In denial

[midnight sun]

I am new here, but was a regular several years ago. I lost 53 lbs on low carb and kept it off give or take 10 lbs. I am diabetic and for the past year I was on glimipiride once a day. My A1c has never been over 6.4 and I didn't worry too much about what I ate. For the past several months my sugar was getting progressively worse. Still I didn't have a sugar level over 177 and that wasn't often. I was in denial.

On April 3rd of this year, I had emergency 5 bypass heart surgery and valve replacement. When I was in the hospital they gave me insulin because my sugar was running too high. (200's) They sent me home with Novalog and lantus. I have never been on insulin, but gave my self shots several times a day. I hated the way I felt. I was always nauseated, fatigued, and eating way too many carbs. The cravings from my blood sugar fluctuations was out of control. I was eating carbs in the form of fast food, and heavy carb meals. I was gaining weight rather quick. After gaining 11 lbs I decided I was getting off the insulin.

I went off the insulin and started taking the glimipiride again. I knew that meant I would have to have stict control of the carbs and decided to get the carbs out of my system.

After losing the 53 lbs in 2003 I went back to my old way of eating. I yo yo dieted off and on to maintain the loss. Even though I wanted to lose more, I just couldn't stick with anything, but I didn't gain the weight back. Now, it is a life or death situation for me, and I know the only way I can keep the diabetes under control and lose the rest of the weight is low carb. After two days of going off the insulin I lost 7 lbs (fluid).

I am 57 years old and my grandkids are all under the age of 7. I want to live as long as I can (God willing) so I am going to do my part.

I guess I am just shocked at how diabetes can be so out of control and how it makes you feel when it is. I can't imagine what it feels like to have sugar levels of 300 and above. This has been even more difficult for me to accept then the heart surgery and that was major.

I'll be reading a lot here, and posting some too.

Carol

[NurseMonkee]

I know what you mean.
I started in the 300's and although at the time I didn't realize it, I was showing a lot of symptoms. I am so happy that I am now aware of it and working each day to control it.

[Melrose]

Carol,

Hugs to you and your family.

My late husband died at 48 due to complications of diabetes. He had two below the knee amps; amps of several fingers; on dialysis; gastroparesis, sever neuropathy that he would cry from the pain, even on the heaviest pain meds. We learned how horrible, devastating, debilitating, and insidious this disease is to the patient and the family. Originally, he was diagnosed about 35 as adult onset/typ 2, but about 5 years (I think) before he passed, they said he was type 1.

Anyway, very long painful story short, be careful. My husband used to function (go to work, etc) with very high (over 400) blood sugars.

Please be sure you do everything you can to enjoy your life and your grandkids.

I am not an expert, but there are many on this board that are.

[sherlynn9]

Thanks, Carol, Yours may be the "Wake-Up" call that I need. For the past year my bs has been running mostly over 200, even when strict low carb, which I'm finding difficult to maintain (I know stress has a lot to do with it). I really don't want to take any other medication than the metformin (which I'm at the maximum dose of). I've started with a new product which is helping but my consistency with it is not good. I really, really have to do the 4 servings per day and maybe then I'll see the same results my friend (who introduced me to the product) has seen (dropped his fasting bs from 268 to 128 in 10 weeks). What I have seen, with my 2 servings per day is a lowering of numbers and mostly my morning reading is now less than my before bed reading.

Thanks for posting. I can no longer kid myslef that as long as I'm under 300, no real damage is being done. I know that I need to get and keep the blood sugar in the 80 to 90 range, just in denial.

Sheryl

[Cathieinut]

Carol
Thanks for sharing your story. We are in similar situations but I am not having trouble staying low carb/Low Glycemic load this time around so far. (crossing my fingers)

I have been back on metformin for about a month now and can't seem to get my 14 day average below 120...I am not giving up but it sure is discouraging isn't it?
I am eating more kinds of fruit and veggies on the LGL WOE but it doesn't seem to be spiking my BS, thank goodness.

I too want to be around to see my grchildren grow up and I am trying to remember that when I am faced with temptation LOL
Good Luck to all the diabetics on the LCF boards!

[pintorini]

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who can relate to your denial and difficulty adjusting. I have a very hard time sticking to lc. I think this is probably the hardest diet in the world for me. In the past, I've stuck to strict vegetarian and low-fat diets for long periods, but more than a month or two on low carb makes me crazy. I couldn't even stick to it in the height of the Atkins craze when every bakery and grocery store had low carb bread on the shelves. But reading people's horror stories about the devastating effects of diabetes scares me enough to keep me honest.

Good luck to you.

[Georgia Lee]

Hi Midnight Sun and others,

I've been told for a few years now that diabetes is knocking on my back door...talk about denial!

I started Low Carbing in June. About the same time I heard about this book. I tried to order it but everyone was sold out. I finally got it and can not believe how this book speaks to me.

I chime in on the thread under Other Plans called Metabolism Miracle. Come over and check us out, better yet go find a copy of this book, Metabolism Miracle.

My numbers are coming down and I'm feeling really good.

Have a great day,
Georgia Lee