The doctor reamed me pretty good about not taking better care of my diabetes, so I've been really working hard on my numbers, writing them down and paying much closer attention to what I eat and drink. After years of always dealing with high readings (300-400) now I'm dealing with low readings. (50-70.) We will have to tweak my insulin comsumption to get this all leveled out. I take 60 units of Tresiba once a day, Humalog three times a day based on my numbers. My guidelines have always been 40 units for readings between 300 and 400, 35 units for readings between 200 and 299, and 30 units for readings between 100 and 199. I'm seeing the dr. this Friday and hope we can adjust these numbers downward so I don't bottom out. I just broke a heavy sweat, took my reading and I was down to 50. This is the third time in recent days I've gone low like this. Gotta find that happy medium here. They also have me on 500mg. of Metformin ER once a day and Trulicity once a week. I'm really hoping now that these numbers are headed down, we can cut back, or cut out some of this treatment.

Have others had to make adjustments as their blood sugar numbers came under better control?

Pecan pie helps

Just seeing what you have to go through is motivation to keep mine under control.

I have been spared that, so far Jeff. Keep your nose to that grindstone.

You best do what the doc says, couple guys on my deer lease have issues with that. They don’t do what they should.

Are you seeing an endocrinologist? If not you need to in order to get your blood sugar numbers and meds in order, the treatment of diabetes is there medical specialty. I had been seeing an internist when I was diagnosed with diabetes, early on they were able to manage my diabetes but as time went by not so much. The endocrinologist changed my meds and significantly cut back on Metformin and eliminated some others. My endocrinologist appt. was yesterday and my a1c was 6.6 and my weight was stable, having lost 60# since being diagnosed with diabetes. You should also see a diabetic dietician to help you make the food choices that make your diabetes easier to manage and lose weight that will also help.

Diabetes is a bitch. My son is Type 1 and struggles constantly. He'll find something that works good, but the damn insurance companies don't want to cover it, so he ends up changing to something that doesn't. I guess the insurance companies know better than the doctors.

I hope you get it straightened out, more power to ya.

One of the important numbers to look at is your A1c. I went through a period of time last year when I didn't pay as much attention as should have been. My A1c reached 9. Shortly after they sent me to the eye dr for my annual check regarding diabetic retinopathy. It was a big office with several dr's and when they were checking me out, asked me about my A1c. I told her it had gotten upwards of 9, last was 8.8. She said, "well it doesn't happen often, but 2 or 3 times a year, we have someone come in who went blind. Once that happens there is no reversal." Let me tell you, it scared the crap out of me. I got a lot more strict and my last A1c check was 7.5. It should be under 7 and in the 6 range is even better. One of the things I have started doing is intermittent fasting. I don't eat anything after 7:00 pm and don't eat breakfast till around 9:00. That's 14 hours with no food. Carbs are a killer. The goal is to shoot for consistency. I've heard stories of people who lose a bunch of weight and get off their meds. That ends up being pretty temporary. Diabetes is due to your pancreas not operating well, which is effected by diet, and medication. Good luck. I've been struggling with it for about 15 years.

Type 2?

I'm type II. Recently lost 30 lbs and exercise a lot. Numbers have been great since doing this. I do take Metformin twice a day

gophergunner, good luck and the best to you, my friend. I was recently diagnosed, too. The doc has me on Metformin twice a day. I have been religiously recording my blood sugar every day and any dietary challenges from the day before. Going to a diabetes support group meeting this afternoon at local hospital.

What I have found and diet rules I've adopted:

Carbs and sugar heavy sweets are a big no-no.
I can eat a chocolate bar every once in a while.
Fruit smoothies are ok, with some restraint. Blueberry and strawberry combo works best for me.
Have dinner before 7, whenever possible.
Quit drinking milk. Used to drink a big glass of milk with dinner every night.
Limit dairy.
Can't do Vortman's sugar free cookies. Don't work for me. I eat too many.

Yesterday's reading was 110. Today was 142, after some cheating yesterday. Aldi Austrian chocolate bar, too much cheese and 1 slice of bread at lunch. Both readings are within range, though.

