Sax and diabetes?

[paulwl]

Bad heredity and oral gratification (stop snickering, I mean food and booze) have taken their toll...paulwl, 36 and semi-sedentary, this week joined the ranks of the nation's 15,000,000 type 2 diabetics.

The initial numbers were a bit of a shock...BG 265 after overnight fasting...A1c 10+, indicating I'd been that way for months (explaining that chronic rundown feeling). Not to mention changing doctors after finding Doc #1 had withheld a lot of crucial information from me. Doc #2 said, "We caught this in time, but we have a ways to go in getting these sugars down."

Any others in my boat out there in SOTW land? Any special problems facing the diabetic saxophonist, assuming s/he keeps it under control? Traveling? Eating on the gig?

Thanks in advance...

[Hurling Frootmig]

Sorry to hear about your diaganosis.

I am glucose intollerant and both of my parents are Type 2. At some point I will end up with Type 2.

My wife is a Type 1. Type 2 is a lot better. Mostly controlled with medications, exercise, and diet.

My advice would be to get a quality glucose meter and test regularly. The other thing you should do is to meet with a diabetes educator. They will be able to give you some good advice about how to treat and deal with this disease.

There are a two or three good magazines that are focused on this as well. If you're doctor is unable to get you in touch with an educator let me know. My wife is a registered dietician.

You'll be fine.

[Bill Mecca]

Hi my name is Bill and I am a diabetic. :wink:

Doc #2 will probably put you on meds right away, some of which will make you hungrier and tell you to lose weight at the same time. I fight my weight all the time, right now its too high,but my levels are good, the meds are working. Maternal grandmother was insulin dependant as is my Mom.

Education is key, its all about carbohydrates,(beer too) they give you quick spikes in Blood glucose and then fall off. Suffice it to say you can eat just about anything you want, in moderation. any diet like Weight watchers or leanline, that is well balanced will do fine.

As for glucose meters, I just recently upgraded to a Therasense Freestyle to get away from the finger sticks.

now just stay away from sugary sweet elevator music and you'll be fine :wink:

[paulwl]

I can stand giving up Oreos, but my dance music...never! :lol: I love the old Bluebirds and Columbias from the 30s, the ones with squeaky violins, a tuba, and 3 tenor saxes that moooed all night long...

[Hurling Frootmig]

Glucose meters have gotten really good in terms of speed and the amount of blood necessary for testing in the last five years. My wife went from having to wait 45 seconds with about a 10 picoliter sample on her One Touch Profile to 5 seconds and a 1.3 picoliter sample on her One Touch Ultra. She has recently switched to a BD meter that takes five seconds and requires about .8 picoliters of blood (I think that's the number).

[Bill Mecca]

It is amazing how little blood the new meters need, half the time I don't think I have enough but the freestyle is fine with it... much better than the Accuchek instant I used to have. Plus the fact that I can take a sample from my arm instead of the fingertips.... a BIG plus.

[paulwl]

I have both the OT Ultra and the Freestyle. I like the Freestyle better too. I doinked my 3rd finger 2 days ago and still feel it. I've stapled fingers in the past and not had that problem. No Albert clarinet practice that day, for sure.

What do people eat for breakfast? I get one piece of peanut butter cracked wheat toast and a shot glass of Cheerios 'n milk. I'm a gloomy gus at mealtimes these days.

[JimD]

The good news Paulwl is that you are going to feel a whole lot better than you have recently. I've been a type one diabetic for 20 years. I lost 2 stone in a month and felt like the living dead but after diagnosis and treatment I felt terrific. There are too many types of treatment to give specific advice but if you are taking medication then you need to be aware of the signs of hypoglycaemia and have the treatment handy. As the treatment is sugar, a candybar or juice then it's not too bad. Hypos affect people differently - some people just sweat and get confused, some get violent, some just drift away into unconsciousness, but either way you need to catch it before the lights go out, so have the sugar (or whatever) handy and tell people you are with what to do. Get ready for the jokes when you tell them to give you some chocolate if you start talking nonsense. I know I've played one or two interesting solos when I've been having a hypo.

