CFRD

[megan6195]

ahh well hey guys, i'm actually in the hospital right now and i just got diagnosed with cfrd about 5 days ago. i really don't know how to handle this and my doctors are not being very clear with me. now i was wondering how this goes, cfers are supposed to eat a lot and diabetic people are supposed to watch what they eat and cut down on a lot of the carbs and sugars. how does this work out? i am taking insulin and checking my blood sugar 8 times a day. i get REALLY hungry at night and i don't know what to do! i'm actually starving right now lol but my blood sugar is 250 and i got insulin just now and it's still high,so they wont let me eat anything, am i just going to have to live with being REALLY hungry all the time or what? this is all so new to me and i'm pretty scared. i just really don't want to live if it's going to be like this. i can't stand it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

 

[megan6195]

ahh well hey guys, i'm actually in the hospital right now and i just got diagnosed with cfrd about 5 days ago. i really don't know how to handle this and my doctors are not being very clear with me. now i was wondering how this goes, cfers are supposed to eat a lot and diabetic people are supposed to watch what they eat and cut down on a lot of the carbs and sugars. how does this work out? i am taking insulin and checking my blood sugar 8 times a day. i get REALLY hungry at night and i don't know what to do! i'm actually starving right now lol but my blood sugar is 250 and i got insulin just now and it's still high,so they wont let me eat anything, am i just going to have to live with being REALLY hungry all the time or what? this is all so new to me and i'm pretty scared. i just really don't want to live if it's going to be like this. i can't stand it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

 

[megan6195]

ahh well hey guys, i'm actually in the hospital right now and i just got diagnosed with cfrd about 5 days ago. i really don't know how to handle this and my doctors are not being very clear with me. now i was wondering how this goes, cfers are supposed to eat a lot and diabetic people are supposed to watch what they eat and cut down on a lot of the carbs and sugars. how does this work out? i am taking insulin and checking my blood sugar 8 times a day. i get REALLY hungry at night and i don't know what to do! i'm actually starving right now lol but my blood sugar is 250 and i got insulin just now and it's still high,so they wont let me eat anything, am i just going to have to live with being REALLY hungry all the time or what? this is all so new to me and i'm pretty scared. i just really don't want to live if it's going to be like this. i can't stand it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

 

[Cerulean]

We with CFRD are atypical. We don't follow the normal diabetic diet. We eat whatever we want but account for it with insulin. That being said, you'll have to learn what foods spike your BS up fast, and what foods enter your system over a longer time. Although you can eat both, you should shy away from the first. You'll want to establish control, and spikey fluctuations in your blood sugars wont help matters much. Say bye bye to soda hun

 

[Cerulean]

We with CFRD are atypical. We don't follow the normal diabetic diet. We eat whatever we want but account for it with insulin. That being said, you'll have to learn what foods spike your BS up fast, and what foods enter your system over a longer time. Although you can eat both, you should shy away from the first. You'll want to establish control, and spikey fluctuations in your blood sugars wont help matters much. Say bye bye to soda hun

 

[Cerulean]

We with CFRD are atypical. We don't follow the normal diabetic diet. We eat whatever we want but account for it with insulin. That being said, you'll have to learn what foods spike your BS up fast, and what foods enter your system over a longer time. Although you can eat both, you should shy away from the first. You'll want to establish control, and spikey fluctuations in your blood sugars wont help matters much. Say bye bye to soda hun

 

[tleigh]

take a deep breath. this is something you can handle. although it can be a little "hairy" it is manageable. the tough part is that cfrd is not like regular diabetes. it is actually a combo of type 1 and type 2. i find that my sugars change depending on if i am sick, stressed, even different meds really effect them (especially prednisone).

you may want to read this from the cf foundation (<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/UploadedFiles/LivingWithCF/StayingHealthy/Diet/Diabetes/CFRD-Manual-4th-edition.pdf)">http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...anual-4th-edition.pdf)</a> just as a way to get some info and perspective.

 

[tleigh]

take a deep breath. this is something you can handle. although it can be a little "hairy" it is manageable. the tough part is that cfrd is not like regular diabetes. it is actually a combo of type 1 and type 2. i find that my sugars change depending on if i am sick, stressed, even different meds really effect them (especially prednisone).

you may want to read this from the cf foundation (<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/UploadedFiles/LivingWithCF/StayingHealthy/Diet/Diabetes/CFRD-Manual-4th-edition.pdf)">http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...anual-4th-edition.pdf)</a> just as a way to get some info and perspective.

