Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Type1Gal on January 21, 2012 at 6:22am

nope, i take care of mine. of course, bad control, ignorance, etc..runs both ways, of course it does. the thing is, if we don't take our insulin and 'man-up' we'll go DKA and die, become sick, sick, sick. there's a difference.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MossDog on January 23, 2012 at 5:51pm

Perhaps you should look into the complications of mis-management of type 2 a little more?
I see people daily who have not managed their type 2. They do not come in in DKA you are right. But they can have something just as deadly. Maybe you should read up on Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Non-Ketotic Syndrome (HHNS or sometimes HHNKS). Being type 2 does NOT mean you can let things go like you seem to suggest......

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Natalie ._c- on January 24, 2012 at 12:48am

Not going to bash you, because it's obvious you're having a really hard time. There is NOTHING easy about T1, either physically or emotionally.

But on the other hand, T2 is not as easy as it looks from the outside, either, While there ARE some people who seem to be able to control reasonably well with diet and exercise, what, when and how much they're going to eat and when they're going to exercise are ALWAYS on their minds. And they get into pickles at parties and celebrations, too, except that they can't just take an extra large dose of insulin to cover it -- they just have to wait hours or even days, totally fasting before their BGs come down. That's no picnic, either.

Other people put up with meds that are so new that no one knows what the long-term effects will be. And the short-term effects can be quite unpleasant, such as being tied to your toilet. As yet, there is only ONE reasonably well-proven oral med for T2, which is metformin, which causes pretty bad short-term side effects.

High cholesterol and hypertension are NOT something to feel lucky about! Did you know that uncontrolled hypertension can lead not only to strokes and heart attacks, but also retinopathy of hypertension, which can lead to blindness? And of course, hypercholesterolemia can also lead to CVD, and T2s tend to die early of heart disease and become disabled due to stroke, and the CVD can also lead to lower leg amputation. Many of them find these conditions VERY hard to control, And I haven't even mentioned the arthritis and gout that many of them suffer.

So, no, of course, you have no way out of T1, but many T2's have no way out, either. More and more research is showing that T2 has a greater genetic cause than T1, and while many, especially in the media, seem to believe the old-wives-tale that getting fat caused the T2, it's now beginning to be shown in study after study that the genetics for T2 cause obesity, except in semi-starvation situations. Most people are not willing or able to live that way if they don't HAVE to.

I don't mean to take away from your experience with T1, because I KNOW how hard it is, but being envious or resentful of T2's is going to help no one. It will only result in hurt feelings on both sides.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by jrtpup on January 24, 2012 at 10:32am

Beautifully said Natalie, thanks!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judith on January 24, 2012 at 11:22am

Plus 1, Natalie. Having a difficult week on diet and exercise only, obsessing about what to eat when and how to get extra exercise in spite of fibromyalgia and a knee replacement in a month. It gives me a lump in my throat to read such an understanding post----even my knee doc thinks I have "a little bit" of diabetes???!!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gina on January 25, 2012 at 3:10pm

Not trying to add fuel to the fire, but I think what Type1Gal is trying to say is that being Type 1, we don't have even the slightest CHANCE of being able to manage our D with diet and exercise alone. It's just not an option. That said, I know there are MANY Type 2's who can't, and who do have to use medication (and many who are very healthy, fit and athletic, and some that maybe aren't athletic but that have crappy genes), and I also agree all types of D throroughly suck, BUT there are plenty of Type 2's who can at least EXPLORE that option--that have being wearing out their bodies and their abilities to process carbs by simply overeating them. From our perspective, we just wish we had an option, or a chance to try an option, and if it didn't work, well, at least we know we tried it. That's all. It frustrates me as well, but that doesn't mean I'm hating on anyone with Diabetes. What frustrates me is that this whole PD thing just fuels the universes misconception of Diabetes in all forms. I hate that. I hate that some doctors and "experts" still push the fact that Diabetics should eat "plenty of healthy carbs." Really? I mean, let's think here: we (all types of D) don't process carbs well, for one reason or another, but let's eat a ton of them? Brilliant,if you ask me!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judith on January 25, 2012 at 4:05pm

