Surviving Diabetes
By tiggyann
@tiggyann (614)
United States
August 2, 2007 9:41am CST
Well it's been a week since my husband has been diagnosed with diabetes, and so far so good...Except the fact my husband is now having major problems with his eyes. They are getting really bad and he says his hands are feeling weird. I begged him to go to the Emergency Room last night, and he claims he will be fine, but also says he needs a magnifying glass to read anything, which is not good. He says he will not go in until next week. this does scare me, your eyesight is a gift, he just shouldn't be putting something like that off.
He is doing very well on his diet. :) He is trying very hard to stick to this and we read every label at the grocery store learning what is good and what is bad. :) it's all about counting the carbs! :) Have found some sugar free candies and he is liking that very much! :) He still gets his sweets. :)
I have him on about a 200 carbs a day diet and he is starting to bring his weight down alittle. :) He is not liking it alot, but knows he has to now and in time he will learn to adjust to his new lifestyle. and feel great again. :)
I'm alittle upset the doctor didn't send him home with a meter to check his sugar level, so we have no idea what his sugar level is. I'm hoping this next visit next week they prescribe one so the insurance will cover it.
In the past week, I also have changed my diet since I'm at high risk for this too, since alot of my family has had it. Alot more vegetables and alot more salads, My clothes are not fitting me anymore, will have to buy me a belt I guess, lmao. I can afford to lose 15-20 pounds anyways and will lower my risk as well. It's unbelieveable how much sugar we consume and are not aware of it till reality slaps us in the face and forces us to look at what we eat.
As I was sitting at my fathers house, he was telling me how hard it was for him to lose weight, he will just about starve himself to lose 10 pounds, then before you know it, he says he put it back on just as fast as he lost it, then I went to his cabinet and showed him all the carbs in the crap he is eating and told him this is why, cause it's all bad for you, will kill you or give you diabetes. Told him about my new diet and how I don't have to starve myself to death and still losing weight and now he is forced to see it for himself! I told him he needs to count his carbs too, it will help him. Hoping he will listen cause my daddy is a big man. Weight problems are bad in my family, so this could be the turning point for him as well.
2 people like this
7 responses
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
5 Aug 07
I was sorry to here about your husband. I hope he getting better. I just wanted to let you know that there were coupons in the paper a few weeks ago for free glucose monotors. The moneters are not what is so expensive it is the little pieces of paper that go in them or strips what ever you want to call them. My mother has diabetes type two. She has to watch what she eats as well. She also takes a vitamin called fish oil to help with it.
The other thing is not all diets work for all people. There are different reasons for people gaining or loosing weight. I personally have asthma and am yelled at all the time to loose weight. I work hard and loose a few pounds then I have an asthma attack and am put on steriods. Steriods cause you to eat and gain weight. So what is the point of me trying to loose weight.
Who is to say what over weight is to begin with. The media says some girl looks good at a size six so that is the perfect weight. Each person is different and what your perfect weight is is not neccessarily mine.
I am sorry for the rant. I wish you luck with the weight loss and the diabetes.
@BlueAngelRS (2899)
• Canada
2 Aug 07
hi tiggyyan...I was diagnosed 2 years ago with type 2 diabetes and it was a life changing experience..But before I found out I was diabetic..I started to loose my far sight vision I wear glasses now...But Also your husband might notice that when his sugar levels are coming down for the first bit he might feel dizzy, stoned or even drunk..I was told by my doctor that this is absolutly normal..I was living for a real long time with high sugar levels that now my sugar level is going back to normal my body is adjusting to it...I was also told by the diaticion to be careful of how much fruits and veggies you eat..It's okay to eat them little by little but fruits and veggies contain a natural sugar in themselves that can raise your sugar level..I hope this helps gl..It's hard but it does get easier...For the first few months it was hard to give up some things and change my lifestyle but it's getting better..I don't test my sugars as much as I should...But I eat 3xs a day..Sometimes I'm bad at missing meals but I hardly snack and I was told to snack..I think if we snack all the time that makes it harder to loose the weight...
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
2 Aug 07
I have diabetes, celiac disease and sarcoid. I was diagnosed 20 years ago. He needs to get his eyes checked NOW, i have spent a year blind because of things that could have been prevented, and 4 surgeries laters I can finally see again.Get him a meter too, they are usually free , and there's tons on the internet to choose from, just pick one that your insurance will cover the cost of the strips, that's your main worry.But having the machine is an irreplacable factor in getting better.You can easily od on your meds or go into acidosis if you don't know how to treat yourself.If his hands feel weird , it's probably a type of nueropathy, or may just be having lower sugars messing with his blood pressure.Insulin thins the blood, he may feel a little cold as well.Good luck to him!!
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
2 Aug 07
I cannot understand why they did not give your hubby a prescription for a meter and test strips. Meters are not that expensive, but the test strips, even the cheap ones, are about a dollar a piece! Some are even free if you buy strips. I was looking into this because I want to monitor what I am doing. I am not diabetic, but it could happen. You are a real help to your dad and husband. If he gets his blood pressure, cholesteral, and stuff under control his vision may improve. If not, there may be some surgeries he will need. Keep up the good work. You guys quit smoking, and you can beat this too.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
2 Aug 07
I lost a lot of weight eating this way myself. My father had to do the same thing years ago after he was diagnosed with diabites. I hope your husband's eyes will be alright I have a uncle who has lost his to diabietes but he did't try to eat right either at least your husband is trying and that is what counts kudos for him. I hope his vision gets better soon.
@sweetaspie52 (2359)
• United States
2 Aug 07
Well it sounds like you have everything under control and your absolutly right in watching what you eat and counting the carbis a good diet so I pray that your father listens to you and his wieght goes down also I will keep you and your family in my prayers
@mrsbrian (1949)
• United States
2 Aug 07
I was just also diagnosed with diabetes and am looking into all the options for food, I saw you said you dont have a meter, I dont know where you live but I know you can call Liberty medical and they will supply you with a meter for free and all the supplies to go with it. I have mine on the way.I hope if His sugar is bad and he is feeling bad he will not wait to get seen as it can lead to a diabetic coma.
