Darkazanas Diabetes Page


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So, as many now know, cos i don't keep a lot to myself, I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

At this time I do not need medication and have been told to try and control it by diet and exercise.

When the shock and horror wore off i set about reading everything I could about this disease with the idea of seeing if I could make it go away. A recent conversation with my doctor informed me that even if everything went back to normal I would now always be regarded as a diabetic. So first hurdle...Get Over It!

Onwards and upwards, if nothing else I have realised that once I have a certain mindset I can be quite determined, and since my diagnosis I have resisted all sweets, cakes and biscuits even if they are sat in front of my nose, though I do allow myself a treat occasionally.

So a few, maybe less known facts that I have picked up

It is not just about cutting out carbohydrates (carbs) and sugars. You do need some sugar for energy, it just depends on the type, those which occur naturally like fructose are quite good and break down a lot more slowly than glucose and lactose.

One of the main culprits are the fats, most notably animal fats, that we take in. These contain the dreaded saturated fats and they are the cause of the insulin produced not being able to do its job properly, leading eventually to the failure of your pancreas to produce enough insulin (or something like that) which helps the sugars be absorbed into the cells and used as energy. This is why many diabetics also have high cholesterol levels and are at risk of heart disease, stroke raised blood pressure and all the other nasty things associated with too much saturated fat in the body.

I have been reading a very good book called the Reverse Diabetes Diet Book which explains what is going on and advocates following a vegan diet for 12 weeks, as vegans do not take in any animal products at all. The only thing that bothers me about this is you have to take lots of supplements for nutrients which will be lacking in this restricted diet...I'm not good at taking tablets of any sort as I usually forget! But I am adapting some of the recipes and others I will see how I go. Fortunately my husband is very supportive and willing to try anything once! I have also got both of the Hairy Dieters cookbooks and adapt their recipes to suit my needs.

I have also looked at Low GI diets, and keep a copy of the GI index so that I can look for the better foods. The lower the GI the better.

So at this point I am tracking my diet and find it very helpful to use the http://www.fatsecret.co.uk/website I can also track my fitness levels and they have challenges which are fun to do. John bought me a fitbit for Christmas which tracks steps etc and synchronises with their webpage showing me my progress. My main form of exercise at the moment is the treadmill, which I use 5 days a week, using the weight loss programme of 30 minutes up and down hills at about 3.5 mph. So far I have lost half a stone since being diagnosed.

So that's a not so brief introduction to my diabetes blog.

Some of the tips I have picked up so far:

I have swapped semi skimmed milk for almond milk (though not in tea) It's quite pleasant on cereal and in cooking and acceptable in coffee (Can't stand soya milk)

Apart from my morning cup of tea, any other teas in the day are herbal, usually a chamomile and peppermint home made mix. And lots of water of course

Porridge is an excellent breakfast and I found that making it with water only and sprinkling it with cinnamon and 80 grams of raspberries and blueberries makes it very yummy. I even added cinnamon to my muesli this morning. Cinnamon is very good for helping to reduce blood glucose levels

Wraps and pitta bread (wholemeal) are better than ordinary breads even granary as they do not have air bubbles in them. It is the air in bread which makes it spongy and so the carbs are turned to sugar much more quickly, and it is the sugar rush which is to be avoided. I don't use any butter or spread on bread (if I have some), but I do add some hommus, which is another very acceptable food.

Sweet potatoes are far better than ordinary and mash is out altogether as that is one of the foods which turns to sugar and is absorbed far too quicky.

Well I am now 4 weeks along my road of diet change and fitness and I can honestly say that it has caused me very few problems. I had a great Christmas and just had smaller portions of turkey and Christmas pudding, but loads of veg and fruit.

Last year my husband was despairing of me as I would complain about my weight, but the more he tried to encourage me to use the treadmill the more I resisted, purely because I don't like being told what to do. Now I am fighting him for the use of it, now it's deadly serious as my health depends on it and my health is my most precious commodity.

So this is it so far. Next week we start work in the Cotswolds so I will have to adapt my fitness regime (no room for the treadmill in the awning!) It will be interesting to see how I can do this.

