Negative Thinking

I understand how you feel about genetics, they do suck! I have diabetes and heart disease in my family and I'm at risk for both. I already have high blood pressure and I worry constantly about having a heart attack, although I keep it to myself and don't talk about it to others. My AC1 is about 6.0, 6.5 is diabetes so it isn't a matter of IF I get it, it's a matter of when. I'm coming to terms with the fact I will get diabetes but it scares me so much, I don't want to be like my mom and shoot up insulin twice a day for the rest of my life, I'm terrified of needles so that doesn't work very well, lol.

I hope you're feeling better now, but sending you prayers and happy thoughts, along with a hug.

I'm much older then you and I feel so bad for you, you are young with a young child and a husband and you should be enjoying your life. When my kids were little I was so active, sports, cub scouts, school functions, it was rare that we were ever home before 8pm on week nights, I lived for my kids and we were so active and I never thought about the future. I wish I had and would of lost weight back when it was easier to lose weight instead of waiting until I was 48 when it is so much harder. I guess I just want to say, my heart goes out to you and if you can try to enjoy life, it goes by so fast. Best wishes on your therapy appt today.

My heart goes out to you, I pray that you can over come this fear and enjoy life and have another little one to enjoy and give your little boy a baby brother or sister to play with. I wish I had a magic wand, I would so heal you from all your worries. :) if only, right? lol

Angel- Don't we all wish for that magic wand?!

Larry- I always appreciate your perspective. Living in fear doesn't really feel like "living". I'm working so hard to change my view of things. I'm just so scared of the what-is scenarios. It's that fear of the unknown. I'm trying to be more positive and say that I've found these things early and they give me the chance to make lifestyle changes now instead of finding out later, maybe after a heart attack or something like that. You are a great example of someone who is living with these things. I appreciate you taking the time to remind us of that.

Park and AngelLisa! I also have crummy genetics to deal with: heart disease, cholesterol and diabetes on my mom's side but about seven years ago I had an awakening (well, it more of a slap in the head....) when my doctor prescribed a blood sugar meter for me. She called it "pre-diabetes". And my cholesterol wasn't good. I was about 59 at the time and for many years I had elevated blood sugar on my annual physicals. I felt really low and even why bother trying to do anything at that point being so old? Now, I'm controlling my blood sugar with diet and exercise with the help of metformin. As lgm1942 wrote, metformin is a good medication that has shown promise in cancer protection, so I'm happy about taking it. Let me tell you how I've turned my health around.

After reading a lot and being introduced to Dr. Bernstein's diabetes plan (He's a medical doctor who is also a type 1.), I cut out carbs (potatoes, sugar, anything made with flour) and started exercising. These two changes caused me to lose weight and bring my blood sugar down naturally. Carbs do a few things in the body: raise blood sugar and cholesterol. The liver is responsible for producing most of the cholesterol in our system in response to the carbs we eat, not the butter or steak. Exercise, sustained regular exercise like walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, etc. uses up glucose in the system and will make your heart stronger and your blood pressure lower. You can do this in your house in front of the TV is you can't or don't want to do it outside or in a gym.

I know the feeling of wanting to give up for many reasons whether it's genetics, no will-power, hopelessness, negativity, you name it. But you can take control of your health; you really can! I did and I am not doing it with strange herbal concoctions or supplements. Leave the voodoo at the door, please.

Both of you are younger than me. I wish I had known at your ages what it took me many years to learn - but the fact is, it's never too late. I mean it.

If you want to post in the Diabetes Forum, come on over and we can commiserate together! It's not just about 'diabetes'; it's about blood sugar. We can get around the genes. If you want to email me, please do, too!

I'd like to add from my end how important it is to have amazing doctors! I just got such a thoughtful email from my cardiologist reassuring me and telling me what great shape my heart is in.

I wonder if he knows how far an email like that goes.

Good doctors change everything.

I understand you and I say I'd definitely go with your second thought!

You have a chance to change all these conditions and live healthy. It's just you just need to take care of yourself.
Please do not worry, always better knowing them before hands.

Hugs

I pretty much gather I'm the most alternative healing person around here,,,correct me if I've mis-spoken...at 76 and I've had good genes I believe, bad arthritic genes the worst.

I've read a lot of Dr. Stephen Sinatra and Dr. David Perlmutter's works on fats and cholesterol and I'm not worried about the cholesterol and good fats we do need.

Park, some of the latest data from the medical world dont think
saturated fats are the cause of heart disease, they are focused on
Triglycerides and blood sugar. I have come to this conclusion also
when my Tri's are high all my blood work is awful, when i have
the Tri's down my blood work is beautiful, Peace,

Larry ***