Diabetes / Insulin Resistance / Metabolic Syndrome For discussion of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.


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Old 05-23-2008, 11:12 PM #11
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Red face Mel...

1) MethylB12 helps me sleep. It always has. It is the helper agent for the synthesis of melatonin from serotonin, which is the sleep hormone.
The other reason I take at night, is because it has to be on an empty stomach.
And that is when I am most empty. (I take a handful of other things first thing
in the morning, and don't want competition for the B12 absorption, etc.

2) Mel, you have to understand that our bodies are not cars. They do not
all perform according to someone else's plan. The theory to keep A1c at a certain level....is only a theory. Keeping blood sugar low, when the tissues need it as we age may upset some balance that our tissues need. It may put some kind of stress signals out, increase stress hormones which then hurt the heart. Or some other explanation we don't understand yet.

Medicine is a very imperfect discipline. There is little or no proof that lowering cholesterol past a chosen number will do anything. In fact lowering it too far can cause strokes. Now my doctor is pushing for getting my diastolic blood pressure to 70 instead of 80 and I can't function that low...can't do aerobics, or climb stairs. Already I am getting orthostatic hypotension standing up suddenly. We just argued about this on Weds. Just because some new idea came up and says keep that number LOWER.... Well, diabetics are dying on the aggressive ACCORD program, so I am not buying that a diastolic of 70 is good for me and quality of MY life.
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Dmom3005 (05-26-2008), MelodyL (05-26-2008), Vowel Lady (05-24-2008)

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Old 05-24-2008, 09:04 AM #12
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Mrs. D...

I take my B50 and additional B12 in the morning. I might experiment taking the B12 at night. However, so far...I haven't detected a problem with taking them in the morning. I DO really like those B vitamins!

I do think this weight gain is largely water weight. This week I was religious taking the chromium and things were clearly better. I even ate some rice (found a great...more yummy and easy...product) and I normally don't indulge and did not have to pay my normal price. However, I also did not eat much actual sugar. My gut tells me to "watch out" for sugar due to the consistency with problems there.
Do you happen to know what supplements or foods act as diuretics?
I had a veggie smoothie the other day...cucumber, spinach, celery and ginger and actually that seem to help. However, it was NOT the most tasty thing I have ever had in my life. I had this in the morning...a huge drink and it filled me up. Usually, I too have protein in the morning and it is a great choice. Really filling.

RE: CASSIA
I checked at iherb. Saw lots of oils. Can you further elaborate?

Also, is there some sort of "combo" inositol and taurine product out there? I really like my acetyl L cartine alpha lipoic acid supplement combo and plan on taking it regularly.

Here is one that indicates it is for sleep (which is interesting, because I thought either T or I in the past made me sleepy): http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=1344
I don't know about the other ingredients listed...

All these supplements are making me batty...combo pills make sense to me. Even if they are not "perfect" it reduces the chances that I'm going to forget something or get overly frustrated.



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Old 05-24-2008, 09:18 AM #13
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Wow, thanks so much for explaining.

When I go to the Accord program, and my blood pressure was 102/62, they would all hoot and holler. I once said: 'why on earth are you hootin and hollering, I always thought that 120/70 was normal. I was then told: 'well, we now know that lower numbers are better, and especially for diabetics".

so they lowered the expected normal blood glucose level (I believe it used to be if you went over 150 they thought you were a diabetic). Now it seems if you are 105, or 110, they say "Oh you are pre-diabetic".

I'd like to know who to believe.

I know that we need cholesterol (some cholesterol) in our bodies. That's why I eat eggs once in a while (and for the choline for my brain). I want my brain to keep doing it's things.

I got my sugar down to 130 this morning. Believe me I was thrilled because, lately for whatever reason, it was 162, then 144. And all in the space of 30 seconds. I changed the batteries in my meter. Same thing happened.

Then I began taking the chromium picolinate. Started about 5 days ago. And I know it can't work that fast. Supposed to take 2 or 3 months to see any improvements. Well, when I go from 162 to 130, to me, that's a good thing. I don't know if I'll ever get down to 100. (Wouldn't that be something).

I lost about 7 lbs. That also lowers the blood sugar I've been told. A few pounds here and there, well that can amount to a better reading. That's fine by me.

Alan's blood sugar never goes over 85. NEVER. He's had more blood tests than I can remember. His blood pressure never changes either. The visiting nurse says "wow, this guy's pressure is always 100/60. EVERY TIME SHE COMES. It's amazing.

That has always been his pressure, even before he got the stent. He never had any kind of pressure problems.

I am to go to Cornell next week. I'm hoping to move it to the following friday because guess what?? ALAN GOT APPROVED FOR THE C.R.O.W. boot.

He gets it next thursday. So we shall see if he THEN CAN GO OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GO PLACES WITH ME.

For now, he's ordered to stay on the couch and not put any pressure on the foot ulcer. It's not bled for 7 days. But we've been through this before. As soon as he starts walking anywhere, the darn thing bleeds.

So his ortho feels "this taks a long long time to heal". "He needs a C.R.O.W. boot. I had never heard of it. But I have looked it up. It locks the ankle in place so he can't walk as he would like to walk. He has to walk a certain way.

so I guess we wait and watch.

Thanks so much for all the information on the a1c. I really am learning more and more every day from you.

Oh, I have two questions for you about juicing. I have NOT JUICED in 5 days (I was juicing vegetables and a small slice of apple), telling myself "well it's not fruit). Then when my sugar was 162, I said "better stop even this, wait until you find out if you can juice ANYTHING".

So here's question Number 1. Can juicing zucchini, celery, parsley, and any other green thing, along with a bit of apple, well can that raise one's blood sugar (or is everybody different, and there's no way to know except by trial and error???)

And the second question is: "I bought papaya enzymes from GNC". I was told "chew three of these", and whatever you eat, these will aid in digestion, and your body will absorb more nutrients than if you didn't take these enzymes."

These are really cheap at GNC, and they taste fine. But I have no idea if these 3 little chewable pills, well I don't know if they impact one's sugar. I mean, it's a fruit, I know, but it's not juice, and it's not concentrated, right?

Do you ever use these papaya enzymes??

Thanks much for taking the time to set us all straight about vitamins, and nutrition. It's much appreciated, believe me.

I've applied everything you have ever written.
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Old 05-24-2008, 10:15 AM #14
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Post example...

Here is a recent example from Science News which came this week.

It is about diabetes....and why some people with tight control still get
serious other medical consequences, and some diabetics who do NOT have
tight control, have no serious consequences....it is about certain genes in their DNA.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/gene..._for_diabetics
Quote:
DNA tweak no good for diabetics
By Tina Hesman Saey
May 5th, 2008

* font_down font_up Text Size

Increased protein production could harm eyes, kidneys

A little tweak to a diabetic’s DNA could tip the balance toward blindness and kidney failure, a new study shows.

Natural variation in just a single base pair — letters of the genetic alphabet – raises levels of erythropoietin, a protein that stimulates red blood cell production and the growth of blood vessels. Bumping up erythropoietin, EPO for short, about doubles the risk that diabetics will develop diabetic retinopathy and end-stage kidney disease, a study published online and in the May 13 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows.

Controlling erythropoietin levels or blocking its activity could help diabetics stave off complications or halt the progression of diseases already attacking eyes and kidneys. The research also sounds a cautionary note for diabetics who undergo kidney dialysis. Erythropoietin is often prescribed to dialysis patients to pump up red blood cell counts, but the new research suggests that EPO should be used with caution to avoid harming the eyes and kidneys....“We all see patients with their blood sugar completely under control, but they have complications right and left,” Zhang says. “Then there are other people whose blood sugar is all out of whack, and yet, they never get into trouble.”
This is a short quote, in case the link does not work, for non-members.

Now concerning the juicing...

The reason you are allowed an apple instead of an orange...is that the pectin/fiber of the apple, slows down the absorption of the natural sugars the apple has. All veggies also have some natural sugars. They lose their diabetic usefulness when juiced as well. (fiber removed by juicing)
I'd use the juicer for a once a day thing. Mix up your greens, etc for their antioxidant value...but do not drink these all day long, as they will affect your blood sugar.

As far as blood pressure goes.... I am not eager to lower mine to a value BELOW what I was when I was young and trim. I have never been below
80 diastolic, even in my middle trimester pregnant.
I am not intending to stumble around dizzy and weak with brain fog to achieve a 70 at this point in my life. Quality of life is important to me. What good is 70 if I can't get around and do things? Living like a slug and sleeping all the time?
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Old 05-24-2008, 11:28 AM #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vowel Lady View Post
Mrs. D...

I take my B50 and additional B12 in the morning. I might experiment taking the B12 at night. However, so far...I haven't detected a problem with taking them in the morning. I DO really like those B vitamins!

