I would be happy to accept your most humble apology...but you see...you apologize out of one side of your mouth and call me a troll with the other. You would offer to shake my hand and stab me in the back with the other.

I am not posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in this online community with the intention of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

People do not need to agree on everything. This is my thread about diabetes Sir. You have not tried to help out one iota. All you do is cause division and I wish you to stop posting to my thread unless you can be civil and offer something positive.

Calling me a troll is offensive. You are a nasty little man...please go away.

My husbands morning readings where always higher so just before he goes to bed and takes his last medications he has a piece of cheese and slice of lowfat ham. Made all the difference with his morning readings, don't know why for sure but it does work.

Yes! I just read that...eat a handful of nuts or cheese before bed and the readings are more correct. I will try this. What I want to know now is...what do I need to do so I don't have to eat cheese and nuts before bed. Can this dawn syndrome be fixed or will it go away?

I also take Synthroid in the morning...I wonder if that is raising the levels. My doctor said no...it wouldn't. I have read on medical sites that synthroid..."affects" blood glucose levels...but none of them say how.

Hey Buckeye. Just thought I would take the time to give you a little info from an Internist's point of view.
The bad news is you got a dignosis of pre-diabetes, the good news is you got a diagnosis of pre-diabetes.
It stinks and is scary to receive this kind of info, but you have a heads up alot of people do not get. You are in the early stages of something that could potentially be bad, and you have the opportunity to grab it by the throat and control it. Pre-diabetes is a relatively "new" categorization of diabetes. As more and more information is gathered over the years the numbers for elevated blood sugar and cholesterol do seem to ratchet downwards, as we find out more about the cumulative damage of the various levels.
So what to do? Certainly lifestyle changes as some have outlined above are the top priority in not only avoiding medicines, but in staving off full diabetes for as long as you can. Keep it simple.
-Exercise at least 5 days a week with a target of 30-60 minutes each session(eventually) as long as your doc feels you are heart healthy enough to pursue it.
-Avoid the "white stuff" as much as possible (refined white flour and sugars, white rice and white pastas) and look for whole wheat and sugar alternatives.
-Watch your calories. Most of us eat more than we need to.
-Lose weight if you need to.

As far as medicines go you may indeed need some. The American Association for Endocrinologists recomends the above noted lifestyle modifications as first line treatment along with aggressive treatment of risk factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol (which may also eventually respond to exercise and diet changes). Even moderately elevated blood sugar can significantly increase the risks of heart disease when coupled with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so sometimes medical treatment of these is really in your best interest. Additionally, if the lifestyle changes don't correct the sugars, those with "pre diabetes" and other risk factors DO likely need to be treated with medicines for blood sugar.

Bottom line is you can likely correct this by really changing your life. Can you send it packing forever? Not sure beacause everyone is different, but you can certainly inprove your chances of it and your health in general. Be prepared that some medicines may be recomended, and by all means get a second opinion if you are not comfortable..no doctor worth his salt should mind that. Just don't take this lightly, this is your "red flag" moment, we all don't get those so take advantage of it.
Anyway, a little free advice and it is worth about what you pay for it lol.

I wish you luck and lots o' health.

Take care

hey, thank a lot! I am fighting it head on...one reason I am here asking people about it. I am taking Metformin 500 mg ER once a day. At first is was like a laxative for a few days...well, laxative is putting it mildly...but I think it will help a lot from what I have read. My BP has always been perfect and my cholesterol is in the good range...weird thing is...my triglycerides are high. One time a couple years ago...they were 1200! They are down to under 300 now, still too high.

Anyway, I am grateful for the warning and have been gung ho about it ever since...bordering on excessive. I have a treadmill and a dog, so I do more walking now than ever. I found an awesome SWEETENER...but it sure is hard to give up noodles, bread, potatoes and rice. I found an awesome 100 whole wheat bread, but I guess if I mention the brand name, my post will be deleted for copyright infringement?

Thanks for taking the time to help me bro...

I don't think the website has any issues with you naming a type of bread. MANY things are recommended by members without being deleted. I wouldn't consider that an ad. I use Fiber One whole wheat bread with 7 grams of fiber per slice. Delicious too!

Thanks Russ...I will add that to the shopping list. I was having trouble finding a 100 percent whole wheat bread without High Fructose Corn Syrup...about 95 percent of the labels I read ha that junk. Awful!

