My Week with my Diabetes...

I had four appointments this week, and three of them had to do with my diabetes: my endocrinologist, a diabetic educator, and my doctor. It was an interesting - and encouraging - week.

The appointment with my endocrinologist, whom I’ll call Dr. M, brought the happy news that I have lost 35 pounds in 12 weeks! Dr. M said she was very impressed, especially since it has taken a while to iron out the (Insurance) kinks for the diabetes education and diet/nutrition classes Dr. M wanted me to get.
She recognized that I deserved the credit for this, since I had done it on my own. (Forgive me if I pat myself on the back here. Ouch, that hurts!) Dr. M was so pleased that she decided to stick with what I have been doing without making any changes for now. After all, don’t mess with success, right? Dr. M looked through the notebook of information I have gathered about various aspects of diabetes, and said that I could probably teach the diabetes educators.

The next day, I drove to La Jolla to keep my appointment with my CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator), who is also an RN. It didn’t take her long to realize that I had indeed researched on my own, and had the basics of diabetes and diabetes treatment down pretty well. The CDE asked what was my “secret” to successful weight loss. I quickly summed it up this way: I have tried to inform myself as best as I could, then have conscientiously tried to put the information into practice. I also decided not to “stress” over meals or days when I “blew” my carb or calorie “budget.” She agreed that this was good advice. I did learn, however, that I need to disregard bold claims on the package of low carb pasta if the nutrition label doesn’t back it up. (And it looks as though it doesn’t! The number of “unsoluble” fiber was far lower than printed on the front of the package.) She also told me that current thinking about  fiber as an element of carbs is that it should not be completely subtracted from the total carb amount to obtain a “net” carbs number; instead, only 1/2 of the fiber number should be deducted, since fiber is good for the body, too. At the end, the CDE thanked me for making her morning so easy.

The following day I had an appointment with my primary care doctor, Dr. N. She, too, was pleased with the weight loss, and not only that, but also with the rate of loss. Losing 2 - 3 pounds per week is optimal, because any loss greater than that tends to be temporary. She was also pleased with my A1c level, which was 6.0. She told me the last time she checked it, it was 6.7. I thought I saw on the record at the diabetes institute that they showed 6.9. Either number is on the high side, while 6.0 is an excellent value.

Dr. N had expressed to me that she had been thinking about starting a library of helpful books that could be shared with patients. I had several cookbooks that I don’t use, and one resource on diabetes that I had duplicated, so I took them with me yesterday. She was very happy to have these, along with a few others that I had previously given. Now her dream of having a library is coming to life. Dr. N agreed with me that dessert cookbooks probably would not get a place in her library. I wonder why...?

Delightful Diabetes # 3 Explain the Different Types of Diabetes

When we consider diabetes, it is important to remember that there are several main classes of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. (There are several more, but they are considerably less common than these.)

Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called insulin-dependent diabetes, generally affects younger people, including children. Constant thirst, frequent urination and fatigue are some of the important signals that the person may have diabetes. These symptoms come on rather suddenly and without other warning. This type is the result of the body not producing insulin or not utilizing the insulin that is produced. One of the treatments is to administer insulin into the body, usually via injection, although other methods, such as inhalation therapy, are being aggressively researched. Type 1 diabetics must test their blood glucose (sugar) regularly to administer proper dosages of insulin throughout their day. Insulin pumps that monitor glucose and automatically administer proper amounts of diabetes are becoming more readily available today.

Type 2 diabetes generally affects older adults, but there are more and more cases of youth being affected, too. (The latter is probably caused by the increased obesity levels in younger people.) Symptoms are similar to type 1, except that they develop gradually. In fact, a large portion of people who actuallly have type 2 diabetes are not even aware of it - making this a “silent” disease. When it is caught early enough this class of diabetes can often be treated with controlled diet and exercise. Later stages can usually be treated with oral medications (pills). Again, testing of blood glucose is necessary, but more to be aware of blood sugar spikes and how diet affects them.

A temporary form of diabetes is gestational diabetes. This commonly occurs during pregancy, but usually disappears after the child is no longer being carried in the womb.



