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greg3564 · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 1268 Location: Leander, TX

[quote="headborg"]The only advise you're calling "reckless" is not disclosing that medical condition to a "shade tree" MD that signs a Medical certificate-- or doesn't-
and costs a Type-2 diabetic a potential JOB, causes said driver to lose a job, or be disqualified for 3 months. And having to re-certify every 3months at $50-$80 a pop.quote]

So you are suggesting he lie on the DOT form.

Maybe a couple months down the road he may lose conciousness and kill someone. At that time the police start digging and discover that he had a diagnosis. He then falsified his DOT medical. Now, he will probably go to jail.

Not to mention if a employer does catch on to him down the road, they will fire him for falsifying his DOT and report him to his state's DMV and he will get a license suspension.

Original poster, do you father a favor and tell him to NOT hide this. Sooner or later it will catch up to him. He needs to see a dietician and a doctor(preferably an endocrinologist) and get this under control BEFORE he starts driving an 80,000 pound vehicle down the highway.

headborg · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 1194

@ Greg

Original poster can't HIDE it--- he already failed the medical test--- A copy of it will find it's way to his home state, and THIS current employer now KNOWS.

and if he is Type-2----he's probably already been driving a 80,000lb rig just fine down the road for several years.

headborg · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 1194

vagueboy wrote: My dad went in for his physical for a new company and failed. They diagnosed him with diabetes. Now he's on the pills and could use some help from others in a similar situation on maintaining his glucose levels.

Questions:
Will they test him randomly?

Does he need to get out and do some exercises? Recommended routine?

Where and what to eat and not to eat etc..? Snacking recommendations?

Anything you can think of that isn't here?

Thanks a lot everyone for your help, it's really appreciated.
vB

Thought I'd come back to the original post again.

"They diagnosed him with diabetes"---not the med clinic doing the DOT physical.
Only a "real" doctor can "diagnose" diabetes- and it takes more blood tests than just that urine test. But since he's now on pills-- I say he's seen a doctor--and that's good.

"Now he's on the pills"-- what kind of pills? as long as it's not oral insulin---
then this discussion is still Type-2 Diabetes.

Will they test him randomly?-----if you consider having to re-certify frequently as random testing--Yes, But he needs to be testing himself daily with a meter.

Does he need to get out and do some exercises? Recommended routine?

Try to park as far away as possible back row of truck stop and walk-maybe even get some weights and ware them. If the company will do it for him--remove the jump seat-put in a exercise bike----and pedal off the pounds. I'd bet good money-- if he's type-2 he's also overweight.

Bally Total Fitness has clubs across the US. If he get's unloaded and has a layover or 34restart. He should go to the Gym.

http://bally.know-where.com/BallyFitness2/

"Where and what to eat and not to eat etc..? Snacking recommendations?"

meats & veggies are ok

got to cut the carbs & sugars out;

no sugar in anything---they make a diabetic sugar substute.

no breads, no pasta, no processed foods--- these are loaded with refined processed flour and other starch and crap.
if he has to have bread--whole wheat, whole grain or tortilla ---takes longer to break down.(slow release)

no potatoes-too much starch.

portion control is very important---no more all-you-can eat meals.

no more than a hand full of anything....and instead of 3 meals a day--- 5 spaced out (snacks)

take your meds; monitor your glucose levels--- and try to reduce stress.

Uturn2001 · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:08 am Post subject:

Quote: got to cut the carbs & sugars out;

Wrong. Diabetics need to moderate these (which as far as the body is concerned is the same thing). Try to go carbless, or reduce too much and controlling blood sugar is as hard as getting too much. A diabetic person should consume about 5 carb units per meal, based on a 3 meal a day diet plan. A carb unit is 15 grams of carbs. If a person chooses to do a diet plan that includes snacks, or a 4 or 5 a day meal plan then the total daily carbs should be divided out evenly among how many times per day that person eats.

Quote: no breads, no pasta, no processed foods--- these are loaded with refined processed flour and other starch and crap.
if he has to have bread--whole wheat, whole grain or tortilla ---takes longer to break down.(slow release)

Whole grain breads and pastas are better, but not really for the reasons stated. Whole grain foods are more "heart" healthy and usually lower in cholesterol/fat than highly processed grain foods. High cholesterol and coronary problems often go hand in hand with diabetes.

Quote: no potatoes-too much starch.

See the first thing in this reply.

Quote: portion control is very important---no more all-you-can eat meals.

VERY TRUE

Quote: no more than a hand full of anything....and instead of 3 meals a day--- 5 spaced out (snacks)

Maybe yes, maybe no. For some people eating 3 meals a day works best, for others 4 to 5 meals or 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks a day work best. Either way you want to maintain the same amount of calories, carbs, and fats. You need to figure out which way works best for you.

============================================
Headborg, much of your suggestions are based on 20+ year old diabetic guidelines. In the last few years however research has shown that many of those actually make steady blood sugar control more difficult if not impossible. Sadly there are also still doctors and dietitians out there who have not gotten the message.

I have been a diabetic for the last 8 years, and have went through a lot of rough times with this. The above guidelines I have posted have been adopted by the American diabetes Association as a result of several studies conducted by various groups including the Mayo Clinic, which is where I learned of this.

headborg · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 1194

hmmm, so I & my Dad (diabetic too) need to Fire our doctors get new ones?
(second opinion)

Easy for me, but Dad uses the VA. Harder for him to fire those quacks.

