Any Diabetics?

[cool_chick]

My mother was just diagnosed with diabetes. We are to control her sugar with diet at this time.

I've made an appointment with a dietitian, but in the meantime, until we start meeting with this dietitian (sp?) I need to go shopping today for some food for her.

Suggestions on what to buy?

[Noah930]

Low sugar, low carbs. "Diet" stuff. You even have to be careful with fruits and veggies, as they will have "sugar" in them, too.

It really is a silent killer. Your mom will feel fine, even if she doesn't stick with her diet. But years of hyperglycemia will take their toll: nerve endings die off (numb feet and hands), poor circulation, bad heart, compromised immune system, vision suffers, etc. Usually not a big deal to be diabetic when you're younger--you can be noncompliant and barely notice it a lick--but it sucks to be old, sick, and diabetic.

[Instrument 41]

Type one diabetic here. Minimum of 4 shots per day. Consulting with a dietitian is the best move, inconjuntion with your Endocrinologist. Just changed my insulin routine via a dietitian. The thing they will tell her is to watch her carb count. Nuts have no sugar but do have fats that effect sugar levels. Also need to watch protein in her urine. Depending on her age will also make a difference in how aggressive you should be. Remember that a baked potato has as much sugar as a regular sized Snickers bar. I cannot urge folks out there enough, if you don't watch it when your diagnosed early you will end up on the needle.

[hardflex]

i tend to be hypoglycemic so I stay away from sugars. Eat good "long term" complex carb stuff, like brown rice instead of white rice, Whole grain breads instead of white. Stay away from anything processed such as instant oatmeal or most breakfast cereals, get the "old fashioned" oatmeal. Whole baked potatoes instead of instant mashed, etc.

[StevoRocket]

I have Type two - found in 2001, take metformin 1 x 500mg tab a day and watch diet. Check out cinnamon - has a great natural lowering effect on sugar levels - less than half a teaspoon ful per day in a cup of coffee. Dont go overboard on diet stress - advice here in the UK is to eat a carefull sensible normal diet, monitor blood sugar levels with a pin prick reader. Exercise daily - walking is enough.
Try http://www.diabetes.org.uk/home.htm web site for good information.

[Tobra]

She should check her sugar at various times during the day, Monday on first rising, Tuesday right after breakfast, Wed prior to lunch, etc, and keep a log, including what and how much she is eating. This will assist her doctor in keeping track of what is going on.

She needs to get an eye exam, soonish and at least once a year afterwards, plenty of potential complications in the eyes.

EVERY SINGLE DAY she should closely inspect her feet, it is more a question of when she begins to have numbness than if she will. If she ever sees something that looks like it should hurt, but does not, she must contact a physician asap. In the last 15 years, I have seen 1(one) long term diabetic without a detectable sensory deficit. Would not be a bad idea to just go see a podiatrist to get a little education, I can suggest someone if you tell me where she lives.

She needs to lose weight and excercise daily. I encourage older women to do a bit of light weight training. Helps with bone density, helps maintaining lean muscle mass. If she does not, she will eventually end up on meds, oral or injection, won't dig that too much I can assure you. Should clear any excercise regimen with her doctor.

Tell her to keep a little piece of hard candy or two(With sugar) in her pocket. If she starts feeling sort of punk, headache, sweaty, shaky, funny taste in her mouth, chew up the candy and check bood glucose level. Sugar is the gas your brain runs on, low blood sugar will kill you right now, high blood sugar can take a few decades. If she feels crappy from low levels, say 50, that candy will buy her some time to get some food in her. If her sugar is 550 already, won't hurt her any to go up to 600, may save her life to go from 50 to 100.

As for diet, she needs to go meet with a dietician. Protein is a better coice than carbs in general. Less chance of big swings in glucose levels, which is a good thing to avoid

[cool_chick]

You guys are so completely awesome. Just being told on Friday, it's like whoa.....

I've been reading this all to mom.

