Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cara on January 20, 2008 at 2:20pm

It will be 23 years in June for me.

Permalink Reply by Tracy on January 20, 2008 at 4:43pm

I've had diabetes for 23 years - It will be 24 this October. I was diagnosed as a young kid!

Permalink Reply by Katie on January 22, 2008 at 7:53pm

31 years for me :)
& 21 years for my sister.

Permalink Reply by Bill on January 22, 2008 at 8:37pm

36 years for me.

Permalink Reply by Orna on January 23, 2008 at 7:49am

I've had it for 21 years.
Are any of you suffering from complications? What kind?
I'm suffering from severe neurophatic pain, gastroparesis and more...
Any useful advice? I'd love to hear more...

Permalink Reply by Bill on January 24, 2008 at 7:03pm

I have:

Diabetic Retinopathy (eye problems, 2 Vitrectomies and lots of laser)
Diabetic Nephropathy (kidney function decreasing)
Diabetic Neuropathy (hypersensitivity in my hands and feet, and recently pain in my right bicep)

I have been keeping my blood sugar under tight control (5.1 A1c for the last year plus) and my kidney function stopped decreasing, my eyes haven't had any more bleeders, but the Neuropathy continues unabated. I do try and keep active; I stretch out my muscle groups, lift some weights, and then go hiking at least 3 times per week. I can't say that it's helping the neuropathy, but it generally makes me feel better. I'm not sure about the gastroparesis.

Hope this helps.

-Bill

Permalink Reply by Naomi on January 27, 2008 at 11:59am

I was diagnosed Jan 30th 1987 which makes it almost 21 years!
I'm lucky not to have any complications that I know of.

Permalink Reply by Laurie Pariseau on July 7, 2008 at 5:26pm

yes! I have the same problem with Reglan. I have tried to minimize the amount I take- I take half a tablet in the morning and a whole tablet with supper. That helps the fatigue alot. Does the fatigue hit you about 1-2 hours after you take the Reglan, that is how it is for me.
Laurie

Permalink Reply by Katrina on January 29, 2008 at 12:41pm

I've had diabetic retinopathy (about 4 laser surgeries to battle this). I also take medication to prevent high blood pressure and mild nephropathy. I'm supposed to do a 24 hour urine collection, but I'm too scared to do it - I can't deal with anymore bad diabetic news right now.

Bad, I know. But, I tend to hide from reality at times.

Permalink Reply by Katrina on January 29, 2008 at 12:36pm

It will be 23 years this August.

Permalink Reply by Marcie Dutton on January 31, 2008 at 12:13pm

I have had diabetes for 24 years. I, too, have complications from being so brittle and practicing diabulemia for 15 of those years. I have neuropathy, gastroparesis, and asthma. I not a practicing diabulemic anymore, but still struggle with the thought processes and the weight gain. My A1c's are down to 9.0, but that still isn't very good. Better than 12 though. I have a terrible time with lows. Does anyone else dealing with fast lows that you can't feel coming on and wake up to paramedics surrounding you? After so long, I don't feel most of them coming.

Smiles,
Marcie

Permalink Reply by Bill on January 31, 2008 at 9:59pm

Hi Marcie,

I too have (in medical terms) Hypoglycemic Unawareness. It has left me with many, many bad situations (I started a forum to talk about our experiences with lows on TU here: http://www.tudiabetes.com/group/hypoglycemicexperiences).

My CDE says that if I let my blood sugar stay above average for 1 to 2 weeks, then I will get the usual signs that signal a low coming on (sweaty, shaky) back. I have been working so hard to keep my blood sugar in the 70 - 120 range that I don't want to stay above average for 2 weeks.

Almost 2 years ago I began testing myself more frequently (I'm up to 12 times a day on average), so when a low starts coming on, I usually catch it before it gets too bad. The extra testing was hard at first, but the more you do it, the more automatic it becomes (and the faster you become at doing it).

I think the biggest culprit in bringing on a low is bolusing for a meal or snack. If it's a pre-packed food that has the carbs right on it, and you have a carb to insulin ratio, it's all good. When I eat out though is when I get into trouble. Sometimes I go high, and sometimes I go low. I've even eaten the same dish (at the same restaurant) 2 different weeks and used the same bolus... After about an hour and a half I test: one week I started to go low and the next I was getting high.

Try and talk to your endo or CDE about the fact the you do not feel lows coming on. They might have a suggestion that can help you.

-Bill

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