Don't do any extra insulin the first time...just monitor your sugar.
See what happens. Get a thin crust for that pizza. It will be less carbs.

Don't forget the grapefruit...this is what keeps the sugar down on binge day.

Are you using RX drugs? (lisinopril is not affected).
Grapefruit interacts with some RX meds.

I think the TV show was a bit overdone with the binge. Dr. Oz does that...and that is why I don't like him much. But being sensible and having forbidden things...is sort of a binge IMO.

That guy is on FIVE shots a day.... that is alot. I would not envy him. you will probably outlast him considerably.

I'd do the treat at dinner. The idea is to do a real food intake that day, compared to reduced intake the other 6. If you eat 1200 cal a day, then 2000 on binge day is almost double. Not much to make 2000!

Okay, let's see if I have this straight.

I drink half a cup of grapefruit juice before dinner. Then I eat two pieces of thin crusts pizza (I can buy a frozen pizza and bake this??) Only a thin crust one.

Then I take usual shot at night time and next morning, I'll see what happens.

Now here's a question. Should a diabetic be drinking some grapefruit juice every day???

I haven't had that in YEARS!!

And about the calorie load for the day. I don't count calories. I just eat my eggs and cheese with sprouts (like a sprout omelette) for breakfast, lunch is a salad with tuna or grilled chicken or maybe a piece of fish. And supper is a salad, chicken, veggies, etc. then at 8 p.m. I love a piece of sugar free cake (that I make myself), with a cup of coffee.

don't really know how many calories that is, but on BINGE MONDAY, as I'm going to call it, I should up my calorie load to a bit more than I am used to, right?

So maybe I would have some veggie bacon (I'd bring that with my sprouts, they wouldn't care), and perhaps at dinner I might have something else about an hour after I eat the pizza. So if I eat my dinner (pizza) at 6 p.m, maybe at 8 or 9, I'll have some chicken.

I know, not really doing a binge but you have no idea how hard this is going to be for me. I have eaten like this for YEARS. Finally got it into my head to eat natural, not processed, REAL food and lo carbs. And now I have to go against everything I have ever been taught.

Good Lord!!!

lol
so tell me if my plan IS A PLAN!!!!

Thanks much

Melody

That sounds good. Just a bit of a binge... since you are on Lantus.

The grapefruit has been shown to increase insulin actions. Only use unsweetened 100% juice. (or a half grapefruit fresh)
You cannot use the grapefruit if you are using RX drugs.
This is a list of drugs that interact with grapefruit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._by_grapefruit
Remember new drugs may not appear on this list yet.
Always check with your pharmacist if in doubt.

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs.../jmf.2006.9.49

And remember, to move those large muscle groups during the binge time + grapefruit... the excess sugar is supposed to go to your muscles and not your stored fat. (in the videos).
(I go up and down our stairs). The thyroid receptors are also in your muscles.

Test your blood sugar before bedtime to see where you are.
And the next morning. After that you will know if you need a few more units of Lantus on the binge day.

Since you do not need daily short acting insulin with meals, you should show little effect, I am predicting.

Other diabetics with less control would need more supervision and perhaps not do the "binge" day.

You might be able to then lose that last weight. No guarantees tho...but it is worth a try.

Okay, here is what I'm doing next Monday. I'll eat half a grapefruit before dinner. I'll have a nice steak with half a baked potato. I haven't eaten a potato of any kind in over 15 years.

NOW THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING.

lol
will update.

Melody

Hi there!

I just wanted to jump in and say that generic metformin made me so sick that I was afraid to try it again, but my doctor told me that it should be different with the Glumetza since it was a brand name, so I tried it and she was right. I haven't had one bad side effect from it that I'm aware of. I've been taking it for several months now.

On a another note, I've really learned a lot from this thread. It made me decide to join your community. Thank ya'll

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Thanks for the Glumetza info. This drug just became available again after being recalled last summer. (same contaminated empty plastic bottle issue as with Tylenol etc).

