General Chat

Wow, thank goodness for food tracking here at Sparkpeople. Without it, the "snacks" just keep creeping in. Making a good habit of tracking really shuts that down.

I find if I get hungry I now, i look for healthier low carb natural foods that won't spike my glucose and the tracking really shows me how each food ranks with carbs and calories.

So far pretty good for 2016. I had a "snack" of chicken wings last night. I buy the "flavours" that have 6% of their weight (or less) listed as carbs. So probably not the honey glazed ones.

That is my plan. 6%. I had some BBQ wings.

TOMMYSANGEL,

the key navigation on this site is the "COMMUNITY" tab, and under there the "SparkTeams" selection which gets you to a page where you can see shortcuts to teams that you have already joined, and which also has a search field for keywords to help you find teams.

Under the "MY TRACKERS" tab (left of the community tab on my browser) is a "SparkMail" selection, and I'm sending you a piece of mail with a link to a low carb team, not super active, but not dead either. I like the team because they stay on track with the nutrition topic, not straying into pets or other off topic stuff.

Check your mail.

Edited by: -JAMES- at: 1/13/2016 (16:12)

James i have not yet figured out how to send sparknotes to people. Im mostly doing this from my phone and its a little hard to navigate but im trying to go low carb also for both my disbetes and weight loss and would be very interested in the low carb team you're talking about of its active

I'm now 43 months free of diabetes medication. Well managed but not cured. I really enjoy what I eat. I don't miss the super high sugar and carb things.

Drop me a sparknote if this team is a little inactive and I'll invite you to a low carb team.

BRENDAROMNEY,

As a type-2 diabetic you want to avoid carbs as much as reasonable, as carbs raise blood sugar the most. Sugar, at 100% carbs by weight is the worst.

So when your daughter provides a meal, pick foprom the lower carb things. I suggest you make a list of typical foods and rank them by carb percentage and pick lower ones when you can.

For example, here are some typical numbers:
Sugar 100%
Corn 65%
Rice 25%
Mashed potatoes 15%
Brocolli 4%
Cheese 1%

Anyway, make your list of what is typically for supper, and rank your foods, then make smart (i.e. Low carb) choices.

By the way, send me a sparknote and I'll reply. I check my mail every day.

James

Edited by: -JAMES- at: 9/23/2015 (00:34)

It has been 27 months of managing my type 2 diabetes with food choices alone. I must say that is after 9 years of pills.

I stick to about 30 grams of net carbs a day, sometimes up to about 60, but usually around 30.

Fibre is technically a carb, but it isn't digestible, so on food labels (and also otherwise) you can subtract it from the total carbs to get net, or digestible carbs. So yes, 30 is low, but carbs provide only energy, no other nutrients, or building blocks for the body. I eat mostly fat and protein, and trace amounts of carbs that come in things.

But I don't eat grains, potatoes or rice. My personal rule is to avoid things that are more than 6% net carbs by weight. Three good A1c tests in those 27 months. It works for me.

Last weekend I had a great results to my scores. This weekend I had a couple of meals at restaurants, and I have been chasing my numbers ever since. I am wondering if the medicine is working or not?

I'm a little surprised that there isn't much activity in this forum.

National Diabetes Association is having a conference at the Converntion Center in Denver. This Saturday from 9am-4pm.

Finding my diet and exercise program for the new year is not only helping me loose weight, but has brought my morning blood sugar levels to normal.

Thank you SP for having groups like this to share with!

Edited by: CARLT11 at: 1/15/2014 (11:17)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Everyone, I do not make resolutions I make goals. Resolutions to me is something that people do not stick up to for long. Goals on the other hand is something that a person strives to meet.

1. Of my goals this year is to get my dl back.
2. exercise on a regular basis even if that is a different kind of exercise each time
3. declutter my home to make it more liveable
4. get to know my new daughter in law (my son is getting married Jan 4, 2014)
5. learn more about my health issues and how to handle them better
6. get our online business making money and make things to put on the site more regularly
7. make healthier choices

those are my top seven goals.

