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Oldgardener, I remember you saying you were thin? You obviously don't fit the picture of a typical diabetic. Many diabetics like myself are not thin, LOL.
Fatigue is one of the main symptoms of a fatty liver which if you are thin, I doubt you have. Sometimes there are no symptoms.
Yes, I weigh 114 pounds, but am diabetic anyway. And you're right, no fatty liver. Most of the type 2 diabetics in my family are normal weight or slender, none have fatty liver so I'm not familiar with that.
Simple carbs and added sugar are usually the worst culprits...white bread, white rice, cookies, sodas, etc. All those prepackaged foods with added sugar (like pasta sauce, etc). Although time consuming, cooking for yourself will probably make the biggest difference in keeping your A1C down...
OP, you should consult with an endocrinologist, to get more thorough information beyond "low carb", which doesn't give you much info. For starters, you need to eliminate all refined carbs (no white flour, white rice, etc.), and limit even whole-grain carbs (brown rice, beans, lentils, etc.). Root vegetables (potatoes, beets) will have to be eliminated. Even carrots are starchy/sweet, but I deal with that by getting the purple variety, which have several times the nutrient content of ordinary ones, so only a fraction of a carrot delivers the same nutrient power as a whole "regular" (orange) one. Corn and corn products will have to be eliminated. If you test after eating these foods, you'll see the effect they have. Or maybe you'll get symptoms, like sleepiness, as the food provokes a sudden insulin spike (insulin is a sleep hormone). Generally, it's recommended to eliminate fruit, except berries. You can mash up berries in some Greek yogurt, for a high-protein, low-carb snack.
I deal with the food restrictions (I'm pre-diabetic) by indulging in one of my favorite foods--a big mixed salad. I've been experimenting with new greens, lately, for ingredients: purple kale, dandelion greens, along with the usual lettuce, purple cabbage, sprouts, cucumber, etc. I make my own oil and vinegar dressing, and add sharp cheese for an extra flavor kick, and extra protein.
Find items that are allowable, and get creative with those.
Exercise is important not only for weight loss, but to build lean muscle mass, which decreases insulin resistance. Weight loss also does that. A daily cardio regime of even just 20 minutes helps control blood sugar. A weekly weight-training routine at the gym (or at home) of 3x/week will help build lean muscle mass, to the extent possible in one's 70's.
You could get the book "Protein Power" on Amazon (it's not a new publication, so it's only a few dollars, as a remaindered book), to learn the principles of low-carb eating, to bring down blood sugar.
As for dietitians or nurse specialists in diabetes diets, I've run into several who are very poorly informed, strangely enough. I used to work in a diabetes prevention and treatment program, and would occasionally encounter "experts" who were alarming in the downright dangerous advice they gave. For example, telling diabetics to snack on a banana (one of the highest-glycemic foods known to man!). I wouldn't even recommend trying that, to see what your meter says afterwards. I don't understand why there are people in these professional positions, who have somewhere, somehow, learned the opposite of healthy dietary practices for diabetics. Be alert and discerning, when you talk to specialists, and do your own research.
You wouldn't by any chance be a thyroid patient, would you? Thyroid disease tends to predispose people to diabetes. Just thought I'd ask.
Let us know how you do on the A1C test. In the meantime, join a gym, or get a cardio machine for the home, and some free weights, and ankle weights. Good luck!
If it progresses enough it CAN become cirrhosis, just like an alcoholic. I am not trying to scare you, just simply stating a fact and I doubt you are that bad off.
You are PRICELESS with the info you contribute to this sub-sub forum! I've never heard/read this ANYWHERE, not even from doctors or diabetes specialists! Bless you!
I had a doctor's appointment yesterday for reason other than the discussed diabetes.
But I did talk to her about it. I mentioned most of what has been suggested here. She listened (I find that to be WONDERFUL) and she told me what I need to do for me. I see her again in <3 months, sooner if need be.
Since I like her and have decided I am going to listen to what she advises, I will follow her instructions.
Thanks to all. We all need to do what is right for us. I was lucky to find a doctor that I feel I can trust. That alone is a major accomplishment.
I had a doctor's appointment yesterday for reason other than the discussed diabetes.
But I did talk to her about it....
Have you gotten an HGA1C blood draw? I just had my last one before moving West and on Medicare. It was 6.8 and I'm on 2000mg Metformin ER. The guidelines are for a diabetic person to be less than 7.0 to say that whatever treatment is working. I hope to do better without the stress of my former employment and exercise/weight loss. When I was first told I was pre-diabetic years ago, and was overweight, the dietician focused absolutely on counting fat grams, no mention of carbs. Of course I lost weight if I followed the low-cal dieting, but I'd eat a plain bagel (110 cal.) before my night shift and my B.S. would go down into the 40s and I'd be very sick. They weren't thinking of carbs/refined carbs at all!
Glad OP found a doctor she can count on. I think OP will do fine, and I plan to do the same along with her reports.
Last edited by brightdoglover; 03-30-2018 at 11:02 AM..
Have you gotten an HGA1C blood draw? I just had my last one before moving West and on Medicare. It was 6.8 and I'm on 120mg Metformin ER. The guidelines are for a diabetic person to be less than 7.0 to say that whatever treatment is working. I hope to do better without the stress of my former employment and exercise/weight loss. When I was first told I was pre-diabetic years ago, and was overweight, the dietician focused absolutely on counting fat grams, no mention of carbs. Of course I lost weight if I followed the low-cal dieting, but I'd eat a plain bagel (110 cal.) before my night shift and my B.S. would go down into the 40s and I'd be very sick. They weren't thinking of carbs/refined carbs at all!
Glad OP found a doctor she can count on. I think OP will do fine, and I plan to do the same along with her reports.
Was that your primary care doc, who advised you re: diet? I've found that primary care docs are not knowledgeable about that sort of thing, though that may be changing now, finally.
Endocrinologists generally tend to be more aware of the effects specific types of food have on the endocrine system, i.e. the metabolic hormones (insulin, etc.), so they're aware that carbs (as you discovered) cause blood sugar to soar, then crash, unless taken in small amounts, with larger amounts of protein. I found that, back when low-carb dieting was considered "wrong" or some kind of fringe fad, some endocrinologists were recommending it to their diabetic or pre-diabetic patients, because they were educated on the science behind it. Knowing that stuff was a core part of their specialty, unlike with the primary care docs.
Was that your primary care doc, who advised you re: diet? I've found that primary care docs are not knowledgeable about that sort of thing, though that may be changing now, finally.
...
No, it was the dietician referral from the doctor. The doc of course was into "no sweets" but the dietician was just into "lose weight/low fat." I have since learned that I absolutely need to eat no/few refined carbs, like bread, rice, etc. I am absolutely a protein person and need to eat clean protein and vegetables and not a lot else. Sweets were never an issue, but pastries were. Oh, those night shifts. So glad to be off them and the endocrine disaster that staying awake all night evoked.
My BS was at prediabetic level for quite a while...I have seen them spike as high as 300 post-prandial.
I have owned a meter for a well over 15 years. It was really easy for me to see the "cure"....my
blood sugar would be normal if I ate a meal that was nearly all fat and protein. Or I could eat a meal that was low in fat and had a little more carbs thrown-in, either way seems to work fine.
Food is HUGE in many peoples lives, making a drastic change can be nearly impossible.
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