If you are being treated by diet alone then that's a different matter and you have other problems to deal with. Once you get used to it you'll find that it's not impossible to live with. It sounds like your biggest difficulty is going to be with learning different eating habits. I have spent a lot of time looking for things to snack on that won't put up the blood sugar. The trouble is that usually those things are usually full of fat, like cheese or nuts. The tragedy is that the best things to have for snacks are carrots and celery, but there you go. What's that you say? Hush, there may be children reading.

We're all different, but since you asked, for breakfast I'll have one, or maybe two, pieces of toast, a sandwich for lunch (two slices of wholemeal bread, not a submarine) and 2.5 ounces of pasta or rice (dry weight), or a 9 oz potato or the equivalents and anything else I darn well please. Watch me eat that truck full of salad. I'd be skinny as a lath if it wasn't for the wine.

[paulwl]

Thanks for the cheery words everyone...the news from my dietician is good, but the family finds her too lenient. They're pressing me to go ultra low-carb, about 60 g a day (she's allowing me 150 g - "too much bread!" say the family.) So mealtimes are still a tad stressful.

Stress affects sugar, as I found out this afternoon. a graduate school where I was waitlisted offered me a spot...the kicker: I have to decide this week, and it had been so long since the waitlisting that I hadn't made any plans. I finally begged off talking to them till tomorrow, but my afternoon BG tested 210 (and that after a day of not too bad eating). I cooled down, had a walk around the bldg, quick cat nap and some peanuts. 2 hours later I tested 140!

[Bill Mecca]

, but my afternoon BG tested 210 (and that after a day of not too bad eating).

Your blood glucose levels will flucuate, how long after you last ate did you test and get the 210? you should be back to the "normal" range about 2 hours after eating.

The key I've learned is to balance carbs etc,(interestingly if I have just carbs for my evening snack my bg is higher in the a.m., if I add a hunk of cheese it's lower) I also just learned some new information about the glucemic index, and there are some surprises., Foods that you would think would have high GI's like pasta actually don't. And the difference between white and whole wheat bread is negligible, unless its Stone Ground Whole Wheat. It seems the coarser its ground the lower the GI.

My educators suggested 45-60 gs of carbs at meals and snacks 15-30 grams. Your dieitician may be weaning you off carbs a bit more slowly, especially if you are on oral meds.

Even though I've said some stuff here, don't take it for the gospel, there is a lot of information floating around. The best advice is to talk with the professionals about anything your hear, and trust their advice. It's all just more stuff to investigate.

[JimD]

I stick with the belief that it's not the bread (or potato, or pasta) that puts on the weight, it's the butter, sauce etc. You need to balance your carbohydrate intake with the medication you are taking. If the medication is based on you needing 150gs of carb then you better eat it. Stick with what your Doctor says until you get more comfortable and can make your own adjustments. I think these high protein diets are just trouble in waiting.

Bill's right about the strange effects of combining food. I read a fair bit about that a couple of years ago but the science behind it seems too inexact for me to apply it. Pasta is slow because it's hard flour but I can't comprehend why oranges are absorbed slowly, especially when juice is a great hypo fixer.

Most of all don't let it stop you doing things, don't get stressed about stress.

[paulwl]

Darn tootin', Jim. Let me relate to you the lesson of the ONE LOUSY BUN:

The other day I had for lunch a Tuna Burger (chopped fresh tuna, mmm good). I figured, what the hey, let's just this one last time eat the soft, fresh, white, yummy bun. In the interest of science, if nothing else. Oh, and because it's yummy.

Well, my number went thru the roof and STAYED THERE FOR HOURS. Ruined my appetite for dinner. All from ONE LOUSY YUMMY WHITE BUN. Not worth it.