The first one is getting worked on this month Monday Jan 6th I go see the doctor that took my dl for apparent no reason.

So we are already working on that.
The decluttering both dh and I are working daily on that one.

Hugs
Shirley

So... what is the weather like where you are? It's been 60's by day 30's by night here in Alabama. Good for walking outside.

Great news Shirley - great find too. I have not used one but I am a former skier and that's great exercise. Will be interested to know how it works for you. I have a deposit (should be able to afford in 2017) on a Cybex elliptical whole body trainer which I am looking forward to since I have a very fussy Charcot foot. It gives a skiing-like action to your whole body and is easy on the feet, ankles etc.. You move side to side. - Holly

Last weekend I got me a Tony's little gazelle edge exercise machine, have not set it up yet but planning on doing that asap. Looking forward to trying it out, if anyone has used one of these I would like opinions on it. I actually got it at a yard sale.
it is supposed to imitate skiing and I have never been skiing so need to sit it up and see how it goes looks pretty easy. I did look up and printed out some of the exercises that one is supposed to be able to do with it.
Shirley

Congrats Carol. I was asked to only finger check twice a week. Great A1C score. Keep the good work up!

Nice going Carol!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Edited by: HOLLEEHO at: 8/8/2013 (13:02)

My primary has taken me off of doing my fingersticks and now does just A1c once every 6 months for a year and then down to just once a year. No meds since December. My A1c-recent is- 5.1.

I am moving right along.

Carol

Somewhat of a newbie to this chat but my summer is going well, except we are renovating our bathrooms and if I can survive this and take good care of myself (and I will) I can do anything! One thing I did when I was not taking enough weight off was to lower my calories and reduce the fats more. Sometimes just tweaking things helps. Good wishes to all, Holly
Update: Yesterday's A1C was 5.2.

Edited by: HOLLEEHO at: 7/24/2013 (19:34)

Yes. Hope the summer is being good to you all!

I hope that everyone is doing well!!!

Carol

Thanks Kacey. The Doctor states the BP medicine works well with the D2 medicine. My new internist said I can half the pill I have been taking for a couple of years. I am walking every day, 1.5 to 4 miles per day, but its hard to lose more weight. With work its tough to work at the exercise then rebound to to it again. The internist stated I am managing my D2, so I can only test twice a week. I need to build on that success.

Those are some big changes Carol! I hope you rewarded yourself along the way and have properly celebrated your successes!! Do you feel any different emotionally or handle emotional triggers to overeating any differently now?

George that stinks. But did you get off the BP meds after the weight loss? I don't know what your weight situation is now or if you exercise etc but I am told that If lose another 60 pounds (already lost 100) and stay active and eating healthily, ie watching my carbs calories fats and sodium levels I could kick the Diabetes meds and insulin and control it without them. I am working hard on that! Imagine I've had D2 for like 20 years and in one more year or less I could be meds free. That would be !!!
Don't let yourself be discouraged about having D2. I know I was angry for years about having it and having to change my life so much. But once I just accepted that that was the way it had to be I am working pretty much free of it a little bit at a time. and you can do it too!

Edited by: IKACEY at: 6/27/2013 (08:17)

Congrats Carol on your surgery success. I have Diabetes. I lost about 50 pounds due to reduce my taking of a high blood pressure Rx. Fate wasn't with me. I was diagnosed with Diabetes after losing the weight. Glad to hear it was all beneficial for you.

I remember when I was on oral meds for my diabetes. I went for my surgery Dec 17th, 2012 and when I left the hospital I was no longer on Diabetic meds. I stick myself-FBS once daily to keep a check on things and mostly out of habit and curiosity as well.
My recent A1c was 5.3. My FBS run 80-88 daily.

