On 29 May 2004 10:16:25 -0700, [email hidden]
(pinecone) wrote: <snip, answering Robbi>>
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:Now it's just the routine of monitoring and of course the
doctor's visit. Thanks for the encouragement, it's
wonderful to be able to participate in a forum like this,
something almost impossible a decade ago!
Hi--my doctor suggests glycemic index and some other
factors are more important than simple carb/fat focus for
us diabetics as well as others. He referred me to a book
by Brand-Miller for general readers. He also indicated the
jury is still out on all the various endocrine/food
interactions and genetic components, so my experience will
not be exactly like anyone else's and I may not get a
definitive explanation of "why?" I just picked up the Brand-
Miller book, and it really makes sense (and has some good
recipes). My doctor says the texture and nutrients in
foods also are factors. I can eat a banana with nothing
else just fine, but I get diarrhea if I just drink OJ as a
snack, for example.
I have low blood pressure and heartrate and my cholesterol
is not way out of the ballpark, either. My triglycerides
are great. But my fasting blood glucose is consistently
"high" since the new guidelines were released, and the non-
fasting varies. They believe I'm one of those who will be
helped by "early detection." Diet and exercise alone just
don't work for me, so I agreed to go on meds. I'll do fine
on the diet and exercise for a while, and then a depression
will hit and I'll go haywire. I notice with the meds the
depression doesn't seem to hit. The same nasty stuff seems
more philosophical than emotional or something.
I'll be very interested to hear what you learn from
your tests, since I'm one of the odd-balls as far as
symptoms go.
Take care--pinecone (Type 2 dibetes)
Hi PC
From my experience, there were three phases. For those who
aren't overweight at diagnosis, there may be two.
My first phase was to get down to a sensible weight. In the
early stages of that, the simple fact that I was eating less
of nearly everything (except cabbage:-) helped improve my
BGs. That was further helped by a gradual increase in
exercise as I became a little leaner and fitter. If a newby
is overweight, this phase is critical not just for their
diabetes, but for overall health, particularly because we
are at a higher risk of heart problems.
Phase two, which I started after a few weeks of weight loss,
was to test,test,test and gradually modify my way of eating
until I stopped getting spikes. Glycemic index and types of
carbs were only of use as a guide to what to cut down on
first; but the meter was my guide, not the GI lists. I only
started late because I discovered the advice late, so Phases
one and two could be done together.
For some, meds or insulin will be required to achieve
acceptable BG levels, but in parallel with diet and
exercise, not instead of it IMO.
Phase three came after I had achieved a reasonable weight
and also after I achieved acceptable HbA1c, FBG and post-
prandial figures. This is the maintenance and improvement
phase. Then I started analysing foods that I could add to my
diet for either nutritional and health benefits or simply
for taste and variety. That was when I started looking more
closely at GI, to see whether it was worth experimenting
with a food. Phase three is effectively the rest of my life.
To me, the critical target for newbies is getting BGs down
to acceptable levels and, if relevant, weight below obesity
levels. Diet, exercise, meds or insulin should all be tools
available to the doctor and diabetic to achieve that, but
that is the priority.
Fine-tuning can then be done; but getting into GI,
supplements and fine dietary detail before those prime
requirements are met is a distraction.
JMO
Cheers Alan, T2, Australia. Remove weight and carbs to
email.
--
dx May 2002 , A1C 8.2=>5.9, wt 117kg=>92kg, No diabetes
meds. Diet and not enough exercise. I have no medical
qualifications beyond my own experience. Choose your
advisers carefully, because experience can be an
expensive teacher.
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
