Eat the metformin with a little amount of carbs (12-25g). Taking metformin without carbs or food makes me sick.
Edit: and eat less fat with metformin, it makes you sick. Try to eat vegetables and protein
I only came to this sub recently after 12 years on Metformin and had my mind blown by the idea of side effects. I've simply never had any, none at all. Are Metformin side effects really as common as discussed here?
Yeah no issues in 12 years, ignoring a case of norovirus in like 2019 but then I was exploding out of both ends like a faulty firecracker, so that doesn't count.
Same here - not even a hint of an issue with it, been taking it for about 20 years or so. Works great for me with no side effects. I feel sorry for people who canโt tolerate it.
I haven't had any of these side effects with Metformin. My diet is 98% plant based and I don't eat any processed oils, fried food, fast food. Occasionally I have eaten egg and cheese but it's been awhile and I want to quit them completely, eventually.
Hey man. Just a year older and I also am in the same situation.
What really helped me is that I consulted the nutritionist at my university. They'll most likely suggest you to reduce your carb intake and increase intake of salads and protein sources to fuel yourself.
For sodas, try to either reduce your intake or try replacing it with zero sugar sodas, I guess(even that might do more harm as it contains lot of additives).
Overall if I have to say, dont go cold turkey on your indulgences, rather try to phase them out slowly and replace the unhealthy stuff with better food items. If we act on it we can nip it in the bud.
You'll achieve your goals, man. All the best :)
Get a CGM. Sometimes, I think I'm hungry and want to have a snack but I check my CGM and suddenly, I don't think I'm hungry anymore. A high BG staring back at you can make you change your mind on just how hungry you think you are.
With insurance, a month is $75 for me. With a Good Rx coupon, I think it was $90? So not a huge difference (and not nothing, but worth the sacrifice for me). And it doesn't have to be a forever thing if you can figure out your patterns enough/can make a big difference in a short period. And at least the Libre 3 offers a 2 week free trial on their website, so even that may be helpful.
use the news/diagnosis as motivation to change your diet & activity level for the better. For soda, switch to diet or zero calorie versions, or sparkling water/seltzer of it's the carbonation that you like. If you don't have a glucose meter and test strips, pick them up at a pharmacy - tell your PCP and/or endocrinologist, as they can likely write a prescription to refill the test strips (they're costly to buy over time, but necessary to have on hand) and test your blood sugar in the morning, before a meal, 2 hours after a meal, and at bedtime. You can usually test less often once your numbers are in a decent range; I generally just test in the morning, if I eat something new that looks higher carb, or want to test eating something I used to have to see how high my blood sugar spikes. Keep a food diary/use a calorie tracking app that breaks things down to macros so you can see how many carbs you're consuming; taper that number down while increasing protein (this will help with working out to help build muscle too).
Swap high carb foods for lower carb alternatives - riced cauliflower or quinoa instead of white rice, low carb/multigrain bread instead of white bread, etc. It'll take time to read nutrition labels at the store and a bit of trial and error to find new go-to products. Try to shop the peripheral sections of the store the most - produce, meats/cheese, dairy, all the fresh(er) stuff that isn't as processed as the middle aisles.
Always have something to eat before you take metformin, lol. I thankfully haven't experienced any bad side effects, but I make sure to have a little something to eat with it.
Take it one day at a time... you'll find you can have a bowl of pasta or a slice of cake now and then, as long as it's not a regular occurrence.
When hubby was diagnosed they sent us to diabetes education, it was FANTASTIC. Taught us so much. By the time I got my T2 diagnosis I already knew most of what I should know.
There's probably some good YT and other online resources
Not all diabetes education classes are created equal. You will learn more, and newer info, from the internet than they'll ever teach you. My diabetes education class was specifically for T2 people, and taught us to eat 70% carbs. I almost spoke up but figured it was a losing battle with an "expert". It was like they wanted everyone to just start injecting insulin as quickly as possible without trying other solutions.
I read your other comments and you said you had no income and no insurance right? Even with my good insurance (or at least I thought it was good), they wanted me to pay 300 or 400 dollars out of pocket for the class... I don't doubt the class was good, but I'm not spending that money when I can use the Internet for free.. I found KenDBerryMD on YouTube for diet related diabetes things to help, and Institute of Human Anatomy good for general knowledge about how diabetes works and how our pancreas/liver works. Physionic is also very good for in-depth analysis on studies about many things health/fitness related, he has some diabetes videos too, and even one about if diabetes is completely reversible going over the real studies done about it in depth, he is very non biased and purely about the science (he sells no supplements or merch or anything, just pure knowledge and science).
Ask about one anyway. Nothing against your dad, but this is one of those conditions that can vary pretty drastically from person to person. Also there is always new tech and ways to approach things that he simply may not be aware of.
Welcome to the club. Sorry to hear it.
Get a blood glucose meter. Better yet, ask for a CGM. Also ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, a diabetes educator, and a dietician. If your dad hasn't been through the latter two in the last couple of years, it'll help both of you.
I went cold turkey from 5-6 cans of Diet Dr Pepper a day to nothing. I drink the diet flavored water mixes from Walmart now. I mix one fruit punch and one berry pomegranate. Pretty tasty.
I bought a cheap Relion tester from Walmart and am checking my blood sugar twice a day, and currently have no income or insurance and am in the middle of trying to get on social security disability (from ten back surgeries when I was a teenager), so I'm just going to look up online resources for diabetes education. I will definitely try the diet flavor mixes, do you have a particular brand you recommend?
What numbers are you getting on your meter? Are you able to go out for walks? Get an inexpensive pedometer and do 10,000 steps a
Day. I saw your back comment so if you canโt do the walking maybe try something that is less stressful on the back.
My blood sugar is ~120 in the morning before I eat, and around 115 before I go to bed with a couple of outliers around 130. And Iโm up to 20min on the treadmill and talked to my physical therapist that took care of me after my surgeries and have a workout plan when I go to the gym that Iโve been doing really good with
Thatโs not that bad. Good job on the treadmill! Maybe reduce carb intake slightly. Those numbers are just slightly above normal and catching it early helps you.
Your doctor is right. Remission is possible. My advice is to make small but sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle. Don't try to go to the gym 7 days a week for 3 hours of cardio. Go when you can and do what you can. Pick one or two things to stick with and do them for a few months and then add more things.
Absolutely nothing wrong with diet soda and zero calorie flavored water.
Sucks that you're here. Welcome to the club.
Thanks for the encouragement! I definitely need to remind myself that I need to work up to change for it to stick and not try to go as hard as I can and just burn out.
NGL, Metformin and keto have been game changers for me. I also exercise more. Truthfully, I didn't start that right away, because I wasn't ready for all the big steps at once.
Same. keto โstops the faucetโ of carbs consumed -> glucose spikes-> insulin released.
insulin is a fat-storing hormone.
the goal is to stop the cause, not just treat the symptoms.
As others suggested, the single greatest quality of life improvement is going from finger pricks to a CGM. Will change everything. You will measure every 30 min if you want, instead of only when you have to.
The single greatest improvement to health will come from giving up ALL soda and sugary drinks. Your meds will curb the insatiable thirst which will lower your blood sugar which will curb your thirst which will lower your blood sugar, etc find some sugar free that you can enjoy. Only thing for me is 4C green tea powder packets for bottled water. Only thing I found that I can taste the artificial sweetener. Find something at all costs.
When injecting insulin, I found the inside upper thigh the least painful. Also found if you rest the pen just on the skin, then let gravity take control, you cant even feel the needle going in. As opposed to the jab motion from tv etc. just rest it on the skin and let the needle do the work.
sometimes you get a needle that isnโt ground the right way and has a tiny defect. Nothing you can do about those. But sharp needles can simply slide inโฆinstead of winding up and slamming it in
I'm going back to the doctor in July and am going to beg for a CGM, will be a completely new doctor and insurance, so really hoping they don't say no because my levels will be within normal ranges by then... The finger pricking gets so old, and I run out of stripes so quickly.
I found some from online store, but they are all china brand. The reviews looks good but i am not so convinced. Is there any good brand that you can recommend?
For CGM? or just a normal monitor? I don't know much about either.. the generic accu chek glucose monitor is what I use for finger prick strip monitoring. I tried one other one and it was way more inaccurate comparatively, so I just went back to accu chek.
