Anne, that's fantastic news! You are a testament to the power of healthy living. Those behaviors are not easy, we all know, surrounded as we are with tons of fun but ultimately unhealthy choices.

That's wonderful news, Anne! I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but my doctor gave me the chance to get it under control with diet and lifestyle, and so far it's working very well. The adjustments that I made for the sugar also make me feel a lot better overall. Just cutting out all the white flour (breads), white pasta (actually I rarely ever eat any pasta anymore, I use spaghetti squash instead now) and lowering my portions of rice, potatoes and sweets have all made an enormous difference. I even lost close to 30lbs in the past year, without much effort really. I just wish I could drum up the discipline to do more exercise.

Anyway, I don't see why diet and lifestyle won't keep the diabetes under control for the rest of your/our lives...if it's working now, why shouldn't it work later?! I'm hoping that as we are able to give our pancreas a break from having to keep up with our insulin needs (ie, when we weren't living as healthfully), it might actually heal itself.

Hey, Anne, your bike is missing some local trips.

So Anne, did your doctor tell you to go on a low glycemic diet?

This means avoiding certain fruits that may natural cause blood sugar spikes. what changes have you made to your diet to control Diabetes 2?

Hi Orchid,

No, she didn't suggest a low glycemic diet. Primarily I have been successful simply by eating a typical healthy diet. You know, one that's a balance of the basic food groups.

For example, I normally eat oatmeal or granola for breakfast, with fruit, a few walnuts and yogurt. Blueberries are a fave or apples. I put cinnamon and nutmeg in the bowl before the oats.

Lunch is really small -- probably a couple of Triscuit or other whole grain crackers, with cheese.

Dinner is nothing unusual. A protein, a couple of veggies, maybe a starch. You know, the usual stuff.

I think the main thing that's helped me is that I was also diagnosed with sleep apnea a few years ago, so I use my sleep mask every night, and now get 7 hours of good quality sleep every night. Which means I am not tired and falling asleep during the day.

Before I started sleeping so well, I was always eating sweets during the day -- mainly hard candies -- to help me stay awake. (Without the sugar, it would be very possible for me to fall asleep during the day, anytime I got a chance to sit quietly for any length of time. This could be a work, at church, or even while driving.)

I always knew, of course, that the "sugar rush" wasn't a good thing. But it was the only thing I knew of that worked. That and copious amounts of coffee...

So now I can even have any sort of dessert I might choose -- as long as the portion sizes are normal.

Over the past 6 months I've had two normal A1C tests, WITHOUT taking the drug I used to take once a day. (Actos)

Well, I might mentioned several years ago, I did have near diabetes 2 blood test results. A sister, a decade younger than I, got diabetes 2 blood test which disturbed her (she's a doctor), modified her diet, jogged, etc. and lost 50 lbs.

She went on a low-glycemic diet..I got the same book which resulted me in cutting out white rice and a lot of breads. I will eat either...maybe 1-2 times per month. If I eat a lot of it, I don't feel well.

Sister has had 2 kids since then and has had to struggle with weight gain --approx. regained 15 lbs. back. She did seriously have to ensure she didn't get gestational diabetes during her pregnancy.

I do eat desserts. I am certain that my lifestyle cycling does help me manage all this.... but I don't consciously think about it. I just love to bike. That's all.

Exercise is clearly a way to fend off Type 2 diabetes, Orchid.

My docs told me for years my blood glucose tests were "high," but never actually put that into any perspective for me. I wish they had. I believe I would have taken action had I totally understood the implications.

As it is, my A1C tests now, again fall into that "high normal" category, and I am sure if I made the dietary changes you've implemented -- and/or increased my exercise, that I could further reduce my number.