Any diabetics want to share our stuff?

[Tripod]

34 years now with type one. Almost killed me a few times, but I'm in pretty good shape considering. I was glad to have a complete medical make-up a couple of yeas ago. My blood circulation in my legs and arms are fine. I liked Atlantus, and Aprida, when I could afford it.... Worked well for me. I can't afford this now, so I'm doing Humalin N and R. Doesn't work so well. So I'm running high blood sugars so I don't crash in the middle of the night. That shit paralizes me, and I feel like crap for a few days after. Everyone has a battle, this is mine, is it yours?

[kdmorris]

1. I'm Type 2

I'm on Byetta and metformin. Most of the time it works well, but then sometimes, for no apparent reason, my blood sugar drops like a stone after I eat and have taken the Byetta. I also control my carb intake to try to keep my overall blood sugar down.

I think that's my biggest battle... in terms of frustration anyway. Sometimes, I do everything right and it just seems like it doesn't work and I end up confused about how I got there. I hear you on the low blood sugar wiping you out... when my blood sugar plummets, I'm useless for hours.

[Tripod]

4. Probably your pancreas works, but the cells in your body don't matabalize it well.

I just wrote on the on the other reply, so you can read this. Thx for yours. Sometimes I'm almost useless for days! I will go to work, and take care of the important things, and sleep. It's like I was hit on my body with a big stick. I hope we can all help eachother.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I'm running on both extremes.

I was 32 when I was diagnosed with type I diabetes. Now I'm 46 and used the Omnipod system with Novolog for about four years. I'm 6' 1" and my weight has varied from 117 when I first started to use the pump to 184. I was holding at about 175 for awhile, but since I lost my health insurance I've dropped back down to 145. I haven't been to the doctor since April and I'm behind on my bills with the pump manufacturer since I'm unemployed so I'm reluctant to call in to determine what my basal dosage should be. For a couple of months, I couldn't even afford to pay for Novolog and had to resort to giving myself Lantus injections during that time. I'm supposed to be taking Lyrica three times a day for neuropathy, but have backed off to one a day because of the expense. Adding in Vitamin D deficiency, depression, not having any friends where I live and fights with the family means that life hasn't been a bowl of cherries.

In addition, I recently moved to a rural area so it would be difficult to meet with one of their reps to make the necessary adjustments now that I can splurge for the Novolog. On top of that my hours are irregular because I'm sleeping in 1-3 hour shifts since I'm taking care of my father who is 85 with Parkinsons.

When it comes down to having blood sugar too high or having a hypoglycemic reaction, I'm able to deal with the higher levels better. The yo-yo effect of having low blood sugar followed by sugar binges to bring the levels back up leaves me with that crappy feeling also.

I'm supposed to consult with an oral surgeon this week because I have nine teeth that need to be extracted. I'm hoping to get things stabilized somewhat and gain some weight back since I probably won't be able to eat for awhile afterwards and will also have to shell out for dentures.

One of these days I would actually like to go to sleep instead of crashing. I know that I'm putting a lot of strain on my health, but I have been lucky that at least my blood pressure has remained okay. I'm telling myself to be grateful for having a roof over my head, food to eat and that my cats love and depend on me; however, that isn't a lot and I will need to find a job quickly after I recover from the oral surgery(ies).

Good luck getting your situation under control and take care of yourself. I'm trying to do the same.

[Tripod]

3. Wow, TexasTowlie, you are realy sick.

My wieght fluxes 20 lbs or so but you must feel like crap. I deal with the higher blood sugars also, as I wrote in my OP. I'll over eat in my lows because I'm scared, and it takes a while, then in a little while my sugar is at 400,,,WTF! I kinda want to LOL but it isn't funny.. This has killed a couple of my friends. I have two rescue cats also, and my Mom
s dog for 6 weeks now, she goes home on Friday. My Brother is type two, had insurance for health care, tried all the expensive drugs, with no avail. I gave him some of my cheap, Humalin insulin last summer, and it worked. Our whole family was blown away,,, He is not perfect, but put on wieght, and isn't so deppressed. This shit is rough, but maybe we can help eachother, I helped my older Brother.

