new here

[hamrickm]

Just saying hello to everyone. I'm very interested in learn all I can about diabetes. The is a new problem for our family. I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Any help would be great!!

Marla :P

[kclay0840]

I'm new too--just signed up yesterday. My mom has diabetes, so I'm interested in learning all I can. Would love to be more informed for her sake.

[karen1976]

Hi, nice to meet you! There's some good info here on the forum -- and diabetic magazines out there on the market as well (to help with eating etc.) Everyone's really friendly here, so don't be shy to ask if you have any questions.

Myself, I'm a Type 1 on insulin (not the pump... yet) and both my mother and mother-in-law are Type 2. I've only been diagnosed for 5 years or so now -- as overwhelming as it may seem, it is LUCKILY a manageable disease.

Good luck to you both!

[Vytautas]

Hello and welcome to the forums,

well, karen saide prety much all of it You can ask your questions and expect to be answered. I've had had diabetes fo 13 years now, though none of my relatives have it. I'm type 1 and i'm on a pump for over a month now (didn't realy keep track). Diabetes is realy a managable thing.

[kclay0840]

Thanks Karen1976 and Vytautas! My mom would really like to control her diabetes with natural supplements. Is there anything you can recommend?

[karen1976]

Is your mom Type 2? The key is healthy eating and moderate, regular physical activity...

Cinnamon is good for insulin sensitivity as is CLA (it's a good fatty acid, comes in a gelcap... AND it reduces abdominal fat!). I've made both a part of my routine.

Honestly, my advice is to tell her to watch her diet -- specifically her carb & sugar intake. If she is able to maintain a relatively low-carb/high protein diet, she will notice a difference (instead of white bread, choose whole wheat or multigrain, use whole wheat pasta etc too -- your body takes longer to break these down which minimizes large spikes in sugar levels)

One other thing, by eating 6 small meals a day (breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack) you can help moderate highs-and-lows... and by setting a cut-off time for late night eating (ie. 8pm), she'll likely find she wakes up with better levels.

Good luck! Time for me to hit the sack... hopefully this makes sense in the morning. I'm wiped!

[Blair]

Welcome here hamrickm and kclay0840, I hope you will like this forum (and us :blush: )

[kclay0840]

Wow, thanks all!! It's been a couple of days since I've been able to check the forum. I'm chasing after three children most of the time. My mom is type 2. I'll pass along the diet info. She's willing to make sacrifices.

[hamrickm]

I'm with you on the chasing kids thing. I've got 4 myself. I'm learning so much about this diease. Thank you all for your help. I'm just amazed at how many people are dealing with this. My uncle is a type 2 and he is looking for all the info. he can. Has anyone found a good source for getting the cinnamon extract? Do you need to buy that at a health food store?

[Blair]

In the U.S. 2 different types of cinnamon are sold. One is called cinnamomum zeylanicum nees, and the other cinnamomum cassia blume. :P In studies where cinnamon proved beneficial for type-2 diabetes the cassia one was used and that is also the one you will find in most grocery stores in the U.S.