I have lost a lot of weight since my surgery. I went from wearing a size 4XL scrubs at work the day before my surgery to what I am currently wearing now-XL. Yep, that is a size XL.
I will need to get a new badge at work as I do not look like that person any more.

I have comparison pictures on my Spark Page and pictures.

I do not take any meds-but, I do take my vitamins for the rest of my life.
I make sure I get my protein in (at least 60 grams daily) on a daily basis.
Plus, I usually have a protein drink to help out and that puts it over 60 grams of protein as my protein drink has 20 grams of protein.

I feel 100% better than I did before the surgery and would do it all again.
One of the major factors for my surgery-besides my weight was that I was diabetic. I actually work for the hospital that I had my surgery at and we have good insurance.

It was the best decision.

Carol

Boy that's the right statement! It's never over. I wonder if there is such a thing as a formula for figuring how much insulin you need when you are exercising regularly.

We seem to all be in some state of flex. Controlling Diabetes is maybe unattainable. But we can affect it. You have done so much with your challenges. Still trying to find the equilibrium though. Someone said with Diabetes you can manage all the variables, and think you are successful, then you need to put forth more effort again. What a challenge for a lifetime.

I would think that would indicate its the right dose for you and is working. That's good. I took a look at how much insulin I was originally taking when I was already on 500mgs 2x a day and it was a lot lower dose of insulin than I am taking now. The reason it went high was because I got an infection in my stump (left lower leg amputation) and then they discovered that was caused by not having left enough tissue on the leg so the bone was pushing thru from the inside constantly splitting the stump and you know how easily diabetics infect if not careful. My insulin was only 42units am and pm then and I was mostly controlled with the occasional high sugar of about 150, which was a miracle in itself since I had stopped exercising and had only lost about 70lbs by then so was still morbidly obese. And I was eating out too much for dinner and eating so many high sodium. and processed foods. Boy did I have a lot to learn when I hit SP. But after the infection and revision of the amputation my sugar levels hit the 250 to 300 range and stayed there no matter what I did for nearly two years. I started with a new endocrinologist as the old one was useless and he upped my insulin to 70 units am and pm. Which worked some. Then I came on SP and started cutting out all the unhealthy food stuff and exercising which dropped my levels right back to normal range. So he lowered me to 66 units and then I upped my exercising and now I'm having hypoglycemia attacks right and left. Even they dropped the insulin to 58 units am and pm and still a problem with another attack. So I am wondering if I need to lower my dosages back to the original levels or cut back on the Metformin as I am apparently no longer insulin resistant. I've dropped an hundred pounds in the last three years and now am eating right and exercising seriously 6 days a week so I think that could be the problem.

1000mg in am and 750mg in the pm.
Hope you work out the insulin changes. Other than the getting used to the metformin, my intake has been the same. I don't know if that is good or bad.

How much Metformin and how many times a day? I started on one pill and as my body stopped being able to use other D2 meds they changed me to the 500mg but twice a day and 70/30 insulin. I started my exercises today, and even though I've only done a partial workout and they dropped my insulin twice I still had a hypoglycemic attack again. First time since I stopped exercising. I'm reading up on exercise and insulin but I am scared of all the attacks. It makes me afraid to full out exercise. Has this happened to anyone else?

I agree, metformin loves exercise. it works well with it. I probably need to change up my predictable exercise but it has helped me manage successfully the D2. My meformin intake per day has not changed though since the getting used to period. Diet is important. I track my calories every day for the last 3 years.

I checked with my Endocrinologist and he gave me links to several articles about Metformin. It is sometimes given to help you lose weight and it reacts well to exercise. So if you are not losing well its coming from somewhere else. It could just be genetics or metabolism that has you losing slow. Or if you have had the same exercise routine exactly the same every day of the week with the same exercises and the same amount of sets and reps then that could slow you up too. I asked him why if I was doing everything right or as right as possible then why the slow loss and he told me my blood tests show a normal thyroid and I am exercising the right kinds and amounts for me and that my Mediterranean Style of eating on a diabetic nutritional management plan was the right way to go for me. But he also said that as several in my family have diabetes and I am part Native American and because of my body type I lose at a slower rate than others may because of genetics. Well however it goes I still know I need to burn 3,500 more calories than I eat to lose 1lbs a week. And its slow, it took me 3 years to lose 100lbs and I still have at least 60 to go so I will keep going and learning and tweaking until I'm there. Its a whole life journey and it takes many steps to get to the maintenance stage, which I am grateful for the challenges along the way that make me read and research and teach me how to stay healthy for the rest of my life.

PinkLady, I too take metformin. Metformin loves exercise. Your exercising efforts are great. Sounds like you are making smart nutrition choices also.
Do you track your calories and carbs? Readings can be adversely affected by what you eat before your testing.
Has your dosage/frequency stayed the same? After 4 years your dosage and frequency of metformin should have been stabilized.

I was interested in learning more about taking Metformin and loosing weight. I have been on it for the last 4 years since I was diagnosed with diabetes. I exercise for 2 hours a day, cut out all items with a lot of carbs - white bread, pastas, etc, no more sweet tea or soda. Just a lot of fresh veggies, chicken and fish. I am either going to grow feathers or gills!! I still have trouble getting my numbers down. When I get up my numbers read 154, then take two pills a day, can not get it down past 120!

I have lost over 20 lbs in the last two months and lost an additional 20 so in weight loss I am doing fairly well. Maybe someone can tell me what more I need to do to get numbers down where my doctor wants them to be 100-90.
Thank U.

Oh I see. Thats great about the beets though! I had heard that too much sugar will make GB patients sick. By Dump I assume you mean throw up, which can't be good for surgery. I don't have problems with sugar that I eat now I've had my stomach ablation surgery, but they do tell me to avoid vomiting at all costs for the first week. Usually a food that is going to give me trouble reacts in the first bite and I stop.
When will you be able to tolerate fruits? And do you have to cook and puree veggies to get rid of the fiber? I'm on soft foods for now

Btw thanks to all who brought up Metformin interfering with weight loss. It made me think and I am going to talk to my Endo about reducing or stopping it. It could also be oversensitzing me to insulin now as I am reducing my sugar levels with diet and exercise, but before wasn't and was insulin resistant.

Quite a bit of natural sugar in Watermelon. At this stage it will make me dump and get sick. Can't have any fruit at all at this stage. Working on a little bit of veggie. Made it through having the nice soft canned beets without any dumping, etc so moving on to another veggie.

Carol

Boy I think I still have a long way, if ever, to get totally off my meds. But I am not just dreaming about it, I'm working at it. My A1c was well over 7 when I started at SP back in January and 2months ago had dropped to 6.4 and I am controlled as far as how high my BS levels go but still fighting with the hypoglycemic reactions when I exercise. I haven't been able to exercise for the past 4 days and no attacks. So that's definitely the key
The stomach ablation surgery I had yesterday is over and in three weeks I'm back to working on it. I just have to ease back into eating with soft foods. Right now I'm on liquids.

Why can't you have Watermelon? Even if it was pureed or blended to a juice?

Not on any diabetic meds-When I left the hospital in December 2012 I was no longer on diabetic meds. My recent A1c is 5.4

Yes, I drink all the water/fluids I need. I take my vitamin, B-12, and Calcium citrate daily.

Carol

Wow Carol thats a very limited diet for now. I guess the end results will be worth it won't it? And that will make this time all worthwhile! are you allowed to drink as much water as you wish? Do you take a vitamin and mineral capsule or something to get your nutrients you need. Sorry if all the questions bug you I am just very interested in what is going on with you and how you are handling your diabetes with it.

speaking of the problem I am having with insulin and exercise and low blood sugar I have found two possible books that will help me:
Staying Healthy with Diabetes -- Physical Activity & Fitness $12.98
www.joslin.org/jstore/stayin
g_healthy_
with_diabetes_series.html

This is a three book series which the except of Chapter 2 for the third book on the Physical stuff has already helped me. If the rest of the book helps me as much I think I will try the other two books

Also I am getting
Diabetic Athlete's Handbook [Paperback] by Sheri Colberg for $12.95 at Amazon.com.
I don't know if any of you need more information to handle your insulin/medications and exercise but I hope this helps if you do.

I have 3 meals a day (no snacks) consisting of a protein-a small portion of fish, roast pork, pork chop, turkey burger, etc.. i don't eat hamburger as it does not go well-turkey burger works. When I get in my protein and still have a bit of room I have a bit of veggie. I have started on beets. I will work with them for a week to make sure there are no problems with the pouch then I will move on to a new veggie. Can't have corn, peas, celery, lettuce, cabbage and quite a few others right now. No fruit yet. Darn-I miss watermelon. Oh well, later on down the road I will be able to have a little.
I have one protein drink a day. I have to lmit it to one so I can get my fluids in as well.
You cannot drink any fluids 30 minutes before and 45 minutes after you eat.


Carol

I'm sure it is. You have to use protein powder only? Or can you put it into a recipe. I know when you have GBS you can only eat/drink a few ounces at first, but I don't know how much your diet is limited.
I wish I could figure out a formula for how much a unit of insulin lowers my bsl. Also how much a certain value of exercise lowers bsl. Then I could work out how much insulin and how much exercise combined would allow me to maintain a normal range of bsl. This try and guessing is making me extremely nervous and stressed.

I use low sodium V8 juice and add a scoop of unflavored Unjury Protein powder to it to give me both my veggies and 23 grams of protein.
My b levels are extremely good-just had all my labs done. Everything doing well.

I take my Gastric Bypss Optimized vitamins, B12, and Calcium citrate with D. Nothing else.

It is a challenge however to find differant sources of protein. That is a constant thing.

Carol

Carol It sounds like you are on the road to recovery. This must be very new to you and I can imagine its exciting to imagine the weight gone. I'll bet you are looking forward to a little carbs. What about something like low sodium V-8 juice? Your doctor seems to know exactly what you need though. I wish you the best of luck with this. I'm curious as to how this affects your bs levels and the meds if any that you take?

I have 3 meals a day and 1 protein shake daily.
My 3 meals right now consist of protein only. My dietician says that once I can get a portion of protein and still have a little room left I can start with a bit of veggies-bit by bit. No lettuce or salad at all. Lettuce doesn't do well in my rather still new tummy pouch.

Carol

Edited by: CAROL6X at: 5/22/2013 (20:05)

Carlt11 Intuitive Eating is a whole life way of eating where in there are no "bad" foods of "good" foods. Instead you learn to listen to your body's signals for being hungry and being satisfied but not overfull, and also you learn to choose mindfully when you will include foods in your diet that might ordinarily be labelled "bad" and thought of as forbidden for all time, which btw is a binge just waiting to happen.
I also find that I prefer eating Mediterranean style of food. I use these two things within the boundaries of my SP diabetic plan, which helps me control my portions of what I choose to eat, and shows me if how I plan to mix them together for my meals for that day is a good mix or if I need to tweak something so I get the proper amts of protein carbs calories etc without getting too many sugars.

Its okay to combine dietary plans with the SP diabetic Plan, as that helps you eat in your preferred style and the types of food you like, while maintaining the portions of foods that are best for your blood sugar control. Remember this is not about some "diet" that you will drop and go back to your former unhealthy habits when you lose the weight you need to. This is a whole life style change that you will be keeping up the rest of your life. It needs to fit YOU within healthy limitations not the other way around.

Edited by: IKACEY at: 5/16/2013 (00:40)

Thanks for the input IKacey and George. Looks like I have some realistic changes to make to my diet. I've found the food tracker here at SP does a great job helping me understand what';s going in my mouth and what items are good or bad.

