diabetes (46)

ohnuts1: yeh i know theres alot of oldies swimming at pt adelaide, u mean sharks just think of the exercise u will get trying to get away

WaterDragpn: Hiya jimbob - I've had Type 2 since 2000 (my Annus Horribilus!!) HbA1c is usually about 6.2, 6.4. Got up to 7.2 when I was doing a desk job for 2 months. Doc said if it went any higher I'd have to go on insulin - no mucking around with tablets. At the moment I'm taking Metformin 1g a.m. and p.m.

When I'm working on the ward (Midwife), all is good - lots of exercise running around a very busy ward plus the odd walk. Like I said above, when I was in the Antenatal Clinic on a desk job up went the HbA1c!! Exercise and weight loss is the key!

Make sure you get your eyes checked at least one every two years for diabetic retinopathy - can send you blind.

Diet is not that hard - stay with low GI foods (foods that take a long time to digest) and low fat. So no refined carbs, sugars. Your walking is excellent. The more weight you can take off, the better the BSLs will be eventually. As said before, stress and illness will raise BSLs a lot. Make sure you drink at least 2L water a day. Did you know we lose about 800mls/day just by breathing?!! So keep the fluids up - also helps keeps hunger at bay.

Now - your knees...Gentle exercise is good. Walking in a pool is excellent. I have a friend who is also Type 2 and has terrible arthritis in her knees and feet. She walks in the pool, eats a low GI diet and her HbA1c is great - better than mine at times! Do you wear braces on your knees? Would they help?

Wishing you all the best, Stevie

Shell225: I dont know if you have a health care card, but if you do, a visit to the private optometrist after medicare rebate should only set you back about $30.00.