I've been T2 for about 10 years now. I've been controling my longterm blood
sugar till lately (5.7 the test before, three months later it' up to 6.2).
Not enough exercise. Some discomfort with feet seeming to swell, some
strange pains and a lot of coming and going of numbness, at least feel that
way. No real obvious issues till now.

Yes, my eating is bad - I've been cutting down by cutting out meals, no
breakfast (BG is up in the morning 150 yesterday - shouldn't eat with high
BG, right?). The problem is lunch is a dump on the system, and dinner isn't
much either, so I'm spiking BG up to close to 300 which stresses everything.

My big toe started getting red behind the nail, and starts to inflate -
infection warning - what can I do? So I just keep going. No pain - next the
quick beside the nail color turns to pus - so I pop it. A lot comes out.
Now I have this opening in the top of my toe. I'm sure it will heal, but
right now it looks like a Driver's Ed movie.

This is my wake up call it would seem. Heal up, exercise and spread meals
out. The problem with spreading meals out is I will have to watch portion
control - very hard. But the choice is a slow death.

And what about my eyes hurting - is that the start of something like
blindness? Now I'm starting to sound like a hypocondriact.

What I'm scared about is going down the same path others on both side of my
family has done, slowly having my extremities wittled away. I'm going to my
3 month check up today, the guy has a good raport with me, I'm sure I'll get
good information, but more is better.

Pointers please? What should I do next?

You'll hear a lot soon but I should tell you right off that NOT eating
(IMHO) is not the solution. More and smaller might suit you better. IMHO of
course. Spread it out, it might be harder but you might gain better control
by eating 6 times with smaller portions.
For example I never eat more than about 30 carbs per meal, snack, whatever.
Good thing you're going to see your Dr., it may be to late to mention this
but you may want to ask him for a peptide test to determine how much insulin
you're still putting out.
A lot of people may disagree with this but I've found out from reading, not
by personal experience, that sometimes insulin is the away to go for
short-term control. You sound like a candidate only because you're having
symptoms right now. You need to do something immediate. IMHO. Hope you have
a good Dr. visit.
btw: are you any meds now?
--
--

t2_lurking
geabbottATabbottandabbottDOTcom
Do not mail to t2_lurking (auto-delete)
============================
Well, i dreamed i saw the silver
Space ships flying
In the yellow haze of the sun
-- Neil Young --

"Russy" <russnmegnot@viclink.com> wrote in message
news:vtu3csldqmi28d@corp.supernews.com...

Thanks for your advice. oops, shoulda said that I'm taking 850 mg
glucaphauge / once a day.
"t2_lurking" <t2_lurking@abbottandabbott.com> wrote in message
news:brn5u0$58a2p$1@ID-201156.news.uni-berlin.de...

In article <vtu3csldqmi28d@corp.supernews.com>, "Russy" <russnmegnot@viclink.com> wrote:
See your doctor about your foot.

--
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

remove "spamtrap" for e-mail

Wrong !! Breakfast is VERY important..even if you are running high.

The problem is lunch is a dump on the system, and
If you are spiking too high for too long try taking in fewer carbs,
changing meds (speaking with MD first !!), exercise after meal.

Russy wrote in message ...

A few things to think about:

1. Many posters to this group report that they didn't start to see the
full power of Glucophage (generic as metformin) until they had walked up
their dose to 1500 mg/day. The maximum dose is somewhere around 2500 -
2550 mg/day

2. A T2 Doctor who once spoke at our Diabetic Support Group meeting
asserted that a diabetic's immune system, in particular the white blood
corpuscles which fight infections, just shuts down when our bG hits 180.

3. In general, your version of the disease seems to be becoming more
virulent. It might be time for more meds.

Our local endo (a pretty good one) uses this med sequence:

a. First try metformin up to the maximum dose (2500 mg/day or
whatever lower limit the patient can tolerate, i.e. avoid G.I. upset)

b. Then add Actos or Avandia

c. Then add a beta stimulator such as Starlix, Prandin, Glyburide, etc

d. Then add insulin, one shot per day at bedtime

e. Then replace the beta stimulator with multiple shots of insulin.

