Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Diabetes!

Hi Guys and Gals,
Just stopping in to see if anyone is experiencing this disease along with AS.
I was diagnosed last Tuesday. The doctor said my number was 187 I don't have a clue what that mean except she said 126 would be better. She perscribed meds and a testing kit. It may be quite a long time for me to learn how to use it.
Any input or diet tips or whatever information you may like to share would be greatly appreciated.
Doreen

Hey Doreen;

I don't know much about the Big D, as it doesn't run in my family, but I just wanted to send my support! It can be very intimidating, I know that much, but you've been so awesome at tackling your AS, doing aerobics even into your 70s! I'm sure you'll do just fine with this.

*hugs*

Bridget

Miss Doreen, you need to call back that doctor's office and talk to the nurse and ask them how to use that testing kit.

Typically, you stick yourself in the finger, and then put the drop of blood onto something and put it in a little meter and it reads it and tells you what your blood sugar level is.

One thing I do know, if you start taking that medication, you need to start testing you blood sugar levels. The medication will change your insulin levels. Insulin helps burn extra sugar. But if you change your insulin levels too much, up, or down, and don't eat the correct way, it can make you feel very faint or even pass out, or make you confused.

The other thing I know is that daily exercise is very good for you, but since you're already an exerciser, you probably have that covered. I know that adult onset diabetes is linked to having other auto immune diseases, and it's also linked to body fat around the middle area. One way to help decrease the amount of body fat in the middle is to not only exercise your belly muscles but your arms. The more arm/upper body work you do, the less fat you develope on your middle. A daily walk is also good.

Don't skip meals. If you take the medication, EAT.

Another place you can go to get info on how to use the testing meter is at the pharmacy where you got the script for it filled, ask for a consult, which they do for free. Pharmacists are very good at giving people directions about medications and side effects.

I haven't had this happen to me yet, (knock on wood with my lousy family genetics) but I sure notice if I eat much junk food I don't feel as well as if I eat nutritiously.

Hi Miss Bridget,
So glad to hear from you. Hope you are doing well.
I surely appreciate your support. It is so good to know you have
people to support you. We have an awesome bunch of men and women here.
I spoke to the doctor's nurse this evening and she said they will refer me to a Diabetic
place here and they will discuss diet, and use of the monitor.
Well, Thanks again
hugs
Doreen

Heh, I tested 194 at my last blood test so my rheumy wanted me to see my doc. Told him not to worry because I had just went to Arby's and the pop I got tasted like pure sugar. I wouldn't have drank any of it if it wasn't so hot that day. My car doesn't have air conditioning. Rheumy is going to retest in the fall and I won't be stopping at Arby's lol. I had a blood test done the month prior and it was normal.

Sad to hear about your diagnosis though. I hope everything goes well for you.

Sharon

Hi wind_rider,
Thanks for your reply. I called the doctor and spoke to one of her nurses. They will refer me to a diabetic place here, where they will discuss diet, and the use of the monitor.
You said to make sure I eat. and not to skip meals. I think that will be the biggest problem I will have. I never like to eat. I have one cup of coffee in the morning and my stomach think it is a meal. So an hour or and hour and a falf later I am just having a bowl of cereal. Some days I will go and exercise after that and come home and have a yoplait yogurt and some fruit and I am just happy until dinner.

For the last month I had some issues with my teeth. Having to go for deep cleaning and then finally I had to get the problem tooth removed last Tuesday. As it turned out the back of the tooth was fused to the bone so it had to be cut out.
So I have not been able to exercise. And I believe that is why this disease reared
it's ugly head.

Anyway thanks for the heads up on eating. I do live alone and passing out would not be a good thing.
I started my exercise routine today.
Thanks bunches
Doreen

If you are looking for different recipes, let me know, as my mom has type 2 diabetes and has had it for quite some time. Not all the food tastes like cardboard!

Sarah

Doreen, the best thing I can think of is to always carry a piece of fruit with you. Dad had apples in the car with him everywhere we went, just in case he needed a sugar boost (he had diabetes too).

I grew up on a diet geared to his diabetes. No more than 3oz of meat at any meal (usually stewed, roasted or broiled - very little pan frying). Tons and tons of fresh or steamed veggies. Whole grain breads. Fruit, cheese and crackers were our snacks. No cakes. No pies. No cookies. No chips. No junk food at all except at Hallowe'en, Christmas, Easter and birthdays, and then it was just us - not him.

The only things Dad cheated with were ice milk (instead of ice cream - ice cream hoggery is embedded in our family's DNA, you know ), crullers (regular or french) and cherries (diabetics are supposed to limit themselves to 10 cherries a day because they are so high in sugar).

And limit any alcohol intake. Drink your coffee black (if you can stand it). No pop, unless it's sugar free. Dad used to drink Fresca and Vernor's Ginger Ale when he drank pop at all, usually as a huge treat. E.D. Smith makes a whole line of diatetic jams and such.

And keep up your exercise.

Doreen, you are one hell of a KAer, so I know you can kick the crap out of this too!

Many hugs,

Hi Sharon,
Thanks so much for your reply.
I laugh every time I read your reply. I could just see you at Arby's drinking that big gulp sugary soda. But sometimes out of neccessity we do things that we know will come back to bite us.
NO MORE ARBY'S BIG GULPS FOR YOU.

Hope your blood test in the fall will be normal. In the meantime enjoy the rests of the Summer.
Thanks for your support
Doreen

Hi Inanna,
Thanks so much for the support. I realize this is going to be a different lifestyle that I will have to adhere to. It is not going to be far off from what I am used to. Junk food, chips sodas and that type of thing was not me. But I love ice, could eat it every day, but didn't.
And I love a brownie and a thin slice of good cake now and then. alchol not a problem about 4 ozs of wine once a month if that often.
I could eat tons of veggies. Fruit on the other hand I am very selective because American fruit is so different to what I grew up with. In the Islands we picked it right off the trees. My favorite is Kiwi, Apples when I find good ones. Trying to get used to peaches and some other fruits. I main drink is water. 4 ozs of coffee a day, and once in a while some juice. But now I will be checking the juice for the sugar content.
Now I have to learn to get to bed early and get up early so that I am not eating breakfast at 11:00 . Based on one diet I found on the Internet, I was so full yesterday I was uncomfortable. Too much food.

Anyway I know I am going to be just fine. Still exercising.

love and hugs
Doreen