I went to see my doctor today and I took the diabetes test. My fasting glucose level was 154, so she put me on Metaformin and set new guidelines for my diet. I definitely have to lose weight too. The good news is that if we keep it under control, I can still have my SRS in the future. I am going to do everything possible to follow her instructions. I am grateful that we caught this early on before it turned into something more serious.
Hugs,
Jen
Comments
Sounds good to me
A friend had to lose weight in order to have SRS so that sounds reasonable. I wish you well.
If you find a way to lose 30 lbs without strenuous exercise, (I'm medically unfit to exercise), please let me know.
S.
If you...
If you don't consider walking strenuous...
I've taken off 40 lbs. My "secret" is: regular walking (30-60+ minutes - total, not necessarily a one time - every day) plus portion control... Following the diabetic diet is a really good starting point! Stay away from those "diatetic" foods they sell in stores though. (My wife's diabetic... Best luck... It CAN be managed!)
Anne
I'm working with a new therapist, and we might help you!
Sue, her advice is to switch what you do. I go for a walk for 30 minutes to an hour on my "regular" days, and I climb stairs (which is so much fun with an artificial leg-no muscles on one side!) on alternate "heavy" days. I want to find a new bike, as she says 30 minutes to an hour of riding on our local bike trails (with several low hills) works for my heavy exercise (and I HATE stairways). I am losing weight though! I keep asking her, since I have regular and heavy days, when do I get a light day? As soon as I get to my target weight, I can have one! I weigh 420 now (down from a high of 530), and my goal is 240. I don't think a light day is in my future for a while!
Love.
Wren
The only way to lose weight
is to eat less - sorry, but it's true. It also means you have to eat more carefully so the food you do consume helps to burn off fat. If you do 120 miles a day at racing speed on a bike, you could burn up 8000 calories a la TdF. Unfortunately, most of us aren't able do this level of activity, so exercise is usually a waste of time as a weight loss therapy, what it does do however is to tone up existing muscle and help to stop the flab showing so much.
Angharad
(Who's just eaten half a pack of chocolate eclairs).
Angharad
Sorry to disagree, Angharad!
That's an old wives tale. I eat less than anyone in my household, and I am the ONLY overweight one in the family. My doctor says that I don't digest things well, and where my wife and kids just go to the bathroom and get rid of any excess, my body stores everything as fat. It's a genetic thing, she tells me. Even as a child, my brother could pound down the groceries, while my Mom put me on every fad diet that came out, and until he was 30, he was thin as a rail.
A good doctor is necessary for proper diabetic control (My dietician says I've been through her classes so often, I could teach them, but who would believe a guy who weighs 430 pounds?). Nutrition is the important thing, not diet.
There are a million things that "everyone knows" will help lose weight, and 99% of them are complete BS. Fads and rumors WILL KEEP YOU FAT, or get you very sick. See a doctor.
Wren
Hi Jengirl.
Hi Jengirl. I too have type II diabetes, since 2007. I just had my SRS last month and am now recovering and doing all that entails. I am healing rather well, at least as well as my cohorts who had surgery at about the same time. The Dr. had no problem, but the stress of the surgery did cause my blood sugar to get high and is only now (3 weeks later) coming down to where it should be. Yes, maintaining a good weight is important, and it is more difficult to take it off and keep it off when you are already diabetic. Excercise is at least as important as the food you eat in maintaining good health. Walking is the best, as it gets your cardio up and increases ciruclation to the feet. Take care of yourself and you can yet have SRS without problems.
CaroL
CaroL
Metformin
No big deal just follow your diet and you should be ok check your blood sugar levels at leasr 3 times a day and don't worry if it goes up and down keep some glucose tablets near in case you go low you will know as you start to feel bad and shake with sweats, ALSO if the Metformin upsets your stomach switch to Metformin ER the ER doesn't cause upset GOOD LUCK feel well and don't worry LOVE HUGS & KISSES RICHIE2
They stuck my wife
on those metaformin cause they said her sugar was too high. We stuck her three times a day for 2 years and never had a high reading. She tried to live on the specific diabetic listings and followed everything they said. She wound up stopping the pills, and forgetting the diets. We still stick her a couple of times a week just in case. She lives on Pepsi,literally, and eats no more or less than she ever did, and her readings seldom if ever go above 100.They are usually down around 80. And its been almost two years since she stopped taking all the junk all the docs had her on. Make them do a full re-test in a short while, and then again on down the road just to be sure. The docs also diagnosed her sister, and another friend of ours incorrectly. I think other meds, and what you have been eating over the past few days have a lot more impact on those tests than just a 24 hour fast can clear out. There is hope!
Metformin part II
I AM NOT SAYING METFORMIN IS BAD FOR EVERYONE OR EVEN MOST PEOPLE, just me. Like many medicines, buried way down in the warnings it say "may cause Liver damage."
I just found out this week, that I am one of the less than 1 in 10,000 that has real problems with Metformin.
As I already told Jengrl, I started on it a year ago, at a low dosage, which was doubled 3 months later when my A1C still was not good enough, When it was still not down after another three months, it was doubled again.
