I learned about glucophage here and it works wonders for me. My morning
is down to 70-110. My question is at night, in bed, I notice that my
feet below the ankles are quite cold to the touch. I am 49 and would like
to keep my feet for a long time. Is this normal for a diabetic. What can
be done to make it better.
Sincerely,
Allan E. Levy
I remember the IBM 650 (Tube, 2000 address drum, card reader/punch)
al…@his.com (Allan E. Levy) wrote:
>I learned about glucophage here and it works wonders for me. My morning
>is down to 70-110. My question is at night, in bed, I notice that my
>feet below the ankles are quite cold to the touch.
I have the same problem. The only solution I have found is wear wool
socks to bed in the winter and cotton socks in summer.
>I remember the IBM 650 (Tube, 2000 address drum, card reader/punch)
I remember the IBM 402. Programmed with a plug board. Sigh! Now, the
only thing I understand in Dr. Dobbs is the editorials, and only about
40% of those.
Jim-
In article <allan-0501961532350…@allan.his.com>,
al…@his.com (Allan E. Levy) wrote:
>I learned about glucophage here and it works wonders for me. My morning
>is down to 70-110. My question is at night, in bed, I notice that my
>feet below the ankles are quite cold to the touch. I am 49 and would like
>to keep my feet for a long time. Is this normal for a diabetic. What can
>be done to make it better.
>Sincerely,
>Allan E. Levy
Hi Allan – I don’t know if cold feet is "normal for a diabetic", but I’ve
seen it referred to a lot in this group. I think I’ve had cold feet in bed at
night (no jokes, please!) all my life, and I’ve only been diabetic for a
couple of years.
But, thanks to my husband, NO MORE COLD FEET FOR ME! He suggested I
buy an old fashioned hot water bottle at the drug store. I vaguely
remembered them from my childhood and it seemed an embarrassing thing to buy,
but, hey! I was desperate…….SO, I burned rubber on my U.S. Keds racing
down to buy a cheapo for $7.99!!
Now I sleep like a baby, and Bill doesn’t have to put up with my cold
feet on his warm legs!
Go, Allan, go………you’re cold feet are history!!
(I’ve heard a warning to diabetics to be sure it isn’t hot enuf to burn your
skin if, due to neuropathy, you’ve lost the feeling in your feet that would
otherwise warn you of the danger.)
cindy
ve been recently diagnosed as diabetic ( TypeII).
I am 30 years old . I would like to know how much exercise will help.
Is there an faq about diabetes out there. My doctor is pessimistic about
exercise. I am looking for another one. I would like to know from people who ha
~
d diabetes at 30 how they managed their life and the prroblems they encountered.
~
I would greatly apprecitae it . I am very much concerned.
Thanks.
In article <4cj6fm$…@news.utdallas.edu>, annac…@utdallas.edu says…
>ve been recently diagnosed as diabetic ( TypeII).
> I am 30 years old . I would like to know how much exercise will help.
> Is there an faq about diabetes out there. My doctor is pessimistic about
> exercise. I am looking for another one. I would like to know from people
who ha
> ~
> d diabetes at 30 how they managed their life and the prroblems they
encountered.
> ~
> I would greatly apprecitae it . I am very much concerned.
> Thanks.
I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes one week before my 31st birthday.
I exercise about 3 times a week riding a lifecycle, walking, and doing
some stretching exercises. This has helped lower my blood sugar levels.
Make sure you have eaten before exercising or have a snack handy just
in case your blood sugar levels drop during exercise. Sometimes this
happens.
I was stunned when I first found out that I was diabetic. There is no
history of it in my family and I didn’t know very much about diabetes
then so it really scared me. I took a Diabetes Management class which
helped me a great deal. Learning about it helped ease my concerns and
taught me how I can help myself and take care of myself with the help
of my doctor. It is also important to find a doctor that you can work
with and that will help you. My advice would be to learn as much as
you can about what is right for you. Your doctor and a good dietician
can help. Good luck, I know how you feel…..I’ve been there myself.
Cheryl
In article <4cj6fm$…@news.utdallas.edu>, annac…@utdallas.edu (Annachelvi
Paramasivam) writes: > ve been recently diagnosed as diabetic ( TypeII).
> I am 30 years old . I would like to know how much exercise will help.
