Alan's Platelet Count is 130
 

Okay!!!

He just came back from Dr. Fred. He got the results of his latest blood work. Dr. Fred gave him the results.

His Platelet count was 130 (which was in the Low column on the paper)

Normal platelet count is 140-400

Tryglicerides are 202.
His cholesterol is 234. His HDL is 32. His LDL is 162. His cholesterol/HDL/Ratio is 7.3.

His iron was normal at 72. His TIBC was 232 (this has always had an odd number). His Transferrin Saturation is 31. His TSH -3rd generation is 2.98. His T4, FREE is 1.1. So I gather this is fine.


Dr. Fred said his high cholesterol might be due to lack of exercise. (can't go because of Foot Ulcer).

Now Alan LOVES bars. Dr. Fred said "as long as the bars don't contain cholesterol, that's no problem."

Dr. Fred put him on Crestor. 10 mgs.

Alan has been (since his stent), on plavix and aspirin therapy.

We DO eat healthy, but Alan is a sugar junkie. All the bars have sugar. He has a coffee roll at Dunkin every morning. He loves the coffee roll (he has officially had his last coffee roll (his words). He eats about 4 bars a day. He likes the cereal bars. He told Dr. Fred about the cereal bars and Dr. Fred said "they are okay, as long as they don't have cholesterol". I checked, they don't.

Now I eat way more fish than he does. He eats chicken, whole wheat spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

But he literally LOVES these bars, and might that have contributed to the odd numbers (the platelet and the cholesterol)??.

Or could the fact that he takes aspirin and plavix every day, lead to low platelet count?

All of the other blood work was normal.

Dr. Fred said "we'll re-do this test next month". "I want to see if the platelets go UP or DOWN, or if it's a true reading. Then we'll figure out if it's the medication or what" Dr. Fred also said: "This could also be a false reading"

So I would REALLY appreciate someone explaining the Platelet count.
Under CBC, (including DIFF/PLT), his WBC is 6.4. His RBC is 5.21, Hemogloin is 15.0, Hematocrit is 43.3. MCV is 83.1. MCH is 28.7. RDW is 15.0 and everything else in the CBC thing is all normal. Only the Platelet number was off.

To say that my mind is spinning is putting it mildly.

Thanks to ANYONE who can explain this. Alan did not want to pin Dr. Fred down by asking him a million questions.

Thank god I wasn't there, because we would have never left until I had more answers.

P.S. I just got this off of the internet. I googled Side Effects of Plavix

What is thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura?
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare blood condition in which small clots thrombi) begin to develop within the blood circulation, resulting in the consumption of platelets and thus a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Characteristics of the blood disorder are low red blood cell counts, low platelet counts, abnormalities in kidney function, and neurological (nervous system) abnormalities.

Huh? Ya had me going for a minute, there Mel! :D

Crestor!!
 

The most toxic statin.... never ceases to amaze me.
Crestor for a PN patient.... :yikes:

http://www.medicationsense.com/artic...es_053005.html

here is a link about platelets:

http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha...h49/ch49c.html

Severe platelet abnormalities may show up as bruising and bleeding gums.

Good luck!

Okay, I just replied to you but I deleted what I wrote.

I took the bull by the horns, and I actually got Alan's doctor on the phone (no small accomplishment).

I said "You gave him Crestor, it's got a really bad rep, what do you think about it?" I also said "I have read up on this drug and it's really the strongest of all the statins". He said "I'll be honest, of all the meds, this is the one that really reduces the plaque and I want to give it a shot". I then said "what side effects should we look for? and he said "muscle pain, muscle weakness", and if that happens just call me".

Then I asked him "what about the low platelet count", he said "Don't worry, it's not that low, I'm running another blood test next month". I then said: 'do you think it could be attributed to the Plavix and Aspirin?" and he said "it could be, but I want to run another test next month and we'll act on that'.

I thanked him. (Actually it's so hard to get this guy on the phone BECAUSE EVERYBODY CALLS HIM AFTER 4 P.M. AND THAT'S WHEN HE RETURNS CALLS, ETC.

I was lucky to get him on the first try.

So, having no power to tell the doctor 'ALAN IS NOT TAKING THIS", I honestly don't know what to do.

I believe I've done all I can do at this point. I really don't know what else I can do except to wait and watch.

melody

low platelets
 

may be caused by Plavix.

