my 2 cents on everything mentioned
i eat 3 glucose tablets for low blood sugar, they seem to really do
the trick, without raising my blood sugar too high. i was 54
yeasterday and those 3 tablets took me to 89. as far as beging
hungry all of the time i understand that. but since i am on the
pump i eat when ever i want to. i usually eat 5-6 times a day, 3
meals, 2-3 snacks. and i eat fruit i just calculate the carbs and
go. when i have to go to the hospital i refuse that damn artery
stick. they tricked me when i had it done the first time. i had to
go to an adult hospital for the first time when i was 19. childrens
medical center spoiled me and would do the blood gas with a finger
stick. so when i went to the adult hospital they did that artery
stick and i screamed, from that day forward i have refused that
thing. however i haven’t been in DKA for years, so i don’t go to
the hospital unless it is for my asthma. i love my insulin, i think
all diabetics should have one. i had diabetes for 21 years before i
got on the pump and understand some peoples fear of letting go of
the injections, but this pump is my “buddy”, ever where i go she
goes. i was reading a couple of weeks ago a publication sent to me
from the american diabetes association about the oldest living
diabetics, they are twins, men i think they were 72 years old and
have had diabetes for 60 years and they are just fine, so i think it
all depends on the person and how they take care of themselves. i
have had diabetes for 22 years and no problems! i met a man in
cincinnati, he was at a meeting for the american diabetes asso.
advocacy program. he had been on the pump for 25 years, he was one
of the first people put on a pump. he was talking about how big it
use to be and now it is small. anyways he didn’t have any
complications either. talk to you all later, jen
March 22nd, 2005 at 1:02 am
ok. Last post of the evening, I promise.
There are a couple locations doing research on islet cell transplants. I know the U of Wisconsin in Madison is doing one.
The deal is, it is still considered experimental. Therefore, the expense is the patient’s responsibility. The amount is $32,000.00, covering all injections of the transplant.
In this case, the transplant is done via injection. If the first one does not work well enough, there is a second, and finally a third, if necessary.
The success rate appears to be promising, however, one must remain on anti-rejection meds indefinitely. This opens the chance for infection, which is something with which we live every day as diabetics, anyway. The majority of the volunteers have been non-diabetic for more than 5 years after the transplant injections. 5 years without a shot. without finger sticks. to be ‘normal.’ We may convince ourselves that we are normal, but if you look at our mindset, we have simply adjusted well to our challenges. Diabetes has become a way of life and lifestyle for us. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but it is not the ‘norm.’ And I use the word ‘norm’ in a statistical sense, not a judgemental one.
I had thought about the transplant, but had trouble finding $32,000 lying around the house, especially with student loans! Maybe next year when I make the big bucks. (Yes, I am kidding.)
Something to ponder, anyway.
Joan
March 22nd, 2005 at 7:12 pm
Catie,
I feel the same way with the humalog and lantus. It’s a huge relief and a very simple pleasure that most take for granted.
Joan
March 24th, 2005 at 3:33 am
Every person is different. I hope you stay healthy, but I went 25
years with no major complications, now I have plenty. Yes, taking
care of yourself is a big help, but complications do happen.
from all the people i’ve talked to on the net, they rarely happen.
the people that usually get them are the people that refuse to follow
their doctors’ instructions.
robby
March 26th, 2005 at 10:02 am
You know, I have been at this so long, I kind of resist going into
some of the new treatments. I had looked at a pump several years ago
and decided I didn’t want all the changes. I still basically use the
old exchange system. It seems to be working quite well. I have a
few ups and downs, but they can usually be explained. My new endo
said I was doing well enough with multiple injections and didn’t push
the pump. He was the one that told me the other day that another of
his patients just had both transplants. The kidney was doing fine
but the pancreas was rejected. I suppose I will probably go with my
first instinct and ask for both. If it doesn’t take, I am not out
anything. If it does, THANK GOD! I have had that frame of mind for
quite some time. I have always said I would be a guiney pig for
pancreas transplants. I guess I will just have to wait and see what
happens. The dialysis people told me not everybody is eligible for
transplants. I don’t think I would want to know that. I would
rather be told I was on the list and just not have a match come up.
My endo told me too, the other day that the kind of dialysis I want
to do may not be the best for me. They use a glucose fluid. I am
thinking that all my insulins would have to be adjusted. They did
also tell me that once kidneys quit altogether sugar numbers are
usually lower because the kidney breaks down insulin. Once they
don’t work you get the full effect. Another good side effect of
dialysis is better blood pressure. At least that is what they told
me.
Lori
why did your kidneys go bad? did your sugars stay to high for to many
years?
robby
March 30th, 2005 at 10:59 pm
Humbly, Robby, did you get that information from a
medical “professional?” You have a wealth of experience & knowledge
here on the list from people who actually LIVE diabetes. It’s a
great place to “know” diabetes and get the best information on the
scope of diabetes, while learning what YOUR diabetes is for you.
