Day 13: Feeling Like I Am Getting the Hang of It, Adjusted Caloric Intake, Increased Carbs, Decreased Insulin.

August 31 at 12:43pm

I think I have my insulin leveled out for now, finally. Reduced my insulin by 8 units (Been working with it for this past week) and aiming for 45-60 gms carbs and 1200 cals - while I lose weight. Been tweaking my daily intake along the lines of the LCHF diet, but since I am on insulin it is a balancing act that I am glad to work on as the results are heartening.

August 31 at 12:54pm

Had a week of some scary lows but I think I have my insulin leveled out for now, finally. Reduced my insulin by 8 units (Been working with it for this past week) and aiming for 45-60 gms carbs (45, with 15 in case of a low) and 1200 cals (leaves a little room to eat for a low) - while I lose weight. Been tweaking my daily intake along the lines of the LCHF diet, but since I am on insulin it is a balancing act that I am glad to work on as the results are heartening. I have been enjoying LCHF but I had been ingesting too many calories(1797 kcals), won't lose weight that way, too sedentary still) and was getting that "butter" headache, but I did enjoy the experimentation. I also am working on a blog so I have all my laments, my wins, my ups and downs in one place:) Thanks to all those who have given me support, you've been a big help in the past couple of weeks and I feel confident you will be here as I continue my journey!

Day 12: Good Food, Hypo Event, My Lab Bailey, LCHF Cooking Lesson and my Dear Supportive Friends

August 30 at 8:22am

Quick post (for me), have a lot of errands today. I looked over the stats of my food and I have been having too much protein and not quite enough fat, so in addition to feeling naughty for eating fats that ADA has said are bad for me, I have to break the high protein mindset:) So this photo, titled "breakfats", originally a typo but I decided not to change it, has coffee with full cream, one farm egg cooked in butter into which a tablespoon of creole mix was sauteed first (onions, peppers, spices) and topped with monterey/colby cheese and served along side FOUR pieces of bacon. I was going to only eat 2 pieces but I got the raw microwave bacon and t comes in a pack of four and it was cooked so well that if I saved it the fat would be tto hard and even with warming it would be way too crisp. Of course the thought did not occur to me to save it for garnish or flavoring for another dish until I ate every last bite. lol.

August 30 at 8:34am

The fat, carb, protein ratio is 65:2:33. I think some of the discomfort I was feeling was due to too much protein as much as the lowering of the carbs (remembering the hi pro regimes of my athletic youth) With that in mind, this regime (not DIET) will not be as expensive as I thought

August 30 at 8:39am

OOPS, correction, i forgot to add in the butter, so the ratio is 72:1:27 should easily hold me for several hours!

August 30 at 9:39am

Trying to figure out how to make low carb mousakka or parm for Sunday using some of my homemade tomato sauce, while my son and his girlfriend chow down on linguine and meatballs. I don't usually bread the eggplant anyway before I fry it, just dip it in egg but the sauce is quite concentrated.

August 30 at 11:30am

(A friend in one of my diabetic support groups suggested xanthan gum) ?xanthan gum? Lol my Italian ancestors are turning in their graves! All kidding aside, I've yet to add tomato paste to the sauce. It's 16 grams per cup (thick sauce either cooked to thickness or paste added) that would make a generous serving, I could halve it and add a lot of Mozzarella (I can get full fat polly-o at Publix) and still have a good filling meal. It would be a once in a while treat. How would I use the xanthan gum? This is very new to me - using it to thicken with, actually using it at all.

From my friend:” Easiest way to use xanthan gum is sprinkle into hot sauce and whisk, whisk, whisk. Although using mozzarella is an excellent idea or parmesan should work too. Netrition sells a product called "thick it up" which is a combo of locust bean, acacia, xanthan and guar gum, which works very well too. Psyllium husks might work too, although I have not really played with them yet. I have recipe for psyllium crackers I have been meaning to try.”

