fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2731 ]

[ SECRET POST #2731 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2731 ⌋

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So, awhile back I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and given super vague instructions to try to get it under control. Wary of leaping into sudden giant changes that would be hard to sustain, I made smaller changes that mostly stuck. I could have done more, and apparently I should have done more, because three months later I did my second A1C, and there was no change. Except now they're calling it Type 2 diabetes.

It's really disappointed, because I thought I was doing at least a little better. I posted somewhere else and got a whole lot of "It's OK! It's not your fault! Don't blame yourself!" And I get it. Half my genes are Mexican and Native American, and I've got a family history, so I knew it was probably coming for me eventually, but I didn't want it at 32.

And I can't *not* lay at least part of the blame at my own feet. It's not like I didn't know the family history and genetics even before the pre- scare in November, and I've been an adult for 14 years and living 100 percent on my own for seven. It's not like anybody strapped me down in front of the TV and computer and shoveled junk down my gullet. I made those choices.

Doc doesn't want to put me on meds yet. I've got an appointment with a nutritionist in a couple weeks, and we're doing another A1C in three months. I know that this is going to mean some permanent lifestyle changes to get/stay healthy, I just hope I'm not in that position yet where my body is forever abnormal (relative to nondiabetics) in regard to the way it uses/produces insulin. I know pre-diabetes can be walked back. I don't know if I'm past that point, though.

I don't really think I'm scared, just...disappointed. This is not what I wanted.

That sounds really scary, OP.

That being said, I want to tell you that my mom's had diabetes for years now. She had to shoot insulin at first, but taked only pills nw, and has very little side effects. With modern medicine, it's mangable.

Also those tips your doc gave you to battle pre-diabetes? They can STILL do you good. Maybe it's still reversible, maybe not, but don't get into the mentality of "all hope is lost".

But still, sorry, it really sucks :(

You're young and this is a new diagnosis. My aunt was type 2 diabetic for years and years and was unsuccessful at weight loss (she had other joint problems that made exercise tricky) until she underwent gastric bypass surgery in her 50s. Weight dropped really fast, and it made such a big difference that she's no longer on insulin. It can be done.

I remember your post in the General comments from last time, anon. I'm pretty much in the same boat with a family history of diabetes and not the healthiest lifestyle. It does take time and effort, but you can absolutely walk this back. Keep track of your A1C, cut waaaaaay back on sugars and carbs and make an effort to get a regular exercise regimen. Even just brisk walking for 15 minutes a day is good for you.

It just seems like everything is a carb. I get cutting back on the bread/pasta/rice/potatoes, but then the whole don't this vegetable or that vegetable, and it's like what's left? Chicken and kale? Please.

And I've yet to figure out where beans fit in. They're a carb and a protein.

It does seem disheartening, doesn't it? A caution, though. Your comments sound a bit... well, negative and blame-displacementish ("the doctors gave me super vague instructions"), and that won't really help. As hokey as it sounds, to make the changes you need to make, you'll need to limit that kind of thinking because it leads to self-sabotage. ("Why bother?" or "I can't eat anything but chicken and kale!")

Also, it's simply not true. Diabetes is a very, very common problem and there's a lot of information available for free on the internet about it. Avail yourself of this information (and doublecheck for reputable sources) before you decide it's hopeless.

Lean protein: chicken, pork, red meat in moderation, fish, tofu, eggs, nuts, lentils, chickpeas, etc. and beans are fine, BTW

Vegetables: Broccoli, spinach, bok choy, cabbage, peppers, lettuce, asparagus, brussel sprouts, green beans, swiss chard, eggplant, collard greens...

The list of vegetables you might want to avoid is much shorter than the list of vegetables you can eat, so no idea where the "just kale" misconception comes from. You can also be more flexible with your diet if you exercise.

I promise you it isn't impossible. I'm overweight. I love carbs, hate exercise and am genetically predisposed towards diabetes. I was also pre-diabetic trending towards type 2 diabetes, and my A1C (tested every 3-6 months) is now fine. You can totally do this thing.

Good place to start:

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/

Thanks for the info (though I was being a bit facetious on the "chicken and kale" aspect up there, because it does seem like all the easy vegetables -- namely peas and corn -- are nonstarters).

Yeah, unfortunately some of the starchy vegetables are peoples' favorites. But it's okay, because a lot of the leafy greens (and just about ALL leafy greens are good for you, the darker green the better) are also quite easy. You can stir-fry damn near anything, for example. I frequently do this:

2-3 Tbsp. olive oil
3-4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
bunch of cabbage, spinach, broccoli, bok choy, swiss chard, whatever
generous splash of soy sauce
drizzle of sesame oil (optional)

That's it. You can also just do the garlic/olive oil/salt and pepper flavoring if you don't want it spicy. This is also delicious, makes a huge amount and keeps well for several days:

http://www.lyndasrecipebox.com/2012/11/mediterranean-braised-green-beans.html

Corn is really more of a grain. I've never understood why it gets classified as a vegetable.

