Don't normally talk about my condition, but I have to share!

ironraven · **on:** February 24, 2016, 03:41:47 AM

So... Last January, I started the Raven Reduction Plan, having gone past the 300 point. Change in diet, exercise. Weight is coming off. But something wasn't right.

First week of november, I went to the doc for the first time in years. I'd felt like dried and smashed smurf for months. And.... turns out, I'm a Type II Diabetic. Diagnosis day, A1C was 14.7.

That is like suicidally high.

For point of reference, normal people are like a 5.0-5.6. A1c is kind of like counting tree rings, it measures a three month average of your blood sugar. It means I'll be seeing my PCP quarterly for the rest of my life.

First week in December, a1c was 11.1. More meds prescribed. ONLY oral meds, no injections, no insulin.

As of this week, my first formal a1c with meaning.

6.0.

Retinas are good. Feet pass the sensitivity test allowing for hide on them like an armadillo. Have to watch them, but I've had to watch them and my hands for years after repeated frostbite when I was younger. Liver function is good. Blood pressure is high, but not majorly so, I just have to watch my salt intake and try to find a way to mellow out. Insomnia is gone.

My only complaint is that the "lancet" they use at the doctors office is like a blasted trowel, bleed like a stuck pig and have a big old hole in my finger. I could have gotten as much blood for them with less mess and pain and faster with my tools.

HarleyXJGuy · **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2016, 03:51:21 AM

Glad you are getting it sorted. Diabetes is no joke.

If you really need some blood just get with Cappy or NNR. They have skills.

Aloha · **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2016, 07:12:07 AM

Glad to hear you are taking control. Be good to yourself and be well.

styx · **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2016, 07:25:20 AM

Good to hear things are getting better. I hope you can keep it up for a long long time

rishardh · **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2016, 07:43:06 AM

Glad it's under control. I am no expert but it looks like quite an achievement.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2016, 12:17:48 PM

I'm glad you found out in time to get it under control. Diabetes is no joke.

I'm not diabetic that I know of but I have grown up around it all my life. It's a very scary condition to have, but fortunately there are lots of resources and support available. It's also very manageable as long as you keep track of it. The danger signs are usually obvious if you are looking for them, and soon you will learn what you can and can't do.

One thing that you will find is that it also makes a great excuse for things you don't want to do. You can pull out the blood sugar excuse any time you like and no one will ever argue with you.

Plus you now are eligible for a new EDC bag as you will need to add insulin shots, text strips and meters and a few chocolate bars to your EDC setup. :-)

Def

magentus · **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2016, 12:25:48 PM

Nice silver linings there boss.

Always helps to have silver linings.

BIG-TARGET · **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2016, 04:15:55 PM

As a Type II myself(BTW, welcome to the "fraternity"

) I had an A1-C of 12+, plus I had 2 foot infection operations(first infection almost killed me) due to diabetic neuropathy. But with time diet(down to 316lbs) exercise(bicycle riding) all the meds I take(including "shooting up" Novolog and Lantus insulins) My A1-C is down to 6.9.

This is not a fun disease!! In fact this is a sadistic, ugly "gray" disease that affects each person differently: for example- I had an ex-girlfriend who died from a direct caused heart attack. A neighbor that has retinopathy.
(Sorry!! Didn't mean to turn it into a "pity party")

But there is one thing all us diabetics have in common. Our "Jedi" weapon,,,,,the GLUCOMETER(The ultimate multitool of a diabetic)!!

Why? Because we diabetics live and die BY OUR NUMBERS!! Sadly,the last time I was in the hospital, for the second diabetic foot operation. The lancets they used were made by the company that manufactured Captain Ahab's harpoons

. So you have my sympathies there. The one thing you can consider is, since we diabetics have our glucometers with us at all times, Use the lancets from your glucometer, if they're less painful to you. Or, if the medical assistant says "no", Use their lancet and stick yourself with it. Oddly enough, every time I've done that. It's far less painful than when some else is doing it. And if push comes to shove. gently INSIST on them using secondary stick site(forearms, thighs). And since both medical and personal glucometers are 80% accurate, any changes in your numbers should be within that 20 point range.

Hope this information helps you out!!!

ToolJoe · **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2016, 05:16:13 PM

It is good that you caught it when you did. Can't mess around Diabetes.

Gareth · **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2016, 05:36:47 PM

Great to hear you found out in time mate. Good job on getting those levels down as well.

sLaughterMed · **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2016, 06:29:09 PM

Sorry about that diagnosis, but finding out now is much better than the alternative. To a long and happy life

Zed · **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2016, 06:30:23 PM

Sorry to hear this mate but glad you have it under control,my step dads insulin diabetic and deal with it alot with my job,i wish you all the best mate

derekmac · **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2016, 08:37:57 PM

I've been a diabetic for 22 years. I can't remember what my A1C was when I was diagnosed, but it was HIGH!! I'm able to keep it in the 6 range though, and having been on a pump for the past 7 years, control is soooo much easier!

Keep your levels good, and you'll be just as healthy as anyone else!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

derekmac · **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2016, 08:39:56 PM

Oh, your fingers will also get used to the poking rather quickly, and you won't really even notice it after a while.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SteveC · **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2016, 08:46:06 PM

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. As others have said it is no joke, my father was a diabetic so I know all about it. Best of luck

Whoey · **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2016, 08:48:10 PM

my mom was diabetic, and also had a stroke, management is important, and at least now you know...

