Diagnosed type 2 (Metformin, blood, Walmart, diet)

[5e3deluxe]

Fasting BG is 154, A1C is 7.3.

Gotta get on the exercise bike. I'm a fatty.

I feel like a failure. I've done this to myself.

[Trivettes]

Originally Posted by 5e3deluxe

Fasting BG is 154, A1C is 7.3.

Gotta get on the exercise bike. I'm a fatty.

I feel like a failure. I've done this to myself.

Don't blame yourself! But do get started on the right track now.

Exercise is a great way to start. But also watch your carb intake. A diet lower in carbs really helps get this under control. Ditch the potatoes, pasta, rice, most breads (esp those with white/wheat flour), corn, peas. And start testing your blood sugar.

Test your blood sugar frequently in order to learn what foods spike your blood sugar. Test before you eat, then at 1 and 2 hours afterward. Your blood sugar should be below 140 after one hour and below 120 after two hours. I've personally found that my numbers came down slowly so don't worry if you don't see immediate results--every diabetic is different, even in what they can and cannot eat. Testing frequently helps learn what foods spike you personally. If you don't have a meter, WalMart has one that is reasonable. It's the WalMart ReliOn meter. I use their ReliOn Micro Meter (because it's small) which runs around $12 for the meter and about $20 for 50 test strips.

A good place to learn about this disease is Blood Sugar 101: Blood Sugar 101

Great site with a lot of information.

Good luck with this and please keep us informed how you're doing. Did your doctor prescribe any meds?

Triv

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by 5e3deluxe

Fasting BG is 154, A1C is 7.3.

Gotta get on the exercise bike. I'm a fatty.

I feel like a failure. I've done this to myself.

Hey, don't beat yourself up over this - it's not your fault, and don't call yourself a "fatty." I was overweight too, but lost a lot, and am losing more. I exercise every day, usually on my bike, also do yard work and work out at the gym twice per week.

I was diagnosed a few months ago, BG was 250, A1C was 10, three months later my A1C is down to 8, my Dr. is pleased. Blood sugar can take awhile to come down after it's been high so long.

Stay off the junk food, limit your carbs, stay off sugar and even sweet fruits. Eat meat, fish, veggies and there are natural supplements that help to lower sugar, too, like cinnamon capsules.

Lots of us are in the same boat, so don't feel alone - good luck to you!

[5e3deluxe]

Originally Posted by Trivettes

Don't blame yourself! But do get started on the right track now.

Exercise is a great way to start. But also watch your carb intake. A diet lower in carbs really helps get this under control. Ditch the potatoes, pasta, rice, most breads (esp those with white/wheat flour), corn, peas. And start testing your blood sugar.

Test your blood sugar frequently in order to learn what foods spike your blood sugar. Test before you eat, then at 1 and 2 hours afterward. Your blood sugar should be below 140 after one hour and below 120 after two hours. I've personally found that my numbers came down slowly so don't worry if you don't see immediate results--every diabetic is different, even in what they can and cannot eat. Testing frequently helps learn what foods spike you personally. If you don't have a meter, WalMart has one that is reasonable. It's the WalMart ReliOn meter. I use their ReliOn Micro Meter (because it's small) which runs around $12 for the meter and about $20 for 50 test strips.

A good place to learn about this disease is Blood Sugar 101: Blood Sugar 101

Great site with a lot of information.

Good luck with this and please keep us informed how you're doing. Did your doctor prescribe any meds?

Triv

Doc prescribed metformin, 500mg, once a day to start (screening for side effects) and then twice per day. The exercise bike will get a workout.

[Trivettes]

Originally Posted by 5e3deluxe

Doc prescribed metformin, 500mg, once a day to start (screening for side effects) and then twice per day. The exercise bike will get a workout.

Just a hint...sometimes heavy exercise will temporarily raise blood sugar, so don't be surprised. Just sayin'.
I started with walking and stuck with that. But then, I couldn't handle much more than that at the time.

My endo also started me out on Metformin 500mg once per day, then increased it to twice per day. Now I take 2500mg in divided doses--1,000mg in the morning, 500mg before dinner and 1,000mg at bedtime.

If you have gastro problems while on metformin, try adding fiber to your diet. My endo gave me samples of fiber (even cookies by metamucil, lol) but I really haven't had a problem. Also, if you have problems the ER (long acting) variety of metformin is supposed to be helpful with that, tho I haven't tried it.

When I started out, my fasting was over 500 and my A1C over 17. I'm a type 2. My endo did run a c-peptide test to see how well my pancreas was working, but not all doctors do this. With me, the metformin and a lower carb diet and walking really worked. Lowered my A1c to below 6 (usually 5.2 to 5.6, once a 5.8) but it took time--I'm now in my third year of this.

Triv

[5e3deluxe]

Did my first exercise today - 20 min on a recumbent. After cooldown, my heart rate is 112. I'm drenched in perspiration...but it's a start.

[Trivettes]

Good going!

[brava4]

Yeah, once you start watching the carbs, like seriously watching them, the weight drops off you. I had to watch out for "overlapping" blood surgars. I would eat a good low carb meal and test 2hrs later but wasn't waiting for the 4hrs total and would end up having a snack. You then have overlapping blood sugars because there isn't enough time between meals/snacks and your sugars just go up again. Waiting 4-5 hrs between has really helped keep things normal.

[5e3deluxe]

Originally Posted by brava4

Yeah, once you start watching the carbs, like seriously watching them, the weight drops off you. I had to watch out for "overlapping" blood surgars. I would eat a good low carb meal and test 2hrs later but wasn't waiting for the 4hrs total and would end up having a snack. You then have overlapping blood sugars because there isn't enough time between meals/snacks and your sugars just go up again. Waiting 4-5 hrs between has really helped keep things normal.

I am indeed seriously watching them. Measuring things, weighing things, salads for dinner. Spinach, a measure of peas, a measure of beans, a little crumbled feta and a bunch of hot jalapeno peppers. Peppers are good for you and hot ones are even better.

When I was younger, there were times when dinner was two shots of Jack Daniels and a half jar of jalapeno peppers.

The next morning was pretty fiery, if ya know whut ah mean.

[Sciameriken]

Look to work some strength training in - should be more effective than killing yourself on that bike. Start with 3 sets of pushups - do as many as you can do to find out where your at then make your set count a little less than that. Aim to do this 2 times a week at first then 3-4 as your body gains strength. Every two weeks add more reps to the sets.

Also look to do some low intensity squats - don't dip too far - the goal here is to wake your muscles up and make some gains without getting any injury. Your body must consume energy to produce that muscle and this will help reduce your body fat%. Instead of bike I also recommend a brisk walk for 20 minutes (a pace where you can barely hold a conversation) and increase the length and intensity as your schedule and body allows.

It is as important that you do the correct exercises as choosing the right foods. If you want I could fill you in on the science behind my recommendations here if you send a private message...