[IDemo]

5. I'm in my 48th year with Type 1

I struggled for years with 2AM lows until my new doctor put me on a Humalog/Lantus regimen a few years back. The Lantus is taken in a single dosage (or twice daily by some folk) to cover the 'basal' dose, or what the body needs hour-to-hour between meals. Humalog is used to cover the 'bolus', or mealtime carbs. It works more rapidly than Humalin R (Regular) and covers the calories without hanging around for hours afterward to cause low BG's. The key is to figure out what combination of insulin and carbohydrates you need and to know how much adjustment is required in cases such as illness or too much excercise. You do this by learning how to carb count, either with a registered dietician or using the wealth of material online. You don't have to be the Rainman when it comes to figuring out how many carbs are in a plate full of food; with practice you'll get a close enough guesstimate to keep your BG's within the zone.

Don't worry - a cure is within 5 years, or so I've heard for the past 40 years!

[Tripod]

6. IDemo, I've heard about that cure for 33 years also.

Excellant paragragh, You know alot. I count carbs, not as well as Rainman, LOL. And I understand what you are saying about the insulin you use, Is Humalog expensive? I know that Lantus is... I liked Lantus and apidra when I had insurance for a couple years... a couple years ago. I quoted myself wrong with that in my OP. I hope for long term insperation from you, are you ok? I am considering what I put myself through. I'm nearly a 30 year long alcholic also, but not drinking for a while now. I'm sure you have had some rough times, but do you still have your legs and such? I appreciate your reply. Hope you can give another one. Take care. Hope we will speak again on DU. I love the bounce. It doesn'twork as well as these others, But I get Humalin N and Humalin R for 25$'s a bottle. Have a good night! Thx.

[IDemo]

7. I must admit, I don't pay attention to the over-the-counter price

I have a pretty fair insurance plan under my current employer (hopefully for a while to come). I did find this site which does a cost comparison for different sources of Lantus. If you're willing to go with a Canadian pharmacy, it looks like you can save a bit. Still, not cheap by any means.

I have done extremely well so far. My latest eye exam still showed no appreciable signs of retinopathy, and other than a slower healing time for cuts on my feet and lower legs, nothing serious there either.

Seems like a great time to be a lab mouse - you can live diabetes and cancer free. Humans? - not so much...

Best of luck to you dealing with this sucky disease.

Edit - you might want to take a look at the first comment from the above link, may be some help for you there.

[Tripod]

8. I'm greatful for the link IDemo.

But I would need a second job now just to go there and buy. Good deals though. I don't want to crash my computer. I'm not sure why but it happened to me last spring. I'm glad you are well today. The healing process is slower with all of us, as we get older. Thanks again.

[diabeticman]

9. 35 yr old type 1 diabertic for 34 years.

I was diganosed with type 1 diabetes on thanksgiving day 1977. Slipped into a coma. Sugar was 750 that day. No complication as a result of my diabetes. Take insulin 4 times a day. Humalog, and Humalog 75/25 mixture. the 75/25 mixture three times a day, the humalog 1 time a day. I get my medicine covered through my health insurance from my workplace. My only problem is i always seem a little bit thirsty. Other than that, no complaints. Hoipe things work out for you.

[rosalgustren]

10. my childs stuff

My daughter is 5 years old only and she is diagnosed with type I diabetes, I think she inherited it from her grandmother which more likely gave up when I was still a child. She is taking insulin shot 3 to 4 times a day and I'm giving her a tulsi tea I got which I hope might help her.

[Tripod]

11. Try evereything.

I trust she will be okay. It's a life changing disease.

[rl6214]

12. I have been a type 1 diabetic for 30 years, diagnosed 6 months after getting married

I use the Medtronic insulin pump, using Humalog insulin and generally take pretty good care of myself. Insurance cost is $30 monthly, without insurance it would be $150. My pump supplies cost about $50 monthly and my other prescriptions run about another $60. After 30 years it's starting to take a toll on my body. Started having nueropathy in my feet about 10 years ago and currently take 600mg of Lyrica daily to deal with it. Some times it helps sometimes it dosen't and now I am feeling it in my hands. Besides the burning and sharp stabbing pain in my feet it also affects my balance and how long I can stand.

Along with the nueropathy in my feet I also suffer from autonomic nueropathy. Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms that occur when there is damage to the nerves that manage every day body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion. It also is related to sexual dysfunction.

About three years ago I started having problems with my eyes and have to go to a retinal specialist. I've had cataract surgery in both eyes and have had to have retinal surgery on the left eye three times. In spite of the three surgeries I am now legally blind in the left eye and have to get injections of avastin in the right eye every three months in an effort to keep my vision in that eye.

Two years ago my then 15yo son was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic as well. That was one of the hardest days in my entire life, I broke down and cried. He is also on the insulin pump and while not taking as good care as he should be, we are working to keep each other honest with our blood sugars and he is improving with his care.