Been on that train for the last 5-6 years. My BS is slowly slipping higher and higher. Lately in the 140 range. Not crazy high but not 100 either. Recently switched to Metformin ER which has helped level out the spikes a bit but I need to watch what I eat more and more. If I slack off on the exercise for a couple days BS level creeps right back up. Sucks.

I ran a high fever a few years ago, and shortly after, my blood sugar started getting wonky. I was told to watch my diet and was given a low dose of Metformin.

Here's what's worked for me:

1) I cut out french fries and carbonated drinks. That got me down significantly.
2) I started eating regular meals, and especially cut out eating my dinner on the late side. The earlier I eat dinner, the better my morning readings got.
3) I stopped eating any sort of sweets, desserts, breakfast pastry, etc.
4) I eat nuts or jerky for a snack.
5) I try to eat low-carb alternatives. The local pizza place has a whole wheat crust option-- that sort of thing.

I'm staying in bounds pretty much solidly since.

If you're type 1, get a pump and be done with it.

Mirrors my finding about eating late. Just can't do it any more. I've cut way back on breads, spuds, rice, and I never did eat much sweets. I quit drinking pop. I only ever drank diet pop, but I cut that out too. I want to get these numbers evened out at this point. I wish I could "schedule" my meals more consistently, but with the nature of my work, I somewhat have to eat when I can. Lots of protein and salads. It helps that my wife is gluten free. She makes that gluten free pasta and that suff's just nasty. Not anything I want. We're working on it, and I look forward to seeing the dr. Friday for the next round of "tweaking."

This is good advise! You really need a specialist . And if you have good insurance there are way better drugs available than that dam Metformin been there done that no more thank you please!

Eliminating carbs doesn't mean eliminating them totally, carbs can be though of as anything that is white. Potatoes, rice, white bread etc., I have eliminated white bread and eat rye, wheat, pumpernikle, etc same for pasta replace that made with white flour with wheat pasta. I still eat rice in small amounts and two squares of 70% chocolate, these things work well. I walk a mile every day and workout at the gym for 1-1.5 hrs. 3x a week. After having lost 60# my weight loss has slowed and plateaued for a period of a year, I didn't let that get me discouraged just kept on doing the things that enabled me to lose weight in the first place. I am now within 10-15# of my goal weight, I typically lose 2-3# every 90days, I don't weigh myself other than at my doctor visits and don't worry about what the scale says. In 10+ yrs. I won't say that I have never backslid but it has only been 2-3# on a couple of occasions in that period of time. I also got careless once and had an A1c reading of 9.0, most of the time it is below 7 and once was 6.

Good luck and good on you for keeping records. No personal experience myself. Had a friend (now gone to cancer) who was diabetic from about age 8 to 69. He monitored about 3 times a day, kept meticulous records, and is a med school study example. His take was he could pretty much do what he wanted, as long as he tracked and treated his numbers. I'm sure your efforts are a pain in the butt, but they sure beat the alternative. Today's technology has gone a long way toward eliminating the guessing game.

I have all my diabetic patients taking fish oil as an anti inflammatory if its OK with their diabetic specialist.

Regardless, i have them taking Alpha Lipoic Acid to reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy. I am pissed many drs dont have their pts on that and for that reason.

Its quite common for even controlled diabetics to show nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) after having type 2 for 10 years (retinal microaneuryisms) due to blood sugar spikes after meals causing inflammataion which damages the retinal microvasculature.

I have patients with NPDR I have followed for 20 years who did not progress to proliferative D Ret (PDR) and need lasre tx of the retina.

Weight reduction sx is sometimes beneficial to be able to adequately control BS if a person is extremely overweight.

Always have a yearly dilated diabetic retinal evaluation. If NPDR is found you should be seen at least every 6 mo and gonioscopy should be performed to rule out neovascularization of the irido-corneal angle and iris neovascularization which can quickly lead to intractable diabetic neovasc glaucoma.

Gopher, those B/S levels are extremely conducive to causing strokes and heart attacks.

