Pre-nursing diabetics

KungFuFtr · Mar 5, 2006

Oops, my bad, you're most certainly correct, let me correct my words...
I've been a LIVabetic for 15 years now, also type 1.
By the way, to KungFuFtr (love the name, by the way!) - there's a t-shirt waiting for you, check it out at www.speakupbeheard.com (go to the diabetes area - they had you in mind!)
~Adria :)

DRAT!!!

I thought I was the only one using that quote!!! :banghead:

bsugaRN2b · Mar 5, 2006

DRAT!!!
I thought I was the only one using that quote!!!

LOL! Start a riot, haha - buy a shirt, and then write "It was mine FIRST!"

I have a whole list of websites that have diabetes related humor shirts - PM me if you want them!

~Adria :)

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2006

So pre-diabetics are still reversible right?

I don't know that it is reversible, but it is certainly controllable. If you follow the very latest dietary recommendations you can certainly preserve as much of the function of your insulin producing cells as long as is possible. The doctor who specifically follows mine and does my teaching with me says that there are researchers who are investigating the idea of putting the pancreas on rest by giving the patient insulin injections over a 3 month period to see if the pancreas is able to correct it's insulin resistance problem and heal itself. It's still in the research stages, however. He says there is some evidence to suggest that this may work in some cases. Problem is that it needs very close supervision because the person is literally turning over the control of their blood sugar to insulin injections in order to supress the normal functioning of the pancreas cells that produce insulin. In theory, it sounds good. Whether it works is a matter of evaluating the results of the research, I guess. It would seem to me that if someone can go into insulin resistance one time, what would prevent their body from doing it a second time even if they were able to be cured of it. If someone is unwilling to follow a diet that will keep insulin manufacture to a low then they are going to get type II diabetes again. They are also collecting evidence that there are other factors, including a possible genetic link, that may be helping the insulin resistence along in some people (they've see this in the native indians of the southwest of our country)--they just haven't been able to figure out how or why it occurs more rapidly in these people yet.

I did a 30 hour home study course on diabetes for my continuing education credit for my license renewal this last year and learned a lot! This whole thing about processed sugars and carbohydrates, an achievement of our society, may just be killing us! Going back to a diet of simple fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meats prepared very simply without sophisicated processing may be the answer. Can we do without the pastas, sausages, and sugary goodies though?

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2006

I did a 30 hour home study course on diabetes for my continuing education credit for my license renewal this last year and learned a lot! This whole thing about processed sugars and carbohydrates, an achievement of our society, may just be killing us! Going back to a diet of simple fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meats prepared very simply without sophisicated processing may be the answer. Can we do without the pastas, sausages, and sugary goodies though?

I think high fructose corn syrup is so very very bad. You are absolutely correct, it's time to eat food that resembles um...food. Like fruits, veggies, nuts, meats. You know, food that doesn't come in a box or wrapper, and is pretty close to it's original condition.

I'm curious, did any of your study include the preliminary research done by dietarians that shows that people who consume artificial sweeteners actually gain MORE weight? Something about tricking the brain with the sweet taste but without the sweet calories, sets up a cycle of cravings?

Here's a link to the study I referred to: http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/107/108476.htm?pagenumber=1

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2006

I think high fructose corn syrup is so very very bad. You are absolutely correct, it's time to eat food that resembles um...food. Like fruits, veggies, nuts, meats. You know, food that doesn't come in a box or wrapper, and is pretty close to it's original condition.
I'm curious, did any of your study include the preliminary research done by dietarians that shows that people who consume artificial sweeteners actually gain MORE weight? Something about tricking the brain with the sweet taste but without the sweet calories, sets up a cycle of cravings?
Here's a link to the study I referred to: http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/107/108476.htm?pagenumber=1

My one doctor is the one who is always harping at me about not eating any processed food. He's told me to use the Zone diet food lists as a guideline of what foods are OK to eat. He will allow me to use Splenda, but only in limited amounts. I can have limited amounts of low carb candies as well, but if you have too many of those at a time they are just the same as taking laxatives. The course I took mentioned that it is believed that the switch to a diet of processed food is what has caused the increase in type II diabetes. The researchers are suggesting that our human digestive systems were not designed to digest the high concentrated carbohydrates of processed foods. It seems that those people who were "civilized" (brought out of their natural living conditions) most recently are the ones who seem to be succumbing most quickly to diabetes (American Indians are just one group). There are others I can't remember who they are. Up until modern times these peoples pretty much lived off natural foods they found in their environment. Now they're eating Cheetos and McDonald's like the rest of us and cooking their meats in vegetable oil too.

I haven't seen anything about the artificial sweeteners. I have noticed that Weight Watchers has changed their diet though and they now recommend whole grains rather than processed grains when it comes to bread and pastas. I think that probably follows the ADA guidelines too since the WW diet has always followed the ADA recommendations. My doc spent a lot of time explaining the hunger cycle and cravings to me. He says that it is actually because we have a higher amount of insulin floating around in our systems that we feel hunger all the time. Our insulin, however, is defective (resistant), so our pancreas compensates by making more of it. He says our body detects the elevated insulin level, but not that the insulin is defective and, boom! we feel hungry as a compensating mechanism by the body to correct the high insulin levels. It's a viscious merry-go-round. High insulin levels, increased hunger, overeating, more insulin produced to digest the extra food we put into our GI system, even-more insulin produced, still hungry, elevated blood sugars and so on. Eventually, the pancreas burns out and you end up on insulin injections unless they can get the insulin production under control. Once I was put on a high dose of glucophage and my insulin levels came down and got a little appetite suppressing help from Wellbutrin I stopped having problems with hunger and cravings for more food. It was amazing how I stopped thinking about eating all the time. My doc says that most docs don't do the blood test for insulin levels because it is very expensive and people don't want to pay for it if they don't have insurance that will pay for it. However, my first insulin level that was drawn was three times the normal level!

HeartJulz · Jan 4, 2008

while studying for my NCLEX I came across a very interesting article and when I see this thread I thought Id share the address w all of you and maybe who knows, some of you may have the diabetes this girl had ... try; www.monogenicdiabetes.org

some research has shown some diabetics have what is known as 'sleeping diabetes' and the usual Rx (no shots) is ; sulphonylurea

good luck and hope this helps. And my advice... exercise everyday! it pays off .