Needs Support,
I am in a rather similar boat to you. I have been diagnosed with type 2 just 2 months agoa and am now on fortamet. The doctor said that if this does not work, I will need insulin. I have PCOS also. I need to lose 100 pounds and am struggling to do so. I lose two pounds and gain 3. Maybe we can be a support to each other. Would you mind a private email message?
Miriam

Hi Miriam, thanx for replying.

I went to the dr. yesterday for a follow up,
I had started with 500 mg. Metformin, went up to 1000 but couldn't tolerate it, so I went down to 750, I still have stomach aches but not such bad ones and not so often.
She told me to try to go back up to 1000 in a few weeks.
She is extremely proud that I lost 20 lbs. the only puzzling thing was that I lost weight, Metformin is def. helping it as I see that when I was off it for a few days, I didn't lose.
But my sugar levels were still pretty high (I've had as high as 290 something.
so yesterday she told me that she is going to put me on Byetta which is a fairly new medication, acommplishes similar to what Metformin does, it helps the sugar go down and the weight loss too. it's an injection though, a pen needle, and she gave me a prescription for that, then she sent me down to the lab to do an A1C Hemaglobin, which tests the overall sugar level of the last 3 months.
She called me back today in the morning saying that the A1C is very good, 5. something, last time it was 6.9 which is just borderline, so she said she dosent think I'll need the Byetta, I can't decide if I should try it anyways, I don't think it can hurt, maybe I'll just lose faster.
She also said that my Cholesterol levels are very high (which comes as no surprise to me, as I love cheese and eggs), so she called in to the pharmacy for medication, forgot the name, I'm going to pick it up soon.

I would love to be in touch with you by email, PM, messanger, whatever you want.
PM me for my email adress or AIM/Yahoo name.

I too was diagnoised with type II 3 years ago and except for the total weight I had to lose (60 lbs in total) was very similar.

Your Dr may not agree with this because he will believes in the ADA diet but he will have to admit its not wrong. Its all about carb control.

Stay away from white flour (almost all bread but see below), corn, potato, fruit, carrots, peas.

Use instead old fashioned oats, salad, cauliflower and broccoli.

I'll also assume you are shomer mitzvot and shabbat so follow these additional hints:

Kiddush use Carbanet Sovigenat wine (almost 0 sugar use your meter to test)
for hamotzi use bread or challa made of whole wheat flour only.

Last and just as important with what you eat excercise.

Set a time and walk, or get a recumant excercise bike its a slow process start with 5 mins or less and build up from there. get a MP3 player load it with music, talmud, daf yomi or whatever it breaks down the bordom. its very tough but in a month or 2 it becomes as much a part of you as getting up every morning and davening. i have stick to it for 30 months and for the last 2 years have kept the weight off, sugar is never over 120 before breakfast. and under 110 before dinner, and no medication.

its tough but once your on the progam its easy

to need support etc.

Same deal-diagnosed type 2 last year. I hate to say it, but here's what work for me-abject terror. I went online and read a short list of the complications from diabetes, I'm sure you know them-if you don't-google it and take a look. Scared the living daylights out of me. The way I saw (and see) it is I've got two choices-live with a good quality of life or get ready to suffer-a lot. Wasn't much of a question for me. I did get pretty radical- I've lost about 60 lbs and this week it will be a year since I've had any cake, candy, chocolate, cookies etc. I am (bli neder) sworn off them forever. My daily carb intake is about what is recommended for 1 meal alone. BUT-my A1c went from 11.1 when I was diagnosed (no that's not a typo) to 5.5-without insulin. My doctor wanted me to use insulin but I told him I would do it my way-he was a little surprised. Needless to say I feel great having taken 7 inches off my waist. I could go on but I'm probably already sounding annoying. Anyway, as I said what worked and continues to work for me is my fear of amputations, dimentia, heart disease, kidney disease, blindness etc. I'm kind of a fighter by nature so that's what motivated me. I actually say it was a bit of a beracha as I am in much better shape and taking better care of myself than before. My brother-in-law had a heart attack at age 38 about 10 years ago (my age now, btw). There are other ways you can find out you're not taking care of yourself, and many involve hitting the floor. Be thankfull this is something you caught and can control. Hope this helps.

Hi Miriam,
My Name is Chaim, I want you to know that i was diagnosed with Diabetes 2 , I started on a diet & also itake Metformin, i want you to know that since i found out in Mid November tahat i have Diebetics 2 , i started on my own diet & B"H i lost about 40 lbs. & i eat 3 meals a day. You have to eat in order to loose, One of the things you can do eat in the morning a can of tuna tjhat's in water , you can put in 2 teaspoons of lite Mayonaise which is only 50 calories & have a coffee , also do exercise & drink at least 8 glasses of water, you will see for yourself that this thing works. Also i want you to know That i stop Noshing alltogether & i feel no use that i need any nosh at all. If u want you can write to me & i will Help u & direct you out of your promblem. By the way i still have to loose another 100lbs.& i hope to reach it by November of 2006. Stay in touch & i will help u loose your weight & You"ll be happy .Text