How can we help each other?

[Lisa N]

All of us in this forum have a common enemy: diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugars and what they will eventually do to us if we don't gain and maintain control.
Some of us are Type 1 and must rely on injected insulin to live let alone control blood sugars.
Some of us are Type 2 and would rather avoid having to inject insulin if we can; we control with diet, excercise, oral medication or a combination of all 3. Some of us require insulin as well.
All of us are doing the best we can to beat this monster called diabetes, whether we are type 1 or type 2.
How can we all best support each other even though the daily grind of controlling our blood sugars uses different methods and gives different results?
Our perspectives and daily methods are different, but we all have at least some things in common; frustrations, goals, little (or big) victories and seeming defeats.
It's the things we have in common that I'd prefer to see us focus on instead of how different we all are.
While what works for me may not work as well or at all for the next person, it's in that sharing that we help each other because what works for me just might work well for someone else. If not, we keep trying until we find what does work.
The important thing is to not quit trying and to support each other in the process. :)

[Jade74]

Lisa,
Reading your post I suddenly realized that you must feel pretty alone at times in this... I've often read your words and I find you to be so knowledgable and well informed, and I really admire you.
I've been T2 since '96, and I feel like I am totally ignorant compared to you... I'm in here reading, but not really participating, because I'm afraid that I'll come across as so uninformed! It hadn't occurred to me that perhaps you could also use some support, even if there's probably nothing that I know that you don't know already... honestly, I am always so impressed by your wealth of information!
Maybe the reason people are focused on the differences is that they are defensive? I know I am very defensive, from so many years of "Can you eat that?" and feeling like people are watching every morsel I put in my mouth... my fil used to update me constantly on what his business partner was eating ("You should see all the KETCHUP he's eating! Oh, and buttertarts!") and all the while all I could think was... is he going to the office and saying the same things about me? "She ate stuffing AND potatoes! She even had a piece of pie for dessert!" It seemed to me (and perhaps it was in my head) that everyone had an interest in what I was eating, and wanted to know what I was 'allowed' to have... when I would try to explain that it wasn't about 'allowed', they'd just glaze over... they wanted it black and white, and they'd ask questions and not care about the answers...
Anyway, I wanted to say hi and let you know that I appreciate all your postings....

Jenn

ps... prior to starting Atkins, I had A1C > 10, and my endo wanted to put me on Avandia (?) in addition to 4x500 metformin... I didn't start the new drug, but Atkins instead (after talking to my gp, I wasn't going to wait a million years to see my endo again first) and my A1C a couple of weeks ago was 7... it wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but I had whooping cough all through those three months, and had to take some cough syrup with glucose in it...

[Charran]

Lisa- I agree with you completely. I would love to see this thread become more supportive and active. I almost think that there should be 2 sub-groups here sometimes, one for Type 1's and one for Type 2's. They are almost like completely different diseases in dealing with them and I think that that is where alot of the frustration of people comes from. I realize that we have the same ultimate goal and that is to control this disease in the best way we know how. I know people who are Type 1 diabetics and I know that their struggles aren't the same as mine. They have things to worry about that don't even enter my mind. When I see posts here from people that are Type 1 diabetics, I don't even answer for fear of imparting some incorrect information. I support them totally, as I do everyone, in what they are trying to do because after all we are a support group, not a medical office! The other thing that may make people stay away is the Dr. Bernstein thing. When I first found this thread, I thought that you had to be following his plan in order to participate. I don't follow it, but I sure would like to see an active, supportive diabetic thread. I wish I had an answer to your question or could make some suggestions on how to achieve that goal, but at the moment, I'm not sure! I think though that people have to realise that everyone speaks from their own experience and because we are all such different people, my experience won't be the same as anyone elses. Have tolerance in what other people say and realize that they are just talking about their own experience! Having a chronic disease is very stressful as it is. It is an emotional subject and one that everyone deals with in their own way. I am not here to tell anyone that they are dealing with things incorrectly. We each do what is best for us and what we do what we can live with! I sure hope I've said all that correctly. Its sometimes so hard to "speak" to others in type as things like intonation are left out and sometimes people have a hard time explaining themselves the way they want to!

All I know is that I'm here to support anyone who needs or wants it!

[black57]

I consider myself hypoglycemic. My cells, therefore, are insulin resistant and this resistance will eventually, result in diabetes T2. My mom has DT2. In a way, I consider myself diabetic because of the hypoglycemia and family history. It is my desire to avoid or at least put off the onset of full blown diabetes. I don't visit this board very often. I try to visit as many lc boards that I can. So, I would like to participate in this support group. I have never understood diabetes nearly as well as I do, now that I have been eating th lc woe. I believe that this is the most significant and important way to eat for overall good health.

