Originally Posted by
Mizzou211
Best advice I can give comes from (unfortunately) personal experience. I was diagnosed in 2006 and had likely already been Type II for a couple years. I really didn't make any changes for about 6-7 years. And, I'm paying for it now. I've dealt with diabetic retinopathy (I have some mild to moderate permanent issues, including a blind spot that will never heal), neuropathy (still dealing with this to a point) and now my liver is in Stage 4 cirrhosis due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. I have to have my abdomen drained about every 10 days because my liver doesn't work well at all and will wind up on the national liver transplant list within the next year. If I can't get a new liver or have a TIPS procedure, the liver disease will kill me. I'm 55 in a couple days and may be lucky to make it to 60. DO NOT **** around with diabetes...it WILL kill you, in many different ways, and very slowly, if you don't get it under control. But, there is good news too!!
For 95+% of people, it is reversible. My A1c was over 10 when I started, and is 5.1 now. It's been under 6 for over a year, and I'm no longer on any diabetes meds whatsoever. Take the Metformin or Janumet and Victoza or something to get it under control, but get off the meds as soon as you can. The Metformin is poison for your liver. I've lost over 70 pounds since I started. I'll describe what worked for me, even though it might not work for all. Begin by learning to eat until you are no longer hungry, rather than until you're full. There is a HUGE difference between the two. "Fork downs" and "pushbacks" (from the table) are two very important exercises to learn. Do away as much as possible with simple carbs. For me, this was a bigger difference maker than the sugars, even though I limit those much more too. Read a book called "Wheat belly". Physical exercise is also important but you don't need to be a body builder. I started with 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week on the treadmill at a brisk walk (about 3 MPH) at a 5 degree incline. Since then, I've added about an hour of weight work 3 days a week in the afternoons. You won't realize how shitty you've felt until you don't feel that way anymore. Even a loss of 20-30 pounds makes a very large difference. And if you smoke, STOP. I smoked a pack a day or more for almost 40 years, and quit cold turkey on January 2, 2023 @ 0930. Haven't had one since. If you truly want to quit, you can.
I wish you all possible success and would like for you to update us on your progress if you don't mind. Whatever you do, PLEASE, don't ignore this or think it's not a big deal. I beg you to make the necessary changes...both for yourself and your loved ones. God bless you and get on and stay on a good path! You CAN do this.
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