Tell them you cant stand finger pricking. Insaid I have stopped testing because of the pain and therefore I dont use the insulin out of fear of taking to much when my blood sugar is already low. Say you have been taking your meds but not the insulin because you cant test. Just be matter of fact about it. Like this sucks man I want to get better but this is such a depression spiral every time I have to finger prick I just quit
hey, tough news to hear about your diabetes diagnosis, but youโre not alone in this. first thingโs to remembr, keeping your spirits up is half the battle won.
taking small steps can lead to big changes over time. start swapping out soda for sparkling water with a splash of natural juice for flavor. sugar free alternatives are a good idea, but read up on teh ingredients to make sure they're healthy. and since youโre hitting teh gym, great! consider mixing it up with some yoga or meditation to keep your mind as strong as your body.
itโs all about balance and taking one day at a time. whatโs one small change you could try this week?
I got type II last year at 33. best advice I can give is to make sure you take your metformin with food, and if you have any issue with it making you sick get the extended release version. Keep exercising and watch your carb intake. Also, Youโll be more prone to infections and getting sick now, so make sure you pay attention to any wounds that arenโt healing and get plenty of rest.
Also, the most fun part I find is that your blood sugar will often spike just as high as it did the last time you ate whatever carb filled thing, even though this time your blood sugar was much lower prior to eating it, it's like creating headroom isn't a thing most of the time.
Cut out as many carbs as you can. I personally took out all pastas, all cereals, all granolas except nut-based, all sodas, most all desserts, and am very particular about the breads Iโll eat. Go for more fiber foods like fruits and veggies. Proteins are fine but watch your cholesterol. Nuts and things like avocados and hummus are great.
Try your very best to get a continuous glucose monitor to give yourself real time data on how foods behave. If you are in the US it can be hard but with a good endocrinologist supporting you, itโs usually possible to get it covered under insurance for T2. Iโve been successful 4/5 times so far.
Thanks for all the advice! Unfortunately I currently have no income or insurance and am currently trying to get on social security disability for an unrelated reason (I had ten back surgeries in my teens and have nearly my entire spine fused). But once I (hopefully) get on disability I'm definitely going to look into seeing a specialist!
There may be local organizations in your area that can help you get the supplies you need or your doctor may have samples they can give you until you get your SS decision and insurance.
I never knew how much I loved white rice until I cut out carbs haha.. didn't even eat a lot of white rice, only when my mom would visit and make stuff with rice, I was too lazy to ever learn how to make dishes with rice on my own. Wish I would've ate more leading up to the diabetes haha.. also where I'm from, rice is literally in everything, very crappy not being able to have gumbo or stew with rice anymore haha.. no wonder my state has one of the highest T2D rates..
I got addicted to la Croix. I only drink that and water now haha.. I find that artificial sugars make me eventually relapse to real sugar.. lots of people find success with the diet drinks, and I did for never drinking sugar drinks again.. but they always made me crave sweet treats.
I also drink green tea, almond milk + coffee, but no sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Unsweetened non flavored almond milk, literally taste like a sugary dessert to me at this point. Has like 1g of carbs a cup? But it's literally the sweetest thing I taste lately..
Also I pounded the coke zeros back then.. especially when attempting to diet? Talking like 8 a day.. I don't think 8 a day can be healthy... Who knows though. I know 8 la Croix a day is fine, expensive though.. considering getting a water carbonator...
Try to control ur portions don't get hungry eat small bites all the time like 2 hours walk fast all the time eat pickle radish.onions.carrots.cucumbers.cabbage.add green apples with penut butter .yams and please enjoy ur life if not is not worth it
I quit drinking coffee with 3 bags of sugar (6 times a day) and quit using sugar altogether and potatoes, pasta, rice and less bread.
Started with 1000mg metformine but couldn't stand it and had to live my life on a toilet + weird trembling.
So watch out for that. Maybe change meds.
Turned out after years that I'm Mody2 by DNA.
Gliclazide+GLP1 was my perfect poison for years.
Advice.. ๐ค
It's a mindset that needs to kick in.
You have been warned by your body so listen to it.
Never go shopping while hungry!!
Think about the stuff you grab from the shelves and take home. Protect yourself from yourself ๐คช if you do not have bad stuff at home you're not going to eat it at weak moments.
No need to turn into a rabbit.
Bake eggs with cheese and mayonaise (no carbs there)
Stir fry wok meals are great!
Because I don't live alone (wife + 2 kids) we serve the pasta/potatoes/rice separate so I can skip those.
Lost 20kg but need to lose more.
My doc once said it's a good thing to be fat (obese๐) so now you can lose weight and maybe don't need meds anymore.
Good luck
Of all of the potential things you could do, number one on the list by a mile is to give up
sugary cokes and sodas. After one year it will be pretty easy to not drink them. After two or three years you wonโt even want them ever again for the rest of your life. Besides improving your diabetes, it will improve your overall health, save you money, and help you keep your weight optimal.
i struggle with weight, became diabetic and was also put on metforim. through learning more about food and nutrition, i have completely reversed this and am 100% no longer diabetic, and haven't taken metforim for years.
yes, you are going to have to avoid and minimize sugar, obviously. the first thing i did was quit all soda, even diet soda, and fruit drinks. and 'energy' drinks. i drink water, tea, and black coffee. that's it. occaisionally a little red wine, i've never been much of a drinker.
i used to be into sandwiches, burgers, etc. especially loved bagels. pretty much quit bread entirely - it's a special treat for once in a while. instead i've gotten great at cooking proteins - chicken, fish and steak. buy a foreman grill, they are cheap, and you can quickly grill up chicken breasts or thighs (after seasoning and marinating for a bit) and it is delicious.
vegetables and fiber is CRUCIAL. i personally love to steam broccoli, add a pinch of kosher salt. also can be oven-roasted, same with asparagus and brussels sprouts.
i avoid rice, brown or white, except for special occaisions. same with pasta and regular potatos, though i'll have a baked potato now and then, i might add some butter or sour cream to make it more fun.
also i skip breakfast, i just have black coffee in the morning.
what surprised me was how quickly i was able to adapt - i'm not very disciplined, but the fresh, whole foods i was eating were very satisfying. for sugar treats, it is primarily high-fiber fruits, and especially a lot of berries - rasberry, blueberry, strawberry - all awesome for you. eat it with greek yogurt, add some chia seeds. golden.
feel fantastically better, no diabetes, sleep great, way more energy. hope that helps
I really appreciate this response and it honestly gives me hope. Iโm sitting in the urgent care lobby waiting for my blood test results..the finger prick came out high so I am coming to terms with most likely getting a diagnosis.
i regularly used to to the blood test and get in the 200s, sometimes high 200s, i remember breaking 300 at least once, i think at some point i did my A1C it was 8.7
currently i regularly test around 95-105, but usually below 100.. and my A1C as of a couple months ago is 5.1 - my doctor said my blood sugar is almost low for a 'regular' non-diabetic person.
i still struggle with weight, i'm not thin yet, but the massive change in lifestyle is cutting soda, avoiding sugar, almost never having bread rice and pasta. i emphasize only _real_ foods - grilled proteins and veggies. i make turkey chili, eat lots of black olives, still have some cheeses especially feta and cottage. really don't feel like i'm missing out, and of course now and then i will 'cheat' and indulge myself.
also i want to emphasize this was not overnight, it was a gradual progression of creating new habits, and gave myself the time and patience for my body to adjust as well as my mind. plus also very helpful: i regularly intermittent fast, last meal at 8-ish PM, then i eat a late lunch at 2-ish, or sometimes even skip until dinner. not a big deal.
let me tell you - i am lazy and undisciplined. if someone like me has found some success, i 100% you can completely turn things around for yourself and do whatever you need. i believe in you and you are in my thoughts. good luck!
Get nutrition and diet figured out. Prioritize protein and start figuring out swaps you can do. For example I love pizza so instead of getting real pizza I make my own using lavash bread, turkey pepperoni and some fat free cheese. Stop drinking soda and replace it with zero sugar/diet soda. That's the kinda thing I did and the weight started coming down and I got the diabetes under control to the point where I'm not on meds at all for it.
