Just diagnosed

[Synove]

I was just diagnosed with diabetes but do not want to go on drugs.  My doctor wants me to see a Endocrinologist but all that the Endocrinologist will do is prescribe medication.  What other options do I have?

[Diabetic_Reality]

This won't make you feel much better either - but diet and excercise may keep off the worse complications for awhile.  But not forever.  You'll need the insulin sensitizer pills (which, compared to giving yourself insulin injections, is not the end of the world).

Most Type 2's I know developed Type 1 over a period of time as they got older.  Keep that in mind.

Type 2, although more common than Type 1, is also the hardest to keep under control and if left untreated or haphazzardly treated - also results in the most Kidney, Retinal, and Heart disease complications.

For many Type 2's - if they are obese, excercise and diet reduces the insulin insensitivity to the point where - in many cases but not all - you can get along with diet and exercise for a long time.  The catch - you must stick to the diet and exercise regiment.  It's not like an Atkins diet fad you go on or off.

Another thing to keep in mind - diet and exercise and insulin sensitizers will not make it go away.  You go off your diet and exercise regiment or "relax" and get casual about it - it will come back.  Sometimes with very nasty results.

[Synove]

thanks for your reply.  

I was diangosed w/ type 2 because first I was Insulin Resistant because I have PCOS.  I'm only 22 and I just don't really want to live the rest of my life taking medication every single day.

I'll think about seeing that Endo but I would much rather work on this w/ diet and exercise then meds anyday.  

Thanks

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Synove,
A diagnosis of diabetes can be frightening. What I'm about to write may not make you "feel better," but I offer the info knowing that -- utlimately, each of us diabetics needs to come to grips with reality. Doing so, we can lead a richly full life.

You don't mention if you were diagnosed as Type 1 or Type 2.

Type 1 diabetics require insulin or we will die. It's that simple.

Some Type 2 diabetics can manage their disease with lifestyle changes that normally include regular excercise and a major change in diet that leads to sustained weight loss. For many Type 2s, it is simply impossible to manage without meds.

Without meds, Type 2s who need it, begin to suffer increasingly difficult complications that will, inevtiably, also lead to death.

I'm not a physician and strongly encourage you to see that Endo. He will likely prescribe meds and that will be key to your health.I would also encourage you to consider working with a Certified Diabetes Educator who helps us tailor our meds/routine to the lifestyle we want. Finally, manuy of us diabetics find comfort and strength working with a therapist and/or a counselor. Diabetes, like all chronic diseases, can take a giant emotional toll. We can learn to work thru those issues, and Synove, you can too.

Take good care of you and do check back to let us know how you're doing, okay?

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Synove,
A diagnosis of diabetes can be frightening.  What I'm about to write may not make you "feel better," but I offer the info knowing that -- utlimately, each of us diabetics needs to come to grips with reality.  Doing so, we can lead a richly full life.

You don't mention if you were diagnosed as Type 1 or Type 2.

Type 1 diabetics require insulin or we will die.  It's that simple.

Some Type 2 diabetics can manage their disease with lifestyle changes that normally include regular excercise and a major change in diet that leads to sustained weight loss.  For many Type 2s, it is simply impossible to manage without meds.

Without meds, Type 2s who need it, begin to suffer increasingly difficult complications that will, inevtiably, also lead to death.

I'm not a physician and strongly encourage you to see that Endo.  He will likely prescribe meds and that will be key to your health.I would also encourage you to consider working with a Certified Diabetes Educator who helps us tailor our meds/routine to the lifestyle we want.  Finally, manuy of us diabetics find comfort and strength working with a therapist and/or a counselor.  Diabetes, like all chronic diseases, can take a giant emotional toll.  We can learn to work thru those issues, and Synove, you can too.

Take good care of you and do check back to let us know how you're doing, okay?