Collette

[mav]

I'm not being facetious but you could simply take a) no insulin, b) too much insulin and simply do terminal damage to yourself. That way you'll save the agony. I personally believe there are also more humane methods of suicide.

Hi

I am Collettes husband, I would like to say what a helpfull and freindly bunch you lot are BUT I WONT :mad: :mad: :mad:

Collette has been suffering from depression for sometime now and has used these boards to try help fight with some of the isues she has.

Thanks partly due to the above quote Collette attempted an insulin overdose last night. Luckily I caught her, in an absolutely hysterical state and generally in a right mess.

Luckily we got her to hospital and have been able to "this time" save her life.

telling someone to basically go ahead and do it is NOT the answer, for ***edited for content*** sake THINK about what you are saying before you type anything up, you just dont know what state that person is in, most of you have probably never met and I know this to be the case for my wife.

Someone is VERY lucky they are out of my reach. otherwise they would be eating hospital food themselves right about now.

One VERY ***edited for content*** off and disgusted husband.
:mad: :mad: :mad:

[DeusXM]

Mav,

As the only moderator currently logged in, I guess it is my duty to be the first to respond in an appropriate manner. Since this topic is a very serious one, I have chosen to deal with this in a separate thread in its own right. I hope you understand.

Obviously, there is absolutely nothing I can say to indeed remedy this situation, but I offer an unreserved apology for this particuar member's conduct, and they will be dealt with as best we can. I also offer my own condolences and wish Collette a speedy and safe recovery. The offending post has also been terminated.

I realise this must all sound very hollow to you, and for that I am sorry.

As a forum which is open to the public, the majority of our advice is provided on an amateur basis, although we do have qualified clinicians who post here too. Even so, we are simply not qualified to comment on individual cases, as you yourself have pointed out. This is the great danger with a forum such as ours, and the internet as a whole. However, this is still no excuse for what has been said on here.

Therefore whilst the vast majority of us do try to support those who come here, those of us who do geniunely want to help can only do so up to a point. In these circumstances, you and your wife may benefit greatly from a support group closer to home. Depression Alliance (http://www.depressionalliance.org/) is probably your best port of call in this instance, since it has a directory of local support groups which will be able to help Collette far more than we ever could.

Once again I apologise for what has happened and I also apologise if you find anything in this response offensive - this is certainly not my intention.

Thank you.

[damianc]

I'm genuinely sorry I was unable to word this in the way I would have wished. It was clear that Collete was at least upset by her posting, but I wasn't sure whether this was an aggressive outburst or a provocative cry for help. I wrote what I did in the belief a reply would be forthcoming either dismissing me, or explaining further why she would want to harm herself in the long term. As you can imagine I in no way wish to encourage self harm. As a sufferer of clinical depression for over 20 years I understand the desperate straits one can get oneself into and how hard it is to ask for help.
I will not say too much more on the matter in case I simply worsen it, other than to say again my intentions were not to cause harm

Damian

[Harold]

Mav, I am sorry to hear that Collette tried this and would also like to offer my condolenses and wish her a speedy recovery. Depression associated with diabetes happens to be very common, but for most people it does not become serious in that they come to terms with it on their own. For those that don't it becomes very serious. Usually there are also other problems contributing to the severity of the depression. These other problems may range from an imbalance in the bodies chemistry to ones situation in life or in many cases a combination of both. Most of the time in severe cases a point is reached where the depression itself will cause the imbalence. On a board or in a forum the best we can do is ask someone to seek help. I know my posting this does not help Collette right now, but it may help someone else and maybe help others to be more understanding. I am very sad for her and for you and hope you the Best.

[sand-not-oil]

I am sorry to hear about your wife, but I would like to add that I have been having a few problems lately myself and I have received nothing but kind words and support from people on this forum, please don't judge the whole for a few remarks from one.

[Dewey]

Mav,

I'm very sorry to hear about your wife. As Deus stated, our forum is simply to offer ideas (with the exception of the one listed above) and lend an ear when people need to vent or express frustrations about their disease. It should Never be used for professional advice.

