Guest guest Posted July 29, 1999 Report Share Posted July 29, 1999 Hey , you are not alone and this list is a wonderful and I underline wonderful!!!! I am a type 2 and was out of control for about 2 years. I did not have a very supportive or very good doctor. I gave up and felt I was alone. I now have a wonderful doctor and this group has really helped me refocus. I got really sick last Aug and it put me down for about 6 months. I had neuropathy in my legs and feet along with other problems. I now take care of myself and know through this list and the good Lord that I am not alone and neither are you. Welcome to the list. My name is Shelia and I am from Texas nice to meet ya!!!!!! Shelia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 1999 Report Share Posted July 29, 1999 writes: << ... I've been diagnosed for 15 yrs , and i've been on a roller coaster ride ever since. Several doctors have tried to get me under control, to no avail. Blood sugar will rise and fall as much as 400 points in a 12 hour period. Sometimes have 2 or 3 low sugar attacts a day. Last blood test was 9.3 and i have no damage but foot neuropathy. My insulin dose is 28 units humulin u, with regular as needed on a sliding scale. >> , for many type 1's, a background insulin of L or UL - injected once or twice daily - along with Humalog, injected just before meals, and carefully matched to the number of grams of carbohydrates in the planned meal - has been working satisfactorily. There IS hope for you, . It is really important for you to find the proper insulin-to-carbs match that gives you optimal control. There are many knowledgeable type 1's as well as type 2's in this group. I am glad you found us - and I hope others here will be better able to assist you. I am a long-term type 2, so I don't attempt to help type 1's much ... feel like I'm in over my head ... but there are many here who have just the insight you may need. Please remain optimistic ... I feel that you are really worried, and are willing to do whatever is necessary to stop the rollercoaster ride. Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 1999 Report Share Posted July 29, 1999 Hi, , welcome to the group. There seem to be a lot of low-carbers here and most of us find it very helpful for controlling our BGs. So the questions for you are: 1. Do you follow a low-carb diet or just the regular ADA diet (which is rather high carb)? 2. How often do you test? 3. Have you read Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solutions by Bernstein yet? I'm probably not the one who'll ask you these questions! Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 1999 Report Share Posted July 29, 1999 Hello everyone - What do you mean by warm feet, i.e., that your feet feel warm without touching them or, that they feel warm to the touch? My feet have numb spots but always feel warm to the touch. I'm assuming that the circulation is still good (at least, my podiatrist tells me that) but that the numbness is a product of the sugar affecting the nerves (neuropathy?). What's your understanding of " lack of circulation " vs. " nerve damage due to sugar " ? The only time I really worry about my feet getting too cold is when swimming in the ocean up here in New England; the water is QUITE cool. I've been thinking of getting sometime of skin diving boot, if there is such a thing, to give my feel some insulated protection when swimming. How does everyone else handle such situations? Thanks, Beth. > And it occurred to me > that, for diabetics, " Happiness is warm feet. " If those suckers are warm, we > know there is still some circulation there. > > Susie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 1999 Report Share Posted July 29, 1999 Hammond writes: << What do you mean by warm feet, i.e., that your feet feel warm without touching them or, that they feel warm to the touch? My feet have numb spots but always feel warm to the touch. I'm assuming that the circulation is still good (at least, my podiatrist tells me that) but that the numbness is a product of the sugar affecting the nerves (neuropathy?). What's your understanding of " lack of circulation " vs. " nerve damage due to sugar " ? >> There is a monofilament test (picture the " leader " on fishing line) that tests your feet for sensitivity. My feet feel warm and give me lots of feedback ... I can wiggle my toes and feel that ... step on something and feel that ... and when I touch them, they feel warm and sensitive to touch all over. Check your toes and the tops of your feet and ankles for hair ... I know .. gross .. but Dr. Bernstein says the absence of hair in those areas indicates neuropathy. I wish more doctors would pay more attention to diabetes complications, especially neuropathy. If you have cracks in your heels, or sores that are slow to heal, you need to be checked for neuropathy. Neuropathy can take many forms ... deadness, burning, sharp pains. The feet, being furthest from the heart (the body's blood pump), are the first to go. We potentially suffer from two problems ... nerve damage and circulation damage. The circulatory damage is usually reversible, but sometimes the nerve damage isn't. Of all parts of our body, probably the feet are the part we should observe most carefully for early signs of problems. Susie The only time I really worry about my feet getting too cold is when swimming in the ocean up here in New England; the water is QUITE cool. I've been thinking of getting sometime of skin diving boot, if there is such a thing, to give my feel some insulated protection when swimming. How does everyone else handle such situations? Thanks, Beth. > And it occurred to me > that, for diabetics, " Happiness is warm feet. " If those suckers are warm, we > know there is still some circulation there. > > Susie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 1999 Report Share Posted July 29, 1999 When I see messages here about doctors who don't seem to know very much about how to treat diabetes, I'm all the more thankful I have a wonderful Internist. Better yet, his Physician Assistant has special training in diabetes; I had a wonderful session with her where she explained some of the biology behind the disease (e.g., insulin resistance, etc.). I plan on getting Dr. Bernstein's book this weekend. The only unfortunate episode I've had was with the nurse at the local diabetes clinic. She meant well, was certainly well informed, but she scared the willies out of me. Fear doesn't work well with me -- information does. I remember, in particular, her statement that I won't be going bare foot ever again. The intellectual side of me understood -- it can lead to foot injuries that may go undetected. But, the emotional side of me heard " you'll never walk along a beach again. " It was all too new for me. An enormous life change crammed into one hour, from how to test my blood (just love that finger prick business!) to potential side effects down the road. Once the fear subsided, I sought out more information on my own, learning about my doctor's PA and her background which never came up in any of my visits with her because she was treating my latest sinus infections, etc., not my (as yet) undiagnosed diabetes. Its been a trip! which I'm sure everyone here knows about. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 1999 Report Share Posted July 29, 1999 I was thinking about happiness ... You know ... " Happiness is a warm puppy. " Then the Beatles doing " Happiness in a warm gun. " And it occurred to me that, for diabetics, " Happiness is warm feet. " If those suckers are warm, we know there is still some circulation there. Susie, How about feet that get hot? I have a very real problem with hot feet. I sleep with them out from under the cover lots of the time. I have always been a very warm natured person. I also have restless leg problems. I know that when my feet are too warm that I will have trouble with the restless legs. Spillman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 1999 Report Share Posted July 29, 1999 Spillman writes: << How about feet that get hot? I have a very real problem with hot feet. I sleep with them out from under the cover lots of the time. I have always been a very warm natured person. I also have restless leg problems. I know that when my feet are too warm that I will have trouble with the restless legs. >> Hmmmm ... My sister says, " Every time I drink Pepsi, I pedal a bicycle in bed. " In other words, she gets restless leg syndrome every time her glucose soars. She also complains of rapid pulse and feeling very hot much of the time. This is totally unscientific, but I sure would like to know what your glucose readings are when your feet are hot and you are pedaling the bicycle .... Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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