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Archive through August 26, 2007

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan. 2008 ~ Mar. 2008: Health Center: Living with Diabetes: ARCHIVES: Archive through August 26, 2007 users admin

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Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 2:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Hmmmm

Babyruth
Member

07-19-2001

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 2:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyruth a private message Print Post    


Jagger
Member

08-07-2002

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 4:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jagger a private message Print Post    
Does anyone know where you can get a free meter?
As long as my doctor diagnoses it as pre-diebetic my insurance won't pay for the meter. So far my doctor hasn't made a big deal of it other than to tell me to watch my carbs and take a class on diebetes, which I have taken and learned a lot, but it'd be nice to check my blood to see where I'm at from time to time.

I've noticed my grocery bill has drastically increased since I started watching what food I put in my face and when I put it in.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 7:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
i don't know about a free meter, but i just bought a new one at Albertsons (grocery store) for $14.95. it's a One Touch Mini

Cndeariso
Member

06-28-2004

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 7:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cndeariso a private message Print Post    
yep, jagger, that's the price of living healthy, food costs more. the cheap stuff is full of carbs and sugar. sad, but so true.

Konamouse
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 8:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Konamouse a private message Print Post    
Most meters have a rebate. It's the test strips that get expensive (75-95 cents per strip for the better machines).



Jagger
Member

08-07-2002

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 5:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jagger a private message Print Post    
Wow the meters are that cheap, I was expecting them to be a couple hundred bucks.
Konamouse I kind of figured they'd cost a pretty penny, but not that much.
Thanks for the information Landi and Konamouse.
Cndeariso it does suck that eating healthy costs so much, especially when you are on such a restricted diet, the food choices are starting to get boring, I can only eat so much of the same things all the time.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 6:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Jagger my doc gave me a free meter and the accessories are free too. Covered by my insurance. I have an hmo.

Konamouse
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 9:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Konamouse a private message Print Post    
Hopefully more insurance companies will cover the costs of the meter supplies for "pre-diabetes"...because it is clearly evident that preventative measures like self monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) helps slow down/prevent the complications of diabetes.

And there is convincing evidence that making lifestyle changes before clinical diagnosis can postpone it.

Fasting blood glucose in the morning is probably the least important number for people with poor glucose tolerance (or insulin resistence). A 2-hr postprandial (2 hours after eating a meal) is a much more telling story. In the near future there will be more and more evidence that the fasting number is not the key, it's how much your blood glucose numbers swing (how high do you go after the meal) that is more damaging. So an A1c of 6.5% looks great (that's an average) but if blood glucose swings up past 225 after meals and go back to normal (70-100) only at night while sleeping, that's worse than someone who vacilates between 120-160 but doesn't get above 160 after a meal (both will net an A1c of 6.5%).

Some insurance will not cover any SMBG supplies unless the doctor uses the diagnostic code for diabetes. That's a shame. Any endocrinologist will have access to free meters in their office (I have about a dozen in my office from the various reps).

As for the food part. It's only expensive if your meal plan is limited to expensive foods. You should sit down with a certified diabetes educator/dietitian to learn how most all foods can fit, how to count the carbohydrates and pick out balanced meals, then how to shop for those foods. A healthy eating plan for someone with diabetes should not be so restrictive that you get bored with it.

Using convinence items (pre-cut veggies) *is* more expensive than preparing the foods yourself. But simple, healthy foods can be just as inexpensive as eating fast foods - just needs a little planning (good freezer bags/containers) and time in the kitchen. Think of all the money NOT being spent on junk foods & sodas. When konashark wasn't home I didn't buy much diet Pepsi, saved about $10/wk by using Crystal Lite & tap water. Now that he's home, I'm buying it, and find myself drinking more of it again.



