I’m I sick?
Question:
Hi Dave, Coments below.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> … Recently I had >> a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said >that I >> was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150). >This is much higher than normal, but infections and other factors can lead >to abnormal BG levels in non-diabetics, so a second test is required before >a diagnosis of diabetes can be made. Particularly in light of the fact that >you would seem to be a reasonably active person. While you would seem to be >a bit overweight, Type 2 is usually associated with clinical obesity and a >sedentary lifestyle. > First I like to thank everyone who responded to my post, of which there were > many. > I was kind of concerned about the severity of my condition. I’m not that > overweight, yet I have these symptoms. I was begining to wonder if I would have > to take insulin, or that I may have more than the type 2 type of diabetes, But > I had such a rapid,encouraging response when I cut out the sugars and checked my > bGL, I begin to think that maybe I won’t need to inject myself every day, as my > blood levels seem to appear normal. > I’ve been an asthmatic since I was a child, and i’ve had to take medication for > it all the way up till now, I haven’t had any probelm with my breathing, nor had > to use any medicine for quite a long while…. Now I may have to take more > medicine. I didn’t use to drink much,
Does that mean you drink now? I hope not!! As for me, I`m absolutely teetotal, helps the lungs as well as avoiding unexpected hypo`s. don’t smoke, nor use drugs ( eat sweets > and candies like a bear,though) …now I have diabetes!?
I`m asthmatic since childhood, too. Working out is good for that and a normal part of everyday life for me, as for you. So it`s a head start in dealing with your diabetes – which sounds like t2. > I’ve worked out most of my life too, most asthmatic don’t take breathing for > granted, so I always am active, I was jogging
*was*? Try to keep doing it, it can only be beneficial for diabets, BP, asthma, and your weight three miles, twice a week ( avg > time 31 min), while this was good , and is supposed to be good for diabetics, > maybe the reason I was running so much , because it was lowering my blood sugar > ….and thats not good.
You have been misled by someone, probably accidentally. Lowering your blood glucose – not sugar – *is* excellent. We each have different ideas about fine tuning, but we all agree that below 70 or above 115 is damaging. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My big toe went sort of numb, about a couple of months ago. I blamed this > probelm on my dentist ( mercury filings), but I also notice an unsual sort of > …growth, on the skin near the base of my big toe, and the next two carpals. > It doesn’t hurt or anything, and doesn’t "break" the skin but I wonder if it is > associated with the numbness I am feeling aroung that area of my feet. I > suppose it could be a fungus ..I associated this with the running shoes I am > wearing to run around the lake..I haven’t washed those things in the couple of > years I had them…I also had a doctor examine my foot not too long ago ( the > one who did the blood test) he didn’t say anything about it…should I be > worried about this?
Yep, worry enough but not too much. See a podiatrist in the NY. Untreated fungal growths can sometimes become septicemic – but treating such aint difficult, several creams available. > The growth? , which looks like a line across the base of my toes, seems to be > drying out…
Hang in there, fellow, we`re all rooting for ya! Al. ____ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> "I’d hate to be an alcoholic with Alzhiemer’s. Imagine needing a drink and > forgetting where you put it" George Carlin
Response:
Sounds like you have a problem. You need to test at times that we can relate to. I would suggest first thing in the morning(before eating). A bg level of 150 is NOT normal(sorry!) Another good time to test is 2 hours after beginning your meal. Glenn
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, I’m 5′11 ft tall and weight about 215. I’m 40 years old. Recently a doctor > was about to diagnose me has having DIABETES (type 2, I guess). The odd thing is > that I thought, I was in pretty good health, , as of a few weeks ago I was > exercising( jogging) twice a week and doing 10 pull-ups. I stopped recently but > of the worsening air quality, weather and plus working two jobs. Recently I had > a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said that I > was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150). > The doctor was so serious, I thought he must be bull-shitting me, but he did say > that my blood test was abnormal in that when he tested me previously my blood > glucose levels were normal, I also pointed out him that I having been exercising > as much as I would like. So in a week or two ,i’m gonna take another blood sugar > test for him. > Basically I have to wait a month to see this doctor again, so I was wondering if > there was some way that I could check my own blood glucose level, perhaps I am > slightly diabetic…plus it would explain some of the transient symptoms I been > having, like having to urinate more often,the occasional pimple on my legs that > resemble insect bites, but don’t heal like insect bites, catastrophic loses of > energy ( when I really need it), and slight transient blurryness of vision ( > though I wear glasses), though these may be symptoms of diabetes, I chalked it > up to "Old Age". > A couple of days ago I purchased a blood glucose monitor , like the kind > diabetics use. So I been testing my blood glucose level, But I’m not sure WHAT > ARE NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS. I’m assuming that over 150 mg/dl is abnormal, > and that 60 mg/ below is abnormal. > One the first day, (night) without any fasting or dieting changes, my BGL was > 187 mg/dl I felt horrible that whole day, I usually like to jog when I feel like > this, but i didn’t have time to. After this I decided to cut out the sugar out > of my diet, cutting down on the sodas and sweet drinks, candy bars and cookies. > Diabetes is a subtle and insidious disease. The next evening my BGL was down to > 148 mg/dl….last night after a pretty active day, and Xmas shopping my BGL was > down to 88 mg/dl, and that morning it when up to 112 mg/dl. > These seem like normal levels of Glucose in my blood, but does this still mean > that I may have Diabetes?, Are the symptoms reversible? How do I take that > blood test for my doctor in a few weeks?, should I eat normally ( cookies ,candy > and sweets) so I run up my Blood glucose levels way high, or do I continue to do > what i’m doing so so that the doctor assumes my BGL is normal? > I understand a bit that lots of sugar isn’t good for you if you are diabetic, so > I’ve cut out the obvious sweets in my diet, but what about complex sugars that > you find in beans, starches, pastas …carbohydrates, are these dangerous to me > as well?? > And I guess Smallpox vaccinations for people with Diabetes or type 2 Diabetes is > out…thanks for your indulgence. > "I’d hate to be an alcoholic with Alzhiemer’s. Imagine needing a drink and > forgetting where you put it" George Carlin
Response:
> I was kind of concerned about the severity of my condition. I’m not that > overweight, yet I have these symptoms. I was begining to wonder if I would have > to take insulin, or that I may have more than the type 2 type of diabetes, But > I had such a rapid,encouraging response when I cut out the sugars and checked my > bGL, I begin to think that maybe I won’t need to inject myself every day, as my > blood levels seem to appear normal.
