Question:
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been lurking for about a week now. Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how distraught I became over her diagnosis, decided that I didn't need to test my blood sugar at all, but to take medications and just come and see her once every three months for a fasting blood draw. I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said theirs was 4.6 or some such... I think it's called an ACL?... anyway, that was 11.4 and the other number was 330. After a year on Glucophage, my number was 8 and the other was down to 187. Then I was switched to Glucovance and the number is now 6.5 and 150. This is without testing and without watching what I eat or exercising. I'm assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and exercise, I may reduce the need for the medication (and lose weight). I don't want to be a whiny child here... I read the advice for newbies and the different stages that are normal to go through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my life. I know I need to but darnit... I just don't don't don't want to. How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been taking the pills the "symptoms" like having to pee every five minutes, and the dizzyness etc... have gone away.. and my PCP doesn't want me to test... so now there's nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to take care of myself. Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on like I am? Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I just don't have anyone to really talk to about this. Shannon
Answers:
Hi Shannon, I'm glad you found this group, but I'm sorry you've got this disease. I can only speak for myself, but I know that in the beginning, meds could control my diabetes. As I let it go on and didn't use diet and exercise as a defense against diabetes, my condition progressed to the point where I am probably going to have to go on insulin. You need to test your blood sugar and often, just like the commercial says. It's the only way you can know for sure how your body is reacting to certain foods or conditions. It may be possible for you that with diet and exercise, you can combat diabetes without medications, eventually, but you'll never know unless you try. Good luck and God bless. Bonita "Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote in message news:BgKBa.33138$ek2.602973~twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about a week now.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how
distraught I became over her diagnosis, decided that I
didn't need to test my blood sugar at all, but to take
medications and just come and see her once every three
months for a fasting blood draw.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said
theirs was 4.6 or some such... I think it's called an
ACL?... anyway, that was 11.4 and the other number was 330.
After a year on Glucophage, my number was 8 and the other
was down to 187. Then I was switched to Glucovance and the
number is now 6.5 and 150.
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and
exercise, I may reduce the need for the medication (and lose
weight). I don't want to be a whiny child here... I read the
advice for newbies and the different stages that are normal
to go through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my
life. I know I need to but darnit... I just don't don't
don't want to.
How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been
taking the pills the "symptoms" like having to pee every
five minutes, and the dizzyness etc... have gone away..
and my PCP doesn't want me to test... so now there's
nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not
like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to
take care of myself.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am?
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have anyone to really talk to about this.
Shannon
Answers:
How does a person make themselves want to? For me? Look into the innocent eyes of your children. Imagine them being motherless before they are old enough to be mothers and fathers themselves. Imagine the pain they would go through watching your pain. My answer...... My children. I do know how you feel, however. I was diagnosed roughly 4 years ago and quit taking care of myself roughly 3 years ago. Just this week I have made a decision that I MUST (not just "want" to) take care of myself for the sake of my children and for the sake of the quality in my own life.
Answers:
On Fri, 30 May 2003 14:54:25 GMT, "Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote:
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am? No. At least I don't think so. This is just my opinion, but sooner or later it will catch up with you and when it does it may be too late. I was diagnosed in 97 and started out with diet and exercise, which lasted less than a year because I didn't want to change what I was doing either. Next came medicine...I take Glucophage, Amaryl and Atacand. My doc has been changing these meds around until we seem to find the right combination that's working. But, at my last visit he told me that if I didn't test and if my numbers started going up I would have to start on insulin. He even got the needle out and showed me how big it was.... very. (to me) For not paying attention to my diabetes for so many years I have neuropathy( no feeling and poor circulation) in my feet, my eyesight is getting worse every year (not sure that is diabetes related or age related). Most of the problems I was having like peeing and being sleepy all the time has eased up with a low carb diet. I think diabetes is a progressive disease and its going to progress as fast as it is going progress unless you are proactive with your self care. You need to make changes even if you are taking meds or one day your PCP will be showing how to give yourself insulin shots. That's what mine told me. So, I am here trying to catch up on what I have ignored and thought would just be alright if I took meds. My opinion is that you should not just depend on the pills to take care of it, because when and if you find out the meds weren't enough, it might be to late to reverse the complication. This is just my opinion, I'm not a doctor. Dana "Live as though there is no tomorrow, Love as though you have never been hurt, Dance as if no one is looking..." Satchel Paige
