Hello my name is Mike and I'm a Diabetic

Mike Cork · December 08, 2023, 11:48:14 AM

Wow what a real shocker. Two years ago I was having extreme fatigue problems. The kind of fatigue that made it hard to get out of a chair. I wasn't tired, just ZERO energy. After a few blood tests I was diagnosed with pre diabetes and a severe case of hypothyroidism. It took months of adding Synthroid to my system to get me to the bottom of the acceptable levels. Life started getting easier again. Watching what I eat and giving it an honest shot. Doc put me on Metformin and all went well for a couple months. But my A1C started to slowly climb, my fatigue was coming back (a symptom of Diabetes). Doc said you're officially a diabetic now, quit telling people "pre", and added Trulicity.

We started at .75 mg injections. I lost a couple pounds and started feeling better. But it's like a cycle, as I start beating it, it gets worse. So then to 1.5 mg injections, stable then climb. Next up 3.0 mg injections. This lasted a while but my last check up my A1C was the highest it had ever been at 9.0 (you've heard the commercials, keep it under 7). Doc put me on 4.5 mg Trulicity injections and Jardiance. So now I'm taking 3 medications and can't have sugar at all.

I've been testing my blood at home (at first it doesn't hurt but after months it just gets old sticking your finger three times a day). I've learned "they" were right, bread is a killer. My sugar level will spike through the roof if I eat bread. We found a keto bread that is borderline cardboard but works.

I stated this journey at 229 pounds (explains my pre diabetes as I'm only 5'10") I am now down to 178. I haven't weighed 178 since I was in 9th grade...

Oh forgot to mention my iron levels tanked in the middle of all of this. I had to go see a cancer doc about that, want to talk about scary... While I didn't have a cancer issue, the anemia has to be treated by a specialist, a blood cancer specialist.

So I hit the trifecta on the fatigue diagnosis, Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Anemia...

Chips are a thing of the past, nuts are a good substitute. Jerky doesn't affect me at all but it's dam expensive to keep on hand.

Just venting my story but thought I would close with a question.... What do you other diabetics, I know there are a lot of us old men with it, eating to curb the snack issue?

Also, what are good boat snacks that won't send the sugar through the rood?

Capt. BassinLou · December 08, 2023, 11:59:53 AM

Wow, Mike. I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. But it sounds like you're doing everything right!

Captsteve · December 08, 2023, 12:00:00 PM

Me too

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ike8120 · December 08, 2023, 03:26:08 PM

Some of these may not be good on the boat https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-snacks-for-diabetes

J.W. · December 09, 2023, 01:37:10 AM

Dang. I hate to hear you've been having all those problems.

As far as snacks go, I usually don't eat while fishing, but I do love jerky as a low carb snack.

A cheaper way to go about it is make it yourself in bulk.

If you hunt, venison makes good jerky, but if not, you can buy eye of round at Sam's Club for relatively cheap. At least compared to store-bought jerky.

Here's how to make it:

Put the meat in the freezer for a while until it firms up just a little to make it easier to slice. Not really necessary, but it makes it easier.

Here's where people screw it up. Of course, cut the slices against the grain, but don't cut it too thin. Everyone thinks jerky should be thin, but it ends up coming out like potato chips once dried. Not good. Instead, cut your slices about 3/8" thick. Cut off any bits of fat (there won't be much on an eye of round). Marinate the sliced beef in your choice of marinade for 48 hours. If it'll take more than a week to go through your jerky, you can use some curing salts in your marinade if you want. Morton's Quick Cure is easy to find at the grocery store, or Academy has the pink salt. Don't go nuts with it, too much is bad for you, I just add about a teaspoon or two to my marinade if I think I'll need it.

Academy sells a round dehydrator pretty cheap (less than $50) that will do a good bit of jerky. It never tasted right when I did it in an oven, because it just gets too hot. The dehydrator is the way to go.
Just dehydrate it until you have it at the right texture, and let it sit out a bit and before putting it in Ziplock bags or else you'll get a little condensation.

The good thing about making it yourself (besides saving $$) is that you can control how much (if any) sugar, salt, etc goes into it, vs the store-bought stuff.

Oldfart9999 · December 09, 2023, 02:43:08 AM

Sorry to hear about the diabetes Mike. I'm on metformin and invokana. Exercise is a big help, cardio helps with the diabetes and with keeping your heat and lungs in good shape. Experiment with the snacks, you'll find the right ones for you, just takes a bit of time. I love bread but have to be careful, rye bread works for me as well as whole grain. One of the biggest things that helps me is shrinking dinner, the size of supper makes a big difference, not eating for 4 hours before bed helps also. Eventually you get used to the changes thar are needed and it becomes easier. Oh, knock off the beer and hard stuff, the carbs are really bad for you. I love beer, I'm down to one a year and about a half a glass wine at the holiday meals and had to give up bourbon.
Rodney

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Dark3 · December 09, 2023, 02:31:49 PM

I hope this doesn't drag down your quality of life too much. I worry about this because I love garage beers (alot of them sometimes lol). I guess it takes those away.

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Hobious · December 09, 2023, 04:32:53 PM

Sorry for the diagnoses! Bummer.

