Update

[Guest guest]

Hi, Terry...re your husband's denial...has anyone ever told him about the

consequences of uncontrolled diabetes? If he's managed to escap them so far,

considering what you said about his poor control, he's truly lucky...but

this will not hold forever. Do you have kids? I assume he'd like to see them

grow up. But continued high BGs eventually cause blindness...I'm sure he

knows about amputation...but does he know about how painful neuropathy can

be? Not to mention heart disease and renal failure, none of which are fun

(and this of course is an understatement).

It isn't enough for YOU to read the books -- HE has to. And if you can only

get him to read one, make that one Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution, by

Bernstein, M.D. . It's got the most comprehensive and easy to

understand overall content of any diabetic book there is. Maybe you could

read it out loud to him?

Good luck. Feel free to ask any questions you need to. Don't worry about long

posts -- we're here to help. And keep us posted as to what's going on. Vicki

G

[Guest guest]

It is good to hear from you, Terry. It sounds like you are really jumping

into this and trying to get on top of this nasty disease as soon as

possible. I am glad that the educators reinforced your already-held

suspicion that your husband is refusing to take this disease seriously. I

hate to come on like Dr. Doom all the time, but damage is done to our organs

in as little as 30 days of high glucose readings. He is, in essence, killing

himself here with his behavior. I am a truck driver, so I tend to be pretty

physical and confrontational. If it were me, I would slam him against a

wall, hold him there, and shout into his face: YOU ARE GOING TO DIE AND

LEAVE ME A GRIEVING WIDOW AND HURT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU.

He knows better, because of all the diabetes in his family. Maybe you could

arrange for the two of you to visit someone who is hospitalized currently

with diabetes complications so that he can get a grip on the damage he is

doing. The really cruel aspect of this disease is that, if we don't take

care of ourselves ahead of time, by the time we discover the complications,

it is often too late. Some of the damage is irreversible, and some of it is

only partially reversible. He needs to keep his readings as close to 100, as

much of the time, as possible.

Now I will add what many of us have discovered: Many of us - especially

those of us who have been diabetic a long time or who have achieved middle

age - find we can't nail the really good diabetes control unless we keep our

carbohydrate intake beneath 100 grams daily. (That is just a rough number

.... some find they must keep it down around 30-40 grams ... others find they

can do okay at around 150 grams.) Another rule of thumb is that 30 grams of

carbs per meal seems to be a typical limit before we spike. Our food intake,

of course, depends on how much pancreas function we have remaining, our

activity level, our metabolic rate, our body weight, and whether we are also

using pills and/or insulin to attain maximum control.

I feel it is essential for him to do *whatever* is necessary to bring his

numbers down around 100 right now. Since he is fighting the needle-sticks,

he probably won't be receptive to the notion of adding insulin to his

diabetes management. But that could be a good idea - at least for now. Also,

even though I am personally opposed to them, you might want to add a

sulfonylurea such as Glucotrol to his approach. There can be problems with

the use of sulfonylureas, but what is essential is to get those readings

into a safe zone - pronto.

You are very right to give him Tough Love, Terry. Unless you lock him in a

closet, as a grown man, he is free to snack and binge when he is out of your

sight, so he must somehow come to grips with this. Here I go again, sounding

like Dr. Doom ... but he has apparently been diabetic for a very long time

.... for so long, and with such pronounced symptoms that his employer finally

ordered him to see the doctor. I would treat this situation like a diagnosis

of any other major deadly disease and make sure your wills are up to date,

that he has adequate life insurance, etc. It sounds as if he is in

surprisingly good shape, considering his history. But he could exhibit

severe symptoms very rapidly, including infections and ulcers on his feet

and lower legs that won't heal and that turn gangrenous, blindness, kidney

failure, etc.

You are being really good about doing your part. Now if we can just get

to do likewise ...

Susie

[Guest guest]

Terry wrote:

>I can't be with him all the time and he has to realize

that. Thus far it has been in my hands but last night I told him I would do

my part but he had to do his part too. >

***The trouble is, if you're in charge on his diabetes, he wil grow

to hate your nagging, and so will you!***

>Then I went to Wal-Mart and they had a special running until the end of the

month on a Glucometer Dex (Bayer)(it uses Discs instead of strips) if you

give them a few unused strip in the original bottle you get it free. >

***Thanks for that info, Terry!***

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Barb

-------------

RAINBOW FARM UNLTD.

Breeding Premium Oldenburgs,

and fancy sport ponies.

http://www.rainbowfarm.com

Update

>

>

>Just a note to Thank everyone for all the nice emails I recieved. I am

>going to check into getting the few books that were recommended to me.