Answers:
Hi Shannon, You haven't said anything that I haven't felt and to some extent have felt every day for over 5 years. This testing stuff is really only for your own benefit (well initially anyway). If you are an early stage T2 there is little you can do to control an episode of raised bgs except suffer the symptoms. You could easily buy yourself some diastix that you just pee on every day a couple of hours after one meal to see if your bgs are very high or about right! I'm not sure you need to go the route of buying a test meter and then buying strips for it and testing twice daily etc... You just need to monitor your general control on a day to day basis. This is largely what your HbA1c test (haemaglobin A1C) is about. It gives a more long term picture of your control and although is weighted towards the last couple of weeks figures tells your Doctor how your body is coping with your diet, given your exercise level and meds etc.. You seem to have been given both types of figures. In the UK we use the international S.I unit "mmols/l" and the recomended levels for this are between 4 - 8. Anything below 4 means you are going hypoglycaemic and anything above 8 indicates hyperglycaemia. You are very unlikely to go much below 4 unless illness causes it or a big alcohol intake drops your bgs.. The USA uses mg/dl (i think) and this is a different scale. The same normal range in the US measure is 72 - 144. Your HbA1c figures... 11.4 would indicate quite poor control and this would definately need lowering. Since glucophage you are down to 8 which is a little above the range for good control (HbA1c should be less than 7.2) but since the change to glucovance you are at 6.5 which is well within the range of good control). You could be even better i suspect if you wanted to work harder on your diet, as the very best get below 6.0 ( I was 4.7 on metformin for at least 18 months), but at 6.5 your risk of complications is severely reduced. Well done! The future... well it is hard to predict. Diabetes, my Doctor tells me, is a progressive disease. However, if you can work hard to eat a healthy diet, take regular exercise and keep up with your meds it is possible for you to continue as you are. Sometimes though, it doesn't work that way and through no fault of your own your pancreas works less efficiently or your resistance gets a little harder to deal with. This a bit like what happened to me. BUT I let my weight increase and afer a nasty incident where I woke up in hospital I went on to insulin. Insulin is not the end of the world, in fact it has some benefits. If I go very high I can lower myself with a shot. But I have to remember it everyday before every meal! I hate it but it is now part of my life and things could be worse! Take your life as it comes. I do think some testing is a good thing, it keeps you knowing that you are doing things right, and reminds you to be careful in what you eat and drink. This is an opportunity for you to make some small changes in your lifestyle and maybe get fitter and healthier thanever! good luck, and use the group.. I'm sure no-one minds (it is what it is here for)! Martin. "Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote in message news:BgKBa.33138$ek2.602973~twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about
a week now.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how distraught
I became over
her diagnosis, decided that I didn't need to test my blood
sugar at all, but
to take medications and just come and see her once every
three months for a
fasting blood draw.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said
theirs was 4.6
or some such... I think it's called an ACL?... anyway, that
was 11.4 and the
other number was 330. After a year on Glucophage, my number
was 8 and the other was down to 187. Then I was switched to
Glucovance and the number is
now 6.5 and 150.
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm
assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and exercise, I may
reduce the need for the medication (and lose weight). I
don't want to be a whiny child here...
I read the advice for newbies and the different stages that
are normal to go
through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my life.
I know I need
to but darnit... I just don't don't don't want to.
How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been
taking the pills
the "symptoms" like having to pee every five minutes, and
the dizzyness etc... have gone away.. and my PCP doesn't
want me to test... so now there's
nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not
like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to
take care of myself.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am?
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have
anyone to really talk to about this.
Shannon
Answers:
SherryWd <justme~aol.com quoth:
How does a person make themselves want to?