“If it is just a once in a while thing, I would and you can bring it in at 16 grams a cup, I think I might just go with the real thing”

“There is a really good article on xanthan here: http://www.modernistcookingmadeeasy.com/.../more/xanthan-gum”

August 30 at 3:28pm

My PP BG after breakfast (only 1 gm carb) was 120. I was a little sleepy after running around this morning and decided to take a nap before Lunch. After about 30 minutes I realized it was time for lunch but wanted to get another 30 minutes in, Bailey, my dog, was not having it and climbed up on the bed sweetly nudging me, climbing on top of me (she's 70 lbs) and I thought she had to go out, so I got up to let her out and it wasn't really what she wanted, I felt a bit fatigued so I decided to take my BG and start lunch. BG was 75 at 1:10p, ate lunch ad since I had that scary episode Monday, couldn't wait two hours so at an hour and twenty minutes after lunch my BG was 120, at 2 hours PP 129. Ok, I feel better and I did eat more carbs because of the BG of 75. I am still learning. Still not used to BGs below 90 yet. Now I shall resume my nap:) i think I am going to shoot for 15 gms at each meal for right now since I am still taking quite a bit of insulin.

August 30 at 4:26pm

Lol, Low carb ice cream isn't bad but the flavors are few, no sugar added or sugar free are like eating laxatives but I don't have the craving anymore, possibly because my choices do not include Cherry Garcia:) Here's a low carb recipe using ricotta: http://healthyindulgences.net/2008/08/low-carb-low-fat-ice-cream-with-a-secret-ingredient-shh/

August 30 at 4:43pm

I used to use this recipe on the south beach diet, it is 7.8 gm for an occasional treat. I used whole milk polly-o ricotta because it is very smooth, not grainy or lumpy and it was delicious! http://www.food.com/recipe/south-beach-diets-mocha-ricotta-creme-phase-i-110938

Day 9: Frightening Experience, Wonderful Grandson, Great Dog and Supportive Friends!

August 27 at 1:19am

I had a most frightening experience tonight and was very close to going to the nearby ER. I am proud of my 21 year old grandson who remained calm and listened and asked calm short questions and statements like "then where is it going" "maybe it's taking a while" etc. I am also more convinced my year old lab would make a great diabetic service dog. Although I had been watching my carbs and losing weight, about 40 lbs since January with BGs getting better and better I decided to step up my game, I began a stricter diet about 10 days ago, the LCHF diet and I was a bit blown away by my results and the great BGs, and I am counting carbs and frequently testing my BG to gauge different foods effect on my BGs. Tonight, after a weekend of exceptional BGs and a FBG 97 I took my morning dose of insulin at 7:30a, went to physical therapy, and had an after breakfast PP of 71.

I am to report anything under 90 to my doctor which i did, ate a 14 gm light and fit yogurt and checked 20 minutes later and my BG was 123.

I felt a little shaky while i was out, after lunch, grabbed a coconut water which spiked my BG to 171! I checked 2 hours later at 4:40 and my BG was 123.

At 8P I took my evening insulin 70/30 but decreased it by 4 units, had a dinner of chicken thigh and leg and a cup of mixed veggies at 10 my PP was 97.

I felt a little shaky so I ate some "emergency" low carb ice cream.

Around 10:30 i began to feel shaky and weak and thought I smelled nail polish remover, I don't even own any, my dog began to nudge me nervously trying to get my attention, I took my BG and it was 68, which frightened me, I ate some peanut butter crackers, 32 gms, 4 oz of minute maid lemonade and was still quite anxious and not feeling much better I took my BG 10 minutes later and it was 76. I was frightened so I took three glucose tablets couldn't wait more than 12 minutes and my BG was 97.

15 minutes later BG was 114. With all the sugar i ate it should have been higher. I had a light and fit 14 carb yogurt, felt better, checked my BG and it was 160

Ate way too much sugar but I don't think I was ever so frightened - kind of feel sick ot my stomach now from the food but feel my BG is ok, and I am not afraid to go to sleep, my dog is asleep, attached to my hip but snoring.

I am going to decrease my morning insulin and stop by the docs in the morning.

I so want off this insulin.

Thanks for listening.

A reply from a supportive friend, who is now off all diabetic meds:

“That smell you were smelling was ketones from eating low carbs, perfectly normal. Your diet change and your insulin dosage definetely needs adjusting. What you were felling was a false hypo, nothing wrong with the 70's but it becomes a situation if your glucose is still falling. Your doing good, might be time to cut out the insulins altogether or reduce them a great deal.

August 27 at 4:34a”

August 27 at 5:26pm

Had a doctors appt went by the diabetic clinic for blood work, did not get to see my nurse clinician but left her a message. I told her I was going to reduce my my pm insulin from 54U to 40, I already reduced my am dose this morning by 40 but based on tomorrow morning's FBG I may go up as pps' were 166 and 169, it was 144 about an hour ago.

