My husband is type II diabetic, has been dxed for 2.5 years. He's
42. At the time of dx, his fasting blood glucose, I believe, was
over 300. He had lost 30 lbs and was having typical symptoms of
urinating frequently, weight loss, and constant hunger. He has a
family history of diabetes, father had it, adult onset insulin
dependent at the age of 60 (I think), plus pancreatic cancer. His
mother was not insulin dependent, but was taking some blood sugar
lowering med when she died of congestive heart failure at the age of
75. I don't remember the drug name, exactly. At the same time,
his cholesterol was high - and he was started on medication:

Glucovance 2.5/500 mg 2 or 3 times a day
Lipitor 200 mg once a day

I do not know his serum cholesterol breakdown when he was dxed.

He is now taking 5 mg/500 mg Glucovance 3 tabs a day and 400 mg
Lipitor once a day.

He recently had blood work and these are the results.

HbA1C - 7.9 - range 4.3-5.9
Total cholesterol - 165
HDL 28 - range desired >40
Triglycerides - 607 range desired <200 (were 1500 last year)
LDL 58 - I don't know the desired normal range

Now, the doctor would like to add Niaspan to see about increasing
HDL. Seems like Lipitor and Niaspan would contradict each other!?
Anyone know about this?

I know there is room for improvement in his diet. I was thinking
along the lines of low glycemic index - does this work for anyone? I
am hypothyroid, and working on that have learned a little on
nutrition. I can't say that I'm anti-medical establish, but I can
say that I am interested not just in treating symptoms, but trying to
figure out the cause - and curing, if at all possible. We are both
consumer oriented when it comes to doctors and hospitals in general.

He doesn't drink alcohol much at all (maybe one beer every 3
months) - but smokes about a pack a day - which I have pretty much
nagged him about quitting for some time. He said he would quit when
he went to the doc 2.5 years ago, if he was dxed diabetic. He kind
of suspected that he was with all the symptoms. He tried Zyban, but
it turned him into a total grouch, very unreasonable, so he quit
that. He tried a hypnosis tape, that didn't seem to help much. So,
I just think getting him to quit smoking is not going to happen.

However, I know that diet and nutrition wise, supplement wise would
be an excellent place to start. He doesn't want to go on the Niaspan.

He did have his gall bladder removed a few years ago when he had a
major attack. He claims to have had Hepatitis when he was 10. I
think we should get blood titres on that as his liver enzymes seem to
be in the normal range - but I'm not sure, as I think they were
checked 2.5 years ago, but I need to get his records to be sure.

Symptoms - obviously he blood sugar varies, but is almost always
high. He checks himself once or twice a day. He has I think much
digestive distress - gas. He is never constipated, and I feel his
stools are loose MOST of the time - and sometimes quite rank - eeee
gads! Lately, though he claims it's having a window by the street -
he wakes up frequently in the middle of the night - though he is able
to go right back to sleep. His job is at a furniture store, so he is
constantly active there - the nurse suggested more exercise and I
said "that's not the problem!" For me with a desk job - yes, but my
cholesteral, HDL, triglycerides, LDL are all fine - go figure!

Personality wise, he tends to be more on the serious side, intense,
likes to have control, also likes to have fun. Stress in our lives
is much less than past years, but financially we make it but don't
have a lot of room for frivolity.

Anyway, I am looking for advice or assistance in what others have
found helpful or what works. You can e-mail me directly if you would
like at osuzyq828@.... Thanks in advance for any advice or
assitance.

SuzyQ