Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Type 2 Diabetes

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Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 12-06-2008, 06:52 PM:

Does anyone here have type 2 Diabetes? What treatment do you have for it, is it just a question of diet, or do you have to take medication? I believe Insulin injection is not common with type2; is this correct?

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 12-06-2008, 08:44 PM:

Diet only here, thank God Good control for 10 years; I am 60. Type I needs Insulin or other medication. Louis

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-06-2008, 08:54 PM:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 12-07-2008, 05:29 PM:

Louis,

How much does it restrict what you can eat?

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-08-2008, 07:46 AM:

When I was diagnosed with type2 I thought that the only thing I could eat was salad.

The truth is as long as you cut out the surgery sweet food & eat a good range of fruit & veg there is not a real amount you will need to change.

The only things I cut from my diet not being a big sweet fan was having sugar in my tea & I stopped eating microwave meals (those things are so full of Sugar & salt they can give you diabetes alone).

A good guide that the diatetion told me was if any food you eat excluding fruit & veg , exceeds 5 Grams of sugar Per 100 Grams avoid it.

Since I have had type 2 I have lost 2 1/2 stone & am a lot fitter than I have been in a long time.

There are several types of medication before you need to inject & hopefully you will never need to, as there are new medications coming all the time.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 12-08-2008, 08:15 AM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
The only things I cut from my diet not being a big sweet fan was having sugar in my tea & I stopped eating microwave meals (those things are so full of Sugar & salt they can give you diabetes alone).

I pretty much live on microwave meals and takeaways, partly because I just feel permanently too tired to actually cook anything.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-08-2008, 09:48 AM:

It does take will power, but in the end the benefits are well worth it.

If you take the time to cook a meal make it twice as big as you would need it, you can freeze half of it for another day.

Then when you come home from work & do not feel like cooking you can heat one up in the microwave.

This means you know what is in it & you are not eating junk.

I still have a takeaway every now & then.

Also due to my job I have to eat out quite a lot, but instead of chips or Rice I will have a baked potto or even a salad.

I guess from the wording your post you have just been diagnosed with type2, but it is not the end of your life. It is just another stage.

Thanks to modern medication diabetes is more of an small inconvenience rather than a life threatening illness.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-08-2008, 11:00 AM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
(those things are so full of Sugar & salt they can give you diabetes alone).

Ummm... no.

Sugar doesn't cause your cells to not respond to insulin correctly.

quote: Stephen Furley
I pretty much live on microwave meals and takeaways, partly because I just feel permanently too tired to actually cook anything.

If you have to do that... try finding out if there are any "health food" grocery stores around your area and you might be able to find healthier microwave meals.

And if it really comes down to it (due to being so tired), at least here in the States we have a thing called "Meals on Wheels" where you pay a fee per month and people bring a meal to your place for you. You could look into something like that and request meals that are ok for someone with type 2 diabetes.

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 12-09-2008, 07:52 PM:

Stephen, my wife has type 2.
ANY exercise you can accomplish can do lots of people wonders in controlling it.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 12-10-2008, 06:59 AM:

quote: Chris Slycord
at least here in the States we have a thing called "Meals on Wheels" where you pay a fee per month and people bring a meal to your place for you

Yes its called Dominios

With the rate people in the US are getting Type 2, that will help get someone else to do it for you.

why not just cut out the middle man & go to the drive through window @ Mcdonald,s

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-10-2008, 10:26 AM:

quote: Jonathan Worthing
Yes its called Dominios

Huh? You could've fooled me. I swore it was called Meals on Wheels

But what the hell would I know? I only volunteered for the organization.

Seriously, if you had read the entire message, you would've noted how I indicated that said organization would likely be able to tailor meals for someone who has type 2 diabetes. How you derived from that that they were instead bringing you stuff from Dominos or McDonalds is beyond me.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 12-10-2008, 12:06 PM:

Stephen, were you just diagnosed with type 2. I have had type 2 for four years now. The toughest time is around the holidays because there is so much richer foods around you. Be careful with certain types of foods they claim as healthy or fat reduced. They add sugar to compensate for the lack of something else. Understand that Diabetes does not have to run in the family to get it. Other factors can cause the issue to occur. In my case it was do to having High blood pressure and high Cholesterol at a young age. basically those two issues I inherited from my parents. My doctor told me I could have been fit as a fiddle thin as a rail but I still would have become diabetic, it just would have taken longer for it to show up. He said they still don't understand why this happens. Don't let the issues of diabetes get you down. People with diabetes are more prone to depression. Insulin can be used to treat type 2 diabetes. Normally though they do not use it unless other forms of control are not working. They have oral medications that are used to help keep it under control. The A1c test is the important test to have done at least twice a year. It gives the average glucose levels for a 120 day period based on a cells life span. Here in the US keeping it 6.5 or below is the goal internationally they use 7.0 as the number to stay below. That's what My doctor told me anyway. Insulin is the key to unlock the cells ability to use the sugar in your body. your body can either become insulin deficient or resistant. Not having enough insulin to unlock the cells or some cells will not react to the insulin itself. By controlling the sugar intake will allow the cells that can react to insulin the ability to use the sugar without building up large amounts in the body. Just remember every one's body reacts differently so follow your program closely and you will be fine. Check your blood sugar often.

The first thing I did was quit drinking soda pops and only drink diet when I do.