For me? Look into the innocent eyes of your children. Imagine
them being motherless before they are old enough to be
mothers and fathers themselves. Imagine the pain they would
go through watching your pain. For me, it's not wanting to have a heart attack and die from it. It's from not wanting my kidneys to fail and have to go for dialysis until they find a donor -- if they do. It's not wanting to have my feet amputated. It's not wanting to go blind. Get the picture? Priscilla
Answers:
Shannon... The numbers you seem to be at now, 6.5 A1c and 150... don't really tell you the whole story. The A1c 6.5 is high. You should aim for under 6. And the 150 was most likely a spot glucose check done by the doctor. Studies have shown that it's your POST MEAL numbers that are most indicative of future complications, like blindness, kidney failure, stroke, heart disease and amputation (fun huh!). So, by not testing you really have no idea of your current control. Being distressed over diagnosis is normal. Very very normal. Who the hell wouldn't be distraught being told they have an incurable, progressive disease that can kill? BUT BUT BUT, it can also be controlled. Information is the key. Information is power. Information about how your body and this disease are getting along can mean the difference between a long healthy diabetic life and one filled with complications. That's the information a meter gives you. This is the advice I give all newbies. I hope it speaks to you. Sounds like you're planning a move to take control of your diabetes... good for you. There is so much to absorb... you don't have to rush into anything. Begin by using your best weapon in this war, your meter. You won't keel over today, you have time to experiment, test, learn, test and figure out just how your body and this disease are getting along. The most important thing you can do to learn about yourself and diabetes is test test test. The single biggest question a diabetic has to answer is: What do I eat? Unfortunately, the answer is pretty confusing. What confounds us all is the fact that different diabetics can get great results on wildly different food plans. Some of us here achieve great blood glucose control eating a high complex carbohydrate diet. Others find that anything over 75 - 100g of carbs a day is too much. Still others are somewhere in between. At the beginning all of us felt frustrated. We wanted to be handed THE way to eat, to ensure our continued health. But we all learned that there is no one way. Each of us had to find our own path, using the experience of those that went before, but still having to discover for ourselves how OUR bodies and this disease were coexisting. Ask questions, but remember each of us discovered on our own what works best for us. You can use our experiences as jumping off points, but eventually you'll work up a successful plan that is yours alone. What you are looking to discover is how different foods affect you. As I'm sure you've read, carbohydrates (sugars, wheat, rice... the things our Grandmas called "starches") raise blood sugars the most rapidly. Protein and fat do raise them, but not as high and much more slowly... so if you're a T2, generally the insulin your body still makes may take care of the rise. You might want to try some experiments. First: Eat whatever you've been currently eating... but write it all down. Test yourself at the following times: Upon waking (fasting) 1 hour after each meal 2 hours after each meal At bedtime That means 8 x each day. What you will discover by this is how long after a meal your highest reading comes... and how fast you return to "normal". Also, you may see that a meal that included bread, fruit or other carbs gives you a higher reading. Then for the next few days, try to curb your carbs. Eliminate breads, cereals, rices, beans, any wheat products, potato, corn, fruit... get all your carbs from veggies. Test at the same schedule above. If you try this for a few days, you may find some pretty damn good readings. It's worth a few days to discover. Eventually you can slowly add back carbs until you see them affecting your meter. The thing about this disease... though we share much in common and we need to follow certain guidelines... in the end, each of our bodies dictate our treatment and our success. The closer we get to non-diabetic numbers, the greater chance we have of avoiding horrible complications. The key here is AIM... I know that everyone is at a different point in their disease... and it is progressive. But, if we aim for the best numbers and do our best, we give ourselves the best shot at heath we've got. That's all we can do. Here's my opinion on what numbers to aim for, they are non-diabetic numbers. FBG under 110 One hour after meals under 140 Two hours after meals under 120 or for those in the mmol parts of the world: Fasting Under 6 One hour after meals Under 8 Two hours after meals Under 6.5 Recent studies have indicated that the most important numbers are your "after meal" numbers. They may be the most indicative of future complications, especially heart problems. Listen to your doctor, but you are the leader of your diabetic care team. While his /her advice is learned, it is not absolute. You will end up knowing much more about your body and how it's handling diabetes than your doctor will. Your meter is your best weapon. Just remember, we're not in a race or a competition with anyone but ourselves... Play around with your food plan... TEST TEST TEST. Learn what foods cause spikes, what foods cause cravings... Use your body as a science experiment. You'll read about a lot of different ways people use to control their diabetes... Many are diametrically opposed. After awhile you'll learn that there is no one size fits all around here. Take some time to experiment and you'll soon discover the plan that works for you. Best of luck! Jennifer Shannon wrote:
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about a week now.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how
distraught I became over her diagnosis, decided that I
didn't need to test my blood sugar at all, but to take
medications and just come and see her once every three
months for a fasting blood draw.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said
theirs was 4.6 or some such... I think it's called an
ACL?... anyway, that was 11.4 and the other number was 330.
After a year on Glucophage, my number was 8 and the other
was down to 187. Then I was switched to Glucovance and the
number is now 6.5 and 150.
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and
exercise, I may reduce the need for the medication (and lose
weight). I don't want to be a whiny child here... I read the
advice for newbies and the different stages that are normal
to go through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my
life. I know I need to but darnit... I just don't don't
don't want to.
How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been
taking the pills the "symptoms" like having to pee every
five minutes, and the dizzyness etc... have gone away..
and my PCP doesn't want me to test... so now there's
nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not
like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to
take care of myself.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am?
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have anyone to really talk to about this.
