Diabetes Type 2 - nasty surprise, learning to operate gadgets.

[sweetgran]

Sometimes, life gives nasty surprises. I was having a big uncalled for pride in being a person of good health all my adult life. I was thankful to the gene on my father’s side where everyone enjoyed robust health. I was also very active and enjoyed life as much as I could.

During the past few years, my life had taken a big turn. I had to brave a lot of unpleasant turmoil and ups and downs. Even then I was glad I did not have any health worries. Pride went before the fall, and it all ended when one Doctor made an in the face announcement” you have blood sugar”!!!

Oh, my, how I had to be strong to face that taunt. It took me weeks to come to terms with it. I felt idiotic for being so proud about my health!. Silly me.

It was a big effort to keep a tab on that. I did quite well for the past 2 years. And once again I thought “ all in control”.

But the lifestyle changes did not last for long it seems. For the past few months , I had to go for hike in medication, (hateful), and admonishment from the Doctor. Hiked medicines played havoc , so reduce it.

Once again , a brave front ’ let me tackle my food intake, and selective food blah blha,’

The tests showed, the glucose level is still unacceptable.

That is bothering me a lot. What with the holiday season, and spate of weddings and allied parties, the food intake is gone haywire. Every day, I resolved to use the blood glucose monitor. Everyday get up , and drink coffee before remembering the trial. May be I did not want to face the reality of the nagging result. I am sure it is gone above normal levels.

I can feel it in my body. There are symptoms when you feel that the sugar levels are higher than normal. But after a lifetime of not putting oneself above other daily chores, it is difficult to think, what to eat, how much sugar, what to cook, added to the stress of cooking for others, cooking for self.

This is a vicious cycle. But the nagging in the mind does not stop. “I have to do this, I don’t want to end up in hospital bed, I don’t want to add to other’s problems”. These thought are important and they egg me on to take some step into monitoring the sugar levels.

Another big win, is to go and buy the Glucose monitor. ( at home, some slight reserved comments: “do you really want to buy, will you really do it?”, Years of spending your life together, people know you better than you do – so reservation is the key to daily life, doubt.. doubt..)

It took 2 months to think of self testing, few weeks more to actually do it.

Here is my experiment with OneTouch Ultra2 :

First, taking the meter out and trying to switch it on. Poked the hand, and inserted the strip. Nothing happening, the meter would not get “on”. Strip promptly thrown into waste paper basket, with feigned lightness. Glare from the most important person in life! I am cringing here, “oh I can do it, let some strip get wasted, but I am going ahead” That moment one wishes one is alone, can decide, go ahead not think of a few strips wasted down the drain, just for the education of it. Anyway, I tried to make light of the situation and quickly folded the kit away. So that domestic peace is not disturbed. However, a few drops tears of self-pity flowed.

The next day “I can do it”, again, put the strip on the wrong side, and wasted one more. But finally, had the patience to read the instructions book and found how to switch it on, ( by inserting the strip properly and deep – it comes on automatically).

Then the lancet. It fumble with it and by mistake the level goes to 6, Poke.. Oooch .. Shock, realized the level can be 3 or 3 and it will do. draw blood,.. test.. Hey. This is so easy

But everything is not comical. The meter is showing mega readings, the levels area way too high.

I need to waste lots of strips before reaching the accepted level good for my health. It is a kind of battle. But I am brave still I am going to fix it soon.

My inspiration : Alan Shanley's book “what one earth Can I eat”.

It is a costly book, for the slim volume , and all it says is “ test, test, test”. The strips are expensive , but gives a satisfaction of knowing where you are heading with your blood glucose levels.

And it has given me confidence to battle my blood glucose.

It is a challenge, and readers, I am going to achieve it.

(very brave indeed!)

[Ganesh]

Many thanks for your inspiring story. Keep going and you will win the battle.

[chitra]

ur really brave..thnks fr sharing

[sweetgran in reply to chitra]

Thanks Chitra. We have to fight this chronic ailment. I do not want to die of kidney troubles.

[chitra in reply to sweetgran]

oh..u will surely not..think positive..be happy n do tc of urself

[sweetgran in reply to chitra]

Thanks. Going steady till now. Sometimes tempted toe at high carbs, and then regret.. Tongue is mightier than the mind , it seems

[Rakesh]

Thanks for sharing your story. However, more or less every diabetic faces such moments. I can say that I am a diabetic for last 25 years and off and on I have faced such situations when the blood sugar remains high inspite of regular exercise, diet control and medicines. While initially for about 12 years I was managing with diet control and exercise, it started with small dose of medicine and went on increasing thereafter. However, after lot of efforts and facing failures there is no other way excepting to have confidence in you and self assurance. It is needed that you dont get disappointed by some adverse readings and try again with renewed confidence. I suggest that you gradually reduce your calorie intake to 1800 per day, if you are taking more and diving in 6 portions 3 major and 3 minor. Go for light exercises such as 30 to 40 minutes brisk walk at a pace which you can easily do without much straining. Diet rich in proteins with complex carbohydrates and small portion of fats with fruits and vegetable can do good to you. In fact a well managed diabetic has a better quality and expectancy of life. So dear have courage. If you are unable to test yourself or you find the present glucometer not suitable go for another brand.