3. Some remarks on #2 above.

a. Insulin always works, always. . .got that? Always!

If everything seems to be going to pot, temporary insulin can pull
you out and give you another shot at diet, exercise and oral meds.

b. Metformin has been demonstrated to be an anti-Diabetic Heart Attack
med (They think Actos and Avandia will end up the same but only for heart
attacks caused by "plugging" arteries, not congestive heart failure)

c. Dr. Bernstein (a famous Diabetic Book author) claims we should
skip "2c" and go straight from "2b" to "2d"

4. That foot sounds scary. If you are fiddling with it yourself, that
means you have never attended a Diabetic Support Group lecture on foot care
by a good podiatrist. If you had, you would have been so scared by that
toe that you would have ran, not walked, to a good podiatrist.
(DPM: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine)

Right now, you are just asking to lose that toe, and maybe some of your
foot with it. The problem with that level of self care, with your
not-too-good sugars is that "some of your foot" could mean up past the
ankle.

Sorry, time to stop dilly-dallying, time to start pestering doctors.

Keep coming back and talking about it. We have some real experts on
Pestering Doctors around here.

Regards
Old Al

"Russy" <russnmegnot@viclink.com> wrote in message
news:vtu3csldqmi28d@corp.supernews.com...
Not sure what you mean by controlling long term BG. What are your readings
upon waking and at two hours after eating?

Cutting out meals is the worst thing a diabetic can do. That will set you
up for a BG roller coaster that is hard to get off of. Not eating will
cause your liver to dump glucose and you'll have higher BG than if you had
eaten a low carb meal.
Not good! Get to the Dr. right away.
Slow death is no fun. Neither is losing your leg and that's what could
happen if you don't get to the Dr. ASAP!!!!!
Again, get to the Dr. No telling what this is or if it is related to
diabetes. You are not sounding like a hypochondriac. You are sounding like
a diabetic who has not been taking good care of themself. And now things
are starting to snowball.
It would appear that you have already gone down that path. Now stop what
you're doing and do something about it. I'm glad you are going for a 3
month checkup. But is this Dr. an Endocrinologist? Are you also seeing a
Podiatrist and an Eye Dr.?
Mention the toe and they eyes to the Dr. and make appointments with the
Podiatrist and Eye Dr. as well.

--
Type 2
http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/

Russy,

You've taken the first step, which is to admit you've got a problem.

Get the toe looked at, then start reading here every day, and take advantage
of some support.

It sounds like you're relying too much on blood sugar averages and not
experimenting with foods to see what will keep your post meal numbers under
control.

Have you tried cutting your carbs down to see if that will control your
spiking? Have you tried eating several small meals instead of a few big
meals?

Read this excellent article which explains the method a lot of us here have
found useful"

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly Diagnosed.htm Though the title is
"newly diagnosed" many people with long-standing diabetes find it eye
opening.
--
Jenny

Cut the carbs to respond to my new email address!
New photo: http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/jennypics.htm
Weight: 168.5/137
Diabetes Type II diagnosed 8/1998 -
HBa1c 5.2 10/03
Low Carb 9/1998 - 8/2001 and 11/10/02 - Now

http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean
How to calculate your need for protein * How much people really lose each
month * Water Weight Gain & Loss * The "Two Gram Cure" for Hunger Cravings
* Characteristics of Successful Dieters * Indispensible Low Carb Treats *
Should You Count that Low Impact Carb? * Curing Ketobreath * Exercise
Starting from Zero * Do Starch Blockers Work? * NEW! Why the Low Carb Diet
is Great for Diabetes * NEW! Low Carb Strategies for People with Diabetes


"Russy" <russnmegnot@viclink.com> wrote in message
news:vtu3csldqmi28d@corp.supernews.com...

no pete, I'm telling you the truth. So sorry that you can't take a cry for
help and information just as that....
"Pete" <aspen3@freeuk.com> wrote in message
news:aqbutv0rn2930cjpqugvt40t6ld68cas2u@4ax.com...