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Well at last I have managed to see the Diabetes Specialist Nurse and it's good news My last sugar reading was classed as "normal, no further action needed" which is fantastic, but of course there i

So, as many now know, cos i don't keep a lot to myself, I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. At this time I do not need medication and have been told to try and control it by diet and

Annual diabetes check up last week and am so pleased to report that I am still technically diabetes free. Official note from doctor on blood tests was "no further action needed" I am now 18 months fr

I'm sure you will have the support of all on this great web site,good luck in your quest and I look forward to reading your post telling us that everything is now OK

Rog

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That's an interesting and informative post, darkazana. Hopefully, I'll never have diabetes but posts like your's make us aware of it. I don't have a strict diet, in fact I don't have one at all, but I do love vegetables and have them most days, including Brussels sprouts :Shock:. We have a mixed grill on Saturdays but none of our food is ever fried and I also have an apple, orange and banana every day. I like a pint of lager (I've never tasted real ale), rum and coke or a good port but I don't drink very often. I'm in good nick and hopefully I'll grow old with a decent quality of life. I wish you well with your fitness regime, darkazana.

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I went to the quacks after a test and he said border line I said no way, cut out sugar retested 6 months later back to normal,positive thinking I told him fine says he.You may know I was in the same class as "him above" on this thread and i,am in even better nick than him,later on in May I will play a 58 year old seduce and marry my nephews girlfriend and produce a daughter before dying of a heart attack all in the name of "Aspects of Love" so Darkazana best of luck with your problem and 1 hours walk each day will do no harm......

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  • 2 months later...

A quick update on my journey to beating diabetes.

It is now 3 months since I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Yesterday I went for a blood test to check my glucose levels, results are not in yet, but what I can report is that since last November I have lost 20lbs and am now below my target weight of 9st 7lb. I have simply done this by cutting out fat and sugar from my diet, with the occasional treat. And by exercise in various forms, using our treadmill before we went to the Cotswolds and when there using our Wii Fit, yoga dvd and fitness trainer dvd, not to mention the invaluable Fitbit which my husband bought me for Christmas. Fitbit is a posh pedometer which you can synchronise with your computer. It keeps a check on how many steps a day you do, and the equivalent in miles, how many active minutes, how many flights of stairs, and how many calories you are burning, even when you are resting. It is recommended that you do at least 6000 steps a day and by using the fitbit I have been able to tell if more effort is needed, even if it has meant a walk around the caravan site, litter picking!

Today we are off to Sandringham for the summer season. I have no doubt at all that I will get my 6000 steps in, simply by putting up the awning!!! and will keep up my fitness regime, as I actually quite enjoy it. Hopefully the better weather will mean more outdoor exercise and the bikes will be pressed into service.

Diet wise I now have to change it a bit to maintain my weight rather than lose more, but I will not be adding more fat or sugar. the summer months make it easier as I love salads and fruit anyway. I will not know how my sugar levels are doing until the next day or so, I am hoping they have reduced somewhat, and can continue enjoying my food by simply cutting the fat off meat, eating smaller portions, and not eating too many cakes and puddings.

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  • 3 weeks later...

So had an eye screening today, the good news is that there is no eye damage showing and the optician thinks I may be a borderline diabetes case. The bad news is he decided my glasses needed replacing and so although the testing is now free I still had to fork out a hefty fee for my new specs...still as I told my husband they didn't come to as much as the sky dish he bought for our caravan, and I got a spare pair free slywink

Just have to wait for my appointment with the specialist nurse now, set at last for 22nd April, so I can see how things are really going. In the meantime I am managing to maintain my weight, but I can see how people get sucked into the dieting trap, it's so easy to think "well maybe a few more pounds could go"

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  • 3 weeks later...

Been on medication for t2 diabetes for years, saw the practice nurse yesterday & was told that the tablets aren't working anymore, will have to inject with insulin.

Have gone away to think about it, no other choice I suppose.