Diabetes is manageable with modern medicine. It's not a fun thing to have and it's not what you want, but there are so many people out there who have diabetes. You aren't alone, and you can still battle it.

Good luck!

Diabetes runs in my family as well and seeing my dad deal with...well, I know it isn't always easy, but as others have said, it IS manageable. Can't blame you for being upset, but I think you can make the changes and get this under control!

It's not that scary if you get yourself under control. Type 2 diabetes is the only disease processes that can be completely reversed with diet and exercise. I would know. I have/had it for around ...six, seven years now? All it means for me is that I don't eat huge amounts of sugar and I work out. Developing a little muscle and losing as little as 4% of your total body fat can get you back down to healthy a1c levels.

Ultimately it's not entirely your fault, but it is your choice. You can choose to change your lifestyle and take control of your health, or you can choose blindness, organ damage, and possible amputation a decade or so down the road.

Thanks. Would you say that, as long as you don't need to take insulin or be on medication, that reversing/managing diabetes is pretty much just like doing what you should have been doing anyway regarding diet and exercise? Would you still be called a diabetic if, just by proper nutrition and fitness, you maintained healthy blood sugar? I guess that's where I get confused on what is reversing versus what is managing, and do either of those still allow for the ocassional indulgence? Is it like "You may never have a piece of cake again!" Or is it "I'ma have this cake today, but then I shouldn't have ice cream tomorrow, pizza the next day, and cookies the day after."

Sorry to be bombarding you with questions. I'll be glad to talk to the nutritionist next month. Because it's funny, actually. I was here a couple months ago trying to figure out how to manage what I ate and get some perspective on what was an appropriate amount of dessert in a week, because it didn't seem like I should be eating dessert every day. One of the things I said was that I was trying to limit to three a week, and was trying to figure out if I would count it as a full-on dessert if I had one fudge-dipped Ritz cracker (they're very good and satisfying), or if it only counted if I had the full-serving of four (which I never did).

And I was harangued by people who tried to tell me I was depriving myself with just the one cracker, and OF COURSE dessert every day is OK, as long you practice moderation! Now, to me that sounded like a load of hooey from someone who probably has less of a clue about what moderation of dessert is than I do. But either way, guess I'll be cutting back/out even more now.

Reversing as in no longer diabetic: no insulin, medication, or other management needed. Granted, I could easily become diabetic again if I gained a lot of weight, stopped exercising, or decided to subsist on candy.

I limit sugar, but I don't abstain from it. Most of my diet is carbohydrates actually, but they're always paired with something that lowers the glycemic index considerably. Examples: I'll have granola for breakfast which contains a fair amount of sugar, but it's made of oats which contain a good amount of protein and I have it with plain yogurt and fruit. I'll have pizza, but I make the crust with ground flax seeds in the flour for fibre, protein, and omega 3's and the toppings are largely vegetables and low fat mozzarella.

I make healthier versions of most recipes so I can still enjoy the foods I like without having to worry about what it's doing to my blood sugar. I make my own desserts and I eat small portions of them. I still love things like strawberry shortcake, but if I have it it's a cupcake sized portion with plenty of berries and only a small scoop of ice cream. I don't go overboard. Hell, I'd even say I eat dessert every day, but dessert for me can be anything from watermelon agua fresca to fresh cherries to a homemade brownie.

I also love things like jams, but I've taken to making my own with around half the sugar the recipes call for.

If you're managing your diabetes, you're still diabetic. If you've reversed it, your a1c and random fasting blood glucose is down to normal levels and insulin and medications aren't necessary. The latter I'd say still allows for a few sweets now and again, but you have to make sure the rest of your diet is clean. The only thing I absolutely never have aside from special occasions is soda and candy. Pure sugar is just not something I need, and the enjoyment isn't worth the health detriment.

I also can't stress the importance of a muscle building workout routine enough. Not only does it help your metabolism, you also increase the number of insulin binding sites in your body since striated muscle is one of the only places aside from the gut where they heavily populate the tissues. Lifting weights is one of the best things I have done to help get my diabetes under control.

Thanks for all of this. You make me feel a lot more at ease with my situation and my future.

Herpymcderp is correct. Typically when you've reversed your diabetes you label it as in remission, I believe. So you don't have it, but you are likely to again if you let diet and exercise go out of control.

Type 1 diabetes can't be reversed. Type 2 diabetes can, but not everyone can do it so they "manage" it much like type 1 diabetics do depending on how severe their problem is.

Right now, my A1C is not within the range that's considered diabetic by my doctor, but I am still on medication. The meds are no big deal, they're just pills, taken twice a day. I actually like them, because they also work as an appetite suppressant which REALLY REALLY helps with not overeating. Don't fear the pills, anon.