I thank you for you information Julie. I'm sure what follows is way to much
information, but I really need to continue getting the whole picture off my
chest:

Back from the general practice doctor - got a round of antibiotics for the
infection (Cefzil 250 mg / 2xday for 14 days). He's a positive guy, and has
earned my trust to this point. He didn't want to step up the metaformin yet
(what are the dirty secrets for this medication? I've been on it for 5 years
or so).

Discussed diet (smaller low carb meals) and exercise (walking on a regular
basis) with him - I'm also going to find a diabetic support group in
Portland, OR that is positive and looking for solutions. As I said, the
smaller, regular low carb deals could be a recipe for failure for me. I was
Dx with T2 when I was up at about 270 lbs., from eating regular meals,
stressing out and overworking. I'm at 226 lbs now and 'should' lose another
25. More meals will spell weight gain for me (and my big open mouth).

To combat the percived swelling and stiffness in my feet, begining self
massages and yoga moves - to build flexibility where things are pretty
stiff.

My BG in the morning has been creeping up over time - begining of the year
they seemed to run about 130 in the am, now about 150. Two hours after
eating BG is around 200 (plus or minus 20 points) if I'm doing well. Higher
if I'm stressed (see below). I've found that my mental temperature has a bit
to do with this mess as well.

Part of the problem with my meal pattern is the rest of my life, working at
a desk job obsessively without care for myself in an attempt to run away
from a failed marriage and the situational depression attached to it
magnifies my usual morose outlook. Taking Lexapro (5mg/day) as an adjunct to
deal with the depression - primary care for that is seeing a therapist,
therapy group and a 'life coach' to gain tools to clean the self doubts out
of my head (which are worse in the morning - connection with BG spike?). I
know some would think this paragraph is off topic, but I'm sure it's all
related.

As I said to much information, but I need to work this out - this infection
thing scares me - in a way to save myself.

"Julie Bove" <jnospambove@bestweb.net> wrote in message
news:vtuk93cumea257@corp.supernews.com...

"Russy" <russnmegnot@viclink.com> wrote in message
news:vu04nsa9sqsh8d@corp.supernews.com...
effect. And the most common side effect is gas and/or stomach upset.
That's why people are usually started on a low dose to see if they can
tolerate it. If I were you, I'd see an Endocrinologist. They are the
diabetes specialists. This guy isn't doing you much of a favor by not
increasing your meds.

Support groups can be positive, but they may not offer solutions. I was in
one and found that to be true. Not that they're all that way mind you.


I eat three meals a day and a bedtime snack. We're all different. But the
main thing is not to skip meals.

< I was Dx with T2 when I was up at about 270 lbs., from eating regular
meals,
Don't worry about your weight at the moment. Worry about getting your BG
back down where it should be. Then tackle the weight.
Good! Also keep in mind that your feet will probably feel better once your
BG is back down. You might have the start of Neuropathy.
Yikes! 200 is certainly damaging your body. And of course stress will not
help.
The depression will probably be your worst hurdle. When you are depressed
it is hard to get things under control.
That's what we are here for!

--
Type 2
http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/

You've answered your own questions. Eat several times/day, but cut down
on carbs. When you see your MD at your 3-month appt, be honest about
your less-than-desirable eating habits. See a dietitian.

See your eye doc about your eyes hurting--could be sinus congestion!
You won't know until you get checked out.

You know it's a wake-up call. Do what you already know is right. If
you do, you won't experience a downward spiral, which is what your
relatives experienced. It doesn't have to be that way--it's your choice.

Russy wrote: