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• April 15, 2010 1:07 p.m.

  Have been fortunate enought to control my diabetes through eating raw and vegan, as well as exercise. Got some great tips from this MayoClinic site, as well as some others such as Raw-Food-Repair.com

  - Bonnie

• April 12, 2010 9:02 p.m.

  I am a Beekeeper in N. Texas and have a large customer base for my Raw Honey to help keep their allergies under control. A number of them are Diabetics, and I always tell them to get the use of the honey approved by their doctor. But it seems most doctors and dietitians do not have a clue as how to answer. I contacted American Diabetes Asso. and they said to check with the doctors or dietitions. I want to be a responsible Beekeeper and help my customers. How can I get some valid answers? Thanks so much.

  - HoneyGuy

• April 12, 2010 7:44 p.m.

  I am a Beekeeper in N. Texas and have a large customer base for my Raw Honey to help keep their allergies under control. A number of them are Diabetics, and I always tell them to get the use of the honey approved by their doctor. But it seems most doctors and dietitians do not have a clue as how to answer. I contacted American Diabetes Asso. and they said to check with the doctors or dietitions. I want to be a responsible Beekeeper and help my customers. How can I get some valid answers? Thanks so much. HoneyPotStore@Gmail.Com

  - HoneyGuy

• March 23, 2010 2:59 p.m.

  "no such thing as a touch of diabetes, you either have it or you don't". I've heard this ridiculous comment many times. This says that a person with a regular 126 glucose reading is in equivalent situation to a person with a regular 300 reading. Would you say that a person with minor facial skin cancer had an equivalent situation to a person about to die with severe lung cancer?

  - jack

• March 16, 2010 11:28 a.m.

  Monica, fat cells are notorious for being insulin resistant. Unfortunately, fat cells never go away, but with weight loss the fat cells shrink and absorb the insulin better or are less insulin resistant and also, insulin requirements go down.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• March 8, 2010 2:35 a.m.

  Does the fact that being fat is a greater risk for diabetes than eating "sweets", means that fat cells are more insulin resistant than lean cells?

  - monica

• March 3, 2010 8:55 a.m.

  To the person that asked if it is possible to have neuropathy leg pain etc. before a diabetes type 2 diagnosis. In my experience, yes it is. My legs hurt for two years before I was finally diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (it runs in both sides of my family). I went to orthopedic doctors etc. to no avail. Make them do a blood test to look for this. But sometimes it doesn't show up for a while. Also, if I hear one more person say that they feel gaining weight kicked the diabetes in I am going to go nuts. Yes, that certainly does not help the situation. But if you get the diabetes gene, you get it. I know people that are very thin but they have type 2 diabetes. In my case, it runs in both sides of my family. Also, I had a high stress job for many years and that didn't help the situation. Losing weight, and adjusting my medication, etc. has certainly helped my situation. And I feel wonderful now but it took awhile. Your body changes and sometimes your medication needs adjusted or you need new medication. Also, until recently, I had no idea that uncontrolled glucose could trigger depression. An ob/gyn doctor had me on depression medication which didn't help much. But when I made an effort to write down everything I put in my mouth and get my medications adjusted etc. it made a world of difference. I was diagnosed when I was 45 and will be 60 in a couple of weeks. I learned much of this by trial and error. This website has helped immensely. Thanks and keep up the good work.

  - Karin

• February 11, 2010 6:15 p.m.

  My husband has diabetes and does not want to take insulin. He has had diabetes for ove a year and he is skin and bones. He works and then sleeps until he goes to work again. Is he in great danger?

  - Sue

• February 5, 2010 1:51 p.m.

  I've been a diabetic for almost 44 years now. I was diagnosed when I was 9. Hurray for all of the myths - - - that's exactly true. After all of this time, and two children later, I'm having kidney issues. Please check your blood pressure along with your glucose levels. It will help in the long run!

  - Chris

• February 5, 2010 9:05 a.m.

  The myths are great! My husband has been told he "doesn't look like a diabetic" whatever that is and that because he's on insulin he's a "bad" diabetic when really he's on it because it's what works for him. Love it most when people tell him he "can't" eat this or that because of his diabetes. They don't understand when we say he can eat anything in the proper portions. Doing that and making smarter food choices (avoiding fried food etc.) had his enodcrinologist tell him he's healthier today than he was 2 years ago!!! Best news we could get! Kidneys are great, A1C bang on, and waist size means a whole new wardrobe for him!

  - Lorna

• January 29, 2010 10:47 a.m.

  I was diagnosed by accident, short version of a long story I was infected with cellulitous from a dog bite, while in hospital was told I was diabetic. Since that time it ha s gone down hill that was sep 08 . within 3 months started having problems with feet. I was started at 300mg gabapentin 3 x's a day was up to 900 mg 3x's a day with little improvement. I changed podiatrists. I was switched to Lyrica 150 mg 3x's a day and for the first time saw improvement so much so I was able tog o back to work. I worked for about 2 months and saw pain increase, as well as swelling in both feet right more than left at peak I couldn't put on my shoes. it is now end of Jan 2010 was diagnosed with arthrothropy the pain is incredible feet and legs still swollen although they have reduced somewhat. I am on a steroid therapy that has destroyed my daily sugar numbers. I am scared, I hurt , and I AM TRIED OF HURTING. for the record I did not gain weight tll after the diabetes diagbosis my walking around weight was 195-205 according to diabetic standards oprtimum weight foor my size is 185. post diagnosis I got as high as 250 and am currently around 230 .. What is next? I have done a lot of reading about this arthrothpy and the name Charcot's keeps popping up how do I avoid all of the next round that seems to be coming?

  - Marty

• January 18, 2010 7:05 a.m.

  can you please, advise me: I am on metformin 2000 a day, my morning sugar is still 170-180, my a1c 6.9 (after many years of being below 6.5) what can I do?

  - Irina

• January 12, 2010 3:20 p.m.

  I heard that daily doses of vinegar can help with type 2 diabetes,is this true???

  - christine

• January 6, 2010 9:31 a.m.

  My brother tells me that going in a hot tub with diabetes will hurt me, and diabetics should not go in them, but i always feel better and have better circulation in my feet afterwards. What is the truth about diabetics and hot tubs?

  - Doug

• January 3, 2010 6:46 p.m.

  I have not been diagnosed with diabetes but I became obsessed with taking my blood sugar levels recently because I was always feeling shaky and weak. I eat every 6 hours or I feel like I am going to pass out but I am confused becasue I eat the same exact foods every day as I struggle with anorexia. Some times my blood sugar is in the 80's but recently it has been over 110 every time I check it, even after not eating a thing for more than 7 hours. I then have to find something to eat without carbs or sugar and mostly eat egg whites. I feel that my already narrow box of eating is getting even smaller because of my fear of getting diabetes. I realize that going out and buying a blood testing kit when you don't have diabetes is weird but I was borderline hypoglcemic 2 years back when I had the glucose test done with drinking the liguid so why is it so high now with eating the same foods every day? Is there another test to see what is going on or give me better knowledge that I am okay? thank you!!

  - ginger

• December 31, 2009 1:51 p.m.

  weight gain caused type 2 diabetes & i lost the weight (pre-diabetic weigt now.) : i still have type 2 diabetes! Is this my "life long punishment" for gaining some weight for a few years? I have kept the weight off and watch what i eat? Or was i predetermined to get diabetes since my normal weight father had type 1 diabetes??

  - susan44

• December 25, 2009 7:32 a.m.

  It's come to my attention that the preservatives used in insulin cause multiple types of cancer. Over the past 22 years (out of the 23 I've been living[with juvenile diabetes]) I've been threatened and scared by my doctors with horrific descriptions of complications I may face later on in life, but not once was cancer ever mentioned. This information has caused me great grief and anxiety as of late and if it's true why haven't any of my endo.'s ever discussed this with me or my family? Also what can I do (other than keep good control of my blood glucose levels and so on) to reduce my chances of getting any cancer created/caused by my insulin?

  - Nico

• December 18, 2009 11:52 a.m.

  Mitchy: My two sons were diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes while in the military. For one, it resulted in a career change that he acquired in the military, and my youngest is waiting to see what the medical review board will say as far as keeping him in. He has tight control of his blood sugar and his A1c is 5.6% which will factor in on the board's decision. Good control is important. Your son can ask what this particular employer's concerns are. Peggy

  - Nancy and Peggy

• December 8, 2009 9:56 a.m.

  Ron, Peggy and Nancy read all the comments, but can't respond to everything. Thanks for your interest.

  - MayoClinic.com staff

• December 5, 2009 2:06 p.m.

  Your blog itself is very good and the comments raise interest questions--question I'd like to hear answers to. Your blog would be so much more helpful if you would answer the questions. If you don't know the answers, just say so. That would be less frustrating to your readers than your silence. Thanks for listening. (I do hope you read your comments.)

  - Ron

• November 30, 2009 10:05 a.m.

  I have type II diabetes which for the most part is uncontrolled. I find the doctors blame me for not losing weight and not exercising regularly. I quit smoking 13 years ago and gained 40 pounds. I went on insulin 4 years ago and gained another 40 pounds. Prior to these two incidents I did not have a weight problem. Attempts to lose the weight have failed. Metformin tore my stomach apart. I go between being compliant for a long period of time to being non-compliant (past 4 months). Any suggestions? I'm tired of being blamed.

  - Karen

• November 29, 2009 11:29 a.m.

  My step-son is diabetic, Type 1. He was diagnosed when he was about 14 years old and now he is 19. He has a pump and appears to be doing well. My question is.....Are there any jobs that we shouldn't expect him to be able to do? Like he can't go into military; one of his dreams of doing because he is diabetic. Some of his friends are going to the riverboats to make fast money. My son applied and now there seems to be a problem with him being diabetic. Why?

  - Mitchy

• November 26, 2009 5:05 p.m.

  I have found the best way of coping with Diabetes is just to treat it like its a any other complaint you might have.Just take your insulin and blood sugar readings and live your life normally.

  - Terence

• November 19, 2009 3:18 p.m.

  I've been advised to be on a low fiber diet due to bowel obstruction from chemo but I count on a high fiber diet to keep my diabetes in check - how can I balance this? Any suggestions?

  - Judith

• November 17, 2009 10:44 p.m.

  Have you heard of anyone developing neuropathy symptoms before they were diagnosed with diabetes II. I have been told that it was impossible. I have no other causes indicated that could have been the source. Do you know if the glycemic index used to diagnose diabetes II has changed over the last 20 years? Other indices have been refined and reduced and what was OK several years ago is not acceptable today. Do you have any data that you can refer me to? I have a pending claim with the VA to contest their denial of my full damages due to my exposure to Agent Orange in the late 60's. Thank you.

  - Walter