Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Katrina on October 28, 2009 at 8:34pm

To be quite honest, I have been diabetic for almost 7 yrs now, insulin dependent for almost 3 and I feel like I am lost in the dark since joining this forum. My GP never sent me to any specialists, he ever sends me for bloodwork, or ..well...anything. Kinda scares me now to think that when he keeps telling me that Im failing at helping myself with my diabetes, that maybe it's not me failing... I think it's him >.< Iwas told I was T2d, but I really dont think I am, and the scarier part is for the past few months they have been juggling me around on different novo insulins because they aren't helping me.... I think they arent helping me because they are treating me for the wrong type :S My step dad swears up and down that I just do not have the symptoms for a type2 besides the high glucose levels...

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on October 29, 2009 at 10:44am

Someone on here recommended "Think Like a Pancreas" by Gary Scheiner. I got it and it's helped me so much! I didn't even realize that there was a difference between bolus and basal insulin. I think you will find it very helpful in understanding how to better manage your diabetes. There is information in this book about insulin resistance, which might give you a better idea of what you actually have.

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Permalink Reply by Carly on October 28, 2009 at 8:56pm

Well, I am not sure if I am able to this without it being a little on the touchy side. I had a doctor tell me I had some high sugar numbers when I was 22. Nothing else was said. I had no idea what that meant so I just kept living my life the way it was. ( I am also overweight too.) Having fun and hanging friends. (We all do the same things and eat the same stuff.) Only a few years later about 25 is when I started to go down hill. I had made a lifestyle change..I went on Body For Life with some friends and I was dropping weight and getting fit. My only problem was that I couldn't stay awake after work and I was using the washroom alot during the night. I thought is was all the workouts and all the water I was drinking.

A random blood test had my doctor phone ASAP. She told me over the phone that I had Type 2 diabetes. In shock I went to my parents for dinner and told them. The answer I got (from one person) "I told you eating all that junk and being overweight was going to come and around and kick in the a**. See, I have been telling you this would happen. It's your fault..if you had only listened to me." Well, it was not the kind of answer I was looking for. I left feeling worse.
When I see a Type 2 add I am not so sure. It doesn't seem to keep the people in a mixed age range it seems to be more geared towards people in their very late 30s to 50 + range.. ( These are only based on the ones I've seen.) Not everyone with Type 2 is large (overweight) I know at least two people who are as thin as rails. Both her father and herself have had been Type 2 for over 30 years. I think she got hers after the birth of her daughter. But, her father who was always a very active man developed it later in life. I don't know... I think that people still are only seeing the link between obesity and diabetes. It is a hard call. I still think like that where I live it is the elders and the "overweight" people are seen as getting diabetes. Whenever I tell someone I am Type 2 I always seem to add "well I did it to myself" before they get a chance to say anything.

Sorry this didn't really answer a question. It was more of me talking.

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Permalink Reply by Grant Buchan-Terrell on October 29, 2009 at 6:59am

May I suggest some things I've learned about diabetes, esp. t2d:
1. t2ds have unique symptoms & ways of controlling; beware of extreme or general claims relating to ALL t2ds
2. get your medical advice from competent doctors, not friends, relatives, other t2ds, though getting knowledge is good - knowledge from reputable sources
3. not all doctors are good w/t2ds-I'm lucky-you might have to get a 2nd opinion or go to endo
4. if your BG is frequently high, then you likely have some kind of diabetes, though I'm no doctor
5. don't feel guilty, don't apologize, don't deny it - work w/it, be fair to yourself.
In Cda, I get qrtrly A1c's, endos, and lots of attention from my GP for $FREE! You might not be so fortunate elsewhere.I have no insurance though, as self-employed. I only suggest testing a lot to get your unique rhythms & gear food & exercise; try costco for strips, etc., better prices.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on October 29, 2009 at 10:47am

There may be a co-relation between weight and T2 but it's not like we're heavy smokers suprised that we got lung cancer. What those people said to you is friggin' mean!

