I hate diabetes.

[Ladyhawk]

:grr:

I let my blood glucose drop too low awhile ago and probably came close to passing out. My glucometer actually suggested I call the doctor. I'm back up to 106 or so now, but geez! I hate the glucose roller coaster.

This is my second rant of the day. One more and I'm out?

[still_one]

1. do you take insulin?

[Ladyhawk]

30. Nope, pills.

Glucophage gave me intestinal difficulties, so I'm on glyburide now; however, something else is now giving me similar difficulties. Heavy sigh.

[noise626]

2. I hate it too...more than anything else :)

My fav? Having a spike in the blood sugar. Low blood sugar for me is easier to bring up, but the high sugar is an absolutely a pain :)

pax
ant

[Ladyhawk]

31. Yeah, if I can eat, I'm fine within twenty minutes with low blood sugar.

Having high blood sugar nearly sent me flying over the edge about three weeks ago. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown and I'm not saying that lightly. I really thought I wouldn't make it through the day and I didn't know why.

That was a big wake-up call. I've been checking my blood glucose several times a day since then.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. My doctor gives us Chromate

Chrome will balance out blood sugar, whether its too low (my case) or too high (my husband's). I've found whenever I get the symptoms of low blood sugar, taking an extra chrome tablet helps a lot. If you don't take chrome, you might wish to ask your doctor about it. Good luck!

[Southsideirish]

4. Are you 1 or 2?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. My husband and I both take it

sorry it wasn't clear from the post. He is diabetic, I tend towards low blood sugar.

[Ladyhawk]

33. I've heard (somewhere) that hypoglycemia can be a precursor

to diabetes, but I could have heard wrong...or been told something bogus. It might be a good idea to check with a doc.

Unfortunately, diabetics get both...ugh. The glucose roller coaster isn't fun at all.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

39. You are correct

This is one reason that my doctor has put me on a diet to regulate glucose levels. I have a history of diabetes/hypoglycemia in my family; although my blood sugar doesn't get whacky too much of the time, my doctor put me on a diet to regulate glucose levels some four years ago. If I follow it, I'm fine. And if I get feeling the least bit strange, I report in to her!

[Ladyhawk]

6. Type 2, luckily. I really feel for kids who get Type 1.

At least my pancreas still sorta works. Sometimes. :D

[barb162]

27. you take pills, right?

[Ladyhawk]

32. I will ask my doctor, but he's weird. He won't help me on certain things.

um, eom.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

46. I do not have diabetes, or at least I have not been told that I have

it... however most of my aunts, uncles and many of my cousins are.

I take DAILY, in order of importance:

MANAPOL.

Omega threes with glucosamine and chondroitin.

A men's multiple.

DHEA.

Wild Yam

Beta Sitosterol.

Calcium with Magnesium and D.

Sublingual B-12.

Evening Primrose Oil.

400 units of Vitamin E.

Aloe vera juice.... and a little acidophilus just for good measure.

I am 50 and I will outwork most 20 year olds at hard physical labor.

[LynzM]

7. I feel ya, LadyHawk

I'm type 1, have been for... 15 years now. Low blood sugar sucks. The worst for me is waking up low. Ugh. :hug:

[Ladyhawk]

8. I have a question for you about Type 1.

I know older folks like me get it because of too much sugar in our diets, not enough exercise, weight gain, etc. Do scientists know what causes Type 1 in kids? The pancreas just shuts down. Kaput! :(

Waking up low must be the pits. :( I just about didn't make it through this afternoon. Folks like you have to be extra, extra vigilant.

LH

[LynzM]

9. Not exactly.

Type 1 is weird like that. It's partially genetic: my kids have something like 1/100 chance of being predisposed to it, if it's the guy who has it, more like 1/25, if both, 1/4. However, that doesn't mean that you will necessarily get it. No one else in my family has it, for example. It is autoimmune, though, so if you are born with the predisposition, it will often be triggered by something that stimulates your immune system. For me, that was strep throat 4 times in one month. They can also do a lot now to postpone/prevent the onset, if they've identified you as having the risk. Basically, trying to prevent your body from attacking the Islet Cells.

Type 1 is both better, and worse. It sucks, yes, but you know where you stand. You need insulin, you learn how to manage and adjust it to your life, etc. You see and endocrinologist, and you often get more diabetes education. A lot of people with Type 2 don't really understand what's going on in their bodies, what their meds do, how they need to dose with them, and what other factors affect them. That makes me really sad. But plenty of GPs don't really understand all of that too well, either, it seems. </rant>

I think the lowest I've ever measured was 23. But I've had lows in the 30s and 40s that felt worse than that one! It's weird like that!

