Type II Diabetes

[vmax]

Most of my reading was 20yrs ago when I was first diagnosed. Same with most of the info coming (that came early on) from docs. And as I mentioned, there is a lot of misinfo out there so a lot of what I have read in the meantime is just opinion, speculation, and poor analysis of data from various incomplete studies. I don't trust most of the info on YouTube and none coming from the diet/health industrial complex.

This guy has a lot of good info:






So yes, it is "relatively" new info depending on your viewpoint. Us older phucks have a diff time perspective.

Berg is a great source for information

 

[bbbass]

Sadly my dad was a casualty of this.
He was diagnosed with Type 2 at about age 50 I think
All he was told was keep shooting insulin.
Very little about diet or processed carbs.
So his diseased progressed and they just kept treating the symptoms

This is me too. Although I have to say that I have had a bunch of diabetic dieticians involved and remain non-compliant with diet, just shoot more insulin to make up for misbehaviour. It's not like I don't know any better!!!

Now I notice that my memory is failing.... old age, diabetes, or oldtimer's??? Hard to say.

The original proscribed "diabetic diet" 20yrs ago was basically a balanced diet, but one that was carefully managed for the amount of carb intake. Carbs were counted in units and I was allowed 45 carb units per meal. A sandwich pretty much used up all the allotment for lunch. And I hated being on a regulated diet.

Then I read a book from the American Diabetes Assoc about "close management" using insulin and testing 4 times a day. Voila... freedom to eat w/o carb monitoring and adjusting with shots at every meal and at night. I remained aware of how many carb units were in various foods tho and was generally careful except for sweets and pasta addiction. But this eventually morphed into testing twice a day (tho I have trouble remembering to do it in the evening/suppertime) and just eating whatever and adjusting the shot.

The wife and I had a friend that was a type I diabetic that ate whatever... she had the insulin pump and would goose her juice after eating pie etc. She passed away from heart disease in her 60s.

 

[leVieux]

Yep, blood sugar over 1200 is way beyond "serious emergency". People often die when their blood sugar goes over 800, and anything over 400 is considered to be life threatening in some. I can attest that it surely causes damage at that level.

Initially, I noticed I was peeing and drinking a lot of water... as in every 15 minutes. It was weird, I wasn't that much overweight, but my biz involved driving over 300 miles daily, so I was sedentary, my diet went to crap, overeating carbs, and not getting the proper kind of exercise. My vision changed... doc told me it was water content in my eyes. When I finally got myself to the doc, blood sugar was 500. At first, I managed with diet and exercise, then oral medicine, but right away they said I would eventually be on insulin, as most type ii patients arrive there at some point.

<>

IDK that ’’most’’ type-II diabetics end up on insulin.

Type-I is much worse and most of those tend to become dependent on exognous insulin.

Type-II comes in many different levels of severity, which do change with age, diet, exercise, etc.

Both kinds tend to develop ‘’small vessel’’ arterial disease of the lower extremities which can lead to amputations.

I suggest anyone on insulin be managed by an Endocrinologist, even if routine care is from a F P or Internist.

Good Luck to y’all,

leVieux
.

 

[vmax]

Western medicine will "manage " your disease till you die from it.

 

[bbbass]

<>

IDK that ’’most’’ type-II diabetics end up on insulin.

Type-I is much worse and most of those tend to become dependent on exognous insulin.

Type-II comes in many different levels of severity, which do change with age, diet, exercise, etc.

Both kinds tend to develop ‘’small vessel’’ arterial disease of the lower extremities which can lead to amputations.

I suggest anyone on insulin be managed by an Endocrinologist, even if routine care is from a F P or Internist.

Good Luck to y’all,

leVieux
.

Phuck being "managed" by the medical industry.

Traditionally, diabetes is self managed one way or another, but lately I notice in increase in docs that refuse to let patients do that.

Mine wants me to take a fixed amount of food and a fixed amount of insulin... IMO this is old school and far too intrusive.

 

[oldag]

Yep, blood sugar over 1200 is way beyond "serious emergency". People often die when their blood sugar goes over 800, and anything over 400 is considered to be life threatening in some. I can attest that it surely causes damage at that level.

Initially, I noticed I was peeing and drinking a lot of water... as in every 15 minutes. It was weird, I wasn't that much overweight, but my biz involved driving over 300 miles daily, so I was sedentary, my diet went to crap, overeating carbs, and not getting the proper kind of exercise. My vision changed... doc told me it was water content in my eyes. When I finally got myself to the doc, blood sugar was 500. At first, I managed with diet and exercise, then oral medicine, but right away they said I would eventually be on insulin, as most type ii patients arrive there at some point.

Being on the road every week is really detrimental to your health. I found out the hard way.

 

[no2gates]

Western medicine will "manage " your disease till you die from it.

