i diet and try to eat right.. my blood sugars are usually in the normal range, but i can't get my weight to go down at all..i know i can't be alone..can i?
207061
Hi,\nI'm a Pharmacist. Congratulations on your intentions for weight loss! Loosing weight is one of the key steps to decreasing your risk of diabetic complications. Even though you don't seem to be successful with diet and exercise yet, don't give up!\nThere is also pharmacological help out there. I'm not sure of your diabetes medications, but there are some medications that will put on weight, and others that will help you loose weight, whilst controlling your sugar levels. Discuss this concern with your doctor, because you may benefit from changing medications. For example, drugs from the sulfonylurea class (eg Diamicron) will increase weight, whilst metformin (Diabex) decreases weight.\nYou can also ask your doctor about medications that help you loose weight. These medications are usually only reserved for patients who are obese or have a co-morbidity (like diabetes.) Thes drugs, eg orlistat (Xenical) don't work by themselves. You must continue dieting and exercising. Think of them as a kick start in the right direction!\nHope this helps... and good luck!
430508
This will depend on several things but it sounds like you have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes which can often be controlled by diet.\n\nThere are a few key guidelines:\n\nAvoid foods with processed sugar.\n\nHave a piece of fruit 3 times per day.  That actually did me in for sweets, after 3 months of that much fruit I got really tired of anything that tasted sweet!\n\nEat 5 small meals per day instead of 2 or 3 larger ones.  Don't skip breakfast.  Have a slightly early lunch.  Your 3rd meal would be a small mid afternoon snack (like an apple with a 2 or 3 ritz crackers).  Dinner can be very normal but eat small portions.  Plan ahead that your 5th meal is still coming so leave some room and don't eat all the way to feeling full.  The 5th meal should also be a light snack with fruit and a bread (like the afternoon meal) but should include some protein about an hour or so before you go to bed.  The protein is slower to digest and get its sugar into your system so it helps your blood sugar from getting too low during the night.  A little cheese or some milk is good.  Or just something left over in the fridge from dinner.\n\nThe temptation is to replace sugars with fats for flavor.  Try not to fall into that trap.  Fish is good if you like it.  Tuna salad with tomato paste instead of mayo is a sandwich I like for lunch.\n\nThere are some "free" foods.  These are basically things you can eat anytime during the day and they won't impact your blood sugar much.  Carrots (I hate those), pickles (get some without sugar if you can, I found kosher pickles usually have no sugar).\n\nIncrease the amount of vegetables you eat throughout the day.  They have fewer calories and the bulk can help you feel fuller.\n\nThere are some things I've learned to avoid.  Watermelon sky rockets my blood sugar, the sauce on take out pizza, rice.\n\nI fear I'm rambling now, but it's a great time to be diabetic (comparatively) because of so many choices in artificial sweetener (I think Splenda is best, except when they put it in special splenda diet drinks).  \n\nI hope that helps.  It's been 20 years since I started and then they discovered I was actually a slow starting Type 1 diabetic.  While I was on the good diet, I felt better than I ever had before.\n\nGood luck.\n\nI'm happy to answer other questions from my experience if you drop me a line.
113228
I can't handle anyone else telling me what I can and can't eat.\n\nCurrently, I have lost 26 pounds by just doing my own thing.  I eat two Dannon Light n Fit yogurts, a bowl of raisin bran with 1/2% milk and a sensible dinner each day. I don't say anything is off limits, but I have to watch that I only eat ONE serving of things. I occasionally allow a treat.\n\nIf someone had told me to eat only that every day I would not have followed it. I think sometimes you just really have to figure out what works for you. \n\nA little exercise and a little less food works wonders. And no fast food! EEk, that stuff is horribly calorie-laden.\n\nGood luck to you.
34984
I am not a nurse or doctor,however,I have been diabetic (type 1) for 36 years. A normal blood sugar reading is between 80 and 120, At 190 sugar spills into your urine. That's when you become thirsty, beyond belief, and start to dehydrate. You will know every washroom in the city because of constant urination. I have been hospilized w/ a reading of about 1200. That was with taking insulin. I had dental work done, and the infection got the best of me. Your reading shows you that your sugar is high, but it is the way the sugar affects your organs that can be fatal. When I had my episode, my potassium levels were screaming high,my kidneys had shut down,I lost the vision in one eye from such a low blood pressure. I was in a coma for a day before anyone found me. I remained so for an additional five days. During that time I suffered a heart attack. Diabetes can be hard to control, even with insulin. Sometimes it becomes more complicated because of the insulin. If you can manage it without..DO IT! Get on a diet recommended by a dietition, get yourself a glucometer to check your sugar at home frequently. Exercise. Show your family the way to deal with it should they eventually have it. Your circulation is compromised, affecting your legs and feet, eyes, and kidneys, skin. High sugar means you will have a harder time fighting infections. Your teeth and gums will need extra care-and you are the only one that can do it. Don't become blind or on dialysis because you can't pass up a candy bar or a chunk of cake. your family needs you, and when you look at their smiling faces, you'll be grateful to be with them. I know I am telling you scary things. I wish someone had really explained to me HOW these things could come to pass. It's because it affects the smallest,tiniest blood vessels in your body. You don't always "just die" from diabetes. You could live a long time with what it can do to you. Good luck to you. I would be so proud of you if you could turn this thing around to become incredibley healthy. This would be the time to do that. If you see that your sugar is rising,for no apparent reason, such as large meal,eating fruit,etc.,call your doctor. It may be from a sinus infection, earache,cut that won't heal. The infection raises your sugar, your sugar makes it difficult to get rid of the infection. And so it goes..round and round. Don't wait for a huge spike in your numbers.
