Diabetes so far...

I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes just after I had had a miscarriage. I was 6 weeks pregnant at the time. I had no idea I was diabetic. When the doctor told me, my blood sugar was over 400. They may had well been speaking a foreign language. Now, my dad is diabetic and so was my grandma, my grandma had even lost her leg up to her knee. As for diabetes knowledge, you either got it as a kid ( Juvenile diabetes) or you got it when you were over 50 ( adult onset). At the time, I realized, unless you look for it, there is not much awareness about diabetes, like cancer, heart attacks...

I don't even think people associate obesity with diabetes..

I found an endocrinologist, and I told him I would do whatever it would take to have a baby. He wrote me a prescription for insulin. Within two months my A1C went from 13 to 7, he then decided to have me switch over to an insulin pump. He wanted me to have the tightest control prior to my getting pregnant.

Little did we know, I had conceived about a week early. :)

I had a great OB doctor who knew my Endo personally. The three of us formed a tight team, my job, control my diabetes. And that I did. My A1c was at 4 for the most part of the pregnancy.

At 22 weeks, we went to see a specialist for our ultrasound to determine the sex but more importantly, they were looking at the development of the heart and spine...

It was perfect! And he was a BOY!!!!

On March 21, 2005, I had a very healthy 8lb 1oz baby boy via c-section. One of the doctor's who delivered him even said, " he doesn't look like the baby of a diabetic"

It was a winning moment for me....

About two weeks after Kyle was born, my Endo decided it was time for me to go off the insulin. We tried a variation of meds.

I tried weight watchers, changed meds, tried nutra system, changed meds.... and I did lose in small amounts, but nothing consistent.

Because it has taken me almost six years to figure out, I do not know how to eat. I eat for the wrong reasons, I eat cake when I am happy and chips and cheese dip when I am sad. When I am bored, I munch.... I am not even sure I was hungry, I just ate.

Last summer I did get to one of my lower weights, but I ate back about 20lbs

A couple of weeks ago, my blood sugar was out of control again and I couldn't even tell you what I had eaten.

I've been cutting back on carbs and have made a commitment to stay under 100 grams. I am also really thinking, "WHY" do I want that ? Am I bored, happy, sad....before I eat it.

Tomorrow, I will also be posting my blood sugars.... I'd like to change the name of this blog to Diabetic Free one day!

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Comment by Teena on June 14, 2010 at 9:43pm: Wonderful blog! I hope Im not too late to congratulate you for a healthy adorable baby boy! (My husband's name is Kyle too LOL =)) Now you have one 5-year old motivation to be healthy! Eating sensibly can sometimes be a challenge to some of us... I thought then it will be difficult...then again, it wasnt that bad. With discipline and self-control, there are numerous healthy great tasting meals/snacks we can eat. Having a wonderful support group also helps a lot. Welcome to the family Anabanana (Youre profile name is so cute!)

Comment by Kathyann on June 14, 2010 at 9:57pm: I hope your doctor has tested your C peptide and GAD antibodies to rule out Type 1 Diabetes. Please let me know.

Comment by Mario on June 15, 2010 at 8:58am: There is a part of diabetes that is not manage by your diet, by your medication or insuline, or by exercice. There is a big part of diabetes that is manage by the psychology. Your mint, your thoughts, etc. Many doctors and endo put this part away and don't bother with that. It is a mistake. But you seems to point this part and keep it in mind.

When you accept and deal with diabetes, in your mind, the big part of labor is done.

Keep this track !

Comment by bruce on June 15, 2010 at 4:11pm: I went to a diabeties education class when i was diagnosed. It was very informative. the team put me at 15 carbs for a snack and 65 carbs for a meal. then adjust if nessarry. I still find it hard not to want to snack. Just to night i was out to dinner and was telling my wife as i'm having my unsweetend ice tea, look at all those diffrent drinks and i can't have one. i do find the eating part the most frustrating emotionally. Hang in there i'm sure you'll do fine. congrats on your healthy baby. Bruce

Comment by Anabanana on June 15, 2010 at 5:58pm: Thank you everyone one for the support. I know the eating part of diabetes is one of the toughest. I know that when I see someone eating McDonald's or chocolate cake, I think, NO FAIR. I work through it. My son is one of my greatest supporters and motivators. He even asks if things have sugar in them. When I tell him yes, he says he would rather have something else. LOL... I will be diabetes free one day soon, I know I can do this... Thank you again :)

Comment by Mario on June 15, 2010 at 6:45pm: For my diet, I eat a lot of vegeables. When I said a lot, I mean .. a lot !!! LOL It helps me to keep me away to the temptation. As vegetables are very low in carbs and contains fibers, it won't raise my BG and helps to have a sensation of satiety. Same thing for proteins (nuts, low sugar yogurts, etc)

Comment by Anabanana on June 15, 2010 at 7:03pm: I have been open to meeting some new veggies on the block, artichoke, spinach and even broccoli. Not to bad, I usually mix them in with my eggs or tuna salad. I find it is really make my spinach small and add it to my tuna, it is really tasty. My carb goal is to comsume less than 100grams. What I have been coming in at is about 55 grams a day of carbs. If I have more than that, I just eat and eat.... So I think I found my magic number :)

Comment by Mario on June 15, 2010 at 7:10pm: Great !
Last January, I ate about 300 to 350 carb a day. Now, It is between 100 and 150 which is OK for me. We have all different needs in terms of carbs.
We feel great with a low carbs diet !!! It is paradoxal but I have more energy if I eat less energy !!! :-D

Comment by Melitta on June 16, 2010 at 8:18pm: Hi Anabanana: Did you know that Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes after a miscarriage? Have you considered that you might not have Type 2 diabetes, but actually have Type 1 and need to be on insulin? Check out my blog on Autoimmune Gestational Diabetes. There are quite a number of women here on TuD who developed Type 1 during pregnancy, but were misdiagnosed as having T2 (a different disease altogether). The British Diabetes Association, Diabetes UK, states, “About five to ten percent of women with GDM develop Type 1 diabetes sometime in their life. These women have a slowly developing form of Type 1 that is ‘unmasked’ during pregnancy.” A recent article in the July 2007 issue of Diabetes Care indicated that autoimmune gestational diabetes (new onset Type 1 diabetes) accounts for about 10 percent of all Caucasian women diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I hope you will consider getting the antibody panel and c-peptide done, as Kathyann suggests. Take care, Melitta

Comment by Anabanana on June 16, 2010 at 8:37pm: That is very interesting.
When I was diagnosed, I did have a c-peptide done, my insurance required it. I am Type 2, plus about a year before I became pregnant, a co-worker brought in a meter. So we all wanted out blood sugar checked. Mine was over 200, and I justified it as " I just ate a donut". Never went to the doctor, mostly because I new nothing about diabetes at the time. I knew of it, just was far from educated about it. I do appreciate the information..

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