Shannon
Answers:
"Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote in message news:BgKBa.33138$ek2.602973~twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about
a week now.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how distraught
I became over
her diagnosis, decided that I didn't need to test my blood
sugar at all, but
to take medications and just come and see her once every
three months for a
fasting blood draw. Eek! I am not sure what a PCP is, but he or she isn't doing you any good. If you don't test your blood you have no idea how your control is. You need to see an Endocrinolgist.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said
theirs was 4.6
or some such... I think it's called an ACL?... anyway, that
was 11.4 and the
other number was 330. After a year on Glucophage, my number
was 8 and the other was down to 187. Then I was switched to
Glucovance and the number is
now 6.5 and 150. HbA1c (glycoslated hemoglobin). Sounds like your numbers are still too high, although this can vary from lab to lab. What is normal for your lab?
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm
assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and exercise, I may
reduce the need for the medication (and lose weight). I
don't want to be a whiny child here...
I read the advice for newbies and the different stages that
are normal to go
through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my life.
I know I need
to but darnit... I just don't don't don't want to. The pills will really do you no good if you don't watch what you eat and if you don't exercise. You say you don't want to make these changes. Do you want your feet? Your legs? Your kidneys? Do you want to be able to see? And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been
taking the pills
the "symptoms" like having to pee every five minutes, and
the dizzyness etc... have gone away.. and my PCP doesn't
want me to test... so now there's
nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not
like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to
take care of myself. Nobody wants to have diabetes. Nobody wants to be on a special diet for the rest of their life. Unfortunately for those of us with diabetes, we haven't got much choice if we want a fighting chance at life. Dying from diabetes is a slow and painful death. Along the way, you could suffer from painful nerve damage, possible amputation, possible kidney failure, stroke, heart attack blindness, and other nasties. You can be in denial if you want. But one day it will catch up with you and you won't like it one bit! You really need to get yourself to an Endocrinolgist who will help take care of your health. The PCP isn't doing you any favors. You also need to see a dietician and take a diabetes education class. You're young. You don't want to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair do you? Because that's what could happen if you continue down the path you're on.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am? Sure! And face all the complications I mentioned. Or... You can grow up and act responsibly.
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have
anyone to really talk to about this. That's what we're here for! And I really don't like to sound harsh. But I think you need some kind of wakeup call. Better I should tell you now so you know and can do something about it than to be shocked when something bad happens to you because you didn't do anything about it. -- Type 2 http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/
Answers:
This post not CC'd by email On Fri, 30 May 2003 14:54:25 GMT, "Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote:
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about a week now. G'day G'day Shannon, 275 lbs = 125 kg.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how
distraught I became over her diagnosis, decided that I
didn't need to test my blood sugar at all, but to take
medications and just come and see her once every three
months for a fasting blood draw. There is something dreadfully amiss here. Your distress was instrumental in your not getting the medical care you absolutely need. OK. IMHO the doctor is a total wimp for letting you get away with this. Frankly one or other of you has to change dramatically for the sake of your future health. Which do you think is going to be easier to achieve? Changing your doctor to someone who is not so easily manipulated or for you to face the reality of your situation? Put simply people are often distraught AT TIME OF DIAGNOSIS. We are now fast approaching July 2003, like here it is tomorrow. Being distraught over diagnosis just isn't valid two years on.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said
theirs was 4.6 or some such... I think it's called an
ACL?... anyway, that was 11.4 and the other number was 330.
After a year on Glucophage, my number was 8 and the other
was down to 187. The vital history lesson is one's own. AFTER A YEAR your A1c was 8. That means you didn't conform to the slackest criteria for being in control. Put bluntly, the strategy you and your doctor colluded to come up with was a failure.
Then I was switched to Glucovance and the number is now 6.5
and 150.
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and
exercise, I may reduce the need for the medication (and
lose weight). I don't want to be a whiny child here... I
read the advice for newbies and the different stages that
are normal to go through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge
changes in my life. I absolutely believe you. You don't want to make huge changes in your life. You provide the evidence all through the post is consistent with you making damn sure no one with authority was going to ask you.
I know I need to but darnit... I just don't don't don't want
to. OK and yet, deep, deep down THERE IS A SMART PART that got you to make this post in first place. Maybe that is the 34 year old who knows weighing 125 kg (275lb) isn't OK even if one takes pills. Frankly I don't know where the smart part is residing but I sure as heck know you have one.