August 27 at 5:52pm

i am not feeling really good today but I have had only 26 carbs so far, I average 75 to 100 per day. I am a little shaky, drowsy, weak and while I am breathing ok (I am well perfused, color good, fingernail colors good, did some breathing exercises everything is working) at times i feel like I am not quite out of breath but just aware, and that could be the anxiety, when I don't think about it, it doesn't bother me. Anyone else get these feelings with the low carbs, this past nine days I have been getting pretty strict.

I have been exceeding my protein, I am about 250 (253 last week) and since I am still kind of sedentary (started PT last week for this blasted sciatica) I am allowing 1/2 gm protein per kilo comes to about 56, I already had 63 gms today. My fat carb protein ratio already is 45:16;39, , so i will have to eat something fatty for dinner.

What is a false hypo? How can it be false if it registers in my blood?

I'll come by later, I need to get some carbs and get dinner with my evening insulin.

August 27 at 6:12pm

Just checked my BG and it was 202! Went ahead and ate some 4% cottage cheese anyway and really do feel better (lots), my insulin dose isn't until 7p. I felt a bit shaky about 4:30, checked my BG it had come down 25 points in a little over and hour, ate a small clementine, which was 9 carbs (I included it in the 26 carbs). I guess my am insulin is wearing off. I am stressed, although I feel better after eating the 4% Cottage Cheese. I'll keep you posted. Btw, I am using this as sort of a guide to decreasing and increasing my insulin: http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=7237 So I think 44 or 45 am should bring me in range (will assess in the morning), 40 tonight. Btw, have I mentioned I ABHOR insulin, lol.  Oh and i lost about 40 lbs since January.

August 27 at 7:01pm

My dog Bailey has been "nana" all day but also forced me to play with her - climbing on my lap and dropping the ball onto me, she's a 70lb lab, lol. Been a crazy day, I ate way under my target carbs and had an anxious moment but I am feeling better now. I got blood drawn earlier for my 1ac and left my nurse practitioner a long message, I took 40U 70/30 this morning and while my numbers were mostly in the 130's, I had some 140's and 160's, not quite where I want to be, I think 45U might do it(I'll reassess in the morning) tonight I'll take 40U 70/30, told the NP this and since she has not called to say "no" I am going ahead and will adjust accordingly. I was taking 56U in the am and 54U in the evening. a lot fo insulin - and have lost about 15 of the forty since I was put on that dosage about 2 months ago. I've decided to do a modified LCHF because the absence of carbs mimics low BGs too much and I react with anxiety. As long as I am losing weight and my numbers remain good are my two main goals right now, long term is every insulin diabetics dream, to get off of the insulin.

August 27 at 10:04pm

Just to let you all know, I feel really good, had a good meal with more carbs, 27 but they were from berries and whole milk Greek yogurt and a chicken thigh, giving me a total of 80 carbs for the day. I've lost the bulk of the weight on about 150 (good) carbs until I started this one, so I am going to try to stay about 80 good carbs until the I get the hypo issue better in hand because it is a double whammy, can get confusing and make me anxious then I will gradually decrease. Before this diagnosis, I never got anxious, was always well balanced, could carry the weight of the world on my shoulders and I want that back folks. Thank you for helping me

August 27 at 10:38pm

Pre-meal and pre insulin dose my BG was 199 (I was an hour late and uber stressed) just checked my 2 hour PP and it went down a point 198. Actually tonight it is ok, a relief really, I'll feel safe going to sleep, I'll get a good night's sleep and be ready to tackle the BG/Insulin dose juggling act., Thanks again for the caring and support

August 27 at 10:41pm

Update: Just to let you all know, I feel really good, had a good meal with more carbs, 27 but they were from berries and whole milk Greek yogurt and a chicken thigh, giving me a total of 80 carbs for the day. I've lost the bulk of the weight on about 150 (good) carbs until I started this one, so I am going to try to stay about 80 good carbs until the I get the hypo issue better in hand because it is a double whammy, can get confusing and make me anxious then I will gradually decrease. Before this diagnosis, I never got anxious, was always well balanced, could carry the weight of the world on my shoulders and I want that back folks. Pre-dinner/pre insulin dose my BG was 199 (I was an hour late and uber stressed) just checked my 2 hour PP and it went down a point 198. Actually tonight it is ok, a relief really, I'll feel safe going to sleep, I'll get a good night's sleep and be ready to tackle the BG/Insulin dose juggling act

Day 4: Lost 9 lbs in 3 Weeks! More questions about Low Carb High Fat Diet

August 22 at 2:18pm

Saw the doc this morning, FBG 97, lost 9 more lbs in 3 weeks! Showed her my food log and BG log and for the first time we spoke about correction/decreasing for a low trend in BG! Will see her in three months but she wants to know about any lows below 90 because of my leg/hip injury so i don't get weak and fall while I am healing and in PT. i will stop by for blood work next week.