I do think this weight gain is largely water weight. This week I was religious taking the chromium and things were clearly better. I even ate some rice (found a great...more yummy and easy...product) and I normally don't indulge and did not have to pay my normal price. However, I also did not eat much actual sugar. My gut tells me to "watch out" for sugar due to the consistency with problems there.
Do you happen to know what supplements or foods act as diuretics?
I had a veggie smoothie the other day...cucumber, spinach, celery and ginger and actually that seem to help. However, it was NOT the most tasty thing I have ever had in my life. I had this in the morning...a huge drink and it filled me up. Usually, I too have protein in the morning and it is a great choice. Really filling.

RE: CASSIA
I checked at iherb. Saw lots of oils. Can you further elaborate?

Also, is there some sort of "combo" inositol and taurine product out there? I really like my acetyl L cartine alpha lipoic acid supplement combo and plan on taking it regularly.

Here is one that indicates it is for sleep (which is interesting, because I thought either T or I in the past made me sleepy): http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=1344

I don't know about the other ingredients listed...

All these supplements are making me batty...combo pills make sense to me. Even if they are not "perfect" it reduces the chances that I'm going to forget something or get overly frustrated.



Thank you.
Well, seems you are finding some solutions...
Taurine does not affect me one way or the other, sedation-wise.

The R-lipoic is vastly superior to alpha lipoic... I suggest when your combo is gone you switch to plain acetyl-carnitine and get the r-lipoic instead.
This will really put gas in your tank! It is like 4 cups of coffee for me!
So take it only in the morning.

I only know that the "cassia" version is the one used in the studies.
There are many kinds of cinnamon... I put that up in links.

The best diuretic I have found is the benfotiamine I started several months ago. Before-- I used to use Lasix twice a week, and after taking would go to the bathroom for hours...sometimes 6-8 visits.. I felt like I lost 10 lbs each time. But I hate diuretics since they upset my magnesium balance. Then I get thirsty later the next day.

Since starting the benfotiamine--- the Lasix does not get rid of any fluid anymore! This is very liberating. Even the doctor loved my trim ankles...she was surprised. (they never swelled much anyway --it is my hands that typically swell up).

High dose vit C will also act as a diuretic.

I have seen various foods listed, but I never had personal experience with them as useful. You can Google that.
What WILL help is removing foods that you are REACTING to...
The book Obesity's Answer by Dr. Jensen-Kittley goes into this in detail.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Obe...2479912/?itm=3
She has an elimnation diet that has lost water weight in her friends and patients up to 30lb a month! DRAMATIC... But the diet is VERY restrictive. This is the LAST diet book you will ever need!

I find the elimination diet brutal actually. Each person may react to only certain things...and not others. The trick is finding YOUR triggers. For example, I never realized I was reacting to onions...which I always used heavily. So now I rarely cook with them.
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Old 05-24-2008, 11:32 AM #16
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Wow, I always believed GENETICS was everything. Now I believe it even more. This doesn't jive with what Dr. Oz said on Oprah. He says "Genetics is 30% and what you do with your life, is the other 70%.

I think he has to say this so people don't go off and shoot themselves.

My mother's mom had 10 children. 7 survived childhood.
Everybody in my mother's family had cancer in one form or another. They also ALL smoked by the way.

My mom got breast cancer at 75.(didn't die from that, she smoked all her life and had emphasema). My aunt had breast cancer at 40 and a stroke at 45 Didn't kill her. She died at 87 after falling in the kitchen, breaking her hip and going to the hospital, getting pneumonia and died in 2 days) I still can't believe THAT STORY!!!. One of my cousins had breast cancer at 45. My uncle had lung cancer at 38 (killed him).No one else died of cancer though. They got mastectomies, and survived.

This is all on my mom's side. The only one left from her side is my 82 year old Aunt Sally who has a seizure disorder that is completely under control and she belongs to the red (or purple hat) society and they go to dinner theatre once a month. She's a great healthy 82 year old who is completely deaf though.

I have another cousin (the son of the one who died of lung cancer at 38), well he is 55 and has an arrhythmia and they've had to shock him 2 times to get his sinus rythm back. He takes pills.

EVERYBODY IS ON PILLS for this for that, for Prostate, or for high blood pressure etc.

All from my mom's side. My former doctor wanted me to go on hormone replacement therapy when I was 50 saying "you're a good candidate", I then said "really, everybody on my mother's side has had cancer". He then immediately changed his mind.

I do hope I might have inherited genes from my dad (which side is more dominant, does anybody know??). No one had cancer. No one.

But... my father became diabetic when he was 80, and my grandmother also when she was 80.