> Is there an faq about diabetes out there. My doctor is pessimistic about
> exercise. I am looking for another one. I would like to know from people who
ha > ~
> d diabetes at 30 how they managed their life and the prroblems they
encountered. > ~
> I would greatly apprecitae it . I am very much concerned.
> Thanks.
WARNING! … Long Post follows …
In article <4cj6fm$…@news.utdallas.edu>, annac…@utdallas.edu (Annachelvi
Paramasivam) writes: > ve been recently diagnosed as diabetic ( TypeII).
> I am 30 years old . I would like to know how much exercise will help.
> Is there an faq about diabetes out there. My doctor is pessimistic about
> exercise. I am looking for another one. I would like to know from people who
ha > ~
> d diabetes at 30 how they managed their life and the prroblems they
encountered. > ~
> I would greatly apprecitae it . I am very much concerned.
> Thanks.
Virtually any reputable authority endorses the favorable affects
that a systematic (and consistent) aerobic exercise program can
provide a diabetic. How *much* of an affect varies over a wide
range … how powerful an affect it will have on your regimen
is pretty much unpredictable … i.e. you will only know the
answer after you give it a try (for at least six months). However,
I feel that … at a minimum … you will find that it provides
signifigant (i.e. measurable) positive results. The qualitative affects
include weight control, reductions in insulin resistance, increased
metabolic rate (a signifigant contributor to weight control without
extreme diets), and, (important) contributing to a positive self-image,
sense of well being, and enhanced enjoyment of life. The combination
of diet modification and a structured exercise program can best be
achieved using accepted techniques of "behavior modification" …
set goals, maintain a log (diary), set aside a prescribed time (daily)
for exercise, join a group (particularly for the exercise regimen) to
provide additional incentive to "do it" on days that you’d rather not,
check results/performance against your goals (monitor weight reduction,
improved exercise performance, etc.). By the time you’ve phased into
a "fullblown" fitness regimen, it will be a HABIT. <G> One caution …
given the *powerful* affect of concentrated exercise on blood glucose,
some caution concerning possible hypoglycemia (low blood glucose)
is appropriate; monitor your blood sugar before and after exercise …
you may need to take a light snack before exercising, and carrying an
appropriate snack with you when you exercise is a sensible precaution.
FWIW, I feel that it made a *tremendous* difference in my case. I
was diagnosed as a Type II diabetic in 1979 (at the age of 45); my
fasting blood glucose was 800+. and I had all the classic symptoms:
thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, etc. I was 6′ 1" in
height and weighed 235 pounds. My doctor’s initial reaction was that
I should be admitted to a hospital, and started on insulin therapy;
that scared the hell out of me, and I got him to agree to immediate
usage of oral antidiabetic agents (Diabeta), a strict (weight-loss)
diet, and a "ramp up" exercise program … for a period of three
months … then a re-evaluation. Meanwhile, I agreed to come into
his office once a week for a fasting blood glucose.
I faithfully adhered to the initial 1200 calory-per-day diet (as I recall,
it was the American Heart Association diet), took the Diabeta pills
twice a day, and started the exercise program; I started with a
combined "fast walk" and "slow jog" regimen … I would "slow jog"
until I was out-of-breath, and then walk until I got my breath …
initially going 1.5 miles (on a high school running track). After
a couple of weeks, I was able to increase the distance to 2.0 miles
(with no walking). I kept a food/exercise diary … logging my
distance (and elapsed time) for each exercise session, as well as
*every* bite of food that passed my lips. <G> After six weeks, I
was up to 3.0 miles per run, and consistently beating a pace of
"10 minutes per mile;" I had shed 15 pounds. Most miraculously,
my fasting blood glucose was quite low … about half the time it was
in the 60′s (sometimes the 50′s); the low end of the normal range being
70. My doctor was amazed, but the results were consistent; he took me
off of the Diabeta. My fasting blood glucose was consistently in the
normal range (70 to 115) … usually under 100. I continued the vigorous
running program … in fact started running in races … did pretty well
in age-group competition. After some eight months I was down to 175
pounds (five pounds less than when I graduated from high school … and
I was a demon jock in high school <G>). With the aid of a nutritionist, I
gradually added calories to my diet, homing in (with some experimentation)
on a "weight maintence" diet … i.e. treating 175 pounds as my ideal weight.
Since at this point, I was averaging 40-50 miles per week in training runs,
I think my daily caloric intake was 2800-3000 calories (and I was able to
take considerable liberties in the area of sweets, without sacrificing tight
control).
