Joining the diabetes gruppe

[pwd72s]

Just back from a blood test at the MD's...fasting blood sugar count 282. Asked to attend classes about type 2 diabetes, was given pamphlets on "simple changes" in my lifestyle. "simple changes" indeed, as long as you aren't the one doing them.

Yeah, I'm a bit depressed...reading of these "simple changes" has pretty much convinced me that I'll have to stop living in order to keep breathing. I mean, how many steps on the downslope of life do I want to take before I decide that jumping off the cliff is better?

Quality over quantity of life for me.

I'm going to ignore 'em, let nature take it's course.

[Ronbo]

Welcome to the club. It's really no more than eating a healthy diet, moderate daily exercise, and taking the meds. The worst of it for me was cutting out carbs, but once you get used to it it's not too bad. It is depressing when you find out, but you just have to deal with it. I have for almost 10 years now.

[StevoRocket]

Hi


I was diagnosed in 2001 - two days before a holiday in the Bahamas.


Its a shock.


You will get used to the idea and if you do you will take your tablets , have your revue and blood samples done and then - guess what?


Get on with your life. Enjoy it.


My brothers comment - you can still enjoy a chocolate bar, beer and whiskey.

You can still drive your Porsche.

Dont look inward.

[scottmandue]

Yes it is a bummer and yes it is overwhelming when they hit you with all those brochures... but life isn't over...

Cut your carbs, get some meds, get a little low impact exercise... it is good for you anyways, you will be amazed at how much better you feel.

I keep my numbers 120-180 range by just doing the above.

And I still drink alcohol in moderation (no really!)

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I'm going to ignore 'em, let nature take it's course.

Paul, don't be stupid. You've gone through much worse. Like the others have said, this is just a minor lifestyle change.

[StevoRocket]

Its important for you to realise that this is one of lifes irritations, not a 90mph drive into a brick wall.


Since diagnosed I have


Driven a 3.2 Carerra through France.

Driven a 993 Targa through France , italy and Germany several times


Driven a 996 GT3RS to

Monza

The Nurburgring 4 times

Oulton Park

Spa Franchorchamps

Donington Park twice

and various other track days

I have been on numerous trips through Europe in my Audi or Porsche - including the summer when it was so hot that 12000 old people died in France.

To summarise, dont compromise your life for it - just get out there and do what you want to do - modern drugs can keep your condition under control along with simple dietry guidelines and exercise.

Chin up - it is most certainly not as life changing as the doom mongers would have you believe.

[StevoRocket]

Nurburgring may 2008

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

Paul, don't be stupid. You've gone through much worse. Like the others have said, this is just a minor lifestyle change.

I'm reserving the right to change my mind... Going to do more research before I make up my mind. So far, doing nothing is my favorite option. So, let's say I do that...how long do I have before (hopefully) experiencing that sudden & fatal heart attack?

Stevo, thank for the kind words...but a glamorous European vacation isn't in the cards for Cindy & I...

[StevoRocket]

You do whats possible for you - I do whats possible for me - at 63.


Main thing is you will get used to the regime, with wifely support its much easier.


Sure there are days when you wake up saying "why me" - but even some of the nastier outcomes are not inevitable if you exercise, take the tablets and have the common sense to visit the medics for the regular reviews. These doctors and nurses are your friend - treat them that way and get a good relationship going - it pays off with the quality of care they give you.

[Jims5543]

A co-worker was telling me a story that you might appreciate.


His mother (in her 60's) has had type 2 diabetes for as long as I have known him.


She does the insulin thing and goes about her life. Recently (6 months ago) she joined weight watchers, sick of being 50 lbs overweight all the time. She has changed he diet and eating habits drastically and has lost 40 lbs so far.

She was having all kinds of issues with her blood sugar levels and had to go to the doctor. The doctor announced she no longer needed her insulin because he diabetes was gone.


All because she decided to eat right and get in shape for the 1st time in 20 years.


I am a young guy,(if 40 is young to you) I never eat at fast food nor do I eat fried food. Just this evening we grilled up a bunch of shrimp with a dash of olive oil, garlic and some old bay seasoning. This plus a salad was dinner. The guys at work make fun of me and my hard boiled egg whites that I eat for breakfast, the turkey on whole wheat with mustard and lettuce for lunch and the apples, cheese sticks and bananas I eat all day, having some natural almonds for a snack.

One of them grabs his pot belly and teases me telling me a lot of hard work went into his "abs".

Food is nutrition not a life style, yes, I enjoy going out to eat a good steak and a loaded potato with either a nice bottle of wine or some beers but this is not a nightly thing, this is a once in a while thing.

Honestly, if your upset because you have to eat healthy and exercise......

Welcome to what most health conscious people do every day. When I first resolved to get in shape and stop eating crappy, and drinking like a fish, I found it was harder to kick the crappy food than it was to stop the drinking.

The crappy food is as addictive as booze IMHO.

[RWebb]

sorry to hear it

try a steak & roasted veges only diet for a few days and see if that changes your attitude

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

So far, doing nothing is my favorite option. So, let's say I do that...how long do I have before (hopefully) experiencing that sudden & fatal heart attack?