[Bill Mecca]

paulwl,

its tricky, for example, lastnight my wife tried a new recipe, turkey smothered in sweet potatoes and cranberries with a bit of syrup. Man was that good! anyway I figured it would goose my numbers so I kept the portion a bit smaller than my usual gluttonish (is that a word?) self.

a little over two hours later I sat at the computer to check email, and felt a bit shaky, decided to test,,, 72 I cannot remember the last time I was 72... I told her that recipe is a keeper ;-)

This is a disease, that if you manage it well, will make you healthier than most people on the street. It's a disease overwhich you have control, how you exercise that control is the key. ;-)

stay healthy.

[paulwl]

I have made an important and extremely gratifying discovery...

PLAYING THE SAXOPHONE LOWERS MY BG!

Especially in combination with a reasonable diet and the higher dose of pills recommended by EndoDoc. Played a 4 hr gig last night, came home, raided the frig (no carbs but did have a pop or 2), worke up next morning with BG of 110. This is good.

[Ian]

Paul, bad luck with the diagnosis, but glad that already you seem to be putting a good spin on it. I guess I just want to encourage you to go all out and get in the habit of good control, from the beginning. There has been so much excellent medical news regarding diabetes in the last few years. Tight control makes a huge difference. Lots of ways that are working to keep complications away. Keep yourself in the best possible physical shape. Watch the blood pressure meticulously etc etc. You'll hear about it all I am sure since you seem to have access to many competent advisors. Sure its a hassle, but it seems you have the resources to deal with this as a soon to be expert. At the end of the day, expect a long and healthy life, the outcome for so many many diabetics. Good luck.

[SaxoPiper89]

I am with you. I have only recently been give this choice... give up soda, candy, and get moving... or wait for a while.. and have to give yourself shots , and give it all up. I chose to give it up now.. I am not big or anything.. so I was kind of shocked.. but I guess maybe it is God's way of telling us to change before something worse happens.

[retread]

Paul, my wife has type 2. Diet, exercise and medication control it nicely. I've always been a beef and potatoes guy, so out of desperation I came up with a skinless chicken breast recipe that actually has flavor without sauces. Wash the chicken, pat it dry. Slather on lots of olive oil. Rub in Paul Prudhomme's blackened steak seasonings. Slap it on the outdoor grill.
It's almost as good as a thick, marbled steak!

[Morry]

I have been reactive hypoglycemic for quite a few years. I'm now what is called glucose intolerant. Other docs refer to it as "pre-diabetic". I have a history of it on both sides of my family (father and maternal grandfather), so it was bound to happen. However, refusing to lose some lard off of this fat butt is what is going to seal the deal.

In the immortal words of that genius Forrest Gump - "stupid is as stupid does".

[SAXISMYAXE]

I'm late adding to this thread because I've only just now discovered it, however I, too am a type 2 Diabetic (diagnosed in my early 30's) and share everyone's struggles with health and diet.
Both of my sisters are type 1 juvenile, insulin dependent, and I can confirm that having type 2 is a wee bit less intrusive, but only slightly.
If you don't already suffer from it, you can look forward to hypertension as a result of the diabetes as well.
Exercise your fingers/hands and toes/and feet each day to help cut down on the nerve and blood vessel damage that the diabetes can cause.

I don't have anything further to add regarding the maintenance issues with health etc., the only sax related problem to watch out for might be the corrosive nature of your skin oils and sweat/condensation in the horn. Diabetics have more toxins released in their bodily fluids due to
the pancreas not burning up all the sugars properly, and the oral medications we are on. I've found that I need to more judiciously wipe away all finger oils and swab THOROUGHLY to avoid this damage.

[Jolle]

Thanks for the cheery words everyone...the news from my dietician is good, but the family finds her too lenient. They're pressing me to go ultra low-carb, about 60 g a day (she's allowing me 150 g - "too much bread!" say the family.) So mealtimes are still a tad stressful.
The important thing is not the amount of carbo's, but the type. fast sugars are deadly, especially for diabetici. However, sugar shouldn't drop too low either. "slow sugars", better known as starch and the likes, make that the sugar that comes off is released slowly in a moderate amount. Tell the family not to worry and to trust on the dietician. To be honest, it's better to eat some bread than to eat some fruit, since they contain a lot of fructoses (which are fast sugars!)

