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severe leg cramps
My husband has very severe leg cramps at night. Lately they seemed to be happening more often. Does anyone have anything they have tried and worked to help them to be less severe? We have tried a little bit of everything for it to only work for a short time. Even a book that might help would be nice.
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Latest Entry
1 Month Anniversary
Wednesday was my 4th visit to my endocrinologist office since my diagnosis last month, and for the first time since D-Day (1/20/2011), I feel positive about my outlook. The fellow (who still looks like a Katie to me, even though her name is actually Kathy) that I've met with the last couple visits was thrilled with my blood sugar readings for the past couple weeks and with how I've been doing overall. I found out that my official status remains a bit of an enigma - lab results ostensibly put me firmly in the Type 2 camp, but my response to treatment is that of a Type 1; I asked about the possibility of a 1.5 diagnosis, but apparently my initial readings make that unlikely, too. She said that my charts have been the topic of discussions among several fellows, just because I don't quite fit neatly into any of the categories. Of all the things to be a unique snowflake about, I could've taken something a little less, you know, medical. Perhaps I'll be Patient X for Diabetes 4.0, or something...
Regardless of my type-quirks, I learned that I'll probably never be able to maintain normal levels without insulin, and that actually didn't freak me out as much as I'd have expected. OK, so I'll be doing the whole MDI thing - possibly venturing into the realm of pumps at some point in the future. And while I completely expect to have a breakdown about this at some future point, today, I'm kind of ok with it. Because I'm feeling a sense of control that I haven't really had in this first month. Getting the reassurance from Katie, et al. that I'm doing what I need to do, managing this disease on a level of "non-diabetic" numbers...I can do this. It's a pain in the *** sometimes, and over the weekend I was utterly heartbroken because I was imagining going the rest of my life without eating another cupcake, but the sun is shining today. I can do this.
And, the best news of all - I got the go ahead to proceed with the IVF plans that were derailed when I got my scary lab results last month. I was hoping and praying that I could get a handle on my blood sugar so that by the beginning of summer we could get back on track with the baby plans, so I was absolutely and utterly shocked that *they* brought it up today...even sent me on my merry way with a permission slip saying that my diabetes is well-controlled.
Next step is a consult a week from today to see what the fertility docs do with this information. I know there's a long road ahead of me, but now, I'm hopeful.
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Latest Entry
This Injectable Life: Coverboy
The ADA are doing an article on counting carbs in their April Issue and so I spoke to them for about an hour on how this old diabetic counts carbs.
They must have loved the discussion - as they sent a photographer to my house yesterday for some photos.
What fun!
So when a photographer says we need three photos - it's not like "snap snap snap" and they leave.
There was a truckload of equipment and an assistant in tow.
They set up a white background in my garage and a number of lights and spent about an hour and a half fiddling with lights and taking readings and so fourth. Finally they called me for the shoot.
I have a new appreciation for models. The photographer was great - but they take about 100 or 200 pictures and you have to hold pretty still and in a precise location and get commands like "can you move the top of your head slightly to the right" and "chin down a little."
I'm thinking - right - does he mean turn my head right or look right?
So about four hours later - they all seemed satisfied that they got their shots - and proceeded to spend all this time loading what must have been thousands of dollars of equipment back into their truck.
They will take pictures of three others they spoke to for the article, and one of us will get to be on the cover!
The past few weeks for me D wise have been quite well. I'm about 2 months back on MDI and it's like riding a comfortable bike again.
Initially I had a heck of a time remembering to take the Lantus shot before bed. Fortunatly the sensor would catch that error and beep me awake to correct.
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About Me T2 Info
A1c: 8.0 (11/22/2010), 5.7 (1/10/2011), 6.1 A1cNow (1/22), 5.1 A1cNow (4/23/2011)
Metformin: 500mg(11/26), 250mg(2/1)
PGX(.com) fiber 2000mg before lunch & dinner
No Exercise (powerchair user, muscular atrophy)
Waist: 46" 11/2010, 42" 2/2011
Avoiding starch(carbs), sugar, etc.
Guru Authors: Rob Thompson MD, Gary Taubes (Why We Get Fat)
If someone looks at the image above let me know if it displayed OK for you.