I told this to Cornell and the doctor said "Diabetes is in your genes". I kind of thought if a person was born with type 1, then it's in your genes, but when she said that, well, I was kind of taken aback.

So between the cancer from my mother's side and the so called inherited tendency to diabetes from my dad's side, well, I might die tomorrow, or I might just break all the rules and live to be 100 years old.

No one knows.

My dad had congestive heart failure when he was 76. He had (as his profession), been a landscaping artist when they moved to Florida. So he mowed lawns ALL DAY LONG. I've been told that this might have led to his congestive heart failure. I do not know. I'm thinking, BREATHING IN ALL THAT LAWN and fertilizer.

I would love to sit down with a geneticist and say "hey, what are my odds of not getting cancer, of not getting congestive heart failure, etc. etc.

I think I'm afraid to hear the answers.

Thanks much Mrs. D.
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Old 05-24-2008, 11:40 AM #17
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"I'd use the juicer for a once a day thing. Mix up your greens, etc for their antioxidant value...but do not drink these all day long, as they will affect your blood sugar."

Mrs. D. Just wanted to clear something up. I have never juiced or drank juice all day long. Never. When I got the juicer, initially I would make a glass of carrot apple pear, in the a.m. (4 oz), and in the afternoon, I'd juice 4 oz of celery, zucchini, (whatever green thing I had in the fridge).

I'd drink it down. About 2 p.m. And that would be it till the next morning. But when my sugar went up the next morning (and I have no idea if this is from the small amount of juice I DID drink, well, I decided NO JUICING TILL I HAVE MORE FACTS.

I have never even thought about drinking juice all day long, (like they do in the informercials. I juice for Alan. He LOVES it. He also does not have diabetes, so he can do this.

Since I stopped the juicing, and I went back to NOT eating after 7 pm (which Cornell says is fine because as they put it, YOU DON'T EAT AFTER 7 P.M, YOU HAVE GOOD SUGAR READINGS THE NEXT DAY, WHY FOOL WITH SUCCESS???), well, my sugar is steadily improving in the morning numbers.

I think as we get older, we get more problems. I can only continue to do what I've been doing, walking every day, no refined carbs, low-fat, and hope that as my weight continues to drop, my glucose will stabilize even better.

And guess what?? Today I bought my first belt.

Never wore a belt in my life.

Wait until Alan sees me in a skirt, tank and a belt. He'll either think I've lost my mind, or he'll smile. I hope he smiles.

lol
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Old 05-26-2008, 11:58 AM #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsd View Post
In general when your insulin is working better, you will feel less tired, esp after eating. Anything high carb also creates sedation...because it stimulates serotonin. So save your "treats" for dinner (later in the day).
This is exactly what ws happening to me Mrsd....I would immediately want to and need to sleep after a meal. That symptom combined with the two hour glucose insulin test showed insulin resistance. And diabetes runs rampant in my family when women get to their 50's.
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Old 05-26-2008, 01:27 PM #19
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I would like to know how a lay person tests their sugar?
So much of what I'm reading here rings true for me.
For one thing, if I don't eat after let's say 7:30 p.m. two things commonly happen:
1) I tend to lose weight
2) I tend to have more energy in then morning/feel better

Also, when I juice...I "feel better," which in my mind means simply "I have more energy and less bloating" when I drink smoothies with veggies in them as opposed to smoothies with fruits in them.

Much of what I've had to go on involves instinct and lots of observation.

I do know that my body does NOT like a lot of breads/starches/sugar. NOt too crazy about milk products or red meat either...although these things are better than those first items. I do best when I have lots of vegetables, a little lean meat, small amounts of fruit, nuts, beans, etc. Also....walking daily is a thumbs up all the way! Years ago, I did a modified Fit for LIfe diet and I felt really great on this.

Anyway, are the tests available over the counter to test blood sugar? What are normal ratings? What are good books/websites to get some good basic information on this topic? Thank you.
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Old 05-26-2008, 01:37 PM #20
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you can buy all the supplies to test your blood sugar at walmart or a pharmacy.

we bought a kit for one of my daughters this spring. she was having all the symptoms of low blood sugar. she is fine. we found out her apartment was old and unlevel. she was having vertigo and felt dizzy. like with low blood sugar. plus the place we suspect had mold. thankfully she has moved.

the supplies aren't cheap, but was less expensive than a dr's visit for a test. if the tests had come back with porblems, then she would have gone to a dr.

the tester came with a dvd and a website for support. i think most of them do.
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