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 12-10-2008, 01:06 PM:

Thanks for the replies. As of a couple of days ago it's now official, yes I do have type 2. I think I've probably had it for a long time. For about 2-3 years I've been wondering why I felt so incredibly tired all the time, the thirst has been going on almost as long, and I've had circulation problems in my feet and hands for several years as well. I've thought for some time that might be wrong, and when I looked up the symptoms on a web site I had all but two of them, and one of those two only applies to women. I wasn't aware that having to pass water frequently, and infections that take a long time to clear up were symptoms, but I've had both of those. I think the very bad headaches which I was getting last year were due to a sinus infection, and that took over a year to clear up.

I put off going to a Doctor as long as I possibly could, but if the tiredness gets much worse then I wouldn't be able to work, so I really had to go in the end. Before I went I got a couple of urine tests from the Biology technician at the College. I took these on two different days, the first was inconclusive, but slightly high, the other rather higher, but still not at the far end of the scale, so I was pretty sure that this was the problem before I finally went to the Doctor.

I don't think I've got it too badly; partly because of the tests that I took, and partly because if I've managed to have it for several years without treatment, then I don't think it can be that bad; I'm not in a coma or anything. They're sending me an appointment to see a dietician.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 12-10-2008, 01:17 PM:

Hang in there Stephen. Once things get under control you will start to feel better. It is very important now that you make all of your doctor appointments and blood checks.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-10-2008, 02:17 PM:

And if you really have a sweet tooth that's hard to get over...
instead of using sugar for stuff try replacing them with stuff like stevia or agave nectar.

Stevia is an herb that tastes fairly sweet (slightly bitter aftertaste though) and doesn't at all affect blood sugar. In fact, I read somewhere that it can help regulate your blood sugar, though that was claimed on a site that was selling the stuff (and no other search has confirmed their claim). You can find it in any health food grocery store in either powdered or liquid form.

And agave nectar has the consistency of like both molasses and honey combined into one (sweet but quite thick). Its really low on the glycemic index so it is generally considered safe for diabetics. Not quite as sweet as honey but it's still pretty good.

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 12-10-2008, 02:17 PM:

The VA, who takes care of my health, tells me I have type 2. They say normal blood sugar levels run between 75 and 150 on the glucose meter. Only twice in the several years has mine ever read over 150. It usually reads between 127 and 135. The best thing to do is avoid as much sugar as possible by using Splenda as a sweetner and eating sugar free foods. Cut down on carbs too (breads, etc.) as they turn into sugar in your system. The VA gives me a pill to take after two meals but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I still enjoy several Snickers each month.

Posted by Louis Belloisy (Member # 3836) on 12-10-2008, 02:28 PM:

type 2 Diabetes is a silent killer. normal readings should be:
in the morning after about 9 hours of fasting should be between 85 to 100. readings about 2 hours after eating should be under 130 to 150. there is a test called the A1C test, that checks your red blood cells for attached glucose. red cells only last about 90 days. this test will test for glucose going back 90 days and is very accurate. a reading of 6 or below is normal, between 6.5 to 7.5 is iffy and anyting over 8 needs attention.

if you have any questions, i could answer them.

louis

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-11-2008, 09:18 PM:

While looking over my notes for an upcoming herbology final I saw that Leechee (Lychee) nuts/pips can be helpful for Type-2 Diabetes. They have been shown to lower blood sugar. Our instructor had mentioned for trying to keep low blood sugar, you'd take 10 grams of the stuff per day, crush them into a powder, and cook the substance in water for a decoction and do this everyday for at least 3 months.

As well, bitter melon (or bitter gourd) has been shown to lower blood sugar. Though you can also get it as a powdered extract instead of cooking bitter melons (they really do taste quite bitter so if you're adventurous, make sure to mix them with other flavors). Personally, I think they taste good (in the right dish). The extract would be found in any health food store's section for supplements and the actual melons themselves would probably only be found in your closest Asian market.

Of course, you should consult your physician about this.

Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 01-10-2009, 07:54 PM:

I was diagnosed three and a half years ago.. I was close to 300lbs, feeling lathargic, drinking lots andjust generally run down. Within thirty days of my diagnosis, I lost 38 lbs, felt 1000% better! Had energy I didn't think existed! All with a change of diet, and lifestyle! Today I am at 235lbs a loss of 68 lbs in three years! I'm 6' 4" over 50 and feel like I am 25 years old! I eat most foods, however, in moderation!! I don't necessarily finish the meal anymore like I used to, unless I am very hungry! I cut out 95% of my alcohol and sugar intake and as the doctors said a couple of beers a day won't hurt you as long as you are excercising and burning calories. The same goes with rich sugar or calorie laden foods.
I do take a daily dose of metformin hydrochloride, other than that, I eat more often but eat less each time. In one year I was taken off my blood pressure med since my pressure dropped to the low normal area and has remained there now for 2 years!!
My original A1C was 11.65 I am now averaging 7.40 and my dose of meds has been cut in half. My doctors feel I may be off the type 2 list later this year if I keep up the way I live! And my A1C stays below 7.50. Remember, diabeties is one of the few ailments that is curable, and is easily managed! You don't have to end it all as is rumored!! Just do things in moderation! Go out and walk daily, or do laps around the booth! It's not hard to get a little excercise and burn some calories! Good luck!!

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 01-10-2009, 09:12 PM:

Hey John,

Congrats on taking care of your health. Type 2 is treatable, with diet, exercise, and pills. Very generally speaking, your body is making enough insulin, but your body is relatively insensitive and does not efficiently absorb the insulin you produce.

Type 1 or insulin dependent Diabetes is a whole different disease, although the symptoms and consequences of not treating the problem are similar.

My son and I are both Type 1.