Normally, NPDR will be present for years before progressing to PDR where new, brittle vessels grow into the retina and vitreous humor of the eye in the bodies attempt to bing more blood to a starving retina due to poor circulation.

Those vessels can rupture and release blood into the vitreous body of the posterior chamber of the eye. This results in scarring and contraction of the vitreous which pulls and tears the retina away from the choroidal vascular layer behind thevretina.

The retinal vessels feed only the inner layers of the retina while the choroid feeds the outer layers.

This or untreatable diabetinc glaucoma is what causes loss of vision.

Been fighting it for several years. I started hiking the hills behind the house almost daily, some days doing 6 miles. No running, my knees won't take that. Just walking as fast as I could go without breaking into a trot. Lost close to 30 lbs over a couple years. A couple years ago I joined the local small gym, weather never keeps me from doing the work this way. Do a few of the weight machines, then on alternate days do 30 minutes on the treadmill or 20 on the eliptical. I set the tredmill at 3.5 mph, and raise the incline to 12 degrees. Once my heartrate hits 150(154 theoretical max for my age) I drop the incline 2 degrees. I'll raise or lower to keep the heartrate in the mid to upper 140s.
I've never taken anything but 1000mg Metformin ER once a day. My dr. gives me fits because I very seldom take my blood sugar, but I've never seen it high. Over the last several years the quarterly A1c has only once been above 7, that was before I started at the gym and right after Christmas and Thanksgiving on a year where the weather was keeping me from hiking the hills.
We went pheasant hunting last Saturday, according to the health app on my phone, I walked 13.2 miles through some heavy CRP grass. I was beat, but didn't think that was too bad for a 66 year old man.Kept up with a couple guys in their late 30s.

This good advise. It’s up to you to manage. What you eat is just as important as the units of insulin you take.
I try to keep it simple. Atkins breakfast drink in the morning. Atkins bar at night. Regular lunch at noon. Being consistent makes managing a lot easier. Hasbeen

I had to take a call just now, so I didn't have time to finish.

Eating earlier is a bit of a dodge-- the longer interval between eating dinner and testing before breakfast keeps the readings low.

I found one other big dodge: Vitamin C. I've been taking over 2 grams of Vitamin C my whole adult life. It's a long story, but it comes from advice from a guy who spent 50 years learning how to live to be 100. He died of leukemia at 98. I figured that was close enough. A few weeks after they put me on Metformin, I read an article about how high-doses Vitamin C regimen play hell with A1C readings. Before I'm scheduled to get my A1C measured, I lay off the Vitamin C supplements for 2 weeks. A1C goes down accordingly. That may have been a huge contributor to the initial diagnosis.

I got a new doc a few years ago, and he decided to put me on Atavorstatin for my cholesterol. Long story short: after a year of struggling with bum A1C readings and out-of-control glucose readings, I decided to go off the statin and BINGO! My glucose was back to normal in under a week. Statins are bad ju-ju.

Given the Vitamin C discovery, I did some digging. Did I really want to be on Metformin the rest of my life? The answer is a resounding "YES!" This hasn't been spread around too much, but it's looking like Metformin may be the first real anti-aging medicine. Just like Viagra was originally a blood pressure med, there are unforeseen consequences with Metformin. Metformin has been shown in some studies to prolong life in humans. This ain't a for-sure thing yet, but there is a good possibility it's true. It kind of makes sense in that Metformin somehow screws with the metabolism in the same ways fasting does. At least that's what some folks are saying.

One other thing: My grandfather died of diabetes-related illness at 63. He went down hard and was missing a leg when he went. My best friend is currently in the latter stages of renal failure after a 30 year battle with diabetes. I'm watching him go by inches. He may be dead in a week. If there is anything you can do to keep this from happening in your life, do it.

Presently, best medical care indicates a person dxed with mild diabetes T2 should be put on an exercise regimen and diet and rechecked before being prescribed meds.