3 Months after that, my A1C had actually risen from 6,3 to 7,2, so I really looked at my diet more closely.
************************
Okay, weight loss, I have been losing 2-3 pounds a month over the past 2 years by exercise, including the best one of pushing the table away sooner.
In early November my weight loss accelerated, and I lost almost 20 pounds by Thanksgiving.
That's where things really got bad. I had stomach distress, abdominal swelling and other things, including feeling weaker and weaker.
The blood test on the following Wednesday showed my A1C had jumped from 7.3 to 9.5 ( <+6 is good)
My 12 hour fasting blood sugar had jumped from just over 100, ( 100 is good) to 275, and my liver finction was wonky, along with other things.
It seems, after a very thorough ultrasound, that my liver had reacted to Metformin, and shut down, so I was digesting almost nothing.
So the Metformin has been stopped, and I am getting some strength back and the other symptoms are going away.
But since November 1, I've lost 30 pounds, without trying, ( heck, I've been too weak to exercise )
However, I think we have it licked, we just have to find another medicine I can tolerate. I know Glyburide worked, but my doctors, primary and endo, felt that it was not as good over the long term.
But let me tell you, it was a scary weekend last weekend, as I was told Thursday there was a liver problem, I could see the bloating and weight loss, but until more tests were done on Tuesday, I had no idea how bad it was or anything, and i was a scared not so young lady.
This weekend does not have the fears, and i can smile again. I'll look better once the jaundice goes away, too.
:)
Holly
P.S. As far as weight, my target 2 years ago was between 175 & 185, down from 250, but at the beginning of November, I expected it to take at least 8-10 more months, since the rate of loss had been slowing. I did not expect it to take less than 40 days!!! Now, I just have to keep it off and exercise to build up the muscle my body was eating along with the fat.
On the plus side, I have to go clothes shopping. I had to buy a new belt and punch 2 new holes in a leather one, and my favorite jeans have about 5-6 inches of slack, now. :)
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Holly
I've been diabetic for 13 years
Hi Jen,
Welcome to the club, dear girl. I was diagnosed with type II about 13 years ago—a consequence of being overweight. :(
I was able to keep a reasonable balance using pills (Metformin + various others) for about 7 years, but then things went haywire and I was switched to insulin in late 2004—and I still take 3 Metformin/day. Since then my blood/glucose levels have been excellent. I just took my latest blood/glucose reading and it was 5.5mmol/l (millimols/litre) witch is about equivalent to 99mg/dl. I injected 40 units of insulin and I shall take a Metformin when I am in bed. I sually have a couple of Hobnobs (biscuits/cookies) and a glass of milk as well, because with Insulin one is more prone to hypoglycæmia. Injecting myself is second nature now, although it did have to screw up a bit of courage at the beginning. Actually I get more discomfort from pricking my finger for the blood/glucose test than the insulin jab—which I do in my rather obscene-looking flabby belly.
Anyway don't worry about it, girl, there are millions of us out there. The important thing is to test regularly (I do 3-4 tests a day) and KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR LEVELS AND MEDICATION. I download the readings from the memory in my blood/glucose meter into my computer regularly: many meter manufacturers offer this facility and some even offer the software free.
Hugs,
Gabi.
Gabi.
I know ya didn't want it but Welcome to the club!
I've been through the Metformin thing, and you're probably going to have some fun. I hope they've told you about the side affects of my favorite drug. I was working when I first tried it, and it was interesting, to say the least!
It is of utmost importance that you take care of yourself. Do your best to be aware of any changes in your body. I literally have had major changes happen in the space of 6 hours, changes that, in one case, cost me the toes on my right foot despite doctors' best efforts. In 2005 I was in the hospital for an accumulated time of 10 months while doctors did everything they could to save my left leg. Ultimately, after 17 surgeries, I lost much of my lower left leg, but (so far anyway) I got to stay alive. I am a near paranoid when it comes to changes in my body now, and I'm sure I drive my doctor crazy. I plan on keeping what I have left!
Watch for changes in the lymph system! I have had huge weight changes due to "water weight". I'm talking about a weight gain (and loss, thank God!) of over 120 pounds! My lower right leg has had permanent color changes due to frequent swelling. It goes from beige to pink, purple, brown and yellow! I'm caucasian, and I have 3 black adopted kids. They tell their friends that I am more "colored" than they are!
Take care of yourself! Watch what you eat, take your meds and if your doctor has you monitoring yourself, try to make it a habit. I have caused myself irrepaerable damage and probably shortened the time I have available to me, just because I was stupid and stubborn. I thought the doctors were exaggerating when they tried to warn me. I look at my carbon fiber, plastic and titanium leg, and I truly, truly wish I had listened. Please, hear me and take care!
I wish you the best, and if you ever want to ask me anything, I'd be glad to write, or even more!
Love ya!
Wren
August 2009
I was diagnosed, my glucose level was around 500. It no hovers between 80 and 150. I've never been able to figure out what makes it go up or down. I now take Metformin, and Insulin. One shot every day.
Following the diet is the best control mechanism there is.
Good luck in controlling your glucose levels, and with the SRS.