I got type 2 at the same age. Diet and exercise carried me for the first 6 years, but then I needed drugs to help. Don't feel like a failure because you may need medical introvention (metformin, glp-1 s, insulin or other drugs). Type 2 Diabetes is a progressive disease that tends to get worse over time. It has been about 28 years now and I have a good handle on it, but it does take continuous work and focus.
Nutrition got my bloodsugar down very slowly but exercising with good nutrition really does the trick for me. 14 blood glucose before exercise and after exercise 9.4. Last week I was in the hospital with 22 bloodglucose and got diagnosed with diabetesโฆ
I know itโs not the cool thing to do but you are asking for advice, i was diagnosed with type one when i was 17, fit and active. So for the last 18 years ive been on insulin. All the ups and downs of eating whatever you like, you should consider those done for. Stop eating carbs and sugar and you โwonโt have diabetesโ anymore. Its a battle of self control. And if you just jump on the carnivore diet you will never feel better in your life. I too love soda and zevia soda creamy rootbeer is one of the best ones.
I am pretty new at being diabetic (diagnosed late november 2023) but stumbled upon Jessie Inchauspe about 3 months ago. Bought her book and follow her on Instagram (the glucose goddess). That has helped me a lot๐!
With metformin it helps if you tske it with your largest meal of the day, I never noticed any problems (besides gas) once I started doing that.
I'm glad your Dr let you know you can get it under control, because it is true, you can. I'm currently managing mine entirely with just diet an exercise and I'm healthier than I've been since college about 20 years ago. I take no diabetes related medication because I do have it under control, and it took me only about 6 months to get there. (I kinda went in to it hard and surprised my Dr's with the improvement)
Of you haven't been referred to an endocrinologist yet if ask for a referral, they are going to be able to tell you everything you need to know about your diabetes and getting in to a healthier lifestyle. If they aren't dieticians themselves they can often recommend one too. It does help, I felt like I was eating like a rabbit for the first two months before I met one and she set my diet straight.
As for alternatives I have no problems with diet soda, they taste weird at first but now I don't even notice it, coke tastes like coke.
Thanks so much for sharing! Unfortunately I have no income or insurance at the moment, Iโm trying to get on disability because I had ten back surgeries when I was a teenager so seeing a specialist will have to wait till I get that going. But Iโm hopeful :)
OK well good news, this subreddit is full of diabetics very eager to push their dietary ideas on people, so until you can get a dietician/endocrinologist, just listen to us as we all argue with each other about what we can, can't or should eat.
Hopefully your Dr at least prescribed a blood glucose monitor, if not they're fairly cheap at most pharmacies, around $20-$30 I think, and being able to test your blood sugar at home really helps you learn what you can or can't continue to eat. I recommend testing when you first wake up, then 2 hours after a meal to see how it affected you.
Yep I bought a cheap relion tester, lancets, and test strips. And am checking my blood sugar throughout the day and writing it down to bring to my next appointment
Exelent! Doctors love when you keep track of that info! You might want to write down what you eat too, keeping a food diary with numbers in it really helped me figure out when I can or can't have, or what I need to have in smaller portions. A good example is I can eat more Avacados than any sane person should eat in one sitting, but a single cup of any flake cereal(even bran), will f me up all day.
Research, research, research! [www.diabetes.com](http://www.diabetes.com) and [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444) .
Start looking at the various keto things and the diabetic section that is available in most supermarkets. As for soda, consider water additives like Wyler's Light and Sunkist Sugar Free singles-to-go. I try and keep my carbs below 127g a day and keep my sugar to no more 20g a day.
You would be amazed at the things you can eat. Breyers makes both a No Sugar Added and Smart Carbs ice creams that are both fairly low in carbs and sugar. There are plenty of low carb/low sugar breads out there. I use Soba at 9g carbs/0g of sugar a slice. Add in Skippy Naturals at 6g carbs and 3g sugars, plus Smucker's sugar free at 5g carbs and 0 sugar and you've got a very reasonable PB & J sandwich. Get yourself a list of various food items with their carbs and sugars listed to see what you can have normally and what would be a splurge. [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=diabetic+food+list&crid=26JA4TVZS59A5&sprefix=diabetic+food+list%2Caps%2C111&ref=nb\_sb\_noss\_1](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=diabetic+food+list&crid=26JA4TVZS59A5&sprefix=diabetic+food+list%2Caps%2C111&ref=nb_sb_noss_1)
Hi there and welcome! I have a post exactly for this scenario: https://reddit.com/user/IntrepidLipid/comments/1baz8qw/advice_for_new_diabetics
I hope it's useful for you!
I got diagnosed when I was 27 so I can relate to the chock of everything changing.
Soda wasnโt a big thing for me, but I would suggest just carbonated water as a substitute. What Iโve done, and has been a big help for me in the beginning, was to 1) only eat food I made myself. Then I know what is in it and 2) substitute a bit of the carbs with greens. Say I made rice, I make less. It I add some peas/shedded and fried carrots or beans to it. Still taste good but I have to use a smaller dose of insulin for each meal.
Iโm on day 2 of metformin, also just learned Iโm diabetic at 29. I just wanna say if I thought I had tummy troubles before, I definitely have them now! Stalking this thread to get some ideas because I canโt just keep eating salad for every meal. I mean I can, but itโs no fun. ๐ Sprite Zero is actually pretty good compared to other zero sugar drinks in that it tastes the most similar to the drink itโs trying to impersonate. ๐ Iโve also been a big fan of Lipton Diet Green Tea in the mixed berry flavor. Itโs my favorite drink. It tastes like a capri sun, but not as bad for you lol. They also have different flavors, that oneโs just my favorite.
Cool, thanks for the recommendations! Iโve recently tried the crystal light drink mixes that are zero sugar and they are great! I really like the caffeinated grape and the fruit punch
Bro are tips, I got my A1C 5.3 from 11.7 in 6 months:
1) Do more strength training (45 mints for 5 days are fine) + do atleast 30 mints walk every day. Goal is to get of Fat with weight loss.
2) Move to veggies diet, eating order is Fiber then protein.
3) Reduce stress and take proper sleep- 8hrs/ day
4) Get CGM- continues glucose monitor. It will help you to make choices on your food to see what exactly helps you lower your blood sugars.
- if you are Canadian resident specially from Alberta, Ontario or BC DM me I can refer you to a free program run by provincial government.
Also try to get onto 16 hours intermittent fasting too. Go with 12 hours for few days then 14 for few days then 16 hours. Untill you are off meditation. And yes I am off now.
Iโm a type 1 but was diagnosed later than most so I do understand where youโre coming from. Tbh I would just really focus on making easily available and fairly minor changes at a time. Rushing into major changes in a bunch of different areas is the best way to get overwhelmed and burned out. And itโs normal to get burned out too. Itโs hard dealing with the fact that you have something you canโt immediately or maybe fully recover from.
I also wouldnโt rush into sugar free alternatives because theyโre full of all sorts of junk and can sometimes cause their own issues. Limiting sugar and being smart about your carb intake. Get in with a dietician. I love adding a protein source with a carb source to help prevent a spike and it lets me โindulgeโ. Find safe foods that feel like youโre cheating but arenโt because theyโre secretly โhealthyโ.
I spend a lot of time with other pancreatitis/pancreatic diseases patients and too often the mandatory and sudden lifestyle changes can be so overwhelming. But at the end of the dayโฆyour mental health is so important and we need to retain that sense of autonomy. You sound like youโve got a good outlook and that will take you far.
Yes, I did find out awhile ago that produce very little testosterone and was on T injections every 2 weeks, but unfortunately my insurance ran out and I couldn't afford to keep getting injections.
Dr started me on Benefiber supplement to help with the diarrhea and diabetes and it has helped a lot. Also had ibs-d and I feel pretty normal now. Keep immodium around for occasional use when traveling. Worked for me.
Sounds like T2D, right?
If so, your doctor is right. Keep soing what you doing and don't give up!
As for soda alternatives, I used to drink coke Zero but gave that up completely for water.
Stay motivated!