A good visit finally!!!!!

 August 22 at 2:36pm

Re: Low Carb High Fat way of eating, LCHF: I am asking this in two of my groups re: fat (some of you are in both:))

Those fat bombs look delicious and I like well crisped chicken skin but I can't eat too much because too much chicken/turkey skin and butter gives me a headache - always has since I was a child, so I might not be able to be as fat intensive. Do you think this will be a problem? This almost sounds silly me asking this.

Reply from supportive friend who no longer uses insulin due to LCHF diet: 

“No I don't think so at all. Just try not to avoid fatty foods, meaning eat dark meat chicken, fatty cuts of red meat and pork. I love butter, but butter doesn't love me back.”

Day 2: So Much To Learn: On The Job Training

August 20 at 10:23am

I have a question that I would like actual people to answer even though I read the literature. I am concerned about the high fat content because I have high cholesterol and high trigs (forgot my numbers from last time and didn't write them down) They have been steadily coming down mainly because I was taking Zetia until about 2 weeks ago, which now I can't afford because of that damn M'care donut hole but I have also been eating a fairly healthy diet, not really watching fat intake but avoiding fast carbs, sweets and sugar which many times go hand in hand with high fat content and watching my carbs. I am recovering from the black bean fiasco of two days ago and had a fasting of 137 this morning. I had been told that black beans are low glycemic even though they have high carbs bec. of the protein and fiber, wrong.

Anyway, I would like to hear from fellow members who had a high cholesterol problem and how the LCHF and Paleo diets impacted them, please.

Oh, I am having such a time, just seems there is so much to take in and I need to hear from real people with real experiences. I don't want to get on that vicious cycle where medicines have to be changed and increased because they just don't work anymore, i want to nurture my pancreas into working better along with my help. Ok i am getting emotional now but lately I have been prone to being emotionally labile and I used to be so strong. I need to get that back.

Replies from supportive diabetic friends:

*“My cholesterol went down from 225 to 186 in 3 months”

*“when you go fully into LCHF it teaches your body to burn fat as fuel instead of carbs. This usually reduces cholesterol and triglicirides”

*“All my numbers were better after 3 months. I go back in Sept for my blood panel. This diet works!”

*“Jenna....I went and took my blood panel yesterday.....I am completely off Crestor and all insulin ....I have been on this diet for about 4 months and I will see on the 28th how my cholesterol did.....statins are poison to us I believe....my Dr doesn't know I am off of insulin and Crestor.....you are going about it backwards....don't wait to lose the weight...I am still 75 lbs overweight and what you have to decide is to jump into this and give it a try or not....discussing with a medical person is not going to work for you....I am 64 and have had this diabetes 15 years....was on meal time and nite time insulin and if I would have told my Dr what I was about to embark on....well she would have had a stroke....I know this diet works for my blood sugar....70s to 100s every morning.....so that for sure is going to be good....cholesterol was 239 May of 2012....so we will see....eating 75% fat hardly any carbs and the rest protein will take the blood sugar down...I am proof of that.....don't wait...jump in....”

*” My total went from 225 to the 150's, trigs are now in the 30's with out any help from Statins. Your body reacts to the glucose with a surge of insulin causing inflammation. This triggers your body to make more cholesterol.”

*“I kept some old bloodwork results from the 90s and normal cholesterol was 300!! So they keep lowering it so they can sell more statins and make uus more sick so we spend more at the doctors office.. Quite a nice little skam there!!! My lipids are normal now and I eat a lot of fat! I eat bacon, pork chop fat, steak fat , venison fat, lard, butter, olive oil, coocnut oil and I believe it is not the fat but inflamation that causes vascular damage. I also have a complete heart scan and every test known 2 years ago and have zero blockages. Ive been diabetic since 94 and have a lot of highs still so it must not be the blood sugars that cause blockages..”

