Hi, it's Kris. I posted as Mammawhirl a week or so ago. Had to change my name due to password and email issues...lol

I have lost weight since the last time I posted! I am at 234 pounds now. I have lost a total of 6 pounds in a few week span~! When I posted before I had already lost 2 pounds...I started at 240, went to 238 and now am 234. I am excited!

Went to the Doc today for a check-up. Blood pressure was awesome - 110/60. The drew more blood to check cholesterol and triglycerides. They told me that I was insulin resistant and prescribed Glucophage. They also told me that I was eating wrong....too many carbs (mostly in fruit and whole grains) I thought I was eating healthy. Now I am confused and need to learn and find out the proper way to eat. I am pre-diabetic...diabetes runs rampant in my family as well as obesity. I am determined to beat this though! I do NOT want to be obese the rest of my life!

I have been either walking outside - between 2-1/2 to 3 1/2 miles....or doing one hour on the elliptical trainer with 2 pound weights. More often than not, it is the elliptical that I do.

I guess that I will go. My sis is buzzing me. She is going to the doc tomorrow about her knee. She has Crohn's disease and was one prednisone for 3 straight years and it has torn up her knee...it's literally breaking apart. Probably going to have to have a partial knee replacement...she is 34 years old.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? For an example...for breakfast this morning I had 1/2 cup oatmeal a small apple and a small banana with 2 tbsp peanut butter...was told this was too many carbs? I thought that it was healthy. I am in this alone here at home. I have a WONDERFUL online accountabitlity partner, and that has helped me sooooo much! (thnx Jackie!)

Talk to you later! Have a healthy day!

Kris

You might check a medical website like webmd.com for some general info to get you started. Another good website: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/overview.jsp

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Originally posted by Kristina:
I cannot afford a nutritionist as they are not covered by insurance, so I am getting together with my best friends hubby who is a diabetic to educate myself further.
Kris

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Kris,
Congrats on the weight loss and healthy changes. A couple of thoughts:
1. Regular peanut butter sometimes has added sugars, etc. You might want to take a look at natural peanut or other nut butters. I can't tolerate peanut butter but love almond butter and it is just ground up almonds.
2. You might want to check into your local health department or hospital classes. I know both in my area offer low-cost classes on a range of subjects including nutrition and diabetes. Depending on your health insurance, you might have resources available through them. For instance, I know Kaiser offers a bunch of different classes and my current insurer has a huge online resource center including nurses, etc. to consult with.
3. I would double and triple check on the nutritionist coverage from your insurance. I think a lot of things might not seem to be covered because they aren't unless they are prescribed so if you aren't sure you've asked the right folks, ask again. Also, don't rely necessarily on the dr office interpretation...call directly. Diabetes is extremely expensive for insurers so you might be surprised what they are willing to do to keep you from full-blown diabetes.

Peg

[ I have a WONDERFUL online accountabitlity partner, and that has helped me sooooo much! (thnx Jackie!)

Welcome (again) Kris! And everyone, don't be fooled, she has helped me more than I have helped her....since we have been accountability buddies it helps me say no much easier. And she is doing so well!! I am so proud of her! Way to go girlfriend!

I have been reading up on this pre-diabetes thing as my mom has been warned by her doc, and he sent her to a dietician. She dropped 30 lbs, stoped smoking (gained 15 back, but is on the down swing again)...last dr. visit her blood sugars and glucose tolerance tests were perfect...so diet and weigh loss has worked for her...and she doesn't exercise one bit! she is 78...and says she is to old to exercise...oh well you pick your battles don't you?

anyway I found a good website yesterday...I think I posted it, but following links and nosing around on the site there is a bunch of info on everything including type II diabetes...one of the things they talk about is the glycemic index of foods, which is relatively new thinking. (one thing the dietician told mom is that many times MD's are not up to current on dietary knowledge) They also say to pair whole grain carbs with a protien. Anyway here is the website again...http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramids.html

Everyone, thanks for posting all the info on this, I have learned a lot.

jackie

Hi, Kris. I am Type II diabetic and have been on Glucophage for the last three weeks, it has really helped. And one of the side effects is that it does help with wieght loss. As far as food issues are concerned; I have an appointment with the hospital nutritionist/dietician tomorrow. I have known I am diabetic for two years, but,just started taking care of it and myself....so even though I've heard the speech before, I am doing it again. I would strongly recommend that you get an appointment with whoever does diabetic education in your area and talk to them about the food. I am taking my needs and wants (budget, family, weight,etc) with me tomorrow and having her help me figure out how to make it work together.

Good luck, it sounds like you on are on the right road, just need a little direction. Have you read the book, "Sugar Busters"? It's a great book that a friend from Ct helped me find...gives a lot of good information about diabetes and busting up the sugar connection...white foods are OUT!

Sounds like you are doing really well!
Eating only whole grain carbs will help a lot with medical/diabetes.
Blood sugar will be much more stable without refined carbs.

I have heard that diabetics respond well to lower-carb diets. Buddying up with a diabetes vetran sounds like a good idea. If you continue with your weight loss success, you could very well reverse this before it develops into full-blown diabetes. The glucophage will help you lose, too, if you are watching what you eat. Great job on the exercise program -- it sounds really good.

HI Mammawhirl.. (Kris) tis I. I do post here and there. Thanks for remembering! And again.. good luck.... Cindy

Thanks all. You are an encouragement to me. I have been either walking or doing 1 hour elliptical trainer everyday, give or take a day or two a week. Yes, they know I am eating whole grains. I cannot afford a nutritionist as they are not covered by insurance, so I am getting together with my best friends hubby who is a diabetic to educate myself further. You are right about the banana...it's just a shame though because it is my favorite fruit.....lol. I am willing to try new things all of the time though!

Poncegirl...were you a member over at Healthy Cooking? Am I thinking right? It's good to hear from you again!

Kris

You should see if your doctor will refer you to a nutritionist so that you can get the facts on how you should be eating. Also, exercise increases the body's response to insulin, so if you haven't already started a fitness program, you may want to. Again, you should probably consult with your doctor, but it should help you. Good luck!

Kris, could your doctor suggest a nutritionist for you? My neighbor is a diabetic.. and her doctor told her to limit grains... she pairs them with a protein too... good luck... you sure sound like you have a right attitude. Cindy

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Originally posted by Kristina:
Does anyone have any suggestions for me? For an example...for breakfast this morning I had 1/2 cup oatmeal a small apple and a small banana with 2 tbsp peanut butter...was told this was too many carbs? I thought that it was healthy.

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I agree with you, Kristina...I think that IS eating healthy in terms of what we eat for weight loss. However, if you are pre-diabetic, then the doctor is recommending a further modification of your diet for health reasons. In terms of the breakfast you listed, it looks great to me except that I'd say that, with you being pre-diabetic, two pieces of fruit is probably too much at one meal.

Bananas are a high-sugar fruit and also very carby as I recall so they're not something you would want to be eating every day even if you weren't pre-diabetic. Does your doctor know that the grains you're eating are wholegrain? Because I wouldn't think he would have as much of a problem with that as I don't think the glycemic index on the wholegrains is as bad as if you were eating white bread, for example.

I dated (and am still friends with) a diabetic and he told me there were only certain fruits he would/could eat because some of them had a too-high sugar content. His favorite fruit was the mango so, if you like those, you may want to try that instead of the banana.

I suggest getting as much specific guidance from your doctor (or a nutritionist) as you can so that you can do all YOU can do to be sure you don't advance from pre-diabetic to diabetes.