Just because we've had diabetes for years, doesn't mean we know everything ...

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Permalink Reply by Bernard on December 21, 2008 at 9:53am

Kelly

I've said it to many people. Everytime I get together with a bunch of folks with diabetes I learn something. It may be small, like letting the insulin bottle warm before using it. Or it can be much bigger info or developments. It must be the cold I have, I can't recall any of those right now.

This is one reason I encourage anyone and everyone to try and organize a diabetes get-together in their area. It's a lot more fun than you might thing.

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Permalink Reply by Scott K. Johnson on December 23, 2008 at 4:16pm

Great topic Kelly.

There are so many things that we learn all the time, that I'm often surprised I survived my growing years knowing as little as I think I did.

I also agree with Bernard, that getting together with others is always a learning experience. The way that things affect each and every one of us so differently is what I've really grown to appreciate.

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Permalink Reply by Dean Phillips on December 28, 2008 at 8:46am

Actually, I don't agree with this point of view. In fact I have had a few heated discussions with care providers about this. I am not saying I know everything, I'm sure I don't. What I do know, though, after 25 years of D and 15 with a pump, is what works for me. If it has worked for so long I am unlikely to change unless it is going to be something big.

Even the time honored tradition of tracking sugar levels, keeping a log, has never worked for me. Seems to me that so many variables can go into a low or a high that no single day is ever going to be just like another and there is no way I am going to be able to chart every thing about a certain event and then compare it to another.

My biggest challenge is trying to get care providers to NOT treat me like a new patient, like they are going to teach me so much because it is their job. I get frustrated when talked down to by doctors and nurses because I may not know "what they just learned" so they seem to act like they will show me the error of my ways. It comes across as if they give no credence to the fact that I have lived with this for so long, their job, my life!

I know that may read pretty negatively, but I am a upbeat positive person. I couldn't have come this far, this healthy, without it. In fact I believe a positive attitude is the one of the best tools to handle D. I guess what I mean is I know everything I need to know about me and D. All I need is a cure!

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Permalink Reply by Scott K. Johnson on December 28, 2008 at 10:02am

Good points Dean, and well said (I didn't take it as negative at all).

I think it is just another great example of how we are all very different and manage diabetes in a very unique way.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

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Permalink Reply by craig620 on December 29, 2008 at 5:12pm

I'm usually pretty hungry in the morning, I won't do the dose and wait unless I'm above 200. While demo'ing a Dexcom I was surprised to see a few things:
1 - It would take at least an hour to go from a pre-meal of above 200 then dosing but not eating to get down to 100.
2 - That meals with a more than usual fat content do cause a delayed rise in glucose. I'd heard it, but seeing is believing.
3 - When I had a pre meal readings of 100 or less, injected 10 minutes prior to eating that my level could remain almost flat. I always thought any meal would cause some kind of huge spike.

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Permalink Reply by Maria on March 31, 2009 at 6:26am

When I was diagnosed (1985), I was told to treat low sugars with a glass of Orange Juice. So for years I did this, probably 15 years of OJ. Then I happened to be discussing this with my diabetes educator. She said, oh no OJ is out. OJ can cause a rebound high after a low. I said, yes that happens to me, but I thought I was following the rules. I have to say that I know the dextrose tablets are great and had used those some too, but they are like candy, and I like to eat candy, not carry it around, so I had to stop the dextrose tablets. Out of sight, out of mind.
So knowing that I don't want something that is candy-like, they recommended using juice boxes. These are not really juice, just good sugar (dextrose) to get your sugars back up. Plus the little tetra boxes last forever and I have them stored in my car, in my desk, in my sports bag, everywhere.
Of course, now I have trained my 5 year old that those are "emergency juices" for mommy and he is not allowed to have any becuase they have way too much sugar. I am sure this is going to come back and haunt me in a few years.

When I was young I never questioned advice. Of course I was born before PCs, cell phones, and iPods. And everyone trusted their doctor. I have learned to question and seek advice rather then just accept what you are told. I did feel pretty silly about the OJ thing, as I had rebound sugars for years, but felt that was just a part I had to accept.

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Permalink Reply by Stuart on May 20, 2009 at 10:46am

Sigh... myself, I normally distrust ANY "white coats" unless/until they are literally one of us, period. If they are, I will give them far more leeway than their non diabetic peers with the same initials after their name, offering identical advice. Its not "stacking" if the coverage is accurate : D

Then its only GREAT control!!!!

Guess my personal favorite was the time I was told alcohol swabs were no longer needed, and could potentially skew the bg results. I rarely ever used them at the time anyway, but the news was very welcome. Insulin for injections, tests but virtually no alcohol swabs in the picture. Ahhhhh....

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Rawlings on May 20, 2009 at 5:10pm

I once saw registered dietitian who was type 1. She was the best medical professional ever. Not that a medical professional has to have diabetes to be a useful service provider for me, but I know what you mean about taking more seriously any advice from someone who walks the walk.

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Permalink Reply by Stuart on May 22, 2009 at 7:08am

Hello Kelly:

Respectfully, I WANT the person I'm seeing for diabetes to be a diabetic... clinical dispassion, objective detachment does not serve me (the patient) in the least. If they know what they are asking of me, it buys far greater forebearance... because they have done "X" before me.

Stuart

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