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-5869...l&pagenumber=6

There are papers on PubMed stating that Plavix causes platelets to fall in some people. Exact reason is not understood at this time.

First of all--
 

--for a guy as big as he is, I don't think that Alan's cholesterol numbers are in very dangerous territory. Not yet, anyway. And probably not enough to go on a statin--I would think exercise (when he can), diet (do I hear oat bran?) and Niacin would be better options to try first, especially since he has documented neuropathy.

Would it be possible to explain the above to the physician? Do you think he'd be receptive?

I suspect that the automatic "statin" response is due to Alan's heart/circulatory history. And those triglycerides need to be lowered, which may have factored into that decision. But, as indicators of potential cardiac problems, inasmuch as he is on Plavix and aspirin (which very well could be affecting his platelet numbers, BTW--and the numbers are not that low, yet, and may also be related to Alan's autoimmunity situation), I'd be more interested in his C-reactive protein level (did they do those tests?). This is a better predictor of possible cardiac vessel problems than mere cholesterol readins--one needs inflammation to form clogging plaques, not just high cholesterol levels (and the very reason Alan is on aspirin and Plavix, I'm assuming, is to keep inflammatory factors reduced).

"Would it be possible to explain the above to the physician? Do you think he'd be receptive?"

From the way the conversation went today, I don't think so. Maybe I can run this by him next month WHEN I WILL DEFINITELY GO WITH ALAN TO HIS APPOINTMENT.

Is a C-reactive protein a special test. I can't remember if he ever had this.

I have the blood test results right in front of me. Can't find it on the test.

Oh, his PSA was 2.73 (it went down), all that tomato sauce I guess

And is B-12 serum was 607. And mine was 2000 lol

But I do think it's the plavix and aspirin.

We'll find out more next month.

Two of my friends are on Crestor by the way.

I do thank all of you for all this good info.

I really don't know what I would do without you people.

Melody

Blood tests and IVIG are NOT
 

Consistent!
Didn't you recently say that Alan had had Infusions? Like in the last 7-14 days?
Please read this web site about 'prescribing information' or another brand's for information about the fact that IVIG CAN AND DOES distort many blood tests!
http://www.baxter.com/products/bioph...gardliquid.com
I have gone the gauntlet of many more blood tests than I care to have had recently because some blood tests [taken the week after infusion] were even more weird than the tests I've been having which are taken by a lab the DAY BEFORE I receive my next infusions.
The last time it was done? I had soo many false positives and negatives for the strangest things that it would boggle any mind. It is hard for doctors to 'register', but, the best time for ANY AND ALL BLOOD TESTS - IF you are on IVIG, is the DAY before your next infusion.
That is when the IVIG is at it's almost lowest effect and the more 'normal' aspects of YOU in your bloodwork shows true. To do otherwise is a total waste of time, efforts and everyone's money. I don't know about Alan? But, I for one want to make all "pokes" into me really count! Hope this helps? :hug: - j

Alan's last IVIG was May 2nd. He had the blood test this past Wednesday.

His next infusion is June 2nd. His next blood test is scheduled for June 16th. (or thereabouts).

I would think that the doctor knows that Alan is undergoing IVIG.

I also read that people are given IVIG for low platelet count.j

I don't think having IVIG would LOWER his platelet count, but what do I know?

But I really do think it's a side effect from the Plavix and Aspirin.

All the other results (except for the lipids) were perfectly fine.

We shall see next month what the next blood tests will reveal.

I'll run the whole IVIG thing with Dr. Fred.

Thanks much.

Joan ,Glen,
 

Mel there's ton's of information on what your looking for..Joan and Glen you are Brllliant...Really love Alan ,you have your hands busy or is Alan like like Bob .computer messed up. Your right to go with him,has he fallen with out telling you and hit himself in the Spleen and i'm not kidding..

I wish to announce,my Scan I got Monday shows my Cancer:):) is doing well.
Sorry for butting in but i'm doing so well except for the cold I'm fighting right
now..Thank you good friends for caring so much..I know you will, but go with our friend Alan. Since my children are spread all over I have been lucky to have a DEAR friend and her husband and Bobtake me to Barnes in St. Louis and there great Cancer Hospital it was wonderfull for my dear
Neurotalk family to answer my guestions,relieve my fears,your all the best
and to be able to kiss my little 1 yr old OZZY every night,he so wonderful,
I.m not DaDa any more i' Gmama...For all of you who said speak up well I think
I just did...Thank you all and hugs to you all Sue :hug::hug::hug:

Hi Sue:

No, Alan has not fallen on his spleen. I read on the internet that when people have very severe low platelet disorders, they remove the spleen.

That (at least I hope), that this is NOT what is going on with Alan.

He doesn't fall because he rarely goes anywhere without me. And because he really can't be on his feet, the only places he goes are to doctor appointments. Then he comes home and stays on the couch. Where I serve him. Isn't he a lucky man? I just gave him some fresh blackberries and some cantelope.

I'm glad you are feeling better.

Melody

Hi,

I am a sales rep that works in diagnostics. From what I've seen platelet counts of 130 are relatively normal. They may fall out of the "normal" reference range for the cell counter used but I suspect this isn't a cause for concern.

Just my two cents knowing how these measurements are taken and calculated from the technology side. If you ran the same sample 10 times you may have some results fall below 140 and some above. Peoples platelet counts remain pretty consistent over time so this is probably normal for him.

I doubt that ASA or Plavix is causing his platelet count to be lower. It is extremely important for stent patients to take these medications-please don't consider stopping the meds unless your physician directs you otherwise.

Again, I'm just a rep and not an MD...not even close. Just my two cents from somebody who works around labs.

Mel...
 

People with autoimmune disorders can have spleens that eat up
platelets. This happened with a friend of mine whose husband became
Diabetic type I after a severe bout of flu.

Unbeknownst to him his spleen was damaged too. They discovered it
when he had angina attacks and they found he needed a quintuple bypass..
they could not do the operation, too risky. So they removed the spleen.
His platelets were lower than Alan's and incompatible with life. He survived both procedures.

What is at issue here are the lipids.
All that honey that Alan eats has got to go.Sugars are bad for triglycerides.
Also his HDLs are low...and that can be changed too.
Fish oil will fix both of those, and improve the cholesterol ratio.
There is an RX one called Lovasa which may be covered on your insurance.
Otherwise you pay over the counter. Fish oil does not help LDLs much, but keeping them from oxidizing helps too. Antioxidants would be called for.

The stents have a bad prognosis... this procedure is not working out in the long run. So doctor's are worried they will clog up.
That is why Alan's doctor is pushing the Crestor. Besides, Crestor and Lipitor are going neck and neck and the sales force will reflect that race.

It is a tough decision to make.

Thanks Mel,
 

My Son had one of those 2 wheeler bike with training wheels,well that older
son of mine promised he would not be alone ,or have one of us with him..Well
he made it in his house,we took him to his Dr.,he sent him to Children's Hospital in Detroit,boy that chilld cried..He loooked like a 10 or 11 year old,he was tall. Being a nrse my husband thought I was going to hit her,he was 5 or 6 and in pain..He flew over the handle bars and they removed his spleen.
And now the meds Alan is taking is on the list scary..I know how Alan feels it's preety rough getting around

I was talking with my son tonigh he mentioned his nurse here in Columbia,son
in her opinion her son died from sprany for corn..So many E.R. /dr.s believe it's from thihalomethanes,this is what they put in the good old Mississippi and
Missouri River gets so dirty you fall in but you don't want a sore of anykind.
It's one of those things you can go on and on..Well Alan and all of us will be fine.. smooch on him. Hugs Sue But getting a little tired at times..:)

Mrs. D.

Alan has had his last bit of honey. I do thank you for that. He puts it on everything. He has an impulse problem (all formerly obese people still possess the traits that got them obese in the first place).

It's all about replacing bad habits with good habits. I told him "you are not bringing another cereal bar in this house".

Fresh fruits and veggies from now on. Maybe on the weekend, he can have one of my brownies. That's a guilty pleasure, that we all need, and if we don't indulge, then we MIGHT INDULGE EVERY DAY.

That's how I lost my 100 lbs. I'm still losing. Very slowly, but I'll lose.

About stents. I dont' understand this. If they are no good, then why are doctors still doing it.

Oh, I have a question about diabetes. I don't eat after 7 p.m. That's how I've been able to lose weight. Slowly, but I'm 60, and better slow and steady, than to take off 10 lbs and put it right back on.

So here's my question. Sometimes I get up and my sugar is 130. Sometimes 127. ( I can live with his, because it used to be over 265). My a1c is 6.5. They are happy with this.

But why, sometimes is my sugar 160, or 154?? I dont' get this. I eat fish, I eat my veggies. I don't juice fruit (like I do with Alan).

I once did a test. I ate something at 8 p.m. (a small apple)., The next morning my sugar was 118.

Why the heck would it not have gone up.

Does not eating after 7 p.m. make my pancreas work harder and that's why my sugar is over 120 (sometimes).

And if I do my walking for one hour, every day, then the next day my sugar is better. So I understand that exercise is key in this.

I am on 22 of the Lantus. I go to Cornell on May 30th.

During my last visit, (because Alan's nurse had told me never to go to bed without eating something, well, I listened, and at 10 p.m., I would eat a bit of something). Well, that didn't work, and my sugar went up. I went to Cornell and they said "why on earth are you eating at 10 p.m. ? I said 'because someone told me that my sugar will go DOWN at 4 a.m. and I should prevent this by eating a bit of something before bedtime"

They replied: 'You are not that type of diabetic, stop eating at 10 pm.".

I listened, and my sugar got better. I have done this 'not eating after 7 p.m." for two years now, and got my a1c down to 6.5 (from 9.0) when I first began the Cornell Protocol.

I just want to understand why, sometimes, if I don't eat after 7 p.m, my sugar might read 154, and sometimes, if I eat an apple at 8 p.m, my sugar will be 118 the next morning.

I really don't understand this diabetes thing.

I don't eat white stuff. I do occasionally eat one brownie after dinner with a cup of coffee (only on weekends).

Would having a brownie at 6 p.m. with a cup of coffee significantly impact my sugar reading at 8 am. the next morning.

That's a lot of hourse to go without any food in my body. I don't miss it. I don't need it. My sugar does not drop in the middle of the night. I feel fine.

This means I go over 10 hours without eating. Shouldn't my sugar be 100 or so the next morning??

One would think I would by hypoglycemic, but this is not the case.

I tested this theory more than once. I ate the way I normally eat. Protein, veggies, no refined carbs. I ate my dinner (usually broiled salmon or turbot fillet). I then ate something at 8 p.m. (a small apple, some 100 calorie snack thingees).

The next morning my sugar was fine.

Then, I would do the same thing, without the 8 a.m. snack. and bam, the next morning my sugar is 150 or so.

I am not taking the chromium picolinate (I ran out), going to get some today.

This whole diabetes thing is quite confusing.

And don't get me wrong. I know plenty of people who wish they could get their diabetes down to 200 in the morning. They are on insulin, oral meds, they eat fine, and sometimes they go to 400. I know I am not that type of diabetic.

And I do test during the day.

sometimes it's 115.

I wonder, if I changed to taking Lantus at night (like some people I know), would that make a difference??

Thanks if you can make heads or tails about of my diabetes question.

I just want to get up in the morning and see a sugar reading of less than 110.

And I don't want to up my insulin.

I'm thinking. As I continue to lose, (they say if you lose even 10 lbs), your sugar reading gets better)

Oh, and the Methyl B-12 is still WORKING JUST FINE!!!!

Mel..
 

as we age things change...your body becomes less efficient in some ways.

Elevated blood sugar in the morning is a response to a hypoglycemic event
while you are sleeping. The liver makes glucose when that feedback loop goes
off.

If you inject Lantus in the morning...then during the night it is wearing off, so naturally your sugars would be slightly up before the next shot.

If your A1c is good, that means OVERALL you are doing well. I think people may get overly obsessed with the process and try too hard to change things.

I think you are doing well, and that is all that matters for YOU.
This is why the ACCORD program changed suddenly...because for some people overly strict glucose control led to death (their bodies couldn't handle it).

An apple or a piece of cheese or some cottage cheese or yogurt would be a good night time snack. (not a sugar filled brownie).
Even a Glucerna bar may work for you. It is made with long acting slowly digested carbo. Buy one or two and try them? That will tell you alot right there.

Ah, I think I get what you are saying.

Are you saying that because I don't eat after 7 p.m. my body goes into hypoglycemia during the night hours, so my pancreas works overtime, so that when I get up, it might be a bit high??

And to counteract this, that at 8 p.m. or so, I might have a piece of cheese, and then go to bed at my regular time, and that I just might have a shot when I get up, that my sugar might be lower than let's say 140 or so?

Did I get this right??

And yeah, I know the aging process.. I HATE THE AGING PROCESS.

At least I got my lightbulb moment in my 50's.

Too bad it didn't stick when I lost the weight at ge 24. I looked like Elizabeth Taylor when I was that age.

But I was impulsive, compulsive and I acted on those. I ate, when I got stressed.

God, YOUTH is most definitely wasted ON THE YOUNG!!!

lol

Thanks much

this is how it works....
 

In between meals, after all your food is gone in the GI tract....

your liver responds to blood sugar levels, and when they drop it then converts amino acids to glucose. This is called gluconeogenesis.

Metformin blocks this process as part of how it works BTW.

So if you do not eat anything after 7pm, you will have a drop in blood sugar
before morning. Diabetics tend to have exaggerated responses to this.

An apple or low carb snack will be SLOWLY digested and the sugars it does contain released slowly so that the hypo dip does not occur.
A cookie/brownie or whatever, will cause a sudden blood sugar rush and then a bigger dip in the night later. The bigger the dip the more the liver responds to
the dip and MORE sugar is made and hence you test higher.
Glucerna bars are designed to be digested slowly, and so the hypo dip for diabetics is blunted and the blood sugar remains more normal.

When you eat that low carb, high fish high protein diet....you are giving your liver amino acids to be converted to sugar. Because this is a slow process the overall effect is to control wide swings up and down.

Ah, so at 7 or 7:30 p.m., I could test this by drinking, let's say, a half cup of glucerna, to see what might happen at 7:30 a.m. the next morning.

By testing various things, like a bit of cheese, a half of apple (not orange, I know this), maybe even a small piece of chicken, then I might get a better idea of how this will affect my sugar reading the next morning..?? Did I get this right??

Because when I ate something at 10 p.m, (it wasn't a piece of cheese), I always ate a carb because I thought it would PREVENT the 4 a.m. sugar low thing going on.

So if I do a small bit of protein or a slow releasing thing like some glucerna at around 7:30 p.m. and i check my sugar the next morning, ...if I do this every day, I can get an idea of what my body needs to enable a better sugar reading the next morning, right?

I got a bit confused when you said "the bigger the dip, the more your liver responds to the dip nd the more sugar is made".

I have MANY friends with diabetes. They all test over 265. They don't know what to eat. They did NOT WANT TO GO TO CORNELL WITH ME!!!

They now still weigh 300 lbs, they still don't know what to eat. They take Lantus, metformin, glyburide, etc. And nothing works. They eat nuts at night. (it's not a carb), but still, nothing works. They are all type 2. All overweight.

It's very confusing when they tell you "don't eat at night, then they say "oh, you must eat before you go to bed, and then you do what they say, and your sugar goes up".

I mean, there really should be a balance to all this. But I guess the fact that one has diabetes throws all this to the wind.

I think the body is like an automobile with all it's working parts. You feed it the right fuel, and all the parts work. (or, they ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK).

But if the fuel is not the right fuel, then the motor will act up, the carborator won't work right, the shock absorbers give you problems.

It's like a car. You do right by the car, and the car supposedly should last a long time. Maybe not forever, but at least you can trade in a car for a better model.

I'm trying to keep my car working. lol

When they say don't EAT at night...
 

They mean DINNER size meals.

Having a small snack is different than EATING.

Many people eat large meals late--- 10pm or later if going out.

To expect your body to behave the way it did when you were 25 and you are now 60...is unrealistic.

You can test your responses you know. Test when you go to bed, and once if you get up to go to the bathroom. If you can test around 4am, it might reveal the answers to your questions.

A Key point was missed in this thread?
 

And while it's OT, it IS IMPORTANT.
That is what Shiney Sue said about her cancer in post #10 that it is becoming less of a problem. She had been undergoing chemo and it seems that the treatments have been successful!

HORRAY SUE! Keep beating the monster to death and hug your kidlets!

Melody I am sure both You and Alan will go thru honey withdrawal, it is the curse of life for those who have to 'watch things' Sigh - j

Thanks
 

Mrs. d this was exactly the way it was explainded to me,hugs to all Sue: Mrsd:
your a joy.:D

Mel, as far as what you're discussing--
 

--there is a balance involved, but everyone's is individual.

And it is true that once you've becme diabetic--even pre-diabetic (disturbed glucose tolerance), the blood sugar swings tend to be, calorie for caloire, wider and more erratic than they are for "normals". (This is part of the reason that true reactive hypoglycemia a few hours after meals, indicative of insulin resistance, is considred a forerunnner of diabetes--the body is becoming less able to absorb the shocks and keep glucose within a narrow range.)

I do agree with Mrs. D that the hemoglobin A1C is a much better indicator of your situation overall than a series of blood glucose readings are. Blood glucose readings are notoriously dependent on outside factors even among "normals"--just how glycemic your last meal was, how good your liver function is, whether you've been exercising, and so on.

I'm sure, for example, that I could convince any doctor I had glucose dysregulation if I had them do a glucose reading about an hour to an hour and a half after I've eaten one of my son's classmates' birthday cake slices. But if you took it two hours later, you'd say I was hypoglycemic. The link is the insulin resistance, and the overproduction of insulin driving down my glucose level before it gets very high (and in glucose tolerance testing, it never gets than high--but that's only a 75mg dose). It's gotten to the point that I watch the insulin levels more closely than the glucose readings.

Though I'll occassionally cheat at special events, I've really tried to follow the Zone-diet type principles--balanced diet of carbs/protein/fat, eating small meals at regular intervals (not three meals a day--more like five smaller meals), and protein-oriented snacks when I have them. I also try to do as much weight-bearing exercise as my cervical spine will tolerate (admittedly not as much as it used to--can't wait for the pool here to open), as muscle tissue tends to handle insulin best and reduce resistance. (Staying away from the "white foods"--except for caulifower--helps too.)

Thanks Glenn:

As for honey withdrawal, I never touch the stuff, so I couldn't care less. Today, I just sprinkled some splenda on Alan's sweet potato. He has taste perversion ever since he went off the fentanyl pain patch, so his tastebuds are WAY off. But no more honey. He knows and he doesn't care.

He also did not have his coffee roll. This morning I made him some egg beater stuff on some light toast. And his decaf tea. Oh, I juiced a nice juice drink for him as soon as he got up.

Cantellope, apple, pear, a little piece of fresh ginger, some fresh pineapple, and a carrot. He said it was the most delicious thing he ever drank.

I have carrot, celery, zucchini, and some other green stuff. Just a slice of apple to make it tolerable.

And I only drink a small glass. BUT I DO LOVE THIS JUICER. It's really powerful.

But I think I'm better off doing what Glenn does. Little meals,

I bought bean sprouts today. For dinner, I just sauteed them in a bit of garlic and added some fresh asparagus. Bean Sprouts can't hurt right?? lol

I also found out something about my body. While I may like the taste of a brownie on the weekend, my body really doesn't like when I put anything with sugar in it. I've been using the Duncan Hines.

Alan knows that this weekend was the last time I will make brownies.

I'll have to find some other sugar free treat to give us next weekend. Maybe I'll make a splenda cake or buy some sugar free apple stuff.

It's something to look forward to , and it makes the body rev up the metabolism. Someone from Cornell told me "if you want to lose weight, never eat the same thing and the same way every day. Your body gets used to it". So I've been following that principal.

Hey, I just might get into that Bikini some day.!! lol

Sue...
 

I'm so sorry...I seemed to have missed something somewhere (duh! huh?). Did you say cancer and a cancer hospital? Can you PM me and bring me up to date or someone please do.

Billye

Hi Melody, I just read this rather complex thread and thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

First, I don't think you need worry about the platelet count of 130. It's very near normal, and it's a test that is easily technically off a bit. As a rule, it's a good idea not to stress yourself with investigating all the causes of and potential problems of a blood test that is abnormal ONCE. I'd not worry at all unless it was abnormal on repeat, and MORE abnormal than this.

Next, on your diabetes: Melody, do you work with a nutritionist? Most diabetes I know have a diabetic nutritionist who they report to regularly with charts of what they've eaten, when they've taken their insulin, and what their blood sugar is. Then both insulin and diet can be adjusted appropriately for that individual. But it's hard to say there's any one rule that solves the problem of a person who is on one dose of insulin a day. To keep it in range, you really ought to be seeing a nutritionist weekly until it's stablized. While I agree with Mrs D that the A1c is an important indicator, having glucoses as high as 150 is not good for you. Glucoses of 120 and above have been associated with complications, which is why doctors more and more are aiming patients at tighter control. But it might be surprising how much you can affect the numbers with dietary counselling.

Shiney Sue: Congrats! Good news is always great to hear.

Thanks Liza Jane:

Alan and I both went to the nutritionist who put us on a good sensible diet, with no refined carbs, plenty of fruits and vegetables (not so much fruit for me), and no red meat. We didn't find this hard at all because we had mainly been eating this way for 5 or so years.

Alan lost over 75 lbs and I lost close to 100 from when I was REALLY OBESE. It's been a long long time to lose the weight. I had to change my whole attitude of food.

What confused me was that I hear different things from different people (including the nutritionist) She had said 'many diabetics have to eat something before bedtime so as to not get hypo during the night".

I stopped eating after 7 p.m. and had no adverse reactions whatsoever. I got good control and my a1c really was improved.

Then someone told me "you must, as a diabetic eat something before you go to bed". So I did that, and in the a.m., my sugar went up. I went to Cornell and told them and they said :"why are you listening to anyone else", keep doing what you've been doing".

So I went back to not eating after 7 p.m. Well, for some reason, my sugar would get various readings. One morning it was 120, then the next it was 118, then one day it was 190. I dont' eat anything white, I don't cheat (maybe a brownie on the weekend (but as I said, my brownie days are over).

I have the neuropathy at bay with the B-12, so that's a good thing.

I worry a lot about Alan's feet and now they want to give him a $1200 CROW foot boot. All this stress, well, I have no idea if this raises my sugar.

And the stuff with my son, well Mother's Day just passed. That was not a good day for me. I deal with stress very diffently than a lot of my friends. I do not cry, I just accept. It's what I do and I don't think I can do it any differently. I have had to make a lot of adjustments in my head over my son, and this is not easy when you have a sick man to take care of and no family.

But as I said, I adapt and I accept. I've questioned various diabetic nutritionists and everybody has different theories, but they all agree that one has to find a good balance.

Years ago, my sugar never went below 265. I used to weigh 300 lbs.

So now I have my a1c is a better range and each day my sugar is getting better. I don't want to increase the Lantus, but when I go to Cornell on May 30, they will tell me what to do.

I was kind of hoping (I know this is a long shot), but I was hoping for a miracle that SOMEDAY I might even be able to go off of insulin completely. Is this foolish of me?

I mean, I watch the Biggest Loser, and these people lose 100 lbs and they go "I don't have diabetes any more, and I'm off all my blood pressure meds".

I think this is a stretch for someone my age, but I have to try.

I'm taking Glenn's advice and doing the small meals . Giving this a try.

I eat correctly, this I know. I just want to be off of insulin.

I really don't think I have a shot. But I'll try.

I go to Cornell on May 30 and I'll try and speak to their nutritionist at that time. Every single nutritionist I've spoken to tells me "no white stuff", no pasta, no potatoes, no bread, no red meat, eat small meals, no sugar, no rice cakes, no popcorn, no chips, plenty of fish, plenty of veggies, etc.

You know, a good healthy diet.

What confuses me is the fact that every healthy diet says "eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables". Then I'm told "no fruit".

Now if I treat my body with good stuff, isn't it supposed to heal and let me eat fruits and vegetables. I don't understand this.

If I'm good to my body, why can't I eat the recommended allowance of fresh fruit? I know about the glycemic index and that some fruit is allowed but I just thought that SOMEDAY, I might be able to eat fruit like Alan can eat fruit.

Not doing that yet. Sticking to greens. And colors in the salad.

I think if I could just knock off the last 30 lbs that is stuck in my body, I just might be able to be off all insulin.

Not sure, but I'm going to do my darndest.

thanks for all the good info.

This past Mom's day was very hard for me. I'm not sure, but doesn't stress reach havoc with the body, and doesn't that raise sugar levels??

Melody

maybe ...maybe not
 

By the time someone is diagnosed with Type II diabetes,
1/2 of the pancreas is no longer working.

Had that in one of my CE's. No one knows if it is capable of coming
back, but that is why they are now switching to using insulin instead
of oral meds for Type II's.

The net has lots of diabetic dessert recipes so you can still have some treats.
Seems to me if one can never "go back" that injecting a bit more insulin daily
in order to have a quality of life --fun with food-- might be worth it.
http://www.lifeclinic.com/whatsnew/c...escookbook.asp

Research shows that it is NOT only the pancreas dying however that causes diabetes type II.
There is some factor blocking insulin at the cell level affecting glucose that way.

So sensitizing insulin is important, not just having MORE.

Things that sensitize insulin
chromium
http://www.thenutritionsolution.com/...ndDiabetes.htm

r-lipoic acid
http://www.advance-health.com/rlipoicacid.html

cinnamon
http://www.rxreview.info/columns/1.html

taurine
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/conten...00003/art00003

Ah, my dear Mrs. D. What would I do without you.

I just came back from Dunkin. There was a guy there who shouted out "ONE LARGE COFFEE WITH 11 SPLENDAS"

The guy behind the counter almost had a stroke. Splenda is way more expensive than Equal and they offer Sugar, Equal, Sweet & Low, and Splenda.

The guy said: "I WANT A LARGE COFFEE WITH 11 SPLENDAS".

Now, it's my understanding that one splenda is equal to two teaspoons of sugar. So if that's the case, this guy ordered a large coffee with the sweetness of 22 teaspoons of sugar?? I thought Alan had a taste problem, but oh my goodness.

I then came home and looked up Splenda on the internet. I mean, I REALLY LOOKED UP SPLENDA.

It seems that they changed the molecular anatomy of the cell or something to that effect. They add so many things to make it the way it is, well, it had me thinking. Alan uses 5 splendas with one large cup of tea. He drinks maybe 3 to 4 large cups of tea a day. That's a lot of artificial sweetner going into his body. Maybe all this is aggravating is psoriasis. I read about the negative side effects of Splenda.

I also read about how REALLY BAD aspartame is, and thank god, I went off that almost 7 years ago.

So I just told Alan, from now on we use Stevia. Can't find anything negative about that. I went to Puritan.com and they are having a 70% off sale on Stevia Products. So we'll stock up on that. I've tried it, it tastes fine. It also comes in many form.

Packets, liquid, powder. I don't know which form is the best to use. Do you have any idea??

Oh, this is interesting. Last night at 9:30, I had a small piece of low-fat Gouda. It was very nice.

This morning at 8 a.m. I took my sugar . it was 174. Thirty seconds later, I used a different strip and it was 154.

I'm going to test my meter with the sample testing solution they provide. I mean, how can it drop 20 points in 30 seconds??? Something kooky going on here.

Also, I'm not going to juice for a few days. I'll still juice for Alan, but I'm going to do the protein, and veggies, and see how that impacts my sugar reading in the morning. When I told Cornell I was juicing, they DID NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL. Something about the concentration of the juice going into my body versus just eating a piece of fruit.

I am wondering, does this apply to green vegetables also. Would the juicing of celery, zucchini, asparagus, cucumber (with a small slice of apple for sweetness), well would that affect my diabetes?

I always thought that juicing fruit would impact it, but I never thought that juicing veggies and other greens could affect one's diabetic levels.

Oh, I just found this on the internet. No more carrots for me.

http://www.diabetescure101.com/juice4.shtml

I also didn't know that by the time one is diagnosed with Type 2, one half of the pancreas is damaged.

Now here's the rub!!!

Can we fix our pancreas??? no one knows do they??

Well, I reversed the diabetes in my eyes. I no longer need glasses. I broke the protocol at Cornell and my body reacted better than anyone else's.

And that happened when I went on Lantus, and stopped the oral stuff.

So can Melody re-engineer her pancreas?

I can most assuredly tell you that MELODY IS GOING TO TRY.

I mean, if I got my feet to stop buzzing and burning (with using Methyl B-12), well, God only knows what other wonders I can get my body to do.

I shall be a test case.

All good stuff going in, and all toxins going out.

And I shall walk every day.

So we shall see.

I ain't giving up till the FAT LADY SINGS!!!!

And no, I'M NOT THE FAT LADY!!!!

lol

juicing
 

removes the fiber from the food. The fiber serves a useful purpose,
it releases the carbs slowly so there is no spike to overstimulate insulin release.

Fiber also helps the colon work better.

Mrs. D.

Are you FOR juicing fresh vegetables, or do you think it's more practical to use eat the steamed veggies.

I get plenty of fiber so that's no problem. I just thought juicing the veggies would get more live enzymes in my body.

True or not true??

Thanks, Melody