Anytime.

SS is right on re the white flour carbs.... another "foodstuff" to absolutely eliminate 100% is high-fructose corn syrup. This dangerous sweetener sneaks into everything... soft drinks for sure but many "juices" are laced with it and it is a killer to your triglycerides. If your not on coumadin ask your doc about omega-3 fish oil to help bring down yout TG's. Again, www.lef.org is a good site to learn more about omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil).

Fiber one nutrition label:

http://www.generalmills.com/stream_image.aspx?rid=31656

Thanks Russ...that looks good. However, I have a brand at our local store that you might want to look at...it probably doesn't taste as good as the one you posted but, check out the nutrition facts at the bottom of the page of this link...

http://www.naturesownbread.com/NAT_V...00&ProductID=7

Also a new bread called Natures Pride 100% Whole Wheat.

http://www.naturespridebread.com/

I really like the taste of Natures Pride.

You sure have that right about high-fructose corn syrup...it seems to be in everything Americans consume. I have been taking the fish oil for a few months and I found a good one that doesn't make ya burp that fishy taste...ew. I also have been taking one vitamin E a day for awhile now. I found a pure form of it...completely un-synthesized! It is called Unique E by A.C. Grace...very expensive! But it is awesome stuff compared to that cheap stuff they pass off as vitamin E. I will check out that website...thanks.

diagnosed as pre-diabetic, I had a reading of 230 and A1C of 7.9
had never been above 125 or so before.. but

my doc is giving me 3 months to make improvements or we go to treatment

today's reading is 119, one month into my diet/exercise routine, I'm thrilled but this is a lifestyle thing. cut out the bad carbs and sugar, eat smaller balanced meals through the day.

A1C is a 3month moving average as that is how long sugar binds to proteins, it's pretty accurate of an average over that time.

I don't believe in "cures" (I've had cancer), just under control (diabetes) or in remission.

PS - that 230 reading was a one-time thing and doc says he won't put me on meds based on one reading, I've not ever been over 125

Agree with Russ
 

Russ was right when he pointed out that all carbs contribute to diabetes. It is necessary to watch the carbs in some good things including fruits as well. Failing to do so could sink the ship in your struggle to avoid becoming diabetic. A second thought is that the number he was looking at is a one time measure of the blood sugar, on thet day, at that time. I do believe that you should be vigilant about diet and exercise, but it might be a good idea oi have a fasting blood sugar and a Glucose tolerance test drawn. An A1C (I think it is called) will also tell you important info.
A diagnosis of diabetes is life changing so your upsettedness :cus: is appropriate but don't kill the messenger as they say. Be proactive! :pepper2: Blessings, Sally

This is a reminder that amateur advise on this or any forum does not substitute for professional medical diagnosis, treatment and recommendations.

you can do it with diet and exercise
 

My SO was diagnosed about 2-3 yrs ago as pre-diabetic, with a glucose (fasting) reading over 100. This was confirmed by a second test. His doctor sent him to consult with a dietician - you can read the same things they will tell you, (or hear it from your spouse or SO) but some people need to hear it from a qualified source.

He cut out a big glass of OJ every morning (he thought he was doing a good thing by drinking orange juice every day), and made a conscious effort to eat more fruits and vegetables, especially fresh. We cut out a lot of white bread, cut back on potatoes, eat only whole grain pasta and brown rice. He substituted Joint Juice (we buy it at Sam's by the case) which has 25 calories, 6 carbs and gluclosamine. Has a citrusy taste which you actually like after a while.

I would describe him as somewhat active but not as active as he will be when we move to TV this fall - he likes to swim laps and play basketball and that is just easier to do when you are retired with sports pools nearby and more time. Can also find same-age or close basketball players in TV. Right now in winter he only walked the dog and shovel snow for exercise - now that it's spring/summer we bike on some weekends but not all. I think TV will be good for both of us exercise-wise, just easier to get to and more time to do it.

Back to the point - his blood sugar has gradually come down - last week it was 65! So yes - it can be done, and in his case hasn't been that hard. It helps that I like to cook and use lots of olive oil and fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains. I think it is hard to control your diet if you eat out a lot. Easier and cheaper to cook at home most of the time. We will probably eat out once or twice a week in TV, but not 3-4 times as a lot of people we've met do.