[Ladyhawk]

11. Yeah, I think I need some education. (Warning: Pics)

My doctor is an endocrinologist, but I'm beginning to suspect he really isn't all that. :( I wish I could find a good, proactive primary care physician who could work with a slew of medical and emotional problems. I need someone like that.

I firmly believe that depression was the direct cause of my diabetes, my sleep apnea and my degenerative disc disease. I was suffering from extreme depression. It got worse and worse until I was spending most of my time in bed. I went from a very thin person with long, gracile bones to a fat person with long, gracile bones. I didn't have any muscle tone to hold it all together. I developed diabetes and sleep apnea. I don't think my tiny bones were very well suited to hold up all the extra weight.

Interestingly, when the surgeon got my neck open, he had to spend a few extra hours whittling down the bone plugs he planned to insert. Why? My vertebrae are TINY. Heh heh, I could have told him that.

I went from this:



To this:



WAY too fast. And yes, that is a humongous 25-pound cat. :)

This is a post-surgery pic:



Yes, I've lost weight. I hope that I can keep it off and start exercising to build tone.

[LynzM]

15. Dude!

You look beautiful! You are glowing in that post-surgery pic! :)

Oh, and HOLY GIANT CAT, BATMAN! :rofl:

Any chance you can find a new endo or better PCP? You can also PM me if you want, so we don't get this thread locked for med advice :)

[Ladyhawk]

35. Thanks.

I think I was glad the surgery was over. :D And yes, Shadow is a HUGE cat. I'm not sure he really belongs to anyone anymore. He gets fed at a lot of different places. He'd been missing for quite awhile and showed up hungry the night that pic was taken. He weighed in at 24 pounds. (OK, I rounded it up to 25, but that's still a rather large kitty.) :D And by the way, I am NOT a small woman. The cat is frickin' huge. :D

I've asked a friend to look into getting an appointment with a well-known and well-liked medical tech. I don't think he's actually a doctor, but my experience is that PAs and techs sometimes know more and care more. Sigh. I will try to remind my friend, but he's facing surgery soon and probably isn't thinking about anything else. :(

[LynzM]

43. Well, that makes sense

I can imagine it was good to have the surgery done with! That's crazy about Shadow... wow!

Med techs are cool, and you could also see... endocrinologists' offices usually have people who are CDEs (certified diabetes educators). They're easier to get in to see than the actual doctors, and usually know about as much in terms of managing diabetes in real life! :hug:

[Old_Fart]

24. Star Wars fan?

You want to be around when Episode 999 comes out don't you?

Take care our yourself. Keep some juice and hard candy on hand. :grouphug:

[Ladyhawk]

36. Yeah, I'm still a kid at heart.

:blush:

I think Star Wars is officially over, for awhile at least. The New Jedi Order novels and Episode III are finished. I want to take a look at the fan film that was made. I have to talk myself into it, I guess.

[barb162]

20. were you still standing at 23? That's really cutting it close

[LynzM]

42. Well, actually, I was sitting....

But yeah, that was pretty scary. Luckily, I was in a situation where I definitely would have had glucagon IMMEDIATELY if I had passed out (diabetes camp).

[Ladyhawk]

34. Oh yeah, I remember reading about type 1 being autoimmune.

Your body attacks itself, basically.

I've long suspected that something like that might be happening with me, but all the autoimmune tests have come back negative. A friend's wife has rheumatoid arthritis and she suffers horribly. Her favorite thing is horseback riding...she hasn't done much of that since being diagnosed. :(

(Once again...23...yowsa! I'd be dead. :D)

[Ladyhawk]

10. I've been trying hard to bring it down. Ha! I succeeded! :D :D :D :D

Since my surgery, I haven't had much of an appetite...what a great way to lose weight, although I don't exactly recommend it. :D

I did some physical labor this afternoon--bird cage duty--then forgot to eat. That's what did it to me.

Since the big blood glucose skyrocket event a few weeks ago, I've been religious about pricking my finger. I know that in order to get my health under control, I MUST REGULATE MY BLOOD GLUCOSE. Until I get my diabetes under control, nothing else is going to help me. I also have really, really high triglycerides (700 something, first; then 300 something), sleep apnea and degenerative disc disease. I call myself "Laurcutus of Borg" because I have to wear a cervical collar, a CPAP mask and a bone growth stimulator at night. :) I'm currently using three different medical devices that utilize some kind of electrode. :)

Assimilate me, baby...yeah, you know you want to! Woohoo!

I do want to get better. When dealing with multiple health issues, it's so easy to slip up. I'm sure a lot of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

[Not_Giving_Up]

12. My mom is Type 1

I've seen her go as low as 16 before. Not fun at all.

[Ladyhawk]

13. Holy shit! I'm surprised she wasn't comatose!

So sorry.

