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Diabetes

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About how long do people go before moving from pens to the pump? I haven't had a conversation with my endo about it yet, but just wanted to see how long others went.

I was diagnosed about 4 years ago but I'm still not on a pump...I'd like to be, but I don't have insurance that would cover it and can't afford it otherwise currently. (Was diagnosed while in college, so no money then. Graduated 1 1/2 years ago, but am currently sort of inbetween jobs.) When I get a stable job and decent insurance (hopefully soon) I want to switch to a pump.
 

MrT

Member
Just wanted to share a bit of my story in case it helps anyone - I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around 5 years ago and at one point was on gliclazide and 2000mg metformin a day, plus meds for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

2 years ago I went vegetarian, then last year I went vegan. Since doing this I've dropped over 4 stone, and every time I go for a checkup they're amazed at my progress and reduce my meds. I'm now off the gliclazide completely (have been for a long time actually) and at my last checkup my blood sugar was 4.7. My metformin was reduced one again to 500mg a day although the doctor suggested he could even take me off it completely at this point, just taking me off it gradually for now. Next appointment he expects I'll be metformin free. Also taken off the cholesterol meds as it's now in my doctor's words "about the lowest I've ever seen".

I do count calories and I stay away from sugary drinks etc but I don't count carbs really, and I'm in the best shape of my life (that's relative tho, still got a ways to go!). So yeah, don't want to be the peachy vegan and I know it's not for everyone, but might be worth considering, and it's easier to do than you might think. It's easily the best decision I've ever made.
 
Just got back from the endo! A1C wasn't bad at all for how bad I have been eating. After 2 long years though I am on insulin. Started with a lantus shot this morning and I have a novalog pen too. So we begin this journey.
 

Dr.Guru of Peru

played the long game
Just wanted to share a bit of my story in case it helps anyone - I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around 5 years ago and at one point was on gliclazide and 2000mg metformin a day, plus meds for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

2 years ago I went vegetarian, then last year I went vegan. Since doing this I've dropped over 4 stone, and every time I go for a checkup they're amazed at my progress and reduce my meds. I'm now off the gliclazide completely (have been for a long time actually) and at my last checkup my blood sugar was 4.7. My metformin was reduced one again to 500mg a day although the doctor suggested he could even take me off it completely at this point, just taking me off it gradually for now. Next appointment he expects I'll be metformin free. Also taken off the cholesterol meds as it's now in my doctor's words "about the lowest I've ever seen".

I do count calories and I stay away from sugary drinks etc but I don't count carbs really, and I'm in the best shape of my life (that's relative tho, still got a ways to go!). So yeah, don't want to be the peachy vegan and I know it's not for everyone, but might be worth considering, and it's easier to do than you might think. It's easily the best decision I've ever made.

Good job. Type 2 Diabetes is a terrible illness, and I find most people who have it are in denial about its seriousness until they end up needing their foot chopped off or end up on dialysis. Glad you're taking care of it.
 

Mosse

Neo Member
About how long do people go before moving from pens to the pump? I haven't had a conversation with my endo about it yet, but just wanted to see how long others went.

I got mine after a year. I could probably have gotten it earlier but my doctor wanted me to get used to the pens first.
 

Quasar

Member
. Also taken off the cholesterol meds as it's now in my doctor's words "about the lowest I've ever seen".

As someones whose probably about to get put on some cholesterol medication its nice to hear. My diet changes has so far dropped my cholesterol a fair bit but not as much as my endo would prefer. My LDL has gone from 4.0 to 2.7 in 6 months (whereas she wants it under 2.0). She said shes been surprised that I've gotten it down this far and doesn't expect much more improvement. Though maybe there's some hope for me.
 
About how long do people go before moving from pens to the pump? I haven't had a conversation with my endo about it yet, but just wanted to see how long others went.

I went 8 1/2 years after being diagnosed (~7 of which were on the pens) before getting the pump, and I can't look back. It's made life 100x easier and my A1C has dropped as a result.
 

xJavonta

Banned
My girlfriend is a type 1 diabetic. She's had it since she was 9. Her blood sugars are usually in the 350-HI range and it kills me. She doesn't take care of her diabetes like she should and anytime I try to bring it up that she gets irritated and upset. She never takes a shot before she eats, always after and never carbs for both her food and blood sugar, usually just her food. She says she's just freaked out about going low and that it trips her anxiety. I don't have diabetes, so I can't understand the struggle of having to regulate blood sugars and manage what you eat, so I can understand that she may feel judged by me whenever I ask her to properly manage her levels.

How can I tell her I want her to take better care of herself? I want to say it in a way that won't make her feel bad about herself and subsequently make me feel guilty for making her feel judged.
 
My girlfriend is a type 1 diabetic. She's had it since she was 9. Her blood sugars are usually in the 350-HI range and it kills me. She doesn't take care of her diabetes like she should and anytime I try to bring it up that she gets irritated and upset. She never takes a shot before she eats, always after and never carbs for both her food and blood sugar, usually just her food. She says she's just freaked out about going low and that it trips her anxiety. I don't have diabetes, so I can't understand the struggle of having to regulate blood sugars and manage what you eat, so I can understand that she may feel judged by me whenever I ask her to properly manage her levels.

How can I tell her I want her to take better care of herself? I want to say it in a way that won't make her feel bad about herself and subsequently make me feel guilty for making her feel judged.

That's a rough one...from a relationship perspective, I'm not sure how much you can and can't do. Does she have diagnosed anxiety and/or depression? Diabetes has links to both, and can contribute to them, particularly when blood sugar is not properly regulated. (Diabetes basically fucks with your entire physiology, meaning brain chemistry is also affected.)

I can also understand the fear/anxiety about going low, especially if she's had scary experiences with that in the past. The most important things: always have some fast acting carbs (fruit snacks, fruit rollups, glucose tablets, whatever) close by. (Maybe that's something you could help her with?) Test frequently, especially after meals and injections, and make sure you understand how your body reacts to carbs and insulin.

However, chances are that she already knows all of that and the real issue is the mental health challenges. Does she see an endocrinologist? If not, maybe you can help her find a good one that she can explain the anxiety issues with (who can perhaps refer her to another specialist if needed).

Ultimately she has to make the decision to take care of her disease, but that also means she needs to be willing to receive professional help. Sticking around in the 350 range is very dangerous, and without proper regulation she'll likely land in the hospital with DKA (in addition to the myriad of long term side effects). It's probably not a good idea for you to bring that up to her, because I'm sure she knows. Better coming from a doctor than from you.

Anyway, all that to essentially say: try to help her get the professional help she needs. Be supportive of her, but also realize that you can't force her to manage her disease.
 

xJavonta

Banned
That's a rough one...from a relationship perspective, I'm not sure how much you can and can't do. Does she have diagnosed anxiety and/or depression? Diabetes has links to both, and can contribute to them, particularly when blood sugar is not properly regulated. (Diabetes basically fucks with your entire physiology, meaning brain chemistry is also affected.)

I can also understand the fear/anxiety about going low, especially if she's had scary experiences with that in the past. The most important things: always have some fast acting carbs (fruit snacks, fruit rollups, glucose tablets, whatever) close by. (Maybe that's something you could help her with?) Test frequently, especially after meals and injections, and make sure you understand how your body reacts to carbs and insulin.

However, chances are that she already knows all of that and the real issue is the mental health challenges. Does she see an endocrinologist? If not, maybe you can help her find a good one that she can explain the anxiety issues with (who can perhaps refer her to another specialist if needed).

Ultimately she has to make the decision to take care of her disease, but that also means she needs to be willing to receive professional help. Sticking around in the 350 range is very dangerous, and without proper regulation she'll likely land in the hospital with DKA (in addition to the myriad of long term side effects). It's probably not a good idea for you to bring that up to her, because I'm sure she knows. Better coming from a doctor than from you.

Anyway, all that to essentially say: try to help her get the professional help she needs. Be supportive of her, but also realize that you can't force her to manage her disease.
Yeah she's been diagnosed for anxiety, and takes a pill for it every night. She definitely does know the dangers of being high all the time, but for some reason can't bring herself to stay lower. There are days where she'll stay around the 200-250 range and be really proud of herself for it, and I'll extend that happiness too. But she always has some carbs to spike herself up before going to bed and doing her long lasting shot so she wakes up no lower than 250.