It is still possible that you won’t need to use insulin. If you are Type 2 and are successful in controlling your diabetes, you may be able to avoid the need for insulin injections, but you could just as easily be a Type 1, in this case insulin therapy is unavoidable. > I’ve worked out most of my life too, most asthmatic don’t take breathing for > granted, so I always am active, I was jogging three miles, twice a week ( avg > time 31 min), while this was good , and is supposed to be good for diabetics, > maybe the reason I was running so much , because it was lowering my blood sugar > ….and thats not good.
No, lowering your blood sugar *is* good. So long as you don’t lower it too much. Because you’re not taking meds or shooting insulin then you shouldn’t have to worry too much about hypoglycemia. When your BG levels drop to a certain point, your liver will release stored glucose into your bloodstream. There is something called "reactive hypoglycemia" that many prediabetics (and T2s???) experience, but my understanding is that it is triggered by meals, not exercise. Though I could be completely wrong about that. Stick with the exercise and if you’re worried about hypoglycemia, carry some jellybeans with you while you’re running. Or do what I did after I was diagnosed and didn’t know to much about diabets in general, or my case in particular. I took regular sips from a sports drink while exercising. I now know that I didn’t have to, but it gave me peace of mind. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My big toe went sort of numb, about a couple of months ago. I blamed this > probelm on my dentist ( mercury filings), but I also notice an unsual sort of > …growth, on the skin near the base of my big toe, and the next two carpals. > It doesn’t hurt or anything, and doesn’t "break" the skin but I wonder if it is > associated with the numbness I am feeling aroung that area of my feet. I > suppose it could be a fungus ..I associated this with the running shoes I am > wearing to run around the lake..I haven’t washed those things in the couple of > years I had them…I also had a doctor examine my foot not too long ago ( the > one who did the blood test) he didn’t say anything about it…should I be > worried about this?
YES! Get your feet checked out at the very earliest opportunity. If the doctor that did the foot exam saw this and your high BG levels and made no comment, then get another doctor. Unless he can give a very, very good reason why it is OK to let a foot infection in a suspected diabetic go untreated. To be fair, it sounds like you have caught your diabetes fairly early, so the chances of you having already incurred diabetic neuropathy (peripheral nerve damage) is very small, but numbness and any kind of infection in your feet *must* be checked out. You’ll probably find better explanations elsewhere, but basically, chronically elevated blood glucose levels can damage your peripheral nerve system. This shows up most frequently in the feet, leading to, amongst other things, numbness. Loss of sensitivity can lead to infections going unnoticed. Combine this with the impaired immune system function that is also associated with high BG levels and you stand a high chance of an infection going sideways very quickly and becoming gangrenous. As I said, the likelihood of this applying to you at this point is small, but you still really need to get your feet checked. Cheers, John Carney.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >. . .[snip]. . . >First I like to thank everyone who responded to my post, of which there were >many. >I was kind of concerned about the severity of my condition. I’m not that >overweight, yet I have these symptoms. I was begining to wonder if I would have >to take insulin, or that I may have more than the type 2 type of diabetes, But >I had such a rapid,encouraging response when I cut out the sugars and checked my >bGL, I begin to think that maybe I won’t need to inject myself every day, as my >blood levels seem to appear normal. >My big toe went sort of numb, about a couple of months ago. I blamed this >probelm on my dentist ( mercury filings), but I also notice an unsual sort of >…growth, on the skin near the base of my big toe,
The standard Type 2 diabetic progression predicts that a Type 2 will need insulin injections unless they can somehow reduce their Insulin Resistance. More than half seem to succeed. That’s encouraging since most did so despite not having access to the "a + b + c + d + e" treatment list discussed below.. If you are a Type 2 (and you really sound more like a T2 than a T1), your primary problem is Insulin Resistance. One could say that Type 2 diabetes is actually a **symptom** or **side-effect** of Insulin Resistance. Insulin Resistance has two main effects: 1. In most, perhaps all people who have it, it damages arteries (or is almost always **associated** with the damage) That predisposes Insulin Resistant folks to premature heart attack. 2. In some folks, perhaps less than half, it slowly damages beta cells so that they lose self-generated insulin capacity. When the damage to the beta cells is sufficient (on average, after 10 years of serious Insulin Resistance), the folks with the damage start to lose control over their bG and they are diagnosed as Type 2 diabetics. Often, the folks with the slowly degrading beta cells develop other diabetic complications before anybody notices the high bG. One of the complications is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy which, among other things, causes numbness in the feet, toes, fingers and sexual organs. Most newly diagnosed diabetics undergo, (or should undergo), a sequence of body part checks looking for hidden damage caused by any previous, unsuspected high blood sugars. A superior eye exam (tell the doc you are diabetic) and a superior foot exam (tell the specialist you are diabetic) are the principal checks. A complete lipid panel (cholesterol check) is also common. BTW: our blood pressure targets are lower than those of the normies. Heresy: Maybe the T2’s are the **lucky** ones. They know they have the heart attack problem, they know how to solve it, and many of the pills used for treatment of T2 also attack the Insulin Resistance and slow or stop the damage. The rest of the Insulin Resistant just wander through life thinking everything’s all right until they are ambushed by the damage to their arteries. . .maybe. Anyway, the technique for knocking down Insulin Resistance, or the damage thereof is: a. Lose fat b. Gain muscle c. Exercise vigorously: the more often the better, the more vigorously the better d. Ration your total carbohydrate, split the carb over several meals, eat slowly-digesting carb e. Take anti-Insulin Resistance oral meds: (metformin (Glucovance), Actos, Avandia, maybe ACE blood pressure med) A wild guess based on some of the early studies suggests that the combination of "a + b + c" is often about twice as effective as using a single medication from the list in "e". There isn’t any good info on the **relative efficacies** of other combos, just that each element is efficacious (e.g. metformin seems to reduce Insulin Resistance by about 30%, Actos or Avandia as much or more, ACE inhibitors. . .who knows? But what happens when you take metformin and Actos and an ACE?). We have had folks your age take up "a + b + c" with a vengence, then report back after a year with the news that "nothing they eat will cause elevated blood sugar". Good Luck, keep coming back. Regards Old Al
Response:
>But >I had such a rapid,encouraging response when I cut out the sugars and checked >my >bGL, I begin to think that maybe I won’t need to inject myself every day, as >my >blood levels seem to appear normal.