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My husband has had Type2 Diabetes for about 5 years and has been on pills until about 6 months ago when he told the GP he wanted to come off them. The GP surprisingly agreed but told him he needed to lose about a stone in weight. So far he's lost 7 lbs. He's never carried excess weight really anyway so this final weight shed is proving difficult. However the doctor has warned him that whatever he does he'll be back on the pills at some stage in the future.

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The wife 'injects' for her 'Arthritus' but shes a hard little bugger,she never mentions it and i never see her do it,(i'd probably feint) but shes got used to it,as i'm sure you will Mick,...........Ain't it fun getting older,

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When you have health problems you have to do what you have to do. It's the only way you'll survive. I wouldn't like to have to inject insulin but if it saves your life then you do it.

They are finding cures for lots of things these days. They've found out what causes Alzheimer's disease and found a vaccine for Ebola so there is always hope for us all.

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Never mind the cakes and puddings, stay away from the fish and chip van!

That won't be difficult Rob, apparently the chips are below par...lots of complaints about him noblue

On the plus side we have a Pizza Van starting in May, Stone oven baked pizzas baked fresh in front of your eyes......There was one at Moreton in Marsh and they were yummy! Now that could be a problem, though Yoga night is also on a Thursday so I may escape temptation.

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Re #18 I've shed a stone in the last seven months or so. It was easy for me as I was 14st and am now a mite under 13st.

I acchieved it by cutting down on sweet things except tiramisu and banoffee pie, and less cheese and crackers late at night.

Oh, I did embark on taking more exercise, but I was having sleepless nights. Now I'll hopefully stay as I am.

Lizzie, 7 pounds is fine. If he overdoes it, he may become unhealthy and look too ragged. A mate of mine was once 21st at 50. He looked healthy, but his doc told him to get down to 17st. He did but looked terrible. He died three years later !!!!!'

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Well at last I have managed to see the Diabetes Specialist Nurse and it's good news :jumping:

My last sugar reading was classed as "normal, no further action needed" which is fantastic, but of course there is further action needed as once diagnosed I will now always be classed as diabetic, and the day may well come when medication is the only route. But today I am so pleased that I have reversed my symptoms, as promised by The Reverse Diabetes Diet, within 6 months of diagnosis.

I have lost one and a half stones and dropped a dress size to 12 which I was last at over 20 years ago and actually feel so much fitter. Today I celebrated by donating most of my wardrobe to the recycling bins with the promise that I will maintain my weight and figure.

This has been through hard work and at times I have missed my "treats", but have learned that everything is fine in small packages especially if accompanied by a healthy dose of exercise, either a brisk walk around whichever site we are on, or 30 minutes on the treadmill at home. I have already mentioned the "swaps" that I have made which have also helped.

I also had my feet checked as they can lose all sensation due to bad circulation brought on by diabetes, but they are fine, with really good strong blood flow apparently, and my eyes checked out fine a couple of weeks ago as I have already mentioned in an earlier post....just picked up my new specs today.

So a really good morale boost, just knowing that I have been on the right track and so can continue with my new healthy lifestyle with treats thrown in for good behaviour. Next check up is in December so I hope my progress continues on the up.

So for anyone newly diagnosed on this site, or for anyone who wants to get off the meds it can actually be done but you have got to really want to do it and be determined to work at it. I'm no expert but would be only too happy to support anyone in the fight against diabetes.

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  • 1 month later...

Well I never went on Insulin Injections & decided to give the tablets one last go.

Started with one & gradually increased to a maximum four plus one other. Done a lot of what Darkazana said, cutting the carbs out etc, I also check blood glucose levels after everything I eat so I can see straight away what is my biggest problem food is. It came as no surprise that bread , white or brown is the killer for me.

After four weeks my blood glucose average has dropped from 11.9 mmol/L to 6.2 mmol/L ! hellothere

Depending on what I eat I vary my medication accordingly, I have to increase the dosage after a few pints of Hobgoblin ! It has been said that beer is like liquid bread.

Finally, my weight has come down by 8lbs ! Another stone is the target.

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Seems eggs are cure for mild diabetes...

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