new member newly diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am new to this group and 38 years old.

I was diagnosed with diabetes a week ago. My A1c was 8.2.

I have been started on Metformin 500 mg twice a day.

I have started counting carbs and calories in order to get my sugar under

control and to lose some weight.

Trying to start getting more active as well.

I got a One Touch Ultra machine and have started testing my bg several times

a day.

One of my questions is about getting books. I am wondering if someone can

suggest a good book with calories and carbs listed. I was looking at some on

Amazon.com but there were so many it would be nice to get some

recommendations.

The other day I saw a web site( <A

HREF= " http://atkinscenter.com/global/carb-counter/index.html " >Carb Gram

Counter</A> ) someone posted to the

group with carbs-fiber=carbs and calorie counts. I would like to get a book

like this if possible.

I am also in the process of looking for a new doctor as mine seems kind of

clueless. She was ready to send me home with meds and the mention of

scheduling an appt to see a dietitian. No mention of getting a bg monitor

etc.. I brought it up myself as I know it is important to monitor your sugar.

My sister is also diabetic.

The doctor (one of those HMO nurse practitioner's actually) did not even know

the name of a monitor to suggest for me to get. I looked at several on the

web and picked one. Then called them back to call in the script for me so my

insurance would cover everything.

Are there any suggestions you could also give on finding a " good " diabetic

doctor. Are there any particular questions I should be asking once I do find

one.

I have had high blood pressure under control for over a year now as well.

High cholesterol 212. I cannot remember the triglycerides, or LDL off the top

of my head.

I have been reading all the post trying to learn as much as I can for about a

week now. I am glad there are groups like this.

I have been a member of several Yahoo groups for my cats for over a year now.

Guess its time to start taking care of myself too!

Ps, I have been having a real problem with swollen feet, ankles and lower

half of my legs for about 6 months now. I thought my diuretic had become

ineffective and apparently my doctor did as well. She switched me to a

stronger one and it still did not help much. When she found out my sugar was

too high last week she told me the swollen feet etc could be from the high

sugar. Is this correct?

Thanks for reading,

Beverly

[Guest guest]

> One of my questions is about getting books. I am wondering if

someone can

> suggest a good book with calories and carbs listed. I was looking

at some on

> Amazon.com but there were so many it would be nice to get some

> recommendations.

> The other day I saw a web site( <A

HREF= " http://atkinscenter.com/global/carb-counter/index.html " >Carb

Gram Counter</A> ) someone posted to the

> group with carbs-fiber=carbs and calorie counts. I would like to

get a book

> like this if possible.

I highly recommend " The Nutribase Complete Book of Food Counts "

and/or " The Complete Book of Food Counts " by Corrine T. Netzer. Both

are widely available paperbacks with lots of nutrition information on

a very wide variety of foods.

Christy

[Guest guest]

>

> Are there any suggestions you could also give on finding a " good "

diabetic

> doctor.

Beverly, will your HMO permit you to see an endocrinologist? I'd

call the NP and tell her that you wish to be agressive in your

diabetes therapy and would like a consult to see an endo. That might

be a good place to start.

As far as your swollen feet, a common side effect of diabetes

neuropathy, which causes loss of feeling or pain in the feet and

limbs. Swelling can also accompany it, or at least it did for my

father. Getting your BG under control may reverse these symptoms if

you have caught it soon enough.

We're sorry you have had to join this " club " but glad to have you

here. You'll learn a lot here. We have quite a few members who have

achieved excellent control, and not all in the same way. The

important thing is to find what works for you, and what you can live

with for the rest of your life. I'm a " moderate carber, " who

basically follows the ADA pyramid except that I don't eat as many

carbs as they recommend. Only about 100 grams per day. Others on

the list follow more of an Atkins approach and limit themselves to 20-

30 grams of carb per day but eat way more calories and fat than I'm

comfortable with personally, but it works for them. A common saying

here is YMMV, " Your mileage may vary. " It's good that you recognized

the importance of testing. I test between 4 and 8 times a day just

to keep myself on track.

Christy