I hope you're joking. Most likely you won't have a sudden heart attack, but your circulatory system will increasingly not work properly leading to eventual amputation of limbs. High blood glucose is also very hard on internal organs like the kidneys, which also can fail early. Lets not talk about the diabetic retinopathy, which will eventually lead to blindness. Death will more likely be slow and painful.

Take a few days to get used to the idea of living with diabetes, and read as much as you can about it. Virtually all of the complications associated with diabetes are preventable if you take care of yourself and follow doctor's orders. It's far from the end of the world, although it seems like it when you're diagnosed.

[Skytrooper]

I found out at my Warrant Officer pre-commisioning physical. I had been striving my entire career to get to that step. It was like a punch in the solar plexus.
I am on meds for it (no insulin...yet) and try to eat as good as I can, get some exercise, and shed any extra weight. I feel better than I have in years ! It is really quite amazing that you do not realize how crummy you have been feeling until you change things up a bit, and talk about an excuse for getting into shape ! Yeah, I maybe the grumpy old Sergeant.... but I can out perform soldiers half my age

It isn't a death sentence bro...more like an awakening to better living

P.S. I still enjoy my beer !

[ChkbookMechanic]

I'm Type 1 diabetic.
You type 2s have it easy. changing what you eat and exercising? Not a problem.

Having to prick yourself 5+ times a day and then injecting yourself just as many? Not as much fun. But hey, I've honestly never felt better - you will learn to watch what you eat and you will learn how to take care of yourself. It isn't a death sentence you can't let it rule your life.

[einreb]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Quality over quantity of life for me.

What 'quality of life' things are you going to have to give up? My FIL is diabetic... the things he doesn't want to give up include not exercising and eating crappy foods.

We all die. But if you have any family or youngsters to be an example for... you might want to man the fuch up and make some changes.

[artplumber]

Paul
I know you're just being crabby. It's really not the end of the world. Maybe, since you're over the Porsche thing, you should try summat different. Don't know if pool gives you that "rush", but stopping living is definitely not one of the therapies for diabetes. We all could regale you with horror stories, but ain't it better for you to make a few adjustments and move on? Check out the other threads about this subject. A good number of folks have had some success with over the counter approaches, sometimes concurrently with pharma products. Some don't even require more than diet. Step up to the plate, might not be as bad as you think...

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I'm reserving the right to change my mind... Going to do more research before I make up my mind. So far, doing nothing is my favorite option. So, let's say I do that...how long do I have before (hopefully) experiencing that sudden & fatal heart attack?

Well, to be blunt, if your fasting glucose is already 282, you have pretty serious type 2 diabetes and may well need insulin therapy either now or in the near future. If you don't do anything about your diabetes there are a multitude of things that might befall you before you have that sudden and fatal heart attack. For example, your feet will go numb from damage to the nerves. This will cause you to not notice when your feet have sores and such on them. Add to this that your arterial flow will deteriorate and you have a setup for some very nice non-healing ulcers on your feet which will become infected. You might make it through a few episodes of this, but most of the non-complaint diabetics I know are missing at least a few toes, if not a leg or two.

Wait, it gets better! After your nerves go, you will lose your kidney function and end up on dialysis. Sometime after that you will go blind from the damage to your retinas.

After all that, you might have a sudden heart attack.

My advice, as a physician, is to take your diabetes very very seriously and do everything in your power to lose weight, exercise and take your medications.

[ja78911sc]

I discovered two years ago that my fasting bs was at a pre-diabetic levels (between 100 - 125). I lost fifty pounds, exercise every day and eat a low carb balanced diet. My fasting numbers dropped to a normal level.

Another example: A good friend was fasting in the 300's. Lost weight, exercised daily & completely changed his diet. He now is fasting at a normal level.

The reason I was so inspired is because I witnessed the disease ravage my father's body including losing his leg, kidney failure & a stroke was the final nail.

Keep in mind that there are not many diseases which you can reverse with a little hard work and a change in your lifestyle. Just think how many people would reverse cancer if they had the chance.

Exercise & diet do not always work for everyone but you should at least give it your best shot.

Diabetes is a manageable disease. Good luck and don't give up.

[johnco]

got it now also. found out during cancer treatment when my blood sugar was 400. since then it rarely goes over 150. maybe once or twice when I've had a few Dr. Peppers and candy during the day. guess the spaghetti almost every day doesn't help. but doesn't seem to hurt. one of the few things I can swallow easy enough to enjoy eating. usually runs from 80 to 130. all my levels for everything are at normal or below except for blood pressure. wasn't on any medicine for it at all or watching what I ate .. which wasn't much for the last year. Doc says I have diabetes but my body doesn't know it. blood test before last it was 200, but I had forgot about the test and had a honey bun and a chocolate milk on the way there. a while back I didn't eat for a couple days and one morning I was down to 16. figured I'd better start eating a little more often after that. the diabetes didn't change much in my life. guess it's because the scar tissue from the radiation and chemo keeps me from eating much of anything. haven't had steak in a year. don't eat the 1/2 gallon of ice cream and box of icecreme sandwiches every few days because either everything tastes completely off or I just can't swallow it. pretty easy to watch your diet when you can't eat but a few different things without gagging. lucky for me, a lot of the foods I can't get down are the same foods I'm supposed to avoid.. yeah.. lucky me!

[pwd72s]

Thanks for saying it straight, Rick...for some reason the people here don't want to do that. Jonco? Guess I have no problems compared to yours...