How does a person make themselves want to? Well I probably qualify as a person though sometimes I appear to be on another branch of the hominid's evolutionary tree as "Ogres of the Antipodes." Diabetes never sleeps. It is like rust in the body work of a car. Sure one can touch up the superficial rust and it looks OK to drive around in but the chassis rots till suddenly something gives way. So what sort of "totally unexpected" things happen to diabetics who don't take care of their blood glucose. Sudden heart attacks are very popular. The risk is about four times normal. The elevated risk of strokes is similar (Someone recently described that as worse than death.) One gets to meet new friends from all walks of life if your kidneys pack up and you spend nights getting dialysis. One's central vision goes (macula degeneration) and so fine detail is something to dream about. Or there is the lazer surgery for cataracts in the eye. Of course you probably already know, diabetes is the major cause of foot amputations in the US. I've probably left a couple out. There are at least seven ugly ways for things to get much worse if one is complacent.
Since I've been taking the pills the "symptoms" like having
to pee every five minutes, and the dizzyness etc... have gone
away.. and my PCP doesn't want me to test... ROTFL "Your PCP doesn't want me to test ... " Not after your histrionics. <Yeah, right Hey we are all adults here. Change yourself or change your doctor if you want to live. That's the bottom line.
so now there's nothing to remind me that there's anything
wrong. It's not like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to
remind me to take care of myself. If someone asked you to go right now, buy a pair of side cutters (those snippy things electricians use) and snip out every warning indicator in your car, would you do it? I'm talking speedometer. Hey who needs to know how fast one is going. One can drive along at the same speed as everyone else and just look plain indignant if one gets a speed ticket. The oil warning lights might at well go. One can drive along without those too, seemingly for ever and ever. My favourite is the fuel gauge. The car goes perfectly till almost the last drop so why worry about that one. Heck one just uses one's cell phone to call out the garage to bring you petrol. Of course it probably won't happen on an express way. One can rationalize away anything without too much effort.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am? Yes. Absolutely yes. You can go on as you were and you will end up where you are headed. That comes with a guarantee. Of course none of us know where that will be but it probably won't be a place you will be happy with. (You haven't got a clue what your post prandial reading are have you. They are the ones most indictable for many complications.) Your A1c might be made up of highs and lows.
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have anyone to really talk to about this. Fair enough. That has now changed.
Shannon As a special bonus, I'd like to leave you with a story. Someone told it to me once, I can't think why? <grin Once upon a time a man went to buy a donkey. The donkey seller assured the prospective owner that the donkey responded only to kind words, and proceeded to demonstrate. "Come along donkey" he whispered and the donkey obediently trotted along. Delighted the buyer bought the donkey paying rather more than he had hoped for. After all this donkey wasn't going to be a stubborn as donkeys are wont to be. When he got the donkey home it WOULDN'T come out of the donkey trailer. He whispered sweet things in one ear, then the other. He whispered sweet things in several different languages. Eventually he went back to the seller who surprisingly hadn't left town on urgent business. In fact to the buyer's surprise, the seller came over and gave the buyer a free demonstration. He picked up a piece of four by two and whacked the donkey soundly between the eyes. Then he whispered sweet nothings in the wobbly donkey's ear, "Lovely donkey, this way lovely donkey." To the buyer he muttered. "First you have to attract their attention." Best wishes, -- Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, #,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the blind dog was leading." http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
Answers:
First step is fire your Doctor, and notify the AMA they have a quack putting people's health in danger. Sleepy On Fri, 30 May 2003 14:54:25 GMT, "Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote:
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about a week now.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how
distraught I became over her diagnosis, decided that I
didn't need to test my blood sugar at all, but to take
medications and just come and see her once every three
months for a fasting blood draw.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said
theirs was 4.6 or some such... I think it's called an ACL?...
anyway, that was 11.4 and the other number was 330. After a
year on Glucophage, my number was 8 and the other was down to
187. Then I was switched to Glucovance and the number is now
6.5 and 150.
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and
exercise, I may reduce the need for the medication (and lose
weight). I don't want to be a whiny child here... I read the
advice for newbies and the different stages that are normal
to go through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my
life. I know I need to but darnit... I just don't don't
don't want to.
How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been
taking the pills the "symptoms" like having to pee every
five minutes, and the dizzyness etc... have gone away..
and my PCP doesn't want me to test... so now there's
nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not
like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to
take care of myself.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am?
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have anyone to really talk to about this.
Shannon
------------------------------------------------------ "I don't belong to any organized political party..... I'm a Democrat". Will Rogers -----------------------------------------------------
Answers:
"Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote in message news:<BgKBa.33138$ek2.602973~twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about a week now.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how
distraught I became over her diagnosis, decided that I
didn't need to test my blood sugar at all, but to take
medications and just come and see her once every three
months for a fasting blood draw.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said
theirs was 4.6 or some such... I think it's called an
ACL?... anyway, that was 11.4 and the other number was 330.
After a year on Glucophage, my number was 8 and the other
was down to 187. Then I was switched to Glucovance and the
number is now 6.5 and 150.