We all could not have forseen what Collette would do, but we are deeply sorry that you are going through this. We hope and pray that she will heal quickly and receive help for her depression. Again, we are truly sorry. :(

[SunniD]

Mav, am so sorry to hear about your wife. May God speed her recovery.

At some point of this disease, depression does seem to follow.
Professional advice is best to seek as well as medications as others have said.

I chat with a little 13 yr.old diabetic who's tried to commit suicide 3 x . I've made sure she seeks professional counselling for
those problems but am always wondering if something I say
will be construed wrong. I have gotten her on MSN asking
what do I do if I took this drug. It's a stressful situation
to deal with and rather hard when one doesn't know
a name or phone number also. I have a hard time dealing
with one so young who wants to take her own life. It takes
a lot out of a person but you can make progress in time
and with the help of professionals and meds.

Please wish Collette all the best and am sending my kindest
regards to her.

SunniD

[lgvincent]

I'm so very sorry to hear this. I didn't realize she was suffering from such an intense depression. Sadly, I guess I've become too involved with my own depression to be able to see this in others. I hope she'll be okay.

[HeatherP]

Mav, I'm so sorry to hear about Collette. I PM w/ her from time to time and I know she's been having a very difficult time of it. As others have said, please don't allow one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch. Recently we have gotten a few new members that do not seem to be able to understand others and refuse to consider other possibilites w/o an argument errupting.

I truly hope that she will recover from this w/o after effects, and continue to seek the appropriate help to change her life. She has mentioned how supportive and concerned you are and I am so glad that she has such a good man.

Without going into personal details, I know that Diabetes and depression are not the only things affecting her, but I think she came here looking to connect w/ other people that could understand at least one aspect of what she's dealing with.

I hope that we will see you or her soon, letting us know that she's okay, and that she is working towards becoming healthier in all aspects.

Best wishes,
HeatherP

[rzrbks]

Mav,

I too have PMed with Collette at some length and hope things are going to turn around and please don't let the PIECE OF $#!^

Incredibly Worthless Excuse for a human being taint your belief that almost all of the people here want nothing but for Collete to come out and be stronger and better than before.

Depression, like all diseases, must be dealt with one step at a time. And from all the things she's told me about you, I know that you'll be there helping each step of the way.

We are praying for the both of you.

[soremom]

I believe that is why my husband doesn't like me to go to these sites, he is afraid I will hear something and take it literally.

I am so sorry what happened to your wife. When I read her post and the offensive reply, I could not believe that someone could be so mean, that is the only word that comes to mind.

I hope she recovers soon and the Drs. are able to help. I also hope that she does come back here. Being new myself I have found almost everyone is extremely nice and ver supportive. Even if it is an ear to listen.

I hope she doesn't let one bad egg spoil what might be some time in here for her to understand she is not alone. No one can feel what someone else does, but we can have a better understanding.

Let her know we are thinking of her and feel truley sorry for one bad egg.

Kim

[Willow]

Best wishes Collette

x

[am1977]

MAV-

I am so sorry that this happened, but I can definitely relate. I get depressed about Diabetes too, I'm sure we all do at times. I know how difficult it is and how overwhelming, frustrating, and aggravating it is. It is a lot to deal with in life, w/o having to deal with the many other things life throws at us. However, it is not worth throwing everything away because of it

I hope you will express our feelings of concern to Collette. We all want for her to be better and hope that she will be back on the forums soon. I know it's not that easy, but we hope she will be feeling better emotionally very, very soon. Please do update us on how she is doing. I have to say that this forum has helped me in ways I can't even express, and almost everyone here is genuine, caring, and supportive. We do try to help each other here and hope we can do that for Collette.

Andrea

[mav]

Thank you for your kind support (although I didnt post on here with that intention)
Collette is doing ok for the moment, how long for I really dont know.
She is really going through **** at the moment and I cant say I finding it particularly easy to deal with, this has taken its toll on me also.
All I want is my loving wife back to normal, I know its going to be a tough haul but I will be with her every step of the way. No one, but NO-ONE gets between me and Collette. I love her so much and its agony to see her suffering like this, I feel really helpless, as though just being there for her simply isnt enough and the frustration is enourmous.
It was Collette who confided in me and showed me where one of the final straw triggers came from which is how I came to be here.
I was aware she went on here as she used the boards to help try and gain some sort of control over that part of her life. There are other serious issues that need to be dealt with surrounding the depression but we will go through that together.

How someone can be so low as to make someone feel so worthless and resulting in the action that Collette took I dont know.

My message to that person is, Its not just one person you are hurting, its two. How would you like it if someone made you lose your partner because of something you said? I hope it stays on your concience (if you have one that is) for a very long time to come.

Im going to sign off for now as im getting wound up again.

Thanks again for your support.

[HeatherP]

Just wanted everyone to know that Collette PM'd me a while ago (today) to let me know she's okay.

I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say, Collette we hope to see you often and offer any and all support we can! We miss you!! (and we're sorry that $^^& got to you!)

[soremom]

Mav,

I am glad Collette is doing better for now. After reading your second post, it sounds like you could use an outlet to sort things out too. I hope you consider talking to someone yourself. I am by no means suggest you have the same problems (the depression), but it can be very draining on the other person. For your sake and your wifes, it may be worth talking to someone if for no other reason then to vent your fustrations.

Good luck to both of you and I will keep you both in my thoughts.

Kim

[Collette]

Thanks for the kind words.

Collette is having an assesment for psychotherapy and is already on antidepressants.

Hopefully with time things will get better.

As for me needing someone to talk to, I tend not to worry about my problems, Collette comes first and foremost, I will deal with my issues afterwards but for now I need to concentrate and be strong for Collette.

[soremom]

I am sorry if I offended you, that was not my intention. It just sometimes your feelings can get pushed aside while dealing with your wife and eventually your feelings come out, sometimes not in the best way.

I am talking from experience about pent up feelings and then come back to bite you in the butt. Even if you have a friend to talk to it does make it easier to deal with the problems. I can usually tell when my medical problems are getting to my husband by his actions and words and we talk about them.

That is all I was meaning and I hope I didn't make it sound otherwise. Just want to make sure that you both make it through this.

Kim

[mg_2204]

... I had no idea Collette & her partner were going through such rough times. How wonderful to read from someone who cares so much about the woman in his life! And so refreshing. Many couples just don't care about each other anymore. That, alone, is a blessing, don't you think? To both of you : the very best, hang in there!!!

Marie
:)

[PepsiLvr]

Mav and Collette,

I'm sorry that you were subjected to the comments of the offending member (hopefully no longer a member) Anyway, all I can say is that like others have said, diabetes and depression does go hand in hand. Fortunately this board has helped me a lot. Just knowing that there are so many supportive people out there really makes a difference. I am so much happier now that I have come to this board. Actually, the offending post that you were subjected to is the first of it's kind I've seen here and I would like to think that it will be the last but this is the internet and well... :( :( :( . Anyway, you have every right to be angry and I would be as well. Thank you for coming here to post your feelings / thoughts on the situation. I will be praying that everyone gets the help and care that they deserve.

Again, I wish you a speedy recovery and god bless!!

[lgvincent]

Hope she's feeling better today!

[mav]

oops just realised that my last post was logged in Collettes name.

Soremom.
I have trouble expressing in words how or what I am feeling at the best of times, so dont think for a moment that you have in someway offended me, please do not worry.

Collette has not had the best of days today, I had to work which meant Collette had to find the courage to go into town on her own this morning, she is ok now and seems calm for the moment.

mg_2204
Thank you for your comments. I am totally devoted to Collette, it hurts me so badly to see her suffering, I REALLY wish I could wave a magic wand and take the troubles and the pain away for her, I would even swap places with her if I could.
Call me a soppy git if you will but I love her so much and I really cant stand being away from her even to go to work and especially at a time like this.

[Dewey]

Hi Mav,

I truly hope and pray that everything will get better for you and Collette.

I wouldn't call you soppy, I'd say you're a good man who is caring, loving and deeply devoted to his wife. Sometimes, life can become hard or throw curve balls, and it is not always easy to remain positive. All we can do is try to "stay the course" and look ahead to dreams, goals and where we'd like to be. Please know that you and Collette are in all of our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
Dewey

[Collette]

Thank you all for your kind words, im sorry ive caused controversy on here, i didnt actually think i would welcome back on here.

Id also like to thankyou for making my husband feel welcome on here.

The past few months have been ****, having my assessment for psychotherapy - which isnt going to begin for at least a year, and the psychiatrist thinks that im strong enough emotionally to manage completely without professional support until then, why wont she listen?! I feel like ive failed.

I feel as though im screaming at the top of my lungs that i cant cope - but no one is hearing me.

Im still trying to get the right antidepressents, which obviously just aint doing alot at the moment, so to cope i still binge on sugar, and i scratch my forehead until it bleeds and carve things on my hand and arm, basically im trying everything i can to cope and to take away the suicidal feelings.

I am not weak, i have tried to sort out my problems myself, but most of them go back to my teens and before.

Thankfully i have the most supportive husband who wants to do anything he can to help.

Again thanks to you all for your support and sorry.

[TAutry]

Collette,

Thank you and Mav for keeping in touch. You have absolutely nothing for which to apologize.

The important thing now is your well-being. It is my sincere hope that you can get the assistance you need and that you will soon be on the road to recovery. Furthermore, know that you and Mav are always welcome here.

Travis Autry

[HeatherP]

I'll second Travis' words, and add a cyber-hug.

Glad you dropped in Collette. It really sounds to me like you need more help, not less. Is there anyway for you or Mav to complain to and request a revision? At the very least it seems to me that you need a psychiatrist to work w/ you to get your meds right. My husband had chronic pain for years and nobody did anything about it. Finally after years and years he found a doc that was willing to listen and give him treatment. I guess I'm saying don't give up - although I realize that's easier said than done.

Take care of yourself,
HeatherP

[soremom]

Collette,

It was good to hear from you.

I don't know how it works for you, insurance and all being in the UK. Is there any way you can go to another dr. to start getting the help that you need and deserve? With my insurance I can go to another Dr. if I am not happy with the one I have.

I hope that this is avaiable to you and are able to get your help sooner. Please keep in touch with us and ask for any help, even if it an ear to bend.

Take care and hugs, P.s. you have a wonderful husband and I am so glad he is standing beside you, lean on him.

Kim

[Collette]

Originally posted by HeatherP
I'll second Travis' words, and add a cyber-hug.

Glad you dropped in Collette. It really sounds to me like you need more help, not less. Is there anyway for you or Mav to complain to and request a revision? At the very least it seems to me that you need a psychiatrist to work w/ you to get your meds right. My husband had chronic pain for years and nobody did anything about it. Finally after years and years he found a doc that was willing to listen and give him treatment. I guess I'm saying don't give up - although I realize that's easier said than done.

Take care of yourself,
HeatherP

Thanks Heather.

Sadly we are too late. Collettes session with the counselor didnt go well today, basically she was told she is wallowing in it and that there was no reason to take the insulin overdose.
It upset Collette badly and she is now in hospital after taking an overdose of pills. Luckily she had the sense to phone me and I was able to get an ambulance to her as I was some 30 miles away at work at the time. I caught up with her at the hospital. That was at 530 this evening and its now 0145am and ive literally just got in and had some food.
I dont feel like it but I have to be up at 6 for work. also ive left a message for the counsellor involved to get in touch with me. She is going to get a peice of my mind and depending on what she has to say for herself she may well find herself being reported to the welfare authority for investigation.

Collette thankfully is going to be ok but I wont know what is happening now until tomorrow.
Im upset, confused, scared and feel utterly alone at the moment.
What do I do now? How do I cope with this? Please someone help me before I lose the one person I love and care so deeply about.
I cant stand this anymore, im at my wits end with worry.

[mav]

Sorry ive done it again, forgot to log Collette out.

Just not thinking straight at the moment.

[soremom]

Mav,

I am so sorry for what is happening to both of you. I would defintely turn the counselor in, I can't believe someone would say that to anybody the is depressed.

I have no idea what to say to as what to do. I am not sure what resources you have over there, here I would say find another dr. or see if the hospital could hold her for a 72 hour hold, just to make sure she doesn't try it again. Also to give you sometime to clear your mind and find some arrangement for Collette to get better help.

You are not alone. I hope by reading every ones post we are here, again if it is only to lend an ear.

I hope you are able to find help for Collette and someone who is a little more qualified. Anyone to give the advice that that person gave is not qualified in my opinion.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Kim

[Deager]

Mav,

I am so at a loss for words. It is so obvious that Collette needs professional help....good professional help. I don't understand the UK system. Why aren't they doing more for her? Why does she have to wait a year?? Can you afford to go to a private doctor? Are you close enough to our border to seek help here? She is screaming for help and no one is answering her but you and how could you know what to do??? She needs to get to the bottom of what she is rebelling against. At least she calls you in time cause she obviously wants to live very much.

I don't know what to say to you to help you. I think you are doing all you can. Your support is a major thing in her life and you are at the end of your rope. It seems impossible, but you have to keep going for her sake.

You need someone close to you to talk to....a friend or relative.....or a support group if there is one there. There's got to be someone there to help you....to talk to. To listen. We can only do so much here.

I feel for you so much. I hope things get better for you soon. You are in our thoughts.

Diane

[Dewey]

Mav,

I am deeply sorry to hear this. That therapist should never have made a statement like that to Collette! Like Diane said, Collette is crying for help and that therapist isn't giving it. :(

I also live in the US and am not certain about the available resources in the UK. While there is not much we can do here, please know that we are listening and we care very deeply for both you and Collette. You are both in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

[Deager]

Ack....sorry.....even tho I know you live in the UK my brain said Canada. So of course, that wouldn't help much. I'm just grasping for things you can do I guess. It is such an awful situation.

I'll keep thinking.

Diane

[PepsiLvr]

Mav,

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. Collette is so blessed to have someone like you who cares so much. Unfortunately I am not from the UK and I'm not sure what your exact location is. I've tried to locate some resources for you and this seems to be the best even though it's a bit general. Hopefully it can point you in the right direction. I found that if you use the search in the upper right hand corner you can get some revelant results.

http://www.ukonline.gov.uk
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en

Again, hang in there and god bless!

[Willow]

Collette & Mav

Can you not ask for a second opinion?

I think everyone has the right to medical treatment & it is appalling that you have to wait a year. I would ask for a second opinion because, as we all know, doctors do think differently about things.

Best wishes

[HeatherP]

I'm so sorry, Mav.

I'm sending a PM.

HeatherP

[Musqua]

Mav & Collette :

I am sorry that you are going through such a rough time. People are right when they say that depression come with diabetes. I went through a major depresssion a couple of years ago and again two years ago when I was diagnosed . At that time I did'nt know there were groups around like this one to help. I have found alot of help & guidance from these individuals here. I would do the exact opposite of your wife I would miss my inslulin for days and binge then wonder why I was getting sicker. My dtr & friends were a great help but I never really told my hsbd what I was doing. I always told him everything was fine but then one day he realized tht things weren't fine :( and he found help for me. I still go around thinking why me ,don't I have enough other health problems . So if you can hang in there Collette things will get better but it may take a while & Mav kudos to you for being so loving, ther are alot of partners who would just turn a blind eye to everything going on around them. So please give each other a BIG HUG and remember that we are here for you both.

Heather W.
(Another Canadian Friend)

:whistling Canadian Girls Rock :whistling

[SunniD]

Wanted Mav to read this article and see if it applies to their situation at all. Sometimes a simple change can help and some people react to the insulin they're on with depression.
Not knowing what insulin she's on at all , you might ask an endo if switching the insulins might be a viable option due to the side affects she's having on what she's on. Read this article and let me know what you think-it was posted in the IDDT.
I am not advocating pork insulin above human insulin but sometimes a switch from one human insulin to another might make enough of a difference. I am currently using Novorapid.
SunniD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


GE insulin, hypoglycaemia and depression – a connection?