> Yesterday I was able to get an appointment to see a Diabetic Educator and

>a Nurtritionist at our local hospital. Both appointments went very well and

>I came out with a much better understanding of Diabetes and its affects on

>the body. They agreed that Don needs to lose about 45 lbs and put him on a

>2000 calorie diabetic diet. They told me what foods are better than others

>and gave me an exchange list. His diet isn't all that low in Carbs from

>what I can tell. Also to be honest it really isn't much different than the

>way I usually cook (other than I will be grilling instead of frying steaks

>and hamburger. pork and chicken I always do in the over so no change

>there). The thing that will bother him most I think is the small portions

>since he is used to eatting alot. He will get used to it though as his

>stomach starts to shrink from less food and no Pepsi. He is to exercise

>daily unless his BG is 250 or above. I didn't really understand why that is

>and was given so much information I forgot to ask.

> The Diabetic Educatior told me (as a couple of people from the list did)

>that he is a grown man and needs to tak some responsibility for this

>himself. Yesterday he made a poor judgement call by eatting 3 pieces of

>Fudge and some sugar cookies that someone brought to work. He BG told on

>him as it was 502. I can't be with him all the time and he has to realize

>that. Thus far it has been in my hands but last night I told him I would do

>my part but he had to do his part too. I will prepare the meals and I will

>walk and exercise with him daily. I will even get and read books and

>information but he needs to read them too.

> The Diabetic Educator gave me a Glucometer (One Touch Basic (LifeScan).

>Then I went to Wal-Mart and they had a special running until the end of the

>month on a Glucometer Dex (Bayer)(it uses Discs instead of strips) if you

>give them a few unused strip in the original bottle you get it free. Now we

>have one for him to take to work and check it once he agrees to try using

>it. He is still in the denial stage. Does anyone use either or these

>Glucometers? If so how accurate ar they? The reason I ask is I have been

>using my grandmother's Glucometer Elite XL (Bayer) which was correct with

>the doctor's. He told us when we got our oun to check them against my

>grandmother's. I did it twice yesterday and got different reading both

>times from all 3. The one that matched it closest was the Dex (3mg

>difference). The One Touch was about 94 mg difference. I used blood on all

>3 machines from the same stick.. I know there will be some flucuation from

>meter to meter but that was a little too much.

> Sorry I got a little long winded. I look forward to everyones reply. I did

>want to clear up something. Some of you have been replying to me as Lynn

>which is okay (that is my middle name). Parks is my maiden name (we have 2

>computers and to avoid confustion of the ISP I used my middle and Maiden

>name on this account). My nmae is Terry Windsor. Just didn't want anyone

>confused by seeing one name and me giving another.

>Take Care

>Terry

>bsb4fun@...

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm glad you were able to get yours filled like that Donnie. Mine have to be new

written scripts, no refills for me, so I have to wait for mine to come in the

mail from doc, or I can go pick them up, but it's 70 miles round trip and I

prefer not to go every month. I see him every 8 wks. Plus it costs me $4 for

tolls each trip. So by waiting for them to come in the mail it takes 2 days from

the time I call them in. Well, 3 including the day I call them in.

~Tommie~

www.myspace.com/tommiejj

PH, CFS, FMS, Diabetes, Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome

Don't waste energy second-guessing what you're missing or

what can go awry. If you put enough energy into doubt,

something will undoubtedly go wrong.

Instead, focus on the positive possibilities with a hopeful attitude.

Update

Hi all. I had something very strange happen to me yesterday. As you

all know I had a total knee replacement about 2 weeks ago. Things

were going along fine until yesterday. Tuesday I had gone to see my

suregeon and have him take out the staples. He did, and then said he

was a little concerned about the swelling in my knee. He suggested

icing it more and call him if anything gets worse. Wednesday

afternoon, after I had taken my son to his therapist appt. On the way

home, my knee started hurting bad. I didn't think much of it, so I

just let it go. Once I got home, I put ice on it and took some pain

medication and just waited. I don't think 15 minutes went by before I

was calling my doc to see what I should do. The pain got that bad

that fast. His nurse told me to go into the ER here in town. I did.

The ER doc walked in, took one look at my knee and said " Holy Crap! "

They immediately put in an IV and some demerol. I was crying, and the

demerol didn't help at all. The ER doc called the surgeon from

upstairs to come and look. I was then given more drugs, which didn't

help. The ER doc finally called my suregeon who said to put my knee

in an immobilizer and see him on Tuesday. I was then given more

demerol and sent home. I cried the whole way home. I laid on my bed

with my knee elevated and cried. I must have cried for over an hour.

My husband decided we were going to LaCrosse where the main hospital

is. I went there, saw the doc who refused to drain anything off the

knee, given a shot of something that actually worked (a little), then

sent home. Gave my surgeon a call this morning, was told I can get in

with him on Thursday. All I can do now is to suffer through the pain,

and if it gets too bad again, then I go to the ER again. Sorry this

is so long, but I needed to vent. Thanks, Kellie

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. I am doing a lot better. My back

seems to being a let better. I think I had a MS flare up and it being really

cold that day. I am not looking forward to it being a cold winter if I am

going to be acting like that all winter. I will have a talk with my PCP when

I see him next month and see what he has to say about it. He has been taking

real good care of me so I don't have to g and see my MS doctor every time I

have a flare up. I hope I do not have to go and see her before March that is

when I have my six mouth follow up with her.

Thank you for all your comments and suggestions.

A. Stowell