Stress affects sugar, as I found out this afternoon. a graduate school where I was waitlisted offered me a spot...the kicker: I have to decide this week, and it had been so long since the waitlisting that I hadn't made any plans. I finally begged off talking to them till tomorrow, but my afternoon BG tested 210 (and that after a day of not too bad eating). I cooled down, had a walk around the bldg, quick cat nap and some peanuts. 2 hours later I tested 140!
A bit yes, but not that much either. During the walk and the nap your body simply get rid of some sugar, so it drops.

Anyway, good luck with the treatments and don't worry; I know quite some people living happily with type 2.

greetzz

[saxfreak]

I just saw this thread. I'm also a type 2 diabetic, for 2 or 3 years now. I'm controlling my blood sugar by pills, diet, and excercise when I can. It's hard for me to get enough excercise on a consistent basis. The diet isn't too much of a problem for me. I concentrate on veggies, and I like fresh fruit (although not too much of it). My big vice has become sugar-free ice cream late at night.
As others have mentioned, people can become much healthier after they have been diagnosed with diabetes, provided they do the right things. I dropped about 10 pounds right away, and suddenly I had more energy than before.
Good luck to all of us with this condition.

[SAXISMYAXE]

Good luck to all of us with this condition.
Yeah, this thread has been very enlightening.... A lot us are a real mess!:D

[kevvieg]

Hiya Paul,

I was diagnosed 3 years ago after complaining to my doctor about always being tired. I have been controlling it with a combination of drugs diet and (minimal) exercise. Here's my perspective:

Drugs: Use Glucophage (generic name: metformin). It doesn't contribute to weight gain because it doesn't produce more insulin and it doesn't make you hungry. As a type 2, you are already producing insulin and the Glucophage helps you metabolize it more effectively.

Carbs: Definitely check out the glycemic index. The bottom line is to listen to what grandma told you: "Eat oatmeal for breakfast. It sticks to your ribs.". There's something to that. Carbs that are high in soluable fibre will turn to sugar more slowly, thereby releasing sugars in a time-release fashion. You will be able to go longer without feeling hungry due to the slower digesion and carb release. That also means you don't get the quick rise & crash of refined carbs. My dietician reccomended that I get 45-60 grams of carbs per meal as well as three 15-gram snacks, BUT you can subtract the total grams of fibre from the total. So if I have a serving of Fibre 1 cereal, it has 36g of carb per 1.25 cup serving. It also has 11 grams (!) of fibre, so the net carb is only 25.
I have a decadent dessert every Saturday and often have a small serving of frozen yoghurt throughout the week. My A1C has not been above 6 in three years and I normall test at 5.5 Mmol in the AM and around 7.2 Mmol 2 hours after a meal. (sorry, I don't know the American numbers). My target is 4-6 Mmol in the morning and less than 10Mmol after meals, so you get the idea. I love sugar-free ice cream (Thank you Baskin-Robbins), but watch for total carbs - sometimes there's little or no difference and there's even more sodium and/or fat.

Glucose Monitors: I use the Freestyle. It takes a small sample and is very fast and accurate. More importantly, I don't have to test on my fingers. I test on my leg or upper arm and my results are fine. Fortunately (or unfortunately) type 2's do not have to worry about low blood sugar. They produce insulin and have to worry more about elevated sugar levels. Type 1's are another story. I mention this because some sources say you should test on the fingertip to monitor changes and other sites don't change as rapidly. We have to watch for elevations, so dropping into insulin shock isn't going to happen as long as our pancreas is functioning. Call me optimistic, but I believe that as long as you stay on top of things you won't suffer the severe complications because you are keeping your sugar low enough to prevent the cell damage. The key is diligent monitoring so that, if you do go off the wagon, it doesn't make a big effect. By the way, my testing A1C was 16.

