What do you do when your sugars are high?

Dear Mary,

Kindly take this advice. GO see a neurologist. I had a few similar sypmtoms & it transpired that I have carotid artery narrowing. My one was not very severe as it was only in the begening stages. But you should immediately check out that possibilty.

I hope that you do not take offence from my morose outlook, but I would be as happy as you would be if the results come out OK.

Regards,

AM_BD

Mary,

Try downloading a calorie counting program online. (I use calorieking.com). It will show you what the foods you are eating are doing to your total daily count. Also, when you sugars are over 150 more than 2 hrs after a meal you are doing permanent damage to your retinas, kidneys, the nerves in your feet and hands and the whole rest of your body's systems. I'm not telling you this to scare you. I'm telling you this because it is a fact. There are a whole series of emotional steps you go thru before you really admit to yourself that you have a life-threatening disease. It took me almost 10 years to own up to the fact that I couldn't keep on fooling myself... 10 years plus going on insulin and finally ordering the little 'medical alert' bracelet that I wear 24/7 in case I pass out and nobody knows what's wrong with me.

The best thing to do for yourself to fix the high sugars is to not get them. (I know I sound like a smart @$$ but it's true!) If you find you have overindulged you can take a heaping tablespoon of psyllium fiber (I use sugar free Metamucil) in a large glass of water and drink it down. This will help level out your spike but wont' stop the absorption of the carbs you ate... just slows it down a bit. Follow this with another glass of water and an hour later one or more glasses of water. The water dilutes your blood and helps you kidneys with their extra load of sugar to plow thru. Also, a walk around the block or a ride on your exercise bike will help you bring the sugars down, but if you are having readings like this very often you need to make an appointment with your doctor to check if your meds are still effective, if maybe they need to be changed or dosages raised.

Having diabetes is not for sissies and that's why this forum is here. We all encourage each other to take our meds, do our exercises, visit our doctors, follow our programs and generally understand one another. We sometimes fuss and fight about methods and medications but we all want the best for each other and that's what's most important.

So I don't have to repeat something I've already written please click here and read this past post. It might help you with your situation. Best wishes to you and hang in there girlfriend!

Mary,
Another thing... My hubby lost his job last July so we've been without health insurance. I had to find a new meter that didn't cost me $1.00 a test because I could barely afford to do my testing! If finances are one of the things holding you back from sticking to your program we have lots of folks here with tons of great ideas about saving money while coping with diabetes.

Sometimes it's a real pain to be good... because it's not like someone comes along at the end of the day and says, "Good girl, Mary! Now you may have a nice big piece of pie!" The reward for being good is that you get to be good some more! I have three grandchildren under the age of 6 and they are a great motivator for me to stick to my program. I want to be able to read them stories and go for walks and be healthy long enough to be a positive influence in their lives. Both of their grandmothers have diabetes so the chances that they will get it are pretty strong. I have to be a role model for them. Somehow this makes it a little easier. I'm not just doing it for me, I'm doing it for them, too.

I hope we can become good friends. It's always easier to cope with something when you can share.

Hi Mary,

I was reading through your post again and it occurred to me that no one has told you about the meds you are taking.  Metformin is one of those drugs that seems to have a definate lifespan.  It is the drug usually prescribed for the first diagnosed diabetic.  You are on a basic beginning dose and may need to have it increased.  Aside from that as you move on with metformin and its effectiveness starts to wane, you usually have to add one or two other oral meds to it.  It may be time to look into this for you.  Discuss what is happening with your doc and he may put you on an additional med that will keep you in the normal range. 

Let us know what happens after your appointment.

Warren