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Latest Entry
Does flu or fever raise BG?
Wondering when the high blood sugar level not responding to efforts to lower during same type of illness as 70sFan77, will begin to respond?? It's been a week and it's like there is never going to be a good reading again! Type 2 Diet controlled - in the past - not controlled now! Have not encountered this before since dx in 2004.
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Latest Entry
Water
How Water Impacts Blood Sugars
Picture a glass of water. Mix in a little sugar and stir until it dissolves. Now place it outside on a hot, sunny day. As the water evaporates, the remaining water gets sweeter and sweeter.
If you have diabetes, this happens to your blood when you're dehydrated. Because your blood is 83% water, when you lose water, the volume of blood decreases and the sugar remains the same. More concentrated blood sugar means higher blood sugars.
The lesson: stay hydrated to avoid unnecessary high blood sugars.
How Much Water Should I Drink?
The average person loses about 10 cups of water per day through sweat and urination. At the same time, you gain fluid from drinking liquids and eating food.
So how much you need to drink is a tricky question. You may have heard the "drink 8 glass of water a day" rule. Where did this rule come from? As Barbara Rolls, a nutrition research at Pennsylvania State University says: "I can't even tell you that, and I've writen a book on water!" It turns out that there's no basis for this in the medical literature.
The easiest way to tell is looking at your urine. If it's a little yellow, you're probably hydrated. If it's darker, then you need to drink more fluids.
You can also go with your own intuition. Are you thirsty? Drink! If you're busy or stuck at a desk for long periods, make sure you have a water bottle so you can easily answer when your body calls for water.
Does Coffee or Tea Count?
Yes. Although consuming caffeine can cause your body to shed some water, you still gain more water than you shed. And studies have shown that this effect is partically non-existent for people who drink caffeine regularly.
Can I Drink Too Much Water?
Actually, yes. A few years ago, a woman died in a water drinking contest. For the average person, it's more important to guard against under-hydration than over-hydration.
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Latest Entry
Diabetes, Depression & Menopause
2/15/11
Today is the first day of my new blog. I need a channel for all the thoughts and feelings that I'm going through with the changes going on.
I started Zoloft 1 week ago. My GYN prescribed it for depression and the mood swings associated with menopause. The first few nights I awoke out of a sound sleep hypo - but I'm not sure if that is a coincidence. I get the "sweats" during the day and just recently started getting "hot flashes" as well. I have regularly woken up at night really hot, but always thought that was diabetes - now I'm not so sure that it wasn't early stages of menopause.
I have had diabetes for 11 years and I am 50 years old. I also have a chronic thyroid disease and take medication for that as well. I was one of those people who took their health for granted and felt invincible. Now, i struggle each and every day to find "normal". I am a recovering alcoholic & drug addict and recently relapsed after 21 years of sobriety. So, you can kind of say that my life got very complicated and I didn't know how to handle it. I am in therapy again and trying to get a handle on me. I want to stop this downward spiral and I am willing to do whatever it takes.
I am starting this daily blog to help cleanse my brain and to hopefully start to see a pattern - of what, I'm not sure.
That's it for today - more to come tomorrow.
2/16/11
Am trying to keep to my word and write a little every day. Fatigue was at all time high today so I drank a lot of coffee. Had really high BG this afternoon - 449! I was told that SSRI's can raise BG levels so I have to make adjustments to my insulin. Not sure if I should cut back my Lantus at night. I don't work with an endo since I have never had any luck finding the right doctor. I always feel like I'm rushed through the appointment or judged for having very little control. I'd like to find a doctor who actually has diabetes - because we all know that unless you have this disease, you can't possibly understand what it feels like every day.
I've always been slim, and never had to diet. I have an endocrine deficiency which is why I developed type 2 diabetes at age 40. I also have a non-functioning thyroid, but don't gain weight. So here I am nearing 51 and still trying to find a balance with all these chronic illnesses. And then to really get slapped in the face, I'm in full menopause. So now it's really tricky to try and figure out which disease is causing a symptom - am I hot because I'm a "hot flash" or because I'm hypo. I am feeling depressed or is my thyroid off kilter.
I try to focus on my blessings - I try to see the glass half full instead of empty - some days it's easier than others.
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Latest Entry
new to site
looking foward to interaction on site.Ill share with you my recent talk with my med students and residents.We discussed when to treat elevated blood sugars by what ever means meds or diet/exercise.Most docs will wait for diabetes to be diagnosed before start meds.Many give some conversation about diets when metabolic markers are elevated.But for the most part early or pre- diabetes gets less attention.But we know 50% of b-cells are already lost by the dm2 diagnosis.We dont have a lot of evidence for regeneration although some meds mays reduce inflammation which may help that.[so far in rat models anyway'].Are we just waiting to long to start care.Im old enough to remember not using statins until patient had a coronary event.Boy is that wrong we know about prevention in cholesterol treatments.to prevents heart attacks.Why is an elevated bs and metabolic changes not in the same treatment plan.I think early treatment might prevent the disease or slow progression. Just sharing my thoughts, jjzachs- Read more...
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Latest Entry
new to this site and the pump
i have a silly question i want to use the ez manager cd but my laptop does not have a cd rom how the heck can i do this
u cant download from the site? i really want to use this with my meter so i dont have to manually put in how many carbs im eating any ideas- Read more...
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Latest Entry
New to this site ...
Hi. I am new to this site but and not new to diabetes. I have been diabetic for 32 years on insulin at age 13. I am trying to navigate this site and cannot see how to upload my profile picture. Can someone please help me?
Thanks, Judi Naylor Paul;)
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Latest Entry
My new A1c is 6.1 Yipee......... :)
Dear Ginna/ Dear All' date='Hi, grrt .
my case too almost like urs, i too been diagnosed type 2 a week ago, my morning no too 128 bt after 2 hrs of breakfast it goes to 210, my Endo advised me one tab METFORMIN 500 MG ER after dinner, today after 4 tablets during last 4 days , morning before breakfast was 110 and after 2 hrs of breakfast was 145, will it further improve as i taken only 4 tablets in my life in last 4 days, i started 1 hr morning walk too, pls advise me smding ,thanks and regards[/quote']
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Hello to all' date='
you might wonder why i ask this, me being type 2 diabetic for so many years i know all to well that todays high carb foods and fast get them and go meals are not good for the body, that is why type 2 is on the rise , people not relizeing the danger in eating a poor meal plane , even thow they think they are eating good but are really not, the other day i was at a friends house and i saw my friends son eating ice cream in the morning , by the way he is very overweight and the father also has type 2 diabetis , i wood figure that he would not allow his son to eat ice crean so early in the morning eat something healthy. Me being type 2 and thinking that it was my obligation to tell the child that he sould eat a piece of fruit with peanut butter something other than ice cream in the morning. The son returned by saying i am just a kid i am allowed to . I thought to myself after he said that what was i doing ,talking to a child about what he should eat or not eat. That is the parents job not mine. Did i have the right to say anything to him . Please i would like to get your comment on this subject.[/quote']
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Latest Entry
New to Diabetes, and DF
I just ran across this web sight and was suprised to see all the friendly people here! I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in january of 2009, the middle of my junior year in high school.Suddenly it seemed that my whole world stopped...Im still sorta new to all this two years into it, but I guess I havent really been exposed to anyone else with type 1 in my area...I am so intrigued by what I'm reading as far as complications you all are having, and how many things I can relate to!.well, I just wanted to kinda introduce myself
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Latest Entry
early morning insulin reactions
I have very good control of my type 1 diabetes' date=' with no serious side effects after 20 years. I take 5 injections a day, Lantus and Humulog.The problem is that sometimes I have a serious low blood sugar early in the morning. I normally get up and go about my business at 3:00 AM, but once in a while my housemate hears my alarm go off and she doesn't hear me get up. This morning, for example, she came in to get me up and I told her I was fine, but I didn't move. (I remember nothing of this.) She went downstairs and made me a cup of hot chocolate. When she brought it to me I refused to drink it. She had a tube of gel that she tried to get me to taste, but I fought her off. (I remember nothing of any of this.) This has happened before, and it's frightening for her because she's afraid I will entirely lose consciousness. I am pretty strong, and she literally has to force me down to get anything in my mouth. When the whole thing is over we both feel terrible; I am ashamed and horrified at my bad behavior, and she feels guilty for manhandling her friend.