I'm really glad I was diagnosed by a blunt physician. I had seen doctors in the past who spoke of "insulin resistance" and "borderline diabetes". There is no such thing as borderline. If your sugar levels are consistently high or just at the brink, it's only a matter of time before you WILL be diabetic. You can't reverse or cure it, but you can keep your sugar levels low enough with exercise and diet that you may be able to stop taking medication for a long time. However, Diabetes is a progressive condition - you will need to go on the meds eventually. It's just that we all hope you're 75 before you do.

I'm a big guy. I have trouble with weight and I don't make enough time for exercise. Add to that the fact that I love food and it's a struggle, but I'm on a mission to lose weight because I've seen what that does for my sugars and my BP and life is too important to throw it away on a cheeseburger. I have what I want, just much less often, and in smaller quantities. You seem to have your s**t together, Paul, so I know you'll do well.

[paulwl]

Thanks for the good words, kevvieg...might as well update y'all. It's going on 3 1/2 years since my onset, I've put back 10 of the 25 lbs I dropped and fighting to keep the A1c at 7 or below. It wants to be slightly above. I've added Actos and Byetta to the Glucophage, but what I really have to do is exercise more and eat less, a daily battle I am mostly losing at present. Food and lethargy have become compulsions, and discipline a nagging voice in the back of my head that makes me feel worse, not better. I'll eat well for a few days and get good walks in (several miles, sometimes). Then I just stop. Any number of reasons: rain, too busy, lousy day that makes me want to treat myself and relax. Relaxation, like carbohydrate, is addictive.

[kevvieg]

"Relaxation, like carbohydrate, is addictive."

I hear that. I never said that I follow my own advice (I do sometimes, but I spend lots of time off the wagon). Fight the fight, Paul.

[danarsenault]

I'm type II, Paul, as well, for 10 years now. Good sugar control means you live out your normal life pretty much, my docs at Lahey Clinic say. Keep up with it.

[SAXISMYAXE]

Let's face it, the genetic contribution aside, if those of us who developed Type II had been fitness fanatics to begin with, we very likely would have avoided the onset until much later, or completely. Adjusting the eating and exercise habits is a real bear, any way you look at it.
As everyone has suggested, just keep trying to improve each day.

[Ian]

Got to put a medical word in here: If you're type 2 diabetic, you should be on a statin, ie: cholesterol lowering drug. If you're not, ask your doctor if you should not be considered for therapy. The evidence is out there: delays vascular disease problems substantially. NCEP guidelines consider diabetes a 'vascular disease equivalent diagnosis' and cholesterol lowering is mandatory.
ACE-I drugs should also be considered for all. Again, vascular protective. For example, enalapril, perindopril, Ramipril etc (generic names).
We're in times of great news for diabetics, in the sense that the complications one always worries about can really be prevented very effectively with modern therapy. Get that LDL down low!!

[paulwl]

Good advice, Ian. I take Lipitor and Altace myself.

[Al Stevens]

Exercise. The most important therapy.

I take insulin now, but started out as a type 2. A couple of years go I had a one-month gig in Zurich. I was taking Glucoflage (or however you spell it), Actos, and a variable mix of N and R insulin, which depended on my levels.

I walked a mile each way to and from the gig each night. In addition my wife and I spent every day being tourists and walking all over the towns in Switzerland. (Small country, great train system.) I monitor my blood sugar level regularly and maintain a reasonable diet, and for the whole month I was doing all that walking I never had to take a shot. Not one. Back home it was back on the needle.

Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.

__________________________________________________ _______
Seen on a cardboard sign being held by a supposedly homeless man.
"Will work for food. Except roofing."

[SAXISMYAXE]

Good advice about the cholesterol. I take medication for the type II diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol. They all go hand in hand and all must be properly addressed to control one's health as much as is possible.

