Hi Brenda, and welcome.

First, congratulations on that marvellous effort back when
you were first diagnosed. A loss of 45lbs without proper
support or advice on correct diet for diabetes is a
phenomenal feat. Don't put yourself down for that bit you've
regained - with the right advice that will disappear soon.

Second, I very much doubt that there is anything wrong with
your glucometer. It's probably showing the right numbers,
you just aren't used to seeing those numbers and realising
that your menu - and your activity levels - can affect them
quite dramatically if you are a diabetic.

Maybe you could post some of those numbers to help others
respond. If you do, include the meals that preceded them and
how long after the meals you tested.

Others will be along to say g'day. Until they arrive, here
is a little light reading for you that may help you
understand why I said that and also how to gain control. The
first link is to a post I prepared for newly diagnosed
people; I know you aren't, but for just for this pretend you
are: http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/d-day.html

This one is the best advice I received from any source after
I was diagnosed:
http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
--
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com
Latest:What to Eat Until You Get Your Meter.
and Cambodia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/2008/03/cambodia.html

Hi Brenda, welcome to the group. Alan has given you some good links,
and I'll look forward to your future posts. There is a lot of good
information here. Take care.

Cheri

My name is Brenda.... Am glad I found this group ...
3 years ago I got an unexpected phone call from GP that blood sugar
was "a tad high"?  140 fasting if I recall.  He was going to do an
A1C...which was 7 at that time.  Not out of control...but from what he
told me was also not in the normal range?  At that time I was an
overweight <180# 5'5"> 57 yo female...who had regularly gone to GP for
Cholesterol/Triglyceride/BP meds.  Immediately ...I started walking on
treadmill....lost 20#...and within few months started a job with LOTS
of walking at a distribution center....and by summer of 2006 I was
down to 135# which I have maintained till approximately 4 or 5 months
ago.  I have gained 10#...not a lot...but now I do not walk nearly as
much at my job as I did back then...and I'm sure I have slacked off
immensely with my diet.....of which I cannot for the life of me
remember what I did differently back then except go off sugar.   From
reading here....my eating sugar really has nothing to do with my
elevated BG...I think it is more my slacking of exercise!
Anyway....I could tell from weight gain...and the way I have been
feeling...that maybe I was having a problem with BG again.  Wanting to
eat constantly....thirsty...etc etc.

Bought a cheap glucometer....testing some but since BG's reading have
been all over the place...not sure if cheap glucometer the
problem...my lack of education...etc etc is the problem.   I have NOT
gone back to GP because I feel he was not all that much help 3 years
ago.....  Oh yes... I did have followup A1C  3 months later after
original and A1C was down to high 5. something....so end of problem
with GP.

Now I feel I have no where to turn/learn except my own research, NG's,
whatever.  My main problem is...since I bought this cheap glucometer,
I am not sure if that is the problem....and a better one is the
answer...or what to do next?  I really feel I am doing the BG testing
correctly, but those dang strips are expensive!!  I hate to go back to
GP who, in my opinion, was not all that great helping me to begin
with,,,,but, if I do go back to him, and maybe push him to write an
RX for glucometer/strips  my insurance would help pay for.

Plus like I said I have forgotten diet things I did 3 years ago.  All
I know is,,,I am extremely depressed and mad at myself for letting
this happen.

Sorry to be such a downer, beginner post....but I just feel I have no
where else to turn for info at this point in time.

Thanks for listening to me.

Brenda

Hi, Brenda - good to meet you! Alan's already given you the lifesaver
link: http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm

You sound like you've made a great start. Exercise is the bit that's
often a problem for people. Using the link to improve your diet will
be a big help too. And of course, ask us stuff... the only dumb
question is the one you didn't ask.

By the way, we have another regular poster called BJ - it would be
considerably less confusing if you could change your tag a bit so we
can tell you apart!

