Comments on: NEW YEAR, NEW YOU: A Diabetes Makeover Contest

By: AmyT

AmyT — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:21:47 +0000

*** THIS POST AND CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING! ***

By: Suzy Cohn

Suzy Cohn — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:21:07 +0000

20 years of type 1 have changed me from a healthy, energetic, good looking (if I may say so) woman to a listless 20 lbs overweight clod. despite tweaking the pump , fine tuning, exercise, watching diet etc, my blood sugars are consistently inconsistent. Way high, way low, and sometimes normal. But never the same 2 days in a row. Desp[ite testing 12 times a day.
Even my diab doctor doesn’t know what to do with me any more .
Resolution – to go from being Diabetes’ biggest loser to a respectably healthy woman living with it – and to keep the upper hand in the daily battle.

By: Colleen Levinski

Colleen Levinski — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:12:14 +0000

I have type 2 Diabeties. I am considered morbidly obease with my weight around 205. I’m only 5ft. 3in.tall and am feeling like a beached whale. My back hurts my legs and feet hurt and food is my comfort. I do not have a good support system with my family as most of them are badley overweight also. My daughter is also very overweight but is allways biting me to lose weight. I even went and got on the list for the surgery but was told by a different doctor that They don’t have any idea how bad the comlacations will be later for me, and said it was not a good thing for me to do.

I’m on a fixed income and can’t afford all the different diet places to join and pay for the diet.

Oh I am just shy of 56 years old and feel like 150lbs
Can you help me? Please

By: Theda "Deedy" Wallace

Theda "Deedy" Wallace — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:06:21 +0000

Am I ready for a chance to overhaul my diabetes regime?

Yes I am! Ever since June 11, 2008—the date of diagnosis for type II diabetes—life has been filled with scores of uncertainties. Being preoccupied with haunting thoughts of relatives loosing their eyesight (2), eyes (1), limbs (1), or worse—going into kidney failure (1)—is a mainstay for me. By the way, most of the generation of relatives that came before me is deceased, due to complications with diabetes, cancer, or heart failure. I have already had my share of scares with cancer, now diabetes?

When attending a function hosted by one of my relatives, one could count on meeting several overweight people. My family has a fixation on delicious fat-filled, sugary, or starchy foods. With all of the diabetics in the family, one would think that the inclusion of a diabetic friendly version of the Sweet Potato Pie would have been included by now, but no.

Once upon a time, my daily regimen was simply: two doses of Ferrous Sulfate 325mg. My diabetic regimen began with the following medications:

1. Metformin (500mg), twice daily
2. Ferrous Sulfate 325, twice daily

After my healthcare provider’s noticed that my readings were still high, my daily regimen was revised, yet again: the Metformin was increased and additional medications were necessary:

1. 1000mg of Metformin, twice daily
2. Ferrous Sulfate 325, twice daily
3. Glimepiride 2mg, once daily
4. Nicoderm CL 4mg, one patch daily (no success)

Since beginning what I call “the diabetic diet,” I have enjoyed a 25lb weight loss.
Thankfully, my glucose readings average around 156 on a daily basis (after a meal) and 103 before the medication. Therefore, the diet was successful; however, I am still experiencing a sluggish metabolism and extreme hunger.

My New Years resolution was to take even better care of my health through diet (diabetic), exercise, and to become a non-smoker (cigarettes). However, I am extremely busy and I cannot just pick-up and go to the gym whenever I so desired. Still, type II diabetes has saved my life from the long list of other diseases to which my family is plagued. Winning the “Diabetic Makeover” challenge would create a special atmosphere for healthy living, as I would be motivated to do even more.

Respectfully Yours;
Theda L. “Deedy” Wallace