Agreeing with you 100%
 

BuckeyeNuts ~ I agree! Both my parents had diabetes and I have a family history of Parkinsons, Alzheimers and low-IQ. I was never diagnosed with pre-diabetes but I WAS prescribed cholesterol-lowering meds for my high number. Well, being anti-drug totally ~ I chose to alter my eating lifestyle and went from a high chol of approx. 265 to 174 in six months just by changing the way I eat and minimal exercises.

Now, I don't take any prescription meds. If I can do it, anyone can. I say "ya gotta wanna". It does take sacrifice and most don't want to do that so they will take the meds :loco:

updating my original reply
 

Last week I was put on a low dose of 5 units of insulin, it is not fun injecting yourself every day and sticking your fingers 4 times a day. I didn't listen when they told me i was pre-diabetic 20 years ago. I have been a know diabetic since 1997.:icon_hungry::ohdear::blahblahblah:

I'm type 2 diabetic and was monitored for maybe 4 or 5 years before diagnosis and tried with diet/exercise to stave it off. THERE IS NO "CURE" for diabetes...it is a progressive disease and would recommend that a good care is needed! Doctors are NOT trying to line their pockets with this. I took the diabetic class offered thru Monroe Heart (Medicare p!ays for it) and it was excellant!!!
As an aside to this...I have family members who have type 2 diabetes and if not addressed properly the side effects of heart disease, neuropathy and more are hideous. Diet and exercise are still in my program

As for the person who had an A1c of over 7 here....my doctor would say you have diabetes!!! I just had my check-up and my provider says moving downward from that number is wanted! My most recent A1c was 6.5, down from 6.8. I was just diagnosed in late July ('10) and am on 2X/daily Metformin. I exercise 1 hour daily and try to count the carbs and eat healthy.

What he said.

Type 2
 

I am currently in a 6 month program of diet and supplements. I am taking supplements from Apex Energetics. Some of the supplements are sold only to healthcare practitioners. Type 2 is a short circute in your body due to internal inflamation of a numer of organs and glands. Your body is in overload and fatigued from overe production of insulin and fights it. Gary Null has been writting about prevent and cure of type 2 for years.

I have a question about carbs. For those of us who exercise (running & weight training) seriously. I always believed that you need some carbs to fuel your muscles. That is why runners initially deny their body carbs prior to a marathon and then carbo load right before the run. How can you exercise with no fuel? Anyone have an answer?

People who are pre-diabetic or diabetic don't usually run marathons, also I'm sure some do. The type of exercise that is recommended is walking, swimming, biking, but not in a tri-athlete sort of way. Therefore, they don't need to carbo load before exercising.

Also, "good" carbohydrates are encouraged (and should be eaten by everyone, not just diabetics) that have a low glycemic rate. That way, the blood sugar does not spike.

I would guess that you posted this because you are upset. Your doctor said you are pre-diabetic. He did not say you had type 2 diabetes. You can certainly reverse this with diet and exercise if there is nothing else going on. But your doctor is absolutely right. If you are prediabetic, I am guessing your fasting blood sugar is above 100 but below 130. If this is true, here is what is happening in your body. Due to the high sugar levels, your body is making more insulin to deal with it. After a while, your cells become less sensitive to all the insulin they are getting so your body has to make even more insulin to get the same reduction in blood sugar. After having to make too much insulin for too long a time, those insulin producing cells get burned out. Before that happens, your doctor may try to put you on some drugs that help decrease blood sugar production, increase blood sugar elimination, etc. If those don't help he may try some drugs that increase your cells sensitivity to the insulin you are still producing. If those fail, then you may have to try injecting insulin. (this is a bit of a simplified explanation for a complicated disease).
But all this is way down the line. You can still avoid all this by life style changes....i.e. weight loss, carb control, exercise.
By the way, doctors do not get paid by the number of prescriptions they write. I know it is sometimes tempting to shoot the messenger, but if you don't have faith that your doctor has anything but your best interests at heart, then I would recommend getting a second or even a third opinion. If you think your doctor has been untruthful to you about your health status, then I would make a complaint to the state medical board.

I think it's important to note here that his poster is a medicine professional and know what he is talking about.

A voice of reason!

The supplement industry frequently demeans the medical community so they can sell more stuff. So if you are gonna mistrust someone, I would start with them.

