my story- I'm sticking to it

I found this site today and registered. I was warned by my optometrist that I was heading towards diabetes in 1998.  I was diagnosed with Type II in 1999 at the age of 37, started on Metformin 2000mg per day.  Found out about the Schwartzbein Principle a few months later and was able to drop about 30 pounds and control my blood sugar by eating low, healthy carbs.

Blood sugar levels started a slow increase, so I was put on Actos in 2001.  Actos caused my weight to increase and didn't really help as much as metformin, so I went back on it and stayed for a few years, still low carbs as much as possible.

In 2004, I read about the Maker's Diet and have been really working that by shopping organic, no processed foods, lower carbs, grass fed beef, and cultured vegetables sometimes.  It helped me lower my metformin for a while, but added 5mg glyburide in 2005.

I've been reading more on Mercola's website and now I'm taking 3 capsules of Nature's Way Blood Sugar (chromium, cinnamon, fenugreek extract, Bitter Melon, Gymnema Sylvestre, and Bilberry), 200mg Alpha Lipoic Acid, and 1000mg Evening Primrose Oil twice a day.  I've also been doing weight training before work for 30 minutes, five days per week, for the past four weeks and drastically cut back on even organic carbs like brown rice and sprouted bread.  My morning readings are usually around 130 where they were around 170 to 180 last year and I've lost 8 pounds in the past two weeks.  about nine days ago, I ditched the meds to see what would happen. Looked OK for awhile, but the past few days, readings started increasing minutely, so I went back on the meds with the supplements.

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My questions are:
How long would you wizened folks consider to be a good "evaluation period" for establishing what works?
Should I wait a few more weeks with just the supplements and exercise?
How long does it take for exercise to kick in?
Could it be that I'm past the point at 43 where I can't control blood sugar without meds?
Has anyone dealt with diabetes for seven years and modified their lifestyle enough to drop meds?

James

Thanks Warren, I was not aware of the potential Chromium toxicity!  I will take them back tonight.  When I started the glyburide 10mg once a day, I would crash down to the low 60s, so I started cutting the pills in half to take twice a day.  I also decreased my metformin.  So, I reduced both meds down too far and forgot to check my blood for a few months and was surprised that it was increasing again!  Duh!

Last night, I added 5mg glyburide with the supp. and 1000mg met and eight hours later (5am) had a 113 reading!  So after, I had two eggs, cheese, tomatoes, on sprouted toast, repeated the same regimine this morning, worked out, and at 9:00 had an 84 reading!  Cool for me, but I really get jittery below 100.

Health Perspectives said...
Selecting Quality Evening Primrose Oil
Always look first for a certified organic source of Evening Primrose oil. In addition, since oils are highly subject to rancidity, it is recommended that you acquire a product that is manufactured using a low temperature process without chemical solvents to avoid formation of free radicals and ensuing rancidity.

Generally, two grades of evening primrose oil have been available to consumers. The crude grade is considered to be unstable because of it's high organic matter content. This oil is usually greenish color.

Refined evening primrose oils have a low organic matter content and are yellowish color. As we mentioned, oils tend to accumulate pesticides, especially the many kinds that are fat soluble. That's why we always tell our readers to prefer organic oils. Until now few, if any, organic evening primrose oil products have been available.

This is from EVENINGPRIMROSEOIL

Its an advertorial from a company that obviously sells evening primrose oil, but the point that is echoed over and over again in many publications, is that MOST evening primrose oils are subject to being rancid or containing nasty stuff!!

Am I vindicated??

 Warren