Diabetes Talking

Question:

shost.aoc.nrao.edu writes I was diagnosed with Type 2 back on April 19th. While it wasn’t totally unexpected since my father has diabetes (he was diagnosed about 15 – 16 years ago and only now is having to start insulin injections at night); well, I was hoping to stave off the demon for several more years at least (I’m 38, my dad was diagnosed when he was around 54). For the last week I’ve been able to maintain a max bg level of less than 160 mg/dL (high of 158) with the low being 98 mg/dL. I’m still getting rather large (or I think large) swings in my bg level, in one case a jump of 57 points. I’m hoping that the swings will become less severe over time.

I don’t think there’s many of us would think a 57 point jump was large. My HbA1c was 10.6 on April 18th. I’m scheduled to go back in the first part of July for another reading and a follow up with my doctor. He was thinking about putting me on Glucophage, but when I told him about my bg readings he decided to continue with the diet & exercise and see what July brings. (He seemed fairly surprised that my highs were below the 160 range – apparently he expected my *lows* to be around 180.)

Without using any meds, I wouldn’t worry about "lows" either. You’re no more at risk from a hypo than a non diabetic. Of course things could change if you DO go on meds. One complication that I have is that I work a rotating shift. Sometimes I’m working days (either 8am – 8pm or 8am – 4pm), or evenings (4 pm – midnight), or graveyards (either 8pm – 8am or midnight – 8am). So it should be interesting to see what my levels do this upcoming weekend when I’m on graveyards (19th – 21st).

Yep, that would be interesting, please post your findings. Beav

Response:

One complication that I have is that I work a rotating shift. Sometimes I’m working days (either 8am – 8pm or 8am – 4pm), or evenings (4 pm – midnight), or graveyards (either 8pm – 8am or midnight – 8am). So it should be interesting to see what my levels do this upcoming weekend when I’m on graveyards (19th – 21st).

I was told I had it in Janurary.  And put on a diet.  I’m a retired afternoon shift worker I stayied on that time table.  I was told I had to eat three meals a day  no mater what time I started.  In your case it is extremly hard to do but you can do it.   People asked me how I could stick with my diet so well.  I tell them I am really trying to control my diabetes with diet.  So far it’s working.  Control.  Breakfast before work,  lunch at work and dinner after.  Try eating the heavy meal at work. Do they offer nutrition training near you?  My doctor sent me for diabetes training near me.  It helped a lot.  Learned how to read lables and make choices.  I not only had to control my BG but lose weight also.  So far I’m doing both.   Good luck:) Mike W 340/274/???

Response:

It takes a while for everything to level out and work if you are not on meds. BUT, for a lot of us it will … please let us know what happens about the rotating shifts …. I may be having to work on that one myself and  am going to ask some questions today of a person who might help, I’ll post what I find out.

Response:

I was diagnosed with Type 2 back on April 19th. While it wasn’t totally unexpected since my father has diabetes (he was diagnosed about 15 – 16 years ago and only now is having to start insulin injections at night); well, I was hoping to stave off the demon for several more years at least (I’m 38, my dad was diagnosed when he was around 54). For the last week I’ve been able to maintain a max bg level of less than 160 mg/dL (high of 158) with the low being 98 mg/dL. I’m still getting rather large (or I think large) swings in my bg level, in one case a jump of 57 points. I’m hoping that the swings will become less severe over time. My HbA1c was 10.6 on April 18th. I’m scheduled to go back in the first part of July for another reading and a follow up with my doctor. He was thinking about putting me on Glucophage, but when I told him about my bg readings he decided to continue with the diet & exercise and see what July brings. (He seemed fairly surprised that my highs were below the 160 range – apparently he expected my *lows* to be around 180.) One complication that I have is that I work a rotating shift. Sometimes I’m working days (either 8am – 8pm or 8am – 4pm), or evenings (4 pm – midnight), or graveyards (either 8pm – 8am or midnight – 8am). So it should be interesting to see what my levels do this upcoming weekend when I’m on graveyards (19th – 21st). Tony

Response: