Comments on: Hello. http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/ Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:34:46 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: lilbabyrose http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-23 lilbabyrose Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:34:53 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-23 I am doing much better on all fronts. The vast majority of my stress from last year is gone and now with the pump I'm doing a world better with the diabetes specifically. I want to get my A1c down a little more but even if I don't get it any better I think I can be fairly content with where I'm at now. I am doing much better on all fronts. The vast majority of my stress from last year is gone and now with the pump I’m doing a world better with the diabetes specifically. I want to get my A1c down a little more but even if I don’t get it any better I think I can be fairly content with where I’m at now.

]]> By: Shanon Richardson http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-22 Shanon Richardson Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:06:21 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-22 It sounds like you have had quite a few problems. Hopefully you are getting situated. I have had diabetes for 26 years and have been on the pump for 12 years. I have had retinopathy, nueropathy, gasteopresis, chronic pancreatitus..about 10 years ago I went to Boston and had my pancreas and part of my stomach as well as my gall bladder removed. I was informed that my pancreas had been completely shriveled up, and was causing the pancreatitus. Since the surgury things have been much improved. I have had ather complications but nothing as bad as before. Now I find myself having problems keeping my blood pressure up where it's supposed to be. If I stand up quick I end up falling down. I fell one time and broke my foot. And during a hospital stay, I stood up to go use the restroom and fell and hit the bedside table and cracked two ribs. Hopefully I also have that problem under control. Good luck to you! It sounds like you have had quite a few problems. Hopefully you are getting situated. I have had diabetes for 26 years and have been on the pump for 12 years. I have had retinopathy, nueropathy, gasteopresis, chronic pancreatitus..about 10 years ago I went to Boston and had my pancreas and part of my stomach as well as my gall bladder removed. I was informed that my pancreas had been completely shriveled up, and was causing the pancreatitus. Since the surgury things have been much improved. I have had ather complications but nothing as bad as before. Now I find myself having problems keeping my blood pressure up where it’s supposed to be. If I stand up quick I end up falling down. I fell one time and broke my foot. And during a hospital stay, I stood up to go use the restroom and fell and hit the bedside table and cracked two ribs. Hopefully I also have that problem under control. Good luck to you!

]]> By: pt http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-8 pt Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:18:03 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-8 I too had many lows at night and woke up high 4-5 mornings/week on shots. Before the pump I was trying to control it with 6-8 shots a day with no luck. The first night on the pump I felt cured. The Dawn Phenomena ? is real and I only need .2 units of insulin from 10pm until about 3am then increase it to .7 until mid morning. You just can't do that with shots. Waking up with good numbers makes the whole day go better. Good luck! I too had many lows at night and woke up high 4-5 mornings/week on shots. Before the pump I was trying to control it with 6-8 shots a day with no luck. The first night on the pump I felt cured. The Dawn Phenomena ? is real and I only need .2 units of insulin from 10pm until about 3am then increase it to .7 until mid morning. You just can’t do that with shots. Waking up with good numbers makes the whole day go better. Good luck!

]]> By: lilbabyrose http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-7 lilbabyrose Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:45:37 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-7 Knowing what type I am might not have any effect on my treatment now but it could in the future. I guess I could just wait and see if and when new treatments become available and if I need to know I could get tested then. But I'm the kind of person that despises not knowing. So even if it doesn't change anything I still like to have my answers. And I tend to think too much. I often wonder if, since pregnancy triggered this in me, I might not actually be diabetic but it is instead secondary to something else, like some other hormonal issue or something that could be treated, reversing the diabetes. Give me a minute to step back into reality... I guess I'm just an overanalyzer and always hoping for something good, even if I know it's probably impossible. Ahh...stress. Another thing that is wonderful for a diabetic. Rose, I'll take a look for that doctor. If you find him please let me know. I'm in sort of western, southern, central PA so depending on where's he's at I might be able to give him a try. And Thanksgiving? Ugh. Thanksgiving's all about the turkey, right? WRONG! For me it's all about the stuffing. Mashed potatoes make a lovely side dish but stuffing is the star of the meal. lol I could easily have Thanksgiving without turkey or sweet potatoes or pumpkin pie (I only eat the turkey anyway...don't like the others at all). Just pile the stuffing on my plate and let me go to town. Oh, yeah. Bread's a carb, huh? Knowing what type I am might not have any effect on my treatment now but it could in the future. I guess I could just wait and see if and when new treatments become available and if I need to know I could get tested then.

But I’m the kind of person that despises not knowing. So even if it doesn’t change anything I still like to have my answers. And I tend to think too much. I often wonder if, since pregnancy triggered this in me, I might not actually be diabetic but it is instead secondary to something else, like some other hormonal issue or something that could be treated, reversing the diabetes. Give me a minute to step back into reality…

I guess I’m just an overanalyzer and always hoping for something good, even if I know it’s probably impossible. Ahh…stress. Another thing that is wonderful for a diabetic.

Rose, I’ll take a look for that doctor. If you find him please let me know. I’m in sort of western, southern, central PA so depending on where’s he’s at I might be able to give him a try.

And Thanksgiving? Ugh. Thanksgiving’s all about the turkey, right? WRONG! For me it’s all about the stuffing. Mashed potatoes make a lovely side dish but stuffing is the star of the meal. lol I could easily have Thanksgiving without turkey or sweet potatoes or pumpkin pie (I only eat the turkey anyway…don’t like the others at all). Just pile the stuffing on my plate and let me go to town. Oh, yeah. Bread’s a carb, huh?

]]> By: mynamemybusiness http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-6 mynamemybusiness Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:11:42 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-6 You're right, it probably wouldn't make any difference. At least not that I'm aware of. (Not that that's saying much LOL) Sounds like you have great insurance and again, you're right to get your pump in this calendar year. Hard to beat at $79!! Hopefully a pump will afford you the opportunity to get better control of your diabetes. Your A1C's have been mighty high: you're too young to have the kind of damage you might get from those high numbers. Take care of yourself! You’re right, it probably wouldn’t make any difference. At least not that I’m aware of. (Not that that’s saying much LOL) Sounds like you have great insurance and again, you’re right to get your pump in this calendar year. Hard to beat at $79!! Hopefully a pump will afford you the opportunity to get better control of your diabetes. Your A1C’s have been mighty high: you’re too young to have the kind of damage you might get from those high numbers. Take care of yourself!

]]> By: Linda http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-5 Linda Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:11:21 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-5 I have been on the pump for 1 year now. I called my insurance company first and asked them whether I would be able to get one and they said it was covered on my policy. Up to then, I could not get any of my doctors to even try to get me one. I switched to a new doctor 2 years ago and then attended a class by Medtronics Minimed at our local hospital. I told them that I wanted to get on a pump, but none of my previous doctors would even try. They told me that they would start all the paperwork. Three weeks later I had my pump. It just all depends on your insurance company whether they will cover or not. And by the way, I am a Type 2. I have been on the pump for 1 year now.
I called my insurance company first and asked them whether I would be able to get one and they said it was covered on my policy.
Up to then, I could not get any of my doctors to even try to get me one.
I switched to a new doctor 2 years ago and then attended a class by Medtronics Minimed at our local hospital.
I told them that I wanted to get on a pump, but none of my previous doctors would even try.
They told me that they would start all the paperwork.
Three weeks later I had my pump.

It just all depends on your insurance company whether they will cover or not.
And by the way, I am a Type 2.

]]> By: rose http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-4 rose Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:08:36 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-4 I was diagnosed at age 39! The docs constantly argued over what I actually had but you know what... it doesn't matter. Of course they all think you have T-2 at that age, but finally someone ran a C-peptide and low and behold, I was T-1 or maybe a T-1.5. I was on insulin shots from the start. I am relatively thin and have always exercised and eaten relatively well. After a nice honeymoon period of a year, all insulin production ended. That was 12 years ago. I have been on a pump for he past 10 years and it is the best thing in the world. It actually makes you feel "almost" normal with the freedom from the needles. And if you want a bite of that donut, go ahead without guilt but remember to just hit your bolus buttons... that easy, but you still have to do the carb counting. By the way, my last endo moved from NJ to the middle of PA somewhere. Dr. John Kennedy and nurse educator Mary Johnson. They are a fab team and are now at a hospital to set up a new endo/diabetes practice. I just tried to google them and could not find out where they are currently located. But they have put hundreds of patioents on pumps and I would highly rec. tehm to yo if you can find them. Recently I have started working with a nutritionist who is also a body builder. I am trying to build muscle which burns up more blood sugar and loose fat. My sugars have never been better. The basic idea is not new but the concept is to always eat a carb ALONG WITH some protein and/or fat and fiber. So for breakfast I eat 1/3 cup of oatmeal with 1 egg and 2 egg whites. You can make them separate or mix them together and eat as a pancake. YOu can add some nuts to the oatmeal- this week I have been tossing in some fresh cranberries for fun! Oh, I also eat 6 meals a day... 3 main meals and 3 snacks... religiously. I really look forward to the snacks and they usually keep me from bingeing on other things. The mid morning snack can be the same as the 4pm snack... apple cut up with a TBS of peanut butter or almond butter. Or 1/2 and english muffin (the lite kind with lots of fiber) with the nut butter. Lunch and dinner ore lots of veggies with 3 oz. or so of some sort of protein.. chicken, fish, beans with 1 slice of bread or 15-20 carbs. Then the kicker is a night time snack/ dessert of one of those small cups of Greek yogurt. This has 13 grams of protein and only 6 carbs. Knowing I am going to have it later in the evening keeps me from looking for other sugary desserts that I really don't want to eat. After living with this disease long enough, I just want to keep my sugars stable. This weekend with Thanksgiving has not been good but today I focus again! I hope some of this helps you. YOU are a great writer..... so keep blogging and getting out all those frustrations. There are lots of us struggling like you out there and we need each other's support! I was diagnosed at age 39! The docs constantly argued over what I actually had but you know what… it doesn’t matter. Of course they all think you have T-2 at that age, but finally someone ran a C-peptide and low and behold, I was T-1 or maybe a T-1.5. I was on insulin shots from the start. I am relatively thin and have always exercised and eaten relatively well. After a nice honeymoon period of a year, all insulin production ended. That was 12 years ago. I have been on a pump for he past 10 years and it is the best thing in the world. It actually makes you feel “almost” normal with the freedom from the needles. And if you want a bite of that donut, go ahead without guilt but remember to just hit your bolus buttons… that easy, but you still have to do the carb counting.

By the way, my last endo moved from NJ to the middle of PA somewhere. Dr. John Kennedy and nurse educator Mary Johnson. They are a fab team and are now at a hospital to set up a new endo/diabetes practice. I just tried to google them and could not find out where they are currently located. But they have put hundreds of patioents on pumps and I would highly rec. tehm to yo if you can find them.

Recently I have started working with a nutritionist who is also a body builder. I am trying to build muscle which burns up more blood sugar and loose fat. My sugars have never been better. The basic idea is not new but the concept is to always eat a carb ALONG WITH some protein and/or fat and fiber. So for breakfast I eat 1/3 cup of oatmeal with 1 egg and 2 egg whites. You can make them separate or mix them together and eat as a pancake. YOu can add some nuts to the oatmeal- this week I have been tossing in some fresh cranberries for fun!

Oh, I also eat 6 meals a day… 3 main meals and 3 snacks… religiously. I really look forward to the snacks and they usually keep me from bingeing on other things. The mid morning snack can be the same as the 4pm snack… apple cut up with a TBS of peanut butter or almond butter. Or 1/2 and english muffin (the lite kind with lots of fiber) with the nut butter. Lunch and dinner ore lots of veggies with 3 oz. or so of some sort of protein.. chicken, fish, beans with 1 slice of bread or 15-20 carbs. Then the kicker is a night time snack/ dessert of one of those small cups of Greek yogurt. This has 13 grams of protein and only 6 carbs. Knowing I am going to have it later in the evening keeps me from looking for other sugary desserts that I really don’t want to eat.

After living with this disease long enough, I just want to keep my sugars stable. This weekend with Thanksgiving has not been good but today I focus again!

I hope some of this helps you. YOU are a great writer….. so keep blogging and getting out all those frustrations. There are lots of us struggling like you out there and we need each other’s support!

]]> By: lilbabyrose http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-3 lilbabyrose Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:17:02 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-3 My insurance will cover my pump. They don't require you to be a type 1 and I meet the requirements they do have. I just have to get it done by the end of the year because I've already met my deductible and out-of-pocket maximum so I'll get the Animas One Touch Ping system for only $79 from me. If it takes until next year I'll have to pay $3000 out of pocket or wait until I've met those through other purchases/fees. And neither my family doctor nor my endocrinologist seem interested in running the C-Peptide and antibody tests. They said knowing wouldn't change my current treatment and my family doctor said a lot of insurances don't cover at least one of those tests (I can't remember which) and it can be expensive. I should just have them do it and let it get tacked on to the other medical bills I have. What difference would it make at this point? My insurance will cover my pump. They don’t require you to be a type 1 and I meet the requirements they do have. I just have to get it done by the end of the year because I’ve already met my deductible and out-of-pocket maximum so I’ll get the Animas One Touch Ping system for only $79 from me. If it takes until next year I’ll have to pay $3000 out of pocket or wait until I’ve met those through other purchases/fees.

And neither my family doctor nor my endocrinologist seem interested in running the C-Peptide and antibody tests. They said knowing wouldn’t change my current treatment and my family doctor said a lot of insurances don’t cover at least one of those tests (I can’t remember which) and it can be expensive. I should just have them do it and let it get tacked on to the other medical bills I have. What difference would it make at this point?

]]> By: MyName MyBusiness http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/hello/#comment-2 MyName MyBusiness Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:56:37 +0000 http://diabetesstruggle.wordpress.com/?p=6#comment-2 You've been through a lot! Hopefully the worst is behind you. Ask your doctor to run a C-Peptide. He will be able to determine your diabetic status (eg: Type 1, 1,5, or 2) with the results. Also, I'm not sure insurance will pay for a pump if you aren't a Type 1 so double check before you get locked into getting a pump. BTW: I love mine. I Hope you get one and that you are able to adjust to it: you'll acheice much better control and freedom once you get used to pumping. Best of luck to you. I look forward to another post. :))) You’ve been through a lot! Hopefully the worst is behind you. Ask your doctor to run a C-Peptide. He will be able to determine your diabetic status (eg: Type 1, 1,5, or 2) with the results. Also, I’m not sure insurance will pay for a pump if you aren’t a Type 1 so double check before you get locked into getting a pump. BTW: I love mine. I Hope you get one and that you are able to adjust to it: you’ll acheice much better control and freedom once you get used to pumping. Best of luck to you. I look forward to another post. :) ))

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