Is it like "You may never have a piece of cake again!" Or is it "I'ma have this cake today, but then I shouldn't have ice cream tomorrow, pizza the next day, and cookies the day after."

It's more the latter. IF you are being sensible about your diet (lots of vegetables, carbs in strict moderation, no sugary drinks/snacks, etc.) and IF you are exercising regularly, then the occasional piece of cake won't kill you, just don't make a habit of it and definitely limit portion size like herpymcderp describes. Honestly, the "it's okay to eat dessert everyday!" people mean well, but they're not really taking into account that "dessert" means different things to different people, and that for diabetics, "moderation" is going to have to be more stringent than the average person's idea of moderation. But it's not the end of the world, really.

Most of this thread has focused on diet more than exercise but I really cannot emphasize enough how much regular (preferably daily) exercise helps. I'd even go so far as to say that if you just do the diet but not the exercise, reversing type 2 diabetes will be damn near impossible and the effects on your A1C won't be nearly as noticeable without it. You don't necessarily have to bust your ass at the gym, certainly not right away. But get walking. Exercise bike/elliptical is also good. Half an hour a day at a pace quick enough to get your heart rate up and keep it elevated while you're doing it.

I'm type 1 and have been for 12-ish years so it's been a different experience for me, but my dad has type 2 so I can see understand why you're frustrated, OP. :( It's an overwhelming thing especially at early diagnosis in the inbetween stage, but I think once you make more and more changes they'll get easier to stick with and you're A1C will show improvement. It takes time and effort to lower it to a good level and keep it that way, but just keep pushing yourself. It's definitely not hopeless, you just need to adjust your mindset as well as your diet. It's little steps, so don't imagine a jump.

OK OP I know this is a couple days late and maybe you won't see this but -- Type 2 is reversible. My dad, who spent well over a decade gorging on full gallons of ice cream and bags of chocolate at night, almost every night, ended up in the ER due to pleurisy (fluid around the lungs; basically, the fluid was suffocating him to death, at the severity he had). The ER did a random blood test. His sugars (not A1C, I don't remember that, but the actual pinprick glucose meter) was 450+. They were amazed he was still ALIVE.

So, he was put on 2 different types of insulin, at high doses, AND metformin (a pill) at also a high dose, in order to get his blood sugar under control. I can't recall if i was 1 or 2 years, but eventually, with diet and exercise, he got to the point where he was able to get off and STAY off all glucose medication. What he did for diet was a variant on the Paleo diet.

Myself, I was dx'd borderline type 2 diabetic in 06. My endo literally told me that if my tests had been a point or two higher, she would have diagnosed me right then. She wanted to put me on metformin. As I was already on a lot of pills for fibro, hormones, other shit, I asked to try diet instead. She said sure, see me in six months. What I used, personally, was a variant on the Glycemic Index Diet. That one works by being aware of the glycemic load in the food you're eating, and balancing it. For me, it works great because... while I don't follow it religiously, I follow it mostly. Like, potatoes, high glycemic load... so instead of a whole bunch of mashed potatoes (which I love), I'll have a spoonful. Stuff like that. I personally didn't find soda to make a difference for me, but that's individual (there is some evidence that diet soda can actually be worse for diabetics because it sets your body up to expect the sugar, the sugar isn't there, system goes kerfuckity).

That diet, though? Doesn't work for my dad. He describes himself as a carb and sugar addict. He CANNOT moderate. If he has a couple spoons of ice cream, he'll be eating the rest of the container. Same thing with various other carbs. He's had to pretty much cut it all out in order to control his sugars.

I say this to express that there really is no "one true way" for managing diabetes/insulin resistance (I have the latter). It's very individual, you may need to try different things, and what you try will also depend on your eating habits. If you're like my dad and can't moderate -- then you need to cut it all out. If you can moderate, though, then it actually really is not that difficult. I went from blood sugars of 130 to regularly being around 80, and I eat fairly normally.

If it helps, IIRC, the book I read was the New Glucose Revolution book, which I personally liked a lot because it went into the science and DID NOT recommend all-or-nothing. In fact, the author was pretty damn clear that this is something that you have to work into, because if you try to go whole hog, you're probably going to fail and go right back to old eating habits. I've read a lot of diet books (mainly because my dad the yo-yo dieter made me read every damn book he picked up) and most present a really unhealthy model. The point for this isn't weight loss; it's your health, and the book IIRC comes from that direction as well (although it does go into weight loss, so I note that in case that's a trigger).

I hope some of this is helpful. There IS hope, and if they've caught it early, it's a LOT easier to treat than, say, my dad's case. In mine, my sugars were normal in about six months. Promise, if my dad with his ridiculous sugar levels can walk back to non-diabetic, I'm pretty damn sure you can too. <3

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