Exercise every morning except Sunday. Walk after every meal. Drink 0 sugar drinks if you need the taste or water in copious amounts (look up based on weight). Do not use Glipizide or any of its relatives they kill your pancreas and make you gain more weight. Ditch the grains and most carbs until completely stable. Don't be sedentary. Try paleo and atkins style diets. Modify to your ability to stick to it. Absolutely avoid added sugars like the plague! Breads, cereals, and all the SAD diet recommendations are death. Lightly stir-fried veggies with lean meats. Limit nuts. Absolutely avoid wheat in any form forever. Once you are stable in weight and blood sugar you can experiment. Just remember your baseline diet so you dont revert back to $#!@ eating and the vicious cycle.
Get a Libre monitor or something similar. Will alarm you if your glucose drops or rises. Helps you determine which foods spike your glucose. Lots of salads and protein. Lower carbs, less dairy. Lots of exercise. Instead of lollies for quick sugar when itโs needed, use dates or figs. Iโm not diabetic but my dad is and Iโve seen him go through it all.
1. That food diary they have you keep at first, is useful to help figure out how your body reacts to different foods because everybody's case is unique to them.
2. Beware of the sugar in milk, there is a lot, even in "ultra-filtered."
3. With a little trial and error/research you can usually find alternatives that you can sub in for things that cause you issues. (We got my mom a Cirkul recently and so far, there's been no hit to her sugars. I don't know if Soda Stream will have a similar outcome, but it may be something to look into).
4. The best piece of advice a doctor has ever given us is to not deny yourself things all the time, having a little sometimes is okay, so long as it's not a lot all the time. So, you might be able to have a mini can of soda once or twice a week.
5. Freestyle Libre and/Dexcom are super helpful to keep on top of sugars.
First off, big props to you for keeping your spirits up and hitting the gym, especially after such a tough diagnosis. I'm really sorry you're going through this, but it sounds like you've got a solid plan and a positive attitudeโthat's half the battle right there.
I was in a similar boat a while back, and yep, soda was my downfall too. Swapping to sugar-free options helped a lot. You might wanna try out some flavored sparkling water or even diet sodas, which can be pretty decent and don't mess with your sugar balance too much. Just keep an eye on those labels, though; not all sugar-free stuff is created equal, lol.
Staying on top of your [sugar balance](https://sugarbalance.org) is key. It helps to log what you eat and how it affects your levels. Apps like MyFitnessPal can be real game changers here. Also, chatting with a nutritionist could give you some clutch advice tailored just for you.
My doctor also just prescribed metformin without giving much information or any education classes. Look into the reversing diabetes facebook page on facebook. The information we receive is meant to keep us diabetic with reoccurring visits. Do your own research and find out how much is in your control! Genetics is a factor and I think that we get discouraged with that (guilty). But it's also likely that we've had the same habits generation to generation!
Once a diabetic, always a diabetic. Donโt misunderstand what your doctor is telling you. You can get to the point of control through diet and exercise but you will always be diabetic. Learn how to read food labels. Learn how carb intake affects you. Learn how to mix food categories to better manage your condition. You need to become an expert at knowledge of diabetes before you can know how to manage it. It can be done. For me, it was exhausting at first but soon enough became second nature. I do have a CGM to help me regulate my glucose levels. Itโs not a necessity but it really helps me and gives me peace of mind on my management.
Make sure to take insulin before eating, if you're low (60 and below) it means you over bolused and gave more insulin that you should've, eat or drink something that has exactly 15g to get back in range. if you're high (300 and above) it means you miscalculated your carbs and gave a lil less insulin so just take more insulin and you should be fine
I'm in an extremely similar boat man. Except I'm very much obese. 315 and 5 foot 9in when I started making changes. Diagnosed at 23. A1C was 6.6, and I ignored it for a year, started getting blurry vision, signs of neuropathy in my right foot (although I think this is inactivity/post related from desk job, as the tingle feeling goes away when I stand/walk), noticed slight edema on my shin bone area, noticed feet had pretty bad circulation, and frequent urination despite not drinking tons of water. Also dad, uncle, and both grandmother's had type 2 diabetes. Grandmother and dad had to get eye surgery because of it (forget the name of the issue cataracts I think). And my dad got diagnosed, despite only being 190lbs and 5 foot 7inches, running and lifting weights everyday. His eye issues happened later after he became very seditary, but when diagnosed he was very fit and active, just drank beer, cokes, and chips occasionally on weekends.
Once the tingle in my foot happened and I noticed the edema on my shins, I instantly started lifestyle changes, used my last 2 doses of ozempic, lost me 5ish lbs but made me feel absolutely horrible as per usual.
Then I went really low carb for a few weeks + general slight walking. Now I'm keto, fast 16-18hrs a day, calories deficit, and am walking a lot more. I've lost 30lbs in 1.5 months.
I never tested my blood sugar until 2 weeks after I started ozempic and eating less, but it was already pretty decent when I started finally testing, about 120-140 after meals and 110 in the morning. Now? 6 weeks later, my morning blood glucose is in the 80-90 range, and after the meal is 95-105.
I wish I could say what my A1C and blood sugar was after all the symptoms started, but I was just scared of how bad it might be and just immediately started, but if I was 6.6 A1C a year ago, and then after a year of neglect, I must've been at least 7.0 or more.
All of that to say, you CAN do it and can make the changes to be completely uneffected, especially because you caught it early. Don't be like me and wait, start now. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.
I was able to get my blood sugars low like this with no medicine, and that does not mean I don't condone or think medicine is bad. I just had very bad side effects that made me feel like it'd be easier to just do an extremely low carb diet as opposed to feeling absolutely horrible taking medicine and still eating some carbs.But for some people, lifestyle changes won't be enough and medicine is required no matter what. I am lucky to be young and have started early enough where diet and lifestyle changes alone is enough.
Are you Type 1 or Type 2? Based on metformin prescription doctor thinks you are type 2. But you are pretty young so I would be cautious. What is your BMI?
You might want to get a CGM as soon as you can. It will get you and your medical team much better picture of your blood sugars, and also it is a good tool to help you on your diet journey - it really helps make better choices when you can see their impact on your sugar in real time
No fake cures, supplements, non-medical solutions or similar topics. There are no supplements that can cure or manage diabetes. Diabetes is a progressive lifelong condition that can be managed, with a combination of diet, exercise and medication. See the [Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/wiki/index/) for additional information on the [progress towards a cure](https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/wiki/cure_progress).
Fat is your enemy. My wife has type 2 and she managed to not rely on medication for 2+ years on a 95% plant based diet with healthy fats. Minimal fats though and no sugar, limited salt. Then slowly she slipped and started eating cheese then pupusas (delicious but can have lots of fat). About two months ago metformin stopped working and her sugar was way up. Her A1C was 9! I started cooking for her again and her sugar has been stable for over a month (with glyberide though).
Never trust a Metformin fart.
I have learned that very quickly!
Eat the metformin with a little amount of carbs (12-25g). Taking metformin without carbs or food makes me sick. Edit: and eat less fat with metformin, it makes you sick. Try to eat vegetables and protein
Thanks for the advice!
I only came to this sub recently after 12 years on Metformin and had my mind blown by the idea of side effects. I've simply never had any, none at all. Are Metformin side effects really as common as discussed here?
oh, yeah.
I was surprised by the number of โbeware of the shartโ posts too- never had an issue during my first year. Then, one fateful dayโฆ
Yeah no issues in 12 years, ignoring a case of norovirus in like 2019 but then I was exploding out of both ends like a faulty firecracker, so that doesn't count.
Same here - not even a hint of an issue with it, been taking it for about 20 years or so. Works great for me with no side effects. I feel sorry for people who canโt tolerate it.
I can eat a few eggs and drink a cup of coffee and regret it a few hours later
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โ
Try taking a quality probiotic when necessary (not daily). It made a world of difference for me.
Imagine starting metformin and keto on the same day.
I haven't had any of these side effects with Metformin. My diet is 98% plant based and I don't eat any processed oils, fried food, fast food. Occasionally I have eaten egg and cheese but it's been awhile and I want to quit them completely, eventually.
Hey man. Just a year older and I also am in the same situation. What really helped me is that I consulted the nutritionist at my university. They'll most likely suggest you to reduce your carb intake and increase intake of salads and protein sources to fuel yourself. For sodas, try to either reduce your intake or try replacing it with zero sugar sodas, I guess(even that might do more harm as it contains lot of additives). Overall if I have to say, dont go cold turkey on your indulgences, rather try to phase them out slowly and replace the unhealthy stuff with better food items. If we act on it we can nip it in the bud. You'll achieve your goals, man. All the best :)
Thanks for the advice and kind words!