I haven't started it because I am waiting for my One Touch strips to come via Medco...who really messed me up with a huge delay.
They may be in the mail today... or tomorrow. FINALLY.

I am supposed to test quite a bit before doing the Glumetza...then start at 1 a day. 500mg

I took Glucophage ER years ago in a dieting attempt (since I was insulin resistant then too), and it made me so ill. At first it was better than immediate Glucophage and I was doing well. Then all of a sudden the diarrhea came back and I had a terrible attack of vertigo, which another doctor blamed on the metformin so I stopped taking it. This trial with Glumetza is to see if I can improve slightly....I've been controlling blood sugars for years with diet, and now it appears that it is failing to some extent.

I take 1000mg in the morning and then again at bedtime. She just recently started me on Lantus at bedtime. Diabetes is so scary to me. I was insulin resistant (pre-diabetic they said) until a few months ago when she told me I was now a "full blown" diabetic. Cripes! I am trying to change my eating habits but it's so hard. I was staying hungry all the time but it seems the insulin has helped with the cravings somewhat. I was doing okay until I was at Walmart the other day and went down the 50% off Valentines Day candy aisle. Bad mistake. I'm trying to get to the point where I can make myself pass on by things in the stores that I don't need to get. Like I said, it's just so hard for me. I have zero willpower.

I pretty much ignored the Pre-diabetes diagnosis and continued to eat what I wanted. I sort of had the mindset of crossing that bridge when I got to it, that I'd worry about it if I ever became a "real" diabetic. They say ignorance is bliss, and it was for awhile, but now that it's changed and I've done a lot of reading about what's happening to my body I can't ignore it anymore and am taking it more seriously. What really got my attention was when I developed neuropathy in my feet. I never knew that pain could feel that way. The burning pain, the shooting pains, the numbness, and very painful to just touch them to try to rub them. It is horrible. It was a terrible smack in the face that I had ignored my blood sugars to this point. I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone.

I have said some of those same things about not understanding why some people lose weight and I haven't. It doesn't seem fair . I've been told I should do 5-6 small meals per day. Is that right? I am terrible about going for long periods of time not eating anything and then when I do I tend to overeat.

Anyway, I didn't mean to interrupt you guys, I just found this thread very interesting and wanted to share with you about my experience with Glumetza. I'm going to try the 30mg protein breakfast and am going to check out the fenugreek too.

Thank you so much for the welcome. I look forward to learning more.

For a long time I used the Zone diet plan. This is a way of eating that reduces inflammation in the body, and helps you avoid diabetes, and even lose weight. Jennifer Anniston the actress uses it, for example.

The book I've just started reading is helpful. But one thing one must do when insulin resistance turns to diabetes, is ACCEPT the fact, and give up most of your carbs. The 4 hr Body, uses "slow carbs" instead. Beans and lentils. I have a problem with red beans upsetting my GI tract, but the lentils are turning out to be easy for me. They have protein, and slow your blood sugar way down. I am still experimenting with them.

Our TV and magazine ads are very seductive... it is really getting harder and harder who to believe, and to avoid eating badly. Eat and run life styles also make this very difficult.

I still use Zone bars to be snacks. And I find nuts to be a safe way to curb hunger. The 4 hr Body really takes your appetite away if you are willing to eat sparingly and only do protein and good fats.

It is just possible that diabetes has more than one trigger...say perhaps some environmental toxin that sets you up for it. I think we all have to ACCEPT and stop fighting it... and get down to basics. I am also just about to start the sprouts that Melody does here.... I finally got some seeds to work in the new sprouter I got at Xmas. ( I am 64 now and with the history of PCOS and family diabetes, I am very lucky to have delayed this intervention as long as I have).

I am waiting for the X#$$% mail to come with my strips!
It took 3 wks to get my free meter--- long story. Then I sent my Rx to get the strips and it was lost. (Feb 1st), So my doctor called the RX into Medco and they sent it 2-12, but still it is not here yet. Then today I get a notice they received my old dated RX from Jan TODAY...and put it on hold until this RX is done (3 mos for one copay-- Federal Blue Cross). So between my delay with Glumetza, and that recall and unavailability and the strips debacle... I will by the end of this week start testing in earnest several times a day to see where my bad times are. Then I will start the Glumetza which I finally got last week. GAD it has been a huge battle.