Ikacey, you mentioned an Intuitive Eating Plan that sets by your diabetic management program at SP. Are you talking about the food tracker at SP or a different application?

Actually my endo chewed me out for going too fast too soon. But I can't seem to help it, the more I move and exercise the more it seem like I need to move and exercise. I even do arm and leg exercises when I am sitting down to watch a tv program. But he did say if I get three hypoglycemic attacks in three days to lower my insulin. I've done that and put in an after workout snack with carbs and protein combined. I am beginning to think that with the exercise results I am no longer insulin resistant and it may be time to lower or stop the Metformin dosage. I don't know but these things have to be manageable some how. I wonder what kind of damage hypoglycemic attacks can do to you? physically? organs? mentally? not sure but I want to find out.

I agree with the low calorie and low carb diet choices. They seem to result in better scores. The increased exercise is a good thing. I keep my calories between the same levels, maybe a tad bit more. Its hard to exercise on those minimal calories. Keep at it though. I have an internet message system where I can pose questions between appointments. If your Doc is down with the lower dosage levels, was he good to go on the increased exercising? Its such a delicate balance for sure.

I've had this Dr. for a while now. But its only in the last few months that I have started getting it together and lowered my levels to normal. Now I am having the attacks since I upped my exercise levels. I am confused, and I don't know what to do. I need to keep up with lower calorie/carb intake to keep my sugar levels normal and exercise to keep in shape and lose the extra weight I'm carrying. The endo never mentioned being insulin free, but I was at a high dose of insulin i.e. 76units 2x a day. Now the am is 70 units and I've dropped the evening insulin, which is when I am having the attacks, 3x to 60 units. We raised my calories from 1600 a day to 1750 and I now have and after workout snack mixing a small amount of carbs with protein. But it isn't stopping the attacks! I feel crazy exhausted after them. Not only at the time but even the next day. I can't figure it out, but maybe the endo will drop my insulin again when I see him this month. Is there any lasting damage from a hypoglycemic attack I wonder?

Agree. its important to eat at the same times everyday, and to take the Metfomin about the same time also. It is a challenge to change the diet around. I track my food, and some days are just easier to successful put together.
Funny situation about the low blood sugar attacks. It seems you might be doing too good of a job. Its great you are medically able to lower your insulin levels. That part you must be doing well. Does the new endo ever say that you could be be insulin free?

I have always taken it at the same times everyday. I eat a scheduled 5 hours apart. So for me its easy to do that. I think if you are too flexible in when you eat dinner it could affect your readings because it takes a certain time frame for the medicine to work just like insulin.

The problem I'm having is with low blood sugar attacks. I am almost afraid to exercise or at least to increase it because I am getting a low blood sugar attack every day now. I've lowered my insulin levels twice and that was at the endocrinologist's instructions, I have instituted an after workout snack and raised my caloric intake, again with the Dr.s instructions. But its still happening. Any suggestions or tips?

I was told to take it during breakfast and dinner. It can be tough on your gastrointestinal system. It works better think with food. Exercise, water, balanced 3 meals or 3 meals and 2 planned snacks.

Is there any better time to take Metaforin? I have not figured out when I eat the same sorts of things why my morning reading can fluctuate so. I do eat supper at different times and was wondering if that can be it. Thank you for all the advice.

Carl T, I live in Colorado too. I lost weight before I was diagnosed with Diabetes 2. Metformin has controlled my blood sugars, my last A1C score was 6.2. I have tracked calories for about 3 years, 2 years prior to the D2 diagnosis, so I have been watching the components of my nutrition. I agree. Metformin must be the component either maintaining my weight or keeping me from losing additional weight. I have shown great strides on controlling the blood sugars, they were in the high 14's in 7/2012. Seems like I can't have both. Great blood sugar numbers and weight loss. Anybody else?