You can study piano in books and on the internet, talk to concert
pianists for a lifetime, but until you sit at the piano, you won’t
know how to play piano.
hmm, well i read the books straight from the american diabetes
association. my doctor told me today that she doubts i’ll ever have
any problems. i’ve met so many people online now that have never had
any trouble, its obvious that the people who get the problems USUALLY
are the ones who dont stick to what their doctor tells them to do. i
highly doubt i’ll ever have any problems, and if i do, they will be
minor. none of the major stuff like heart disease.
robby
April 7th, 2005 at 8:35 pm
Robby,
I have not had any problems but I did mention that Diabetes 1 is common in my dad’s side of the family. My cousin has diabetes since 10 (me about the same) and she has had a kidney transplant even though she has been even more diligent than me about her health. My Endocrinologist told me one can minimise the chances of complications but that sometimes diabetes can interact with other genetic predispositions and that the same as any other illness there are no guarantees. There are no guarantees in life - I had friend (didn’t drink smoke and ran marathons - not a diabetic - die of a heart attack at 35 - unknown genetic fault)I don’t feel it fair to say that those who look after themselves have no problems. I have always looked after my sugars really well but went through a rebellious stage for 5 years where I drank , smoke and ate everything i wanted (no cake though). I even tried other ‘medication’ but I am 100% where my health fanatic cousin has had terrible kidney
problems. I don’t say this to depress you but be aware that one can minimise one’s risk and maybe prevent complications altogether but that some who do look after themselves still suffer and there is no fault. Even in the case where some diabetics go through a period of rebellion there is no fault .
robert stickler <losinmyself25@…
Humbly, Robby, did you get that information from a
medical “professional?” You have a wealth of experience & knowledge
here on the list from people who actually LIVE diabetes. It’s a
great place to “know” diabetes and get the best information on the
scope of diabetes, while learning what YOUR diabetes is for you.
You can study piano in books and on the internet, talk to concert
pianists for a lifetime, but until you sit at the piano, you won’t
know how to play piano.
hmm, well i read the books straight from the american diabetes
association. my doctor told me today that she doubts i’ll ever have
any problems. i’ve met so many people online now that have never had
any trouble, its obvious that the people who get the problems USUALLY
are the ones who dont stick to what their doctor tells them to do. i
highly doubt i’ll ever have any problems, and if i do, they will be
minor. none of the major stuff like heart disease.
robby
Natalie
[INLINE]
April 8th, 2005 at 6:45 am
ADVERTISEMENT
Robby,
I have not had any problems but I did mention that Diabetes 1 is
common in my dad’s side of the family. My cousin has diabetes since
10 (me about the same) and she has had a kidney transplant even
though she has been even more diligent than me about her health. My
Endocrinologist told me one can minimise the chances of complications
but that sometimes diabetes can interact with other genetic
predispositions and that the same as any other illness there are no
guarantees. There are no guarantees in life - I had friend (didn’t
drink smoke and ran marathons - not a diabetic - die of a heart
attack at 35 - unknown genetic fault)I don’t feel it fair to say that
those who look after themselves have no problems. I have always
looked after my sugars really well but went through a rebellious
stage for 5 years where I drank , smoke and ate everything i wanted
(no cake though). I even tried other ‘medication’ but I am 100%
where my health fanatic cousin has had terrible kidney problems. I
don’t say this to depress you but be aware that one can minimise
one’s risk and maybe prevent complications altogether but that some
who do look after themselves still suffer and there is no fault.
Even in the case where some diabetics go through a period of
rebellion there is no fault .
oh i understand that there is no guarantee. but why go through life
worrying about what may or may not happen? anyone may or may not get
cancer, but its silly to sit there and worry about it. i could or
could not get in a car accident, but why worry about it? as long as i
know i’m doing all i can to prevent those problems, i’m happy. do i
honestly think i’ll ever get them? no. if they ever happen, i’ll deal
with it then. they’d be able to catch them during my routine doctor
visits and stop it before it got to bad though, if i ever did.
robby
April 21st, 2005 at 3:28 am
This is very direct & straightforward, and I apologize to any who I
offend, even you, Robby.
~ Judith
see, your post was exactly what everyone is telling me to watch out
for. a typical scare tactic. just because 1 person has problems
doesnt mean another person will. are you going to sit here and tell
me that the american diabetes association and my ecronologist doesnt
know what they are doing? you’re just like the rest of them. you act
like you are doomed to die young, or get heart disease. well thats
not going to happen to me. no sir! diabetes complications can be
prevented! you dont have to sit there and get kidney disease and all
that crap. why do you think these people i’ve talked to and have had
no trouble are like that? could it be because they followed their
doctors orders?? hmm, yep, i’d say so!
robby
May 2nd, 2005 at 1:15 pm
Do you have your JDRF orange band? Our neighbor found them in the paper or something and gave them to us at Christmas. I now have an order in as well.
www.max-life.com
Go check it out!
Thanks for caring and sharing,
Rhonda
Mom to Sydney, 7
type 1 since April 7, 2003
May 4th, 2005 at 4:09 am
Hm, Judith and Catie, travelling together…. could be we’d need the thunder to cover all the chatter???
sry, had to say it.