I wish science would find a cure. I'm tired of it and I've only been diagnosed for about five years.

[Not_Giving_Up]

14. She was diagnosed thirty years ago

A few years ago, she had to have a triple bypass. She spent a week in the hospital after the surgery, then went home. Every time she checked her sugar, it read "high", which meant it was over 500. The doctor kept saying that her body was reacting to the sugery. At one point, she couldn't keep food down, and sugar was still "high", so she went back to the hospital. They checked her sugar, it was 1100. They couldn't believe she was walking and talking.

[Ladyhawk]

19. Wow, I've never heard of it being that high! Your mother must

be one hell of a woman to plow through that kind of adversity!

And yes, stress will cause blood glucose to shoot right through the ceiling! In 2000, I had to undergo a treatment that required general anesthesia every other day for two weeks. That is when I was diagnosed with diabetes because I was over 350 every single time. :) They said I wasn't going to get it down until the medical procedures were over. They were right.

1100????? Wow. 500 is indeed "high." WAY HIGH.

[barb162]

21. ohmygod!

[LisaL]

16. What would cause blood glucose to drop low in a person

with type 2 diabetes?

[Ladyhawk]

37. Well, it happens for several reasons.

1) If I eat carbs with no protein, my blood glucose shoots up past 200, then comes crashing down. That really feels awful.

2) If I exercise too much without eating, my blood glucose crashes (like today).

3) Sometimes taking one of the pills will cause low blood sugar if I haven't eaten enough, or enough of the right things. I need to get a feel for when half a pill is enough.

[joneschick]

17. Ladyhawk, you don't know me BUT

please do everything in your power to manage your diabetes. I lost my brother 2 weeks ago to diabetes. he was type I for 32 years, diagnosed at 18. His blood sugar had dropped so low so many times he had brain damage. He no longer knew if he had eaten or taken the insulin. He retired at the ripe old age of 49 on June 1st and had no schedule imposed on him and no co-workers around to keep an eye on him. He couldn't take care of his cat, much less himself.
Please take care.

[barb162]

22. I AM SORRY.

Are you saying he died of a low blood sugar event or that being low so often affected his brain long term and he didn't know what he was doing anymore. Did he like to stay low?

[joneschick]

41. we're not entirely certain

we're waiting for final autopsy reports that will tell us what failed first, etc. My other brother and my mom found him in his condo dead as though he went to lie down for a nap. As we have started dealing with his "stuff" I found other paper work regarding at least one time that he had a seizure while driving and hit a parked car. According to witnesses in the police report they thought he was having a grand mal seizure. We never knew about this. He was terribly private. When he was well and strong he was an avid bicyclist and rode in numerous long distance rides. They would no longer allow him to register because he frequently got into serious blood sugar problems. Know anyone that wants a Trek, Lance Armstrong USPS bike? He's not using it.

[barb162]

47. Geez, this is very sad....

I had heard from an RN that it is illegal for diabetics, in IL at leaast,to drive when their blood sugar is below 100. I never followed up to see if that was true. My SO is type 1 and there have been many arguments about his being low and getting in a car or running in hot weather. Exercise really causes the sugar to drop fast as SO is a runner and I have seen him go low so fast it isn't funny. Again, I am so terribly sory.

PS Let me know how much you'd want for the bike and I will ask around.I have a 24 yr. old athletic relative who lives in Milwaukee.

[joneschick]

50. I never thought about the legality

I think his was so unstable that it would plummet before he realized it and could deal with it on his own. The police reports didn't mention ticketing or suspending license.
About the bike---the bike shop he got it from said he probably paid between $3000 and $5000 for it new depending on options. They will do a condition report for me for free and then I'll have an idea. Just over the phone they said not to take less than $1500 for starters. It really is a very cool bike.
Take care of your SO as unstable diabetes does kill. Blessings.
kj

[Ladyhawk]

38. I am so sorry for your loss.

When a person is that sick, it's very hard for them to take care of themselves. Of course I don't know what kinds of resources were available for your brother, or whether he wanted to take advantage of them, but he should have had some kind of supportive care. :( :( :( :( Once you get that sick...man. :(

I've been there and I still get there sometimes. Tonight, I thought I was going to have to get someone to simply give my parrot some food and water because I was too ill to move. It wasn't much to do, but I couldn't even do that.

Having Type 1 for that long and losing control so many times must have really been harmful. I am so sorry for your loss.

You may remember nostamj. A contributing factor in his death was diabetes. Yet despite that knowledge and horror tales I had heard, I didn't take it very seriously until about three weeks ago, when I nearly had a literal nervous breakdown from having been on the glucose roller coaster for too long.

Thanks for the concern, joneschick. I had a wake-up call and now I'm monitoring things more closely. I also plan to take a class and learn more ASAP. If I don't take care of the diabetes, nothing else matters.