Everybody debates this one, but a truly normal bg is around 85-95. I tested all the people at Christmas dinner before, then 1 and 2 hours after eating. They stayed in that range the whole time. When I was diagnosed I had numbers around 265 fasting. Now my 2 week meter average is in the 90’s and my A1c is 5.6. When I eat a meal, my aim is to stay under 100 1 and 2 hours after eating. Everyone choses different numbers. >I’ve been an asthmatic since I was a child, and i’ve had to take medication >for >it all the way up till now, I haven’t had any probelm with my breathing, nor >had >to use any medicine for quite a long while…. Now I may have to take more >medicine. I didn’t use to drink much, don’t smoke, nor use drugs ( eat sweets >and candies like a bear,though) …now I have diabetes!?
I’ve had asthma since I was 18. Now at 46, I find I have diabetes…..and a few bazillion other health challenges. Luck of the draw I guess. I went from high to sort of normal bg by cutting down carbs to a bare minimum, then after a few months, adding some back in. That lowered my insulin resistance. I’m lucky. I am able to control my bg’s with diet. >I’ve worked out most of my life too, most asthmatic don’t take breathing for >granted, so I always am active, I was jogging three miles, twice a week ( avg >time 31 min), while this was good , and is supposed to be good for >diabetics, >maybe the reason I was running so much , because it was lowering my blood >sugar >….and thats not good.
Yes, lowering your bg’s IS good! Try to stay above 70, though. Only you can determine what is hypo for you. For some folks, they swear it’s a higher number. Wendy Peace and Carrots Farm Vermont http://www.homestead.com/peaceandcarrots/ http://www.heathershikinghiatus.homestead.com/
Response:
>> … Recently I had > a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said >that I > was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150). >This is much higher than normal, but infections and other factors can lead >to abnormal BG levels in non-diabetics, so a second test is required before >a diagnosis of diabetes can be made. Particularly in light of the fact that >you would seem to be a reasonably active person. While you would seem to be >a bit overweight, Type 2 is usually associated with clinical obesity and a >sedentary lifestyle.
First I like to thank everyone who responded to my post, of which there were many. I was kind of concerned about the severity of my condition. I’m not that overweight, yet I have these symptoms. I was begining to wonder if I would have to take insulin, or that I may have more than the type 2 type of diabetes, But I had such a rapid,encouraging response when I cut out the sugars and checked my bGL, I begin to think that maybe I won’t need to inject myself every day, as my blood levels seem to appear normal. I’ve been an asthmatic since I was a child, and i’ve had to take medication for it all the way up till now, I haven’t had any probelm with my breathing, nor had to use any medicine for quite a long while…. Now I may have to take more medicine. I didn’t use to drink much, don’t smoke, nor use drugs ( eat sweets and candies like a bear,though) …now I have diabetes!? I’ve worked out most of my life too, most asthmatic don’t take breathing for granted, so I always am active, I was jogging three miles, twice a week ( avg time 31 min), while this was good , and is supposed to be good for diabetics, maybe the reason I was running so much , because it was lowering my blood sugar ….and thats not good. My big toe went sort of numb, about a couple of months ago. I blamed this probelm on my dentist ( mercury filings), but I also notice an unsual sort of …growth, on the skin near the base of my big toe, and the next two carpals. It doesn’t hurt or anything, and doesn’t "break" the skin but I wonder if it is associated with the numbness I am feeling aroung that area of my feet. I suppose it could be a fungus ..I associated this with the running shoes I am wearing to run around the lake..I haven’t washed those things in the couple of years I had them…I also had a doctor examine my foot not too long ago ( the one who did the blood test) he didn’t say anything about it…should I be worried about this? The growth? , which looks like a line across the base of my toes, seems to be drying out… "I’d hate to be an alcoholic with Alzhiemer’s. Imagine needing a drink and forgetting where you put it" George Carlin
Response:
> It is to your advantage to behave as if you are diabetic, and get a > handle on this quickly. It is also to your advantage to avoid an > official diagnosis of diabetes. Once you are officially diagnosed, it > will be very expensive or impossible to get health or life insurance.
On the other hand, you’ll have a hell of a time getting prescription meds if you do cheat the "entrance exam". Many T2s manage very well on diet and exercise alone, but some require medication.
Response:
I’m sure most of what I’m saying here has already been said by others, but here goes…
> … Recently I had > a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said that I > was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150).
This is much higher than normal, but infections and other factors can lead to abnormal BG levels in non-diabetics, so a second test is required before a diagnosis of diabetes can be made. Particularly in light of the fact that you would seem to be a reasonably active person. While you would seem to be a bit overweight, Type 2 is usually associated with clinical obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. It is possible you are a latent Type 1. However, Type 2 is not unheard of in slim, fit people. Both Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes have a strong genetic component. Check your family history. > … So in a week or two ,i’m gonna take another blood sugar > test for him.
This test is not for your doctor’s benefit. You are taking it for *you*. > Basically I have to wait a month to see this doctor again, so I was wondering if > there was some way that I could check my own blood glucose level, perhaps I am > slightly diabetic…
There is no such thing as "slightly diabetic". You are, or you aren’t. There is a condition called prediabetes. If caught early, prediabetics can delay or even prevent progression to diabetes. However, many prediabetics do progress to diabetes despite their best efforts. I don’t think prediabetes applies to you, however. Your numbers are diabetic – too high for prediabetes. > plus it would explain some of the transient symptoms I been > having, like having to urinate more often,the occasional pimple on my legs that > resemble insect bites, but don’t heal like insect bites, catastrophic loses of > energy ( when I really need it), and slight transient blurryness of vision ( > though I wear glasses), though these may be symptoms of diabetes, I chalked it > up to "Old Age".