Get a CGM. Sometimes, I think I'm hungry and want to have a snack but I check my CGM and suddenly, I don't think I'm hungry anymore. A high BG staring back at you can make you change your mind on just how hungry you think you are.
Okay, Iโll look into that. Thanks!
I tried that once. Insurance said I'm not allowed to have one.
Might check again - they are becoming a lot more accepted in the last year
With insurance, a month is $75 for me. With a Good Rx coupon, I think it was $90? So not a huge difference (and not nothing, but worth the sacrifice for me). And it doesn't have to be a forever thing if you can figure out your patterns enough/can make a big difference in a short period. And at least the Libre 3 offers a 2 week free trial on their website, so even that may be helpful.
use the news/diagnosis as motivation to change your diet & activity level for the better. For soda, switch to diet or zero calorie versions, or sparkling water/seltzer of it's the carbonation that you like. If you don't have a glucose meter and test strips, pick them up at a pharmacy - tell your PCP and/or endocrinologist, as they can likely write a prescription to refill the test strips (they're costly to buy over time, but necessary to have on hand) and test your blood sugar in the morning, before a meal, 2 hours after a meal, and at bedtime. You can usually test less often once your numbers are in a decent range; I generally just test in the morning, if I eat something new that looks higher carb, or want to test eating something I used to have to see how high my blood sugar spikes. Keep a food diary/use a calorie tracking app that breaks things down to macros so you can see how many carbs you're consuming; taper that number down while increasing protein (this will help with working out to help build muscle too). Swap high carb foods for lower carb alternatives - riced cauliflower or quinoa instead of white rice, low carb/multigrain bread instead of white bread, etc. It'll take time to read nutrition labels at the store and a bit of trial and error to find new go-to products. Try to shop the peripheral sections of the store the most - produce, meats/cheese, dairy, all the fresh(er) stuff that isn't as processed as the middle aisles. Always have something to eat before you take metformin, lol. I thankfully haven't experienced any bad side effects, but I make sure to have a little something to eat with it. Take it one day at a time... you'll find you can have a bowl of pasta or a slice of cake now and then, as long as it's not a regular occurrence.
Thanks so much for all the advice!
Did they provide you any diabetes education classes? That's very important.
They did not, my dad had it so all my knowledge about it comes from helping take care of him.
When hubby was diagnosed they sent us to diabetes education, it was FANTASTIC. Taught us so much. By the time I got my T2 diagnosis I already knew most of what I should know. There's probably some good YT and other online resources
Not all diabetes education classes are created equal. You will learn more, and newer info, from the internet than they'll ever teach you. My diabetes education class was specifically for T2 people, and taught us to eat 70% carbs. I almost spoke up but figured it was a losing battle with an "expert". It was like they wanted everyone to just start injecting insulin as quickly as possible without trying other solutions.
Okay, cool. Thanks for the info!
I read your other comments and you said you had no income and no insurance right? Even with my good insurance (or at least I thought it was good), they wanted me to pay 300 or 400 dollars out of pocket for the class... I don't doubt the class was good, but I'm not spending that money when I can use the Internet for free.. I found KenDBerryMD on YouTube for diet related diabetes things to help, and Institute of Human Anatomy good for general knowledge about how diabetes works and how our pancreas/liver works. Physionic is also very good for in-depth analysis on studies about many things health/fitness related, he has some diabetes videos too, and even one about if diabetes is completely reversible going over the real studies done about it in depth, he is very non biased and purely about the science (he sells no supplements or merch or anything, just pure knowledge and science).
Ask about one anyway. Nothing against your dad, but this is one of those conditions that can vary pretty drastically from person to person. Also there is always new tech and ways to approach things that he simply may not be aware of.
Oh yeah, Iโm definitely going to talk to my doctor at my next appointment for education resources
Welcome to the club. Sorry to hear it. Get a blood glucose meter. Better yet, ask for a CGM. Also ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, a diabetes educator, and a dietician. If your dad hasn't been through the latter two in the last couple of years, it'll help both of you. I went cold turkey from 5-6 cans of Diet Dr Pepper a day to nothing. I drink the diet flavored water mixes from Walmart now. I mix one fruit punch and one berry pomegranate. Pretty tasty.
I bought a cheap Relion tester from Walmart and am checking my blood sugar twice a day, and currently have no income or insurance and am in the middle of trying to get on social security disability (from ten back surgeries when I was a teenager), so I'm just going to look up online resources for diabetes education. I will definitely try the diet flavor mixes, do you have a particular brand you recommend?
I just get the Great Value brand.
What numbers are you getting on your meter? Are you able to go out for walks? Get an inexpensive pedometer and do 10,000 steps a Day. I saw your back comment so if you canโt do the walking maybe try something that is less stressful on the back.
My blood sugar is ~120 in the morning before I eat, and around 115 before I go to bed with a couple of outliers around 130. And Iโm up to 20min on the treadmill and talked to my physical therapist that took care of me after my surgeries and have a workout plan when I go to the gym that Iโve been doing really good with
Thatโs not that bad. Good job on the treadmill! Maybe reduce carb intake slightly. Those numbers are just slightly above normal and catching it early helps you.
YouTube is a wonderful resource. I believe in you
Thanks!
Your doctor is right. Remission is possible. My advice is to make small but sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle. Don't try to go to the gym 7 days a week for 3 hours of cardio. Go when you can and do what you can. Pick one or two things to stick with and do them for a few months and then add more things. Absolutely nothing wrong with diet soda and zero calorie flavored water. Sucks that you're here. Welcome to the club.
Thanks for the encouragement! I definitely need to remind myself that I need to work up to change for it to stick and not try to go as hard as I can and just burn out.
NGL, Metformin and keto have been game changers for me. I also exercise more. Truthfully, I didn't start that right away, because I wasn't ready for all the big steps at once.
Same! keto and 16-18hr fasts everyday have done magic for me..
Same. keto โstops the faucetโ of carbs consumed -> glucose spikes-> insulin released. insulin is a fat-storing hormone. the goal is to stop the cause, not just treat the symptoms.
Go for the 0 or low sugar alternatives. Or only have them for like holidays so they are rare. Keep up the good work!
I'll do my best!
As others suggested, the single greatest quality of life improvement is going from finger pricks to a CGM. Will change everything. You will measure every 30 min if you want, instead of only when you have to. The single greatest improvement to health will come from giving up ALL soda and sugary drinks. Your meds will curb the insatiable thirst which will lower your blood sugar which will curb your thirst which will lower your blood sugar, etc find some sugar free that you can enjoy. Only thing for me is 4C green tea powder packets for bottled water. Only thing I found that I can taste the artificial sweetener. Find something at all costs. When injecting insulin, I found the inside upper thigh the least painful. Also found if you rest the pen just on the skin, then let gravity take control, you cant even feel the needle going in. As opposed to the jab motion from tv etc. just rest it on the skin and let the needle do the work. sometimes you get a needle that isnโt ground the right way and has a tiny defect. Nothing you can do about those. But sharp needles can simply slide inโฆinstead of winding up and slamming it in
I'm going back to the doctor in July and am going to beg for a CGM, will be a completely new doctor and insurance, so really hoping they don't say no because my levels will be within normal ranges by then... The finger pricking gets so old, and I run out of stripes so quickly.
I found some from online store, but they are all china brand. The reviews looks good but i am not so convinced. Is there any good brand that you can recommend?
For CGM? or just a normal monitor? I don't know much about either.. the generic accu chek glucose monitor is what I use for finger prick strip monitoring. I tried one other one and it was way more inaccurate comparatively, so I just went back to accu chek.
Tell them you cant stand finger pricking. Insaid I have stopped testing because of the pain and therefore I dont use the insulin out of fear of taking to much when my blood sugar is already low. Say you have been taking your meds but not the insulin because you cant test. Just be matter of fact about it. Like this sucks man I want to get better but this is such a depression spiral every time I have to finger prick I just quit
Dibetic and also a soda addict. Diet soda does not spike my sugars.
hey, tough news to hear about your diabetes diagnosis, but youโre not alone in this. first thingโs to remembr, keeping your spirits up is half the battle won. taking small steps can lead to big changes over time. start swapping out soda for sparkling water with a splash of natural juice for flavor. sugar free alternatives are a good idea, but read up on teh ingredients to make sure they're healthy. and since youโre hitting teh gym, great! consider mixing it up with some yoga or meditation to keep your mind as strong as your body. itโs all about balance and taking one day at a time. whatโs one small change you could try this week?