[simplydawn]

Good morning! And it is early.. 4 am to be exact, and since I couldnt sleep, I thought I would get up and visit my favorite little spot on the web. Glad I did. I am going to plop this thread in my favorites, and hopefully it will become a good place for info, fun and encouragement! Thanks for starting it.

I have found support in other threads that I 'hang' out w/... and they are very encouraging, but there is something to say about birds of a feather .....

It's hard living under that microscope isnt it? But hopefully, as time passes, they will see the dramatic healthy results in your life and rather than passing judgements and reacting out of fear, they will begin to incorporate some things into their own lives. Wouldnt that be grand?


HI Char-nice to see a familiar face to start off with! :) We do seem to follow one another around dont we? (grins)

[Sherrielee]

Great thread Lisa! I am less than a year at all this (Type II) and sometimes feel like I am causing "friction" for telling what works for me. I don't think any of us has the doctor we would like (Dr Bernstein), but we can share tidbits of what works for us.

I don't care if someone says that rolling in freshly mown grass helps their bgs! I want to hear it all!! I think we are a great support team when we just listen and don't criticize.

As I said, I am very new at this and have lots of questions. I love this board, but avoid it because of some "perceived" hostility. Just my 3 cents!
Best Wishes,
Sherry

[Lisa N]

I love this board, but avoid it because of some "perceived" hostility.
Best Wishes,
Sherry

Sherry...it's that "perceived" hostility that I would like us to get past.
Yes, we have differences in how we all manage our condition and different perspectives on what being a diabetic means to us personally and yes, sometimes we even disagree on things. Heck...sometimes someone is just having a bad day and may come across as abrubt in a post or take a post the wrong way. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I don't want it to prevent us from being able to learn from each other, either.
Differences in how we manage our diabetes or even differences of opinion shouldn't keep us from supporting each other.

The other thing that may make people stay away is the Dr. Bernstein thing. When I first found this thread, I thought that you had to be following his plan in order to participate.

While a lot of those who post in this forum do follow Dr. Bernstein's diabetes Solution and I'd highly encourage any diabetic to at least read his book, it's not mandatory to be following that specific plan to participate here. Different low carb plans work to control diabetes as well such as Protein Power, Atkins or The Schwarzbein Principle. Personally, I don't think it would be a bad idea to read them all; they all have something to offer in the way of knowledge of low carbing and how/why it works. :)

[black57]

Lisa N, I agree. I am doing Atkins but since I completely believe in low carb WOE, I try to visit as many boards that I can. For the most part, all lc diets adress diabetes and insulin resistance. As-a-matter-of-fact, Dr. Atkins was working on his next book that was about diatbetes/ insulin resistance and how it related to obesity. He felt that the 2 entities walked hand in hand and he called them diabesity.

Since I am so lc gung-ho, I feel like I should learn as much as I can about all of the diets. From time to time the moderators do encourage us to visit other boards.

[simplydawn]

Diabesity. Interesting phraseology!

[ArtyMuffin]

I consider myself hypoglycemic. My cells, therefore, are insulin resistant and this resistance will eventually, result in diabetes T2. My mom has DT2. In a way, I consider myself diabetic because of the hypoglycemia and family history. It is my desire to avoid or at least put off the onset of full blown diabetes. I don't visit this board very often. I try to visit as many lc boards that I can. So, I would like to participate in this support group. I have never understood diabetes nearly as well as I do, now that I have been eating th lc woe. I believe that this is the most significant and important way to eat for overall good health.

I have been diagnosed as having Hypoglycemia... I have passed out and the whole nine yards. After a lethal dose of sugar (when I ate it in the past), I would fall asleep :yawn: and not be able to function properly... but I really don't want T2 :eek: :( Does Hypoglycemia always turn into T2??

[hubercpa]

It's great to read of folk's progress. I hope this encourages you all. I've been reading this forum since last May, and have found it to be extremely helpful.

My mom was diagnosed Type 2 in May, 2003 when she was 71 years old. She almost died from it, until we discovered it. Her H1AC was > 14.

The doctor put her on meds, and I put her on Atkins. I read Bernstein immediately, and avoided the whole ADA thing, although her doctor recommended it.

My mom was bedridden until August, 2003, and she could walk about one block at that time. She lost 20 pounds, ate right, began increasing her exercise. Three months later, her H1AC was 6.3. Then in December, it was 5.4. In March, the doctor took her off her meds, and she has been holding her own.