Sounds very much like my own case. I was diagnosed a little over three months ago at age 37. I had an extra 50 lbs on you and was not active, but the frequent urination (polyuria), slow healing and energy crashes are all familiar. With these symptoms, I would definitely rule diabetes IN and prediabetes OUT. Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes remains to be seen. > A couple of days ago I purchased a blood glucose monitor , like the kind > diabetics use. So I been testing my blood glucose level, But I’m not sure WHAT > ARE NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS. I’m assuming that over 150 mg/dl is abnormal, > and that 60 mg/ below is abnormal.
I’m not sure what the lower limits are, but the normal range for fasting BG (ie. in the morning before breakfast) is under 110 mg/dl. For a 2 hour postprandial (ie. 2 hours after you eat), the normal range is under 140 mg/dl. > One the first day, (night) without any fasting or dieting changes, my BGL was > 187 mg/dl I felt horrible that whole day, I usually like to jog when I feel like > this, but i didn’t have time to. After this I decided to cut out the sugar out > of my diet, cutting down on the sodas and sweet drinks, candy bars and cookies. > Diabetes is a subtle and insidious disease.
Indeed. > The next evening my BGL was down to > 148 mg/dl….last night after a pretty active day, and Xmas shopping my BGL was > down to 88 mg/dl, and that morning it when up to 112 mg/dl.
You’ve discovered that exercise has a profound impact on your glucose levels. While you are exercising, your skeletal muscle does not require insulin in order to take up glucose. For up to two days *after* a prolonged bout of intense exercise, your skeletal muscle will respond to insulin much more efficiently, so it will require less insulin than normal to take up glucose. > These seem like normal levels of Glucose in my blood, but does this still mean > that I may have Diabetes?,
They aren’t really normal. It looks very much like you have diabetes. > Are the symptoms reversible?
The *symptoms* are reversible. The diabetes is not. Diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease. It can, however, be managed. > How do I take that > blood test for my doctor in a few weeks?, should I eat normally ( cookies ,candy > and sweets) so I run up my Blood glucose levels way high, or do I continue to do > what i’m doing so so that the doctor assumes my BGL is normal?
Keep doing what you are doing, but not so you can fool your doctor. You can’t cheat your way out of diabetes. Tell your doctor what you have been doing, so that if your fasting levels are normal, he can run an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), to confirm his initial diagnosis. You are *much* better off knowing that you are diabetic. Uncontrolled diabetics have a fairly bleak prospect ahead of them – a short, miserable life. Things aren’t much better for a poorly controlled diabetic with amputations, renal failure, blindness and early death being pretty much certainties. A well controlled diabetic, on the other hand, can expect a full life free of debilitating complications. While *you* are the one that must control your condition, you will need help from your doctor, so trying to sidestep the diagnosis is a very bad idea. You will be living in a fool’s paradise. > I understand a bit that lots of sugar isn’t good for you if you are diabetic, so > I’ve cut out the obvious sweets in my diet, but what about complex sugars that > you find in beans, starches, pastas …carbohydrates, are these dangerous to me > as well??
Generally speaking, whole grain carbs are OK and refined carbs are not, but there are many anomolies. Some of these anomolies are addressed by the Glycemic Index (GI), which is an empirical (ie. tested) measure of the effect of a given carbohydrate on a persons blood glucose levels. Foods with a high GI tend to cause a rapid rise in BG to very high levels. Low GI foods cause a slow rise to moderate levels. The story gets complicated when you mix carbs with other foods. Look it up on the web, or in your library or local bookstore. In most countries except the US, diabetics are advised to follow a low GI diet. > And I guess Smallpox vaccinations for people with Diabetes or type 2 Diabetes is > out…
I wouldn’t know about this. > thanks for your indulgence.
Our pleasure 
Cheers, John Carney.
Response:
Here’s a crash course on BGL in non-diabetics: Fasting values (taken upon getting up in the morning): 60-110 mg/dl. This value has to be consistently above 125 mg/dl to be diagnosed as a diabetic. One hour after eating a full meal: up to 140 mg/dl, although non-diabetics may reach 150. From listening to your medical history, you are probably Type 2. The good news is how well you can control your blood glucose by diet alone. With your glucometer, you will learn which foods agree with you and which don’t. However, you will need medical attention with a doctor or doctors going over your general health condition with a fine-tooth comb. But I’m optimistic, because not so long ago you had normal blood sugar levels. It takes literally years of poor or uncontrolled diabetes to bring on degenerative complications. As for your eyes, you may only need a new prescription, but this is only advisable when blood sugar levels have been close to normal for at least the prior couple of weeks. And diabetics can have health problems like everyone else, and it’s NOT always because of their diabetes. If you take a positive approach to all this, everything will turn out well. And when you feel up to it, don’t forget your exercise. That is very important for diabetics. Michel (37+ years of Type 1 diabetes) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, I’m 5′11 ft tall and weight about 215. I’m 40 years old. Recently a doctor > was about to diagnose me has having DIABETES (type 2, I guess). The odd thing is > that I thought, I was in pretty good health, , as of a few weeks ago I was > exercising( jogging) twice a week and doing 10 pull-ups. I stopped recently but > of the worsening air quality, weather and plus working two jobs. Recently I had > a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said that I > was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150). > The doctor was so serious, I thought he must be bull-shitting me, but he did say > that my blood test was abnormal in that when he tested me previously my blood > glucose levels were normal, I also pointed out him that I having been exercising > as much as I would like. So in a week or two ,i’m gonna take another blood sugar > test for him. > Basically I have to wait a month to see this doctor again, so I was wondering if > there was some way that I could check my own blood glucose level, perhaps I am > slightly diabetic…plus it would explain some of the transient symptoms I been > having, like having to urinate more often,the occasional pimple on my legs that > resemble insect bites, but don’t heal like insect bites, catastrophic loses of > energy ( when I really need it), and slight transient blurryness of vision ( > though