Does this happen to other people? If so, how do your friends manage to get you to eat?[/quote']
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Latest Entry
I Don't Get it
My first reaction to waking up high is to take some Novolog (I mean' date=' if you have it, why not correct?)! Next, fixed regimens of Novolog seem very constrictive.Lastly, fixing the problem, the dawn phenomenon, is definitely a journey and different for everyone. I still can't figure mine out 100%, though I can say that after I was about to give up increasing my evening Levemir, an additional ONE unit seemed to make a big difference. I must have hit some sort of threshold![/quote']
I use a 1:6 sliding scale for Humalog according to carbs in meal adjusted +/- by1:15 per deviation from "ideal" pre-meal glucose reading. I take 40U Levemir at Bedtime. To prevent high AM readings (dawning or bounce), I take 12-15 grams of Carbs with the Levemir. The same was true for when I was on Lantus. It works for me and I've recorded A1C's of 5.8 tp 6.2 over the last several years. My Endocrinologost loves me. For what it's worth, I hope this helps someone. And please please seek your Diabetes Management from an Endocrinologist. Most Internists or GP's don't really get it.
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I have been assigned a project in my econometrics course and I need a reasonably large sample. I need to be able to perform multiple linear regression analyses upon it. Does anyone have a suggestion as to where I may obtain such data? I don't have a "question" to answer so the data that I use does not have to be specific to anything. I would prefer the data to be in an Excel document. Thanks!!
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Latest Entry
pregnant with type 2
I am 10 weeks pregnant and have type 2 for 3 years with my last pregnancy i was fine no gd and not diabetic. We werent planning on getting pregnant but it happened when i was trying to take care of myself i was going to the gym regularly i had lost some weight and then boom im pregnant so now im soooooo worried that my having diabetes will have made my unborn child unhealthy or have problems they are putting me on insulin in a few days and thats scary too but im willing to do what i have to to have a healthy baby my a1c was 7 .....
I'm just scared.... any suggestions will be welcomed thanks
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Latest Entry
dental infections
I had probs with high sugars from dental probs. Eventually severe headaches, numbness in arms and legs and face. Often nausea too. I am 61 yo and have had type 1 since age 16. Anyone else had any of these probs??? .... I also had concerns about the quality of lantus at first, but, now I'm pursuing the dental infection angle wih my dentist. I think I'm on the right track....... Tony
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Latest Entry
Much Confusion
I've landed up on this Forum which has so much information I don't know where to start.
I had cystitis over a weekend when the surgery was closed so I went to the local Walk In centre. When they tested my urine they found Glucose ++++, so they did a fingerprick test, which was 20. They said that bladder infections can cause false glucose readings and that I should see my Dr. So I made an appointment and had blood tests done.
When I went back for the results, I was told it was only marginally up and that I should talk to the practice nurse about diet. I didn't do that because I forgot. When I was called for diabetic eye screening, I went, and told the technician that I wasn't diabetic and didn't know why I had bee called. When I was called for my annual check up, I was sent to the Diabetic Nurse, and again I said I wasn't diabetic. She very gently and kindly insisted that I was, and she checked my feet and weight etc. I had been on a diet and had lost 11kg so further dietary issues were not discussed.
I've recently gained weight and have cravings for carbohydrates, plus my hands and feet tingle. I keep getting thrush and a sore tongue so I looked on the Internet to find information, and ended up here. I've decided to make an appointment with the Diabetic Nurse because I realise I have no idea what my blood sugar levels are or what I should be eating. Nobody has yet sat down with me and gone through the whole thing with me, and because of that I assumed it was all a minor issue not worth bothering about. I have been given no testing kit or medication, and they seemed happy with my weight loss so I haven't taken any of it seriously.
And it seems that that was a mistake.
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response to recent messages received...