^^^ This is the best post of the day ^^^ Sadly so very true.

 

[msharley]

I would like to start a thread for people who are pre-diabetic or have Type 2 and let people share advice for diet and other ways to reduce or reverse this terrible disease.

I read this today and thought it would be a good idea.

I'm game for discussing any with anyone!

View attachment 372709

Diet & Exercise.

Have taken off FOUR blame BOWLING BALLS...this past year....(285 to 230lbs)

A1C is down to 6.1 (from 7. sumpin)....

Ridin' the pedal bike 5 to 8 miles .....daily ...plus have ankle weights to do upper body whilst a pedalin....if it ever firms up (regular walking route been a SEA o YELLOW CLAY MUD)...will take to walking again....(we been havin' plenty o precipitation...here in Central Pa)

Peas, Cukes & green beans help one to regulate one's glucose level "au naturele" (Big Pharma don't make no loot on that stuff)...

Was pedalin at 20mph for a bit, this mornin'....

 

[leVieux]

Phuck being "managed" by the medical industry.

Traditionally, diabetes is self managed one way or another, but lately I notice in increase in docs that refuse to let patients do that.

Mine wants me to take a fixed amount of food and a fixed amount of insulin... IMO this is old school and far too intrusive.

<>

‘’lately I notice in increase in docs that refuse to let patients do that.’’

Much of this is caused by patient families and plaintiff lawyers, who seek perfect outcomes; beyond human capabiiity & current technology.

Lots of incurable, chronic illnesses are ‘’managed’’ to prevent or minimalize complications. No one is forced to undergo clinical management; you are free to refuse.

Medicine is certainly not perfect, but is continually improving. Scientific discoveries continually replace ‘’tradition’’, but traditions die slowly.

Anyone unhappy with their treating Physician should seek another Doc.

leVieux
.

 

[bbbass]

Anyone unhappy with their treating Physician should seek another Doc.

Local VA clinic due to distance to VA hospital. You get ONE NP doc... period. Seen once a year unless something goes wrong. Unless one gets "telehealth" which IMO is cheating the patient that deserves the physical presence if an actual doc.

And don't even THINK about suggesting I see docs on my own... can't afford that shit!!!

Endocrinologist? Ha ha... in my experience didn't know any more than an NP with good experience in treating diabetics. And two hours away on bad roads. They, along with the GI, lost me because they left the area and didn't pass me along to another specialist. Phuckers!

And BTW, "scientific discoveries" are no reason to go back to the old school authoritarian model of dominating patients!!! If doc can't, or more likely won't, articulate a reason to gain my buy in... it ain't gonna work.

Years ago, I was taking 100iu of Lantus twice a day, before use of Lantus was fully understood. On a visit to a new VA NP, she hit the roof when I asked for a refill and said there was no way she was going to "allow" me to take that much glargine. She said she would not order it no matter what. I was shocked cuz I was used to managing/titrating for success. Left the visit on poor terms.

I wrote a secure message to complain. My VA friend interceded and told the NP that I was NOT a stupid guy, and all she had to do was explain her reasoning to me. Subsequent phone convo turns out she was an ok doc and had a lot of experience treating diabetic vets in the Great Lakes, plus there was new research on how to use glargine as a baseline while using aspart for sliding scale. OK, that works. It's all in the approach. I resent being thought of as a dummy that will just do as ordered.

 

[benenglish]

Endocrinologist? Ha ha...

Sorry you're in that situation. I've got a great endo. She's worth her weight in gold to me.

 

[bbbass]

Sorry you're in that situation. I've got a great endo. She's worth her weight in gold to me.

Thanx Ben!!

One sacrifices to live in Small Town America 5 hrs away from the big city. Min 2 hrs to small cities. Pop here is 12,500.

ETA: I really like my current NP. But VA switches them out constantly. No continuity of care.

 

[dsgrey]

T2 diabetes with an a1C below 7 for the last 4 years using Ozempic plus Synjardy and my BMI is normal. I thought I'd pulled a calf muscle until my leg swelled last weekend. Off to the ER late Sunday then transferred by ambulance to a specialty hospital that evening. I had a blockage from above my knee to my groin that required a thrombectomy to remove. No more swelling but still hurts like the devil when I try to walk.

Doctor said he usually sees this is people 80yo and not in someone just shy of 60. Initially, he was afraid I had cancer since a sudden blockage of that type is usually a side effect of cancer. Nope, he believes the cause was genes and diabetes even though my numbers are good. I still have another blockage elsewhere they want to address later.

T2 can be controlled via diet in some people. I've never been 20lbs overweight my entire life. In the hospital, they don't mess with specialty diabetic medications. They just check your blood sugar before each meal and give insulin injections.

 

[vmax]

One thing has become clear to me over the past several years.
If you have a chronic condition you had better take your own health into your own hands instead of just waiting on some person in a white lab coat to tell you what to do.

