Yippee, I found the Diabetic board!

[Sassystorm]

Hey Everyone! I introduced my self on the Introduce yourself board, then found this one. It's like I've come home.

I'm Susie, type 2 diabetes for 7 years. The only time I've seen normal glucose numbers is while on insulin. I also gained a huge amount of weight while I was on it. My doctor recently decided to take me off of it and put me on Byetta and Metformin XR. I was losing weight and had pretty good numbers. Then I got a deadly infection, was hospitalized and back on insulin. I need something to combat the weight gain, and decided on Atkins. I did this woe eating a couple of years ago, and had sucess, so returning to what I know works.
I'm starting on 02/02.

I've read all your posts, and they are so encouraging. I look forward to getting to know you.

[Spider]

Hello I had gestational diabetes while I was pregnant and had to do insulin shots twice a day. As a result I gained a ridiculous number of pounds My endocrinologist say that I have 90-95% chance of developing diabetes type 2 within the next 10 years. I am not very pleased with the news, so I just started Atkins to loose weight, maintain my health and avoid doctors and insulin

[Sassystorm]

Hi Spider!

I also had gestational diabetes while I was pregnant with my son. I have 3 children, he was the 2nd pregnancy. I was told the same thing you were. I ended up with type 2 almost 20 years later. I KNOW if I would of eaten healthy and exercised all those years, I wouldn't have this horrible disease.
Eat healthy and exercise, that is the key to type 2. Atkins is awesome, if you make it your woe for life, I really believe you won't have to worry about diabetes.

[ErinC]

Hi there! I just had to respond to your post for many reasons...the first being that you have a 99 Nascar icon next to your name! My 10 year old son LOVES Carl Edwards! He looked and said that your pic is Carl's Aflac car...cool!

I have Diabetes Type I for more than 30 years. I have been on an insulin pump for 14 years.

I have been on this diet for 4 weeks now and have only lost 3 lbs. total. My ketone sticks have been moderate, so I don't understand...I've heard that insulin keeps the weight on. What has been your experience?

My blood sugars are not always within range, even with the no-lo carb induction never-ending phase I'm in. I am seeing my endocrinologist next week so I will ask how it's possible to be 180 2 hours after only bacon and eggs for breakfast! Frustrating!

Anyway, it's so nice to "meet" you and I look forward to getting to know you better!

Erin

[Tstormchaser]

Hi Erin!

I replied to your post about Type 1 and using an insulin pump, but I know exactly what you mean about still having high readings after eating bacon and eggs. My son (age 20, type 1 pumper) has had the same reaction, and the only thing that might explain the higher numbers is the fact that protein and fat definitely DO raise blood sugar levels. I've noticed that when he eats a large portion of protein (such as an 8 oz steak) or when he has a combination of fat and protein (low carb pizza made of only cheeses, eggs, meats and a small amount of sauce) his readings will be on the high side. In order to compensate be will take approximately 1.5 to 2 times his normal bolus. So if he ate 5 carbs worth of pizza, he would take a 1 unit bolus instead of .5 (his insulin to carb ratio is 1/10). The steak would normally be zero carbs, but since it is a big serving of pure protein, a small bolus of insulin is needed. (He would bolus as if it were 5 carbs). Obviously this is not a perfect method, and at times he will still need a correction bolus a couple hours later. Also, when he has food with fiber, he generally does NOT subtract the fiber when figuring his bolus, unless the food has MORE than 5 grams of fiber, and then he only subtracts HALF the fiber when calculating the bolus. Hope this makes sense!

Theresa (Mom to Brian, Type 1, Animas pumper for 6 years)

[ErinC]

Hi Theresa! I also responded to you on another thread! What you said above makes perfect sense! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will try bolusing a bit extra when I'm eating protein + fat.

Does he eat the Atkins Daybreak bars at all? I don't know how to bolus for those...I don't think I would subtract the fiber, either. I think "net carbs" is just for you typical folk!! I just bought some tonight and will try one tomorrow.

I still have had NO weight loss for the past 2 weeks...(lost 3 lbs the first 2 weeks).

Thanks again!

[Sassystorm]

Hi Erin. Let your son know he supports the best driver in NASCAR!!
Yes, I am having the same issue you are. I only lost 1 pound my first week, even though I had a clean induction. It is the Insulin. It's so hard for us diabetics on insulin. Don't get discouraged. You will see and feel the inches coming off before that old scale moves much.
Erin was very correct in the advice she gave you. When I first started Atkins, I couldn't get over my 216 reading after bacon and eggs. It's a lot of trial and error.
Good luck and keep in touch.

Susie

[Mom2Boxer]

Hi all and nice to meet everyone. I am like you sassy and thrilled to see this diabetes board too. I am new to diabetes even though my husband has it...now me. He and I never took it seriously... he takes his meds and plum quit testing his BS. Now that I have it, too, the dietitian gave me two meters... one for me and him. I made him test his BS and it was mid 400's!!!! Opened both of our eyes!

I have an appt for him to see the doc on Monday!! They are working him in! I didn't know about the bacon and eggs thing...regarding fat and protein either. Is it that we need to add fiber along with all of this to keep the BS level?

[imagood1]

Hi Sassy -- I hadn't seen your thread before. Welcome to the diabetic area (even though you've been here a long time). I was diagnosed Type 2 last year and to begin with took the pills and hoped everything would be ok.

Before my mom, husband and I were all diagnosed last year (ya think maybe it has something to do with the way we were eating??) the only other people in my family who were diabetic were my great grandmother (mom's grandmother) and my uncle (mom's brother). I was always told growing up that diabetes skips a generation so I figured I was "safe" -- nope, not true.

I changed my tone the first of the year, I don't want complications of diabetes to get the better of me - I want to make changes now so I can have less complications in all areas of my life from here on out.

I hope you are doing well on this WOE. I also hope to see more of your and other diabetic posts here