Q and A for Diabetes
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type 2 diabetes

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Q: What can keep type 2 diabetes from coming back?
My mom has type 2 diabetes and the doctor said it was resolved after she lost over 100lbs but now she broke her ankle. She can’t really move for 6 to 8 weeks and we live on the second floor in a studio. Is there anything we can do to make sure her diabetes doesn’t come back?

A: Type 2 diabetes is control by lifestyle change — proper diet, proper exercise, and weight control.

You mom may not be able to exercise right now, but she CAN control her diet and her weight. Being pretty much inactive, she will need to REDUCE her calorie intake by eating less food.

She also needs to get up an exercise that broken ankle (as the doctor permits) so that she can get back to physical activity, and thus increase her food intake.

“Resolved” is the wrong word. “Controlled” is correct. Diabetes will NEVER leave you — you can only CONTROL IT, WIC it seems as though you Mom has done. She must now work harder on the diet since she is temporarily inactive. in the mean time, work the necessary Physical Therapy to get the ankle back in shap so that she can resume her previous exercise level, thus KEEPING the diabetes under control.

Q: Type 2 diabetes: Can someone give me some tips about how to control blood sugar with diet?
My dear darling 82 year old aunt has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. She knows that she is supposed to stay off of sugary food, but when the dietitian tried to coucil her about what food groups to eat at which meals, she could not understand it. Is their a simple easy formula that I could explain to her. If it gets complicated at all, she just gets lost.

A: Get her a copy of the South Beach Diet. I recommend it a lot for my patients. It is so simple to use. She can lose weight on it too, but the main thing is that it is a very healthy diet for diabetics. Skip Phase one and start with Phase 2. You can get it at any book store in paper back or hard back.

Q: I have type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure what can I do to get rid of it?
I have type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure how can I loose weight?

A: You will always be diabetic. However, if you eat better and exercise you can live a healthier and longer life following diabetic discipline. Interestingly enough if you follow the life style of a healthy diabetic you can gain control over both. Visit my blog site and read my story. I hope it helps.

Best Wishes

Q: How do proteins and enzymes hace to do with type 2 diabetes?
Hey guys, umm yea thats my question. If you have any specific sources please list them. And i mean how is the defect or absence of a specific protein or enzyme cause type 2 diabetes, not how do you treat diabetes with proteins. Thanks in advance and please i need the asap!

A: I don’t think it is the absence of a protein or enzyme that causes type 2 diabetes.

Q: What are the many factors contributing to getting type 2 diabetes?
Why do you think so many more people are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in recent years than ever before? One of my guesses is all of the preservatives and junk that has been included in people’s diets as more prepared foods have been in the markets, and fast foods.
Everyone had helpful information about diabetes factors. Thanks for the comments. :)

A: Diet does not cause diabetes.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585/DSECTION=risk-factors
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002072.htm

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/pubs/riskfortype2/

http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test.jsp

Q: Does Type 2 diabetes mean you have high or low blood sugar?
Im a nursing student and im sort of confused. My teacher gave us a paper titled “HYPOglycemic drugs Indicated for Type 2 diabetes”

One of the drugs listed is Glucophage.

For glucophage it says it decrease glucose production in the liver, but wouldn’t you want that if you were a HYPERglycemic and not Hypoglycemic?

A: I’m in med school, and your teacher is right. The class of drugs you give to a diabetic are called hypoglycemic drugs because they INDUCE hypoglycemia in the patient.

Q: What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
I always see commercials about Type 1 and 2 diabetes, what are they exactly and what causes them? Please help!

A: In a nutshell, type I diabetes is thought to be an autoimmune disorder in which the beta cells of the pancreas stop producing insulin. Type II diabetes comes from insulin resistance and is usually seen in older, overweight patients whose pancreas is working. Type II diabetes is preventable through proper diet and lifestyle, but type I is not preventable at this time. Maybe we will learn more in time so that type I diabetes can be prevented as well.

Q: Is there a difference in dietary requirements between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes sufferers?
There seem to be cookbooks that are specific to Type 2 diabetes. Does this mean there’s a difference in the kind of diet that Type 1 and Type 2 sufferers need to follow?

A: There is a lot of difference between the diet of all diabetics.

We have different tolerances to certain carb / protein / fat combo’s.

Type 2’s can vary so much. Some people can control it with a very strict diet, others can have a less strict one with tablets.

Type 1’s can have a lot less of a strict diet, we learn to adjust our insulin to our carbs, just like a normal pancreas would work.
Insulin is given either via injections or a pump.

I’ve been type 1 since i was 9. I have very good control, and i self-medicate, like most type 1’s learn to.
I can eat mostly anything, apart from the obvious, like a load of sweets, 3 pizza’s etc.

Any ’specific’ cookbooks are usually rubbish.
Type 2 diabetics can vary a huge amount with their medications, their dietary requirements.
There is no ‘diet’ that works for everyone.

Q: How do doctors test for type 2 diabetes?
I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow and due to my weight of 315 pounds and the fact that I would be considered morbidly obese with a BMI greater than 40, I will most likely be tested for type 2 diabetes. I wouldn’t be suprised if I do have it though.

A: The first test to do is called A1C. this is a simple blood test that most doctors do in their office in 5-10 minutes IF they have the equipment. if not, they will take a blood sample and send it to a lab for 2-3 days.

A1C Test measures the AVERAGE of your blood sugar over the last 90 days. NORMAL is between 5 and 6.

if the A1C is more than 7, the doctor may want a second test called Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT). This is a more complicated test. it takes longer (3-4 hours) and is a bit painful.

But GTT will give a definitive YES or NO answer, if the GTT says YES then you are diabetic and you need to start treatment immediately.

