[Gus1234U]

this is why it's so important not to 'cut out' any one part of a healthy diet~!

Well, I now have my laptop. I'll try to explain what I learned. Definitely we need to eat balanced diets, something from each food group. I thought my sugars were high because of carbs. I don't eat much carbs except when I am "bad" and want some sweets. Apparently when I do that, it makes my sugars go higher and I get even hungrier, therefore overdoing the sweets. I am nauseous still no matter what I'm trying. I really tried to eat breakfast but managed a few bites of toast with peanut butter. Had a few bites of crackers and egg salad. I know I'm not getting enough I just cant seem to make myself eat lately. My stomach churns at the thought of food right now too. She suggested buying glucerna or boost supplement drinks, but they are too expensive for me.
So, the metformin slows the absorption of sugar into our body, and the glyburide, as she put it "squeezes the pancreas to produce insulin". Insulin I guess is what helps the sugar get where its needed. I wish I could explain more but that's about all I comprehended. A carb choice each meal, with protein and maybe a fruit. Such as a glass of milk, an egg, and half peice of toast, maybe a few strawberries. 15 grapes or cherries is what they recommend if you like, or a banana etc. If I could I'd post the chart, I would, but I'm betting googling a diabetic diet chart would work as well.
Really feeling unwell today. I wish you all my best.

Gus, how did your appointment go?

[Gus1234U]

it seemed like a very good appointment, thanks for asking. the LPN was very easy-going, and understanding, non-judgmental. i really liked that~!

we got thru the discussion of my meds, and she won't exceed the recommended dose of GlypiZIDE, which i need to keep my sugars down. i'm currently on a diet of about 1100 calories per day, and am using 2500 mg of Metformin and 20 mg (or more) of Glyp. which is the max. recommended doses. she also put me on a low dose of a blood pressure med, to protect my kidneys. apparently the tiny vessels there are at high risk of passing proteins they should have filtered out... (don't quite understand that).

i haven't been able to get the results of my latest bsl A1c test , yet; i had it a week ago (the 13th). i expect it to be the highest ever... this doc thinks higher is better, too~ i felt so much better when my meds were too high and my sugars too low~! i used to get an A1c of around 5.7 every time~~ (the last one was 6.1).

as for fruit in the diet, i have learned that fruit is an enemy of blood sugar control. i allow myself a small orange for desert 3 or 4 times a week, but mostly i prefer to snack on vegetables. some veggies have a lot more sugar than others, like baby carrots or snap peas. so i keep a container of chunks of califlower in the fridge, or some other zero sugar veggie. i also tend to drink a LOT of water.

i'm beginning to remember people i knew with diabetes, before i knew anything, and they were routinely in danger of this or that, and several of them died, or worse, ended up in a nursing home because of it. i am determined to avoid what i can of the ravages of this horrid disease~!
best wishes to you all~!

[Gus1234U]

it's my personal belief that not eating is OK~! fasting and reduced calories are good for people with diabetes,,, unless you are way too thin already~ forcing oneself to eat, just to support the need for meds is a crazy way to go, in my not so humble opinion. i do try to keep my portions small, and early in the day, no sugars late at night; but sometimes that intent is "honored in the breach" (NOT)....

i am very grateful for this thread, and the people who are being so faithful in supporting each other~! Thanks~!!

[BlueEyedMama]

Hello. New to the board. I am a type 1 diabetic who has been dealing with quite a lot of low blood sugar levels lately. Anyway, not sure why it took me this long to notice this board but I am glad it is here and looking forward to checking in from time to time.

I wish all here well. Have a nice weekend.

[Gus1234U]

there are not many things more frightening than low blood sugar,,,
{{{{ Blue~! }}}} i hope you find out what is doing it,, and eat grapes~!

[possum220]

I did not know that fruit was bad for sugar control. Hmmm. Just stewed some peaches. I like stewed fruit with yoghurt as a dessert. I love oranges but they don't like me.

Ah well we live and learn.