 

[tleigh]

take a deep breath. this is something you can handle. although it can be a little "hairy" it is manageable. the tough part is that cfrd is not like regular diabetes. it is actually a combo of type 1 and type 2. i find that my sugars change depending on if i am sick, stressed, even different meds really effect them (especially prednisone).
<br />
<br />you may want to read this from the cf foundation (<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/UploadedFiles/LivingWithCF/StayingHealthy/Diet/Diabetes/CFRD-Manual-4th-edition.pdf)">http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...anual-4th-edition.pdf)</a> just as a way to get some info and perspective.

 

[PedsNP2007]

Actually I was told that there was no food that was forbidden. If I want sugared cereals or sodas, then we do insulin to meet the needs. Restricting food now can actually cause weight loss.

Last year, I was put on a carb restricted meal plan to see how my sugars were... It wasn't so restricted, but it was under 200 grams of carb/day. I actually lost 10 lbs which was not the goal. Thankfully, my CF dr caught that and liberalized my meal plan and said we'd use insulin all the time in order to allow freedom to eat whatever and maintain/gain weight.

This year, I am pregnant and having fluctuations with blood sugars. I initially have been restricting carbs per endocrine. However, being almost 15 weeks with no true weight gain, my CF dr is concerned. The endocrinologist now is concerned too and my diet is completely free and I have insulin to use.

I haven't used insulin yet although there are several times that I know I can use it (I spike over 200 when I eat thai food, which lately is 3x a week d/t preg cravings).

I recommend journaling on your food intake and glucose levels. I check my levels at least 8 times a day. I write down EVERY thing I eat, even if I am unsure of the carb, fat, protein intake. My CF nutritionist wants my journal entries so she can figure out what caloric intake I am taking and my endocrinologist will look and see where I might need to start adding insulin.

It's tedious work, but it is very helpful for me to see what foods cause me to spike, how I feel before/after eating, and where I need to start increasing calories.

Good luck... it's not something I wish I have... I would rather my pancreas fail completely so I would be more consistent with blood sugars and know that insulin is required without worrying about my pancreas deciding to work sometimes and not other times. Highs and lows are rather annoying.

Jenn
32 yo with cf and cfrd
Almost 15 wks along with a little miracle <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[PedsNP2007]

Actually I was told that there was no food that was forbidden. If I want sugared cereals or sodas, then we do insulin to meet the needs. Restricting food now can actually cause weight loss.

Last year, I was put on a carb restricted meal plan to see how my sugars were... It wasn't so restricted, but it was under 200 grams of carb/day. I actually lost 10 lbs which was not the goal. Thankfully, my CF dr caught that and liberalized my meal plan and said we'd use insulin all the time in order to allow freedom to eat whatever and maintain/gain weight.

This year, I am pregnant and having fluctuations with blood sugars. I initially have been restricting carbs per endocrine. However, being almost 15 weeks with no true weight gain, my CF dr is concerned. The endocrinologist now is concerned too and my diet is completely free and I have insulin to use.

I haven't used insulin yet although there are several times that I know I can use it (I spike over 200 when I eat thai food, which lately is 3x a week d/t preg cravings).

I recommend journaling on your food intake and glucose levels. I check my levels at least 8 times a day. I write down EVERY thing I eat, even if I am unsure of the carb, fat, protein intake. My CF nutritionist wants my journal entries so she can figure out what caloric intake I am taking and my endocrinologist will look and see where I might need to start adding insulin.

It's tedious work, but it is very helpful for me to see what foods cause me to spike, how I feel before/after eating, and where I need to start increasing calories.

Good luck... it's not something I wish I have... I would rather my pancreas fail completely so I would be more consistent with blood sugars and know that insulin is required without worrying about my pancreas deciding to work sometimes and not other times. Highs and lows are rather annoying.