[kevvieg]

I take Lipitor, Glucophage, and 81mg ASA. I haven't been placed on BP meds, but I'm sure that will be an option. My BP was 126/81 so that's not too bad. My cholesterol and triglycerides are all in check. LDL should be less than 2.5 - it's 2.1. I agree about the exercise. I'm making myself go to the gym and it has helped a lot. I want to avoid the insulin thing as long as possible.

For the medical opinion, You are right on to mention the Ace Inhibitors and statins. I've had no side effects and the benefits have been amazing.

[hgrail]

Hi Paul,
Sorry to hear - but now hopefully you'll be feeling better soon

After struggling with hypoglycemia for years and following "nutritionists" advice (and not losing wait or feeling better) I've learned one thing that has really helped.

Purified sugar and enriched flour are basically the same and they are both POISON.

The enriched flour has so little fiber in it it breaks down so fast your body reacts almost as badly as if you had a fudge brownie.

I've also found that sugar, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, sucrose, etc. are in many processed foods that you don't expect to find them in.

The diet adjustment is tricky only until you get used to a routine and learn (through experience) what is good for you and what isn't. Having a good health food store nearby is a big help. Eating whole wheat bread and whole grain pasta is good. Reading the labels and discovering how many "health" foods in the supermarket have some form of suger in them is important (many whole wheat breads have suger added for taste as well).
It can be done. Excersise (as you are finding) makes a big difference too.
Best of luck - it can be done,
John

Oh yeah. For breakfast every day I have one egg, then an hour or so later I have a bown of Musli or something similar with soy milk. My bad cholesterol is back down in normal ranges - but I think that's because I only have red meat once or twice a week now. My "good" cholersterol is still too low - but that is hereditary from what I'm told by my doc.

[asaxman]

Paul, My father-in-law died from a stroke brought on by diabetes. The ONLY thing thing his doctor said,(that I agree with), was: exercize is more important than drugs,which he sadly, did not do. If I was you, I would check out Chinese, and Indian(Aruvada),medicine! Western doctors(drugs, surgery), don't have a clue, IMO. They have been practicing this stuff this stuff for thousands of years, with great results! PS, Adophe Sax had a huge cancerous tumor on his lip,that could not be treated. An Indian doctor, (Dr. Vries), made it disappear! Good luck!

[JimD]

Diabetes isn't something to mess with. Try Chinese and Indian medicine if you want but don't ignore the Western approach, it's one of the great success stories of the last century. I'm type one and have been for 24 years and to be honest I fume everytime I pass a Chinese medical establishment claiming to cure diabetes.

If you are type 2 there is a lot you can do that doesn't have to involve drug therapy and none of it requires a degree in Physics; keep your weight down, control your blood sugar and exercise. I have to do that but still take insulin. If that was all I had to do to stop having 4 injections per day I'd feel liberated. I know quite a few type 2 diabetics who are overweight, don't exercise etc and they all expect my sympathy, sorry, can't give it. I know that's not the case with all type 2s but those I know don't seem to take it seriously enough, maybe having to inject yourself every day brings it home more urgently, or maybe it's just the way people are.

Insulin is a powerful drug and its side-effect, hypoglycaemia, is not something you want to have to experience. I know type 2 drugs can cause hypos as well but I suspect that they aren't generally going to be so extreme. There's nothing quite like having two types of insulin in your system that are not working according to schedule and decide to peak simultaneously. I passed out in the bathroom, had a fit and cracked two ribs during one major hypo, they certainly scare me.

Take care to do what you know you need to. Make exercise part of your routine so that you miss it if you don't do any. Try to make it unnecessary to be put onto insulin and, most of all, try to avoid those complications. My doctor said to me when I was first diagnosed "You're a young diabetic and you can get away with things. Don't, change the way you look after yourself now because young diabetics have an uncanny habit of turning into old diabetics."

Sorry if this is a bit grim but it's as serious as your life.