232717
The best thing you can do for yourself is to exercise regulary.  It is VERY important NOT to be overweight.  This is the leading cause of Type 2 diabetes because the insulin that your body produces doesn't work as well in an overweight person.
390135
You may not be eating enough, considering your activity level.  Add another meal into your routine (as opposed to upping your portions), or a couple of small, healthy snacks might do the trick.  Also may want to go to the doctor and have blood work done, better safe than sorry.
605157
Cut back on sugar and fats. Sugars become fat if you don't burn them off. Also, try to exercise more. If you are type 2, chances are you can control your sugar with diet, exercise and maybe some prescriptions. But you have to be careful because you don't want to become insulin dependent. Also, diabetes can lead to other serious health problems if not taken care of. But most people with Type 2 live normal lives.\nGood luck!
356522
Have you seen an Endocrinologist and Dietitian yet or just your General Practitioner?\n\nPlease don't go on any of those fad diets they can do more harm than good.  You really are going to have to do a overhaul on your lifestyle.  First of all you need to be checking you glucose levels regularly.  If before a meal your levels are high .. do not eat .. you will have to do something aerobic to break down the sugars .. walking should do the trick.  Just make healthy choices and keep you meals small.  Small meals are going to be key in maintaining tight control.  You can still eat fruits and small amount of bread and starches you just have to do it in moderation.  Please get with a dietitian as soon as possible they will get you on your way.
549987
I have those issues too sometimes!  It was hard, but I managed to lose 54 lbs!  You can even see my before and after pic here! http://www.healthandstrength.net\n\nI use cinnamon in the morning in warm water to help level out my blood sugar levels.  I also remind myself that those foods are NOT beneficial to any body part except my taste buds so they aren't really worth to eat.\n\nHere is what I did to lose my weight!\n1. NEVER EVER ate sugar. It's a poison that makes us older, sicker, fatter and tired...all things we dont want. Seriously, sugar is the one who does the dirty work in weight gain. Stop eating it all together. You can see my list of ingredients to avoid when shopping here http://www.healthandstrength.net/qofweeka.htm...\n2. Drink ALOT of water. 2-3 liters a day. The more the merrier!  We need about half our body weight in ounces JUST for regular body functions!  When you feel thirsty, that means you are already dehydrated and lose brain function.  Water flushes toxins from your fat cells and keeps you younger.\n3. Exercise!!! So very important. Here http://www.healthandstrength.net/abexe.htm... are my favorite ab exercises.  I also do cardio 4-5 days a week for about 30 minutes a time.\n4. Eat less. How many calories do you think is in that burger or that plate of fries or in that handful of chips. What about overfilling our plates? If you go here http://www.healthandstrength.net/qofweek.htm... I wrote something about saving on calories and losing weight.\n5. Go to sleep before 10pm. Your body starts repairing and rebuilding and speeding up weight loss while you sleep only if you sleep at about 10pm. If you are awake and go to bed at 12, you miss out on that very important time. I have a good article on my site here http://www.healthandstrength.net/qofweekb.htm that talks about the importance of sleep and how STRESS can make actually make you fatter.\n6. BE POSITIVE. Be thankful every day and love yourself\n7. BE CONSISTANT! That I think is the KEY to losing weight. So what if you went a week and only lost a pound...or didnt lose any...KEEP going. DON'T stop. This is a lifelong commitment, so stick to it and one day you will open your eyes and need a new wardrobe!\n8. Eat more veggies and skinny friendly foods. I have my list of my top ten foods that I ate to lost weight here http://www.healthandstrength.net/tenfoods.htm...\n80% veggies at every meal including breakfast will keep you young and help you lose weight. \n9. Do the little things that count!  Check out 10 cool ideas that you can do to help boost your calorie burn throught the day here: http://www.healthandstrength.net/tips.htm\nGood luck and don't forget that YOU are the only one who decides what foods enter your body and how long you sit around.  Make the change, take the chance and give yourself time!  You can do it.  I know you can!
