Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 C Kaminski wrote: > Ok so I don't have money for test and doctors so I ordered a home test kit from the internet. Just got the results back. A1C is a 3 month average and it has been 4 months since I went off all oral meds and to using just diet, exercise (Curves 3X wk), and insulin (20% less than I used a year ago). The result is 7.9 which is .3 higher than it was a year ago when a doctor did it and I was taking a gold mine worth of pills. The ideal is 4.6 to 6.4 so things could be worse. So I am going to try some herbal therapy and rice bran and maybe I can get it lower and reduce the insulin some more. It will be cheaper in the long run than doctors and their extremely expensive lab tests. > Carolyn If you want to cut down on costs, and yet still increase control, it would seem the best thing to do would be to increase the insulin, which is relatively cheap compared to any medications. A Relion meter is $9.99, and strips are fairly cheap. Probably the cost of some of those herbals. -- Dave - 3:38:45 PM T2 - 5/98 Glucophage, Lantus & H A 4th generation Diabetic - Davors Daily Aphorism: I've no idea what I'm doing out of bed. - Shadwell -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 C Kaminski wrote: > Ok so I don't have money for test and doctors so I ordered a home test kit from the internet. Just got the results back. A1C is a 3 month average and it has been 4 months since I went off all oral meds and to using just diet, exercise (Curves 3X wk), and insulin (20% less than I used a year ago). The result is 7.9 which is .3 higher than it was a year ago when a doctor did it and I was taking a gold mine worth of pills. The ideal is 4.6 to 6.4 so things could be worse. So I am going to try some herbal therapy and rice bran and maybe I can get it lower and reduce the insulin some more. It will be cheaper in the long run than doctors and their extremely expensive lab tests. > Carolyn If you want to cut down on costs, and yet still increase control, it would seem the best thing to do would be to increase the insulin, which is relatively cheap compared to any medications. A Relion meter is $9.99, and strips are fairly cheap. Probably the cost of some of those herbals. -- Dave - 3:38:45 PM T2 - 5/98 Glucophage, Lantus & H A 4th generation Diabetic - Davors Daily Aphorism: I've no idea what I'm doing out of bed. - Shadwell -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 Just returning from the worst ice storm to hit MI in 27 yrs. 3 lambs on the ground when it started, I now have 10 and only lost 1 due to the storm. No power, no water, did have gas for stove but furnace would not work without power. Ate perishables on priority basis (keeping in mind that there is no way to wash the dishes) and kept layering on the clothes to keep warm. Water had to be brought in for the animals and no way to dry clothing and coats that got wet doing chores. Plenty of roof water for toilet flushing, catching it was the only challenge there. Low bgs thru the whole ordeal but not what I would recommend as a program. DH on the other hand went to the city and ate at every other fast food that was open to be sure he would not miss his usually doses of R. Dave wrote: increase the insulin, which is relatively cheap compared to any medications. A Relion meter is $9.99, and strips are fairly cheap. Probably the cost of some of those herbals. Yes it is cheaper but insulin causes weight gain so you want to decrease as much as possible. I have a meter and get free strips from family excesses. (8 generations traced to diabetic history both 1 & 2 & low sugars) Bruce wrote: where you're getting your advice Books thru Prevention are good resources but my great grandmother was an herbalist so some of it comes from family lore. Clerks at the health food store can be helpful if they " practice " and are not just clerks. Naturopath or TCM practitioner, they are often as expensive as regular doctors, and aren't covered (usually) by insurance. I have several friends and a sister who use these doctors and find they are just as effective. In fact one friend goes to an MD that is a naturopath and her insurance covers it. Most of the things they get are available in health food stores or on the internet so I can apply what they know to my situation. If you don't have money and/or private insurance, isn't there a low-income clinic of some sort--government or private charity--in your area? There is a small group of people (the ones that fall between the cracks) of which I am one that are not eligible for government programs for one reason or another. Our county has no free/low-income clinics and the surrounding counties won't take out county. Private charity only extends so far, one church paid our phone bill. Diabetes is a long term condition/disease. My husband get ALL his care from the VA but until he is declared legally totally disabled they will not do anything for me. For the last three year he has been either unemployed or under employed working 2 or 3 days a week. House payments and utilities are priorities. MY DIABETES is not considered a priority by anyone but me. Every physician I have approached in the 3 years we have been living this nightmare will not treat me unless I can pay and that include for the test and the meds. I qualified for the drug companies free programs but could not find a doctor who would make the call to get the forms and the drug companies will not give them to the patient. Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 C Kaminski wrote: > > > Dave wrote: increase the insulin, which is relatively cheap compared to any medications. A Relion meter is $9.99, and strips are fairly cheap. Probably the cost of some of those herbals. > > Yes it is cheaper but insulin causes weight gain so you want to decrease as much as possible. I have a meter and get free strips from family excesses. (8 generations traced to diabetic history both 1 & 2 & low sugars) > Wrong! Insulin does not cause weight gain. If you have cites, please cite them. Shooting insulin to cover the food you *want* to eat causes weight gain, period. Many of us have lost weight since going on insulin. Weight gain happens when people want to push the envelope to suit themselves, and their eating habits. -- Dave - 9:34:39 AM T2 - 5/98 Glucophage, Lantus & H A 4th generation Diabetic - Davors Daily Aphorism: " A man occupied with public or other important business cannot and need not attend to spelling " ~ Napoleon Bonapart -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 >A crew from our area went there to help >with your ice storm. My friend said she >wasn't sure exactly where in MI but he was >headed to MI last Sat am. >Kay Passed a convoy of tree trimmers out of Dayton Ohio this morning just north of where I live. There was and Indiana crew of linemen south of us on Saturday. THE PLACE IS A MESS. Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 >Wrong! Insulin does not cause weight gain. I guess this depends on which camp you were trained in. >If you have cites, please cite them. diabeteswell.com is a site that worked with my doctor under their pilot program when I was first on insulin. The nurses and educators there cautioned me from the beginning about weight gain. >Shooting insulin to cover the food you >*want* to eat that is providing that is the program you are on. I take N and R Novolin or Humilin NOT HUMOLOG. I DO NOT MATCH CARBS. My R dosage is regulated by my bg reading not what I think I want to put in my mouth. >Many of us have lost weight since going on >insulin. Weight gain happens when people >want to push the envelope to suit >themselves, and their eating habits. I have always had a weight problem long before the diabetes. My sister who is type 1 and has probably been diabetic longer than you have been on this earth has never topped the scale over 120. I notice that you are also on an oral medication that has killed several diabetics and almost killed me had I listen to the stupid doctor. There are as many different types of medication and control as there are theorys. The only true statement is that " it is an INDIUIDUAL disease " and depending on your chemistry and how you balance the scales each of us has to work at finding what works BEST for us. Just to prove my point when I took Avandia while under the joint care of diabeteswell.com the DOCTORS and team there determined that I had to take my once daily NPH dose between noon and 3 PM for it to work the way they wanted. That decision was made after months of charting and testing. So you see Dave there is more than one way to skin a cat. Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 >Wrong! Insulin does not cause weight gain. I guess this depends on which camp you were trained in. >If you have cites, please cite them. diabeteswell.com is a site that worked with my doctor under their pilot program when I was first on insulin. The nurses and educators there cautioned me from the beginning about weight gain. >Shooting insulin to cover the food you >*want* to eat that is providing that is the program you are on. I take N and R Novolin or Humilin NOT HUMOLOG. I DO NOT MATCH CARBS. My R dosage is regulated by my bg reading not what I think I want to put in my mouth. >Many of us have lost weight since going on >insulin. Weight gain happens when people >want to push the envelope to suit >themselves, and their eating habits. I have always had a weight problem long before the diabetes. My sister who is type 1 and has probably been diabetic longer than you have been on this earth has never topped the scale over 120. I notice that you are also on an oral medication that has killed several diabetics and almost killed me had I listen to the stupid doctor. There are as many different types of medication and control as there are theorys. The only true statement is that " it is an INDIUIDUAL disease " and depending on your chemistry and how you balance the scales each of us has to work at finding what works BEST for us. Just to prove my point when I took Avandia while under the joint care of diabeteswell.com the DOCTORS and team there determined that I had to take my once daily NPH dose between noon and 3 PM for it to work the way they wanted. That decision was made after months of charting and testing. So you see Dave there is more than one way to skin a cat. Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 C Kaminski wrote: > >Wrong! Insulin does not cause weight gain. > > I guess this depends on which camp you were trained in. > > >If you have cites, please cite them. > > diabeteswell.com is a site that worked with my doctor under their pilot program when I was first on insulin. The nurses and educators there cautioned me from the beginning about weight gain. Sure they would caution you, I agree wholeheartedly! You would gain weight because insulin will allow you to eat just about anything you want to, but, you shouldn't. I'm sure that is where they were coming from. > > > >Shooting insulin to cover the food you >*want* to eat > > that is providing that is the program you are on. I take N and R Novolin or Humilin NOT HUMOLOG. I DO NOT MATCH CARBS. My R dosage is regulated by my bg reading not what I think I want to put in my mouth. N & R routines are very tough to maintain, and pretty much outdated these days. Perhaps you might do much better if you were to match carbs to a fast acting insulin, and have a more flat basal? > > > >Many of us have lost weight since going on >insulin. Weight gain happens when people >want to push the envelope to suit >themselves, and their eating habits. > > I have always had a weight problem long before the diabetes. My sister who is type 1 and has probably been diabetic longer than you have been on this earth has never topped the scale over 120. I am quite ancient. > > > I notice that you are also on an oral medication that has killed several diabetics and almost killed me had I listen to the stupid doctor. That is so wrong, and misleading to whomever reads it. Metformin (and its predecessor Phenformin) is one of the oldest, most stable diabetic medications out there. True, some people can't handle it, and many of those because they were mis-prescribed, or failed to follow directions. > There are as many different types of medication and control as there are theorys. The only true statement is that " it is an INDIUIDUAL disease " and depending on your chemistry and how you balance the scales each of us has to work at finding what works BEST for us. Just to prove my point when I took Avandia while under the joint care of diabeteswell.com the DOCTORS and team there determined that I had to take my once daily NPH dose between noon and 3 PM for it to work the way they wanted. That decision was made after months of charting and testing. > > So you see Dave there is more than one way to skin a cat. > Carolyn There are lots of ways, but one way I would avoid would be an on-line diabetic counseling service that never has personal contact with the patient. -- Dave - 4:14:39 PM T2 - 5/98 Glucophage, Lantus & H A 4th generation Diabetic - Davors Daily Aphorism: " I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. " - Rita Rudner -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 C Kaminski wrote: > >Wrong! Insulin does not cause weight gain. > > I guess this depends on which camp you were trained in. > > >If you have cites, please cite them. > > diabeteswell.com is a site that worked with my doctor under their pilot program when I was first on insulin. The nurses and educators there cautioned me from the beginning about weight gain. Sure they would caution you, I agree wholeheartedly! You would gain weight because insulin will allow you to eat just about anything you want to, but, you shouldn't. I'm sure that is where they were coming from. > > > >Shooting insulin to cover the food you >*want* to eat > > that is providing that is the program you are on. I take N and R Novolin or Humilin NOT HUMOLOG. I DO NOT MATCH CARBS. My R dosage is regulated by my bg reading not what I think I want to put in my mouth. N & R routines are very tough to maintain, and pretty much outdated these days. Perhaps you might do much better if you were to match carbs to a fast acting insulin, and have a more flat basal? > > > >Many of us have lost weight since going on >insulin. Weight gain happens when people >want to push the envelope to suit >themselves, and their eating habits. > > I have always had a weight problem long before the diabetes. My sister who is type 1 and has probably been diabetic longer than you have been on this earth has never topped the scale over 120. I am quite ancient. > > > I notice that you are also on an oral medication that has killed several diabetics and almost killed me had I listen to the stupid doctor. That is so wrong, and misleading to whomever reads it. Metformin (and its predecessor Phenformin) is one of the oldest, most stable diabetic medications out there. True, some people can't handle it, and many of those because they were mis-prescribed, or failed to follow directions. > There are as many different types of medication and control as there are theorys. The only true statement is that " it is an INDIUIDUAL disease " and depending on your chemistry and how you balance the scales each of us has to work at finding what works BEST for us. Just to prove my point when I took Avandia while under the joint care of diabeteswell.com the DOCTORS and team there determined that I had to take my once daily NPH dose between noon and 3 PM for it to work the way they wanted. That decision was made after months of charting and testing. > > So you see Dave there is more than one way to skin a cat. > Carolyn There are lots of ways, but one way I would avoid would be an on-line diabetic counseling service that never has personal contact with the patient. -- Dave - 4:14:39 PM T2 - 5/98 Glucophage, Lantus & H A 4th generation Diabetic - Davors Daily Aphorism: " I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. " - Rita Rudner -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 > that is providing that is the program you are on. I take N and R Novolin or Humilin NOT HUMOLOG. I DO NOT MATCH CARBS. My R dosage is regulated by my bg reading not what I think I want to put in my mouth. BTW Carolyn, did you happen to see the article, " Kiss NPH Goodbye " ? Worth the read: http://www.diabetesinterview.com/archive/mar02/mar2-02.shtml -- Dave - 4:24:39 PM T2 - 5/98 Glucophage, Lantus & H A 4th generation Diabetic - Davors Daily Aphorism: " My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. " - Joe Weinstein -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2003 Report Share Posted April 8, 2003 > that is providing that is the program you are on. I take N and R Novolin or Humilin NOT HUMOLOG. I DO NOT MATCH CARBS. My R dosage is regulated by my bg reading not what I think I want to put in my mouth. BTW Carolyn, did you happen to see the article, " Kiss NPH Goodbye " ? Worth the read: http://www.diabetesinterview.com/archive/mar02/mar2-02.shtml -- Dave - 4:24:39 PM T2 - 5/98 Glucophage, Lantus & H A 4th generation Diabetic - Davors Daily Aphorism: " My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. " - Joe Weinstein -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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