Re: How to stay motivated

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/29/2004 2:56:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,

jlnhjm@... writes:

> I remember my mother who lost her eyesight to diabetes

An interesting story and lovingly told. I'm sure your mother would be proud

of your writings, Helen.

I wasn't sure whether the BG levels you quoted were typical values or average

values. They did not seem outrageously high in relation to today's A1c

guidelines. Personally, I'd like to get an A1c value much closer to 5 than 6,

but as

we all know, it's not easy. As I recall, Dr Bernstein aims for about 4.7.

<< I sometimes feel burned out by this disease. >>

But the caring people on diabetes lists like this one can help overcome the

feeling.

[Guest guest]

I remember my mother who lost her eyesight to diabetes. The retinal

specialist said he had never seen eyes so bad and was surprised at what

she was still able to see. Light and shapes. The eye with the macular

degeneration still have peripheral vision; the one with the deteriorated

retina could see, but thru a dark glass.

She had neuropathy which attacked her feet and made walking very

painful. She used a wheel chair frequently.

However, the worse was the kidney failure, the nephrologist stood on his

head to help, but she steadily worsened, finally totally losing her

short term memory and much of her long term memory. It was the fog

caused by the toxins building up; however, she had refused dialysis.

She was 84 when she died and had been diabetic maybe 15 years. Her

numbers were never very high, usually between 110 and 150, yet her body

was ravaged by the disease.

Two days before she died, the fog lifted; it was like we were granted a

miracle. I arranged for my siblings to call her at the NH, she

understood who they were and was her old sharp self - for that one day.

That was Tuesday, Wednesday she lapsed, Thursday morning she died.

Genetically, I seem to be much like my mother and have extensive

neuropathy. But my eyes and kidneys are fine. I do not want to be my

mother; it was terrible for her and terrible for me. This is my very

strong motivation, even tho after 21+ years, I sometimes feel burned out

by this disease.

Helen

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Staying motivated is hard but I strive to stay that way. My ways to

maintain motivation is remembering watching my Aunt who is no longer

with us she had Type 2 but she also smoked alot. Well she was on

Dialysis 3 times a week Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays..the thing

that lead her to Dialysis was she didn't take her insulin and eat

right. I watched her wither away and had aweful complications from

her diabetes..that picture sticks with me and helps me stay aware of

any changes in my body.

Sometimes sad thing or memories motivate you more than the good ones.

Thanks,

Pat aka smipat35

avandamet 2mg/1000mg 2 x's a day

Primrose oil 1000mg 3 x's a day

[Guest guest]

There is no denying the support and motivation you receive by belonging

to a list that covers your ailments. It was because of the information

I received about insulin that I chose to go back to it, for the third

time. My doctor thought with an A1c constantly around 7, I should be

satisfied with the pills. But it had gone up from 5.5 to 7 and who

knows where it would have stopped? It took me four months until I

understood what I needed and my next A1c was 6. This was maybe six

years ago.

My mother was told in 1977 that her bgs were a little high. The doctor

told her to cut out sugar and starches, come back in a month for another

reading. She kept it to herself. When she began dropping weight she

increased her consumption of sugar and was not diagnosed until 1984. I

had no idea what was happening because I was living in CA by then.

Probably a lot of damage happened in those 7 years. In 1985 she moved

in with me and that was when I got her a meter and began checking her.

We also went to the doctor, later to an endo.

I had no A1c tests done until I saw an endo in 1992, 9 years after

diagnosis and two years of worsening tests. It was not my doctor's

fault, he told me my treatment had gone beyond his knowledge, I was the

one dragging my heels. When I was maxed out on glucotrol and still

reading 150 to 180 I saw the endo and went back on insulin, 100+ units a

day. I had been put on insulin at diagnosis and in four months worked

my way to being controlled by diet and exercise.

It is so much better now for newbies; more options and way more

information available. It is too bad so many choose the easiest way.

Helen