Posted by whiterabbit on May 14, 2003, at 17:25:25
In reply to Re: I can believe how bad you feel, posted by mair on May 14, 2003, at 12:46:27
Dinah my pet I know it's a shock to be diagnosed with something as serious as diabetes. I felt the same way about my high blood pressure - not even 35 and it was through the roof. I had to switch medications several times, each time it made me sick and nothing was working. I got very discouraged, expecting to stroke out or drop dead at any minute, I felt like a walking time bomb.
So you do have to get to the "acceptance" phase
where you say okay, I have this medical condition and I need to take steps. Did I quit drinking and smoking? Of course not. Although I do decline the salt rim on the margarita. Well, usually. Alright, sometimes I do.
But I'm very good about taking my medication, at least I do that much. I take it religiously and
I keep regular appointments with my GP. And I do have a good friend - I'm not making this up - about my age, who found out that he had high blood pressure years ago, but he didn't want to rely on daily medication. He quit drinking and smoking, but he didn't want no truck with no pills. And guess what, now he's dying because hypertension destroyed his kidneys. He goes in for dialysis three times a week and he's just sort of wasting away because they're having trouble finding a good donor match.So don't, you know, ignore your condition. I believe I read in one of your earlier posts that you're not dependent on insulin injections, but I do believe that, if you don't take care of yourself, you will start to deteriorate. And we don't want you to do that!
Nutrient support is invaluable, particularly if you're not eating right. Those one-a-day vitamins don't do squat, you need the serious stuff. I don't turn my nose up at medication in favor of "natural healing" but neither do I discount the protective and healing properties of sufficient nutrients (remember scurvy?). The following is from a "wellness guide" by Dr. Julian Whitaker:
"The most important vitamins and minerals for diabetics of both types (types I and II) are vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, chromium, and magnesium...Deficiecies are found in most diabetics and can promote complications...A chronic, latent deficiency of vitamin C will lead to a number of problems for diabetics. Wounds heal poorly. Immune function will be depressed. Cholesterol levels will climb..." He goes on to name all the bad stuff that can happen due to a deficiency of each. Now hold onto your socks because here's what he recommends daily:
Vitamin C - 5,000 mg in divided doses (usually 3)
Vitamin E - 400 to 800 IU supplemented with
Selenium - 200 to 400 mcg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - 25 to 100 mg
Chromium - 200 to 400 mcg
Magnesium - 250 to 500 mgHe also recommends an herb that apparently assists the pancreas in producing insulin, which helps support the body in countering the effects of diabetes. It's called Gymnema sylvestre, 400
milligrams per day for either type of diabetic.Now, if you don't feel like eating right, you can swallow some vitamins can't you? Give your body SOMEthing to work with. Also, there's nothing wrong with "grazing" - instead of sitting down to three meals a day, you eat just a handful of this or that all day long...as long as you're not eating just crap, this can be quite good for you.
I like cold baby carrots and all types of nuts -
both nutritious.You don't have to change your whole life around,
but you do have to start taking baby steps. You can say, I'll put this bowl of carrots (or grapes or trail mix or whatever) right up front in the refrigerator and every time I go into the kitchen, I'll just grab a few. You can do that, or you can tell me to shut up and mind my own business. Either way, I do wish you well.
-Gracie
poster:whiterabbit
thread:226550
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030506/msgs/226627.html