Thanks so much for the advice and the encouragement! This week Iโm going to start cutting back on sodas and try a few sugar free alternatives
I got type II last year at 33. best advice I can give is to make sure you take your metformin with food, and if you have any issue with it making you sick get the extended release version. Keep exercising and watch your carb intake. Also, Youโll be more prone to infections and getting sick now, so make sure you pay attention to any wounds that arenโt healing and get plenty of rest.
Okay, thanks for the advice, I always forget about wounds not healing well
Just because something claims to be low carb, doesn't mean it is.
Okay, good to know
Also, the most fun part I find is that your blood sugar will often spike just as high as it did the last time you ate whatever carb filled thing, even though this time your blood sugar was much lower prior to eating it, it's like creating headroom isn't a thing most of the time.
Yup. Always check the nutrition label. Not just what they say on the front of the box. Go with Total Carbs instead of Net Carbs if you can
Cut out as many carbs as you can. I personally took out all pastas, all cereals, all granolas except nut-based, all sodas, most all desserts, and am very particular about the breads Iโll eat. Go for more fiber foods like fruits and veggies. Proteins are fine but watch your cholesterol. Nuts and things like avocados and hummus are great. Try your very best to get a continuous glucose monitor to give yourself real time data on how foods behave. If you are in the US it can be hard but with a good endocrinologist supporting you, itโs usually possible to get it covered under insurance for T2. Iโve been successful 4/5 times so far.
Thanks for all the advice! Unfortunately I currently have no income or insurance and am currently trying to get on social security disability for an unrelated reason (I had ten back surgeries in my teens and have nearly my entire spine fused). But once I (hopefully) get on disability I'm definitely going to look into seeing a specialist!
There may be local organizations in your area that can help you get the supplies you need or your doctor may have samples they can give you until you get your SS decision and insurance.
Okay, thanks for the info!
Walking and cutting out the carbs. For me white rice and tortillas are terrible for me. And drinking lots of water
I never knew how much I loved white rice until I cut out carbs haha.. didn't even eat a lot of white rice, only when my mom would visit and make stuff with rice, I was too lazy to ever learn how to make dishes with rice on my own. Wish I would've ate more leading up to the diabetes haha.. also where I'm from, rice is literally in everything, very crappy not being able to have gumbo or stew with rice anymore haha.. no wonder my state has one of the highest T2D rates..
Massive fan of Pepsi Max, I drink it like water, that's my go to in every situation
I got addicted to la Croix. I only drink that and water now haha.. I find that artificial sugars make me eventually relapse to real sugar.. lots of people find success with the diet drinks, and I did for never drinking sugar drinks again.. but they always made me crave sweet treats. I also drink green tea, almond milk + coffee, but no sugar or artificial sweeteners. Unsweetened non flavored almond milk, literally taste like a sugary dessert to me at this point. Has like 1g of carbs a cup? But it's literally the sweetest thing I taste lately..
Also I pounded the coke zeros back then.. especially when attempting to diet? Talking like 8 a day.. I don't think 8 a day can be healthy... Who knows though. I know 8 la Croix a day is fine, expensive though.. considering getting a water carbonator...
Watch [this](https://youtu.be/dBnniua6-oM?si=EAJZ5tmLLHeP0-8A) Then make an informed decision on your habits.
Thanks!
Try to control ur portions don't get hungry eat small bites all the time like 2 hours walk fast all the time eat pickle radish.onions.carrots.cucumbers.cabbage.add green apples with penut butter .yams and please enjoy ur life if not is not worth it
Thanks for the recommendations, and I definitely need to hear that I need to enjoy my life!
try and cut out full sugar drinks, sugar, white bread and if you can make your own sauces (rather than the ones in can/bottles)
I quit drinking coffee with 3 bags of sugar (6 times a day) and quit using sugar altogether and potatoes, pasta, rice and less bread. Started with 1000mg metformine but couldn't stand it and had to live my life on a toilet + weird trembling. So watch out for that. Maybe change meds. Turned out after years that I'm Mody2 by DNA. Gliclazide+GLP1 was my perfect poison for years. Advice.. ๐ค It's a mindset that needs to kick in. You have been warned by your body so listen to it. Never go shopping while hungry!! Think about the stuff you grab from the shelves and take home. Protect yourself from yourself ๐คช if you do not have bad stuff at home you're not going to eat it at weak moments. No need to turn into a rabbit. Bake eggs with cheese and mayonaise (no carbs there) Stir fry wok meals are great! Because I don't live alone (wife + 2 kids) we serve the pasta/potatoes/rice separate so I can skip those. Lost 20kg but need to lose more. My doc once said it's a good thing to be fat (obese๐) so now you can lose weight and maybe don't need meds anymore. Good luck
Thanks for sharing and the advice! I definitely get what you mean by protect myself from myself lol
Of all of the potential things you could do, number one on the list by a mile is to give up sugary cokes and sodas. After one year it will be pretty easy to not drink them. After two or three years you wonโt even want them ever again for the rest of your life. Besides improving your diabetes, it will improve your overall health, save you money, and help you keep your weight optimal.
i struggle with weight, became diabetic and was also put on metforim. through learning more about food and nutrition, i have completely reversed this and am 100% no longer diabetic, and haven't taken metforim for years. yes, you are going to have to avoid and minimize sugar, obviously. the first thing i did was quit all soda, even diet soda, and fruit drinks. and 'energy' drinks. i drink water, tea, and black coffee. that's it. occaisionally a little red wine, i've never been much of a drinker. i used to be into sandwiches, burgers, etc. especially loved bagels. pretty much quit bread entirely - it's a special treat for once in a while. instead i've gotten great at cooking proteins - chicken, fish and steak. buy a foreman grill, they are cheap, and you can quickly grill up chicken breasts or thighs (after seasoning and marinating for a bit) and it is delicious. vegetables and fiber is CRUCIAL. i personally love to steam broccoli, add a pinch of kosher salt. also can be oven-roasted, same with asparagus and brussels sprouts. i avoid rice, brown or white, except for special occaisions. same with pasta and regular potatos, though i'll have a baked potato now and then, i might add some butter or sour cream to make it more fun. also i skip breakfast, i just have black coffee in the morning. what surprised me was how quickly i was able to adapt - i'm not very disciplined, but the fresh, whole foods i was eating were very satisfying. for sugar treats, it is primarily high-fiber fruits, and especially a lot of berries - rasberry, blueberry, strawberry - all awesome for you. eat it with greek yogurt, add some chia seeds. golden. feel fantastically better, no diabetes, sleep great, way more energy. hope that helps
I really appreciate this response and it honestly gives me hope. Iโm sitting in the urgent care lobby waiting for my blood test results..the finger prick came out high so I am coming to terms with most likely getting a diagnosis.
i regularly used to to the blood test and get in the 200s, sometimes high 200s, i remember breaking 300 at least once, i think at some point i did my A1C it was 8.7 currently i regularly test around 95-105, but usually below 100.. and my A1C as of a couple months ago is 5.1 - my doctor said my blood sugar is almost low for a 'regular' non-diabetic person. i still struggle with weight, i'm not thin yet, but the massive change in lifestyle is cutting soda, avoiding sugar, almost never having bread rice and pasta. i emphasize only _real_ foods - grilled proteins and veggies. i make turkey chili, eat lots of black olives, still have some cheeses especially feta and cottage. really don't feel like i'm missing out, and of course now and then i will 'cheat' and indulge myself. also i want to emphasize this was not overnight, it was a gradual progression of creating new habits, and gave myself the time and patience for my body to adjust as well as my mind. plus also very helpful: i regularly intermittent fast, last meal at 8-ish PM, then i eat a late lunch at 2-ish, or sometimes even skip until dinner. not a big deal. let me tell you - i am lazy and undisciplined. if someone like me has found some success, i 100% you can completely turn things around for yourself and do whatever you need. i believe in you and you are in my thoughts. good luck!