For several years, I ran in a 10K race at least once a month … my training
runs were now five or six miles (at an average pace of between seven and
eight minute miles). My best 5K time (3.1 miles) was 18:10 (minutes and
seconds), and my best 10K (6.2 miles) time was 38:25; doesn’t sound that
great, but it was competitive in the 45-50 year age group. :-) I even ran a
marathon (actually three marathons), and managed to beat four hours in two
of them. For some 10+ years, I was able to maintain excellent control (normal
glycemia in the Ha1c test) using diet and exercise only; in 1990 my control
began to degrade a bit, and had to go back on an oral antidiabetic pill
(Glucotrol
this time); at this point, I was 56 years old … still on a running program
(but a
much more relaxed one) … no longer any realistic expectation of improving on
any of my "best times" <G> but feeling tiptop and full of energy because of
the
consistent exercise program.
In early 1994, my fasting blood glucose and Ha1c results started slipping
again … my doctor tried other oral agents but none were very effective …
the pancreas beta cells were just "giving up the ghost." In August of 1994,
I transitioned to an insulin regimen … two shots a day … each shot a
custom combo of Regular (short acting insulin) and NPH (longer lasting
insulin); in 1992, I *munged* a knee playing tennis so I transitioned from
running to bicycling as my exercise program (easier on all the joints).
My control is once again excellent; all of my Ha1C tests since starting on
insulin have been in the 6.0 to 7.0 range (near-normal glycemia). I bicycle
for fitness now (have an Exercycle for bad weather days), and play tennis
and beach volleyball for the fun of it. <G> At 61 years of age, I have been
a diagnosed diabetic for 16+ years (and was certainly an undiagnosed one
for quite a few years earlier); I have no signs of any of the (various)
potential diabetic complications … I attribute this to having maintained
tight blood glucose control since 1979 … and feel that EXERCISE played
a dominant role in maintaining this control.
Sorry that this turned into such a lengthy post, but (maybe) this
rambling story will help convince you to launch an exercise program
TODAY … it doesn’t really matter *what* type of exercise, as long as
it meets the aerobic fitness criteria … i.e. maintain a heart rate
between 70 and 85 percent of your maximum for at least 30 minutes …
at least four times weekly. Some parting advice … get an immediate
start on a "support team;" in addition to consultations with your
primary doctor on formulating an appropriate (effective but safe)
diet and exercise regimen … consultations with a diabetologist
(diabetes specialist … usually an endocrinologist), a certified
diabetic educator, CDE (usually an RN with specialized training),
and a nutritionist can be very helpful. Consulting an exercise
physiologist (one knowledgable about diabetes) is worth considering,
as well. Some or all of this "additional support" may be covered
by your medical insurance (given referrals by your primary doctor).
Getting educated about diabetes … both formal and self-paced …
is also a vital adjunct to a successful control program (IMHO);
many hospitals conduct classes and seminars … ranging from
periodic meetings and seminars to concentrated classes; when I
was first diagnosed, I went to a week of classes at my local
hospital (three hours per day) … definitely worthwhile, and provided
FREE as a community service. :-)
Finally, if you live in an urban area, there’s a good chance that
there will be a local chapter of the American Diabetes Association;
membership is inexpensive and provides access to useful benefits,
including an excellent monthly publication called "Diabetes Forecast."
Good luck in your "program for life,"
Ted Rodrick
In article <4cj6fm$…@news.utdallas.edu>, annac…@utdallas.edu (Annachelvi
Paramasivam) writes:
=[I']ve been recently diagnosed as diabetic ( TypeII).
= I am 30 years old . I would like to know how much exercise will help.
= Is there an faq about diabetes out there. My doctor is pessimistic about
= exercise.
Well, exactly how is he pessimistic about exercise? If he’s simply told you
you’re unlikely to be able to bring your diabetes under control with just
exercise and diet, then he’s probably right: Chances are that you’ll need
medication to initially bring the diabetes under control. Now, once you’ve
brought the diabetes under control, it’s possible (though by no means certain)
that you’ll be able to maintain the control via diet and exercise. Some folks
can, others can’t.
—————————————————————————
I try very hard to say exactly what I mean. I’d appreciate it if you’d
bear that in mind and not try to "interpret" my posts to fit your own
preconceived notions if I’m posting in a serious thread. Remember: If you
throw a strawman into a heated debate, flames are likely to be the result.