Re: Overwhelmed Newbie: update

On 10 Dec 2005 10:45:39 -0800, "Paul L" <kbtrans@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Howdy Folks ... thanks again to all the good people that responded to
>my
> call for help this past Monday. It is now Saturday morning.
>
>Recap: Diagnosis 12 - 1 during physical scheduled to explain loss of
> body weight ... 190 lbs to 162 lbs in 3 months or so. Glucose
> levels in Drs office measured 373 .... 5 1/2 hours after I"d
>last eaten.
>
> Started Metformin evening of 12 - 1 ... 850 mg ... 2 X / day.
>
>I have now been on Metformin for 9 days. After diagnosis, on day 1 I
>had
> daytime readings that included one over 600 and one exactly 500.
>
>My food intake has radically changed since diagnosis. AFter a few
>initial
> mistakes .... all of them relative to high carbs, I have been on a
>pretty radical
> low carb diet. Here are my morning numbers starting with the most
>recent (today)
> and going back:
>
>220
>284
>297
>225
>244
>298
>
>The good progress has been made during the day. Two days ago, 7 days
> after diagnosis, I got my first readings under 200 ... though barely.
>
>Yesterday afternoon I ate what so far is my most favorable meal found
>to
> date ... Chicken Breast Wrap from Subway ... at 12 Noon. Pre meal
> testing showed 208 and 1 Hour 15 minutes after eating was 197.
> I then exercised for 1/2 Hour starting 1 1/2 hours after eating
>and when
> done was very pleased to get my first "good" blood sugar reading
>of 121.
>
> For dinner ate chicken breast, corn on the cob, green beans and a
>walnut/tomato
> dish. 117 reading before dinner. 175 1 hour after dinner. I was
>craving pretty
> hard and had 1/2 banana dipped in natural peanut butter. 1 hour
>later
> my reading was 157.
>
> 11 hours later, this morning, my reading was 220 and has been
>working its
> way down today.
>
> I have learned in these whirlwind few days that I must learn
>patience. I have
> been reading about the "morning effect" but know that I should at
>least
> get 3 weeks into the Metformin before making too many conclusions.
>
> Feel free to comment on anything I've shared. Alll thoughts are
>well appreciated.
>
> I do have one specific question. Dr gave me lipitor and actos to
>start a few days ago
> but I have not started them yet. My feeling is 1) I want my
>body to get used
> to the metformin first ... it won't hurt to give it a short time
>to adjust before I start
> the other meds. Trying to lessen the shock ... and 2) With my
>newfound eating
> habits, perhaps I can try to get these numbers down by diet and
>see how it goes.
> What I DON"T want to happen is have my diet reflect very well on
>my blood test
> but attribute it to the meds and take them unnecessarily. This
>could be faulty
> thinking, I don't know ... but one thing I've learned is that
>I've had this condition
> for much longer than I am aware, so waiting 3 weeks to start
>these other 2 meds
> is no big deal, particularly if there is a chance I might not
>need to take them.
> I must say though that my eating habits previously have not been
>all that bad,
> just way too high on carbs as my type 2 diagnosis indicates.
>
> Is there a chance I may not need these meds? Here are my blood
>results:
>
> Serum cholestoral 233
> Serum Triglycerides 186
> HDL Cholestoral 42
> LDL 154
>
>
> Thanks again to everyone ...
>
>
>Paul

It sounds as if you are off to a good start.

Do you trust your doctor's judgement?
If not, find one that you do.

If you answered yes, then why in the world would you wait to start
those other prescriptions. If you needed to wait the doctor would have
told you that and if he/she hadn't the pharmacist would have assuming
you go to the same drug store. They keep a record of everything that
you are prescribed and will warn you if you need to ease into a new
med of it two meds will interfere with one another.

We pay these professional people one heck of a lot of money. Keeping
track of our meds and their potential side effects is just one of the
many services we pay our doctors and pharmacists for.

Anyway, keep working on it. It looks as if your numbers are on their
way down. It may take awhile for the right combination of drugs and
the right amounts for you is found. We are all individuals and you
will see YMMV here quite often because as it says your milage may
vary.
--
Grandpa Chuck
-ô¿ô-
~

WHEN WILL THIS SLAUGHTER IN BUSH'S NAME END?
SEVEN MORE AMERICAN FAMILIES WILL SPEND THE HOLIDAYS MOURNING
THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE IN IRAQ AS OF TODAY.

The following information is given with the utmost respect
for the armed forces and civilians who have died in the
current war in Iraq. According to http://icasualties.org/oif/
The number of Americans killed in Iraq as of Dec. 10, 2005 is 2,142.
United Kingdom = 98 Other = 103

.