Glucogen Complex

[Chaquita]

I'm hoping someone here could help me. My Naturopathic doc had me on "Glucogen Complex" which is a natural product consisting of various vitamins in addition to Pancreas, Liver, Adrenal, and Thyroid Tissue. It states it is for Specific Nutritional Support for Carbohydrate Metabolism.

When I began seeing her I was VERY weak and sick...I have Ulcerative Colitis...and was having a bad flare, everything I ate went right through me, so I wasn't absorbing any nutrients. Within 2-3 weeks food was no longer "going through me", and I quickly regained my energy. Two months later I was a new person! She stopped the "Glucogen Complex" and replaced it with an Adrenaline supplement. When I went back to see her 3 months later, I was starting to feel a lack of energy again. I had a bowl of homemade veggie soup (and a few bites of chicken) about an hour before my appointment. She pricked my finger to check my sugar, and I was VERY low (unfortunetly I don't remember the # as this was something I never concerned myself with before). So she put me back on the "Glucogen Complex". And I immediately felt great again.

So, it just recently crossed my mind that I must have some sort of blood sugar problem...why else would she have me on this? Right? Since then, I am very aware now, when I eat a veggie or carb and keep note of how I feel afterwards. Also, I have not had ANY grain, starch or sugar for 16 months now, so my carbs come from ground flaxseed (which don't bother me) or low sugar veggies. I don't eat fruit because of the sugar, never liked fruit anyways! Infact, I have been generally low carb for 10 years, although not as strict as I am now.

So,(wow, this is getting long, sorry!), what can I buy to check my blood sugar on my own? I also need to mention that both my parents have diabetes. I always assumed it was due to their diet, which is VERY poor, they LIVE on processed high carb junk and sweets, and are overweight. I, on the other hand, have always been (even when I lived at home) a very "healthy" eater, and only became more so as the years went on. So I never thought 'I' could have diabetes. Apparently, I need to educate myself better, huh?

Is the fact that I am on this Glucogen Complex which really does control the "highs and lows" I used to get mean that I am pre-diabetic??

[eddiemcm]

Julie
An inexpensive good glucose monitor that uses inexpensive test strips is the Relion meter-sold
at Walmart and at www.relion.com.
The meter is about $10.00-100 test strips cost
about $45.00.
Eddie

[Cajunboy47]

If both parents are diabetic, you have a 100% chance of being pre-disposed to diabetes, according to what I've learned... So, do take your situation seriously... Eddie's suggestion is very good..

If your blood sugar is high, you might have one or more of these symptoms:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Increased fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision

If your blood sugar is low, you might have one or more of these symptoms:

Nausea.
Extreme hunger.
Feeling nervous or jittery.
Cold, clammy, wet skin; excessive sweating not caused by exercise.
A rapid heartbeat (tachycardia).
Numbness or tingling of the fingertips or lips.
Trembling.

If you've been low carbing a while, I'm thinking you might be having hypoglycemia, but you need to ask your Doctor a lot more questions. For starters, call her office and ask what your blood glucose level was when tested. Also, get a Doctor to do an hb A1C test on you, for which you'll need to do a 12 hour fast.... good luck and stay on top of this..

[Chaquita]

thanks Eddie and Cajunboy. Guess I'm still having a hard excepting that I may have some blood sugar issues when I have always been a low carb eater (from my teens on).

I always thought diabetes was "brought on" by oneself due to their poor eating habits, as with obesity...I do not mean that in an offensive way to anyone reading this with diabetes.

But I guess I am wrong? Diabetes can develop due to other reasons? What would these "other" reasons be? How does one get diabetes?

[Cajunboy47]

Heredity, environment.... We're bombarded with chemicals in the air, our food and water...

Refined sugar is probably the biggest culprit in my opinion. Refined sugar has only been around a few hundred years and it takes thousands of years of evolution for our digestive systems to evolve to handle a change in diet.

But, exposure to chemicals has been proven to make people pre-disposed to diabetes also...

For me, the problem was losing the fear of diabetes once I knew I had it. It is probably one of the most controlable diseases we could have... As you deal with it, lose the fear or the stress will make your BG even higher..

[v-effect]

I have (juvenile) Type 1 diabetes, caused by genetics.
V.

[Chaquita]

It is probably one of the most controlable diseases we could have... As you deal with it, lose the fear or the stress will make your BG even higher..

Well, I do believe this. I also think (I KNOW!) my Ulcerative Colitis is an extremely controllable disease through diet. I have to say I have been anti-sugar for years (for weight control, not disease control), BUT I used to use a lot of artificial sweeteners, which I know now didn't helped matters. Been on liquid stevia for 2 yrs now

[Nancy LC]

Is this what you were taking? click here (http://www.nutritionsurplus.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/Shopping.ProductDetails/productid/39219/type/Category/ProductCategoryID/1118.html)

I'd be interested in trying it. Still trying to resolve some fatigue issues I have. How big of a dose did you take?

[Chaquita]

Is this what you were taking? click here (http://www.nutritionsurplus.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/Shopping.ProductDetails/productid/39219/type/Category/ProductCategoryID/1118.html)

I'd be interested in trying it. Still trying to resolve some fatigue issues I have. How big of a dose did you take?

No, it's manufactured by Professional Health Products. Here is a link to their site, but no picture of the bottle, but it's listed as SGC Glucogen Complex, and lists the ingredients

http://www.phpltd.com/index2.htm

Hope that helps! It appears only health care professionals can order this?

Oh, I take 2 at the end of each meal (she told me to take like 1-2 bites of food AFTER I swallow them)