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and
exercise, I may reduce the need for the medication (and lose
weight). I don't want to be a whiny child here... I read the
advice for newbies and the different stages that are normal
to go through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my
life. I know I need to but darnit... I just don't don't
don't want to.
How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been
taking the pills the "symptoms" like having to pee every
five minutes, and the dizzyness etc... have gone away..
and my PCP doesn't want me to test... so now there's
nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not
like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to
take care of myself.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am?
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have anyone to really talk to about this.
Shannon Hi Shannon, I'm sure others will answer some of your other questions. The only one I can answer is about motivation. My personal motivation was that I desperately wanted to lose weight. I chose a low carb diet which allowed me to achieve my goal with the added benefit of controlling my blood glucose. You can get a meter and strips without a prescription. My local Kroger is giving away a free meter with the purchase of 50 test strips. I picked mine up yesterday. If you want to test, tell your doc and ask for a prescription. Insurance should cover most of the cost. The choice to test or not is up to you. Best, Mary Sue
Answers:
"Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote in message news:BgKBa.33138$ek2.602973~twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about
a week now.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how distraught
I became over
her diagnosis, decided that I didn't need to test my blood
sugar at all, but
to take medications and just come and see her once every
three months for a
fasting blood draw.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone said
theirs was 4.6
or some such... I think it's called an ACL?... anyway, that
was 11.4 and the
other number was 330. After a year on Glucophage, my number
was 8 and the other was down to 187. Then I was switched to
Glucovance and the number is
now 6.5 and 150.
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm
assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and exercise, I may
reduce the need for the medication (and lose weight). I
don't want to be a whiny child here...
I read the advice for newbies and the different stages that
are normal to go
through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my life.
I know I need
to but darnit... I just don't don't don't want to.
How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been
taking the pills
the "symptoms" like having to pee every five minutes, and
the dizzyness etc... have gone away.. and my PCP doesn't
want me to test... so now there's
nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not
like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to
take care of myself.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am?
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have
anyone to really talk to about this.
Shannon Hi Shannon, Like you I am still a newbie of sorts, although I am quite a bit older, but there is something that this diagnosis did to me that was really good. It scared me spitless. I don't want to die with kidneys that don't function anymore. I don't want to go blind or lose my feet. I want to feel good and have my health as long as I can. I want to be around for my kids and grandkids. I WANTED to know how to manage this disease. I decided that if there was something I could do that would help me to be healthier longer, I wanted to do it. I got good advice here and so will you. There are a lot of very kind and very knowledgeable people here, and what is more, they are fun too! Never mind what your PCP says, if you have been diagnosed with this disease, let me tell you it is not a good thing. You need to get real about it, and do what you need to do so that you lead a rich and full and joy filled life, NOT a life filled with pain or illness, just getting by. Am I scaring you? Then good, read on..... First of all read what Jennifer's advice to newbies is... it is timeless and right on the money. I saved that reply from her, and she gave me good advice and countless others too. Jennifer has a whole lot of stars on her halo around here from all the people she gave that advice to! Get some books, and read up......get educated so that you know as much as you can, so you know what you are dealing with. Don't be an ostrich with your head in the sand who doesn't want to know.... Be smart and learn all you need to know to meet this thing head on. The going got tough, so you be the tough who got going! You can do it girl! If *I* could do it, anyone can! I am rooting for you. The fact you posted here at all, shows you want to beat this and win! Regards, Evelyn
Answers:
"Martin Boulger" <Martin.Boulger~brunel.ac.uk wrote in message news:bb7vqj$9n7$1~mimas.brunel.ac.uk...
Hi Shannon,
You haven't said anything that I haven't felt and to some
extent have felt every day for over 5 years. This testing
stuff is really only for your own
benefit (well initially anyway). If you are an early stage
T2 there is little you can do to control an episode of
raised bgs except suffer the symptoms. Utter nonsense! There is plenty you can do such as diet, exerice, meds, more meds, different meds, insulin.
You could easily buy yourself some diastix that you just pee
on every day a couple of hours after one meal to see if your
bgs are very high
or about right! I'm not sure you need to go the route of
buying a test meter and then buying strips for it and
testing twice daily etc... You just
need to monitor your general control on a day to day basis. Of COURSE she needs a meter. Diastix are very outdated. Nodoby uses them any more except in cases of really high BG to see if there are ketones. Why? Because they are FAR less accurate than meters. <snip -- Type 2 http://users.bestweb.net/~jbove/
Answers:
PCP=Primary Care Physician, an HMO term On Fri, 30 May 2003 13:14:00 -0400, "Julie Bove" <jnospambove~bestweb.net wrote:
"Shannon" <shannon~schwabalaw.com wrote in message
news:BgKBa.33138$ek2.602973~twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for
about
a week now.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how
distraught I became
over
her diagnosis, decided that I didn't need to test my blood
sugar at all,
but
to take medications and just come and see her once every
three months for
a
fasting blood draw.