[carpenter]

Check out your HbA1c from your blood tests or bring your doc this letter, and see how high it is. This value is a great clue as to how well your insulin glucose-clearng regime is working; if not on injectable insulin, then that's even better for you, but keep the number written....A Good old constant diet and exercise will be your saviors here. A1C is an average time frame of over two-three months of how well you've been: 1. Dieting and avoiding poor eating habits, mainly including how your body has been controling free sugar, and, 2:how well insulin had been actually working. When your A1C values start going over six it's time to take action or you are in a war that you will loose for sure. Just be gladly we have lipitors and these other diabetic drugs. Be careful with this killer diet disease...! I'll buy your Mark Six if you can't get your gluose levels under control. Call me Xmas eve and give me the readings and I'll send you a cxheck. Seriously, though, take care of yourself! I to have a glucose/gut/etc problem. sc

[Jolle]

Let's face it, the genetic contribution aside, if those of us who developed Type II had been fitness fanatics to begin with, we very likely would have avoided the onset until much later, or completely. Adjusting the eating and exercise habits is a real bear, any way you look at it.
As everyone has suggested, just keep trying to improve each day.
There is some truth about that. In Europe, Diabetes is not that much of a problem (yet) as in the US. But numbers are rising as children are moving less and drinking more of that coke and fanta stuff, eating more sugars in general, ... Basically, they get fat first and then sick. It's a known story...

[Ian]

Its obvious, asaxman, that western doctors haven't got a clue. They just described diabetes, discovered insulin, elucidated the mechanism of diabetes(relative or absolute insulin deficiency), then sequenced and synthesized synthetic insulin with various biological release mechanisms, and so changed a disease from which Indians and Chinese have been dying for centuries into a chronic manageable condition.
They then formulated the cholesterol hypothesis, described the liver enyme which is the rate limiting step in cholesterol synthesis and the enzyme which facilitates cholesterol uptake from the bowel, synthesized drugs which can block both, with minimal side effect potential, and so achieved reductions in plasma LDL for sick people of about 65%. They then proved that this reduces the five year risk of dying from vascular disease, and overall mortality by about 50% with no downside. Not a damn clue I say. Go sniff some herbs! Being PC is one thing. Downright ignorant and patronising is another! IMO

[Al Stevens]

Right on, Ian. The west also developed the A1C test and home testing devices for blood sugar levels so people could monitor themselves daily and adjust medication, diet and exercise accordingly. My two older brothers were type 1 years before we had all that help. Their regimen was prescribed based on periodic trips to the doctor. Whatever their readings were that day determined what changes they made. They both died in their 50s from the complications of diabetes.

We've come a long way.

[Doctormyeyes]

I'm a doctor and a type II diabetic.

While I've always told my patients that the most important treatment is to get skinny and exercise - get lean and mean- it is worth noting that there is more going on than just poor will power that keeps diabetics craving carbs. While the common wisdom is that people become diabetic because they eat too much, it is also true that people eat too much because they are diabetic. It's a case of which came first, the chicken or the egg. They crave sugar because the sugar is not getting into their cells despite a high level in their blood. Medication can help overcome this. Perhaps this will make you feel a bit less guilty when you binge (of course, none of us ever do.)

One good thing I've noticed is the effect that sax playing has on blood pressure (at least my own, which is treated). I've only been playing sax for a few years. Initially I was afraid that I was literally blowing my brains out. I bought a small automatic blood pressure cuff and was delighted to find that after playing, my blood pressure falls significantly. Clearly, my experience does not equal a controlled study, but it's encouraging.

[Bill Mecca]

I remember when I was diagnosed about 10 years ago the doctor said " I'm gonna tell you to lose wieght, and then give you medicine that is going to make it harder to do that (glyburide)." it has been hard, but its the one disease, if you deal with it properly will make you healthier than most people. Just a 10% reduction in weight will have a significant impact. and you don't need fancy gear or a gym, open the front door and get moving.