185355
Please INSIST on doing it a healthy way!  You don't want to sacrifice your health for ANYTHING...and yes, that includes your weight!\n\nAlso, NEVER resort to starvation dieting!  Not just because it is unhealthy, but because it doesn't work!  Your body will adapt to not getting nutrients and your metabolism will slow down.\n\nNEVER take laxatives or purge yourself!  This will throw off something called your electrolyte balance, and can lead to problems with nerve functioning and even your heartbeat!\n\nNow on the positive side...\nThere are generally two healthy (and lasting) things to do if you desire to lose weight.  Make healthy changes in (1) your diet, and (2) your lifestyle.\n\nIn general, you want to avoid or at least cut down your intake of empty calories and saturated fat.  Avoid soft drinks and the real sugary stuff.  Eat more grains, fruits & veggies, and fish; less red meat and junk food.  And you want to eat smaller portions.  It's better to eat 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 huge meals!  And you don't want to eat close to bedtime, because your metabolism slows down when you sleep.\n\nYou need to combine this with regular exercise.  Even doing things like walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator will help.  Manage stress; this can lead to additional production of something called cortisol, which traps excess fat in the mid-section area.\n\nFinally, don't do this alone!  Get together w/ a friend who is also trying to lose weight and encourage each other.  Join an online support group.  Join a weight-loss program or a gym.  If you can't afford that, go to the library and rent videos on healthy eating or with workouts that are fun.\n\nYour doctor, who knows your medical history, can also help you.  Some meds and medical conditions, like an underactive thyroid gland, can promote weight gain.\n\nThere's more, but I hope this is a good start.  I hope you'll change your motivation from losing weight to living a more healthy life.  When you become healthier, the pounds will naturally drop off as a result.  Best wishes for success!
32913
I have same trouble. .  dessert has always been my favorite part of the meal.   Unfortunately, there really aren't any shortcuts;  there are four factors that will affect your sugar level   1)Food and 2)Stress will make it go up  and 3) Physical exertion and 4) Insulin will make it go down.  It's a daily chore to maintain a balance of all of these but it's really the only way.   To echo others' sentiments here on Yahoo! Answers,  even if it sounds like really excellent advice!,  Don't depend on it to determine your actions.  Talk to your Doctor or a registered Dietitian please!
628217
No, it's not really a normal thing.\nBut it might not by a psych problem. There could be a medical problem causing that.  Are you diabetic?  It is possible that your blood sugar is going down low at night, which is a common problem among diabetics.  If that's the case, you may wake up wanting some carbs to make your sugar come back up.
93099
Limit your carb intake. The body turns all carbs into sugar. With simple carbs; sugar, honey, syrup, etc. the body converts these quickly causing your blood sugar to spike so avoid these. Complex carbs like rice, oatmeal, beans, etc. take longer to convert so your blood sugar doesn't spike, but it will still go up. You also have to be careful not to eat too much protein. Protein won't effect your blood sugar, but will effect your kidneys which are already working overtime trying to get rid of the excess sugar. Make an appointment and talk with a dietitian. In the meantime practice portion control. That's where most of us get in trouble. 1/2 Cup is a serving of starch like corn, beans, pasta, potatoes. 1 Cup is a serving of raw veggies and 1/2 Cup cooked veggies = a serving. 1 oz. of meat = 1 serving of meat. Watch your diet and talk with a dietitian and you should be able to control your diabetes without having to go on meds. OH and always carry some hard candy with you in case your blood sugar gets too low. Good luck with this.
435651
The question that I have for for you is: are you an insulin dependent diabetic or do you take an oral medication to regulate your blood sugar? Low blood sugar can be indicative of a change needed in the regulation of your insulin. Perhaps you are on too high of a dose. This can cause a drop in blood sugar levels. Another cause for low blood sugar is taking in too many carbohydrates, which would first raise the blood sugar, then lower it, sometimes to a unsettlingly low level.  Blood sugar fluctuations can also cause what you refer to as "brain fog," particularly when it gets low. I'm sure you know that diabetes is a condition that is not to be taken lightly. It can affect nearly all organs in the body. Neuropathy is common in someone who suffers from diabetes. Neuropathy can cause permanent nerve damage so it is very important to check in with your physician or an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes and notify them of any symptoms you are experiencing. Diabetes is manageable, but it is important to stay on top of new physical symptoms, as well as maintaining a good diet and exercise program.  I can appreciate your concerns, as I have diabetes myself. Good luck to you!
192342
You need to meet with a dietitian. Your insurance should cover it, and you can get your doctor to recommend it if need be. Regular meetings should include meal plans, grocery list, snacks to have on hand, and times to eat them. Get on a tight eating schedule based on the plan you come up with for your needs. This will help your body to adjust and learn to regulate it self. That is important when you blood sugar play such a vital role in how and what you eat. Once you are in a regular schedule, and have given your body time to adjust to it, work with your nutritionist to start adding weight.
440611
My friend has this same problem . . . but if you're active and eating right then there's not too much you can do. You could sneak in extra calories with liquids and eat more frequently outside of that you may just have to wait until your metabolism slows down.
514796
Actually next time you go to the doctor discuss the possibility of being hypoglycemic. This is when shortly after you eat the levels of sugar shoot right through the roof. After your body digests the food then is drops below. \nYou can talk to the doctor, about how to eat ,what to eat, many people become hyperglosimic before being diabetic.