How To Fight Afternoon Fatigue

I'm going to guess you're not of the female persuation.

Whyever not?

Hi AP1,

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I especially will look into the Vanadium topic. I hadn't been aware of that.

Regarding being more health-minded, I am sorry if I mislead you. I am very concerned and mindful of my overall health. I get blood work done 4 times a year, and thorough eye exams twice a year. I have been aware of too many who, by their denial of this disease, died an early and miserable death, literally losing body parts, eyesight, and kidney function. My A1C has been regularly between 6 and 7, so I can't complain too much. I check my BG frequently, and track the trends. When I see a trend going in a wrong direction, I begin checking BG 4 times a day, and I know it is time to re-evaluate what I am eating or drinking, find the culprit, and make changes. (case in point ... for several years, I enjoyed pasta carbonara, but a couple of years ago that began to affect my BG, so I took that off the list. this scenario has repeated several times in the past, discovering that something that was 'okay' for me, suddenly became 'not okay'). Also, as I said in my former post, I have discovered that no two of 'us' seem to be alike. I have one friend who was diagnosed about the same time as I, and was immediately put on insulin. I have another friend, who struggles greatly with keeping balance, and now takes 3 or 4 meds plus insulin just to stay close to on-track.

For me, and from what I see most often in others I know, (1) diabetes is the easiest disease to deny -- no or few symptoms until there is real trouble; (2) diabetes is hugely misunderstood by the medical profession at large -- you would be amazed at what I was told to do when I was first diagnosed; (3) diabetes is a systemic disease that can and does affect all part of the body; (4) 'miracle cures' abound, but there is nothing like diet and exercise to combat the disease -- fortunately, with nutritional labeling, this is one of the easiest control; and (5) the ADA is a wealth of information, but it, too, changes frequently as more discoveries are made -- for instance, type II is no longer referred to as "non-insulin dependent", and now insulin is frequently prescribed to combat the disease. And, now I have one more bit of research to do, thanks to you.

For me, diabetes is not a struggle, but simply a choice day by day to do my best to balance and keep educated.

Kind regards ...

Excellent! Sounds like you are probably doing better than me at controlling the beast. I am not in denial so much as more apathetic than one should be. I have used insulin off and on over the years, but much preferred to make efforts to not need it. I never took the medications. My doctor, at the time of my diagnosis, (1992) was an advocate of preventive medicine long before it was in vogue. When he first said he thought I would need insulin I couldn't stand the thought that I would need to "inject" myself daily and I begged for using medications rather than the insulin. He shook his head and said, "No. There is a higher incidence of heart disease associated with the oral medications." I have a friend who is diabetic and I think he is on one of the "older" medications that my doctor was concerned about. Maybe there are newer medications, but my friend is not on one that I know of. Diabetes is a very insidious disease... not than any disease is preferable.

I would not be surprised at all by what you were told to do when first diagnosed. I hate to generalize, but the medical profession is narrow-minded more often than it should be regarding treatment protocols. I don't think it is malicious, but as one example, ulcers were just accepted as being caused by excess acid for many years until it was shown that a bacteria was responsible for many cases. "Accepted" wisdom is natural in all fields of knowledge. It is a conscious reaction to the degree that when it is challenged, too often, the dissenting view or opinion is dismissed as absurd or even rubbish, just "because." In addition, I don't think the ADA has accepted the validity of the Glycemic Index yet. But it certainly appeals to common sense (and food marketers!).

From the reading I've done (and it is still lacking -- I've had a couple of books about out of the library for 2-3 months without reading them -- a good demonstration of my apathy). Vanadium is helpful, but, apparently, mostly with fasting BG levels. And even then, only around a 20% reduction. There is also some conflicting evidence -- at least from some earlier research. I've been taking it, but apparently in doses too small to have a real effect (from one online commentary by an MD). I don't know of any real miracle cures. You are correct. Diet and exercise are the best 1-2 punch in controlling BG. And even further, making a larger percentage of one's diet "raw" in the vegetable category, and limiting or eliminating processed foods is likely a smart choice.

As you say, the disease is a, relatively, silent killer, in that it is easy to deny it. And it does progress if not addressed. It may even progress despite one's best efforts. The C-peptide test to help indicate how much insulin your pancreas is producing is expensive, but helpful, too. I haven't had one for several years now. As you are well aware, Type II is commonly called "insulin resistant" diabetes, where it isn't a lack of insulin in the body but the fact that cells become "deaf" to receiving glucose via the normal process.

And I really agree with you about the individuality of disease in general. While our systems generally work the same, from person to person, the devil is in the details. One person may need much more of one nutrient, for instance, than another person does. While many would scoff at such a statement, the example of your friend's non-response to what works for some is proof of that perspective. All these variables are probably traceable to DNA expression. But I hesitate to expect that that is where the ultimate solution lies in curing disease. Most bodily processes are homeostatic and are also interrelated. Try to stabilize one system out of control and you may likely affect another one that is linked in some way we don't even understand. In short, there is no cure for death on the horizon. At best we can only hope to minimize discomfort.

Best of luck in the future of keeping your health under control!