There is no easy answer for anything that involves the endocrine system.
Brostholder did a good job of simplifying how it works. It takes a lot of information gathering and a lot of communication between you and your doctor and some tough changes in your life when your doctor tells you the tests show you are pre diabetic. A lot of people think you can just take a pill or a shot and all is well. In this situation it is not the case.

In my very humble non medical opinion.

Brostholder makes alot of sense. I am NOT a medical person but was pre=diabetic (just like he said) for a handful of years. My provider checked my fasting blood-sugar every 3 mo. or so during that time. In the meantime I was to do my part and do the diet/exercise thing---and did that. However (I am also "insulin resistant"---you can google that for knowing what that's about). Just this past summer I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and put on Metformin. So far I'm doing quite well. I exercise for an hour almost daily and watch my diet. My A1c has actually declined a bit...but I was told I'll be on the Metformin for the rest of my life. Diabetes is a progressive disease and NOT to be trifled with. The supplements probably won't hurt you but if it were me, I listen to your health=care provider. Oh...if you don't trust them get a 2nd opinion. As an aside to this...Monroe Heart offers an excellant class and while I "thought" I was pretty well informed re: diabetes, I found there was alot I needed to learn.
In this we are to have our eyes checked regularily (diabetes can affect our eyes). We should have a base=line check of our feet so find a podiatrist to do this. Diabetics can have circulation issues AND neuropathy...the latter cannot be reversed and I'm not sure about the former. Please take heed...I've seen too many people who haven't and their over=all health isn't good!!!

Living with Diabetes
 

I am not a doctor but this is what happened to me including some observations. I have been in control of my diabetes for four and a half years by eating healthy and exercise.
Every case of diabetes is different so please consult with your doctor if anything in this post raises any concerns.

I went to my doctor for my annual physical four and a half years ago and he informed me that he wanted a follow-up blood test to check for diabetes. My glucose level was 116 and they had just lowered the standard to 100 from 125. The blood test involved taking your blood, drinking the sweet orange drink and then taking my blood one and two hours later. The maximum reading should be 200 and mine was slightly above 200, (216 and 236 respectively). My A1C level was 7.1.
The doctor informed me I had diabetes. I was already exercising vigorously three times a week but needed to lose weight. He recommended eating properly and that I should come back in two months and strongly advised me to lose weight, (I was 182lbs) or he would have to put me on medication. I came back two months later at 162 lbs and the A1C dropped to 5.8. I mentioned to him if the level for diabetes was 6.0 and above, then I no longer had diabetes. He said I should think of it like being an alcoholic, “you can get sober but you can’t drink again.

Four and a half years later, My A1C level has been hovering slightly above 6.0and I do not have to take medication and or check my blood level by sticking my finger. I do exercise rigorously three times a week as it helps to lower the blood levels. I will always have an elevated glucose reading or as least it seems that way, as I ask for a copy of the blood work results so I will have a record handy.

My diabetes has been in control for four and half years with healthy eating habits and vigorous exercise. My doctor has commented that I have been doing a great job.

They recommended several small meals a day and advised me to look at eating food as a lifestyle change instead of being on a diet. The small meals should give one enough energy to get to the next meal and allows your body to burn off what you have eaten.

My particular diabetes is affected by the fat contained in foods. The guideline suggests that one doesn’t eat something that has more than 30% fat of the total calories contained in a product.

My observations:
1. I do cheat once in a while.
2. I do get tired of eating certain foods every day.
3. I find by eating healthy foods, the processed foods don’t taste as good as I use to remember.
4. I try to look at eating certain foods as taking poison into my system, (like candy, chocolate and processed cake). I tend to ask myself if I really need to eat this food or is this yearning just psychological.
5. Yes, some of the food they recommend like sugar free jelly, syrup, cereal, (fiber one) taste lousy initially but one gets use to them and gets to like them. I find when I do eat certain foods that have a lot of sugar, they taste lousy depending on what it is, (processed cake).
6. I don’t try to eat anything that has more than 10 grams of sugar.
7. I don’t try to eat anything that has more than 30% fat content per 100 calories.
8. Use Splenda, (one packet); on oatmeal as according to my doctor, “it won’t hurt you”.
9. Almonds are a great snack.
10. Lean Cuisine and similar but watch the fat content and sugar. Some are not good.