Best wishes and cheers

[sweetgran]

Thanks Rakesh,

I am into low carb diet and am also watching the sugar level. I am not interested in adding to my medicine intake, which doctors are very interested in!

So far , it has helped. Let us see what the future brings in.

[monster54916]

DEAR I AM ALSO USING THE SAME GLUCOMETER AND I AM HAPPY.I AM HAVING DIABETIC TYPE 2 AND I AM 63 NOW. FOR LAST 12 YEARS,AFTER 10 YEARS DOCT ADVICE ME TO START INJUCTION (HUMAN MISTARDMORNING 25AND NIGHT 30 UNITS.NOW MY GLUCO LEVEL IS ALLMOST CONTROL.USING GLUCOMETER EVERY MORNING AND EVANING, IN CASE I FEEL LITTLE HIGH GLUCOS LEVEL I ADD ANOTHER 5 TO 10 UNIT AND ITS COMES OK.

THANKS FOR MY DOCTOR FOR HIS TIMELY ADVICE TO START INJECTION

[sweetgran in reply to monster54916]

Thanks Monster54916

[soares1950]

I AM DISBETIC PERSON NOW MAYBE 20 YEARS. I AM HEALTHY BUT WHEN I TAKE MY ALL THE TABLETS ( METFORMIN, RAMIPRIL, GLICLAZIDE AMLODIPINE AND RAMIPRIL) SOMETIMES I FEEL THAT ALL MY ENERGY IS GONE AWAY LIKE NO POWER IN THE BODY. THEN I GOES FOR CHOCOLATES OR ANY OTHER SWEET IS AVAILABLE, AND FEELS VERY HUNGRY AND TIME I AM HAVING/EATING WHAT IS AVAILABLE, IN ONE WORD I FEEL VERY HUNGRY.WHY IS THIS?

[Rakesh]

If you feel hungry go for snacks such as roasted grams or roasted ground nuts which with satiate or hunger as well as are healthy. I will suggest you go for such food which give the filling and are not very high CI. I suggest you take raw vegetables like cucumber, carrots etc. before main meals to reduce calorie intake. In breakfast have boiled Mung, gram, black eye beans, soybean or other protein rich items or a mixture of these with a dash of lemon and some chat masala with some oats in milk and fruit. The boiled pulses & beans are filling and you will not feel hungry for atleast 4 hours. Oats is a good complex carb and has other benefits as well.

[sweetgran]

Oh.. I am sorry about that Soares 1950!. You are not even taking too many medicines, how come you feel hungry?. kindly list out what you are eating daily. Are you eating too many carbo hydrates? Check your calories and carbo hydrates.

[sweetgran]

One has to understand what food works for each one. The carrots and beans are not good for many people . It spikes the sugar levels. So are banana and papaya, guava etc. I cant eat any of them and keep level low. Only apple and pears are fine for me. /i had to find out by keeping a record for number of days.

Trying food, checking the sugar level after each meal, is very good way of finding out what is good for our body. This way, we can keep the sugar level at a low , and not eat too many medications which create more problems.

[Shekhar]

I've found that feeling tired and listless without any apparent cause often indicates that blood sugar levels are high. This happens due to a runaway diet.

I've learnt the hard way that diet control does not mean abstinence from food of any type.

Abstinence from say sweets for example will lead to a mad craving for sweets which often leads to binge eating of sweets while convincing oneself that 'this is the last time I'm doing it'.

The key is to eat and enjoy a balanced diet containing all types of food in moderation.

Also, eating a tiny meal or even a small snack every two hours helps avoid feeling voraciously hungry which again leads to binge eating.

Good luck to you Soares1950! And cheer-up.

[sweetgran]

Thanks Shekhar. For me it does not work that way. Watch, how one's body reacts differently to food items.

First find out what works for you, then follow it. I do not crave for sweets at all. I might want a little spoon of rice or some root vegetables , once in a while. Otherwise , I need to check , and keep my sugar levels balances. I feel more healthy and cheerful too.

And if I binge, I am hit back with a set back, shooting BG levels.