Day 1: The Path Towards My Goal

August 19 9:45am

I thought I would try black beans for lunch yesterday and my pp was 188. I thought they were low glycemic, good protein and fiber - but not for me and I have seven more cans of them plus the leftover mushroom, cheese and bean casserole. Ugh.

August 19 at 10:01am

Some of the diabetic friendly recipes I have seen have more fast carbs than their regular counterparts. I think as a society we have gone from desserts as a special treat on Sundays to an every night thing of something sweet and gooey. I grew up on what was close to a Mediterranean diet, we drank ice water at meals except for Sundays when we had one glass of Hoffman's ginger ale, here we also had a small portions of a sweet dessert and a pieces of fruit. My grandmother made the best Lemon Meringue pie and cannolis at the holidays were something to look forward to. The other flavor sodas we were allowed occasionally when we went out for dinner but not all the time, we were allowed a piece of fruit as part of our dinner but not as dessert. Chips, cookies, very occasionally - snacks were fruit or veggies, Then I moved down south into a wonderland of rich desserts that were actually pushed on the diner, and I had to try each and everyone. No problems for the first decade but eventually, with periods of musculoskeletal illnesses and surgeries and the accompanying sedentary recuperation, and here I am, a type 2 diabetic.

August 19 at 10:17pm

I have been reading a lot about LCHF and Paleo and feel a bit like I am on overload (nothing new of late). When I was younger and would gain a few extra pounds I would go on a diet similar to south beach with three meals and two snacks and the weight would come off. Well time went on I got older had back and shoulder surgeries yada yada became very overweight, if a diet worked it didn't stay off yada yada. Then I was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2 and for 2 1/2 years struggled with my BGs and weight - and a doctor who had me on way too little insulin for my weight. In January I went to a diabetic doctor who immediately doubled my insulin and I began to pay more attention to my carbs but I remembered something about a small amount of oat bran, 2 - 3 tablespoons, every morning recommended by the Dukan diet and also read the many studies on the benefits of oats in weight loss. I eat 4 tblsp (not even a full recommended serving) as part of my breakfast 4-5 mornings a week since January and with the med change and better numbers I have been steadily losing 1-2 pounds a week. I am now assessing which carbs to cut out of my food regime (ones i had always thought were healthy) but would like to keep my oat bran 4 - 5 mornings - I think they help, I stay satisfied and i do still have elevated cholesterol but this has been also coming down with the weight loss significantly and it helps with my bowels, esp. since I will be cutting down on fruit. My trigs were very high but they too are coming down.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thank you and yes, i need help.

Replies from supportive friends:

*“According to my calculations there are about 1.6 carbs per tablespoon of oat bran. This would be almost 25% of your daily carb allotment. You may find that quite a "price" to pay for such a small amount of food.

Try it for a while and see how it goes. Personally, I've eliminated all grains and feel much better.”

*” The good thing about bran is that it has high fibre. If a food has a fibre content, you can delete that off the carb total. However, I think Psyllium husks would be better.  Just depends how much the fibre to carb ratio is with the oat bran.”

“Flax seed is the best I have found”

http://pinterest.com/dochumphreys1/diabetic/

http://pinterest.com/dochumphreys1/low-carb-high-fat-recipes/

August 19 at 11:39am

Two questions:

1) Has anybody here not felt well on Levemir? Maybe because I have been so overwhelmed of late but I just didn't feel well, very sleepy and weak. The worst was an utter inability to eat usually at dinner, my appetite was so suppressed that I could not swallow food and had to resort to a yogurt because i had already taken a 20u bolus of reg novolog.

2) i really feel uncomfortable bolusing before a meal, I would prefer to bolus afterwards with a sliding scale because sometimes I just don't want to eat as much and having to force myself to eat causes anxiety esp. when I am thinking I have to to avoid going hypo. Anyone bolus afterwards and how is it working for you?

I am going back to the doctor on Thursday and since i can no longer afford the Levemir (I hit the donut hole) and when i finish my two vials of Novolog 70/30 I will probably have to switch to Humulin 70/30 until January. I am also going to buy my insulin at walmart because it is cheaper and I won't reach the donut hole as quickly, right now I get my meds at Walgreens, which i will keep for my other meds because it is close to home. Sorry for rambling, i just feel like I am encountering obstacle after obstacle. I really was getting good control with the levemir and boluses at meals and was getting used to the normal BGs despite the uncomfortable symptoms, I really don't want to backslide. Thanks, even for just listening.