Note: There are many more hints but I can’t remember them off the top of my head.

When I first had a counseling session with the nurse practitioner, she was under the impression that I would not take my health seriously and tried to scare me with, you can lose a limb, get heart disease or organ malfunctions. She stated that most people have an attitude of just give me some pills and don’t talk to me about changing eating habits and or exercise. I feel better since being diagnosed because of weight reduction and eating healthy. I have not suffered from the debilitating symptoms that one could get as this is an insidious disease and one cannot tell without periodic monitoring of blood levels.

Any good doctor will have all the literature that one can read to control their diabetes.

I don’t know about supplements to treat diabetes as my doctor never recommended them. My experience with a supplement is for a prostate condition and that doctor said, “some people swear by them and some people don’t think they do anything”. They work like a charm for me.

I feel you must be an advocate for your own health. I always think that if I don’t take care of my diabetes, it will take care of me in causing serious problems. I fight very hard so I won’t have to take medication and perform checking my blood levels several times a day.
It requires constant vigilance. It is a pain to be dedicated but it can be controlled. It’s better than the alternatives.

Assuming one is healthy enough to exercise. When people complain about coming to workout, I tell them it’s a case of mind over matter. When they ask what I mean when I say that. I tell them, “if you don’t mind, it don’t matter”. :laugh:

I sincerely hope this helps someone to take care of themselves as my grandfather, father and older brother had diabetes and they shortened their life by not taking care of it.

2BNTV...you're a voice of reason. When I came home from my diabetes education class I told my spouse that it is a "high maintenance disease" and it is...if one want's to remain healthy. We cannot be lazy about this (as you indicated with some wanting a pill and NOT the education)!!! I'm overweight still and trying to lose, I'm on the medication and prick my finger 1X daily as my numbers are pretty good (so far). I exercise and try to eat sensibly---though in our culture AND living here one has to be really, really intentional. Diabetes isn't like having allegies or something like that where you can just pop a pill and go on your merry way. It's a hideous disease (my endo told me that) and is progressive so we need to be vigilant. Taking supplements shouldn't hurt..."IF" you do everything else a medical practioner would advise. One take-away from the class was "if you hear that there's a 'cure' RUN AWAY as fast as you can as there's no such thing!"!!!!!

I would strive to have mine as under control as you do! I will continue the eating right and exercise and perhaps it will get even better for me!!! As you said...we're all different!!!

Jen Ajd:

Theres is no cure,only controlling diabetes. Once you have it, you have it.
It's an individuals choice whether to control or suffer the consequences of not caring enough about their future heath.

I posted about my diabetes in the hope that someone could benefit from my experience. You are thinking correctly in what you need to do and I wish you well. I know it's constantly on my mind in making food choices and it's an unending battle. Some people may think I am fanatical in my wanting to control it but the alternative is unthinkable to me.

I found that by making good food choices and eating the amounts of food that is recommended, the weight easily came off but the initial battle was tough as I was hungry a lot in the beginning. Yogurt and almonds are a great snack. I always take almonds to work, (on person all day when one need something to hold me over to next meal).

If I told you that I didn't have cravings for certain foods, I would be lying but I try to limit my intake of food that I know are bad for my diabetes. I do cheat once in a while but I try to keep it down to a dull roar.

Another hint is when you go to a restaurant, ask for a doggie bad before your dinner is served and put half of your dinner in the bag before you start eating. Restaurants serve twice the normal amount of food that one requires. Share your dessert if you have one with your spouse. One more hint is to not have anything that is bad for you in the house as far as snacks. I know this is almost impossible when you live with another person.

I am fighting to avoid having to take medication and having to prick my fingers for the bood test and my hope is that you lower your A1C level enough so you won't have to do this going forward.

You can do it and I know it's not easy.

It can be a good thing.
 

Four years ago, my wonderful doc diagnosed my full blown diabetes even though I didn't have the usual symptoms. I was mad and freaked out a bit. I now see that for me it was a good thing. I was way too heavy and didn't watch my portions. I went to a diabetic clinic and learned what my body was doing and how our bodies convert food into energy. I was on Medformin, an old reliable drug for type II. I found that I was testing my blood all the time to see how my body reacted to different foods. When I started watching my portions, carbs, and exercised more, the weight just fell off. I take 2-4 cinnamon capsules a day which is supposed to help with blood sugar control. The diabetic clinic even confirmed that it can help. I am off any medicine. Before I moved here this summer, my doc said she didn't consider me to be diabetic anymore. I know I can't go back to my evil ways, and I will always be a candidate for type II.