Completely appreciate it. Any more is welcome too....

[StevoRocket]

This is the American site you should check out too.


http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

Particularly this pge for people recently diagnosed.

http://www.diabetes.org/recently-diagnosed.jsp?WTLPromo=HOME_1st_recentlydiagnosed

[legion]

Diabetes killed my dad in February. He was 52. He was diagnosed in '89, but decided he knew better than his doctors. He would eat a whole box of cookies one day, and not eat anything the next. I can't even count how many times paramedics were called because we couldn't wake him up. He had poor circulation in his legs and lost his left leg in 2003. In the end, his kidneys started to fail. He would gain 100 lbs, go to dialysis for a month, and lose 100 lbs. His heart couldn't keep up with his rapid weight gains/losses and finally gave up.

From what I gather, much understanding of diabetes has been gained in recent years. Listen to the doctors, if you don't understand anything, ask questions until you do.

The only things I do know for certain is to watch the carb intake and make sure she gets exercise (to keep blood flowing through the extremeties). (Because of confidentiality, I rarely spoke to my father's doctors, and he routinely editorialized what his doctors said so that he could continue with his lifestyle...)

[Ronbo]

I've got Type 2 and am taking Glucovance. There has been great advice here, and I'd also like to reinforce what's been said about getting daily exercise and avoiding carbs, not just obvious sugar. In particular, potatoes, pastas, and rice make my blood glucose skyrocket.

Eye exams are very important. I've got some microaneurysms in my retinas due to the diabetes. Unchecked, this could lead to blindness. Make sure you consult a nutritionist because fundamental changes to diet are most likely needed. Good luck!

[azasadny]

I'm not diabetic, but I had had a bad reaction to Splenda and Nutrasweet, so I'm using this as a sugar substitute and so far, so good... No sugar, no carbs, produced from a plant in S. America. It's very sweet and doesn't take much to get my cofffee and tea the way I like them.

http://www.steviva.com/

[Instrument 41]

I tried Steeva but it left a bad after taste. I also agree to the eye exam. I have already had 3 surgeries for busted vessels behind the eye, not very fun I should say.

A lot of what they recommend for her will be in relation to her age and any other problems she may have. Diabetes care is nowhere like it was just 5 years ago. Thye have so many ways to act as a preventitive instead of after the fact.

[Tobra]

The other nice thing about the regular eye exams is this.

The back of your eye is the only place in your body where you can look at the blood vessels without cutting the person open. It is all the same plumbing, so if it is bad in your eye, it stands to reason it is bad in your head, heart or legs.

There are soo many jerkoff docs who jsut tell people, "You are diabetic, take this pill, the odds are you will lose a leg from it eventually." Just because Dick in the White Coat said so, it is inevitable, so people figure, "Screw it, I am hosed anyway, gimme a scotch."

I spend about an hour with every new patient who is a diabetic just drilling into their heads that they do in fact control their fate to some degree. Oh, and I tell the men that if they don't take care of it, they won't be able to get it up, which is technically true, and that gets their attention almost every time.

Oh yeah, tell her not to drink, and if she smokes, tell her to quit, today.

[Z-man]

Type I Diabetic here. Since 1981. 4 shots a day, but I'm seriously considering switching to the pump since it tends to keep a body more stable blood-sugar-wise. I am waiting until they merge a blood test system with a pump so it's a closed system. BTW: That technology is just on the horizon - I think it is close to federal approval.

Regarding sugar substitutes - Spenda and anything with Sorbitol is a no-no for me. Gives me the runs instantly, which in turn gets me dehydrated which will eventually raise my blood sugar! I'm better off with a scoop of regular ice cream once in a while than doing the Splenda-poop. So a word to the wise - stay away from the stuff.

Blood sugar wise - sounds like your mom has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. They don't require as much blood tests as they do with us type 1's, but at least for starters - she should check her blood sugars at least before each meal. I test my sugars 5-7 times a day - that keeps me informed of what's going on.

