Diabetic & Depressed

[Momma Yamo]

Hi. :wave

I'm a newbie. 5'3" 167 lbs. BS between 290-150 depending on how I eat, excercise, etc. I take insulin (Novolin and something else, I forget) plus Actos and Avandia. Type II diagnosed 3 years ago.

Last summer I had ECT (Electro Convulsive Treatment - yup shock treatments) for depression. I just got fired because I had taken too much sick leave and they had to replace me. I was an aerospace master scheduler.

I am just beginning the Atkins diet with my husband. He's 5'7" 183 lbs. His sugar is okay, but he has high cholesterol.

The shock treatments helped but I still take meds for depression. It helps a little.

I find that I eat out of boredom and depression. Not working initially upset me a great deal, but I had asthma attacks at work so now I feel physically better.

I hope to lose between 40-60 lbs. if possible. I have a small frame and most of the weight is in my stomach.

I am thinking of going back to school to study English Literature. I love to read, but the program I'm looking into doesn't begin until Fall 2005. It sure would be nice to feel healthy enough to study again, although I'll be 46 when I start.

Well, I hope to find friends here,

Best regards...

Momma Yamo

[2big4mysize]

welcome to the board. We just started a book club I saw the topic earlier tonight so you can jump in there to keep busy and of course whe have the reading DANDR book club too we are up to chapter 4 rigfht now if you'd like to join that one too.

You will need to be working closely with your treatment team as you do your Atkins as the blood sugar control it gives you will with your meds cause you some problems and actually drive your blood sugar too low so please monitor closely and call your doc when it does. Many type two folk have gotten all the way off their meds eating Atkins.

Canuck is out of the country until the 15th but she will be back to warmly welcome you to the forum and keep on you about those blood sugar issues. Check out the stickies at the topic of this forum for any medication info that is realvant to you.
Happy low carbing.

[Binsk]

Welcome Momma. Atkins should help get your BG in the normal range. Great idea about going back to school.

[Momma Yamo]

Thank you for welcoming me. I really appreciate it.

[Momma Yamo]

I stopped drinking caffeinated beverages 3 days ago and have a splitting headache last two days. I suspect caffeine withdrawals. How long do these usually last?

[2big4mysize]

mine lasted 4 days. I took asprin for it as that is what i take. you can use any OTC caffeine free pain med for your headache you want/ Hang in there when the headache goes you have this tremendous calm and great feeling as you watch those pounds and inches melting off and you aren't hungry any more will doing a weight loss eating program

[david832]

Welcome Mamma,

I'm sure you'll get your BS down sticking to the diet. I was floating between 216 and 324 before I started Atkins, however now my average is now 100 and still dropping.

For me the weight comes second, but that is slowly going as well :icondance Plus this is a great place for info and support.

Hope to see ya around often

Dave

[Uniquely_Ambi]

Welcome!!! You are going to LOVE Atkins! Not only will it help you control your blood sugar, but it will help you with the depression and emotional eating. They are all tied together in this horrible package, but Atkins will stable your blood sugar which will stable your mood more and thus make you not eat as much. Canuck will be able to help you when she comes. She's awesome!

[canuck]

:comesinblushing

My goodness, thnx folks for nice words....hey moma so how is headache, should be gone by now, isn’t it great to know you can manage your diabetes by what you put in your mouth.
And not what Diabetes assoc tell you but the opposite of what they tell you!!!

My goodness you are on a whack of meds and not all good meds for a type II as you will see when you've read the book, assuming you have read it, we;ll make you, if you don’t we tar and feather you and then slowly pull the feathers off so its torture....so kiddo read the book. 

Dr A says no no to drugs you are on as they produce more insulin and that is not what you need, a II typically needs metphormin as it opens the cells to receive the insulin you already make and it stops the liver from spewing out glycogen in middle of night causing the dawn phenomena,(read above sticky).

Now I am not saying go against medical advice but read David's posts too, and rhinold's, he asked his doc to take him off drugs similar to yours and go on mepthormin and he lost 12 lbs and now his bg are non diabetic.

Be so careful kiddo as all that insulin and drugs and low carbing and you will have some lows and terrible rebounds so watch carefully. Does doc know you are on Atkins; you will need an ally for sure.

We’ll support you and share what we know works but ultimately it is up to you to take charge, test lots to protect yourself from a low as don’t want the damage a low can bring on and the drugs you are on are a stage set for disastrous lows if you don’t stay on top of it.How often are you testing.???

Hope you hang around, read all old posts, it will just amaze you what we have accomplished here using Atkins to control our diabetes.

In a week or two you will be bragging it up about the good BG control you now have and no more of those hi numbers you spoke of as they also make ya feel awful, so c'mon girl, give it your best, you are worth it and you want to live to be an old lady........right

Welcome. Jump in and stay involved, I have witnessed here in past 18 months that folks who do best are folks who read the book, test bg lots, stay involved and share and supported each other.

I sure do gain by coming here, not lbs( jk) but support and motivation to stay on it forever… and I can see by members who make it work that is their pattern too. So see ya around ey
:wave

[Momma Yamo]

Hi Everybody!

Thank you so much for your warm welcome and helpful comments. My headaches are gone finally! I do feel much better, more energy, etc. I actually lost 5 lbs! It's probably water weight, but I still can't believe how easy it was. I had a little set back, and expected to have gained all the weight back, but actually lost a half pound! What a shock!

I did tell doctor I was on a diet, eating more proteins, less carbs, and my BS did come down a little bit, between 180 and 220, much better than before and my doctor said: "Well, whatever you're doing, continue it and keep up the good work" Wasn't that a surprise! I thought he might be upset, but my husband wanted him to know about it, so we brought it up at my last appointment.

I've been reading "New Diet Revolution" and "Atkins for Life". I'll try and pick up the other book next time I get a chance. The metformin sounds good, I'll ask Doc next time I see him, next month.

Thanks again!

:joy