Wife and I are both Diabetic II, take medication (Metformin) for it and have change some drinking/eating things in our life. We also test our blood twice a week with Glucose Meters from our doctors. Now, there are those that are Diabetic and either don't know or don't care. Yes, I said "don't care". We had a neighbor (65) in North Carolina that was a Diabetic II. His wife told us he was and what happened, after he passed away. When he found out that he was a Diabetic II, his wife told him "I'm not making any more cakes, cookies and we aren't buying anymore either". Apparently, that got him upset. He worked part-time for his son and, on his way home from work, would stop at a store and buy a package of cookies. Before going into their apartment, he would eat most of those cookies. Five months after we knew the couple, he was going back and forth to the hospital. The last time we seen him, before he died, he looked pretty bad and could barely walk. After he passed away, his wife told us about his diabetes. I don't know if he was taking his Diabetic medication or even seeing a doctor. All we know was what his wife told us about him. From her telling us this, I came to a conclusion about those Diabetics that take care of themselves, those that don't know they are diabetic (and don't want to know) and those that just don't care. Of course those in the last to categories most likely don't even see a doctor for anything. My wife was like that, until the company she worked had her and other employees go to a Health Screening. As soon as the company nurse seen her glucose number, she told my wife that she needed to see a doctor ASAP. She did that and went on Metformin and now has to see him once every 4 months. Do you know anyone who most likely is a Diabetic II and don't want to know it or knows it and don't care?
I first found out about my diabetes during a Physical I had in 2008. Dr. told me, "I'll let you know what your lab results are in a week or so". He called the next day after my Physical and told me I needed to come to his office as soon as I could. My blood sugar count was around 320 and I was immediately put on a med and give a glucose meter kit. Now my reading at 7AM is around 160, depending on what I eat/drink the day/night before. We got rid of all our sugar and I now use one packet of Splenda in my coffee. Ice cream is No Sugar Added as well as any canned fruit is the same. Funny that now we both look at what is in food we buy/eat.
@Cody Fousnaugh, it's good that your checking of blood sugar is only twice a week. My niece who is 25 years old is on insulin - she gets a shot 3 times a day, every time before eating a meal. And she pricks her finger twice a day to monitor her blood sugar. It's a terrible condition for her although she's been like that for almost 10 years now so she says it's just a matter of getting used to the needles (for pricking and for injecting insulin). I am praying that me and my husband be spared from diabetes because it is a punishing ailment. It's a difficult life to be deprived of delicious food particularly the sweets. But it seems that the cure for diabetes is still miles away from medical science.
@Cody Fousnaugh "Do you know anyone who most likely is a Diabetic II and don't want to know it or knows it and don't care?" Maybe me! I hate anything puncturing my body. Sissy. Blood sugar typically was in the 90s, never over 100, until two years ago checkup, 105, last year 115, so clearly, it's gone up. I am not "up" on the designations of Diabetes, type II I am not sure of the meaning, exactly. In one kind, the Pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin to keep blood sugar at acceptable level, I think. Cody, might I ask about your weight? Have you had to lose weight as part of the treatment? Around here, it seems the doctor first tells one to lose weight, as though being overweight causes diabetes. One symptom of diabetes is unexplained weight loss. (???). The drug stores are full of a bewildering variety of home blood sugar test kits. I would have no idea how to evaluate which is an advisable one; they are all pretty expensive. As a kid, my Dad told me sugar shows up in the urine of diabetics. I even made some "Fehling's Solution", an early test material for sugar. So my interest in Chemistry was not limited to making things go BANG! Frank
Artificial sweeteners are worse than sugar and may be the CAUSE of the abundance of diabetes cases that we have in this country. This is not new but people have been reluctant to pay attention. http://www.prevention.com/health/he...weeteners-may-contribute-diabetes-and-obesity
Only use one packet in the AM in my coffee. I don't drink coffee all day, like some Seniors do, so have that part beat. Do Require some kind of sweetener in my 1-cup AM coffee and we got rid of all our regular sugar.
@Cody Fousnaugh , I think the biggest cause of the diabetes epidemic started when diet soda pop started gaining popularity years ago, people trying to lose weight not realizing the artificial sweeteners actually led to gaining weight. No more than you use I don't think that would be a problem but a small amount of sugar wouldn't be a problem either.
Neither of our PCP's said a thing about our weight when first diagnosed as Diabetic II. We were just put on Metformin, given a Glucose Meter Kit and sent on our way. Just recently, after doing a Cardio (Stress) Test, my wife's doctor told her she needed to lose some. I weigh 230# @ 6'1". I have some belly to lose, but not a lot like some men I've seen. FYI, a Diabetic I had to get insulin shots all the time, whereas a Diabetic II only takes a medication and monitors there blood with a Meter during the week. As far as the Glucose Meter goes, a person doesn't pick it out. The person's insurance/doctor does that. If a person see's a Meter they like, they can request it from the doctor, but ultimately, it's up to the doctor/insurance. Wife is on Medicare Part B and gets her Diabetic supplies for free. I'm on both VA Medical and Medicare B, but get my Diabetic supplies free from the VA. Hope this answers your questions.