A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Colleen Fuller, Canada

Two weeks ago I switched to pork insulin, and there are two main changes in myself that I've noticed. The first is that I haven't had diarrhea for the first time in 3 years. That might not be associated with the insulin – and it's only been the last several days, but I notice it, and I'm watching. I know that diarrhea can be a complication of diabetes, but I never had experienced it on an on-going basis until I began using GE insulin, and now it seems to be changing.

The second big thing is that my mind is energized. I just don't know how else to explain it. When I switched to Humulin in 1996 I experienced six comas in a period of about one month and was hypoglycaemic most of the time for about six or seven months. My behaviour definitely did change and the one who felt the brunt of it was my husband. I became extremely aggressive and I also began accusing him of trying to control me and disempower me. This was based on one simple fact: I had no control! I could no longer tell when I was hypoglycaemic, but John, my husband, often could at that time. By the time I began showing symptoms I was long gone and helpless. So John would say "You need some orange juice" and I would begin screaming at him: "how would you know, you're not a diabetic". I was terrible, even telling him on several occasions how much I hated him. It was awful, awful, awful and I was miserable.

I began seeing a psychiatrist in 1997 and she diagnosed me with clinical depression. There was a lot in my own past that also came up during this time, including an ex who had committed suicide in 1974. But as I look back on it now, my view of this period is changing. One of the things I complained to the psychiatrist about was my inability to focus on anything. I was finishing a book, but I was really struggling with it. She said that was a symptom of depression. The doctor linked my depression to consistent hypoglycaemia. At that time I had depleted any reserves of glucose in my body - next to nothing in my muscles, organs or brain. This, she said, affected the seretonin levels in my body. Ergo: depression. The answer? Zoloft. No one recommended I stop taking GE insulin. But for a long time I refused to take an anti-depressant. I just didn't want to take any more drugs - I couldn't handle it. GE insulin was enough!

By then after blood tests showed that no, I wasn't miraculously producing my own insulin and that was not the reason for the problems I was having - my endocrinologist wanted to switch me to Humalog and to an insulin pump. You have to understand that I was desperate, and also I now believe that my brain wasn't functioning properly - otherwise I would have began insisting on being switched back to animal insulin. (I unquestioningly accepted that I "couldn't" take it any longer because it was being withdrawn - something completely out of character. I didn't even research the subject, and research is what I do for a living.)

Anyway, I did accept his advice and switched to Humalog and to the pump. After two days on the pump I was still hypoglycaemic all the time. I remember sitting at the table in our dining room all alone, in tears. I felt overwhelmed with diabetes and I thought "my life used to be more than this".

Diabetes had always been there, but it had never dominated my life – my life was made up of other things like love and work. My logic then proceeded like this: I don't want this life, but is there another life for me? Is it this life or no life? I felt there was no other life, and that I would forever more be poking my fingers every 30 minutes and chugging apple juice, waking up surrounded by paramedics and that I would lose my autonomy and independence. I wanted to die - I don't know if I wanted to commit suicide, but I definitely didn't want to live my life any longer.

I didn't tell my husband I was feeling this way, but when I saw my psychiatrist I told her and she seemed upset, and really insisted that I begin taking the Zoloft. So I did, because I was upset, too. Suicide was something I'd had to deal with in the past, and so it frightened me to think of myself veering in that direction. She also counselled me to give the Humalog and the pump a chance. These things all probably helped me: the Zoloft, my psychiatrist and the insulin pump, not to mention my family and my husband.

Then about six months ago I began to experience this inability to concentrate or to focus on anything. I don't know exactly how else to describe it. But I'd stopped seeing the psychiatrist by then, and I'd been off the Zoloft for a while. I didn't want to get back into that routine, I guess I just wanted to get on with my life. So I ignored it. But it got worse and worse, and ultimately this is what forced me to finally switch back to pork insulin. I'd been reading quite a lot about GE insulin and its possible link to depression in some people. I could feel myself moving in that direction again, mainly, I think, because of this focus thing. I can't write when I can't focus. I'd been missing deadlines during this period, which is really terrible.

