Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 Hello Group, I am wondering if someone could help me. I have a friend who is a diabetic and his blood sugar gets so high, he then takes insulin and it gets really low. He is having trouble functioning and my heart is breaking for him. How can I help him? I asked him what his dr. said and he said that Dr. said just to keep taking insulin. Is it Ok for me to offer to go to the doctors with him? If his primary is not helping, what dr. should he go to? Well. I really hope that you have some advice/ encouragement. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 I would suggest that your friend get with an endocrinologist. He should also get a referral to a nutritionist and a diabetes educator. If he hasn't already done so, get him to buy two books: DIABETES FOR DUMMIES and DR. BERNSTEIN'S DIABETES SOLUTION. Both of them will help. [alldiabeticinternational] helping a friend Hello Group, I am wondering if someone could help me. I have a friend who is a diabetic and his blood sugar gets so high, he then takes insulin and it gets really low. He is having trouble functioning and my heart is breaking for him. How can I help him? I asked him what his dr. said and he said that Dr. said just to keep taking insulin. Is it Ok for me to offer to go to the doctors with him? If his primary is not helping, what dr. should he go to? Well. I really hope that you have some advice/ encouragement. Thanks! pancreatitis info http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ThePancreatitisPlace/ diabetic recipes http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetic_recipes/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 hi! i had a thought - what sort of insulin or insulins is your friend on? if he is on older insulins, one of the newer ones may help. i am also reading a book called *Think Like A Pancreas - A Practical Guide To Managing Diabetes With Insulin,* by Schiner, MS, CDE. i take lantus for a basal (baseline) insulin and novolg for bolus (meals). a lot of books i've seen don't mention lantus - it's rather new - but this one does. it has diagrams of how the insulins work (when they peak, how long they last), how that matches with general needs, and also methods for calculating doses. i've found it very helpful. lantus is supposed to have a " flat " profile, but it doesn't really and especially not at the low dose i'm on. this book has given me a shortcut to finding out what my patterns are so i can cope. seeing an endocrinologist is good advice. you want a good, up-to- date doctor who listens. in one of my classes, i met a gentleman who was being prescribed seizure doses of his insulin and not being sent for quarterly HbA1cs. so i have to add: don't let anyone just pass you off as *brittle* (having hard to control diabetes); if they do, they're not trying hard enough. there's A LOT that can be done. oh yes, and definitely you should be able to go along. where i go, they advise that patients DO bring company. educated backup is a must, and two ears are always better than one - esp. when the one is stressed out with an illness. ok. lots that can be done! rach > Hello Group, I am wondering if someone could help me. I have a friend > who is a diabetic and his blood sugar gets so high, he then takes > insulin and it gets really low. He is having trouble functioning and > my heart is breaking for him. How can I help him? I asked him what > his dr. said and he said that Dr. said just to keep taking insulin. > Is it Ok for me to offer to go to the doctors with him? If his > primary is not helping, what dr. should he go to? Well. I really hope > that you have some advice/ encouragement. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 Hey, This is . Take him to a endocronologist. They specialize in diabetes, and it might help if you went with him. See ya, > >Reply-To: alldiabeticinternational >To: alldiabeticinternational >Subject: [alldiabeticinternational] helping a friend >Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 08:15:16 -0000 > >Hello Group, I am wondering if someone could help me. I have a friend >who is a diabetic and his blood sugar gets so high, he then takes >insulin and it gets really low. He is having trouble functioning and >my heart is breaking for him. How can I help him? I asked him what >his dr. said and he said that Dr. said just to keep taking insulin. >Is it Ok for me to offer to go to the doctors with him? If his >primary is not helping, what dr. should he go to? Well. I really hope >that you have some advice/ encouragement. Thanks! > > _________________________________________________________________ MSN Life Events gives you the tips and tools to handle the turning points in your life. http://lifeevents.