Jenn
32 yo with cf and cfrd
Almost 15 wks along with a little miracle <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[PedsNP2007]

Actually I was told that there was no food that was forbidden. If I want sugared cereals or sodas, then we do insulin to meet the needs. Restricting food now can actually cause weight loss.
<br />
<br />Last year, I was put on a carb restricted meal plan to see how my sugars were... It wasn't so restricted, but it was under 200 grams of carb/day. I actually lost 10 lbs which was not the goal. Thankfully, my CF dr caught that and liberalized my meal plan and said we'd use insulin all the time in order to allow freedom to eat whatever and maintain/gain weight.
<br />
<br />This year, I am pregnant and having fluctuations with blood sugars. I initially have been restricting carbs per endocrine. However, being almost 15 weeks with no true weight gain, my CF dr is concerned. The endocrinologist now is concerned too and my diet is completely free and I have insulin to use.
<br />
<br />I haven't used insulin yet although there are several times that I know I can use it (I spike over 200 when I eat thai food, which lately is 3x a week d/t preg cravings).
<br />
<br />I recommend journaling on your food intake and glucose levels. I check my levels at least 8 times a day. I write down EVERY thing I eat, even if I am unsure of the carb, fat, protein intake. My CF nutritionist wants my journal entries so she can figure out what caloric intake I am taking and my endocrinologist will look and see where I might need to start adding insulin.
<br />
<br />It's tedious work, but it is very helpful for me to see what foods cause me to spike, how I feel before/after eating, and where I need to start increasing calories.
<br />
<br />Good luck... it's not something I wish I have... I would rather my pancreas fail completely so I would be more consistent with blood sugars and know that insulin is required without worrying about my pancreas deciding to work sometimes and not other times. Highs and lows are rather annoying.
<br />
<br />Jenn
<br />32 yo with cf and cfrd
<br />Almost 15 wks along with a little miracle <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[ej0820]

Try to be calm...when I was first thought to have CFRD, I freaked out. I cried and cried, thought life was pretty much over. Then, they told me my sugars were normal again, and I didn't have to worry about CFRD. A year later, the same thing happened, but this time it was definite. CFRD was my new issue. Since I already went through the shock of having it, I was ok and just tried my best at learning how to deal with it...and it's not as hard as you think.

My dietician, endocrinologist, and CF doctor all told me that even though I was now diabetic, the last thing they wanted me to do was cut down on certain foods-especially if they're among my favorites. My dietician was even a little apprehensive when I started drinking diet sodas instead of sticking with regular, but I figured it was a better choice for my teeth if anything-plus I think diet tastes better now. CFRD is not like "normal" diabetes. Sure it's a good idea to keep an eye on what you eat now, but once you learn how your blood sugar responds to certain foods, it'll be a piece of cake (ha!) to cover whatever you want to eat or drink with insulin.

Once you get used to using insulin and learn your body's response to your CFRD, I would highly recommend looking into an insulin pump. You fill the pump with insulin and insert it into a site where it will stick for 2-3 days (it's a poke every 2-3 days as opposed to a poke 6-7 times a day). The insulin pump will dose insulin levels every hour, much like your pancreas. When it's time to eat, you tell your pump how many carbs you're eating, and it will do everything else for you. It's as simple as that. To me, my insulin pump makes it even easier to eat whatever the heck I want. It's extremely easy to use, too. If you can work a cell phone, you can work an insulin pump. I've had CFRD for 4 years and I've had my pump for 3.

You will be ok. It's not as scary as you think it is, and it's totally manageable! It just takes some adjusting at first. If you have other questions or want to talk, feel free to PM me!

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[ej0820]

Try to be calm...when I was first thought to have CFRD, I freaked out. I cried and cried, thought life was pretty much over. Then, they told me my sugars were normal again, and I didn't have to worry about CFRD. A year later, the same thing happened, but this time it was definite. CFRD was my new issue. Since I already went through the shock of having it, I was ok and just tried my best at learning how to deal with it...and it's not as hard as you think.

My dietician, endocrinologist, and CF doctor all told me that even though I was now diabetic, the last thing they wanted me to do was cut down on certain foods-especially if they're among my favorites. My dietician was even a little apprehensive when I started drinking diet sodas instead of sticking with regular, but I figured it was a better choice for my teeth if anything-plus I think diet tastes better now. CFRD is not like "normal" diabetes. Sure it's a good idea to keep an eye on what you eat now, but once you learn how your blood sugar responds to certain foods, it'll be a piece of cake (ha!) to cover whatever you want to eat or drink with insulin.

Once you get used to using insulin and learn your body's response to your CFRD, I would highly recommend looking into an insulin pump. You fill the pump with insulin and insert it into a site where it will stick for 2-3 days (it's a poke every 2-3 days as opposed to a poke 6-7 times a day). The insulin pump will dose insulin levels every hour, much like your pancreas. When it's time to eat, you tell your pump how many carbs you're eating, and it will do everything else for you. It's as simple as that. To me, my insulin pump makes it even easier to eat whatever the heck I want. It's extremely easy to use, too. If you can work a cell phone, you can work an insulin pump. I've had CFRD for 4 years and I've had my pump for 3.