I am in good shape. Imagine if I had serious issues?

Hi there. Welcome!!!

I've been sprouting for years and it's the best thing I ever discovered. And the Fenugreek seeds have REALLY helped to control my sugar. I just don't sprout them. I make a tea. I used to chew the seeds, but this way is easier.

Go to any Indian store and look for a package called METHI SEEDS. If my video camera was working, I'd make a video of how I now make Fenugreek tea out of my seeds. They turn a beautiful rich color. I just sip it. I don't want to plunge my sugar but the stuff really works.

And just to show you HOW and WHAT I sprout, here is a link to one of my videos up on youtube.

Sprouting has literally saved my life. I used to be a VERY large woman who ate everything under the sun even though I was diabetic. I have learned much from coming to these forums.

Here is the link, and I have others which you can see if you think you might like to start sprouting. But just give a look anyway so you can see what changed my life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efHNP...eature=related

And to the person who had developed Neuropathy, well, a few years ago I had just learned I had neuropathy, so I know all about the zips, zaps, and burning. What did I do? I came on these message boards and read everything I could read. I learned about Methyl B-12 and I take 5000 ever single morning. Been doing this for years. And don't bother asking your doctor about it because doctors practice medicine, THEY DON'T PRACTICE nutrition.

We help each other a great deal on these forums. I'd be lost without them. And Mrs. D too!!!

So the tip I learned was Methyl B-12 and now the tip I can give back is Fenugreek Tea (or chew the seeds after soaking for 7 hours). Actually it's a whole lot easier just throwing a tablespoon of seeds into a pot, add plenty of water (about 4 cups). And bring to boil. Then steep. I pour it into a big cup, leave it on my counter. I take a few sips before each meal and when I go to bed. Then if there is any left, I'll put it in the fridge. This is SO cheap, I can't begin to tell you.

Go best of luck to you all

Melody

I have decided what I want as my first binge. And it's not pizza. Alan told me "you are not bringing pizza into the house". I was planning on buying a weight watchers pizza but then I had this idea. The whole thing about the binge is to rev up the metabolism by eating something that you would NEVER eat the other 6 days, right?

And I have read where red wine LOWERS blood sugar. I do not drink, I only drink when I go to weddings or catering halls and I haven't been there in 5 years so I have not had any alcohol in my body in 5 years.

So on Monday evening at dinner time, here is what I am planning to do.

First sip a small cup of grapefruit juice (maybe i don't need to do this if I have a small glass of wine???)

Then as my meal (and I can't wait to do this, it's been SO long).

I will make a Romanian tenderloin steak smothered in lime juice, chopped tomatoes, basil, cilantro and fresh garlic. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS SMELLS AND TASTES. I haven't had this in over 10 years. This is my grandmother's italian recipe.

On the side I will have some veggies. I think I should skip the sprout salad because this is supposed to be a NEW meal, right?

And to top it off I will have a small baked potato. With a dollop of sour cream OH MY GOD!!!! lol

And to accompany this small feast (it won't be a lot of food because I don't eat a lot of food at one time), so it will be a small steak, small potato, lots of veggies,etc). I shall have one glass of red wine.

This I will definitely enjoy.

I wouldn't enjoy the pizza because it's just pizza. No main course.

And every Monday night I will have something similar. I just might even have a small dish of Dreamfield's pasta, with some veggies and a glass of red wine. One thing I won't have at this binge is chicken or fish or soy. It has to be something I NEVER usually eat and it has to include some carbs, right?

Once a week, I shall have a glass of wine.

Then the next morning, I'll take my blood sugar and we'll see it there is any big change.

Ooooh, I'm experimenting again!!!

lol

So let me know if this sounds like a plan.

IT DOES TO ME!!!!
Melody