New to Human Diabetes

[VMae]

Good day to all Diabetes Forum members and lurkers!

I was diagnosed Type 2 diabetic on 11/11/2020. It wasn't a surprise given my fasting BG level on my annual blood work (187 mg/dl) and the BG readings I subsequently took for a few days at home (the highest of which was in the low 400s). I pushed hard for an in-office appointment with my Family Care Clinic and got one the next day. My A1c was 9.2. The DR started me on Metformin 500mg daily and set up an educational appointment for December 9. I also will get some foot testing, although I haven't a clue what that will involve. I have edema in my feet, ankles, and calves.

Although I was diagnosed only this month, I believe I have been living with diabetes for some time. I have felt lousy nearly all of 2020, often running into brick walls requiring several-hour naps at least daily. I expect it to be difficult to get fasting BG tests every day because I am an insomniac. I often graze at the night, but I have switched from eating cookies to eating celery with cream cheese or peanut butter or a hard-boiled egg. Thank goodness for the popularity of keto diets that make low-carb recipes and food widely available.

I am not new to peripheral neuropathy. I have had neuropathy in my feet and hands for 14+ years, caused by Taxol chemotherapy for breast cancer. My hands are merely numb, but my feet also are painful. I am on morphine, oxycodone, and Gralise (gabapentin).

I have extensive experience with feline diabetes, having had three diabetic cats . One cat was insulin-dependent for four months until he became diet-controlled. That cat's littermate was insulin-dependent for the rest of his life. The third became diet-controlled before I adopted him. I founded and for a few years was the director of a national non-profit organization to finance the care or seek the adoption of diabetic cats cared for by low-income people or by animal shelters. Because of those experiences, I understand how to test BGs, how to interpret test results, and the importance of low-carb diets. I also understand how forums like this can be an awesome supplement to the care provided by medical professionals. If it hadn't been for a forum called "Feline Diabetic Message Board," I am not certain how long my cats would have lived based on veterinary care alone.

I plan to adopt a low-carb high-fat diet and to eat to my meter to the extent possible. My eventual goal is to become diet-controlled.

Thanks so much for having a forum that appears to allow me to meet my goal.

~~ VMae

[skb]

 

May I call you Mae 

Your title itself suggests that you are not new to Diabetes but new to the Human version. Nevertheless, you are informatively well equipped. I need not introduce you to our 2 key strategies The LCHF way of eating & The Eat to Your Meter as you have already mentioned them and plan to adopt them.

It's nice to have you on board and maybe we could learn something from your experience. Do read through the Important Forum Links (in the Right Panel) specially the My Story thread.

Welcome again.

[Sweety]

Welcome VMae. Read your story with interest. You have come to the right place. We hope you will post often.

[VMae]

May I call you Mae 

Please do. Thank you for the welcome.

[Grammabear]

Good Day Mae,

Your story is most interesting.  How did you discover your kitties were diabetic?  Did you notice they were acting sick or was their diabetes discovered during a well animal check at the vet's office?

I'm glad your doctor listened to you and started you on medication.  Do share what you are comfortable sharing.  We all learn from each other.

[walkerwally1]

Welcome Mae.  It sounds like you have a pretty good idea of how to improve your blood sugar.  There is a lot of bad information out there so we hope to help people that are having trouble.  LCHF has been very helpful to me to control my blood sugar.  I was diagnosed in 1993 and followed my doctors advice but never was able to really be in control.  I learned about LCHF and "eating to your meter" from forums like this and have had quite good results since.

  

[bigskygal]

Welcome Mae!

So glad you found us! You sound like you are on the right track for controlling your diabetes. It is interesting that you worked with diabetic cats. I'm sure that helped your insight into your own care. Please share as much as you are comfortable about your journey, ask any questions you may have, we will help as much as we can.

Again, Welcome!

[VMae]

Your story is most interesting.  How did you discover your kitties were diabetic?  Did you notice they were acting sick or was their diabetes discovered during a well animal check at the vet's office?

Hi Grammabear. Sorry for the delay in responding. I have to find out how to get the system to send me a notice when someone responds to me.

The symptoms of feline diabetes are incredibly similar to those of human diabetes. When my first diabetic cat became diabetic, I didn't even know cats could get diabetes. In fact, it's incredibly common; some say 1 of 4 American pet cats because of their high-carb dry food diet. Maxwell was extremely lethargic, and drinking lots of water and peeing a lot. It got to the point that he would lay by his water bowl with his head hanging in it. The vet diagnosed the disease quickly given the symptoms and a quick glucometer test. (Can you believe a glucometer test at the vet cost $25 15 years ago.)

Maxwell's littermate, Ennis, never showed symptoms. I was testing Maxwell's BG level multiple times a day, and I would occasionally test my other cats as well. I found Ennis's diabetes through BG testing, and started treating him with insulin without a vet visit.

[skb]

Sorry for the delay in responding. I have to find out how to get the system to send me a notice when someone responds to me.

The topmost bar has your name and a little arrow beside it. Click that and open the Notifications tab. You will see the Default Settings. Change what you would like to personalize. 

[skb]

I have made changes to your Profile to 'follow topics you create or respond to'.
Hope that is OK with you.