Some doctors use the Finger Stick Blood Glucose Test. They stick your finger, then take ONE DROP of blood into a handheld meter. The readings come back in 30 seconds. This is the same test diabetics do 3-4 times a daty to control their blood sugar.

The problem with this test is that it is affected by WHEN, WHAT, and HOW MUCH you’ve eaten. Therefore, for purposes of DIAGNOSIS it is unreliable.

Since the A1C was invented (3-4 years ago) the “Finger Stick” test should NOT be used for diagnosis. The Finger Stick test is for CONTROL only.

Given you weight, you should INSIST on getting an A1C test. If the doctor pricks your finger and puts blood into a HANDHELD METER, this is NOT an A1C test (it is the figner stick test). Insits that the doctor do the A1C test properly.

As well, you should insist that the doctor repeat the A1C test every 3-4 months. You might not have diabetes now, but you could start next week. The A1C test will catch diabetes early enough that you can begin treatment and avoid the damages diabetes causes — blindness, kidney disease, amputations, sexual dysfunctions.

And of course you know the drill — watch your diet, get more exercise, lose weight. Sounds like a broken record, but this is how you control diabetes. if you don’t already have it, this is how you keep it away.

Q: Diabetes: Does anyone know what foods to avoid if you suspect someone has Type 2 Diabetes?
Does anyone know what foods to avoid if you suspect someone has Type 2 Diabetes? Also, what foods to definitely consume that will help with the weight loss/whatever else is needed?

A: avoid sugar; starchy foods like bread, pasta, potatoes; fruits (because of the sugar content); alcohol, because it metabolizes as pure sugar. try eating lots of non-starchy veggies, like celery, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce; low-fat meats, sea foods, fish; cheese, low or reduced sugar yogurts, milk. the adkins diet and south beach diets are very diabetic friendly. i hope that you are getting a doctor’s opinion/diagnosis before you do anything else, especially if type 2 is suspected. it’s not anything to play around with and you need to be educated about how to live with it. best of luck to you!

Q: How long can someone live with type 2 diabetes?
I recently found out that my mother has type 2 diabetes. Its something that runs in our family plus she’s over weight and is obviously in the process of losing. Still, I like to be told straight up the dangers or what may happen with things. So be honest.

A: A person can live with Type 2 Diabetes for many many years, into old age, just like any other person. The thing is that such a person has an increased risk of suffering serious health problems like heart disease, lack of circulation, and even blindness. You should try to help your mom to lose weight. The good news is that for many people, once they lose excess weight, the Type 2 Diabetes actually disappears. You should do exercise together, even starting with light walking and perhaps encourage your mom to see a dietician. She has a long life ahead of her!

Q: What are the chances my newborn son will have diabetes if my husband is type 2?
My husband is 31 years old. He got type 2 diabetes 4 years ago. We now have a newborn and I’m nervous he will get diabetes in his life as well. Anyone know the risks? Thank you!

PS – I am not diabetic and did not have gestational diabetes either. My son was born full term and of healthy weight and size.

A: There is a predisposition to type 2 diabetes, but there also a life style component. You have many good answers on here. You also might want to check out the American Diabetes Asso. website. There is much good information on there. There are other websites as well. Of course, you will also want to ask your child’s pediatrician what you can do to limit the risks. Your concern and education will help give them a healthy future. Take care.

Q: Could you be wrongly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes when in fact you are Type 1?
Say that you felt sick for many years but had no way to get medical care and when you finally went to the dr you were diagnosed with diabetes. Do they automatically assume that you are Type 2 since you are older? How can they differentiate the two types?

A: Yes, in older people its called latent onset diabetes – LADA – and can be diagnosed with a GAD antibody test BUT its unlikely to happen over many years – more like months or weeks. A telltale sign is that the conventional diet-exercise-medicine prescribed for t2 wont control the blood sugars at all and they progress to insulin much quicker then excepted.

Q: What are the best carbs for a person with Type 2 Diabetes to eat?
I’ve had Type 2 Diabetes for over a year and I’m still trying to figure it out. I’m currently living in Thailand. A list of foods containing carbs that are good for Diabetics would be great.

A: i also have type 2 diabetes…i like the lo-carb wraps..any food with a low glycemic content …..veggies..green beans, mustard greens, squash..whole wheat pasta,look for net carbs. potatoes ,rice, pasta ,junk foods are very bad too much sugar and fat..counteract your carb content if u eat potatoes or pasta by adding protein to them..such as cheese,and chicken ….alot of fruits have too many carbs and sugar, such as..pineapple, watermelon..oranges…these also have important vitamins and nutrients in them ..you can eat them in small portions..hope this helps…bluedot

Q: How can type 2 diabetes affect your eyesight?
My mom has type 2 diabetes and she was told it could affect her eyes. I was just wondering what that meant?

A: We just went over this in my anatomy class for nursing school. Basically, diabetes is when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, so your liver doesn’t break down sugar and send it to your cells like it should. So instead of storing it as glucose–cell food–it stores it as fat. The fat eventually clogs up your arteries, causing decreased circulation all throughout your body. This is why a lot of diabetics end up having to have their toes or even more amputated. The loss of circulation causes the tissues to die and turn gangrenous.
Diabetes affects the eyes in the same way, by fat blocking the arteries and blood vessels inside the eyes, which eventually leads to blindness. Diabetes can also cause strokes because the stored fat blocks blood vessels to the brain.
So tell your mom to watch her blood glucose levels and stick to her ADA diet, and if she has to take insulin to keep at it as prescribed. On my clinicals in nursing school, we had a few patients that had already had toes, feet, legs amputated. Your mom can avoid all this if she sticks to the dietary guidelines. Also, do some research of your own so you can get a better understanding of the disease and be a good support system for her. I hope this helps clear some things up and I also hope your mom does well.

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