Just venting a bit.

I've been getting progressively worse with this issue, and continue to make life style changes to compensate. Currently I'm down to about 1500 calories a day, very little of it carbs. STILL running high numbers on the finger sticks. Have dropped about 9 pounds in 3 weeks, and I'm working with an endocrinologist, but jeez! This is killing me. I'm exercising my ass off, 12 to 15k steps a day, weights 3 times a week, daily stretches (and a PT routine for an old shoulder injury), and trying to work 3 to 4 days a week.

Oh well, just need to suck it up. It'll get better, or it won't.

1/20 update-much better now. The insurance company offered me a program. Free strips, coaching and diet help, etc. Very close to normal ranges now. I'm averaging 8k steps a day, increased the frequency of additional exercise, and went on a low carb diet. Will continue to make the recommended changes. Thanks for the guidance! After 23 years I thought I was good at managing it, but I guess things change as we age.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fredward,

Yep. It surely is frustrating. My girlfriend has got really good at making diabetic friendly food and my A1C dropped a bit last test despite my lack of cardio and exercising less in general due to excessive work hours and life interfering with my routine. Keep up the good fight.

Have you tried fasting?

My doc gave me 90 days fair warning to get my numbers down or my medical records reflect diabetes & I go on medicine & my insurance will increase (I’ve been told).

Since December 10th, I’ve went from 205 lbs to 184. I’ve cut out sugar and starches. Even ketchup has sugar, damn near everything has it. No more white bread, I look at food labels like never before. No more flour.

My fasting #’s range between 130 to the low to middle 90’s. I don’t excerise as my heart ejection fraction is 15% and am wearing a life vest until early March. My finger sticks are now always in the 90’s. I’m beating it.

Then, I must decide if I want a defibrillator implant or just roll the dice. The docs say my condition is, “sudden cardiac death”. You just pass out and die. On to the next great adventure!

I’ve asked God to let me live to see Trump re-elected!

I hope you can lick your battle with diabetes. Best to you!

Fasting doesn't work for me. I'm subject to rapid drops in glucose levels if I go more than 10 to 12 hours without food. But it works for many people.

Fredward, I was told not to fast,(fasting to me is no food at bedtime until I’m up in the morn & stick myself on an empty belly) exactly for the reason you posted, huge drops in sugar levels. I was told to read food labels, control portion sizes, drink plenty of water. I don’t miss the sugar but man, I loved my starches and miss them.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
Fasting doesn't work for me. I'm subject to rapid drops in glucose levels if I go more than 10 to 12 hours without food. But it works for many people.

Thats because you need to back off on meds as you fast...I had same issue.

Work with your doctor to lower meds as you increase fasting durations.

I am OFF insulin with fasting after being on 110 units of fast acting and 70 units of slow acting per day.

I have not taken one med for diabetes since December...

Also, are you using a CGM? If not, get one. It really helps to see what your BG is doing real time and can help you ween the meds without getting lows.

You can do this!

I don't have any advice, but hang in there. Remember that you didn't get where you are overnight, so you're not going to get back where you want to be overnight either. The important thing is you're doing what you're supposed to now, and you are already seeing some results.

Oh how I feel your pain.... My A1C readings (blood was drawn on 27 December) were 9.9.

I take insulin, metformin, and was taking Invokana until the insurance quit paying for that medication.

I still exercise, and try to eat correctly. I know I am not getting enough exercise so I guess I will do better about getting off my behind.

I have been keeping my weight steady and haven't put on a bunch.

quote:

Originally posted by lizardman_u:
Oh how I feel your pain.... My A1C readings (blood was drawn on 27 December) were 9.9.

I take insulin, metformin, and was taking Invokana until the insurance quit paying for that medication.

I still exercise, and try to eat correctly. I know I am not getting enough exercise so I guess I will do better about getting off my behind.

I have been keeping my weight steady and haven't put on a bunch.

You will find it hard to lose any weight while on insulin. Insulin causes weight gain...its a vicious circle.

Insulin resistance causes sugar to go up...

So you take insulin...to cram more sugar into your cells.

Your cells say no, and raise resistance...

So you increase insulin...

A year ago (January, 2019) I was diagnosed with an A1C of 13! My doctor immediately put me on metformin and crestor. Not wanting to take meds, and not being happy with the diagnosis, I followed directions, did a lot of research and in six months got my A1C down to 5.7, which is technically a diagnosis of pre-diabetes.

I tried keto, and then signed up for a program, Mastering Diabetes. A lot of good information about insulin resistance, foods to avoid, and more.

Recently, I've been traveling a lot and have "fallen off the wagon," so to speak, and my A1C has risen to 6.0. I will hunker down and address that when I return.

One benefit to this is that I started running again, and ran a 5K on New Year's Day.

You didn't say how old you are (or if you did, I missed it), but I'm 68, so I doubt I will ever be in the same shape I was 20, 30 or 40 years ago...

63. Will consider CGM. Thanks.

Yes it does! And I love to eat.

That Optimun Nutrition Gold Whey protein seems to help me. Low carbs and slows digestion in general, but that is as a meal replacement and on top of a pretty strict diet.

Fast food causes me the most problems. I have to avoid it completely and feel bad when traveling and a break a streak of avoiding it. If I get in the habit of eating it my numbers shoot up.

DO NOT consume any margarine, it inhibits the body's ability to absorb insulin.

KETO works for me, I dropped 105 pounds, Walk 5K 6 times a week on treadmill, Went from 1000 units equivalent of insulin a day (U-500 Insulin) to around 100-120 units a day.

Fredward - what works for me, other than exercise, is eating small portions of good food evenly spaced during the day. For instance, I'll have breakfast at 5:00 AM, have a protein snack at 7:00, eat some veggies at 9:00. I have lunch at 11:00 and a snack at 2:00 PM. Drink lots of water (to rid the system of glucose) and watch the carbs! It is is a pain in the neck!

quote:

Originally posted by medic15al:
DO NOT consume any margarine, it inhibits the body's ability to absorb insulin.

KETO works for me, I dropped 105 pounds, Walk 5K 6 times a week on treadmill, Went from 1000 units equivalent of insulin a day (U-500 Insulin) to around 100-120 units a day.

This, 1500 calories sounds too low. Load up on more protein at each meal. Chicken/steak/eggs, etc.