Re: Now...Diabetes Control

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/4/01 10:12:02 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Grantridge@... writes:

> It

> must be challenging, since I'll bet the range of determination among

> diabetics runs all the way from people like Marie:-) to folks who don't

> want

> to change and just hope the meds will do miracles.

>

>

Hi ,

What about the people with diabetes that cannot maintain good BG readings no

matter what they do? I know some people even with meds and insulin who still

have problems with control, and it is not because of what they eat or lack of

exercise. Can you imagine how frustrating it is for them?

Eunice

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reminder, Eunice. Doing all the right things and STILL not

having good BG readings must be absolutely maddening, to the point that I

can't imagine how frustrating it would be. I sure didn't mean to imply that

people who doesn't have good BG readings aren't trying hard enough.

Obviously the disease is much worse for some people than others, for reasons

unknown.

I think that motivation/determination must vary somewhat among diabetics,

because our diabetes educators told us that they'd had diabetics in a few

classes who resisted changing diet and exercise habits and wanted to just

take meds to control the disease. We were told about one diabetic who

basically stopped trying altogether and subsequently lost part of a leg.

That got our attention.

[Guest guest]

I couldn't resist. I am one of those diabetics who no matter what I do or do

not do I have rollercoaster readings constantly. I am trying to convince my

doctor that an insulin pump would be the best way to go for me. With all of

the things going on with my hubby's wacky work schedule and my two boys'

stuff at school it is very hard to stick to a tight schedule for myself.

With the pump I would have a little leeway. I could be a little more lax in

my program and hopefully get some good readings for a change. I was told by

a rep from one of the pump companies that you need at least a 7.0 Hba1c

reading in order to be considered a pump candidate. My reading last month

was a 6.9. Not too shabby for me. I have struggled for the past 27 years

with insulin dependent diabetes. It seems like I am damned if I do and

damned if I don't so most days I figure why bother, but then I look at my two

boys and realize why I bother. Not so much for myself as for them. Anyway,

I just wanted to add my two cents to this topic. Take care All.

Sharon in CA

[Guest guest]

You are so right, everyone is different in this ballgame called

" diabetes " . Some are diagnosed in early stage and others at much later

stages. If you start out low it will be easier to attain the desired

BS according to guidlines but if you start out high BS it will take

lots of work, exercise and meds to bring it down to a reasonable

level.

Some can eat starches and others cannot and remain in control. What

makes one person's BS go high may not bother someone else.

Doctors do not agree on degree of control either. Some are for " tight

control " others for middle road and others are lax.

Something that really disturbed me during classes with the diabetes

educator. She told me most people do not take their diabetes serious

or bother with changing lifestyle and just leave it up to meds to

control. I asked several questions and was told the others did not

think in the same depth that I did and it really did not mean much to

them. Dear, dear, why don't they give people credit for having brains

and encourage them to make lifestyle changes necessary to prevent

complications?

Marie

> Marie:

>

> I prefer to think of it as realistic control. Others may think of it

> differently.

>

> We all know that diabetes is a very individual disease.

>

> Carol Warman

> ___________________________________________________________

>

> > Some doctors go for " tight control " and others do not.

> >

> > Marie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/6/01 8:57:42 AM Eastern Standard Time,

vmmasell@... writes:

> don't know what is happening although I

> have been feeling a little under the weather and got my flu shot

>

Hi Ann,

Don't let the high numbers once in awhile stress you. Also, if you are not

feeling well, you may not want to get on the treadmill. Just take it easy

for a day or two, then you will be back to normal.

Ann's message is a reminder to all of us to get our flu shot. I'm

getting mine this week.

Eunice

[Guest guest]

>It's just that I thought about the people

> that no matter what they do, cannot get good readings.

>

> Eunice

This was me yesterday -- woke up at 177 -- had no idea why.

Ate very conservatively yesterday -- not much and mostly

protein. (Cheese, chicken, etc. -- only 1 small roll at lunch).

Last night I RAN 1.5 miles (on the treadmill at a really fast

clip) and was 180 afterwards! Could not figure that out at all.

This a.m. I'm 155 -- don't know what is happening although I

have been feeling a little under the weather and got my flu shot

last night -- maybe I've got a little viral infection. Last time

my bsl's jumped this way with correct diet it was illness.

So I ate 2 pc of 11 carb per piece of toast this a.m. to try to

see how things work out today.

Ann

[Guest guest]

> You are so right, everyone is different in this ballgame called

> " diabetes " . Some are diagnosed in early stage and others at much later

> stages. If you start out low it will be easier to attain the desired

> BS according to guidlines but if you start out high BS it will take

> lots of work, exercise and meds to bring it down to a reasonable

> level.

>

> Some can eat starches and others cannot and remain in control. What

> makes one person's BS go high may not bother someone else.

>

> Doctors do not agree on degree of control either. Some are for " tight

> control " others for middle road and others are lax.

>

> Something that really disturbed me during classes with the diabetes

> educator. She told me most people do not take their diabetes serious

> or bother with changing lifestyle and just leave it up to meds to

> control. I asked several questions and was told the others did not

> think in the same depth that I did and it really did not mean much to

> them. Dear, dear, why don't they give people credit for having brains

> and encourage them to make lifestyle changes necessary to prevent

> complications?

>

> Marie

>

>

> > Marie:

> >

> > I prefer to think of it as realistic control. Others may think of it

> > differently.

> >

> > We all know that diabetes is a very individual disease.

> >

> > Carol Warman

> > ___________________________________________________________

> >

> > > Some doctors go for " tight control " and others do not.

> > >

> > > Marie

>

>

>

> To leave this list please go to diabetes-unsubscribe

> Hope you come back soon!

>

>

[Guest guest]

> In my diabetes class, one educator, who grew up in India, said that in her

> experience, the only Americans who regularly eat a healthy diet are those

> with young children who are trying to set a good example, and some of those

> who have been diagnosed with diseases such as diabetes. Afterward, it

> occurred to me that she may not see many people who go through life eating

> healthy food and exercising vigorously because they tend not to end up in

> Type II classes. I suspect some diabetes educators feel they have to walk a

> fine line between telling newly-diagnosed diabetics what changes are really

> needed, and not discouraging them to the point that they quit trying. It

> must be challenging, since I'll bet the range of determination among

> diabetics runs all the way from people like Marie:-) to folks who don't want

> to change and just hope the meds will do miracles.

>

> Thanks for your words of advice, Tim. I appreciate them.

>

>

>

>

>