I wasn’t going to post about this on the board but it is affecting my attitude and I think I need to let you folks know what’s up with that.
Friday I got a phone call from my doctor. She has been running Hemoglobin a1c tests and the results show that I am type 2 diabetic. Average blood glucose over the test period of 205. Hemoglobin a1c score was 8.7, diabetics should be less than 7, non diabetics less than 6.
So many symptoms led doc to suspect diabetes. Joint aches from head to toe, nerve pain in the extremities, random numbness in the extremities, susceptibility to infections, male yeast and oral thrush infections from antibiotics and extreme fatigue from insomnia caused by pain. Also lethargic, moodiness from fatigue, falling sleep as soon as I sit still, depression…you get the idea. Yes, almost falling asleep while driving too.
Doc is going to talk to me about it on the 4th of March. That’s when we will finalize a course of treatment. Right now she thinks diet and more exercise may be all that is needed but she is going to think on it and will decide on the 4th.
Anyhow, I am not making any excuses for my behavior but I have reread some of my posts. Yuck. Some of them are like a bear with a sore A**. I apologize for that and appreciate your tolerance of me. I have been on extended ops in the helicopters literally for days without sleep and do not recall feeling as tired as I do now!
I am open for suggestions on a proper diet. Looks like my canoe is really going to get a work out now. Lots more day hikes and Amy wants to do this with me. I hate putting her through this after all her suffering last fall.
Eric, firstly good luck on the 4th, hopefully diet and excercise can fix you up without any drugs or other treatment.
There will be prayers for you here in N.Z. All the best.
Mike.
Eric,
About 4 years ago, I got a similar result from my doc. My A1c was 7.7. I decided to exercise and eat right. I lost 60 pounds. My blood pressure dropped by nearly 20 points. My last A1C was 5.8. I have not had to take insulin or any other meds yet. Last June, the doc said I only have to go back on an annual basis.
Depending on what the other battery of tests they will run show, your results may be better than mine or not, it’s pretty much how your body reacts and how well you are able to stick to a diet that is low in carbs, eliminate the extra sugar and basically eating foods that are good for you. Also if you can stick with an exercise program.
You don’t have to kill yourself with exercise. Just get off your backside and do something. Park at the farthest place away from the door at the mall and walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go for a walk in the evenings.
Just remember, it’s a lifestyle change not an event. You’ll have to commit to doing these things for the rest of your life.
Even if your numbers do not drop below 6 they will drop and you’ll feel better.
I went through the same depression, denial, anger at myself and blues you’re experiencing. It’s shocking news and what you’re feeling is quite normal. It is not going to go away overnight either. Over the years, you’ll have bad days, it’s normal.
I don’t know what your faith is (and I’m not asking) but everyone has a spiritual center. I would encourage you to search and find that spiritual center. It will help on the bad days.
Eric - I’ve walked a mile in those shoes - just so you know, all is not lost. I was diagnosed 2 years ago as a type 2 diabetic. My symptoms were similar as you described, but worse! I was CONSTANTLY thirsty, and running to the bathroom every half hour. I’d come home from work and go straight to bed - for days at a time! I had to do something, and made an appointment. I hadn’t been to see a doctor in 8 years, and used my healthcare provider’s list to choose one (4 blocks away!). When I went in, my A1c was 14.4 !!! I was almost admitted to a hospital right then and there. Turns out, my new Doc graduated from the same high school I did but 4 years earlier. He is a fly fisher and told me he was going to treat me as if I was his family - in other words - TOUGH! I cut out most of the sugar from my diet, cut back on how much I ate, and ate a salad with every dinner. Bananas were the only sweet I allowed myself, besides South Beach Diet Bars.
I lost 50 lbs in 4 months, and my A1C went down to 5.7 ! I also take the minimum dose (15mg) of Actos each day, and have cut back on the blood metering to only a few times a week, instead of 3X daily. One of the most important things my Doc had me do is to keep a daily journal of all blood meter tests, and keep track of EVERYTHING I ate, and record the times I ate them. This will help you identify stuff that affects your glucose levels adversely.
Good Luck - You can BEAT this! It isn’t even very difficult. If you’d like to talk, PM me and I’ll either give you a call, or you can call me. A similar call I made to Avalon (from this board) two years ago literally saved my life…Ed
Hey Eric…hang in there bro… I work with diabetics everyday in ophthalmology(eyes.),It will be tough, but you will make it. Just listen to your doctor, and do what they tell you. I know you would rather not have it, but just know that you can live with it!
This is not the end of the world! Mine was glucose 435 and a1c 13.8 when mine was diagnosed. I take oral med but no insulin. Go to an education class on how to manage youself. Your doctor will probably recommend a class for you. If not, demand information about a class. Take care of yourself, eat right, exercise, take your meds and get used to testing on a very regular basis. Don’t lose hope. Your condition is the pitts but you can live a pretty normal life with it if you pay attention. You will never be more than a couple hours away from your diabetis. Meals must be on time, meds must be on time etc, etc.