And once again, I'm so sorry about your brother.

[TankLV]

18. I wish I could drop mine more - I'm a recent type 2 - but I'm usually

over 135 or so.

But now that I'm on this meds balancing act, I'm having more days closer to the old ideal of below 120.

And just as I'm about to reach it, they reccomend it be about 90.

Freaked everyone out when they asked me at lunch what the negatives to high counts were when I simply replied that I could eventually lose a limb or two or have organ failure and die if too high, or go into a coma and die instantly if it drops too low.

It's my lot in life now, so I deal with it. I don't really measure myself much - since I'm perscribe to take the same insulin amount twice a day no matter what. What's the point other than for "knowledge". Besides, that's what the blood test is for - it's more important to know your average than at any specific time.

What I really feel for is the young kids who have to do shots - some take as many as 11 a day! They just don't understand why they're being hurt constantly. It's heartbreaking.

[Ladyhawk]

23. I need to know what my target should be. It differs for different folks.

For me 135 is damn good. I consider it "under control" if it stays under 180 or so, but I'm functioning off information I learned during a stressful time in my life...I was undergoing medical procedures that required general anesthesia. I don't remember a lot from that time period. Sometimes I dream that I took a vacation to Australia during that time and can't remember it. I'm always very, very ticked off in the dream. :)

For some people, the target is under 140. I need a doc that can tell me what my target should be. My endocrinologist...I think he may be worthless. :(

[REP]

25. Mine is 70-115

But I rarely go over 106 (I do tight control, and am a T2). I'm 'allowed' to go over 120 if I'm sick, but for some reason, my BG drops when I have an active infection.

[barb162]

28. that is absolutely excellent, I bet your doc is really proud of you

[Floogeldy]

26. If it is any consolation to you . . .

. . . I hate it, too.

x(

[cassandra uprising]

29. hang in there sister

You are a miracle

My Pops has Type 2

Stay on top of the game girl, you're a rock star!

[Spacemom]

40. I just wanted to add

some :hug: :hug: :hug:

I'm also Type 2. It's definately a PITA. I was diagnosed during my second pregnancy, and had gestational with the first. I was on 5 shots of insulin a day and one morning I dropped to 42. It totally freaked me out. I wasn't worried so much about myself as I was about the little guy who was making himself comfy on my bladder.

I've been following that river of "denial" for the past year and a half and have only just now hauled my ass back to the doctor so I could start taking care of myself again.

It's good you're taking care of yourself and monitoring your BS on a frequent basis. Keep putting up the good fight!

[BiggJawn]

44. So do I.

:hug:

[Nikia]

45. Type II diabetes runs in my family

Three of four of my grandparents have/had it (one of my grandfathers died last year). The oldest of my grandparents is almost 90 years old and has lived with diabtes for over 40 years. All my life, he has eaten somewhat healthy food, mostly lean meat and vegtables. In smaller amounts, he eats whole wheat bread and fruit with meals. When he was younger, he walked regularly. He has had some mild health problems that may be diabetic related but he has all of his limbs and is not blind. I don't know if his long life and lack of major complications is genetic or good luck, but I think that it more has something to to do with his diet. To minimize complications and to be stable, you really need to change your diet. The need for this is on a much greater magnitude than telling a young person that they shouldn't eat too much fat or they will get heart problems. A poor diet with diabetes isn't something that just might lead to complications in the future, it is something that will lead to complications, with damage being done right away. Ask for help with your diet.

[rndmprsn]

48. my girlfriend is diabetic...

and i can really sympathize with you...she goes through shit each day that would make "normal ppl" cry...pokes, prods, needles, meters, up, down, sick, well, etc...

whenever she feels down it makes me feel down too, i have high-blood pressure and take meds for that, we regularly bitch about our friends who don't have to deal with any shit like this, who bitch all them time about petty stuff...ah well, point is it sux and i have no health care either.

anyhow...goodluck.

[Old_Fart]

49. Do you have Health care coverage?

You can get free diabetic products if you don't and I believe even if you do have it they are free.

Take care of yourself we need you.

[yellowdogintexas]

51. my husband is a type 2; diagnosed in 1998. He went on a

walking regimen and we really watched what he ate .. he made quite a few changes like switching to diet soft drinks, and cutting out the huge quantities of ice cream he used to eat, and I quit baking desserts etc.and I just made sure I cooked within the guidelines. He was extremely well controlled without medication for 6 and 1/2 years.

He also started adding cinammon to his breakfast cereal every morning. There is clinical documentation that cinnamon 1/2 tsp per day can assist the body in proper regulation and absorption of insulin. It has helped him quite a lot. You might want to read up on that.

I put it in my oatmeal occasionally.