Now my mom walks 1.5 miles a day, has lots of energy, and is a completely new woman. I suspect her H1AC will go up from 5.4 since she is off medicine, but we've made progress in her morning readings. When she first was off her meds, she was in the 130s (too high according to Bernstein), then we got to the 120s (still too high, but good for my mom's doctor). We are now hitting under 120, and we're shooting for lower.

My mom still needs to lose 10 more pounds, up her exercise, and we'll work her supplements. I think we will continue making progress. For a woman who started with blood sugars over 400, this is remarkable for 1 year.

Our success was due to God's grace for us to discover Bernstein, supplements, and my mom's diligence. The doctor only predicted the worst for my mom - stating that she will only get worse, never get off her medicine, and the like. The doctor even when taking my mom off medicine told us it will never last. Well, the doctors are trained to not get hopes up. Without hope, however, who would even try to improve their health naturally.

Hopefully, this will encourage some of you to have hope also. This forum has given me quite an education, and I thank everyone for their participation.

[picaboo]

quote from Sherrielee....
"I love this board, but avoid it because of some "perceived" hostility"
.......What does that mean ?....Anyone?.....?



I know...*I* need to be SO carefull with it...its run in my mom's side.
On and off Im doing Dr. Bernstein/Atkins....must admit - some days/weeks,are really fine !...but some days are really not!!! .....Im giving up to this BIG - "NO NO" of the Temptations' world :-)))...((((CARBS))))...:-))))))
...I belive *this is* the way to fight it... and for myself to try to delay it as much as I can !!!
...as my Doc once told me:
....."Even if you go thin...still you will carry it with you "
SO?... here I am ! :) ....BUT, with no idea what am I really want from this forum.
....Ha?...maybe?...
Just,
........ To read other...straggling with that too...with those temptations too :-)))
.........To know Im not alone with it...in my way of eating - no different then other here.
.........To know other can do that/are doing that - I can do that too !!!
And ???

.....I think that's it
...anything else ?....can't think of anymore....Ha?...maybe?..... later?.......... :)

[PollyEster]

My reactive hypoglycemia turned into Type 2 when I hit my late forties. If you lose your phase one insulin response you are well on your way to diabetes. Are you going low as a reaction to what you are eating which is making you go too high? Best thing you can do is pretend you are diabetic now and follow the same low carb diet and exercise plan. Maybe you will never need meds. Actually, if you use a meter, you might find out that you are already diabetic. Are they measuring your A1c's and how are your two hour post prandial readings?

BTW- no one wants diabetes. But sometimes the fear and dread surrounding waiting to see if it will happen to a hypoglycemia is almost relief when it finally happens. Then there are no 'maybes' and you just do what you have to do.

[IceMan]

The most dramatic results in dx control that I have ever seen have come thru the tolerant pooling of knowledge and the willingness to share that knowledge unconditionally. This not a game..not an ego contest, not a 4H project. This is a classic battle with a Deadly Enemy. There is only winner, you or the dx and it is a grim battle to the death. I want to do everything in my power to help my brothers and sisters in diabesity to control this demon. All I have to offer is my experience, strength and hope.

[texascarl]

This not a game..not an ego contest, not a 4H project. This is a classic battle with a Deadly Enemy. There is only winner, you or the dx and it is a grim battle to the death.

That's now written on a note by the 'fridge, and on my front door so I see it every day as I leave. Right beside 'Eat to live, don't live to eat'.

[Karen D.]

[QUOTE=picaboo]quote from Sherrielee....
"I love this board, but avoid it because of some "perceived" hostility"
.......What does that mean ?....Anyone?.....?

Hi Picaboo,

I see nobody has answered your question, so I'll try. If something is "perceived" in a certain way, it means it is felt or seen in that way, whether or not it was intended that way. So, if I'm understanding Sherrielee correctly, she means that she senses (feels) a certain hostility between members on the forum, even though she knows that might not be the intent. Does that help?

I recognize your name from Dr. Bernstein's website, where you explained that your English isn't very good, so don't hesitate to ask if you need to have things explained.

Karen D.

[picaboo]

..........wow....so nice of you karen thanks a lot...:-)))))))...even...lol....thanks.

[Lisa N]

Does Hypoglycemia always turn into T2??

Not always, but often. In college, I was hypoglycemic. It became diabetes when I was 30. Personally, I believe low carb is equally important for hypoglycemics as it is for diabetics. The sooner you get off the sugar high/sugar crash roller coaster, the better and, I think, the better your chances of not having hypoglycemia become diabetes as well. :)