I wear glasses), though these may be symptoms of diabetes, I chalked it > up to "Old Age". > A couple of days ago I purchased a blood glucose monitor , like the kind > diabetics use. So I been testing my blood glucose level, But I’m not sure WHAT > ARE NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS. I’m assuming that over 150 mg/dl is abnormal, > and that 60 mg/ below is abnormal. > One the first day, (night) without any fasting or dieting changes, my BGL was > 187 mg/dl I felt horrible that whole day, I usually like to jog when I feel like > this, but i didn’t have time to. After this I decided to cut out the sugar out > of my diet, cutting down on the sodas and sweet drinks, candy bars and cookies. > Diabetes is a subtle and insidious disease. The next evening my BGL was down to > 148 mg/dl….last night after a pretty active day, and Xmas shopping my BGL was > down to 88 mg/dl, and that morning it when up to 112 mg/dl. > These seem like normal levels of Glucose in my blood, but does this still mean > that I may have Diabetes?, Are the symptoms reversible? How do I take that > blood test for my doctor in a few weeks?, should I eat normally ( cookies ,candy > and sweets) so I run up my Blood glucose levels way high, or do I continue to do > what i’m doing so so that the doctor assumes my BGL is normal? > I understand a bit that lots of sugar isn’t good for you if you are diabetic, so > I’ve cut out the obvious sweets in my diet, but what about complex sugars that > you find in beans, starches, pastas …carbohydrates, are these dangerous to me > as well?? > And I guess Smallpox vaccinations for people with Diabetes or type 2 Diabetes is > out…thanks for your indulgence. > "I’d hate to be an alcoholic with Alzhiemer’s. Imagine needing a drink and > forgetting where you put it" George Carlin
Response:
> The one component of diet that impacts our blood glucose the most is > carbohydrates. Carbs include sugars, but also breads, pasta, rice, > potatoes, etc. You need to cut way back on all these items right away. > Don’t necessarily believe that "Sugar-Free" means carbohydrate free. > Learn to read those nutrition labels. This may give you the chance to > appear non-diabetic at that next blood test.
A lot of the low fat foods such as salad dressings are higher carb than their regular counterparts, so as Jim said be conscious of the nutrition labels. > All this is a short term solution to avoiding that dreaded official > diagnosis. But you also need a long term plan, too. Much of that will be > similar, but you will have some time to learn about a plan that will > work for you. You will need to find a Way of Eating (WOE) that will > allow you to keep your blood glucose (BG) in the normal range, and more > importantly, that you can live with the rest of your life.
On your next doctors’s visit there might be a HbA1c test. As you may have already read, the test is an indicator of the glycation of blood hemoglobin. The 30 days before the test have more impact on the result than the first 60 days (life of hemoglobin about 90 to 120 days.) > Jim
Good post Jim. Frank Roy
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi, I’m 5′11 ft tall and weight about 215. I’m 40 years old. Recently a doctor >was about to diagnose me has having DIABETES (type 2, I guess). The odd thing is >that I thought, I was in pretty good health, , as of a few weeks ago I was >exercising( jogging) twice a week and doing 10 pull-ups. I stopped recently but >of the worsening air quality, weather and plus working two jobs. Recently I had >a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said that I >was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150). >The doctor was so serious, I thought he must be bull-shitting me, but he did say >that my blood test was abnormal in that when he tested me previously my blood >glucose levels were normal, I also pointed out him that I having been exercising >as much as I would like. So in a week or two ,i’m gonna take another blood sugar >test for him. >. . .[snip]. . .
Welcome to the group. Reading the two diabetic newsgroups every evening has resulted in significant improvements in my health, quality of life, and, I’m sure, my lifespan. It could do the same for you. This is a deadly disease. Therefore, almost any diabetic question is welcomed. If we were discussing Fords, or airplanes, or Linux, we might object to dumb questions. However, in a diabetic group, the only dumb question is one you should have asked but didn’t. The FAQ for the diabetic newsgroups were written by a doctor, and are about the best I have seen anywhere. Read and understand those FAQ and you might be knowledgeable enough to teach a diabetic course rather than take one. http://www.faqs.org/faqs/diabetes/ Regards Old Al (T1 since ‘94, 45 units H + U via 4 injections daily) A retired engineer who shares his experiences
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OK, Dave, time to get serious here. You are probably diabetic. You have all the symptoms. It takes 2 fasting tests over 126 to make that an official diagnosis. The numbers that you want are 70-126, the "normal" range. It is to your advantage to behave as if you are diabetic, and get a handle on this quickly. It is also to your advantage to avoid an official diagnosis of diabetes. Once you are officially diagnosed, it will be very expensive or impossible to get health or life insurance. The one component of diet that impacts our blood glucose the most is carbohydrates. Carbs include sugars, but also breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, etc. You need to cut way back on all these items right away. Don’t necessarily believe that "Sugar-Free" means carbohydrate free. Learn to read those nutrition labels. This may give you the chance to appear non-diabetic at that next blood test. You also need to increase your exercise level. Even walking 1/2 hour per day will help. Try parking farther away, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Little things can make all the difference. The point is to make your body burn that blood sugar, and to make it more efficient at that process even when you are not exercising actively. All this is a short term solution to avoiding that dreaded official diagnosis. But you also need a long term plan, too. Much of that will be similar, but you will have some time to learn about a plan that will work for you. You will need to find a Way of Eating (WOE) that will allow you to keep your blood glucose (BG) in the normal range, and more importantly, that you can live with the rest of your life. You can get lots of ideas about that here, but there is no single diet that is appropriate for all diabetics. You need to experiment with foods and use your BG meter to learn how your body reacts to them. Hopefully, you will reduce the carbs in the next few weeks, and your fasting BG will return to normal. You don’t need to try to eat NO carbs, just eat much less. You might get a diagnosis of Impaired Fasting Glucose, or Impaired Glucose Tolerance, or "pre-diabetes", but that is much better than carrying an official Diabetic diagnosis the rest of your life. Hang out here and you will get some good advice. Don’t allow yourself to blow this off, or think that this band-aid will fix things permanently. The consequences of that can be rather nasty. Jim