Nicky.
T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid
D&E, 100ug thyroxine
Last A1c 5.6%  BMI 25

Hi Brenda,

Welcome to the group that no one wants to join, BUT you've come to the right
place.  :-)

Alan and Nicky have already given you the most important link in learning to
use the information that your glucometer provides, but to reinforce that is
SO important, I'm posting it again:
http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/newlydiagnosed.htm

Unfortunately, it's not unusual that you didn't get a lot of
information/support from your GP.  Many seem to be woefully behind on the
latest research pertaining to Type 2 diabetes.  The standard info is to cut
back on sugar, lose weight, and sometimes take a pill.  That barely skims
the surface.  So you are a wise woman to do your own research.  And the
great thing about this newsgroup is that many have already done the research
and can point you to the pertinent information.  Another good link for
general understanding:  http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/

Do not be down on yourself.  You made great strides under very poor
conditions, and delayed the worsening of your condition substantially.  Hang
out here, and you'll learn how to darn near stop it in its tracks.

My name is Brenda.... Am glad I found this group ...
3 years ago I got an unexpected phone call from GP that blood sugar was "a
tad high"?  140 fasting if I recall.  He was going to do an A1C...which was
7 at that time.  Not out of control...but from what he told me was also not
in the normal range?  At that time I was an overweight <180# 5'5"> 57 yo
female...who had regularly gone to GP for Cholesterol/Triglyceride/BP meds.
Immediately ...I started walking on treadmill....lost 20#...and within few
months started a job with LOTS of walking at a distribution center....and by
summer of 2006 I was down to 135# which I have maintained till approximately
4 or 5 months ago.  I have gained 10#...not a lot...but now I do not walk
nearly as much at my job as I did back then...and I'm sure I have slacked
off immensely with my diet.....of which I cannot for the life of me remember
what I did differently back then except go off sugar.   From reading
here....my eating sugar really has nothing to do with my elevated BG...I
think it is more my slacking of exercise!
Anyway....I could tell from weight gain...and the way I have been
feeling...that maybe I was having a problem with BG again.  Wanting to eat
constantly....thirsty...etc etc.

Bought a cheap glucometer....testing some but since BG's reading have been
all over the place...not sure if cheap glucometer the problem...my lack of
education...etc etc is the problem.   I have NOT gone back to GP because I
feel he was not all that much help 3 years ago.....  Oh yes... I did have
followup A1C  3 months later after original and A1C was down to high 5.
something....so end of problem with GP.

Now I feel I have no where to turn/learn except my own research, NG's,
whatever.  My main problem is...since I bought this cheap glucometer, I am
not sure if that is the problem....and a better one is the answer...or what
to do next?  I really feel I am doing the BG testing correctly, but those
dang strips are expensive!!  I hate to go back to GP who, in my opinion, was
not all that great helping me to begin with,,,,but, if I do go back to him,
and maybe push him to write an  RX for glucometer/strips  my insurance would
help pay for.

Plus like I said I have forgotten diet things I did 3 years ago.  All I know
is,,,I am extremely depressed and mad at myself for letting this happen.

Sorry to be such a downer, beginner post....but I just feel I have no where
else to turn for info at this point in time.

Thanks for listening to me.

Brenda

My name is Brenda.... Am glad I found this group ...
3 years ago I got an unexpected phone call from GP that blood sugar was "a
tad high"?  140 fasting if I recall.  He was going to do an A1C...which was
7 at that time.  Not out of control...but from what he told me was also not
in the normal range?  At that time I was an overweight <180# 5'5"> 57 yo
female...who had regularly gone to GP for Cholesterol/Triglyceride/BP meds.
Immediately ...I started walking on treadmill....lost 20#...and within few
months started a job with LOTS of walking at a distribution center....and by
summer of 2006 I was down to 135# which I have maintained till approximately
4 or 5 months ago.  I have gained 10#...not a lot...but now I do not walk
nearly as much at my job as I did back then...and I'm sure I have slacked
off immensely with my diet.....of which I cannot for the life of me remember
what I did differently back then except go off sugar.   From reading
here....my eating sugar really has nothing to do with my elevated BG...I
think it is more my slacking of exercise!
Anyway....I could tell from weight gain...and the way I have been
feeling...that maybe I was having a problem with BG again.  Wanting to eat
constantly....thirsty...etc etc.