Gina--I Really don't believe in competitive misery. The D is diabolically whimsical whichever type---including types as yet unnamed. Even without The D----for most of this planet we share, life sucks and then you die. Like you, the misinformation, the willful ignorance, is what makes me crazy.....And yes, Options are empowering, unless you don't know about them!!!!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Natalie ._c- on January 29, 2012 at 5:24am

Gina, you're right -- if you have T1, you have no choice but insulin, and even WITH insulin, life can be quite rough.

But please don't think that "there are plenty of Type 2's who can at least EXPLORE that option--that have being wearing out their bodies and their abilities to process carbs by simply overeating them."

Because nobody develops T2 simply by overeating carbs. Overeating will make a person obese, but obesity does NOT cause T2. If an obese T2 can lose weight (EXTREMELY difficult to lose it and keep it off), their insulin resistance may improve, but if their pancreas can't put out enough insulin, they will continue to have a hard time. So, yeah, they have the chance to explore diet and exercise, but it's VERY difficult, and for many of them, really doesn't work all that well. For example, what would you do if you had a high BG? Take some insulin, of course. A T2 on diet and exercise can go exercise, weather permitting, but it still may take hours and hours to get his BG down. And if he's in a situation where exercise is not possible, well, he's stuck with that high BG. He can go to bed with a perfect BG, and wake up in the 300s and there's not a bloody thing he can do about it, except not eat, and he's probably starvingly hungry. That's darn tough, too.

On the other hand, people WITHOUT the genes for T2 can eat themselves to the point of immobility and never develop diabetes.

33.8% of Americans are obese, but only 8% have diabetes of ANY kind. So, no, the T2s are NOT wearing out their bodies by overeating. It's time to disconnect that myth. There is at least preliminary evidence that perhaps the genes for T2 cause the obesity and were simply not expressed in earlier times because they didn't have the abundance of food that we have. You can probably enjoy MUCH more food than a T2 can, and stay thin, because you don't have those genes.

And you know what? I'm SO much happier being on insulin! When I was first diagnosed, I was on Glucotrol, a sulfonyurea, for 5 months, and it did absolutely nothing for me (because I turned out not to be a classic T2). So I ASKED for the option of going on insulin! But the sulfs, and other oral meds have awful side effects, and possible negative effects on the heart and other organs, and people who take them are accepting risks that you don't have on insulin. They are trapped into schedules, and some of the meds make them gain weight, which is the last thing they want.

I wouldn't wish diabetes, or any other chronic disease on anyone, but I also wouldn't compare what I go through with what they go through because I really don't know what it is.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zoe on January 20, 2012 at 6:27pm

I had trouble with using the word "chef" as well. I guess I just can't separate healthy food from gourmet food. I'm not saying all non-diabetics should eat low carb or never eat sweets, but to me, the best cooking is "slow food", local, fresh ingredients made in interesting ways where the ingredients are allowed to shine not be hidden.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on January 20, 2012 at 6:38pm

I looked up "chef" and chrome gave me "professional cook" so I'd say it's ok?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zoe on January 20, 2012 at 6:42pm

Technically, yes. I just guess I have an image of what a "chef" is. By that definition the person who flips the burgers at MacDonalds is a chef! Though I don't think they can really make much of a living at it. And I know some people who don't get paid for it, but are amazing "chefs". I know, picky, picky!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Buckley83 on January 21, 2012 at 12:13am

Microwave technicians is what we call cooks in the UK ha. People like Massimo Bottura are chefs in my mind.. It's a subtle difference I think, a chef is someone who is extremely passionate about food, knowledgeable and go out of there way to use seasonal, fresh, local produce and bring a level of artistry to what they do..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVcsUBuGIFM&feature=related

Yummy..

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• …
• 12
• Next ›
• Page