Eek! I am not sure what a PCP is, but he or she isn't doing
you any good. If you don't test your blood you have no idea
how your control is. You need to see an Endocrinolgist.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone
said theirs was
4.6
or some such... I think it's called an ACL?... anyway, that
was 11.4 and
the
other number was 330. After a year on Glucophage, my number
was 8 and the other was down to 187. Then I was switched to
Glucovance and the number
is
now 6.5 and 150.
HbA1c (glycoslated hemoglobin). Sounds like your numbers are
still too high, although this can vary from lab to lab. What
is normal for your lab?
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising.
I'm
assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and exercise, I may
reduce the need for the medication (and lose weight). I
don't want to be a whiny child
here...
I read the advice for newbies and the different stages that
are normal to
go
through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in my
life. I know I
need
to but darnit... I just don't don't don't want to.
The pills will really do you no good if you don't watch what
you eat and if you don't exercise. You say you don't want to
make these changes. Do you want your feet? Your legs? Your
kidneys? Do you want to be able to see? And that's just the
tip of the iceberg.
How does a person make themselves want to? Since I've been
taking the
pills
the "symptoms" like having to pee every five minutes, and
the dizzyness etc... have gone away.. and my PCP doesn't
want me to test... so now
there's
nothing to remind me that there's anything wrong. It's not
like I have a disease that I can see 24/7 to remind me to
take care of myself.
Nobody wants to have diabetes. Nobody wants to be on a
special diet for the rest of their life. Unfortunately for
those of us with diabetes, we haven't got much choice if we
want a fighting chance at life. Dying from diabetes is a slow
and painful death. Along the way, you could suffer from
painful nerve damage, possible amputation, possible kidney
failure, stroke, heart attack blindness, and other nasties.
You can be in denial if you want. But one day it will catch
up with you and you won't like it one bit! You really need to
get yourself to an Endocrinolgist who will help take care of
your health. The PCP isn't doing you any favors. You also
need to see a dietician and take a diabetes education class.
You're young. You don't want to spend the rest of your life
in a wheelchair do you? Because that's what could happen if
you continue down the path you're on.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am?
Sure! And face all the complications I mentioned. Or... You
can grow up and act responsibly.
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't
have
anyone to really talk to about this.
That's what we're here for! And I really don't like to sound
harsh. But I think you need some kind of wakeup call. Better
I should tell you now so you know and can do something about
it than to be shocked when something bad happens to you
because you didn't do anything about it. ------------------------------------------------------ "I don't belong to any organized political party..... I'm a Democrat". Will Rogers -----------------------------------------------------
Answers:
you just posted a most difficult post in a most graceful manner, Quentin i sincerely hope that Shannon will read it and not ignore your MOST important message to her her PCP should be fired! "Quentin Grady" wrote in message com...
This post not CC'd by email On Fri, 30 May 2003 14:54:25
GMT, "Shannon" < wrote:
Hello, my name is Shannon, I'm 34, and 275lbs. I've been
lurking for about
a week now.
G'day G'day Shannon,
275 lbs = 125 kg.
Was diagnosed in July of 2001. My PCP, seeing how
distraught I became over
her diagnosis, decided that I didn't need to test my blood
sugar at all, but
to take medications and just come and see her once every
three months for a
fasting blood draw.
There is something dreadfully amiss here. Your distress was
instrumental in your not getting the medical care you
absolutely need. OK. IMHO the doctor is a total wimp for
letting you get away with this. Frankly one or other of you
has to change dramatically for the sake of your future
health.
Which do you think is going to be easier to achieve?
Changing your doctor to someone who is not so easily
manipulated or for you to face the reality of your
situation?
Put simply people are often distraught AT TIME OF DIAGNOSIS.
We are now fast approaching July 2003, like here it is
tomorrow. Being distraught over diagnosis just isn't valid
two years on.
I've seen mention a two digit number in here... someone
said theirs was 4.6
or some such... I think it's called an ACL?... anyway, that
was 11.4 and the
other number was 330. After a year on Glucophage, my number
was 8 and the
other was down to 187.
The vital history lesson is one's own. AFTER A YEAR your A1c
was 8. That means you didn't conform to the slackest
criteria for being in control. Put bluntly, the strategy you
and your doctor colluded to come up with was a failure.
