I was wondering if any of the members here are diabetics?

My husband was a diabetic since 4th grade. In 1989 both kidneys shut down and was on home dialysis. On September 18, 1990 he got a new kidney and pancreas transplant and no longer a diabetic.

type 2, hypothyroid, fibro, and a few other odds and ends..

My son is insulin dependent.since age 12 now 37 and on dialysis. Husband on pills. If I talk about the disease to much I will go off on a tangent. IMHO there should have been a cure for this years ago.

have you looked into your son getting a kidney and pancreas transplant? my hubby did in 1990 and no longer on dialysis and no longer a diabetic

DH has been diabetic for about 10 years. He figured pills would fix it, so didn't do much about his diet. Now he's on insulin and is suffering from neuropathy and other problems. Mostly he just feels awful all the time. But he's finally getting smarter about what he eats. Horrible disease--I agree, why haven't we cured this yet???

My husband is a Type-II Diabetic also. Takes insulin now, and at age 49 it frightens me to think he may end up on dialysis some day. It's a scary disease and yes, we need a cure. How does everyone else cope with this?

My husband is diabetic. Has been since early 80's. He has been insulin dependent since late 90's. He has always been very good about his diet. We use NO white sugar, and use splenda. When this happens it is a new way of life and you must adapt. He is doing very well, no complications related to the diabetes.
It certainly takes alot of will power.

I am diabetic, have been since age 18. Started insulin in 1992. When they started the diabetic pills, my docs have insisted I take them, along with insulin. All I know is, since taking the pills (and I tried EVERY ONE) along with insulin, I have gained 100 pounds. While I was only on insulin, I took only 8 units a day. Now I take 140. I take metformin and hate it. It is awful to my digestive system. Actos created Congestive Heart Failure. Rezulin damaged my liver. Now I have Chronic Kidney Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, Fatty Liver Disease, and severe neuropathy. I also have Peripheral Vascular Disease and now a clotting disorder. I have Deep Vein Thrombosis. All of this is caused by diabetes and crazy blood sugars. This last November I survived 30 pulmonary embolisms and one saddle embolism (sudden death embolism). My right leg has been impaired by the blood clot: they can't find a pulse in my right foot without a doppler.

I was diagnosed diabetic at one time. I had problems with it a few times since. But haven't had any problems for several years. I stopped having problems when I stopped taking care of difficult kids in foster care/adoption. I do have kidney failure and am on dialysis. BUT NOT BECAUSE OF DIABETES. I lost one kidney to blood clotts in 1989, and one to an allergic reaction to antibiotics in 2006

My DH is Type II diabetic. He is very careful about what he eats. Takes two insulin injections per day. So far, other than occasional erratic readings, he is doing well at 69 yo.

I'm pre-diabetic. No meds. Just check my blood sugar once a day and watch the ol' diet. Should be exercising more...my bad. Also have low thyroid and am cancer free for almost 2 years!

I have type II plus loss of thirty percent of kidneys from IGA neropathy, which has been in remission for five years. Suddenly my proteins are rising again and BP - so am in the middle of sorting it out, more tests in three weeks. My sugars are not bad and diet controlled however the protein is a worry again. Funny that this topic was on here tonight because I was feeling a bit worried about it all and decided to look up the quilt talk tonight to relax and found all of you. Hullo!

Hope the tests have some good information for you. Gosh, when multiple things are going on it sure adds to the complexity.

Yes Type II Diabetes, diagnosed last October and I am not happy about it. :cry:

Exactly the same for me. Am so thankful I'm not on meds yet.

I truly believe that they won't ever find a "cure" for all these diseases, because then all their money dries up. It shouldn't be this way.

I am a pre diabetic. I follow the same type diet as a diabetic but may never turn into a full blown diabetic, I hope I dont. Really watching my carb intake. Some days are easy other days are hard. Summer is easy with all the fresh veggies.
my grndson has been diabetic since age of 2.

One Day at a Time.

I have type 2 diabetes. I take glimperide (sp?) and metformin. I also have asthma, hypothyroidism and lupus. I developed diabetes after having gestational diabetes with my second DD.

I have a nephew who has been diabetic since he was 12.His Mom asked the Dr. about a transplant, and they said he couldnt?! I wonder why? I will ask her today, why he couldnt get one. He is 18 now, very hard for him, because he wants to eat junk food like the other teen age guys...