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Hey Dave:) Dave here typeII 1 yr when I was diagnosed diabetic I was riding my bicycle for between 20 and 40 miles a day and felt pretty smug:) a little after my diagnosis the pain started and I have been workin’ on it ever since. I am happy to hear you found out early that’s a good thing. Good luck and take care. Dave(I’m workin’ on it) Milk
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> OK, Dave, time to get serious here. You are probably diabetic. You have > all the symptoms. It takes 2 fasting tests over 126 to make that an > official diagnosis. The numbers that you want are 70-126, the "normal" > range. > It is to your advantage to behave as if you are diabetic, and get a > handle on this quickly. It is also to your advantage to avoid an > official diagnosis of diabetes. Once you are officially diagnosed, it > will be very expensive or impossible to get health or life insurance. > The one component of diet that impacts our blood glucose the most is > carbohydrates. Carbs include sugars, but also breads, pasta, rice, > potatoes, etc. You need to cut way back on all these items right away. > Don’t necessarily believe that "Sugar-Free" means carbohydrate free. > Learn to read those nutrition labels. This may give you the chance to > appear non-diabetic at that next blood test. > You also need to increase your exercise level. Even walking 1/2 hour per > day will help. Try parking farther away, take the stairs instead of the > elevator. Little things can make all the difference. The point is to > make your body burn that blood sugar, and to make it more efficient at > that process even when you are not exercising actively. > All this is a short term solution to avoiding that dreaded official > diagnosis. But you also need a long term plan, too. Much of that will be > similar, but you will have some time to learn about a plan that will > work for you. You will need to find a Way of Eating (WOE) that will > allow you to keep your blood glucose (BG) in the normal range, and more > importantly, that you can live with the rest of your life. You can get > lots of ideas about that here, but there is no single diet that is > appropriate for all diabetics. You need to experiment with foods and use > your BG meter to learn how your body reacts to them. > Hopefully, you will reduce the carbs in the next few weeks, and your > fasting BG will return to normal. You don’t need to try to eat NO carbs, > just eat much less. You might get a diagnosis of Impaired Fasting > Glucose, or Impaired Glucose Tolerance, or "pre-diabetes", but that is > much better than carrying an official Diabetic diagnosis the rest of > your life. > Hang out here and you will get some good advice. Don’t allow yourself to > blow this off, or think that this band-aid will fix things permanently. > The consequences of that can be rather nasty. > Jim
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This post not CC’d by email >Hi, I’m 5′11 ft tall and weight about 215.
97kg. G’day G’day Dave, Welcome to the club whose members hoped they would black balled. >I’m 40 years old.
Hey, that is hardly middle aged these days. >Recently a doctor >was about to diagnose me has having DIABETES (type 2, I guess). The odd thing is >that I thought, I was in pretty good health, , as of a few weeks ago I was >exercising( jogging) twice a week and doing 10 pull-ups. I stopped recently but >of the worsening air quality, weather and plus working two jobs. Recently I had >a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said that I >was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150). >The doctor was so serious, I thought he must be bull-shitting me,
Well hard as it may be to appreciate at this moment in time … that was your first lucky break. Your doctor takes diabetes seriously. Much better that than one who allows complications to develop while bull shitting around talking about borderline diabetes. Thank your lucky stars he is a straight talker. > but he did say that my blood test was abnormal in that when he tested me previously my blood >glucose levels were normal,
Good to know he tests regularly and doesn’t assume things. >I also pointed out him that I having been exercising >as much as I would like. So in a week or two ,i’m gonna take another blood sugar >test for him.
It takes two tests for a positive confirmation of T2 diabetes. There is a slight possibility of infections, cortisol that sort of thing giving the odd fluke results. >Basically I have to wait a month to see this doctor again, so I was wondering if >there was some way that I could check my own blood glucose level, perhaps I am >slightly diabetic…plus it would explain some of the transient symptoms I been >having, like having to urinate more often,the occasional pimple on my legs that >resemble insect bites, but don’t heal like insect bites, catastrophic loses of >energy ( when I really need it), and slight transient blurryness of vision ( >though I wear glasses), though these may be symptoms of diabetes, I chalked it >up to "Old Age".
Well you are a smart enough sort of cookie. Forty isn’t old age. Not in this generation. The symptoms you describe are common among T2 diabetics. >A couple of days ago I purchased a blood glucose monitor , like the kind >diabetics use. So I been testing my blood glucose level, But I’m not sure WHAT >ARE NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS. I’m assuming that over 150 mg/dl is abnormal, >and that 60 mg/ below is abnormal.
Ideally you are looking for something from 90 to 100 on waking. Less than 140 one hour after meals. Less than 120 two hours after meals. And avoiding going below about 70. Those figures are pretty general. Some doctors are less restrictive especially with T1s. >One the first day, (night) without any fasting or dieting changes, my BGL was >187 mg/dl I felt horrible that whole day, I usually like to jog when I feel like >this, but i didn’t have time to.
Even a bit of walking helps. >After this I decided to cut out the sugar out >of my diet, cutting down on the sodas and sweet drinks, candy bars and cookies. >Diabetes is a subtle and insidious disease. The next evening my BGL was down to >148 mg/dl….last night after a pretty active day, and Xmas shopping my BGL was >down to 88 mg/dl, and that morning it when up to 112 mg/dl. >These seem like normal levels of Glucose in my blood, but does this still mean >that I may have Diabetes?, Are the symptoms reversible?
Some of the symptoms are reversible. The disease isn’t. At the moment the situation is "Once a diabetic … always a diabetic." Sorry. >How do I take that >blood test for my doctor in a few weeks?, should I eat normally ( cookies ,candy >and sweets) so I run up my Blood glucose levels way high, or do I continue to do >what i’m doing so so that the doctor assumes my BGL is normal?