It's a tough battle both for herself and myself, because I don't want to feel like a shitty SO for expressing my frustration with her need to stay high all day, but I can sympathize with not wanting to wake up too low

She's switching healthcare right now, so she's trying to find new doctors and everything in her area. It's been a while since she's had an appointment for her diabetes
 

Iorv3th

Member
My girlfriend is a type 1 diabetic. She's had it since she was 9. Her blood sugars are usually in the 350-HI range and it kills me. She doesn't take care of her diabetes like she should and anytime I try to bring it up that she gets irritated and upset. She never takes a shot before she eats, always after and never carbs for both her food and blood sugar, usually just her food. She says she's just freaked out about going low and that it trips her anxiety. I don't have diabetes, so I can't understand the struggle of having to regulate blood sugars and manage what you eat, so I can understand that she may feel judged by me whenever I ask her to properly manage her levels.

How can I tell her I want her to take better care of herself? I want to say it in a way that won't make her feel bad about herself and subsequently make me feel guilty for making her feel judged.

Did she ever go to a specialist to train her on how to manage it?

I know they started to tell me to take my insulin before I eat but I still almost always do it after. But I do it right after.

If her bloodsugar is consistantly that high she is destroying her kidneys and other organs. If I get above 200 I start to feel bad. I have had quite a few lows but most of that is on days when i'm active and don't eat something extra etc, it's going to happen. But with a low it's something you can easily notice and quickly remedy. But living with a constantly high bloodsugar is far worse.

Does she ever check for keytones?

Yeah she's been diagnosed for anxiety, and takes a pill for it every night. She definitely does know the dangers of being high all the time, but for some reason can't bring herself to stay lower. There are days where she'll stay around the 200-250 range and be really proud of herself for it, and I'll extend that happiness too. But she always has some carbs to spike herself up before going to bed and doing her long lasting shot so she wakes up no lower than 250.

It's a tough battle both for herself and myself, because I don't want to feel like a shitty SO for expressing my frustration with her need to stay high all day, but I can sympathize with not wanting to wake up too low

She's switching healthcare right now, so she's trying to find new doctors and everything in her area. It's been a while since she's had an appointment for her diabetes

200-250 is terrible. She shouldn't be having carbs before bed either. She should check her bloodsugar before she goes to bed and if it's below 80 then maybe eat something small but not much.

I have woken up too low. Yeah it sucks but for me it was when I was a kid and didn't have the experience with it I do now. My first time drinking I actually got so low I had a like diabetic seizure, don't remember any of it, but my dad and his co-worker had to force me down to get that gel stuff in my mouth. But I learned from it. She just needs to take it before bed. If she is really active during the day she might have to wake up at 2-3am and check it and eat something then as well.

You can either worry about not feeling shitty or if your not exaggerating feel shitty because she died young because she didn't take care of herself. My uncle didn't take care of himself and he had it too, my dad basically had to watch him die and couldn't do anything to save him. Don't let that happen to you.

I went 8 1/2 years after being diagnosed (~7 of which were on the pens) before getting the pump, and I can't look back. It's made life 100x easier and my A1C has dropped as a result.

I never really wanted to look into a pump because it seems like it would get in the way. Afraid of bumping it or doing something to disturb it. I've been on pens since they came out and regular bottles and needles before that.

I might have to look into a pump. What is your A1C now and what was it before?

Just got back from the endo! A1C wasn't bad at all for how bad I have been eating. After 2 long years though I am on insulin. Started with a lantus shot this morning and I have a novalog pen too. So we begin this journey.

I'm on lantus and humalog. Have been using lantus for I don't remember how long 10+ years. I prefer to take mine in the evening so I can sleep in on weekends.
 
Yeah she's been diagnosed for anxiety, and takes a pill for it every night. She definitely does know the dangers of being high all the time, but for some reason can't bring herself to stay lower. There are days where she'll stay around the 200-250 range and be really proud of herself for it, and I'll extend that happiness too. But she always has some carbs to spike herself up before going to bed and doing her long lasting shot so she wakes up no lower than 250.

It's a tough battle both for herself and myself, because I don't want to feel like a shitty SO for expressing my frustration with her need to stay high all day, but I can sympathize with not wanting to wake up too low

She's switching healthcare right now, so she's trying to find new doctors and everything in her area. It's been a while since she's had an appointment for her diabetes

If her new insurance covers a CGM she should definitely look into that.
 
Man I've been taking insulin since Thursday and its just not working. I try dosing my novolog before s a meal and I still go high. I try a correction dose and it doesn't seem to work. It feels like my control is worse then without insulin.

Granted I am adding a few more carbs into my diet but the insulin isn't covering them at all.

Frustrating
 
Man I've been taking insulin since Thursday and its just not working. I try dosing my novolog before s a meal and I still go high. I try a correction dose and it doesn't seem to work. It feels like my control is worse then without insulin.

