Diabetes Forums - Introductions and Announcements

Hello Everyone

rbaker1307 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:41:36 GMT

Hello,

I am a Type 1 diabetic since age 5 (34 years total), and am on 5 daily injections, 2 lantus injections (15 units each) and 3 humalog (7 units each) for 3 meals. Have all body parts still working, yet almost died 10 times or so growing up from ketoacidosis (mostly as a child) and an accidental overdose of insulin that induced temporary comatose state. As an adult, things seem more stable, mostly since I went low-carb, Bernstein method seems to have stabilized me, but even with that, my best control is usually between 60-160. I dont really get hypo symptoms at 60, but I usually eat a few glucosetabs to get a higher number. I notice that exercise doesnt really affect my blood sugars, but if i have too much protein at meals it will increase my blood sugars My last hBA1c was 6.3, so my doctor says not too worry too much.
The occasional cold, and recent flu shots especially, do and have sent my sugars into the 200s, probably from the immune system working overtime. I am guessing that when the immune system works harder to combat foreign agents, that maybe more of the injected insulin is destroyed than usual. Does anyone else have the same reaction?

newly joined

cndesu — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:56:03 GMT

Hello everybody I am newly joined.

Compatible with Mac

buswaybob — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:53:31 GMT

:) Does anyone know of metering system compatible with Mac? I am using OneTouch which is not

What do ya'll think of these numbers?

minkydog — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:38:27 GMT

I'm new to all this, so I'm not sure. My doctor just called me with my official lab results.

A1c=5.5, so I'm pretty happy about that
Serum insulin=20, down from 74.
2hr GTT
FAsting=86, down from the high 90s
1hour=201
2 hour=176

So still too high, but going in the right direction. Doctor says not Type 2. I am clearly pre-diabetic and she's going to increase the Metformin to 1000mg. I plan to continue to check my sugars at least until I can see how I'm reacting to carbs. And I plan to see a nutritionist. I'm doing pretty well on the low carb diet, but I'm having trouble understanding how whole grains fit into it, with the high fiber and all. I miss popcorn and oatmeal. And I'd give ANYTHING to be able to eat my Cheerios.

So, does anybody have any other advice for me?

Google Health

Jonathan_R — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:38:30 GMT

If this isn't the right place, please move it.

Here is a really nice resource. https://health.google.com/health/ref/index.html

For those of you that like putting your info on the web, a secure site, you can do that. It makes it portable. However, Google Health is more than just putting your info in, it is also a research tool, and provides articles and news, and other links on a given subject.

Just one more tool in the arsenal.

Arrrgh...

GOV — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:38:01 GMT

New to the forum, not to the disease (5 years down). Still trying to figure it out... Last A1C = 12+ (obviously, I still don't get it, or refuse to admit it, or both.)

Looking forward to new ideas and support from the veterans around here. Thanks for your insights!

New Guy and need help with Type 1 GF

beo2 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:31:50 GMT

Hey everybody, my name is Brian and I've been living with my Type 1 gf for about three years now.

We've had discussions about her checking better, and she has tried. But she averages about twice a day. She hasn't seen her Endo in about a year because she knows it's just going to be bad news about her a1c. I've been on her about seeing her Endo and checking better, but she keeps delaying.

The problem is that I'm thinking about proposing to her on Xmas and I just feel like I can't if she doesn't want to keep healthy (she knows about proposing on Xmas, she says we have to get going because of our age and her diabetes). She never entertained the idea of kids until me, because she didn't/doesn�t expect to live long and she deals with depression because of this.

I love her and feel she deserves to have a happy life with me, but I work in a hospital and know the potential horrific consequences that come with this in due time of being an out of control diabetic. We are both 31 and never have been married. And I feel if I give up on her and leave it could be the final straw because of recent failures on her trying to get into Med School, and her current job using her while not paying her properly. But on the other hand, she hasn't used our relationship (her first successful one) to want to find the will to stay healthy for a long term future.

I know depression and hopelessness isn't her fault, but what the heck do I do!

Sorry to unload, I just have no where else to go.: (

New w Norm Sug High Insulin

JeniH — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:39:30 GMT

Hello,

I am new to this site and struggling to understand my recent test results. There is not much on the web about my particular situation. I have completely normal sugar levels but my insulin levels are quite high. Eveything on the web is regaring high blood sugar levels.

I took a fasting cola test and my fasting glucose was 86 (norm <=100mg/dL) and insulin was 11.9 (norm <=5uU/mg). 2 hour post cola glucose was 110 (norm <=120mg/dL) and insulin was 129 (norm <=25uU/mg).

I am slightly overweight. I have a BMI of 24.9 (which is normal but right at the edge of overweight and I cross back and forth by a pound or two). My blood pressure is good. Today it was 110/60. Prior to taking the above test I had lost 7lbs making my prior BMI 26.5.

I am looking for some help understanding what I can do to work on getting the insulin down without getting my blood suguar too low. My doctor has placed me on Metformin. I was also advised to follow a Medeteranian diet but I am finding that requires a lot of time to prepare meals (which I don't have) and excerise (don't have much time for either). Somehow, I have to create extra hours in the day? Tips of the trade so to speak would be appreciated as I work full time (50-60 hrs/wk), 1.5hr commute to/from work, and a 6yr old to attend to, not to mention the husband, (very elderly) dog, cat, snails, hermit crabs and housework.

p.s. Does anyone know how to get rid of the laundry or dish fairys? They are always leaving dirty clothes and dishes in the hamper/sink even after I just emptied them.