Doctors often ask for a fasting blood glucose. Talk to the practice nurse they’ll fill in the details for you. >I understand a bit that lots of sugar isn’t good for you if you are diabetic, so >I’ve cut out the obvious sweets in my diet, but what about complex sugars that >you find in beans, starches, pastas …carbohydrates, are these dangerous to me >as well??
By the time white bread reaches the small intestine it is mostly glucose. Sorry. THe concept of complex carbs has had a bit of revision. You will do better and find things a whole lot easier if you go for high water content vegetables rather than breads, cereals and pastas. >And I guess Smallpox vaccinations for people with Diabetes or type 2 Diabetes is >out…thanks for your indulgence.
Sorry don’t know. None of us will get it outside the US. >"I’d hate to be an alcoholic with Alzhiemer’s. Imagine needing a drink and >forgetting where you put it" George Carlin
LOL. Well taking a small inventory of the things that will get you through into the land of managing magnificently take a BIG TICK for having a delightfully warped sense of humour that can fully appreciate irony. — Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, >#,#< [ / / "… and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
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> Hi, I’m 5′11 ft tall and weight about 215. I’m 40 years old. Recently a doctor > was about to diagnose me has having DIABETES (type 2, I guess). The odd thing is > that I thought, I was in pretty good health, , as of a few weeks ago I was > exercising( jogging) twice a week and doing 10 pull-ups. I stopped recently but > of the worsening air quality, weather and plus working two jobs. Recently I had > a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said that I > was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150).
What do you mean "Was about to diagnose you?" You either have it or you don’t. And if your BG is 150, then you have it. > The doctor was so serious, I thought he must be bull-shitting me, but he did say > that my blood test was abnormal in that when he tested me previously my blood > glucose levels were normal, I also pointed out him that I having been exercising > as much as I would like. So in a week or two ,i’m gonna take another blood sugar > test for him.
He was serious because diabetes is something to take seriously. Your previous BG might have been normal. But keep in mind that diabetes doesn’t necessarily come on slowly. Could be that yours was caught in the beginning stages. If so, this is a GOOD thing! You can take action now and hopefully prevent any damage from occurring. And I don’t understand your statement about exercise. Do you think that people with diabetes don’t exercise? Diet and exercise are vital in terms of control. Some people also use insulin or take pills. But even then, diet and exercise are still vital. > Basically I have to wait a month to see this doctor again, so I was wondering if > there was some way that I could check my own blood glucose level, perhaps I am > slightly diabetic…
You can’t be slightly diabetic. You either are or you aren’t. And it sounds like you are. You can buy a meter and strips to test your blood. But at this point, it sounds like you will have to pay for these things out of pocket. If you have been diagnosed and are prescribed a meter, your insurance might pay for it. >plus it would explain some of the transient symptoms I been > having, like having to urinate more often,the occasional pimple on my legs that > resemble insect bites, but don’t heal like insect bites, catastrophic loses of > energy ( when I really need it), and slight transient blurryness of vision ( > though I wear glasses), though these may be symptoms of diabetes, I chalked it > up to "Old Age".
All of these things could relate to diabetes. > A couple of days ago I purchased a blood glucose monitor , like the kind > diabetics use. So I been testing my blood glucose level, But I’m not sure WHAT > ARE NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS. I’m assuming that over 150 mg/dl is abnormal, > and that 60 mg/ below is abnormal.
Depends on when you test and who you ask. For many people, fasting <110 is normal and <120 at two hours after eating is normal. Low could be <70 or <65. > One the first day, (night) without any fasting or dieting changes, my BGL was > 187 mg/dl I felt horrible that whole day, I usually like to jog when I feel like > this, but i didn’t have time to. After this I decided to cut out the sugar out > of my diet, cutting down on the sodas and sweet drinks, candy bars and
cookies. See your Dr. again, ASAP. People who do not have diabetes do not have numbers that high. And the changes you made to your diet will help, but it is not necessarily that we must avoid. It is carbohydrates that raise our BG (blood glucose). Foods that are high in carbs are bread, cereal, rice, pasta, crackers, fruit, peas, corn, dried beans, many canned soups, and other foods. Cutting down on sweet drinks isn’t going to help you. You have to stop drinking them, and switch to diet drinks. Eat no sweets for now. Once you have your BG under control, you may be able to work them back in, occasionally and in small portions. > Diabetes is a subtle and insidious disease. The next evening my BGL was down to > 148 mg/dl….last night after a pretty active day, and Xmas shopping my BGL was > down to 88 mg/dl, and that morning it when up to 112 mg/dl.
Yep. The BG of a diabetic is not stable. That is why we must test frequently. > These seem like normal levels of Glucose in my blood, but does this still mean > that I may have Diabetes?, Are the symptoms reversible? How do I take that > blood test for my doctor in a few weeks?, should I eat normally ( cookies ,candy > and sweets) so I run up my Blood glucose levels way high, or do I continue to do > what i’m doing so so that the doctor assumes my BGL is normal?
148 is not normal. That is a diabetic number. As for symptoms, some may be reversable once you are under control. Blurry vision is one such. What kind of test is your Dr. going to give you? If it is just a random finger stick, you may well test "normal". I did. I did repeatedly. Why? Because at the time, my numbers could be controlled with diet and exercise. It was only after I became really ill and unable to eat that I was diagnosed. My numbers rose and rose, despite my not having eaten. Diabetes was then confirmed with a HbA1c. Another test for diagnosis is a GTT. This test is done fasting and you’ll be given a sweet drink. Blood will be drawn at various intervals to see how you react to the glucose. > I understand a bit that lots of sugar isn’t good for you if you are diabetic, so > I’ve cut out the obvious sweets in my diet, but what about complex sugars that > you find in beans, starches, pastas …carbohydrates, are these dangerous to me > as well??
As I said before, it is the carbs that raise our BG. Fat also plays a role. A little fat in the diet is good. A lot of fat is not good because it delays the absoption of carbs. See a dietician who will give you a starting point for your diet. > And I guess Smallpox vaccinations for people with Diabetes or type 2 Diabetes is > out…thanks for your indulgence.