My calorie intake is very low. I'm on 2000mg of metformin and 5 mg 2x a day of glyburide which must be like glypzide. It's controlling the sugars now. I didn't eat much today, and I'm ok with that. Only 2 cookies as a treat. Some toast, some rice and meat and peas.
Thanks for your thoughts on things Gus. I rarely eat any fruit but I do love grapes now and then and a banana.
I have another appt. in 6 weeks and will start logging what I'm eating as well as what my sugars are. I'm also on blood pressure meds for many years already, and thyroid meds after having Graves' disease. So my energy is getting better. I either drink coffee or water, and the more water the better.
Welcome to Blueeyedmama, hope to see you around again. Low blood sugar is dangerous, I hope you get it under control soon.

[Gus1234U]

i was just so tired yesterday that i slept almost all day, off and on, 13 hrs on Saturday and 11 yesterday. the good part is that i wasn't hungry, either, so i had good bsl readings on 450 calories. woke up early this morning with a GOOD appetite it's good to eat healthy snacks all day long,, rather than 3 big meals, but i still can't seem to get the hang of it.

i have calculated that my morning bsl spike is about 30 points~! gads, when i wake up with a reading of 70, what does that mean? a close call~~ i think the lowest i ever woke up to was 47.... i used to not understand how powerful GlipiZIDE is, and would forget to leave off one pill on low-cal nights, so had too many close calls, and scared my doc. i don't know what he was worried about, if i was waking up coherent enough to make it to the fridge for a can of juice O.O . oh well,, on and on it goes~

my new doc has Rx'd a low dose of some blood pressure med for my kidneys.... maybe i mentioned this already, but among the many other things at risk with diabetes are the kids. got to get that glaucoma test soon, too.... sigh~

I've been having good blood sugar levels. I don't understand how some of your numbers work. For me, I've been told 5.5 is normal. Some mornings its been around 7, and few just under that, around 5. So I've been eating smaller amounts throughout the day, I think that's helping. I still have a hard time eating breakfast, but for years I took my meds with coffee, the diabetes educator siad that's not good at all. Have to eat with the meds. Otherwise, I'm feeling better about how I'm eating. Bought some expensive cashew butter, it's good. I want to get some apples to put that on, have done that it the past. Best to you all.

[Gus1234U]

glad to hear it, Dis~ i love cashew butter, and i eat apples more than any other fruit. i don't understand a daily reading of 7,,, maybe that's like 70? or you have a completely different meter type than i do.... but if 7 is good and 5 is better,, OK.

i got some good news~ got my A1c results from mid March, and they were the best EVER~! i know my doc won't be as happy as i am, but they are my eyes and kidneys (she has not sent in that prescription YET). my results were 5.4!! the retinal bulge from the high pressure in my eyes is apparently healed, finally, no more flashing lights. i still have one little floater, but i've had those for 20 yrs, so no worries.

does anyone understand about adjusting Met/Glyp to match calories ? i swear, docs who say: "take this much every 12 hrs" must be living in the twilight zone~ O.O day before yest. my calories were 460 (i slept most of the day) so i only took one dose. yest. my cals were 1600, so i took 2 1/2 'doses' (<- 1000 Met & 10 Glyp). to me a 'dose' is one of each, but my Rx is 2 each 2x a day. when i was doing what i wanted, i was taking 500 mg Met & 10 mg Glyp, 3x a day. ooooh NOOOO, the docs all said, that's TOO MUCH GLYP~! (online research agrees with them, but my body doesn't.)

why must we all be taking the "Bell Curve Average" dose of things ?? where is the individuality and the responsiveness to actual events ?? it makes me crazy, that's why i do what i want and tell the doc about it later, if i must. this doc cut my Glyp down, so i don't have enough to take the way i want. they don't understand that i'm having side effects with the Metformin~ (OH NO~ there are NO side effects with Metformin~!) phooey

i am sure that it's the Metformin that's making me dizzy and weak-feeling, actually weak, can't open a jar or bottle without pliers. and i've had IBS for YEARS, since i started taking it. yet the research says it doesn't cause these things, look for some other cause~~~ O.O

anyone got any insights or information that might help me make sense of these things ? Dis, what's your info class have to say about "averages" ??

