think that eating sweets/sugar which cause inflammation is a much bigger factor.

Mine used to be 265. At the same time, I also had a sweet tooth and ate sweets Fri, Sat and Sun. I cut out the sweets and added more fiber, and my next test was 165. During that time, I did not change or reduce my fat intake. Actually, I think I was eating more meat and cheese than I had prior.

This past year during covid, my sweets intake has gone back up, and my test the end of the year showed me back at 238. Now I need to cut the sugar out again.