primitives discuss controlling diabetes

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=317x3794

Oh my.

HereSince1628  (1000+ posts)        Sat Jan-09-10 09:00 AM
THE PILGRIM PRIMITIVE
Original message

4 weeks after bypass surgery I'm back trying to control my diabetes through exercise and diet. So, the still shiney new glucometer is off the shelf again and I'm using it for both guidance and motivation. Thanks to those who responded with encouragement to my earlier posts.

The high stress, pharmaceutical rich run-up to surgery, the low cholesterol hospital diets (insisted upon by the VA med center's cardiologists) loaded with starches and starchy v*****s, and the trauma of the thoracic bisection and related tiddly-winks, wrecked all my motivastion to achieve anything like medicine-free blood glucose control.

But, now two weeks back into moderate exercising--currently at 20 minutes-2 or 3 times a day--I feel that the things that made nonpharmaceutical BG control impossible are fading. My weekly BG avgs have gone from 154 in the hospital (where after surgery even insulin proved incapable of normative diabetic BG's) down to 111. In the past few days I've actually seen a few premeal BGs in the mid 90's and one in the 80's.

BTW, bypass surgery and recovery apparently is an effective way to keep off that extra 5 pounds of holiday fat (I think that should be added as a footnote to all American diet books). I'm 15 lbs lighter (and 3 notches smaller according to my belt) than I was when I got the diabetes dx on Halloween. My intention is to get off another 25-30 by summer although the new zipperline on my chest sort of spoils the bikini look.

My attention is on figuring out a combination low glycemic index (primarily low starchy carbohydrate) diabetes friendly and low fat & low cholesterol coronary friendly diet that can be afforded in the midwest (fish that is not in a can is pretty expensive in this end of Wisconsin). I have figured out how to make non-veggan "wheat meat." At this time it's still novel enough not to be repulsive but it's also not cheaper than typical retail animal flesh. If you know a cheap mail order source for vital wheat gluten please pass it on.

So, here's to hoping my future whines in this forum will be more about travails of diet, pricks sore fingertips, and the cost of test strips than coronary disease, diabetes and complications from either.

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Sat Jan-09-10 02:16 PM
THE DEFROCKED WARPED PRIMITIVE; #09 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Original message

1. The stress of surgery alone will cause your BG to skyrocket and if it's only skyrocketed to 154, you're in pretty good shape.

As you recover, your glucose should normalize again, but you'll still need to check it to make sure the disease isn't worsening over time. You'll also need to keep a close eye on it whenever you have any sort of infection or even life stress, all increase body cortisol and that increases your blood glucose.

Diabetes is a balancing act all the way around and it sounds like you're doing a good job of it.

The zipper on your chest will fade to a white line. It will spoil the evenness of a tan, but you can compensate with makeup if you're that concerned about it. I'd be tempted to pass it off as a Heidelburg dueling scar from your misspent youth.

HereSince1628  (1000+ posts)        Sat Jan-09-10 04:55 PM
THE PILGRIM PRIMITIVE
Response to Reply #1

2. People who know my family would blame the scar on the Pit and the Pendulum rather than dueling.

Yes, all this stuff is still very new to me, I've got a lot to learn. The HbA1C tested just before my surgery was 6.0 after only 5 weeks of actually trying to contol the diabetes I had dropped it from 8.3. I'd like to be able to be there again for my 3 month post diabetes dx in early Feb, but I don't expect I'll be able to average out that low. Actually I'd like for the whole thing to resolve, but I'm awake right now and I know that can't happen.

Warpy  (1000+ posts)        Sat Jan-09-10 05:07 PM
THE DEFROCKED WARPED PRIMITIVE; #09 TOP PRIMITIVE OF 2009
Response to Reply #2

3. You're motivated to change and actually doing it instead of beating yourself up with "should" and "ought."

Don't sweat the numbers for now, Cardiac rehab is the important part now, and the numbers will follow it.

You got hit with a hell of a double whammy and you're doing just fine.

nadinbrzezinski  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jan-12-10 01:31 AM
THE ZBIGNIEW PRIMITIVE
Response to Reply #2

4. not resolve, lifestyle change 

I got my 1Ac back today at the doctors. Still very acceptable but it went up a little... dad and mom were in hospital... see Cortisol... and it was HIGH for those ten days or so.

Well, good luck to the Pilgrim primitive.

[Specbid]

BTW, bypass surgery and recovery apparently is an effective way to keep off that extra 5 pounds of holiday fat (I think that should be added as a footnote to all American diet books).

Well there you go, want to eat all you want for the holidays and not gain weight? Just get bypass surgery...brilliant.

[diesel driver]

Depending on your meter, test strips run from $18-60 for a box of 50....

If you're on Medicare, get the doc to write you a script for them, and you get them and the lancets for free....

Diabetes runs in my family, however, I turned out to be hypoglycemic (low blood sugar).  Starchy and sweet foods make me crazy hyper for a while, then I literally fall asleep where I stand....