Testing and monitoring results over a period time by a doctor is necessary to make a proper diagnosis of diabetes, especially type 2. Generally 2 consecutive high blood glucose readings are required before one is deemed to have diabetes. At that point, a doctor may refer a patient to an endocrinologist to confirm the diagnosis, and to prescribe a treatment that is most appropriate to the individual.

Delightful Diabetes # 2 What is Diabetes?

Delightful Diabetes # 2

When we talk about diabetes, perhaps it would be good to know what we are talking about. Diabetes is a type of autoimmune disease. That is, because something in the body isn't functioning properly, the body begins to harm itself. Autoimmune disease can be so serious as to cause even death.

In the case of diabetes, the body isn't properly utilizing insulin. Either it isn't producing insulin as it should (type 1 diabetes) or the body becomes resistant to the insulin it does produce (type 2). Why is insulin so important? Insulin is a hormone that enables the body's cells to take in glucose (sugar) for energy to work as they should. Without insulin, the body can't get energy to function normally.

What causes diabetes? As I studied this issue, I came away both fascinated and frightened. Over the years doctors have talked to me about being genetically predisposed, being overweight, about having high blood pressure, about having high cholesterol levels, and the need to exercise. At that time it was easy for me to compartmentalize each of these as a separate issue. However, now that I have diabetes and have learned more about it, I realize that all of these factors have contributed to the onset of diabetes. Not only that, but once diabetes is present, it begins another chain reaction in the body if it is not controlled. Untreated diabetes can lead to kidney, heart, eye, dental, skin, neuropathic (nerve, in this case of feet particularly) complications that tend to be very serious conditions. Yikes! Now, it's not like being shot with a marshmallow gun...it's like having a bomb dropped on me! (Perhaps members of the medical profession should try to do more to give the "big picture" that can develop from this series of "thumbnail" pictures. Or, to use another metaphor, a single pixel doesn't a TV picture make; it takes many of them together to provide a proper image and understanding.)

Here is the math: genetics + overweight + high blood pressure + high cholesterol + lack of exercise = DIABETES.
Its corollary: diabetes + kidney problems + heart issues + eye complications + dental problems + poor skin conditions + foot-nerve trouble = ...
well, they add up to serious health problems, possibly even DEATH. It is estimated that diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death, and the 5th cause of disease-related death.

Ah, if only I had known and realized all of this years ago...I might not be where I am now. I might not even be writing this blog. But I am, so I want to pass on to others what I have experienced and learned.

Delightful Diabetes

Delightful Diabetes.  What kind of fool came up with that? It's an oxymoron - 2 seemingly opposite concepts linked together. Please allow me to explain.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in February of this year. (A grand birthday gift that was!) My doctor had been watching blood glucose levels starting to rise, and informed me that I had become diabetic, or was in the prediabetic stage, at least.

Apparently, many people are shocked or go into denial when they are given this verdict. For some reason I wasn't overly surprised. My reasons may not have been valid, but, nevertheless, I took this pronouncement with equanimity.

Since then, my doctor referred me to an endocrinologist, and I have seen her a couple of times now. On my first visit, I commented that, if the doctor is concerned with tracking down "bad" chemical developments in the body, wouldn't that make her an "endocriminologist?" She laughed and said that she'd have to tell her husband, because he'd enjoy the comment.

I don't wish to imply that this experience has always been a joyride - it hasn't. There are certain ups and downs: new diet regimen, finger sticks, and trying to stick to a schedule for both of these. After the first month, when I had some difficulty convincing the diabetes and nutrition education group that my insurance did cover such classes under certain circumstances (which included mine), I began to research, read and study on my own. After all, if I'm going to live with diabetes (or even just the possibilities of diabetes) I should get to know and understand it as well as I can. I've searched the internet for information and resources. I've printed out pages and pages of information, and have ordered more fact sheets and booklets from sources listed. I have purchased several books.
I showed my doctor the thick notebook I have assembled with all this information, and she commented that I was compulsive-obsessive. (It's true, when I get involved in something, I always go all out.)

This blog will be my account of my "journey" and my "discoveries." I do this for two reasons. First is to make sure that I understand as fully and accurately as possible - for a layman, anyway. Second, perhaps these thoughts will help others who find themselves in the same diabetes boat with me.

We may indeed reach the conclusion that there is such a thing as delightful diabetes after all.