Lo and behold! I have been more productive in the last week than I have been for months. It might have nothing to do with the insulin, but that's the only thing that's changed for me. I feel energetic and very, very focused.

Perhaps that sounds all airy-fairy, but it's how I feel. When I told my endocrinologist, who I credit with saving my life and who I greatly admire and like, that I wanted to switch back to pork, he was surprised. He didn't even know animal insulins were still available. But he said the only important thing is how I feel. My blood sugars have always been excellent, both on animal insulin and on GE insulin - except during that bad period when my HbA1C's were extraordinarily low. (That's when they began testing me for endogenous insulin.) So, he said, as long as my overall control is good, he himself is not wedded to the GE insulin. "I'm not a salesman for the drug industry," he said.So there's my story with insulin and depression. I'd never been depressed before I went on to GE insulin, or at least I'd never been diagnosed with it. I feel that by switching back to pork insulin I've been able to avoid taking an anti-depressant. I feel better and more energetic and more focused. I should also just add that the other night I woke up sweating and hypoglycaemic. I was so happy! This hasn’t happened for quite a long while. I trotted downstairs and gulped down a glass of orange juice!

I will never, ever go back to taking GE insulin.

[mav]

Thanks for that

It would be applicable if only she would take her insulin in the first place.

[lgvincent]

I thought they had stopped making the beef and pork insulins.

[SunniD]

The pork is now on the market in Canada again and the beef has always been on the market in England. The states ship over the necessary beef organs and then a glitch prevents them from shipping back the beef insulins to sell in the states.

I've been helping out a researcher in Florida who's working on the glitches in the system so diabetics who need these insulins to live can have them as it's really hard to import them. The researcher is 63 and got diabetes at the age of 3 and still doesn't
have too many complications to speak of. She's only been on pork or beef and she is a truly remarkeable woman.

In Canada, you have to get a special letter from endo sent to the Federal Minister of Health or Health Canada stating you need beef insulin and then they will help clear it so you can import it to Vancouver, B.C. by a case. Then you have to ship it to where you live. Long process, slightly costly and by the way there is No chance of mad cow disease in beef insulins. That is a myth. They are very purified and a highly filtered product.

SunniD

[lgvincent]

That's interesting. However, I found I was just as depressed while using the animal insulins as I am now with the Humulin.

[SunniD]

That's interesting. However, I found I was just as depressed while using the animal insulins as I am now with the Humulin.


__________________

Igvincent, you are probably right about that. Any insulin is a
foreign body put into our body and bodies will all react uniquely.
Sooner or later we all will probably notice depression symptoms.

For Mav, I believe your wife is truly smart and her body is telling her what will help if she's hesitating on taking the insuliln. I was
like that when I was on Humulin R and N and my windpipe was collapsing and everytime I sat down or layed down my bgs went
to over 20 mmol/L. The only time I felt good was the half hour before I took my shot so I would prolong taking it for as long as possible.

My sister's body was craving salt before her mult-organ shutdown
and not just an extra sprinkle from the salt shaker. She was literally eating it out of the box. When she passed out her bgs were 23.0 mmol/L and her Na and Cl were extremely low. No wonder she craved the salt. She lost her pancreas and adrenals
and became a type one at 50.

My body tells me when it's out of wack. I used to get headaches when my bg hit 8.0 mmol/L because I kept my bgs so low most of the time. When my Na and Cl are low I get a slight craving for salt.
I get nauseaus and slightly dizzy when my Na and Cl are one number below the normal limit. The symptoms are probably
caused from the diuretic I'm on but the craving is the body telling me there's an imbalance.

I'm not a doc but think it would be worth discussing with Colette's endo. You'll never find out if another insulin helps if you don't try one. Aventis is coming out with a new short acting insulin soon again so there will be another one on the market and Detemir is the newest long acting insulin that's coming out that's not as acidic as Lantus so improvements are coming in the near future.

SunniD