What about exercise?

bassmedic46 · December 09, 2023, 06:41:47 PM

I'm sorry Mike. I can't think of any good snacks. I'm on Metformin and Glypizide. Definitely a change in lifestyle.

Captsteve · December 09, 2023, 09:11:45 PM

I'm on metforman and Ozimpic

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Donald Garner · December 10, 2023, 12:01:23 PM

Mike, really sorry to hear of this...I know you will take care of business and get your health back on track. I have ya in my daily prayers brother.

Hobious · December 10, 2023, 12:42:03 PM

Mike, I bring NUTS and those snack packs of Nori sheets. Nori are seaweed sheets. I buy them from Costco.

very delicious.

apenland01 · December 10, 2023, 03:00:06 PM

Metformin and Glyxambi for me.

I use Extreme Wellness keto wraps for my tortillas and sandwich wraps.

You need to eat Munk Pack Keto Bars for sweet tooth and desert. The Dark Chocolate Sea Salt and Blueberry Almond are my favorites, but there are others to try. 4g net carbs per bar. Best tasting sweet bar out there.

Both of these are at Walmart...

Hobious · December 12, 2023, 10:15:59 AM

and again...start exercising.

i would join a spin class or something.

coldfront · December 12, 2023, 01:40:59 PM

Quote from: Captsteve on December 09, 2023, 09:11:45 PMI'm on metforman and Ozimpic

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jardiance (daily) and mounjaro once/week.

one of the best things I have is/was the continuous glucose monitor. abbott labs freestyle libre3. constant, real time blood sugar results (on demand, NO STICK).

diet has moved pretty much to lean proteins, green leafy vegetables. when exercing hard, I add fruit (tolerate strawberries, canteloupe, blackberries, raspberries) fairly well. Oranges, apples, bananas hit me kinda hard on sugar spikes.

exercise is interesting. I typically get a few hours/day on weights now (5am) and finish up with an hour of cardio/HIIT in the evenings.

all a LOT easier to do living as a single guy. would be horribly tough with kids, spouse and their 'eating desires'.

something I've learned with the CGM: exercise increases my blood glucose 'a little'... but in all of this, consistency is/was the key.

guess i'm 'like mike'. I say it this way: I'm insulin sensitive... a pancreas that doesn't want to work. a thyroid that feels like 'rice crispie' and has zero output.

finding a way. day by day.

Mike Cork · December 13, 2023, 08:33:17 AM

Lots of great advice, thanks guys

Might take the dehydrator for a spin too.

Because I'm getting more energy, I'm back to fishing regularly and getting some walking in. The kids keep us very busy. Bought a gym membership but can't find the time to get there. Maybe after the new year I can get there more often. I live on a dead end street so walking is easy, it seems to help.

Captsteve · December 13, 2023, 10:34:20 PM

You can eat all the sweet potatoes you want because they are so high in fiber.

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Pat Dilling · December 14, 2023, 12:21:59 PM

Mike, it good to hear you are heading in the right direction. Check out Silver Sneakers on YouTube. They have a lot of great 15 to 30 minute exercise sessions you can do at home. Kate and I have been doing them for several years now.

Mike Cork · December 15, 2023, 11:57:52 AM

Quote from: Pat Dilling on December 14, 2023, 12:21:59 PMMike, it good to hear you are heading in the right direction. Check out Silver Sneakers on YouTube. They have a lot of great 15 to 30 minute exercise sessions you can do at home. Kate and I have been doing them for several years now.

Hey I'm not silver, I'm bald LOL I will definitely check it out

Bigbass201 · December 20, 2023, 11:46:13 PM

Mike, I've been on Keto for about 3 1/2 years and never felt better. My biggest advice is look into medications and side effects as well. Sometimes one medication can lead to another problem. Good keto bread is made by Lewis. See if you can get your hands on the Hawaiian bread and buns they make. It's really good but costly. I will take out beef sticks, pecans, or some cheese with me if I need something. Often I will just fast for that period of time. Here's a link to the Lewis bread. It might help you locate.
Lewis Keto Bread

I highly recommended you look through this gentleman's videos as well. I will give you the rumble link rather than his YouTube. YouTube started censoring some of his videos because he gives home remedies that go with YouTube's views on medical information and what should be provided. Just do some searching through his videos on diabetes. He does through research and sites studies that back up the information he provides. There has been several that have helped my wife and I out. She no longer has Gerd after taking his advice and was able to get off a life long medication.
Dr. Eric Berg Link

Wizard · December 21, 2023, 01:47:25 AM

I'm a diabetic. My a1c was slightly above 7.0. I have 3rd stage kidney failure, liver problems and severe water retention. I tried Metformin but it led to severe Diaharrea. Ozempic led to the same. Trulicity has lowered the a1c to 6.6. When I become fatigued, usually after a workout, I eat a Kind bar. It is made of nuts, granola and dark chocolate. Instant energy without causing a problem.
Most Seniors have health problems. It comes with natural aging. Mike, you're too young for all the problems you're fighting. Only thing I've found to help are mental tricks taught to me by the company. Think of the pain slowing leaving your body. Then try to keep it from returning. Finally, think of the problem getting better. Doctors see people improve with little hope of medical intervention. Mental intervention can, at times, help make you better.

Wizard