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 In a message dated 7/14/2004 5:14:48 AM Pacific Standard Time, theresa112469@... writes: Hello Group, I am wondering if someone could help me. I have a friend who is a diabetic and his blood sugar gets so high, he then takes insulin and it gets really low. He is having trouble functioning and my heart is breaking for him. How can I help him? I asked him what his dr. said and he said that Dr. said just to keep taking insulin. Is it Ok for me to offer to go to the doctors with him? If his primary is not helping, what dr. should he go to? Well. I really hope that you have some advice/ encouragement. Thanks! Theresa, is he capable of monitoring his diet? He may be not selecting the right amount of insulin. Could you possibly go with him to his doctor appointment? You may be saving his life. Hugs and best wishes, marilyn Marilyn Moderator for Diabetic_Recipes dnevessr@... Opinions expressed are solely my own and should not be mistaken for Professional advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 > I would suggest that your friend get with an endocrinologist. He should also get a referral to a nutritionist and a diabetes educator. If he hasn't already done so, get him to buy two books: DIABETES FOR DUMMIES and DR. BERNSTEIN'S DIABETES SOLUTION. Both of them will help. > In my experience, most non-endocrinologist doctors don't have the time to figure out what you need and then give you good insulin advice. . .if they actually know how to. The CDE who teach Diabetes Classes are the real experts in this area. Many hospitals have diabetes training classes, many have diabetes support groups. The support groups are free, and sources for advice. The training is fee-based but there are scholarships available. Getting to know a nurse CDE is a great investment for a diabetic. They are supposed to charge for every minute of advice but most of them are dedicated nurses who stay behind after free diabetes support group meetings and really help you. I think the Bernstein books are the best all-around books for insulin-using diabetics, and among the best for non-insulin-using diabetics. BTW: the modern insulins are much easier to use then the older insulins. The old-fashioned insulins, Insulin R and Insulin N (Regular and NPH in the U.S., ActaRapid and Insulatard in the E.U.) are very difficult to use if you want good control but few hypos and highs. Regards Old Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 Thank you Marilyn. The problem is that he is so stubborn and wants everything to be " normal " . Who wouldn't? But I really do love the guy (just a friend) and it is hard to watch him so sad and sick. He called his doc yesterday and he was put on another med and has an appt today, so we'll see. The thing is that I don't want to be a pain about it either, but want him to know that I care. Theresa > In a message dated 7/14/2004 5:14:48 AM Pacific Standard Time, > theresa112469@y... writes: > Hello Group, I am wondering if someone could help me. I have a friend > who is a diabetic and his blood sugar gets so high, he then takes > insulin and it gets really low. He is having trouble functioning and > my heart is breaking for him. How can I help him? I asked him what > his dr. said and he said that Dr. said just to keep taking insulin. > Is it Ok for me to offer to go to the doctors with him? If his > primary is not helping, what dr. should he go to? Well. I really hope > that you have some advice/ encouragement. Thanks! > Theresa, is he capable of monitoring his diet? He may be not selecting the > right amount of insulin. Could you possibly go with him to his doctor > appointment? You may be saving his life. Hugs and best wishes, marilyn > > Marilyn > Moderator for > Diabetic_Recipes > dnevessr@a... > Opinions expressed are solely > my own and should not be > mistaken for > Professional advice. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 > > Hi Theresa, > > > > Jamez here. I would say going to the doctor with your > > friend would be a good idea. A list of questions > > wouldn't hurt, either. If your friend feels that he > > needs to get another professional opinion, I would > > recommend an endocrinologist. Check with your local > > hospital or health organizations to see if they offer > > any support programs. Hi Theresa My name is Trish and I was just put on insulin My endo put me on Lantus it is a 24 hr insulin and it helps with the lowa and highs-- She told me that with lantus it is an insulin that you can control yourself. If my sugars are high for a couple of days i can increase it by 4 units (cc's) and if they are running to low for a couple of days I can decrease it by 4 units. I have not had any problems with it. We have a program here 1--the insurance covers It is a diabetic class where they talk to you and teach you how to cope with diabetes and meals and medications 2 we have one called sugar busters and it is a free program for diabetics. There are also a lot of books thru the ADA like the diabetic cookbook and meal planning for diabetics. Since I became diabetic almost 10 yrs ago I got these books and they have a lot of good recies in them You can also call the ADA in your area and ask them for the diabetic deck it is the size of playing cards and has a holder in the one corner so you can slide the cards and read them and than you turn them over and read the other side. It has a section on diabetic pills and insulin. The diabeetic diet is in my opion the best diet around even for non diabetics. I know your friend feels good that you are concerbed. Have him find and endo and also see if they would start him on lantus. You do not have highs and lows with this type of insulin nd as I said before it is a long acting insulin 24 hrs and you can help him adjust it. Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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