While your mom adjusts her body may feel like its on a roller-coaster - be patient and ride it out - eventually, things will stabilize.

-Z-man.

[StevoRocket]

"Regarding sugar substitutes - Spenda and anything with Sorbitol is a no-no for me. Gives me the runs instantly"

I can vouch for that too!

My brother offered me chunky marmalade with a "Diabetic" label.

I thought I had food poisoning!

Inside 1 and a half hours I was totally drained in the most disgusting fashion.

My brothers comment - well you did lay it on the toast a bit thick!

[Paul_Heery]

Originally posted by Z-man
Type I Diabetic here. Since 1981. 4 shots a day, but I'm seriously considering switching to the pump since it tends to keep a body more stable blood-sugar-wise. I am waiting until they merge a blood test system with a pump so it's a closed system.

I've been in a pump for the last 12 years. Yes, I was an early adopter. It has made all the difference in how I manage and maintain. You just hit a button when you know how much you are going to eat. (As mentioned before, carb-counting is probably the most important thing a diabetic will need to learn.)

Now for testing, I test at least 4 to 6 times a day. Z, you mention some of the new technology available. I tested one of the new continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems last month. I gave the manufacturer a ton of feedback on the device but I basically told them that they were using 1999 technology in 2006. The device I tested was obviously not designed with someone who would have it attached to their body.

I'll be testing one of the new pump/CGM combos next month. It has some promise, but I've also noted some limitiations/shortcomings already.

[rs6er]

Paul-
My son is type1 and switched to Cozmo from Minimed after several years. What are you using and how did you get to test the CGM?

[Paul_Heery]

Originally posted by rs6er
Paul-
My son is type1 and switched to Cozmo from Minimed after several years. What are you using and how did you get to test the CGM?

John,

I'm currently using a Minimed 508. It is a little older, but I did not like the one that replaced it. I'm currently looking at what will be my next pump and I'm actually considering one from Cozmore.

I was asked by my CDE if I wanted to participate in a trial for a CGM. It turned out to by for the DexCom unit. There were too many things that needed to be addressed before I would consider using it full-time. First, the sender was never meant to get wet so you needed to apply a stick-on patch to cover it up when you are in the shower. Second, the wireless has such a limited range that you can't roll over in bed with going out of range. Third, to use it full-time for a year, the cost of supplies/consumables approaches $5,000 and that is not covered by insurance.

I'm up next to try the Minimed Paradigm system. That should hopefully occur next month.

[rs6er]

Paul-
We were using Minimed pumps before Medco bought the company. The products were great, and the customer service couldn't have been better. That all changed. The last one he had was the newest Paradigm. It malfunctioned several times. A relative had done a lot of work with Minimed. He told us everything changed after Medco bought the company, and he moved to Abbott Labs. His daughter switched to the Cozmo. We did the same and couldn't be happier with the pump and the company.

For instance, if you are going on a trip or something (for him it was summer camp) they gaves us an extra pump to use in case he had a problem with his pump. He didn't. When the summer was over we sent the other pump back. No charge. There is also a meter that attaches to the pump and communicates to it with infrared so you don't have to carry one with you all the time. (He didn't like the included meter that much and uses a different one). It also works with any AA battery unlike the Paradigm.

I just asked my son what he likes the most about it. His answer: "It's reliable." He's still on his first. We were having relacement pumps sent to us all the time because his Minimed pumps kept breaking.

[Z-man]

Originally posted by rs6er
It malfunctioned several times.

Details? That is what scares the hell out of me regarding these pumps. I know that there are safeties built in to these devices, but if a pump happends to malfunction and dump 10cc of insulin into me, I'm a dead man.

That said, thanks for this information - I'll be talking with my diabetes dr regarding switching to a pump. BTW: anyone have experience with a pump on the racetrack? Would high g-forces effect the delivery of the insulin?

Thanks,
-Z