Many doctors have hundreds of patients, you one of many.
Many doctors reach for a prescription pad while you are telling them about your symptoms rather than suggest diet and lifestyle changes 1st.
Maybe its because beef and vegetable growers and public walking trails don't pay them for trips to the Bahamas for lectures?

Most doctors get less than a week nutrition training in their nearly decade long medical schooling so maybe they dont know what to tell you.

Whatever the reason, you'd better educate yourself and take control of your own health if you care at all.

 

[benenglish]

If you have a chronic condition you had better take your own health into your own hands

One of the truisms that I initially hated but that I've come to accept, a truism thrown at every new diabetic who tries to interact with any part of the online community of diabetics, is:

The best way for most people to stay healthy is to get a chronic condition and be forced to control it.

I will admit that much of my weight loss and healthier habits have resulted from a fear of diabetic catastrophes. I had a best friend who died from it. First they took his feet, then his legs below the knees, then above the knees...then he expired. The family told the hospital I was his son so that the ICU would let me visit before he passed. When I got my diagnosis, a wave of emotion hit me hard and I couldn't get out of my mind the picture of Spencer in the ICU, with those two stumps sticking up in the air, the last time I saw him.

So, yeah, diabetes is a great motivator for after your discipline has failed you but it's also a hole you never totally climb out of. Even if you've got smart medical support who will, like the doctor in the video you posted, actually strike diabetes off your list of problems when you cure it via diet and exercise, it can always come back. I think that always weighs heavily on the mind of anyone dealing with it or who has watched loved ones do so.

 

[benenglish]

In the hospital, they don't mess with specialty diabetic medications. They just check your blood sugar before each meal and give insulin injections.

The way hospitals mistreat diabetics (and people with other chronic conditions, to be sure) is a big enough subject for a thread of its own.

What bugs me is the way the attitude you cite often creeps into the wider world. I know at least one T2 who consumes vast quantities of cake, donuts, candy...it's pretty much her whole diet. She tests her blood many times a day and just shoots insulin all the damn time. Apparently, her doctors gave up on her ever learning to eat well and told her "If you're going to eat like that, you'll need insulin like this..."

She took that as permission to completely abandon any self-control when it comes to diet.

Her death is going to be gruesome when it comes.

 

[bbbass]

Most doctors get less than a week nutrition training in their nearly decade long medical schooling so maybe they dont know what to tell you.

I have yet to meet a doctor that didn't offer to refer me to a dietician with experience with counseling diabetics.

IMO, all doctors that don't know the specifics of treating certain conditions should be referring the patient to the appropriate specialist.

 

[bbbass]

So, yeah, diabetes is a great motivator for after your discipline has failed you but it's also a hole you never totally climb out of. Even if you've got smart medical support who will, like the doctor in the video you posted, actually strike diabetes off your list of problems when you cure it via diet and exercise, it can always come back. I think that always weighs heavily on the mind of anyone dealing with it or who has watched loved ones do so.

If it is such a great motivator, why are so many type II patients failing to take control?

First of all, one has to want to live. For a few reasons, I do not find that compelling. If it wasn't for needing to take care of my demented wife, I wouldn't care to be here.

Secondly, one has to overcome the tendency to think short term reward instead of long term. Eating carbs, AFAIK, stimulates endorphins. Dieting can be just suffering and not rewarding short term.

People feel they can cheat because their is no immediate pain/consequence for eating sweets.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

If it is such a great motivator, why are so many type II patients failing to take control?

First of all, one has to want to live. For a few reasons, I do not find that compelling. If it wasn't for needing to take care of my demented wife, I wouldn't care to be here.

Secondly, one has to overcome the tendency to think short term reward instead of long term. Eating carbs, AFAIK, stimulates endorphins. Dieting can be just suffering and not rewarding short term.

People feel they can cheat because their is no immediate pain/consequence for eating sweets.

For the same reason there are so many overweight people.
If it were easy, everybody would be skinny.

 

[msharley]

For the same reason there are so many overweight people.
If it were easy, everybody would be skinny.

A life time of SAD! (standard American diet......pushed on us from day #1)

Habits are tough to break.....

Had my first ice cream of the year, last week....Won't have another until next month....(maybe?)

Another item? The Automobile....Most Americans (guilty as charged) drive everywhere. (where I live? yinz a try to walkin'? Yinz git sucked up the exhaust of a coal bucket! average speed of which is in excess of 75mph...on this two lane black top)...

Another item? blame tv...folk just "veg out" in front of the "tube"....a wonderin' why they iz hangry...when every ten seconds there is a snack commercial a airin'! (if advertising didn't work? they wouldn't spend millions on it) "Programming" the American "Public"...

"Spend yer cash"...on our lousy grub....that will KILL yinz!