Both of my older Bros have it…and my whole fam suspects me of having it…Gots the old woman leg’s “purple & red”…and as per the symptoms you discribe…But, every time I go in for whatever reason I’m seeing the doc for…My blood pressure and blood sugar levels are both just wee bit on the high side…but never enough to cause anyone any alarm…but i know at some point…I am going to be made fully aware of thing’s…as are the doc’s…Till then, I’m holding on to blissful ignorance…OK, So I’ve been drinking Diet Dew since Brad was first diagnosed and using splenda for the few times I drink coffee and for my tea totaling addiction…lol
I do hope you do better at a diet plan than both my Bros are at present…I try and preach to em…But alas, I am merely a member of the choir…
Please, even if they go so far as tell you, If it tastes good, Spit it out…as they did my next to oldest bro.(In one ear and right out the other)…Listen to the doc…
Eric, If you can’t expext support from your friends,ETC…,
AS you can already see, we are there for you, and several of us are in the same condition…
A cousin from Indiana is diabetic, takes pills and diet, and he comes out here hunting every year. I could stand to loose several pounds, am borderline, and it certainly wouldnt hurt the blood pressure.
Does as the Doc. says and know we are here to back you up!!!
Eric,
Your just changing your Path in Life. It took me forever, but i got on the right path for my health. I can tell you that being well & happy, is worth all the work. I feel so good now that I’m not returning to my past habits. You are certainly an intelligent person who has passion and that combination will assist you greatly.
Doug
Eric—Fishbum is a friend of mine and he has given you good advice. We still have our now and then beer together. I have been type 2 for almost 20 years,my wife for 5 (joking the doctor said she caught it from me). Usually runs in the family,my mother told at age 60 died at 96. One pill a day and testing suger often isnt that big a deal. Im older than most on FAOL and should get more exersise but still able to keep a1c under 7. Hospitals have the free class mentioned for diet. Telling you all about carbs,things to back off on and showing the good things to eat. Next thing with doctors help you will have to be aware of low blood suger – my wife has a pool exercise class twice a week and has to carry something to eat after class to bring her suger up. BILL
Hey Eric,
I’m sorry to hear the bad news. The good news part of this ( based on the previous responses) seems to be that a “simple” life style change will knock this down to something like a mosquito bite. I too have friends who are diabetic and after the obligatory diets and disciplines etc., they look great. Good luck to you in YOUR battle.
Eric I was diagnosed 25 years ago. Started with diet and exercise and maintained a good A1C for about 5 years. Then went on the pill for about another 10 years maintaining diet and exercise and maintained a good A1C. For the past 10 years I’ve been on insulin and still in pretty good shape for 68. My insulin is a cocktail of 2 scripts 4 times a day but when you realize thats what is keeping you active it’s a small price to pay. Last A1C was 5.9. You have been getting a lot of good info on this post. The key is keeping a POSITIVE attitude with a sensible diet and exercise. Good luck!!
Eric;
You can do it, I did. Now I even like black coffee, no longer crave icecream and can walk right by a Coke machine!
Another improvement is my eyesight. I can tie 22’s without the magnifyer!
Eric there isn’t much I could add to what has already been said here. The Doc just told me two weeks ago that I am on the borderline. The good news was he believes it can be taken care of with a change in diet. I know that if I can change my diet around you can to. Take care of yourself Eric.
Nighthawk - In 2001 I had a cardiac event, in less expensive terms, I had a heart attack. I have had to change my lifestyle to include exercise, a different diet, and I even stopped smoking. DO NOT go crazy all at once. The idea is to change your lifestyle, not become someone else.
Start by taking walks and SLOWLY making them longer and longer. I started by walking around the block and moved on to a 2-mile trek. A bike, regular or stationary, is a good first choice for more exercise. The canoe sounds great. I am now walking my stairs with 5-10 pounds on each foot for 30 minutes - it is a great exercise to prepare for walking Steelhead rivers. The diet you will need to shift to is not that radical. I cut out all processed food, white flour, sugar and red meats. You will probably not have to go this far. The internet is a great resource for recipes.
I don’t know what your Amy had to go through, but be glad she is still with you. That what couples do - share the sh*& as well as the sugar. I lost my sweetie to breast cancer in '02. I have a feeling that Amy will feel better because she is helping, just like you would.
Eric,
Greetings from a neighbor down the road from you. I too am a Type 2 Diabetic. Everyone has given you great information so I’ll not waste a lot of time repeating it because they’re right. This isn’t an end of life problem but it will involve a lot of changes. Talk to your doctor and look up some diabetes care websites. The blood sugar tester you get will probably have a website to go with it. The main key to whipping this disease is attitude! Common sense and support will go a long way to kickin this thing in the butt. Be sure to let all your family and friends know about this. My experience is that most people are ignorant on what actually causes the diabetes and think its a ‘sugar’ disease so if you cut out the sweets everything should be all right. They don’t understand what’s happening to you and may take offense if you don’t eat something they created. Good luck and listen to the experts and you’ll be flinging flies for a long time to come.
God Bless
Rev. Mike
You’ve started thinking of your own body as being one of those choppers you flew on in Vietnam. This is good!
Question: Would you have climbed aboard one of those “mounts” and flown it into battle if, before dust-off, a mechanic had run up to you shouting, “This bird hasn’t received any maintenance since it was hit by ground fire six weeks ago!”? I think you’d have waited for that bird to get fixed.
Advice: Keep doing what you’re doing. Heed your mechanic’s (doctor’s) warnings. Once out of the repair shop take all the time you need going through the pre-flight checks (exercise walks). Make sure your cargo load (body weight) is lighter than before. Make sure the fuel (food) you’re burning is less contaminated.
[Try the American Heart Assn. Cookbook.]
Pausing to do these things doesn’t take you out of the battle. Just the opposite: it’s a “furlough” that in the end will keep you involved in the action much longer. Which does…what?