You will be ok. It's not as scary as you think it is, and it's totally manageable! It just takes some adjusting at first. If you have other questions or want to talk, feel free to PM me!

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[ej0820]

Try to be calm...when I was first thought to have CFRD, I freaked out. I cried and cried, thought life was pretty much over. Then, they told me my sugars were normal again, and I didn't have to worry about CFRD. A year later, the same thing happened, but this time it was definite. CFRD was my new issue. Since I already went through the shock of having it, I was ok and just tried my best at learning how to deal with it...and it's not as hard as you think.
<br />
<br />My dietician, endocrinologist, and CF doctor all told me that even though I was now diabetic, the last thing they wanted me to do was cut down on certain foods-especially if they're among my favorites. My dietician was even a little apprehensive when I started drinking diet sodas instead of sticking with regular, but I figured it was a better choice for my teeth if anything-plus I think diet tastes better now. CFRD is not like "normal" diabetes. Sure it's a good idea to keep an eye on what you eat now, but once you learn how your blood sugar responds to certain foods, it'll be a piece of cake (ha!) to cover whatever you want to eat or drink with insulin.
<br />
<br />Once you get used to using insulin and learn your body's response to your CFRD, I would highly recommend looking into an insulin pump. You fill the pump with insulin and insert it into a site where it will stick for 2-3 days (it's a poke every 2-3 days as opposed to a poke 6-7 times a day). The insulin pump will dose insulin levels every hour, much like your pancreas. When it's time to eat, you tell your pump how many carbs you're eating, and it will do everything else for you. It's as simple as that. To me, my insulin pump makes it even easier to eat whatever the heck I want. It's extremely easy to use, too. If you can work a cell phone, you can work an insulin pump. I've had CFRD for 4 years and I've had my pump for 3.
<br />
<br />You will be ok. It's not as scary as you think it is, and it's totally manageable! It just takes some adjusting at first. If you have other questions or want to talk, feel free to PM me!
<br />
<br />Hope you feel better soon!

 

[RitaLSonnenberg]

Eat whatever you want, just compensate with insulin. Some of my coworkers were like, "oh you can't eat candy or cookies" I corrected them right away... .YES I CAN!! I don't restrict what I eat. I just shoot up on insullin, but not too much cuz the lows are awful!!. Good luck!!

 

[RitaLSonnenberg]

Eat whatever you want, just compensate with insulin. Some of my coworkers were like, "oh you can't eat candy or cookies" I corrected them right away... .YES I CAN!! I don't restrict what I eat. I just shoot up on insullin, but not too much cuz the lows are awful!!. Good luck!!

 

[RitaLSonnenberg]

Eat whatever you want, just compensate with insulin. Some of my coworkers were like, "oh you can't eat candy or cookies" I corrected them right away... .YES I CAN!! I don't restrict what I eat. I just shoot up on insullin, but not too much cuz the lows are awful!!. Good luck!!

 

[megan6195]

thank you guys all SO much!! now i am not so upset about it after reading these. i talked to my doctor about this and how people who actually have CFRD told me that it's fine if you just compensate for whatever you eat with insulin. and they agreed and said sorry for not explaining it to me like they should have <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> luckily i'm not at the point where i have to give myself insulin with every meal so if i get to that point i will definitely look into the insulin pump (i looked it up on Google and it seemed like a great thing) if it gets to that point because my docs said that it would be too soon to get one. so again, thank you so much RitaLSonnenberg, ej0820, PedsNP2007, tleigh, and cerulean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[megan6195]

thank you guys all SO much!! now i am not so upset about it after reading these. i talked to my doctor about this and how people who actually have CFRD told me that it's fine if you just compensate for whatever you eat with insulin. and they agreed and said sorry for not explaining it to me like they should have <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> luckily i'm not at the point where i have to give myself insulin with every meal so if i get to that point i will definitely look into the insulin pump (i looked it up on Google and it seemed like a great thing) if it gets to that point because my docs said that it would be too soon to get one. so again, thank you so much RitaLSonnenberg, ej0820, PedsNP2007, tleigh, and cerulean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!