My hubby has Type 2, for many years now. He won't follow any diet at all! Pills have kept things in an even range until last month, then the numbers shot way up. Another new pill, and that has made him nauseated and dizzy for two weeks now. Because of getting scared, he has stopped all sweets, but I'm worried. He has neuropathy in his feet, has had for several years. His doctor doesn"T even have him checking his blood sugar everyday, and I don't understand that at all. The family all seem to think I can make him do things, but I CAN'T!! He only does what he wants, and I feel they think I don"t care. He has gained so much weight, sit'S in his chair and sleeps most all day. He is going for a stress test today ,after all the kids jumped his case all summer, then his sisters came to visit in July and they did too. I'm worried what that will show, I really think there is a problem with his heart, and he is so stubborn, I don't know if he would have surgery if needed. This is the same husband who was scared to death I would die this winter and insisted I do everything I was told. Doesn't he realize how much I need and want him to be well?!! I'll try to make him eat right, but I am very confused about the proper diet for him, afraid I won't get it right!

clem55-there's nothing you can do. Your husband has to decide to do it for himself. I have a son that's diabetic, he doesn't watch what he eats, doesn't exercise, nothing. We've told him numerous times that diabetes isn't a disease to mess around with, but it obviously hasn't sunk in yet.

But, I would seriously consider changing doctors if this one doesn't even have your husband check his sugar, that's insane.

Type II for about 15 years. Sad to say, I've never dealt well with it. Having lost major weight on three ocassions in hope of not getting diabetes, deep down I feel totally defeated. I'll keep trying.

My husband was a type 1 diabetic - diagnosed at 15 - he died at 41 of a major heart attack, but the diabetes was the cause as far as I am concerned. That was 24 years ago and they are no closer to a cure now. He was never overweight - 6" tall and weighed 150 when he died!! I have type 2 now and after reading puplemem's post, I am scared as I take some of the same pills she does/did and don't like what they have done to her. I have pretty good control, but cheat more than I should!! And I do need to lose weight! Not fun.

I've noticed an awfully lot of type II diabetics using artifical sweeteners but still eating loads and loads of starches. Starches are actually far worse for you than a little sugar. And you're 30% more likely to be obese eating artifical sweeteners than you are just eating sugar.

One of the all time worst things for a diabetic is french fries. But I know lots and lots of diabetics that'll order a "diet" drink because they're diabetic but order the large fries.

I am diabetic and have sugar in moderation and really watch the starches, potatoes, corn, peas, rice and wheat. I do not use any artificial sweetener of any kind and still have an A1c below 6.5. When I was diagnosed my fasting blood sugars were above 250 and I had an A1c above 9.

My husband is type 2, controlled with diet and medication. He wouldn't need the medication but he can't stick to that strict a diet!

I agree. Changing doctors might be a good idea. But, the "work" has to start with the patient.

To further complicate the matter, I take coumadin for blood clots, which means, No salads or "green things". I have chronic kidney disease, so I am limited to 4 ounces of protein A DAY.

That only leaves carbs. My daily diet is:
2 sugar free yogurts for breakfast
1 sugar free diet supplement drink for lunch (glucerna)
1 bag of 150 cal popcorn for snack (for fiber)
supper is what my dh eats, with no greens, and 3-4 ounces cooked protein.
1 bag of 150 cal popcorn for bedtime snack
I do not vary from this diet!!!

It is too late now to control my diabetes by diet, I have so much infection in my body my blood sugars go up and down.

It is an awful disease. My hubby has it and has lost so much weight, won't go to the doctor because some "evangelist" convinced him that if he goes to a doctor for any ailment he doesn't have faith in God to heal him. It is so very frustrating.

Ohhh my gosh. Bless your heart. Your diet is unreal, but a must-do. Am sooo sorry. Will remember this!

Well they are finding now a lot of it is genetic. My Dad has type II so the doc said I really could not help getting it. I wonder sometimes with all the gene research and telling people what they 'may' get if it is not a bit of a downer on people's lives. I am sure it helps however I for one would find it rather limiting to know you are bound to get some disease in life. My prob is that the earlier kidney disease makes me more prone now I have the type II to kidney failure from diabetes. Western diet also makes us more prone to disease, but then so many food stuffs are so full of crap now, it is hard to avoid till it is too late.

My FIL has Type I, and thinks that as long as he has pills he can eat and drink whatever he wants. Problem is, he's not regular on taking the pills (or checking blood sugar). He gets to where he has trouble functioning, seeing clearly, weak, etc., and then has to be prodded to take his medicine. He feels fine when he does, and crappy when he doesn't. He's a grown a-- man, why can't he learn??? It's frustrating for the rest of the family, but you can't make him take care of himself. If he feels like drinking a beer, he'll drink a beer. He has now moved across the US from us, but near a sister and her family. Hopefully they'll now watch over him and protect him from himself.