Diabetes is nothing to mess around with. Watching a friend die of it due to complications convinced me to be careful. As a result, I am healthier now due to exercise and better eating habits. I don't diet, I just know how much and what I can eat. I'm pretty lazy now with daily testing. The A1C test every 3 months provides a picture of how my blood handles glucose. Good luck, don't be mad at your doc, be thankful you found out.

springfield:

Congraulations that you brought your diabetes under control. I was also mad when first diagnosed four years ago as I didn't want to have limits placed on me. It was a blessing in disguise as I feel better by eating properly.

I slipped one time in four years as I thought I was bulletproof in my eating habits and my A1C shot up to 7.1. They wanted to put me on Medformin but I refused and two months later, I brought it back into control again, (A1C = 6.2). I don't have to get my blood reading daily ot take medication. I control it by heathy eating habits and exercise. They call the new eating habits a "lifestyle change" as opposed to "diet:. Diet is "die", with a "t" at the end. Whoever goes on a diet is doomed to fail - IMHO. It a mindset that people automatically think they are being deprived of foods they like or want. As you know, you can everything you want but in moderation but there are some exceptions that need to be limited.

My doctor told me that even though my A1C was in control, I had to look at my diabetes as being an alcoholic, "you can get sober, but you can't go back to drinking again". Constant vigilance is the key to controlling this deadly disease.

My grandfather, father, oldest brother and sister had diabetes. Sister probably passed away from it but it was listed as a heart attack. My older brother just had a heart attack and had surgery and was informed he had a "diabetic heart" whatever that means. He was never diagnosed with diabetes and his blood work never indicated he was a diabetic.

Best wishes for your future good health and Happy New Year!!!

2BNTV. You are so correct. In my years of working with diabetics, I had to keep reinforcing that they were not on a diet, but were changing their eating habits PERMANENTLY. Most told me how difficult it was for them initially. But after a while, different for each person, it became almost automatic, and they were much more comfortable with the changes.

One humorous memory I have is the patient who was concerned because his 50th anniversary was upcoming and he knew there would be a cake. He was afraid of eating any cake, but didn't want to not celebrate with his wife. I told him to have a small piece of cake, but watch his other food intake. Diabetes involves choices. If you're going to eat one thing that could elevate your blood glucose, eliminate something else so that your overall intake is not much different from normal. I had a patient that liked to eat potato chips watching football and rebelled at eliminating them. We discussed it with his dietician and came up with the solution to measure out a small bowl of chips (He used to have the whole bag by his chair) and eliminate something else during that day. He did well.

BTW, I am not a dietician, but worked in a multidisciplinary setting for diabetics and met regularly with all the other people involved in diabetic care. My involvement was evaluating retinopathy. In most cases, I could tell how well they were controlling the disease by how much retinopathy I saw. And what I saw in the eye was happening all throughout the body.

Another aspect to diabetes control is that everyone's control is personal. I can't count the patients who complained that their physician was pushing them to improve their control when they had a friend or neighbor whose physician was happy with a higher A1C. They did not realize that there is a balancing act with control and cardiovascular complications.

What's the difference between the A1C reading and the glucose level reading on a glucose meter?

Great question!!! I know I've been told this...but it slips my memory and I'd love to see an answer.

My daily numbers have been great lately. I do alot of pool-walking and have to think this helps. I try to eat moderately as well. I was doing that before my diagnosis last summer but the exercise too is "key" to this disease. I've seen too many people who've had the side-effects of retinopathy, nerve damage, heart issues and more....so gotta keep on keeping on with doing what's right for control.

glucose reading is a shap shot
 

Your daily tests tell you how your body is using or not using the glucose at the moment of the test. Your cells need this glucose to survive, it is the fuel. If you are diabetic, the "key" doesn't work correctly to let the glucose get into the cells to do its job and builds up in the blood since the cells aren't able to use that fuel.
The a1c test tells you how your body has used glucose over a 3 month period.
Both tests are helpful. The daily tests help you learn how your body responds to different foods and amounts of food. The A1C is the average.

