# So yeah I got the diabetus **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 18, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588 "2014-12-18T17:35:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/1 "2014-12-18T17:35:05Z")
And how was YOUR day? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/2 "2014-12-18T17:38:50Z")
So treat it for life and have a long life. Granted its not good news but I’ve heard worse things here. And from what I’ve read of your posts, you can handle it. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/3 "2014-12-18T17:39:39Z")
Better than yours, clearly.☹ ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/4 "2014-12-18T17:44:12Z")
Online researching dietary stuff. After having spent almost $100 on groceries I now have to mostly throw away. I’m a juice fanatic, so . . . ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/5 "2014-12-18T18:08:31Z")
My spouse said changing his eating habits was the hardest part of the getting diabetes. In his case, it wasn’t _what_ he ate but _how_ he ate it: most of his adult life he ate one meal a day. He can’t do that anymore, he has to eat smaller amounts more frequently. On the upside, spouse lost some weight, followed doctor’s orders, and is now doing well and maintaining his health. Life isn’t perfect, but the problem is manageable. Good luck - I know there’s a lot to learn at first. I hope you settle into a useful routine for your condition soon. Stay healthy! ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/6 "2014-12-18T18:17:52Z")
Thanks, trying. Oddly difficult question to research: how much oatmeal can I eat for breakfast? A huge bowl of oatmeal is my usual morning routine. I know there’ll be no more brown sugar, but how much milk? how much oatmeal? I mean, as I understand it, I pretty much have to eat Atkins for the rest of my life. (A huge oversimplification of course.) But really? No oatmeal?? So the research continues. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/7 "2014-12-18T18:18:45Z")
Welcome to the club. Or, I should say, sorry to have another member. Here’s hoping you can manage it with diet and exercise, or at most with oral medication. I hope you don’t have to become dependent on insulin injections. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/8 "2014-12-18T18:20:28Z")
I’m currently so poor that I’m on Medicaid. They only cover insulin. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/9 "2014-12-18T18:22:11Z")
Just do what you have to do to keep things under control. My dad did not and his last years were far more miserable than they had to be, as a result. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/10 "2014-12-18T19:07:33Z")
So I just did my first insulin injection. The test stip put me at 316. I need to research some context for that. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/11 "2014-12-18T20:17:39Z")
Quick search says one cup of cooked oatmeal is about 27 grams of carbs, so if you’re used to a huge bowl, that’s probably more like 40-45 grams at least. If you’re supposed to be sticking to 2 carb servings for breakfast, oatmeal is probably not a great thing. Also, skip the raisins… My breakfast is usually half a bell pepper, a roma tomato and two eggs in a scramble. If you’re not keen on the Atkins diet, look up the Mediterranean diet. Mostly vegetables, some meat, some fruit, some pasta, kind of like a cheaper Paleo with pasta once or twice a week. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/12 "2014-12-18T20:29:03Z")
Most likely you _can_ still have your bowl of oatmeal, including brown sugar, but _ **you will have a much, much smaller portion of it** _. And you will need to account for all the sugars, carbs, and calories in your diet plan. So, the question becomes - do you prefer a very small bowl of oatmeal just the way you like it, or would it be easier to give up oatmeal entirely? Rinse and repeat for most other things you eat. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/13 "2014-12-18T21:17:55Z")
When I received the news that I had a borderline A1c, I changed my outlook. You can’t think, “I have to change my diet.” You have to change your life. It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. I was on Metformin for 5 years. I lost 60 lbs and came off all diabetes meds. I’m still fat, but, my A1c is still normal. I still need to lose about 100lbs. I’m not working on it as hard as I’d like or can do. My husband only needs to lose 20 lbs by next November, so he buys BAD food. If BAD food is in the house, I have a lot of trouble resisting. Good luck. You can do anything you set your mind to. I know you’re strong and smart. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-yeah-i-got-the-diabetus/707588/14 "2014-12-18T23:28:47Z")
Moved to IMHO, home of threads of dietary and medical advice. (from MPSIMS)