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Permalink Reply by Grant Buchan-Terrell on October 29, 2009 at 11:02am

I know you're not replying to me, but excuse me for butting in on this, as your reply is perfect for my point. I know lots of health zealots who think, at age 50, if you become a vegan or stop smoking, you get a pass from cancer! They really think that. And we get the same nonsense from non t2ds who just say or think, "well, you're fat (must be lazy), so all you have to do now is eat a lot less and exercise every day for an hour or so" in respect of someone like me, an old fart of 55. There's a big diff between preventing or avoiding t2d by good practices - which I think is tremendous info for young people - and telling someone like me that I can "stop" my t2d by getting off my kiester. It just ain't that easy. it's a complex combo of factors: age, current weight, circumstances, personal schedule, support from family, coincident psyche factors like depression, and so on. I'm NOT saying mature t2ds should ever give up, absolutely not. But, let's be real about things and understanding. Lots of mothers do a lot more exercising at home taking care of kids, cleaning house, running the house for hubby, than guys who go to the gym every day or 3 times a week! They're pretty physically tired by end of day, and maybe aren't too keen about running a treadmill for 45 minutes - exactly when should they do that? instead of getting supper? instead of cleaning up after supper? instead of putting kids to bed? The zealots are often not very realistic, not every person, m or f, can control their circumstances, just drop things and walk for an hour, quite aside from motivation and injuries and hurts they have from time to time. T2ds: how many exercise classes have you gone to where the instructor and everyone else is already super-fit? I've done many! How many drop in exercise classes for middle-aged, overweight t2ds do you know of? I know of none. We fight on.

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Permalink Reply by Joe_h on October 29, 2009 at 11:56am

for us exercise is a weapon to control our sugars. use or don't it's your choice. just my .02 but find a sport that works for you and find an entry level class/program/club. often newbies are more supportive and better motivators than jumping in with hard and fast crowd

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Permalink Reply by Joe_h on October 29, 2009 at 7:55am

Do you think the awareness campaigns that link obesity and Type 2 diabetes are giving us a bad rap?
nope. there seems to be a lot of evidence linking the two

Did your preconceptions of Type 2 cause you question or deny your diagnosis? Or perhaps even prevent you from investigating your symptoms?
nope


Does the stigma around having Type 2 cause you blame to yourself in any way?
I'm irish catholic I'm always guilty for something. I certainly didn't help myself by drinking too and gaining the extra weight during college/post college

Do you resent others who don't take care of themselves and are not diabetic? yeah but I'm also I'm an oldhead and I'm grumpy about most things.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Bevard on October 29, 2009 at 10:53am

I am not a type 2'r but.....

Do you think the awareness campaigns that link obesity and Type 2 diabetes are giving us a bad rap? Yes, because it oversimplifies..many obeses people do not and will never get diabetes--its not in their genes...

Did your preconceptions of Type 2 cause you question or deny your diagnosis? Or perhaps even prevent you from investigating your symptoms? I now people who have been here

Does the stigma around having Type 2 cause you blame to yourself in any way? I know people who unfortunately are here

Do you resent others who don't take care of themselves and are not diabetic? I know peoplewho are here


Education around diabetes is way oversimplified and does nothing to help the people who are trying to deal with this disease, no matter the "type" they are

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Permalink Reply by Elaine on October 29, 2009 at 5:42pm

T2s definitely have a bad rap. I got the news that I am prediabetic the week before my 32nd birthday. I had a BMI of 22 (right in the middle of normal), and my body fat percentage was at 23%, which is pretty good for a woman. I worked out five days a week, didn't smoke, and ate a well-balanced diet. This seemed so unfair, since I thought T2 was a lifestyle disease. I knew that genetics played a part, but I soon learned how big of a part they play (I immediately read everything I could find on T2 after the second round of lab tests). I can't blame myself in any way.

It seems like almost everyone I encounter thinks that only older, obese people will get diabetes, and only after living a long life full of bad habits. I don't resent those who aren't diabetic and are unhealthy, in the same way I don't resent my husband for being rail thin without having to watch what he eats. But I do hate it when those people give me unsolicited advice. A lot of overweight people don't believe me when I tell them why I really shouldn't eat that giant slice of cake at an office birthday party. They just roll their eyes or laugh and tell me that I need the calories since I'm so skinny (really, they should see my husband if they think I'm skinny). I point out that it's not the calories that are the problem, it's the source of the calories that give me trouble. I don't like having to explain myself all the time to make other people feel less guilty about their dietary choices.

And then there are those people who get huffy because they themselves are diabetic and aren't letting that stop them from enjoying a giant slice of cake, but that's another issue.

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Permalink Reply by Raeco Donalds on November 2, 2009 at 9:57pm

I was around 27 i think when i contracted this thing, lol. I was 120 lobs and 5'5". Then i gained 50 in a yr and a half. I lost 50 and kept it off for 2 yrs then have gained 30 in the past yr. I found when I get near 300 I lose, and gain when I am closer to normal numbers. Yet to figure this out.

Yes I think it does give us a bad rap.

I was mad when I got diagnosed, I love food! I investigated the symptoms and they made sense of why I never caught it.

No, I have some family members that have it including my father that I KNOW has it too, but wont tell the doctor of my suspicion.

I don't resent for not taking care of themselves, I resent cause they eat what they want.

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