Even diabetes under control can cause blindness, poor circulation in hands and feet cause loss in fingers and toes. Sores on the legs do not heal because of circulation. Over amount of insulin in the blood is a problem and in type two diabetes your body has adequate amount of insulin. Diabetes 101 Diabetes is the number three killer and of all diabetes 95% are type two diabetics. The other 5% are caused by mal nutrition of the mother when the child is in the womb. The mother did not have the nutrition to form the pancreas totally. Type two diabetes is a problem in the cells being that the cells do not recognized the insulin: insulin is a signaling hormone made by the pancreas. When insulin comes in contact with the cell the cell is triggered to take in sugar. When you take in sugar the pancreas is trigged to make insulin and then the insulin reaches the cells they consume the sugar. Type two diabetic make more insulin than a non diabetic as high as ten times more insulin. The reason that the insulin is not working is the cells do not recognise it. Even if you use drugs to keep you sugar down in your body the insulin can destroy cells and this is seen in sores that will not heal loss of circulation in the feet, hands, and eyes, causing amputation and blindness. Be careful thinking that having your sugar under control with drugs is safe. What is needed for the cells to recognise insulin? In 1957 mineral chromium had an important part in this function. The facts associated with chromium and diabetes were published in the Federation Proceeding by Walter Mertz [the director of the U.S.D.A, field services] over 50 years ago they knew the cause and cure. He showed that when an animal was chromium deficient they become diabetic and when the chromium is returned the diabetes disappeared. If this was known why did they not follow up on it? The simple answer is greed if your doctor cured you he has loss a patient and there is no law that tells him he has to cure you when there is a cure available. Dr. Schwarz reportedly noted at that time in 1959 “Type II diabetes is not a disease. It is the lack of a natural ingredient, known as GTF Chromium. Additionally, in 1985, the medical school at the University of Vancouver, BC, Canada stated that the mineral vanadium will replace insulin for adult onset diabetics. People have tried just using these minerals and had poor response because minerals, vitamins, and amino acids do not work separately is a dance minerals need other minerals to work and some minerals will prevent the ability of minerals to work. Dr. Joel Wallach recommends 90 different nutriments and then extra of chromium and vanadium he has been very successful in reversing type two diabetes and helping type one diabetics. He claims that he could make a city / country diabetes free in very little time Chromium here is some FACTS mean CR [chromium] Blood levels [u/l] 28-1000-------------1948 13--------------------1971 10 -------------------1972 0 0 4.7-5.1 -------------1973 .73 -1.6 ----------1974 0.16 ----------------1978 0.43 ----------------1980 0.13 ----------------1985 and even going lower it is easy to see as the amount of chromium decreases the amount of type two diabetes increase The knowledge we have now no one should suffer from diabetes.
My husband was diabetic and so was my grandmother and uncle....all type 2. My husband was the type that tried everything that was mentioned and I had a whole cabinet full of different supplements. He did the chromium and it didn't work. He was eventually on pills but I forget which ones. My grandmother and uncle were on insulin shots but started on pills. They lived into their upper 80's and the only signs I saw of what diabetes can do were in my grandmother who had poor circulation in her legs. My uncle on the other hand was always in great shape it seems. He watched his diet and exercised a lot. My husband died young but of cancer.
Whether deserving of it or not, Chromium is classed with the "heavy metal poisons" as toxic. At what level, I do not know. Another element, Selenium, is an essential to health, yet is toxic in relatively small quantities. Cadmium is a bad "heavy metal"; for many decades it was the standard plating on threaded bolts and screws used in everything around us, including food-processing equipment. Today, virtually all Cadmium plating has disappeared, replaced by, well, .....guess what? Chromium! Along with Nickel, both constituents of Stainless Steel, the universal food-processing metal: cabinets, food countertops, fast-food grills, and so on. Moderation is the key, I guess. Eat out not too often, cook at home in Aluminum pots and pans, possible risk increase of Alzheimer's; use Cast Iron cookware, much "safer", but HEAVY, don't drop one on your foot! And, they rust. I like the color of solid Copper cookware! Bought a big set for my wife, it hung on copper hooks I made up on a big copper wheel, beside our wood-burning cookstove. She never used them, didn't want to get them "dirty". There ya go!
The only supplement I take is D. I eat a fairly balanced diet but avoid sugar, bad carbs and excess salt. My cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure are all good and pretty consistent. My weight is good also. I do cheat once in awhile....like now I couldn't resist a cake pop. Only ate half but I know the other half will be eaten today. I take the D because my dr told me to when my lab work showed I was deficient. D is very important to many body functions it seems...including depression.
Yes everything has toxicity level even oxygen. In 1948 the level of chromium in the blood was 28 to1000 and that is when type two diabetes was rare. The level of chromium has not been listed since 1985 it was 0.13 and diabetes was on the rise. No mineral works by itself and needs other to help it taking chromium by itself might not work because the co factors are not there. There is no guaranty that taking something by mouth like a supplement will actually get into the body. Unless the digestion system is working fine you have little chance of absorbing different minerals and vitamins. If I had a disease linked to a mineral deficiency I would not be scared to take that mineral it would be a good idea to get a hair annalist to check for mineral deficiencies or toxicity.
I was shocked when I was first diagnosed with Diabetes Two. I was 6 feet four and 200 lbs which is OK. My problem as I discovered on my own by continually testing was carbs & sugar. I consumed pasta, French bread in large amounts. I would consume a whole Pizza by myself. I eliminated all the BAD CARBS & SUGARS from my diet. I started taking Glipizide the first 6 months and then stopped and just stuck with my new eating habits and exercise. It took two years but now my Blood Sugar levels are OK. I can even tolerate one or two slices of Pizza and a modest amount of Pasta an even a slice or two of French bread. I still avoid SUGAR like the plague.