What is it really like to live with Diabetes Type 2?

I was diagnosed in 2012... First yr. I did everything right....next 5 I went on a free-for-all...then A1c came in at 7.2 and dr said you do not want to let it get to 8 and doubled my Metformin....so a few months ago, I got back on diet and exercise..last A1c is 6.5 and 12 lbs lost. The hardest thing for me is that I have to watch every single meal....all my life I have dieted....but I could eat a lite meal and save calories to splurge at the next...that's over no more banking.day to day....meal to meal is rough. Tips would be appreciated...the info online is very contradictory...thanks...

 Hi delhilinda.  I understand what you're saying. Feeding diabetes is a full-time job.  At least you're getting serious before it's really out of control.  I managed to get good control, but not lose any weight.  I'm going to talk to the endo about it in a few weeks.  Maybe my parathyroids have some to do with that.  What would you like to know?    Are you counting carbs?  What are you doing as far as eating?  You can't look at this as a diet.  It is a lifestyle change.  You cannot go back to eating as you did before diabetes.  It sounds like you're on the right track.

@suecsdy Absolutely agree. It is like a full time job, but once you get it down... it is second-hand. It still is a lot, but it finally makes sense. and you will learn your body.

hi every one,my fear is I got this disease from my parents. I have two boys with the age 19, and 6. When i think about they might get this disease from me it really bothers me. I hope some body get a medicine to cure diabetes.

@ykabtiyimer 

Thank you for sharing. Do your parents have type-1 diabetes? Type-1 Diabetes is usually diagnosed in people before age 40, with peak diagnosis around 14, and is associated with a deficiency of insulin; however, Type-2 diabetes accounts for 90-95 percent of the adult diagnoses, and generally increases in the likelihood of diagnosis after age 45. But with Type 2 diabetes there are a lot of modifiable risk factors that you and your children can assess, and can do so with the help of a doctor, in order to address your worries and concerns and to better combat the possibility.

You may also want to consider directly communicating with some of the members here, and/or creating your own discussion addressing your concerns and see what advice those diagnosed with type-2 diabetes may recommend or have to offer.

Hi. In reference to the question, we are here to help somehow about TYPE 2 Diabetes. The REAL cause of your diabetes and uncontrolled weight gain has NOTHING to do with belly fat, diet, exercise, or genetics. This was not revealed to avoid losing the big profit of diabetes industry, like those who don't have the idea, they will continuously depend on medications for a lifetime which it is only to manage the disease, not to cure or reverse it.

To know how to really reverse diabetes, you should go after the root cause – **Insulin Resistance**.

The link below will help you to know the complete details to answer your question:

[Link removed by Moderator for violation of community standards]

Hopefully, this will help just like others who would have tried. NO HARM IN TRYING!

My name is Candie. I have diabetes2. Both my parents had it and it runs in my family. Sometimes I  do really well constant monitoring careful what I eat etc. I have constant high and low times. I do my best to stay positive and try to do my best then I have times where I get so tired, frustrated, and fed up. My last 2 a1c was a 12. That is horrible!!! I have been constantly battling a wound on my toe that has me in a boot for 6 months getting close to completely healing and then going the opposite direction.  I have come close to losing my toe once and then healed nicely. Now it is getting bad again. I am in a very stressful position right now. Can't work because of the boot, insurance is now going to cost me $800 a month. All the medications are overly expensive and I can't afford them now. I  am starting to get in a really depressed state and overwhelmed. Has anyone else experienced this or going through this right now? 

I was officially diagnosed DT2 today, and it's going to be nearly impossible for me.

So, I am disabled from generalized anxiety disorder. That means more often than not, I can not go inside stores or shop or do things whenever I want. When I do, I have to run through and grab things and can't stand and read labels, etc. I also don't get a livable amount of aid, so I can't afford healthy options. Yes, I have had therapy, for 2 years (and more before) and was discontinued. The anxiety disorder is incurable, and now that I'm older, so is my depression (since it's highly age--based, and I can't get younger.)

But here's the more important point: I can not cook/prepare foods for myself. Not "don't know how", but I do not have the equipment, kitchen appliances, storage, or living circumstances to do so. I can ONLY get ready to eat, no preparation food items. And I have no idea what that's supposed to be. I can not eat "fresh" things like fruits and vegetables after a second day, I have to throw them out. (Same for anything old of a similar nature, like bread or milk.) This will not change. And yet, I can not go to the store more than once every week for a few minutes. 

In order to prepare foods for myself at home, I would need a dedicated shopper on my behalf at no cost, a new refridgerator, a new stove/oven, new pots and pans, new silverware, new cutlery, a food processor, a blender, new bowls and plates and storage containers, and a new dishwasher with someone to install it (again at no charge).

So, reliant on drive through windows and ready-to-eat food items, what am I possibly supposed to eat that is enough for a meal, and not bad for me? Oh, and what the heck am I supposed to drink? I've always had diet pop. I always have a drink with me, I have my entire life. I can not drink only plain water, as water is flavorless, joyless, and gives me a headache. I HAVE to have flavor, and no, adding lemon to water is not flavor, it's making the water taste rotten. What am I supposed to snack on over time while playing a computer game?

Oh, and I'm supposed to exercise. So, I own no socks, have a $20 pair of terrible shoes. It's not safe to walk where I live (not to mention horribly boring). How am I supposed to waste an hour of every day walking and being bored (the worst sensation known to mankind) and keep at it? Again, I don't get enough aid to afford a gym, where I could at least look at hot women while working out.

I have no expectation I can succeed at overcoming these limitations. Life was already too hard (I mean, I'm caretaking for a parent with moderate and ever-worsening dementia, and when she has to go in a home or dies I will be homeless without enough income to afford anyplace to live) and I simply suspect this means I'll be dead sooner rather than later. 

(Oh, I could discuss some of these things with a Diabetic Educator probably, but when I confirmed I only have Medicaid I was told "that won't be happening", because you know, disabled people in America aren't worthy of full healthcare. Profit over lives!)

I am so sorry to hear that you have all these worries. I am not going to lie to you it isn't easy nor is it the ideal life for anyone. All you can do is the best you can.

I've had Diabetes Type-2 for a number of years now and it's still hard to eat well and my numbers are always quite high before breakfast.  I've tried eating a number of different things before bed to see if that changes things, but the numbers don't go down until after breakfast.  Anyone have any ideas on what I can do to change that.