Type 1 diabetes

Hi all. I read teh posts about testing with interest. Personally I
find injecting MUCH harder as I am needle-phobic - but thats just me.
I’ve never had a problem INJECTING in public, its so quick with a
pen, and most people don’t notice taht you’ve done anything. However,
I recently started carb-counting, and now test before every meal. I
found this quite hard at first - pulling out my glucose meter and
doing a finger-poke in public. I don’t know if its the blood thing,
or just that its a whole lot more obvious than the injection.
I’m getting used to it now but it was hard.
I wondered what people thought about this? Here in the UK Diabetes UK
produces a bi-monthly magazine called Balance - and often teh
letters page is like a battle ground between teh older and younger
diabetics. THe younger people (in general!) say that testing and
injecting in teh toilets is horrible and could lead to infection -
and they are pro-public testing/injecting. THe older (generally!)
(more…)

Hello Brian,

Nooooooooooo. You’re not phobic. Think about this.

What idiot, bastar* moron, came up with this lovely nightmare??? In order to determine our own health, we need to BLEED ourselves to do so. Sorry, that’s NOT a natural act! In any other scenerio I can imagine, that would be called self-mutilation, or at least self abuse! Heck, in my twisted imagination, I could see this being some kind of midveal <sp.?

You can make technical changes that should REDUCE the discomfort/pain… but fundamentally we’re still “hurting ourselves” obviously in the short term to do these tests…. for a long term benefit. Nuts isn’t it <confused 1/2 smirk

Jeff

Hello Randy,

<<I wish there was some signal or word that I could use with him whereby it would “click” and he would believe me about the lows and not debate it with me.

<Wistful sigh

In my head I’m honestly not low, but in the darkest place of my soul, a place I do not want you to ever see the feelings I keep tightly buried… it is a dark, dark place of rage and frustration. Do not discuss it. Guaranteed you’ll get debate. You need a cross between coping with an enraged toddler and the man you do love more than anything. Try actions rather than words… words get you single syllable arguments. Smiles and firm but gentle love get in my experience better results.

P.S. Very eloquent Michael… thank you!

Jeff

Hello everyone. My name is Cheryl and I live in
Northern California. Just two weeks ago I experienced
diabetic ketoacidosis which landed me in the hospital
for several days. I didn’t know I was diabetic. I’ve
been diagnosed a Type 1 and I’m 38 years old. I’m
taking Lantus a.m. and p.m. and Humalog on a sliding
scale before meals. I’m on no carbs till I guess they
figure out where my BS should be for me.
In all honesty I’m depressed, confused and scared to
death of what lies ahead for me! Thank you so much
for having me and I hope to get to know each of
you…this seems like a GREAT group of people!
Cheryl

Hi all. I’m Lisa. I have been a type 1 diabetic for 37 years.
Since I was 2. Is everybody in thie group type 1?

Hello Again Randy…

Apologies for flooding the board with responses to your assorted messages.

Having read message# 8 how many times his testing & injecting… there is a major control issue going on here, as in there is a problem the way its being handled. Testing 8 times a day is excessive in the extreme. Injecting the amount you seem to be describing is also (IMHO-fwiw) excessive.

I… adamantly disagree with Carol as to WHY you should contact the Endo (ie because he is drinking wine) but am 100% certain you need to get some definite help. 8 times is waaaaaaaay to much and for all the injecting he seems to be doing, <extremely uncomfortable look
“control-freak”. To me it sounds like the situation could stand some definate counsel… not the therapy per se, but seeking some serious expertise to help figure out the different issues and how to take the edge off them.

Jeff

Morning Randy,

<<he has been diabetic for about 22 yrs. and has NO complications!

Then he should be also be commended. To the degree it is possible to effect those factors (complications), he’s succeeded. Damned nice job.
Ok, NOW, another factor you both need to consider is the little nightmare known as ~hypoglycemic unawareness~. Does he have the same signals, the same “alarm bells” (and to the same degree) he did when he was younger? People with his background/experience are prime candidates for it. (If it iss that is something that is easily reversible btw…)

As for killing off brain cells <gentle smirk

Regarding your nuts by the bedside…. Nuts are probably not the best protein source if you’re trying to stop/head off a low. Cold cuts are probably easier and a higher source of protein. IMHO-fwiw, the fat content of many nuts may slow the digestion too much to be useful, and worse, how can you figure out just how many to eat? 2, the whole jar…. Consider something more substancial in terms of a snack. However, cutting back across the board in terms of his insulin will be the best method.

<<if he is sleeping too soundly, he may not wake up to munch!

Ok, nuts will NOT prevent him from bottoming out, as you’re describing it.

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Morning Carol,

<<Hi, I also forgot to mention, it is due to being on insulin for years that does have a peak time that I chose not to be on Lantus. I like
knowing when that peak time will heat so I know that I am covered.

<Gentle chuckle

However, with NPH for example, that is a great white shark hiding in the shadows. It is a wonderful insulin, but BECAUSE that peaks it also requires a pretty strict schedule. Avoid having a decent schedule of eating, and you get bitten…

Jeff