Bought a cheap glucometer....testing some but since BG's reading have been
all over the place...not sure if cheap glucometer the problem...my lack of
education...etc etc is the problem.   I have NOT gone back to GP because I
feel he was not all that much help 3 years ago.....  Oh yes... I did have
followup A1C  3 months later after original and A1C was down to high 5.
something....so end of problem with GP.

Now I feel I have no where to turn/learn except my own research, NG's,
whatever.  My main problem is...since I bought this cheap glucometer, I am
not sure if that is the problem....and a better one is the answer...or what
to do next?  I really feel I am doing the BG testing correctly, but those
dang strips are expensive!!  I hate to go back to GP who, in my opinion, was
not all that great helping me to begin with,,,,but, if I do go back to him,
and maybe push him to write an  RX for glucometer/strips  my insurance would
help pay for.

Plus like I said I have forgotten diet things I did 3 years ago.  All I know
is,,,I am extremely depressed and mad at myself for letting this happen.

Sorry to be such a downer, beginner post....but I just feel I have no where
else to turn for info at this point in time.

Thanks for listening to me.

Brenda

Hi Brenda, I was Dx'd last year with similar numbers to your original ones.
Fastings above 140 and an A1c of 7.2. Using the methods I learned here, I'm
off all diabetic meds, my last A1c was 5.7 and I feel great.

Read the links Alan provided. They did me a world of good. Hang around too,
these are a great bunch of people.

John C.

 My name is Brenda.... Am glad I found this group ...
 3 years ago I got an unexpected phone call from GP that blood sugar was "a tad high"?  140 fasting if I recall.  He was going to do an A1C...which was 7 at that time.  Not out of control...but from what he told me was also not in the normal range?  At that time I was an overweight <180# 5'5"> 57 yo female...who had regularly gone to GP for Cholesterol/Triglyceride/BP meds.  Immediately ...I started walking on treadmill....lost 20#...and within few months started a job with LOTS of walking at a distribution center....and by summer of 2006 I was down to 135# which I have maintained till approximately 4 or 5 months ago.  I have gained 10#...not a lot...but now I do not walk nearly as much at my job as I did back then...and I'm sure I have slacked off immensely with my diet.....of which I cannot for the life of me remember what I did differently back then except go off sugar.   From reading here....my eating sugar really has nothing to do with my elevated BG...I think it is more my slacking of exercise!
 Anyway....I could tell from weight gain...and the way I have been feeling...that maybe I was having a problem with BG again.  Wanting to eat constantly....thirsty...etc etc.

 Bought a cheap glucometer....testing some but since BG's reading have been all over the place...not sure if cheap glucometer the problem...my lack of education...etc etc is the problem.   I have NOT gone back to GP because I feel he was not all that much help 3 years ago.....  Oh yes... I did have followup A1C  3 months later after original and A1C was down to high 5. something....so end of problem with GP.

 Now I feel I have no where to turn/learn except my own research, NG's, whatever.  My main problem is...since I bought this cheap glucometer, I am not sure if that is the problem....and a better one is the answer...or what to do next?  I really feel I am doing the BG testing correctly, but those dang strips are expensive!!  I hate to go back to GP who, in my opinion, was not all that great helping me to begin with,,,,but, if I do go back to him, and maybe push him to write an  RX for glucometer/strips  my insurance would help pay for.

 Plus like I said I have forgotten diet things I did 3 years ago.  All I know is,,,I am extremely depressed and mad at myself for letting this happen.  

 Sorry to be such a downer, beginner post....but I just feel I have no where else to turn for info at this point in time.

 Thanks for listening to me.

 Brenda
 Maybe you forgot portions. I will capitalize to reinforce, not shout: PORTIONS. I quickly gained weight when I began to increase amounts of all kinds of foods. The stomach stretches and you begin to feel hungry all the time, therefore you eat more (or I do:-)  Rant all you want - it takes energy!
 Lorna