[possum220]

Cashew butter sounds lovely..........

I am pleased that the retinal bulge has healed Gus. I had eye floaters but the optometrist said that they were innoccuos and they are more of an age issue. I sometimes wonder if metformin is a factor in IBS too.

My reminder to go back and see the optometrist is somewhere here. Also need to get my bac1 level testing in two weeks and go back and see the gp.

I must admit that I dont understand anything about the Bell Curve and the detailed caloric intake. I struggle with getting through the day. Being on seroquel gives me the munchies something chronic. I have tried to get off Seroquel before but it wasn't successful.

[Gus1234U]

i know what you mean about 'the munchies' , possum~! i go on binges, where i haven't had something for years, and then someone exposes me to it, or it pops into my head,,, like these wintergreen lifesavers, my cousin was eating them, and gave me some, and i went berserk~! i bought a big bag, they are only 6 calories each, but eat 20 of them a day, and it adds up~!

everyone says 'grazing' is the best way to eat with diabetes: a little bit, often. but what is a 'little bit' ? and how does one stop eating when the body say "MORE"~!??? i'm a slave to my body. sometime "I" can tell it what to do, but it's more a suggestion than a command. once upon a time i had the feeling of control, but that's pretty much gone now.

wishing everyone well~!

[Miss P]

Apologies, I haven't read any of the above....just adding my support (as a diabetic type 2) sending good, and offer of an ear (message) anytime n happiness all!

Hi guys,
Well I don't have a regular class education, I had one appt., and have another in mid April. So, my measurement of blood sugar with my meter is different because I'm in Canada and we measure differently I guess. What they say about the A1C averages, is that it's measuring how much blood is "sticking" to the cells or something.

Funny, like you Gus, I also adjust my meds to how much I'm eating, especially the glyburide which is equal to your Glypzide. It takes the sugar out of the blood which is what we want, but I no longer eat as much so my family doctor said its fine to cut it back and only take one 5 mg. twice a day as apposed to two of 5mg. twice a day. I take two 500 mg. Metformin twice a day as well, and it seems to work. (Yes, it does cause bowel problems, but I did adjust eventually) I think maybe a bit more work and exercise really is helping my sugars be lower.

I'm learning that "just one cookie" sometimes is not a good idea. It raises blood sugar quickly and that turns on our hunger because, well, I'm not good at explaining, but higher blood sugar makes us more hungry. I'm allowing myself a bit of a treat every day though. If I don't, it will be on my mind and I feel worse, like moody.

Possum, I was on Seroquel for years and I know what the munchies are from that. I still have some in case I can't sleep, but I rarely use it now. It took me a very long time to cut it down, little by little. Only 25 mg, but I'd cut it into smaller and smaller doses. I kind of miss the sleep I had, it seemed like I rested better, but not at the cost of so much hunger and higher blood sugar. I'd get into the cookies or ice cream and lose all control.

Gus, I'm glad to hear that you got the best ever A1c reading! and that the pressure in your eyes is better.

Hugs to all.

[possum220]

I have tried to get off Seroquel over a long period. Things kinda went more sideways if that is even possible. I tried other meds that had very unpleasant side effects. I need my sleep. I don't suppose that klonolpin is helping either.

Yesterday I went and bought fruit, which is much better than the alternative and made myself pumpkin soup. Being easter I had a hot cross bun for breakfast and plan to have a salad sandwich and fruit for lunch. This afternoons exercise will be raking up the leaves in the back yard.

[Gus1234U]

i hope everyone finds some rejuvenation this holiday weekend~

[possum220]

[possum220]

I am waiting for a cacti of mine to burst into a pretty yellow flower. The are spectacular plants.

So it's easter today. Do we have no chocolate or easter buns or do the moderation thing?