Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 Hi ! I'm Billie! As for the medicine you take I have never heard of it. I've been on insulin since I first got diabetes twenty nine years ago. As for the lancet, a nurse told me that you can leave the lancet in the pen for a few days. But a tech with Liberty Medical told me just the other day that each lancet it coated so that the first time you use it it makes a hole instead of tearing a hole. she said any use of it after that just tears a hole in your skin. I have to realize she is also trying to sell lancets. I used mine for several days before throwing it away. I also use my syringes two days before throwing them away. It sounds to me like you had a low blood sugar, but the best way to get used to telling what is happening is to check your blood sugar when you feel those things. My symptoms of low blood sugar change. So you can't always count on that. sometimes I just get cold, or my tongue gets numb, or I start shaking. chekcing your bloo sugar is the best way to tell. And as for changing your medicine routine, don't do that without talking to your doctor. I don't know how the pills work so please ask your doctor. We are here for you! Billie On Sun, 15 Apr 2001 20:14:04 -0700 " rzapata " writes: > Hello All, > > I'm totally new to the world of diabetes, and am feeling my way. > I'm > learning to count carbohydrates and using my talking monitor. > However I > have a few questions, which you who have been living with this > disease have > already learned. I guess the first question I have is how can I get > my > glucose level down quickly, when it reads to high. I mean with out > taking > another Glyburide pill, because, I think I'm only supposed to take 1 > per > day. Is it okay to take more? Perhaps an additional Vanatrace? Do > you > guys take Vanatrace? I'm working up my nerve for exercise, but ... > soon! > > I guess question no. 2 is, is it okay to keep the same needle in the > lancet > all day or do I have to change it every time? No big deal, but I > figured, > if I'm the only one using that lancet, why change the needle every > time? > > q3, The other day, within a few minutes of taking my Glyburide, my > hands > and feet felt tingly and numb, was that low or high blood glucose? > It felt > like I was going to pass out, so I ate a candy and it did get > better, but I > don't know if that was indeed the sugar, or a natural reaction or > how to > tell what is going on. > > Thanks for being there all of you. I hope these questions don't > sound too > childish, but I've never had to deal with diabetes before. I of > course have > many more questions, but I won't bore you now. I'll deal them out a > few at > a time. > > Again, thanks to all, > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 I found out the hard way, if you use a lancet more than twice, it hurts mega-bad! I don't do that any more. To be safe and not damage yourself, use a different lancet each time! I also have discovered that once you are regulated, you may not need to take the blood sugar as often, once your meds, habits, and your fluctuations are recognized. I only test once every three days, now that my meds are right, and I know my symptoms. Hope this helps. Phyllis s, & Lea, The fearless guide dog With her kitty family CAMBMMIIBSOP (*p*) & (*f*) see them here: http://www.gataiada.com/phyllis MAILTO:stevensp@... " Courage is fear that has said its prayers. " -- Dorothy Bernard =================================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 Hi there, You will discover that exercise can do a great deal to lower and keep your glucose level low. It is very important. I dislike exercise, started it amidst kicking and screaming, but it has helped me keep my bg level below 120. Drink a great deal of water a day, at least a half gallon, or eight eight ounce glasses, no less unless you have kidney disease. If you can manage it, a couple or three glasses more would be even better. My blood glucose dropped fifteen points when I started drinking the proper amount of water. I can't comment on your meds, I use Glucophage XR, and it works extremely well. I'm glad you are counting carbs, with a few rare exceptions, low carb diets are the best way for a diabetic to go. I reuse a lancet until the damn thing is to dull to puncture leather. Your feeling of numbness could have been either too low, or too high glucose levels, but probably too low. Bernstein recommends keeping a few glucose tablets around for such emergencies. There are no childish questions, every diabetic faces them sooner or later. Never feel badly about asking. Keep up the good work. Dan Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 The med tech misinformed you about the lancets. They tear when they become too dull, it has nothing to do with a coating. You can use one for at least five times without this happening. I use the FreeStyle meter and the lancets are so tiny that you can reuse them at least a dozen times. Dan Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 Hi Dan, My needles are coated with teflon which makes them slide in easier. They get dull when this coating is rubbed off by repeated use. When I run out of needles I can get a hell of a lot of mileage out of one by biting the bullet. Carol Same thing with lancets. Re: new diabetic >The med tech misinformed you about the lancets. They tear when they become too dull, it has nothing to do with a coating. You can use one for at least five times without this happening. > >I use the FreeStyle meter and the lancets are so tiny that you can reuse them at least a dozen times. > >Dan Graham > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 Yes, lancets are teflon coated, but it does not wear off in one use like those interested in selling more lancets would tell us. I agree, once the lancet is tearing instead of piercing, it is time to replace it. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 Thanks Billie! That was very helpful. I don't remember all the physiology of it, but it seems that there are two types of diabetes. Type 1 which requires insulin and type 2 which has two different medications which are taken at varying strengths. How they tell between the two, I don't know. I gather, the symptoms are the same. Still a nasty disease any way you look at it. It does seem wasteful changing needles every time, but I'll have to look into the tarring of the skin theory. Thanks again Billie and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 Thanks Phyllis and you too Lea! That make sense, and heavens! I don't want the extra pain! They are cheep enough anyway, so I guess I'll just take the extra trouble and change every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 Thanks Dan, it's good to hear from an old friend. I do hope all is going extremely well for you. I am getting closer to that exercise program, soon! I hope. yes, I need to drink more water. I drink a lot, but it's usually, that Crystal Lite or some other flavored drink. But water, I guess, it will have to be. Oh well, it's really " the change of life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 , there are also some supplements that have proven very helpful to many type two diabetics, even type ones. The most important is Alpha Lipoic acid, called ALA. It is a very powerful antioxidant and has strong blood glucose lowering abilities. When I started measuring my blood sugar, it was around 400 mg%. My first course of action was to switch to a low carb diet, that got it down to about 220. Then, I started using the ALA and chromium picolonate, that brought the readings town to about 180. I now use the Glucophage XR med as it further reduces the readings, along with exercise and lots of water, to around 110 in general. I use ALA at a strength of 600 mg in a timed release form a day, and 1000 mcg of the chromium picolonate a day. Other supplememts that are good for lowering glucose levels, and for mitigating the bad effects of elevated blood glucose are Vitamins C, E (mixed tocopherals) and B6. GLA, (gamma linoleic acid) is also considered bery useful for repairing much of the peripheral neurophathy that accompanies diabetes. Take it easy now, Dan Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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