Often, thats all thats needed.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This

Everyone is different and the TX for diabetes has come a long way. Less use of insulin which also helps with weight loss. Some meds are also more helpful than others in the weight loss area. Diet is the key cut the carbs especially simple sugars and alcohol (it's like eating spoon fulls of sugar). Complex carbs are the way to go.

I am attempting to cure my type 2 diabetes using diet while minimizing my insulin.

Doctor said that people who have diabetes and gastric bypass operations are cured of diabetes by
the time they lose the weight. So I am following the diet someone with gastric pass has.

I have almost no carbs and lots of fat and protein I can have oatmeal and apples though.

Hi guys you can see I don't post much but I read the forum everyday. I have type 2 diabetes, I take 3 shots of humulin R 45 units, 2 shots humulin N 85 units and 1 shot of vitosa 18 units and a bunch on pills and once a month I get a shot in my right eye because of swelling. The diabetes has cause my heart dease, kidney problems. So be very very careful guys. This something I felt I had to post.

For me, the endocrinologist was a joke, guys. Her only recommendation was to keep taking more insulin. That's it, no other advise was given. I walked away from that feeling like I could have figured out that much on my own. Maybe I should give this another shot with a different doctor, though.

Hope I'm not paying for your health insurance.

I'd be checking with another endocrinologist for sure!

In about 2 weeks, I'm probably going to get the same chewing out you did. I don't do a lot of testing but lately the numbers have been creeping up although still mostly under 200. I'm sure my a1C will be up but that covers the last 3 months which would include Thanksgiving and Christmas. I baked a shoo-fly pie for turkey day... Plus, I like to walk outdoors but the weather has been limiting that recently. The bright side is that my weight is still about the same as it has been.

Dale

It's a bitch. Constant math problems every time you eat and worrying about the damn numbers. Oh sure. Exercise and diet. So eat nothing that tastes good and work out like crazy when you feel like hell and have no energy.

Everyone who doesn't have it, always has advice.

I gained weight AFTER becoming diabetic, so I sure didn't do anything to "ask" for it. And neither does anyone else.

It's a heavy burden to carry and you're right sometimes it makes no sense.

These guys who get diagnosed at age 65 and take one pill and their number is 150 think they have it bad. Must be nice.

In my case they out me on drugs that stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin...doc left me on for years and now my pancreas is burned out. Insulin it is.

Can't take the med and hunt the same day or you will suddenly drop dangerously low while walking or dragging your deer. Can't have any energy without carbs but if you eat them you gain weight and have higher numbers. No juice no pie very little fruit and today a piece of bread is fine and no effect and tomorrow it shoots way high on the same damn bread and you chase the numbers all day.

Harder to sleep, joints hurt, can't concentrate or remember things. So you can either have good numbers or you can feel good. Pick one.

And yes I am being an aszzhole tonight. Spent a day at the docs...2 ekgs and a1c and tetanus shot and a colonoscopy and stress test ordered. I am 38. Feel 78.

And my a1c is 7. So I am managing it "well" according to them.

If this is what "well" feels like I am not impressed.

If any of you guys, who are type 2, are Vietnam vets, and you are not receiving VA service connected disability you need to talk with a service rep with DAV,VFW, Legion, etc. If you were in country and type 2 it is presumed that your exposure to agent orange caused it.

yep here is what I am dealing with now, left eye is responding to the injections, but not so much this right eye.

As with many of the chronic health issues we have today it's related to our diets. This talks about a low carb or keto diet and intermittent fasting both of which I have started to do for autoimmune issues. I love how this fellow here in this channel does book reviews and also does "experiments" on himself to see what the results will be when he tests his blood sugar.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks0ScVZ-sRU

That’s some good advice. I’m lucky to live near the Houston medical center. A lot of specialists here.
On another note. I’ve found mine easy to control if I’m consistent. I drink a Atkins drink in the morning for breakfast. And I eat a Atkins bar in the evening. I eat a regular large lunch at noon.
You will learn the amount of insulin you need when you keep things consistent. My A1C’s run between 6.4 and 7.0.
Eating sounds boring but keeping diabetes under control needs to be a long term goal. Good luck ! Hasbeen