I don't think people were off topic.
You just got a lot more info than you thought you needed.
That is because it is essential info.
You do not seem to appreciate the seriousness of this.
Just because you are able to function now,
it does not mean that you can go on for months,
or possibly even weeks, without seeing a doctor
!
Your blood sugars are above normal.
At the very least, you must be thirsty, and
drinking more water than normal, and then,
urinating more often than normal. It becomes
a vicious cycle due to the high BG,(blood glucose).
There are some other possible causes for an
elevated BG, but in all likelihood, your self-diagnosis
is correct. This would place you in the category of a
Type 2 diabetic. Your pancreas is producing some insulin,
but not enough.
I would also suspect that you are somewhat overweight.
Losing any excess weight will be helpful, but
proper medical care is necessary. At this point,
you probably have a high level of ketones in your
blood from the high blood sugars.
Treatment options are oral meds to make the
blood absorb less glucose, along with diet & exercise.
There are also other oral meds which stimulate the
pancreas to produce more insulin. When taking any
of these meds, it is necessary to check your BG levels
before and after meals. For a new diabetic, that will
mean a minimum of four tests per day, before each meal
and at bedtime. After-meal-testing, can add 3 to 4 more
tests per day. The price for the test strips alone,
can add up quickly. Oral meds are not inexpensive.
Add to that, doctor visits, additional blood tests,
a complete physical, and probably better food choices.
Medical insurance will cover some of it, if you do not lose it.
If you have a chance to increase your coverage
while still at work, do so. Coverage for medicine is
very helpful, plus out-patient visits to your doctor's office.
If you try to get coverage from a different company,
and then go in to see your doctor a week later,
you are probably going to be suspected of fraud.
However, you may be able to increase your present
coverage with Blue Cross and get away with it.
As far as I know, they do not offer 100% coverage for
doctor visits, lab work, and medicines.
Blood testing supplies, including one meter,
are usually included when prescription coverage is available.
If your job is one which includes a "valid" reason for
not hiring people with diabetes, there may be differences
between insulin Dependant Type 1 diabetics, and
Type 2's on oral meds.
If you do lose your job, hopefully medical coverage will
continue for a set period of time. With Blue Cross, you
may also have the option of continued individual
coverage, but that comes out of your own pocket,
and is not cheap with Blue Cross, for complete coverage.
How long can you wait
?
You should have seen your doctor yesterday
!
That's yesterday as in last week.
A normal BG is between 70 to 120, with ideal averages
around 100 to 105, although considered normal at
either end of the range.
After one eats, the Bg may go up to 180,
with 140 to 150 being typical in a non-diabetic.
Your ranges of 220 to 350 are above normal,
but will not kill you, although if left that way,
they will slowly torture you to death.
People usually go into a coma from a high BG when
it gets to be over 800, up to 1000. However, that
is extremely dangerous, and could result in death.
Some people can suffer the results of diabetic acidosis
and going into a coma with levels above 600.
Any Bg over 450 will probably cause some fatigue,
excessive thirst, and frequent urination.
With BG levels up to 350, you cannot wait
on seeing a doctor, preferably a good endocrinologist,
a specialist in diabetes.
This can be most difficult regarding the medical insurance.
With your previous income, you will probably not
qualify for Medicaid. If you are fired because of
the diabetes, you will get 6 months of unemployment
insurance which is half what your current pay is.
Would you be able to pay for Blue Cross on that?
At this point, you have a lot of unknowns, but
one thing is for sure.
You cannot afford to wait on seeing a doctor.
Won't do any good to subject yourself to charges
of fraud by trying to pay cash. You will not be able
to get the proper training & education that is
required to treat yourself properly.
Should you be crying? Well, it won't do any good.
At this point, your best bet is to learn all you can,
from a doctor, a CDE, and a dietitian.
Your doctor should be able to set you up with all three.
Depending on your job, you may not need to tell them
right away, but ultimately, they will know.
In the beginning, choose a doctor who will do a
complete workup, and see you frequently, along
with providing the needed education.
)
I have been on insulin since being dx. I am one of the lucky ones because my insulin was and still is being supplied free as I was part of a study here in Canada. With regards to insurance my blue cross covers 80 % Our healthcare system here is much better . We get many Americans coming over the border to buy their diabetic supplies because they are cheaper. I feel sorry for the ones who have problems with insurance companies. I hope that you are able to sort out the problem with everything. This is a real neat forum and a very informative bunch of people. 
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