Mom starts insulin

[lumplump]

Diabetes runs in my family so it wasn't alarming that my mother has finally started taking insulin. What makes my situation unusual is that I have been taking insulin and drugs for some years now and now have to coach my mother (a retired RN) on how to administer insulin.

I don't actually coach her. We have begun comparing notes more though.

For those of you that don't know the only expert you can truly rely on is yourself.

[HeatherP]

Very very true Lumplump!

We are all the ones we rely most on in the day-to-day treatment of this disease (among other things).

[Babytryintohelp]

My mother uses the insulin pump and I am not sure how it works. I have asked her but again we are both stumpped. I want to know about it so I am on here asking anyone if they know how it works? If you know Lumplump please e-mail me and let me know?

[lumplump]

When I was first diagnosed I only had the slightest inkling as to what was really going on in there. Since then I've become somewhat of an expert on the subject.Maybe charlatan would be a better description.

The first thing I learned was that it was up to me to inform myself and with the internet its so easy now. My doctor(s) never seemed to be able to answer my questions probably because I didn't know what to ask. Now my doctor asks me questions.

Being a diabetic is like a full time job or carreer. I've always strived to do my best at whatever job I have and I apply the same philosophy towards my medical condition.

[Deager]

'For those of you that don't know the only expert you can truly rely on is yourself.'

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'We are all the ones we rely most on in the day-to-day treatment of this disease'

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While this may be true for many diabetics, there are exceptions, and I'm not trying to downplay any individuals care of himself here. However, if you have a partner and it is the partner that does the cooking, there is a heavy burden on that person to prepare the correct meals so that the diabetic can adjust his insulin accordingly. That person is basically trusting you with his/her life. They base their insulin intake on what you are feeding them and they trust you to know what to feed them and how much. These days with all the diets, the glycemic index, etc., it is not easy to know just what is right and what is hooey. In fact, it is downright hard, frustrating and scary. I mean gez....you got your Lite, your Free, your Low Fat, Non Fat....and all those different kinds of fats! The good protein and the bad......aaaccckkkk!!! It can be so confusing! And then factor in your partners exercise at any given time during the day.....oh boy.

I know many people like myself that have become quasi experts on diabetes just because they love someone enough to want to have them around as long as possible and want to know all they can in order to have that happen. Dozens of books and countless hours on the internet and talking with all sorts of health professionals is nothing if it makes your partners life easier, happier and healthier. Your partner may be the expert on insulin, but he/she has to base everything they know about it on what you feed them.

Hope I didn't offend anyone here, it's just that I know many couples where the diabetic will be first one to say they aren't the expert.

Ok....off my soapbox now :)