I hadnt updated this blog for sometime after some negative input, when my aim was to try and make more people aware and have somewhere i could get my thoughts out.
I have a blog now that i use and havent had abuse from anyone there. emilyb.blog.co.uk
I want to thank those who have messaged me and i appreciate hearing about your experiences too. I know now that i am not alone and there are many people out there struggling with this. I dont often check here now due to previous experiences but if you message, i thankfully get an email to tell me to look. Im not ignoring you, i just dont use this much more.
To those still struggling with diabulimia - tell somebody. Dont leave it too late for them to know via the emergency services.
You are not alone.
Diabulimia awareness on facebook saved my life.
DWED - diabetics with eating disorders website
BEAT.co.uk - eating disorders info
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lab results
I called my sister and told her about the results and she's worried about me (even more so than before). I'm wondering if I shoulda held off telling her till I knew more about it. Oh well. I think its better that I told her now rather than something happening and her finding out that way...
Btw none of my meds can cause this; I asked the pharmacist about that.
Later
Tiff
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Latest Entry
elllooooo )))
Hi there !!! YUP.. !!! New Years Resolution ... to try and get my bs in order:o Hope everyone is doing well this new year.. :T
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Latest Entry
to change my mindset
i guess you could call it a break down. everyone breaks down sometimes right? i mean its only healthy to do so. you get caught up in life. other priorities. school family friends work. diabetes is always first priority. ofcourse it has to be. with all the complications for the future you would have to be completely crazy not to care. not to have it be the most stressful worry in the back of your mind. so here i am in my room just thinking to myself. when you take a step back from daily life and look at the big picture. and how you could have pushed your first priority to the back of your mind, yet again. how could i have lost focus again! breakdown. focus. thats all it is right? you can have the best diet, insulin ratio, schedule, but you have to focus on these thing so they can help you be successful. i guess once you let all these things slip to the back of your mind focus is gone. and then one simple moment reminds you of whats important. how diabetes must be at the front of your mind all the time. is this even possible? diabetes is life but then why is necessary to make and conscious reminders to keep it first priority. those that can focus on diabetes without having to remind themselves to stay focused, they must be on the right track. sometimes i feel like if i could go to a deserted place to be with myself and my diabetes we might become one. i would focus, and prepare myself for real life, busy, fast paced life with diabetes. after 7 years with diabetes i have never had this constant focus on diabetes. maybe its to do with consistency, there is none. one meal plan, this insulin dose, that one, new insulin type, on pump off pump, multiple injections, set schedule injections. before i can grab hold of one this there comes another, like life i suppose. its so hard to keep something so long term in the front of your mind all the time when short term things take your energy. its just a thought but maybe someone will read and it will trigger some change in someone, or myself.
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Latest Entry
Tammi's Log Book.
Well hopfully this is going to help me.
For those of you who do not know me. Im Tammi, im 14 years old and have had diabetes sense i was 5. I take 24 Lantis and night and 1-10 Novolog everything I eat. My A1C is 11.3 (OUCH!) When it is supposed to be around 8. I'm trying to fix this but it just dosnt seem to be working so maybe you guys can help keep me on track?? Ill be posting my blood suger checks and then the dose i give and what Im eating when I can.
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My pregnancy journey = blood sugar
I've had T2 for about 6 years now. I was under pretty bood control for about4 years. Then I got lazy and stopped testing as often And my A1C was 9.8. Well at the same time we were TTC, not knowing my sugar was that bad. I got pregnant and MC. For a year we were still trying ( my O.B told me my high BS wasn't a big deal in early pregnancy)
I got pregnant again almost a year later and changed doc's. With her help i got my sugar under control in 3 weeks but it wasn't fast enough as i still miscarried. 2 months after that i had an A1C of 5.8 
. I'm currently 6 weeks prego and at about 4 and a half weeks i started seeing really high #'s. My doc adjusted my insulin. It's still not as low as i would like but it's getting better. I think when i go to see her tomorrow she will adjust it again. Then it should go down to where we wnat it. Since being prego it's been harder to control my diet bacause of morning sickness and now some craving's. I just have to remember what it's for. I currently have an A1C of 6.3.- Read more...
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