Then I was switched to Glucovance and the number is now
6.5 and 150.
This is without testing and without watching what I eat or
exercising. I'm
assuming if I DO watch what I ean, and exercise, I may
reduce the need for
the medication (and lose weight). I don't want to be a
whiny child here...
I read the advice for newbies and the different stages that
are normal to go
through. I DON"T WANT to make these huge changes in
my life.
I absolutely believe you. You don't want to make huge
changes in your life. You provide the evidence all through
the post is consistent with you making damn sure no one with
authority was going to ask you.
I know I need to but darnit... I just don't don't don't
want to.
OK and yet, deep, deep down THERE IS A SMART PART that got
you to make this post in first place. Maybe that is the 34
year old who knows weighing 125 kg (275lb) isn't OK even if
one takes pills. Frankly I don't know where the smart part
is residing but I sure as heck know you have one.
How does a person make themselves want to?
Well I probably qualify as a person though sometimes I
appear to be on another branch of the hominid's evolutionary
tree as "Ogres of the Antipodes."
Diabetes never sleeps. It is like rust in the body work of a
car. Sure one can touch up the superficial rust and it looks
OK to drive around in but the chassis rots till suddenly
something gives way. So what sort of "totally unexpected"
things happen to diabetics who don't take care of their
blood glucose. Sudden heart attacks are very popular. The
risk is about four times normal. The elevated risk of
strokes is similar (Someone recently described that as worse
than death.) One gets to meet new friends from all walks of
life if your kidneys pack up and you spend nights getting
dialysis. One's central vision goes (macula degeneration)
and so fine detail is something to dream about. Or there is
the lazer surgery for cataracts in the eye. Of course you
probably already know, diabetes is the major cause of foot
amputations in the US. I've probably left a couple out.
There are at least seven ugly ways for things to get much
worse if one is complacent.
Since I've been taking the pills the "symptoms" like having
to pee every five minutes, and the dizzyness etc... have
gone away.. and my PCP doesn't want me to test...
ROTFL "Your PCP doesn't want me to test ... "
Not after your histrionics. <Yeah, right
Hey we are all adults here.
Change yourself or change your doctor if you want to live.
That's the bottom line.
so now there's nothing to remind me that there's anything
wrong. It's not like I have a disease that I can see 24/7
to remind me to take care of myself.
If someone asked you to go right now, buy a pair of side
cutters (those snippy things electricians use) and snip out
every warning indicator in your car, would you do it?
I'm talking speedometer. Hey who needs to know how fast
one is going. One can drive along at the same speed as
everyone else and just look plain indignant if one gets a
speed ticket.
The oil warning lights might at well go. One can drive along
without those too, seemingly for ever and ever.
My favourite is the fuel gauge. The car goes perfectly till
almost the last drop so why worry about that one. Heck one
just uses one's cell phone to call out the garage to bring
you petrol. Of course it probably won't happen on an
express way. One can rationalize away anything without too
much effort.
Do you suppose if I just take the pills I can just go on
like I am?
Yes. Absolutely yes. You can go on as you were and you will
end up where you are headed. That comes with a guarantee. Of
course none of us know where that will be but it probably
won't be a place you will be happy with. (You haven't got a
clue what your post prandial reading are have you. They are
the ones most indictable for many complications.) Your A1c
might be made up of highs and lows.
Okay, I'm done. Thank you all so much for reading this... I
just don't have
anyone to really talk to about this.
Fair enough. That has now changed.
Shannon
As a special bonus, I'd like to leave you with a story.
Someone told it to me once, I can't think why? <grin
Once upon a time a man went to buy a donkey. The donkey
seller assured the prospective owner that the donkey
responded only to kind words, and proceeded to demonstrate.
"Come along donkey" he whispered and the donkey obediently
trotted along. Delighted the buyer bought the donkey paying
rather more than he had hoped for. After all this donkey
wasn't going to be a stubborn as donkeys are wont to be.
When he got the donkey home it WOULDN'T come out of the
donkey trailer. He whispered sweet things in one ear, then
the other. He whispered sweet things in several different
languages. Eventually he went back to the seller who
surprisingly hadn't left town on urgent business. In fact to
the buyer's surprise, the seller came over and gave the
buyer a free demonstration. He picked up a piece of four by
two and whacked the donkey soundly between the eyes. Then he
whispered sweet nothings in the wobbly donkey's ear, "Lovely
donkey, this way lovely donkey."
To the buyer he muttered. "First you have to attract their
attention."
Best wishes,
--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ / New Zealand, #,#< [ / \ /\ "... and the
blind dog was leading."
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
Diabetes With People