Granted I am adding a few more carbs into my diet but the insulin isn't covering them at all.

Frustrating

What's the insulin to carb ration you've been trying? How high post meal are we talking?

Be careful about over correcting because you can easily go hypoglycemic. If the insulin is literally doing nothing I guess it's possible that your vial/pen is bad (i.e., if the pharmacy didn't properly keep it refrigerated).
 
What's the insulin to carb ration you've been trying? How high post meal are we talking?

Be careful about over correcting because you can easily go hypoglycemic. If the insulin is literally doing nothing I guess it's possible that your vial/pen is bad (i.e., if the pharmacy didn't properly keep it refrigerated).

15/1 carb ratio with corrections being 1 unit for ever 50 I need to come down.

I've been very careful with over correcting.

How long should it take for something like Novolog to bring me back to a normal number? Say from 220 down to 120?
 
15/1 carb ratio with corrections being 1 unit for ever 50 I need to come down.

I've been very careful with over correcting.

How long should it take for something like Novolog to bring me back to a normal number? Say from 220 down to 120?

That ratio is a bit low, which is typically what doctors will recommend for somebody new on insulin...I would probably recommend calling your endo and seeing if they'd recommend increasing your dosage.
 
Prediabetic gaf reporting in. Lost 15 lbs but nearly found out all over the past few months. This shit sucks.

welcome! the early days are an anxiety ridden mess. At least it was for me. Followed by denial and then acceptance.

the good news is, if you take things seriously you will come out of this healthier then you would have before.

good luck!

also a great resource that I use all the time is R/Diabetes
 

Iorv3th

Member
15/1 carb ratio with corrections being 1 unit for ever 50 I need to come down.

I've been very careful with over correcting.

How long should it take for something like Novolog to bring me back to a normal number? Say from 220 down to 120?

Did it ever come down yet?

I am taking 1unit of humalog for every 5 carbs. Then take 15 lantus daily.
 
I'm concerned. A co-worker made some statements that align with my symptoms. I'm so very fatigued. I sleep constantly and yet am never not tired, I'm always hungry, always, constantly peeing, constantly thirsty with a very mouth. Is there any way to get tested without going to a doctor?
 

hythloday

Member
I'm concerned. A co-worker made some statements that align with my symptoms. I'm so very fatigued. I sleep constantly and yet am never not tired, I'm always hungry, always, constantly peeing, constantly thirsty with a very mouth. Is there any way to get tested without going to a doctor?

You can buy diabetic test strips and a glucometer at just about any drug store, no prescription needed. With that you can test your glucose level to see if it's too high. Really though a real diagnosis would need to come from a doctor, because if you're diabetic it needs medical treatment.
 

Zackat

Member
I'm concerned. A co-worker made some statements that align with my symptoms. I'm so very fatigued. I sleep constantly and yet am never not tired, I'm always hungry, always, constantly peeing, constantly thirsty with a very mouth. Is there any way to get tested without going to a doctor?

just go to the doctor. it is gonna suck, but you need to do it.
 
Yeah those are the symptoms I had last year. A coworker would tell me all the time to get check and I just ignored it. I would say "nah im just thirsty" or "I just like drinking water". Then finally my wife made an appointment for me and my A1C was 14% or around there and my first glucose test was 514. And that was a year ago. I am on medication, Metformin and now I'm 40 lbs lighter, should be more, and my levels stays between 80-120. I still need to lose weight and if I lose enough the doctor says I can get off the medication.
 
Yeah those are the symptoms I had last year. A coworker would tell me all the time to get check and I just ignored it. I would say "nah im just thirsty" or "I just like drinking water". Then finally my wife made an appointment for me and my A1C was 14% or around there and my first glucose test was 514. And that was a year ago. I am on medication, Metformin and now I'm 40 lbs lighter, should be more, and my levels stays between 80-120. I still need to lose weight and if I lose enough the doctor says I can get off the medication.

Were you ever checked for Type 1? your story is exactly like mine but my doc wanted to do the GAD antibody test just to confirm and it turns out im Type 1.
 

DukeBobby

Member
Type 1 Diabetic since 2001. I got my A1C result the other day and it was 5.2, which is my best result in years (it had been hovering around 6-8 for several years).

I've also put on 8kg since my last check-up, which I'm pretty happy about too (from 63kg to 71kg). I'm not far from my ideal weight now.
 
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