DH has a maternal and paternal history of diabetes, but tries to take care of himself so he won't end up getting it. He was told he has a 50-50 chance of it.

I agree. My Dad is type II and so was his Dad. Knowing this and being realistic, am not sure I would have done much any differently. (Hummmm, is that shame on me???)

You poor baby. I am so sorry to hear your story and my heart goes out to you. I think also sharing your story helps us to see we should behave better when we are diagnosed, I fess up, I cheat but your story has really frightened me. Hugs from Down Under. xxxx

Wings,
I appreciate the sympathy but I did a lot of this to myself. Diabetes is a progressive, chronic disease. I saw it as "a little sugar issue". Dr. Guthrie, past president of American Diabetes Assoc., told me at a workshop, "the sad thing is that the damage you are living today was done 10 - 15 years ago, maybe even before you were diagnosed."

BTW-anytime you have a blood sugar reading of over 200 you are having PERMANENT NERVE DAMAGE.

When I was first diagnosed I was told to keep my blood sugars under 200, that diabetes was a blood sugar of over 150.
Now, I am told to keep my numbers under 100. Things have really changed in diabetes care. If your numbers are over 100, you are risking life changing complications.

Purplemem - I am sorry but the figures you quote are different to ours - we have 3.5 as normal, I am 6.4 on my six monthly test just done last week - so how does that equate to your figures - if normal is 3.5 here then does it equate to 150 over there? I would love to know how to solve the mystery of equating the readings.

I'm not sure. The 150bg over here was "normal" in 1977. Now "normal" is under 100 bg. I don't know how to calculate this by your terms.

Wings,
Are you speaking of the hemoglobin a1c? Here, we look for under 6.0 for that reading. I am referring (above) to daily blood glucose readings.

We are metric over here. We used to be miles now we are kilometres. I will ring my diabetes office in Brisbane on Monday and look into it and let you know. I know they were changing the top line before it was dangerous from 7.5 back to 5.5 I think it was, which drifts me over. I held under 6 for five years and have now started to drift although doc said he was very happy with it the other day. How long have you had this disease? I did a good course on eating with local hospital then was sent to a private dietician who had just left university to bring the two diseases together in a diet and she was useless, left me totally confused! Grrrrr. BP medications are used for the kidney disease but no medication yet for the diabetes, for which I am grateful. I had heard they weren't nice and reading your orignal post sounded like they were pretty bad indeed.

I have a chart that helps with the numbers
Blood Sugar 135 = Alc 6%
170 = 7%
205 = 8%
240 = 9%
275 = 10%
310 = 11%
345 = 12%

My husband is taking shots and I am pre. If you are diagnosed, and pill are prescribed, IT DOES NOT MEAN IT TAKES CARE OF EVERYTHING AND YOU CAN EAT ANTTHING YOU WANT!!! See a nutritionist to find out how to eat differently. Food does not define who we are-I'm a quilter, not an eater :)-some can enjoy rich foods and some of us need to find ways to enjoy the foods we can eat. I am 18 lbs into loosing 75lbs-the weight being off will better my chances of never being on medication and I will be healther to boot. I have not eaten sugar since I was diagnosed in May. For me, I choose to pass on candies, pastries, sugar snacks, desserts, chips and the potatoes and other high glycemic foods, and have protein supplements and plenty of chicken and lean meats. I pass on a lot of the leafy green veg. because of IBS-(lucky me!). And I use Splenda if I feel like I need something extra, like the sugar free no bake cookies. But they are not calorie free-a little dab will do ya! A better way to eat is out there and it is HARD, but I can do it. My goal is to NEVER be on medication for this and quilt, quilt, QUILT!

Plainjane-You have exactly the right attitude. I am a quilter, not an eater. :D Food is NOT my friend! I have been diabetic for 35 years, on insulin for 18 years. Thanks for the pep talk. It helps to know other people are fighting, also.

I was diagnosed three weeks after death of my husband. Had been fine the month before. I do fine and take no pills but eat only whole grains, no pop - diet or regular- fresh or frozen veggies with no sauce, just butter spray occasionally, small amount of protein, either one egg or small piece of chicken or fish, and organic peanut butter on one piece of multigrain bread at bedtime. Six small meals a day. So far I am under 6 on Alc (three month test) and under 100 in am on finger stick. If I travel try to comply but immediately get out of wack. Doctor says lack of sleep and stress can also cause diabetes.You have to be careful what you eat. One thing you can have is sweet potato, no butter or sugar though.Please check your peanut butter carefully, most of them have added fats, sugars and salt. The one I get comes from Canada and is only organic peanuts. I have been a kidney patient my whole life as have kidney birth defect so have to keep the proteins down also.