Alan K. · **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2016, 01:33:26 AM

I've been a diabetic for just about a month, myself. Must be something in the water. I was up to around 340 a year ago and now I'm down to 315. Doc said I might get off some of the meds if I lose another 50 pounds. I have to try. Disliking the meds. They are making me a little queasy. Dislike especially the shot that I have to take each day. Never been a fan of needles. Testing and shots are not fun, and the doc says, "it's just a tiny little prick and you'll hardly feel a thing."

Yeah, sure doc, I've been using that same line since I was a kid.

SAK Guy · **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2016, 01:57:21 AM

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2016, 02:01:36 AM

I'm sorry to see so many folks here affected by diabetes but I'm glad to see the amount of support being offered here.

Good on all of you.

Def

ironraven · **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2016, 02:32:30 AM

Thanks everyone! I just had to blow my own horn. I'm not asking for pity- I'm asking for celebration! I've been told point blank that if I'd stop being a whimp and accept shots, I'd be... this low. I'm taking the hard route, diet, exercise and the kind of willpower that makes normal people think you are nuts. The doc was rather surprised.

I've got a a couple of friends who are also type IIs, neither of them believed I'd dropped my count by 60% in 4 months. One is on a pump, the other is lots and lots of meds, and while I'm jealous of them being able to eat certain things that I don't, I'm not missing fruit THAT much. I took three meds to start, we're trying a month without one of them because Januvia is just insane on the price, and I've been ruthless on my diet. I also record EVERYTHING- chemistry as a hobby, trained as an engineer, so I document, document, document. I've logged everything I've eatten, how much, when, and done enough tests the docs were suggesting I don't need that much data. Fluid intake. BP and weight every day.

Thanks Big-Target and Derek. I knew I couldn't be the only one here. Any tips are welcome. I know it's a rough road. My pancreas and it's lilly-livered sidekick can take me out, but I'm taking them with me if they do. It's funny, my diagnosis day was roughly the anniversery to one of the worst fights I had in high school, and I was in tears afterwards. Not because of pain, certainly not because I'd lost- those guys should have brought more friends, and thats all I'm going to say here. No, I wept because I feared that was the quality of the enemies the gods would provide me. Hmmm... nope. I have a mission for the first time in a long time and I feel better than I have in years. Fight the day, fight the next, but so long as I am fighting and moving, I'm good, but I'm also not going to become my diagnosis- it is my enemy, but not my life. And I am an enemy worthy of myself. That might sound a little psychotic, but it is what I am.

Alan it sucks. If you dont' have them yet, expect the food crazies soon, they'll pass so I'm told. Getting your weight down means you are going to be able to carry more tools! And the more of your feet you can see, the more of them you'll get to see later on. "Good morning toes" isn't the worst battle cry in the universe.

And yes, the stabbing sucks. It is a blood sacrifice. But you're full of blood, you've lost more than this.

Alan K. · **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2016, 06:36:15 AM

Food Crazies? I don't know what it is but it doesn't sound pleasant. I thought I was doing so good losing 30 pounds in the last year, until I found out that I probably lost the weight due to not controlling my diabetes. Now that I'm a confirmed diabetic on medication I may gain some of it back, but I can continue to lose if I work at it. When the doctor told me a month ago you are definitely a diabetic, and sent me to the pharmacy with a stack of prescriptions, I said to myself things are never going to be the same. Guess I was right about that.

ironraven · **Reply #21 on:** February 26, 2016, 02:25:58 AM

Quote from: Alan K. on February 25, 2016, 06:36:15 AM

Food Crazies?

My term.

It's the point when you start having food dreams, and you get serious addiction type cravings. A few weeks ago, I'd have contemplated genocide as my price to have a big bowl of pasta again without fear or guilt. Would have maimed for a kiwi- fruit makes my numbers go ZOOM upward and they stay there for about five hours. But I'm feeling much better now.

powernoodle · **Reply #22 on:** February 26, 2016, 02:48:36 AM

Quote from: ironraven on February 24, 2016, 03:41:47 AM

So... Last January, I started the Raven Reduction Plan, having gone past the 300 point. Change in diet, exercise. Weight is coming off.

I think we all noticed that your keystrokes were somewhat lighter.

Wanimator · **Reply #23 on:** February 26, 2016, 04:33:31 AM

Quote from: ironraven on February 24, 2016, 03:41:47 AM

So... Last January, I started the Raven Reduction Plan, having gone past the 300 point. Change in diet, exercise. Weight is coming off. But something wasn't right.

First week of november, I went to the doc for the first time in years. I'd felt like dried and smashed smurf for months. And.... turns out, I'm a Type II Diabetic. Diagnosis day, A1C was 14.7. That is like suicidally high.

For point of reference, normal people are like a 5.0-5.6. A1c is kind of like counting tree rings, it measures a three month average of your blood sugar. It means I'll be seeing my PCP quarterly for the rest of my life.

First week in December, a1c was 11.1. More meds prescribed. ONLY oral meds, no injections, no insulin.

As of this week, my first formal a1c with meaning.

6.0.

Retinas are good. Feet pass the sensitivity test allowing for hide on them like an armadillo. Have to watch them, but I've had to watch them and my hands for years after repeated frostbite when I was younger. Liver function is good. Blood pressure is high, but not majorly so, I just have to watch my salt intake and try to find a way to mellow out. Insomnia is gone.

My only complaint is that the "lancet" they use at the doctors office is like a blasted trowel, bleed like a stuck pig and have a big old hole in my finger. I could have gotten as much blood for them with less mess and pain and faster with my tools.

Are you ever going to try juice fasting?

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Don't normally talk about my condition, but I have to share!

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