And I need to throw away this American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes Fourth Edition?
hmm, it was published 2006.

How's your A1C today? btw?

you're probably right-- my doctor is a old geezer. And when I was- lowering my sugar level the first time(with diet alone) I was noticing that the more I
tried to avoid all those things( that I was suppose to-by doctor's advice) the next morning --no noticable real reductions...

but then when I say "frack this" and went inside the Petro and had steak and big baked potatoe and Garlic Bread-- or even cheat with pasta----the
next morning---I had low readings---
but anyway, I did lose about 20 pounds in 3-4 weeks.

bigdaddyjollyrob · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 91 Location: RHODE ISLAND

Diabetics need to eat 6 small meals a day,exercise and take care of their feet. Know your numbers: lower your a1c and check your blood sugar levels. He needs to find the right balance of food that his body utilizes and doesnt spill glucose into his urine.Exercise will help burn off excess glucose. Medication: He is most likely on metformin(glucaphage) and as long as he takes his meds, eats 6 small meals and see's the doctor he can get a 1yr med card. At first the doc is going to want to see him every 3-6mo until he gets control and starts lowering his a1c. I know because I have type 2 and get a 1yr med card. I do qualify for a 2yr card but stay at 1yr so I keep in contact with the doc and know my numbers. We've gone over the plan for when I get hired for Otr,Regional or Local. Best Of Luck
Diabetics can eat sugar,they just cant go overboard.

geeshock · Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 350 Location: Hertford, NC

headborg wrote: mapleleaf_1 wrote: HaHaHa, eat at the same time of day. Good one Uturn. You know how difficult that is when you're on the road. For me it is anyways, but I try my best.
I just finished reading an article in the Yahoo news about stomach banding. In the article it says that gastric bypasses are more common in the States, but in Australia people who are obese and therefore get diabetes have had this stomach banding and have in many cases reversed the diabetes completely, blood sugars returning to normal. Interesting I thought.

MY wife just told me she saw this very thing on the news! But NO way---people also Die due to complications of that surgery. I would never resort to that---then again I'm only 185-195lbs depending on the last Buffet I just consumed. My ideal body weight is a mere 150lbs--- so I just need to stay away from the Milk and Bag of Cookies at Bedtime.
No, I've been able to get my blood sugar down and under control before--it's keeping it down/under control that's hard to do with diet alone.

Small portions---5 meals(snacks) a day----not 1 or 2 binge meals---this causes Spikes in the sugar level.

ppl talk about stomach banding but I think the best bet if you aretruly trying to lose wieght is portion control. If you have problems determining what a portion is mabe nutrasystem is what you need. I've used it this last month and so far all is going well and I am looseing weight. No need for a fridge and you have to buy the sides but they do have a program for diabetics. One plus is it's real food, and the other is I'd never get this kind of variety in a truckstop dinner. OK, enough of advertisement, whatever you choose, portion control and keeping your sugar level in the norms is the most important. hope this helps somewhat.

headborg · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 1194

bigdaddyjollyrob wrote: Diabetics need to eat 6 small meals a day,exercise and take care of their feet. Know your numbers: lower your a1c and check your blood sugar levels. He needs to find the right balance of food that his body utilizes and doesnt spill glucose into his urine.Exercise will help burn off excess glucose. Medication: He is most likely on metformin(glucaphage) and as long as he takes his meds, eats 6 small meals and see's the doctor he can get a 1yr med card. At first the doc is going to want to see him every 3-6mo until he gets control and starts lowering his a1c. I know because I have type 2 and get a 1yr med card. I do qualify for a 2yr card but stay at 1yr so I keep in contact with the doc and know my numbers. We've gone over the plan for when I get hired for Otr,Regional or Local. Best Of Luck
Diabetics can eat sugar,they just cant go overboard.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET

glad you mentioned that bigdaddy! we all forgot/missed bringing this up---
very important---
my Uncle died from "complications" due to Diabetes---but not till after he went blind and they started chopping off a foot, then his leg, then the other
leg.....take care of your feet!

bigdaddyjollyrob · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 91 Location: RHODE ISLAND

headborg wrote: bigdaddyjollyrob wrote: Diabetics need to eat 6 small meals a day,exercise and take care of their feet. Know your numbers: lower your a1c and check your blood sugar levels. He needs to find the right balance of food that his body utilizes and doesnt spill glucose into his urine.Exercise will help burn off excess glucose. Medication: He is most likely on metformin(glucaphage) and as long as he takes his meds, eats 6 small meals and see's the doctor he can get a 1yr med card. At first the doc is going to want to see him every 3-6mo until he gets control and starts lowering his a1c. I know because I have type 2 and get a 1yr med card. I do qualify for a 2yr card but stay at 1yr so I keep in contact with the doc and know my numbers. We've gone over the plan for when I get hired for Otr,Regional or Local. Best Of Luck
Diabetics can eat sugar,they just cant go overboard.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET

glad you mentioned that bigdaddy! we all forgot/missed bringing this up---
very important---
my Uncle died from "complications" due to Diabetes---but not till after he went blind and they started chopping off a foot, then his leg, then the other
leg.....take care of your feet!
Thanks, Its tough being a diabetic, the weight comes off slower. Take care best of luck to all Diabetics and those looking for a health New Year.

century451 · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Sparta, MO

All very good advice but you need to realize that each individual is different in what they eat and how often and what the proper sugar level is for them. Not only take care of your feet but have regular checkups for your eyes. Diabetes complications can be detected early through eye examinations.

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