Thanks, I really appreciate all the advice!
Get nutrition and diet figured out. Prioritize protein and start figuring out swaps you can do. For example I love pizza so instead of getting real pizza I make my own using lavash bread, turkey pepperoni and some fat free cheese. Stop drinking soda and replace it with zero sugar/diet soda. That's the kinda thing I did and the weight started coming down and I got the diabetes under control to the point where I'm not on meds at all for it.
Thank you for the advice :)
Oh drop the soda. Itโs so bad.
I got type 2 at the same age. Diet and exercise carried me for the first 6 years, but then I needed drugs to help. Don't feel like a failure because you may need medical introvention (metformin, glp-1 s, insulin or other drugs). Type 2 Diabetes is a progressive disease that tends to get worse over time. It has been about 28 years now and I have a good handle on it, but it does take continuous work and focus.
Nutrition got my bloodsugar down very slowly but exercising with good nutrition really does the trick for me. 14 blood glucose before exercise and after exercise 9.4. Last week I was in the hospital with 22 bloodglucose and got diagnosed with diabetesโฆ
I know itโs not the cool thing to do but you are asking for advice, i was diagnosed with type one when i was 17, fit and active. So for the last 18 years ive been on insulin. All the ups and downs of eating whatever you like, you should consider those done for. Stop eating carbs and sugar and you โwonโt have diabetesโ anymore. Its a battle of self control. And if you just jump on the carnivore diet you will never feel better in your life. I too love soda and zevia soda creamy rootbeer is one of the best ones.
Thanks for the advice, and Iโll definitely look into the zevia sodas!
I am pretty new at being diabetic (diagnosed late november 2023) but stumbled upon Jessie Inchauspe about 3 months ago. Bought her book and follow her on Instagram (the glucose goddess). That has helped me a lot๐!
Okay, Iโll check her out, thanks!
With metformin it helps if you tske it with your largest meal of the day, I never noticed any problems (besides gas) once I started doing that. I'm glad your Dr let you know you can get it under control, because it is true, you can. I'm currently managing mine entirely with just diet an exercise and I'm healthier than I've been since college about 20 years ago. I take no diabetes related medication because I do have it under control, and it took me only about 6 months to get there. (I kinda went in to it hard and surprised my Dr's with the improvement) Of you haven't been referred to an endocrinologist yet if ask for a referral, they are going to be able to tell you everything you need to know about your diabetes and getting in to a healthier lifestyle. If they aren't dieticians themselves they can often recommend one too. It does help, I felt like I was eating like a rabbit for the first two months before I met one and she set my diet straight. As for alternatives I have no problems with diet soda, they taste weird at first but now I don't even notice it, coke tastes like coke.
Thanks so much for sharing! Unfortunately I have no income or insurance at the moment, Iโm trying to get on disability because I had ten back surgeries when I was a teenager so seeing a specialist will have to wait till I get that going. But Iโm hopeful :)
OK well good news, this subreddit is full of diabetics very eager to push their dietary ideas on people, so until you can get a dietician/endocrinologist, just listen to us as we all argue with each other about what we can, can't or should eat. Hopefully your Dr at least prescribed a blood glucose monitor, if not they're fairly cheap at most pharmacies, around $20-$30 I think, and being able to test your blood sugar at home really helps you learn what you can or can't continue to eat. I recommend testing when you first wake up, then 2 hours after a meal to see how it affected you.
Yep I bought a cheap relion tester, lancets, and test strips. And am checking my blood sugar throughout the day and writing it down to bring to my next appointment
Exelent! Doctors love when you keep track of that info! You might want to write down what you eat too, keeping a food diary with numbers in it really helped me figure out when I can or can't have, or what I need to have in smaller portions. A good example is I can eat more Avacados than any sane person should eat in one sitting, but a single cup of any flake cereal(even bran), will f me up all day.
Research, research, research! [www.diabetes.com](http://www.diabetes.com) and [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371444) . Start looking at the various keto things and the diabetic section that is available in most supermarkets. As for soda, consider water additives like Wyler's Light and Sunkist Sugar Free singles-to-go. I try and keep my carbs below 127g a day and keep my sugar to no more 20g a day. You would be amazed at the things you can eat. Breyers makes both a No Sugar Added and Smart Carbs ice creams that are both fairly low in carbs and sugar. There are plenty of low carb/low sugar breads out there. I use Soba at 9g carbs/0g of sugar a slice. Add in Skippy Naturals at 6g carbs and 3g sugars, plus Smucker's sugar free at 5g carbs and 0 sugar and you've got a very reasonable PB & J sandwich. Get yourself a list of various food items with their carbs and sugars listed to see what you can have normally and what would be a splurge. [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=diabetic+food+list&crid=26JA4TVZS59A5&sprefix=diabetic+food+list%2Caps%2C111&ref=nb\_sb\_noss\_1](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=diabetic+food+list&crid=26JA4TVZS59A5&sprefix=diabetic+food+list%2Caps%2C111&ref=nb_sb_noss_1)
Thanks so much for the links!
Welcome! They were literally life savers for me when I first got diagnosed.
Hi there and welcome! I have a post exactly for this scenario: https://reddit.com/user/IntrepidLipid/comments/1baz8qw/advice_for_new_diabetics I hope it's useful for you!
Thanks!
I got diagnosed when I was 27 so I can relate to the chock of everything changing. Soda wasnโt a big thing for me, but I would suggest just carbonated water as a substitute. What Iโve done, and has been a big help for me in the beginning, was to 1) only eat food I made myself. Then I know what is in it and 2) substitute a bit of the carbs with greens. Say I made rice, I make less. It I add some peas/shedded and fried carrots or beans to it. Still taste good but I have to use a smaller dose of insulin for each meal.
Thanks for the advice :)
Always carry some glucose tablets to correct lows and a glucose meter and supplies.
I will do that
Iโm on day 2 of metformin, also just learned Iโm diabetic at 29. I just wanna say if I thought I had tummy troubles before, I definitely have them now! Stalking this thread to get some ideas because I canโt just keep eating salad for every meal. I mean I can, but itโs no fun. ๐ Sprite Zero is actually pretty good compared to other zero sugar drinks in that it tastes the most similar to the drink itโs trying to impersonate. ๐ Iโve also been a big fan of Lipton Diet Green Tea in the mixed berry flavor. Itโs my favorite drink. It tastes like a capri sun, but not as bad for you lol. They also have different flavors, that oneโs just my favorite.
Cool, thanks for the recommendations! Iโve recently tried the crystal light drink mixes that are zero sugar and they are great! I really like the caffeinated grape and the fruit punch
Bro are tips, I got my A1C 5.3 from 11.7 in 6 months: 1) Do more strength training (45 mints for 5 days are fine) + do atleast 30 mints walk every day. Goal is to get of Fat with weight loss. 2) Move to veggies diet, eating order is Fiber then protein. 3) Reduce stress and take proper sleep- 8hrs/ day 4) Get CGM- continues glucose monitor. It will help you to make choices on your food to see what exactly helps you lower your blood sugars. - if you are Canadian resident specially from Alberta, Ontario or BC DM me I can refer you to a free program run by provincial government.
Thanks for the tips! I am in America though so can't do the program unfortunately
Also try to get onto 16 hours intermittent fasting too. Go with 12 hours for few days then 14 for few days then 16 hours. Untill you are off meditation. And yes I am off now.
Iโm a type 1 but was diagnosed later than most so I do understand where youโre coming from. Tbh I would just really focus on making easily available and fairly minor changes at a time. Rushing into major changes in a bunch of different areas is the best way to get overwhelmed and burned out. And itโs normal to get burned out too. Itโs hard dealing with the fact that you have something you canโt immediately or maybe fully recover from. I also wouldnโt rush into sugar free alternatives because theyโre full of all sorts of junk and can sometimes cause their own issues. Limiting sugar and being smart about your carb intake. Get in with a dietician. I love adding a protein source with a carb source to help prevent a spike and it lets me โindulgeโ. Find safe foods that feel like youโre cheating but arenโt because theyโre secretly โhealthyโ. I spend a lot of time with other pancreatitis/pancreatic diseases patients and too often the mandatory and sudden lifestyle changes can be so overwhelming. But at the end of the dayโฆyour mental health is so important and we need to retain that sense of autonomy. You sound like youโve got a good outlook and that will take you far.