That, I don’t know. — Type 2 http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/ Julie Bove, posting from new account
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Hi Dave, I`m sorry to tell that there is NO such thing as *slightly diabetic* – you is, or you isn`t. Daily readings should not go below 70, nor above 126. You say loss of energy, urinating a lot, blurry vision, not healing as quick as well – all classic symptoms of diabetes, but none of them is due to age 40. Goodness 40 is when men travel into space! I`m in the UK, and we have a stricter of idea of weight here, but I still reckon you could lose 15 to 20 pounds with advantage. The jogging and pullups can only help – good for you. I hope Jennifer will be here soon, coz she`ll give gold-plated advice. Al.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, I’m 5′11 ft tall and weight about 215. I’m 40 years old. Recently a doctor > was about to diagnose me has having DIABETES (type 2, I guess). The odd thing is > that I thought, I was in pretty good health, , as of a few weeks ago I was > exercising( jogging) twice a week and doing 10 pull-ups. I stopped recently but > of the worsening air quality, weather and plus working two jobs. Recently I had > a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said that I > was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150). > The doctor was so serious, I thought he must be bull-shitting me, but he did say > that my blood test was abnormal in that when he tested me previously my blood > glucose levels were normal, I also pointed out him that I having been exercising > as much as I would like. So in a week or two ,i’m gonna take another blood sugar > test for him. > Basically I have to wait a month to see this doctor again, so I was wondering if > there was some way that I could check my own blood glucose level, perhaps I am > slightly diabetic…plus it would explain some of the transient symptoms I been > having, like having to urinate more often,the occasional pimple on my legs that > resemble insect bites, but don’t heal like insect bites, catastrophic loses of > energy ( when I really need it), and slight transient blurryness of vision ( > though I wear glasses), though these may be symptoms of diabetes, I chalked it > up to "Old Age". > A couple of days ago I purchased a blood glucose monitor , like the kind > diabetics use. So I been testing my blood glucose level, But I’m not sure WHAT > ARE NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS. I’m assuming that over 150 mg/dl is abnormal, > and that 60 mg/ below is abnormal. > One the first day, (night) without any fasting or dieting changes, my BGL was > 187 mg/dl I felt horrible that whole day, I usually like to jog when I feel like > this, but i didn’t have time to. After this I decided to cut out the sugar out > of my diet, cutting down on the sodas and sweet drinks, candy bars and cookies. > Diabetes is a subtle and insidious disease. The next evening my BGL was down to > 148 mg/dl….last night after a pretty active day, and Xmas shopping my BGL was > down to 88 mg/dl, and that morning it when up to 112 mg/dl. > These seem like normal levels of Glucose in my blood, but does this still mean > that I may have Diabetes?, Are the symptoms reversible? How do I take that > blood test for my doctor in a few weeks?, should I eat normally ( cookies ,candy > and sweets) so I run up my Blood glucose levels way high, or do I continue to do > what i’m doing so so that the doctor assumes my BGL is normal? > I understand a bit that lots of sugar isn’t good for you if you are diabetic, so > I’ve cut out the obvious sweets in my diet, but what about complex sugars that > you find in beans, starches, pastas …carbohydrates, are these dangerous to me > as well?? > And I guess Smallpox vaccinations for people with Diabetes or type 2 Diabetes is > out…thanks for your indulgence. > "I’d hate to be an alcoholic with Alzhiemer’s. Imagine needing a drink and > forgetting where you put it" George Carlin
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Hi, I’m 5′11 ft tall and weight about 215. I’m 40 years old. Recently a doctor was about to diagnose me has having DIABETES (type 2, I guess). The odd thing is that I thought, I was in pretty good health, , as of a few weeks ago I was exercising( jogging) twice a week and doing 10 pull-ups. I stopped recently but of the worsening air quality, weather and plus working two jobs. Recently I had a blood test, where the doctor tested for blood glucose levels…and said that I was diabetic(having a blood glucose level over 150). The doctor was so serious, I thought he must be bull-shitting me, but he did say that my blood test was abnormal in that when he tested me previously my blood glucose levels were normal, I also pointed out him that I having been exercising as much as I would like. So in a week or two ,i’m gonna take another blood sugar test for him. Basically I have to wait a month to see this doctor again, so I was wondering if there was some way that I could check my own blood glucose level, perhaps I am slightly diabetic…plus it would explain some of the transient symptoms I been having, like having to urinate more often,the occasional pimple on my legs that resemble insect bites, but don’t heal like insect bites, catastrophic loses of energy ( when I really need it), and slight transient blurryness of vision ( though I wear glasses), though these may be symptoms of diabetes, I chalked it up to "Old Age". A couple of days ago I purchased a blood glucose monitor , like the kind diabetics use. So I been testing my blood glucose level, But I’m not sure WHAT ARE NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS. I’m assuming that over 150 mg/dl is abnormal, and that 60 mg/ below is abnormal. One the first day, (night) without any fasting or dieting changes, my BGL was 187 mg/dl I felt horrible that whole day, I usually like to jog when I feel like this, but i didn’t have time to. After this I decided to cut out the sugar out of my diet, cutting down on the sodas and sweet drinks, candy bars and cookies. Diabetes is a subtle and insidious disease. The next evening my BGL was down to 148 mg/dl….last night after a pretty active day, and Xmas shopping my BGL was down to 88 mg/dl, and that morning it when up to 112 mg/dl. These seem like normal levels of Glucose in my blood, but does this still mean that I may have Diabetes?, Are the symptoms reversible? How do I take that blood test for my doctor in a few weeks?, should I eat normally ( cookies ,candy and sweets) so I run up my Blood glucose levels way high, or do I continue to do what i’m doing so so that the doctor assumes my BGL is normal? I understand a bit that lots of sugar isn’t good for you if you are diabetic, so I’ve cut out the obvious sweets in my diet, but what about complex sugars that you find in beans, starches, pastas …carbohydrates, are these dangerous to me as well?? And I guess Smallpox vaccinations for people with Diabetes or type 2 Diabetes is out…thanks for your indulgence. "I’d hate to be an alcoholic with Alzhiemer’s. Imagine needing a drink and forgetting where you put it" George Carlin
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