My vision took a while to get back to normal after I became in control.
In general it is recommended not to have an eye exam for glasses until
the BG has been in a good range for at least 2wks to a month.  I had my
dilated eye exam in March, shortly after diagnosis (along with visual
field testing for grave's disease) but just had my refraction exam on
Friday. Funny thing, my script didn't change at all!  Earlier, I wasn't
sure at all what it would be, since my vision was doing such funny
things with the blood sugar spikes.
As for being tired, high blood sugar can make you VERY tired. The fuel
for the cells is trapped in the blood, and the cells aren't getting what
they need to function, so you are tired.  Low blood sugar also makes one
tired--but this time,there just isn't any fuel to get to the cells. One
is like having a full gas tank, but a plugged up gas line, so the engine
can't get any of the fuel in the gas tank. The other is like having an
empty gas tank.
As for the neuropathy like symptoms, generally, once one's blood sugar
gets in control, the neuropathy won't progress further.  As for getting
rid of what is already there, it can be done I believe, and getting BG
in a good range much of the time is definitely the first step. I'll let
others talk about that though as I don't have neuropathy, and hope to
never have it.
It is a tough illness to get the hang of. I highly recommend going to
diabetes education classes taught by a CDE.  You can learn a lot from
those. I had my classes right after I was diagnosed, and I learned quite
a bit. I wish though I'd known what sort of meds I was going to be on at
the the time, so I could have asked more specific questions. (I was not
yet on anything as the doc wanted to find out if I was T1 or T2 before
starting me on meds. I had been put on an oral med, a sulfonylurea, but
I had an allergic reaction to it (I'm now allergic to all sulfa drugs)
and had to stop it right away. So the NP was waiting on test results
before deciding on more oral meds or insulin.  I was running high a LOT
despite low carbing, and was often in the 200 range.  It started getting
higher and higher (to where I was more often than not in the
300-400range and I even went in to the 500's a couple of times). Finally
the CDE had me e-mail in my BG numbers, and the endo that sees me for my
thyroid looked at them. He didn't like them at all (especially the way
they were trending up) and put me on insulin.  He still won't say what
type I am (the blood tests don't really show type one, I still make
insulin, but about in the middle range of what a normal person would
make, I get tight control (80-110 most of the time) with very little
amounts of injected insulin, and don't fit the profile of metabolic
syndrome or a typical type two. So, I get insulin because it works, and
until things change we are leaving it at that. The day I went on
insulin, my blood test results came in and the NP declared me type two
and was going to start me on oral meds.  My thyroid doc (who now sees me
half the time for the diabetes/thyroid and I see the NP in between
times), decided that he wasn't so sure the oral meds would work and that
he wasn't so sure I was type two despite the lack of antibodies... He
also wanted to get my BG down quickly, because at the time I was
glucotoxic, and he was sure I'd be in a coma by the end of the weekend
if I didn't start on SOMETHING. So, anyways I would have liked to have
asked more questions about insulin at my education classes, but I didn't
know at the time I'd be on it.
But, the classes were still very informative and helpful. There were
other diabetics in the class (two with type two, one with double
diabetes) and it was helpful to hear their questions and answers as
well.  I also found places like this, www.diabets.org and Josiln's
diabetes website helpful as well. There is a local hospital that has
free diabetes seminars once a month with some educational topics. I need
to find out when those are, as I would like to attend some of them. I
know they have one with a podiatrist coming up on foot care, and one on
carbs coming up. They also have one right before the holidays about how
to deal with holiday eating and diabetes.
All of those things can help one to get a handle on the illness. I was
very freaked out in the beginning. (especially before I saw an endo for
it. I was pretty much told by the doc at the extended hours clinic I
went to for my UTI that I was a diabetic (after an FBG of 166), and when
I asked more about it he said that they'd probably put me on oral meds
at the endo's and teach me about diet and exercise, but he wouldn't
answer any of my other questions instead just told me the endo would
explain it all.  Well, it was going to be at least three or more months
before I could get in to see my endo (the one who follows my thyroid) so
I took an appointment with the person a the endo clinic who could see me
earliest.  That was three weeks away.  I was freaked out for three weeks
that my BG was doing funny things, and I didn't have a meter and
couldn't afford one or test strips, and there were times when I was sure
I was going into DKA or something. Finally, when I saw the NP at the
endo clinic, she said that the doc who told me I was diabetic wanted me
to have an oral glucose tolerance test, and he wasn't for sure I was
diabetic!! I did get a free meter from the endo (I could get one each
time I go if I wanted to...), and a prescription for test strips (so
with insurance coverage I pay about $40 a month for them, rather than
$250), and an appointment for an OGTT. (at this point I'd been to my
regular doc a few times and had several FBG's done--enough to make the
diagnosis since they were 166, 126, and 187.  The one done at the endo's
was 109... so she wasn't convinced and ordered the OGTT.  After which
was definitely an official diabetic (190 BG pre-glucose, and 317 post
glucose). I didn't get below 200 for three days! Of course that was when
I was started on glyburide (at my visit, based on my meter readings,
after drinking the glucose but before getting the results, it took a
week to get the results!), but I had the allergic reaction, and had to
stop.
I would have been even more lost if it weren't for the information I
found on the web (here, the ADA and Joslin's) and it was great to get
into the education classes as well. (mine started the Monday after my
OGTT, and went for four days. I was running high much of the time at
those classes, and the CDEs who taught it (the dietitian CDE taught the
first two classes, the nurse CDE taught the second two) were a bit
concerned. It also let me get to know the CDEs so I felt comfortable
calling them when my blood sugars kept rising and rising.  I was told to
call and talk to them any time I had a BG reading of 200 or more, but
since I wasn't on any meds, there wasn't anything they could do for me,
so I didn't call them on that, I did however call when things were
clearly going out of control...
Are you going to see an endo, or just a CDE and have your regular doc
manage medications? Are you going to try and manage through diet and
exercise alone? If your numbers are now consistently below 100, then it
sounds like you can go that route, at least for a while.  And with
numbers like those, it seems you are doing a good job of things.  Good
luck, Good effort, and keep posting here and elsewhere to get the
answers you need.