August 19 at 9:36pm

I am using "MyNetDiary" on my mobile which tracks my meals, carbs and other nutrient and I am thinking of upgrading to the diabetes app ($5/mo) The nice thing is that I can also use it on my laptop.

August 18 2013: Changing Medicine Regime, Still Anxious and Fearful but the Support Groups are Truly Helping: I Can Laugh Again!

August 18 at 7:19am

Switched from Levemir back to Novolog 70/30 last night, waking BG is 98. Had a cup of cottage cheese and a clementine just after I took the Novolog 70/30 - those foods don't seem to bother my numbers.

I was a bit anxious about switching back but seems ok for now.

August 18 at 1:06pm

Positive studies supporting cinnamon for diabetics - these are short and show the results, you have to pay to see the entire complicated study:

1) http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/85/6/1552.short

2) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01629.x/abstract;jsessionid=E74CFA717B284E1D072DC7219C2C165D.d04t04?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage&userIsAuthenticated=false

3) http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/12/3215.short

Not sure:

1) http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/Y07-080#.UhEK05LVArU

Not positive has to do with postmenopausal Type II's and Type I's:

1) http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/4/977.short

2) http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/4/813.short

And this is probably most useful showing it is a supportive herb:

http://www.diabetesresearchclinicalpractice.com/article/S0168-8227(03)00173-6/abstract

There are tons of studies available and it will take several studies and trials to come to a conclusion. Use the google scholar search engine and search fr diabetes and whatever herb you wish to know about.

August 18 1:42pm  

I am still in "I am going to be one of those to reverse my disease" mode but I am getting closer to "lowering insulin dose and maybe going on an oral med" - my diabetes is weight related and I still have a lot to lose. Type II runs in the family (only when very much overweight) and I am the first to have been put on insulin (although it may have saved my dad's life in the 1960's) and with weight loss is managed by diet alone. I am seeing that I am not the only one who has a hard time accepting their disease or have a terrible fear of dying in their sleep. Today my am fasting was 98, at noon was 100, we'll see what the 2 hour pp is at 2:30 now that I am not bolusing (I am not on Levemir and bolusing anymore, I went back to Novolog 70/30 am & pm)

August 18 at 2:03pm

I was *** (Novolin 22U am 15Upm) in January switched doctors and am on a more realistic dose of Novolog started losing weight without changing anything and I weighed *** August 1st, I see the doc again next week. I go to the garden everyday! My goal is to be able to walk my dog in the park, right now because of my sciatica I can only manage sitting on the park bench - my pup is a year old chocolate lab and its kinda like torture to her. She enjoys the extended time in the fenced yard and helping me in the garden lol.

August 17 2013: Fear and Anxiety

August 17 at 7:51am

Yes, I am type II. This morning at 6:30 I am at 130 and feel pretty comfortable, took my 20U Novolog with breakfast. My nurse practitioner never returned my call so I suppose I am pretty much on my own being that I took my last dose of Levemir last night and will be going back on Novolog 70/30 tonight at hs. This is the kind of stuff that scares me, I need to know this is ok or should I wait until Saturday morning to resume the Novolog 70/30 (I was taking Novolog 70/30 AM & PM before we decided to try the levemir) I will have to switch to Humulin 70/30 anyway because I hit the donut hole and no way can I afford the Levemir or the Novolog 70/30. The decreased appetite with the Levemir frightened me as well and I did not feel comfortable taking the bolus before, I would have rather have had a sliding scale and take the insulin afterwards. I made a lovely salad with a roast chicken breast last night and after a few bites couldn't even swallow it, so I was able to eat sugar free yogurt because I was afraid if I couldn't eat that bolus would, quite frankly, kill me. I cannot believe that here in Nashville there are no diabetic support groups to be found. I live by myself so support is not an easy thing. I don't want to be a pest at the doctors or burden my friends and alienate them (and their lack of understanding of diabetes is unreal) I thank you all so much, I didn't sleep much last night due to leg pain from an exacerbated sciatica (I tried to add some floor exercises to help take my mind off of things) so I am going to try to get some sleep since the pain seems to have abated. Again thank you, I think I can deal with 100 - which gives me some leeway as far as hypo is concerned, and I do hope y'all can help me get to where I want to be. Realistically that is managing without obsessing, losing weight to lessen the insulin or to go on a pill. My greatest hope is to get off the meds altogether and reverse the diabetes but I know that is big hope. I tried an ayurvedic med (when I had the doctor who did not know a hill of beans about diabetes and I was on a very low dose of insulin), which heals the pancreas, and I responded beautifully but didn't continue because I could find no one close to supervise me - esp. not now when taking the right amount of insulin for my weight - too much risk of hypo. So my pancreas is still working somewhat.

