Understanding Diabetes

[EweSheep]

My mother has diabetes and we both have been walking for a mile at the mall so she and I can "better" ourselves.

She has headaches and her blood sugar is 160 and not sure if it is good. How can one get an accurate reading?

She has been cutting out white stuff last week and getting some exercises in to help with her diabetes. How long would it take for her to have diabetes under control? I know she will be having sugar withdrawals, been eliminating them from her house after she got out of her doctor's office. She is taking meds but a bit too much more than she normally has. Now she wants to grab the bulls by the horn. She is only 65 years old and obese in belly but nothing else.

So would she needs to go down less than 100 before she stablized or keep working on her eating and weight problems?

 

[mchl]

loose the weight and it might take care of itself. whil 160 is high mine was averaging 400 was not hospitalized but mine is averaging 200 needs to be 120 - for me. I only weigh 175 and not 40 yrs old. but the weight loss and watching what you eat will take it down quick.

 

[EweSheep]

Maybe my mom is expecting it to go down quickly and FAST. If those things takes time, we shall wait and see how it goes.

 

[EweSheep]

From talking to my cousin and aunt who also joined us in walking told us that diabetes "skip" a generation. I don't think I believe that but both of their parents does NOT have diabetes but their parents did (my great grandparents-females only). I know my aunts on my Dad's side has diabetes and Mom's side, nothing so far yet that I know of.

So is it true that diabetes can skip a generation? Or we just have increased risk?

 

[BrattishTaz]

My mom was diagnosed a few months back. Her glucose reading were geting up to 400 at times.

She was put on Metformin and Glyburide to control it. It turns out that she is extremely sensitive to the Glyburide and started have lows in the 30's (very dangerous) with her evening highs still in the 200 range. The highs have caused irreversible nerve damage in her legs and feet.

After playing with her meds unsuccessfully, I read about cinnamon lowering glucose. She stopped the glyburide and started using cinnamon instead, it has reduced her crashes and her reading usually doen't go above 160 (she is not exactly eating right

) with a typical reading of about 120. She does still take the metformin.

Your mom should be using her glucometer to determine her glucose levels. Cutting ALL sugar and white food will eventually lead to diabetic burnout (she will not want to deal with it anymore). Moderation is key here. A piece of pie will quickly increase sugar (in minutes) and a walk around the block will quickly lower it. Find a diabetes class offered by many larger medical practices and hospitals and go with her. It will help her understand exactly what is happening to her body and teach her (and you) how to control it.

 

[linben]

Good afternoon. Family (genetics) does increase the risk but so does being overweight and not being active. Is she on medication for her diabetes? Is she on insulin? Both things really matter when you are making diet choices. If she is on insulin you can run the risk of low blood sugar. It might be helpful to see if there are any classes around for diabetes care. They can be helpful with understanding the menu and eating correctly.

Recently I was having borderline high blood sugar readings and decided to cut my carbs and lose some weight. I used the south beach diet which helped me shed weight quickly for 2 weeks. Then I did the maintenance part. The book is easy to understand and talks a lot about glycemic indexes which are the newer part of diabetes control. I would not cut all carbs if she is on medication but I would choose whole grain carbs ( no potatoes, white bread, or rice).

Good luck.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Anything under 80 is bad an anything over 120 is bad. Under about 60 is a must fix now issue. Over about 150 has long term health risks of left that way but high is safer than low.

I have had normal talks with some people with a reading of 14 an known others out like a light an at the brink of death with a reading of 60.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Yes she has been taking meds for her diabetes and no she does not take shots for insulin. Just pills and needs to change her diet. She used to drink Pepsi ever since she was 20 years old until about ten years ago when she came down with borderline diabetes. Then about a few years ago, full blown diabetes, because she didn't change her sugar intake.

I believe one time she crashed down at 70 and she had to take some orange juice to bring it back up. She didn't look good but not too bad to warrant ambulance help. She was able to manage it but this time, this doctor's visit was probably telling her that she needs to get it under control or she will die. I don't know how high she ever went. However she feels better getting her exercise with us but her blood sugar is still high around 160 and wants it to go down FAST as possible.

My Dad is diabetic also but he has done very well with his meds and exercise and watches what he eats. He is much better shape than my mom. His only problem is that his blood medications, they had to keep changing it, being on Comadin and changing the dosages up or down. He is getting tired of sticked with monthly testings. He exercised alot thru his life but still came down with diabetes but maybe it has something to do with his maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother, both had diabetes only one died from it.

She loves her coffee, cream and sugar but now just coffee with our breakfast breaks. She will take a sausage muffin, no egg, no cheese.

 

[dianaross77]

The South Beach Diet can put diabetes into remission. I have low blood sugar and am doing Atkins and have done South Beach. My blood sugar remained stable during both which is a real blessing.

 

[AKsmama]

I've had type 2 diabetes for ten years. When I was diagnosed, I was 28 years old and weighed a whole 85 pounds (I was naturally very thin and have a small frame). There was no family history at all of diabetes, so to be diagnosed with it under those circumstances was a shock. I was on two different types of oral meds over the years and took insulin while I was pregnant with each of my kids. (Seriously, while diabetes is not a disease to be trifled with, insulin shots are a breeze.) I've been off any meds since my youngest was born almost 6 years ago and am doing pretty well.

If your mom felt low at a bg level of 70, she has been running high for quite some time. Everyone is different, though. It's better she recognizes the feeling before she does get too low. When I was pregnant the first time and on insulin, I would go low so often I developed hypoglocemia unawareness- I'd be at 30 and only then would the shaking and sweating start. Scary! Make sure your mom always has some glucose tablets within her reach so she won't conk out and not be able to tell anyone what's wrong if she's out and about without you or your dad. Anyway, no, she is not going to bring her levels down overnight. She does need exercise and I would recommend she take diabetes ed classes taught by a certified diabetes educator (CDE). She will learn a lot about nutrition and taking care of herself. Doesn't matter how long your dad has been diabetic- his diabetes doesn't apply to her. Know what I mean? This is her disease now and what works or doesn't work for your dad won't necessarily do the same for her. As far as her breakfast- I'd recommend she try the egg and cheese, only occasionally the sausage, and leave off the muffin. The egg is healthy protein and she will probably find that protein helps keep her level- not as many drastic highs and lows. Has she had an HbA1C done? That's a blood test (she doesn't have to fast for it) that gives you an average of your bg levels over the previous 2- or is it 3?- months. That is an important number, and if she hasn't had that done, she needs to and that is the number she should concentrate on for now. Things have changed since I was first diagnosed, but I believe the current recommendations are that a diabetic in good control shouldn't have an A1C over 6. It's much easier to begin to manage your diabetes with that number rather than freaking out over every single meter reading.

I've got a lot more I could say, but that's a start. Diabetes does not mean you can't ever eat a piece of cake or a cookie again. A lot of what type 2 diabetes is about is moderation. Going to have a baked potato with that steak? Fine, but maybe eat only half, and forgo the bread basket. Things like that. Feel free to ask me any questions here if you have any for me, or you can PM me!