I found out that your body can take glucose from the liver if it detects a lack in order to protect vital organs like your brain. Sometimes my readings are highest in the morning because the body took it from my liver to protect, I hope,my poor little brain. If I have some protein before bed, it seems to help carry me through the night better.

mikeod:

I remember when I was first diagnosed with diabetes, the nurse practicitoner thought I would not take diabetes seriously as she said that 99% of the patients she saw would not hear of changing their eating habits. Their response would be, "just prescribe me a pill to take', because I am not going on a diet. Not a diet but 'lifestyle change".

It's ok to cheat a little assuming one had their diabetes in control but in moderation. I tend to look at processed foods, candy and anything bad for a diabetic as poison. Since I have been selecting the healthier foods, (four years), the foods high in sugar content don't taste good to me.

I am vigilant in selecting foods that don't have a higher fat content, (30% fat for every 100 calories max = 3 grams). I have the type of diabetes that is affected not only by sugar but the fat content. I generally don't try to eat anything that more than 10 grams of sugar. This also means if I were looking at a label and the contens were 8 grams of sugar per serving, I would also look to see if the contents were more than one serviving.

I will make an effort to look of the list of things I consume that work for me to see if others might benefit from it. I'm not a doctor and everybody is different.

I am concerned about my eyesight going forward as I don't want to get macular degeneration or any other condition.

I agree this is a disease where you can't tell what is going on inside your body so vigilance is mandatory to stay healthy - IMHO. I feel better than when I first diagnosed and I will work hard to fight all the various ways diabetes can affect one's body.

I apologize to everyone is this sounds like a sermon but it is a subject close to my heart. My immediate family has either died or it adversely affected by this insideous disease. my brother just had a heart attack on Dec 30, 2010, and the doctor said that he had a diabetic heart although his blood work never showed he had diabetes. I don't understand how that can be so.

Best Wishes to all to stay healthy and happy.

I don't agree that diabetes is inevitably 'incurable'; and I wanted to speak up because I think people should be given that hope rather than just hear that there is no hope. It is true that there is no medical 'cure'; but then that is true for most medical conditions; medical approaches control the disease symptoms or in some cases its speed of progression, but they are rarely a 'cure' for the underlying condition; (just as putting sound-proofing material under the hood of a car engine is not a 'cure' for the knock in the engine).

However, the body, namely, the human cell, has an inherent ability to heal itself, given the right tools; and not only of diabetes but of many degenerative diseases; even many infectious diseases. It is only the functions within the cell, itself, that, by normalizing, produce, by definition, a 'cure'; that is, a 'healing', and an end of the abnormalities of function within the cells that lead to symptoms and signs that, collectively, are assigned a name, such as diabetes (or high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, etc). Not only can cells regain better function, but all cells, as they age and eventually die, are constantly generating new versions of themselves; and a newer cell can, when the body is properly cared for, function better than that which served before it. This is the miraculous nature of how the human body was designed. It is truly, inherently, capable of 'miracles'; but they need our help in order to occur.

An analogy is that a car that requires premium gasoline will not run or sound 'right' when regular gasoline is used; but the problem is not the car - the car itself is not 'broken' (at least, not for a while); when properly fueled with high test, the car once again runs normally. Trying to 'adjust' the engine to make it run 'right' with the incorrect fuel would be a medication-type approach; providing the correct type of gasoline would be a natural 'cure' to make the engine run correctly.

A year and a half ago my husband completely reversed his type 2 diabetes, and all of its related symptoms, with a very low-glycemic diet, supplements, and regular moderate exercise (just taking brisk walks). I know that others have been able to do the same. He never started the insulin or pills that were initially recommended; and it was in the thought of having to take medication on a chronic basis, which he found so repugnant, that he found the motivation to change how he was living; and upon diagnosis his blood sugar had been around 360; nearly at coma stage.

The earlier one starts lifestyle changes upon diagnosis (or upon 'pre-diabetes' diagnosis), I think the better the chances of healing oneself.

I caution against the word 'cure' here.

Type II can be battled, very successfully, with lifestyle changes. Many times to the point that no medications or insulin are needed. I've seen it done.

But the patient can NEVER let their guard down. Once you are insulin resistant you will always be. You need to constantly monitor your glucose intake and your body's reaction.

But I applaud anyone who tackles this horrible disease head on!