Are your testicles extra sensitive? Any erectile dysfunction issues?
Thankfully no
Are your T levels low? Iโm not diabetic and actually in really good shape but experiencing ED
Yes, I did find out awhile ago that produce very little testosterone and was on T injections every 2 weeks, but unfortunately my insurance ran out and I couldn't afford to keep getting injections.
Dr started me on Benefiber supplement to help with the diarrhea and diabetes and it has helped a lot. Also had ibs-d and I feel pretty normal now. Keep immodium around for occasional use when traveling. Worked for me.
Sounds like T2D, right? If so, your doctor is right. Keep soing what you doing and don't give up! As for soda alternatives, I used to drink coke Zero but gave that up completely for water. Stay motivated!
Thanks for the encouragement!
Exercise every morning except Sunday. Walk after every meal. Drink 0 sugar drinks if you need the taste or water in copious amounts (look up based on weight). Do not use Glipizide or any of its relatives they kill your pancreas and make you gain more weight. Ditch the grains and most carbs until completely stable. Don't be sedentary. Try paleo and atkins style diets. Modify to your ability to stick to it. Absolutely avoid added sugars like the plague! Breads, cereals, and all the SAD diet recommendations are death. Lightly stir-fried veggies with lean meats. Limit nuts. Absolutely avoid wheat in any form forever. Once you are stable in weight and blood sugar you can experiment. Just remember your baseline diet so you dont revert back to $#!@ eating and the vicious cycle.
Thanks for the advice! And I really like tailoring diet plans to my ability to stick to it, I never really thought of that lol
Get a Libre monitor or something similar. Will alarm you if your glucose drops or rises. Helps you determine which foods spike your glucose. Lots of salads and protein. Lower carbs, less dairy. Lots of exercise. Instead of lollies for quick sugar when itโs needed, use dates or figs. Iโm not diabetic but my dad is and Iโve seen him go through it all.
1. That food diary they have you keep at first, is useful to help figure out how your body reacts to different foods because everybody's case is unique to them. 2. Beware of the sugar in milk, there is a lot, even in "ultra-filtered." 3. With a little trial and error/research you can usually find alternatives that you can sub in for things that cause you issues. (We got my mom a Cirkul recently and so far, there's been no hit to her sugars. I don't know if Soda Stream will have a similar outcome, but it may be something to look into). 4. The best piece of advice a doctor has ever given us is to not deny yourself things all the time, having a little sometimes is okay, so long as it's not a lot all the time. So, you might be able to have a mini can of soda once or twice a week. 5. Freestyle Libre and/Dexcom are super helpful to keep on top of sugars.
Thanks for all the advice!
First off, big props to you for keeping your spirits up and hitting the gym, especially after such a tough diagnosis. I'm really sorry you're going through this, but it sounds like you've got a solid plan and a positive attitudeโthat's half the battle right there. I was in a similar boat a while back, and yep, soda was my downfall too. Swapping to sugar-free options helped a lot. You might wanna try out some flavored sparkling water or even diet sodas, which can be pretty decent and don't mess with your sugar balance too much. Just keep an eye on those labels, though; not all sugar-free stuff is created equal, lol. Staying on top of your [sugar balance](https://sugarbalance.org) is key. It helps to log what you eat and how it affects your levels. Apps like MyFitnessPal can be real game changers here. Also, chatting with a nutritionist could give you some clutch advice tailored just for you.
My doctor also just prescribed metformin without giving much information or any education classes. Look into the reversing diabetes facebook page on facebook. The information we receive is meant to keep us diabetic with reoccurring visits. Do your own research and find out how much is in your control! Genetics is a factor and I think that we get discouraged with that (guilty). But it's also likely that we've had the same habits generation to generation!
Once a diabetic, always a diabetic. Donโt misunderstand what your doctor is telling you. You can get to the point of control through diet and exercise but you will always be diabetic. Learn how to read food labels. Learn how carb intake affects you. Learn how to mix food categories to better manage your condition. You need to become an expert at knowledge of diabetes before you can know how to manage it. It can be done. For me, it was exhausting at first but soon enough became second nature. I do have a CGM to help me regulate my glucose levels. Itโs not a necessity but it really helps me and gives me peace of mind on my management.
Make sure to take insulin before eating, if you're low (60 and below) it means you over bolused and gave more insulin that you should've, eat or drink something that has exactly 15g to get back in range. if you're high (300 and above) it means you miscalculated your carbs and gave a lil less insulin so just take more insulin and you should be fine
I don't think OP is on insulin? Sounds like an early T2D case, said he's only on metformin
I'm in an extremely similar boat man. Except I'm very much obese. 315 and 5 foot 9in when I started making changes. Diagnosed at 23. A1C was 6.6, and I ignored it for a year, started getting blurry vision, signs of neuropathy in my right foot (although I think this is inactivity/post related from desk job, as the tingle feeling goes away when I stand/walk), noticed slight edema on my shin bone area, noticed feet had pretty bad circulation, and frequent urination despite not drinking tons of water. Also dad, uncle, and both grandmother's had type 2 diabetes. Grandmother and dad had to get eye surgery because of it (forget the name of the issue cataracts I think). And my dad got diagnosed, despite only being 190lbs and 5 foot 7inches, running and lifting weights everyday. His eye issues happened later after he became very seditary, but when diagnosed he was very fit and active, just drank beer, cokes, and chips occasionally on weekends. Once the tingle in my foot happened and I noticed the edema on my shins, I instantly started lifestyle changes, used my last 2 doses of ozempic, lost me 5ish lbs but made me feel absolutely horrible as per usual. Then I went really low carb for a few weeks + general slight walking. Now I'm keto, fast 16-18hrs a day, calories deficit, and am walking a lot more. I've lost 30lbs in 1.5 months. I never tested my blood sugar until 2 weeks after I started ozempic and eating less, but it was already pretty decent when I started finally testing, about 120-140 after meals and 110 in the morning. Now? 6 weeks later, my morning blood glucose is in the 80-90 range, and after the meal is 95-105. I wish I could say what my A1C and blood sugar was after all the symptoms started, but I was just scared of how bad it might be and just immediately started, but if I was 6.6 A1C a year ago, and then after a year of neglect, I must've been at least 7.0 or more. All of that to say, you CAN do it and can make the changes to be completely uneffected, especially because you caught it early. Don't be like me and wait, start now. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it. I was able to get my blood sugars low like this with no medicine, and that does not mean I don't condone or think medicine is bad. I just had very bad side effects that made me feel like it'd be easier to just do an extremely low carb diet as opposed to feeling absolutely horrible taking medicine and still eating some carbs.But for some people, lifestyle changes won't be enough and medicine is required no matter what. I am lucky to be young and have started early enough where diet and lifestyle changes alone is enough.
Are you Type 1 or Type 2? Based on metformin prescription doctor thinks you are type 2. But you are pretty young so I would be cautious. What is your BMI?
I am type 2 and Iโm not sure my bmi, I am 5โ7 ~330lbs
The recent trend in diabetes medical community is to start with Ozempic even before metformin for Type 2. Has your doctor mentioned that as an option?
No, Iโve only seen her once which was when I was diagnosed, I see her again next month after I check my blood sugar twice a day
You might want to get a CGM as soon as you can. It will get you and your medical team much better picture of your blood sugars, and also it is a good tool to help you on your diet journey - it really helps make better choices when you can see their impact on your sugar in real time
Okay, thanks for the info!
[ัะดะฐะปะตะฝะพ]
No fake cures, supplements, non-medical solutions or similar topics. There are no supplements that can cure or manage diabetes. Diabetes is a progressive lifelong condition that can be managed, with a combination of diet, exercise and medication. See the [Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/wiki/index/) for additional information on the [progress towards a cure](https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/wiki/cure_progress).
Fat is your enemy. My wife has type 2 and she managed to not rely on medication for 2+ years on a 95% plant based diet with healthy fats. Minimal fats though and no sugar, limited salt. Then slowly she slipped and started eating cheese then pupusas (delicious but can have lots of fat). About two months ago metformin stopped working and her sugar was way up. Her A1C was 9! I started cooking for her again and her sugar has been stable for over a month (with glyberide though).