Re: The progression of this disease...to Walt

April 4, 2004

Dear Walt,

Thinking of my own experiences, I can relate to your comments on the

progression of this disease. It's good that you had the foresight to look out

for yourself and your health needs by getting that disability so that you could

continue that most important medical health coverage. Having adequate

insurance is so important for us since we seem to be prone to spending so

much time in the hospital, which is an expensive endeavor.

I'm sure that finding yourself diabetic and on insulin came as a shock, even

though you may have thought about it beforehand, or been warned that it

could happen. It comes as a shock, nonetheless, and introduces yet another

whole set of rules to follow and necessary things to do.

When my pancreas burned out a year ago in March and I woke up in the

hospital bed with the doctor standing there telling me that I was a type 1

brittle diabetic, I think I just nodded my head and went back to sleep. I'd

only

had CP for a year and a half and it had been a rapid progression from first

diagnosis to complete burn out. So even during the first few days, when the

nurses checked my BG's and injected my insulin, I hadn't really accepted

what was going on as being permanent....they were doing everything for me

and it just didn't seem real.

Once you get home on your own, though, reality slams you in the face and

you deal with it. It sounds like you're dealing very well with the adjustments.

Are you taking any oral meds for the diabetes, along with your insulin? How

have your BG's been doing?

If there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask. I've got a

year of it under my belt now and I've learned quite a few tricks along the way

that have helped me to have good control. If there's anything I've learned

that I can pass on, I'd be happy to do so.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All advice and comments are personal opinion only, and should not be

substituted for professional medical consultation.

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