Emily

Neuropathy is what led to my diagnosis.  I don't usually have trouble by it
now.  Not the pain anyway.  I don't have full feeling in my feet and legs
and for that reason, walking is difficult.  But I also have super sensations
in my feet and stepping on something accidentally can cause extreme pain.

I am tired all the time any more.  But I have more medical problems than
just diabetes.

That's low, especially after going high and low so recently.

1% milk is very high/fast carbs, it'll spike you.  You'd be better off
with some berries, or a piece of apple with fiber to slow it down a bit.

Also, I think I mentioned to you at first that it might be smoother to
reduce your carbs less drastically for a while, to avoid crashing and
complications.  At this point, you're in a good range, and your body may
take a few months to adjust.

I don't believe the cramps are from neuropathy, I think they're probably
from potassium loss.  The tingling may be a result of lower glucose
getting to your nerves due to the sudden drop of glucose without a
commensurate increase in insulin sensitivity.  That should improve as
your insulin receptors get more responsive due to lower levels.

Susan

Maybe you need to add more fat to your diet?  Fat delays the absorption of
carbs.  Try adding some nuts or olives.

Are they on steroids or other adrenal suppressive meds?  Causes
potassium loss.

Susan

Prunes are loaded with sugar.  Avocadoes are high in potassium and low
in carbs.  Seafood, shellfish is high in potassium and so is meat.
LiteSalt or NuSalt is the cheapest and easiest way to supplement.

Susan

I USED to take "Diffu K" ( potassium additive) when I took diuretics
but my Dr took me off them as they are deleterious to hte hrealth in the
long run (notwithtandinh the replacement potassium that can be prescribed)

I eat meat and some seafoods (not mussels and the like) of the sort,
lobsters
which I shall taste very soon when I go (tomorrow) to the beaches in
Normandy for a few days (to celebrate my beloved's birthday)...
smoked lobsters etc., mmmm !

Bye, bye, smokey Paris burbs !

"Loretta Eisenberg" <sassybklynlady@webtv.net> a écrit ...