Sort of new...

fairyclare — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:36:26 GMT

Heya

I'm Clare and I joined this forum almost two years ago but forgot about until I stumbled across it again today. I've posted a couple of replies to people and then realised that I had never posted before today!

Anyway...I'm 24yrs old and have been Diabetic since I was 2yrs old. I also have Coeliac Disease, Hypermobility Syndrome, PCOS and mental health problems.

I've been on the insulin pump for 7 months and absolutely love it. I've been able to achieve much tighter control since I started on the pump and now have the go ahead to try and conceive :)

I'm a member of several other diabetes forums and am most active on Diabetes Daily at the moment. Had better go as my break is almost over and it's time to get back to work.

Look forward to getting to know some people here :D

Hello and a question

rbadenov — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:09:57 GMT

Hi!
I was diagnosed Type 1 last year at 55; no history of diabetes in my family so a bit of a shock. After a month of injections I started using a pump which helps me keep my numbers under control. However, I've gained several pounds since then and someone eventually told me the insulin could cause that. My doctor told me about Symlin but I'm wary of the side effects and also don't relish having to inject something else. Any suggestions on weight control? I never ate many carbs before I became diabetic and find I've had to include them more because of the insulin. I try to exercise every day but don't always get the chance.

new here

garza78 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:31:03 GMT

hello new to this forum

CoZmo,CoZmonitor LOYAL / Looking at Omnipod / (Or Minimed)

Jimbo205 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:09:17 GMT

This summer my 10 year old went to squirt Dad with the hose on a nice hot/warm summer day. I was about to tell him not to and give a nice boring lecture about my glucometer not being waterproof even if my CoZmo was (I loved both products very much by the way...); and stopped myself.

I decided that day to take a summer vacation from my pump. We had family summer passes to The Great Escape - Adventure Park in Lake George and I wanted to focus on fun with my kids and family and not obsess about my pump (correction - glucometer (CoZmonitor) / getting wet/not getting wet, etc.

I have four kids and for once Dad was focusing on FUN and HIS KIDS.

Back to Multiple Daily Injections I went. I needed to get back to basics. Still do. I am living my life and on autopilot with my diabetes and blood glucose. I want to focus on my job, family and life.... Yeah, I know probably everybody says that too..

I loved my CoZmo and my CoZmonitor (attached glucometer the size of 2 sticks of DoubleMint gum) that my wife pointed out that I would never lose in the house (because it was attached) and it would just WORK FOR ME.

Well, the day that Smiths Medical (Deltec/ CoZmo) notified me that my warantee had expired - I called them to see if I could pay to extend it.... and was told by the nice lady on the phone that that just that day - all the employees were given notice that they would no longer have jobs and what all us diabetics would have to do for 'continuity of service'.

Great service for probably 4 years, and then kicked to the curb and the loyal employees SCREWED like nobody's busines.. I am very pissed about that last part....

Well, I am about to maximize my benefits on my medical between now and 12/31/2009 and get 12 months worth of OMNIPOD in one shot. I look forward to learning everything I can from fellow diabetics here.

Whatever works for you, is what I would like to learn.

It would be cool if any medical provider in my town actually knew what the COPILOT software was, how to use it AND LIKED IT. Specifically I like the dream and idea that ANIMAS pitched about - you basically eat the same groups of foods most of the time. GREAT - if you can get inside my wife's head and download that into a pump - WOW! That would just ROCK! (She is not a diabetic and the idea of a regular schedule for her and eating the same food more than once..... would be for me the diabetic - great.) Unfortunately, she gets bored with having the same food again...

So I will go back to that cool thread about Omnipod's and continue reading.

And if Medtronic Minimed, REALLY is the tried and true - so be it. But I currently have a whole years supply of Freestyle Test Strips from my CoZmo and CoZmonitor and Humulog in my fridge, and I REALLY want the Omnipod to be everything I want it to be.

I guess the only question is: will Omnipod and the CDE really give a **** about me after the sale?

Or are we diabetics supposed to fund the entire medical system every 4 years because our warantee expired and we ALL have to 'upgrade' to the 'new and improved PINK OR BLUE' Pump?

If you made it to the end of this long post, just thank you for listening.

It is not like the non-diabetic population would be able to understand...

Thank You.

Jimbo205

Hello Everyone!

Azucar Amarga — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:05:06 GMT

Hi everyone! I just signed up to the forum and wanted to introduce myself. I am a nice person and easy going. I have been a type 1 diabetic since 1995 and it has been and still is a learning experience. I wanted to share on my experiences and learn from others and hopefully make a few friends. Thanks!

Newbie

qatperson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:29:10 GMT

I was checking out Meformin on the internet and found this board. I was especially interested in the metformin/pee odor aspect.

I thought I was going crazy because the metformin smells alot like my pee did before I started on it. I was getting desperate. :(

Hi everyone

erossi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:58:42 GMT

Hello. My name is Ed. I'm 41 years old and had diabetes for 25 years now. I started with injections and about 15 years ago switched to pumps. My HA1C averages 6.2. I switch between the Medtronic and Omnipod pumps using Humalog insulin. About two years ago I started having trouble with poor insulin absorption.... and now two years later things have gotten progressively worse and finding a good spot where insulin works like it's supposed to is like drilling for oil. If I hit a bad spot I won't know until 2 hours later when sugars are betweem 300 and 400. I've been calling and seeing different doctors but no one seems to have a solutuion for this problem (medical term "lypohypertrophy"). Does anyone have any advice? or know how to treat this condition?

Any input would really be appriciated and thanks for taking the time to read this. Regards, Ed