Checked with the pharmacist and he sad it is ok to resume the Novolog 70/30 at HS (24 hours after my last dose of Levemir), ill just check my BG as I always do.

Restart The Clock: August 16 2013: Getting Help Approx. 3 Years After Diagnosis of Diabetes Type 2 With a Lot of Help From My Diabetic Friends

Intro: August 31 2013:  After 2 1/2 years of poor management by an Internist who had me on too little insulin for my weight and expected me to eat 500 calories a day to get reasonable blood glucose readings I had an opportunity in January 2013 to change my life and get control. This physician made me feel like a failure. I avoided the office visits. I never felt so helpless and so inept, when in reality it was he who was out of his element. I later found out I probably should have not had insulin as my first treatment but should have been put on oral meds. After getting a contract as the team Physician for the Tennessee Titans, he needed to decrease his practice and sent me a letter telling me that, after approx. 20 years as his patient he is discharging me because of poor compliance of my diabetic treatment.
He did me a favor, I found a wonderful Endocrinologist, a Diabetic Specialist and her marvelous nurse clinician, Luisa in early January 2013. Within a week I was having almost normal blood glucoses.
But my real story begins August 01 2013 when I was put on a tight medicine regime after Luisa and I decided it was time to get really serious. A consistent weight loss of 40 lbs since January and my adherence to the med regime made us decide it was time.
Had quite a few rough days those first couple of weeks as my fear of dying in my sleep or passing out and dying from very low blood glucoses took hold. A particularly bad bout, or reinjury, of my sciatica in my left leg affecting my ability to walk without excruciating pain complicated matters. I was an anxious mess.
I went looking for support groups here in Nashville TN, there is no such thing, or if they are they are well hidden. So I discovered a use for Facebook besides reconnecting with old friends family from around the world.
Diabetic Support Groups on Facebook.
I met the dearest people, caring people who had been there, people who listened while I wept, lamented, asked questions, told them my fears, and knew, yes they knew, what I was going through.
They knew the misinformation that is out there.
They knew the lack of hope.
They also knew how to manage, to control and to beat this thing called Diabetes Type 2.
Now I am at the point where I am able to laugh with them and we are all in this boat together, lowering and in some cases getting off the meds; living life without fear and anxiety.
My goal is to get off Insulin, and any diabetic medicine.
Not sure if reversal of the disease is possible as there is not enough proof f this yet.
But remission with management is possible and that is my ultimate goal.

What follows here in this initial post is the first day of support, the day before I changed my way of eating and the very day I took the first step towards my goal of controlling my disease rather than having it control me. It is going to take a lot of work but I am very motivated.
Simply I do not want to die or struggle just to live; I have too much to live for.

August 16, 2013

August 16 at 10:41pm

Having a rough time lately. Been diagnosed about three years and my doctor had me on way too low a dose of insulin, thinking I would lose weight, of course I didn't and felt like a complete failure. I had to eat between 600-700 calories to stay below 180, and so I consistently stayed high. Last January I went to a specialist within a couple of weeks, with the proper dose of insulin, my 1ac's improved greatly. I have a fear of hypo and feel shaky and emotionally labile when my bg falls below 140, I get frightened terribly when it hits 125 at bedtime, when it 87 I reach for the food. I so want off the insulin, it scares me to death. I started Levemir three weeks ago and sometimes I just can't eat my evening meal and I am afraid to take the Novolog bolus if I simply cannot eat. I also think the Levemir is making me sleepy and giving me anxiety. Actually it is not much of a problem because I reached the donut hole and will not be able to afford the $500 a month so I'll probably go on a generic Novolog 70/30 and watch my diet like a hawk. Since January I have been steadily losing 4-5 pounds a month ( last month 7 lbs). Anyway sorry for venting.

Replies from Type 2 supportive diabetic friends who no longer use meds or insulin:

*“I'm assuming your T 2. We can help get you where you want to be”

*”You are not venting. We have a scary disease. We all pull together and help each other here. First thing, don't be afraid of lower numbers. You just have to get used to them. I used to be as high as 350 at times and now I try to stay around 100. Took a while for my body to get used to it.”