Jagger
Member

08-07-2002

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 3:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jagger a private message Print Post    
Thanks for the information on the monitors being reasonably cheap. I stopped at Walgreens on the way home from work and picked up a monitor, luckily it came with a few strips. I'm going to try it for a week or two before getting any more strips.
My reading when I went to the Diebetic information class was 114, when I took the reading today it was down to 107. That was over a time frame of about a month to month and a half. During this time I have really watched what I ate, when I ate, and how much I ate.
Hopefully it stays this low for a long time.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 4:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Ok I did a check when I got home from work <sticking out my tongue>. 91

Cndeariso
Member

06-28-2004

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 5:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cndeariso a private message Print Post    
well, that's the problem right there with the cost of food issue: i don't have the time NOR the inclination to do all that prep work. i grew up doing that and was previously married for 12 years where i did all that. and, now, i refuse. i work so that someone else can have a job prepping that stuff instead. yes, i know, i'm stubborn and weird. LOL

i do have a serious question to ask because dh doesn't know. his doctor assumed that since dh's dad was a diabetic that dh already knew about diabetes and didn't send him to classes. <sigh> i plan to remedy that though. so, here goes:

when checking the blood sugar, what is too high and what do you do if it is? the same question for too low. thanks!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 6:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
i know that i (and I mean just me) am supposed to be between 90-130. too high for me is 150 and too low is 70. i'm regularly over 150. i'm supposed to see my endocrinologist the middle of next month. i will be making adjustments to insulin again then.

Cndeariso
Member

06-28-2004

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 7:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cndeariso a private message Print Post    
so, there isn't anything one needs to do at that moment? like call the doctor? or eat something to keep from fainting? seems i heard that somewhere.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 9:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
sorry, i didn't see that part of your question. if it's too high, i get to doing something to burn it off (walking, housecleaning,etc) if it's too low, i have to take some quick acting sugar. 3-4 glucose tablets do the trick. i've only had 2 lows. and both were in the grocery store because i didn't eat when i was supposed to and just kept running and doing errands.

cnd - i bought this book "Diabetes for Dummies" it's easy to read and really had a lot of information.


Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 9:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
The eating something to keep from fainting is when your blood sugar gets too low. My hubby is normally between 125 - 135, which is awesome compared to even 6 months ago. If he gets down to 90 he starts to feel funky, any lower and the sweats and shaking start. It used to be that when he got down below 100 he'd get the funky feeling. Dr says as his blood sugar stablizes 90 will feel ok and 80 will feel funky. I'm kinda upset that the doc told him how awesome his numbers are. Yeah they are awesome compared to 6 months ago, but he takes 3 metformin and 2 glyburide a day and he thinks he doesn't need to work anymore. Baby steps I guess.

Kona thanks for the information about blood testing. Hubby is to test 3x week in the mornings. I'm going to try to talk him into checking a couple hours after supper also for awhile, just to see what his readings are.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 9:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
For me 80 is too low and 130 is too high. I always know now when I'm high or low without testing because I get the same symptoms. Strobe lights going on in my peripheral vision. If I'm also weak and feeling faint I know its low and to get some sugar in me. If its high I have to take my pills and watch my diet better.

Konamouse
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 9:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Konamouse a private message Print Post    
For a person without diabetes, the body self regulates between 60-120. Lower than 60 and glucagon (a hormone) is released that triggers the liver to convert glycogen to glucose and raise blood glucose back above 60. At the same time, endogenous (internal) production of insulin is inhibited (turned off).

For someone with diabetes, too high & too low is determined between the person and his/her doctor. If someone is taking insulin, then the lower number is set a little higher (because once you take insulin, you cannot turn it off when you start to go low). If someone has been living with blood glucose in the 200s, then getting close to 100 is going to give them the signs & symptoms of hypoglycemia. As blood glucose control improves, then the target number is reduced towards non-diabetic range.

Blood glucose numbers are very dynamic. Spot checks every once in a while is just like taking a photograph - it catches the moment only, not the whole scene. Take a few days to note patterns in blood glucose results. a) Pre & post breakfast, b) pre & post lunch, c) pre & post dinner, d) bedtime and wakeup time (pick one of those and chart it for a few days, then pick another set for a few days, etc).

Mocha - YAY!
CND - I like Healthy Choice entrees (when I don't feel like cooking).
Serate - yup, any improvement is a benefit. Has his doctor mentioned Byetta?



Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 11:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
No Kona I don't think so. We moved in January, finally got into the VA to see her in May, not scheduled to see her in until November, tho his diabetes supplies are running really low and he's not getting any cooperation from there. [Due to his level of disability he gets all his meds free from VA]. I'll have him ask. Thanks.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 1:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
I do Byetta shots along with my insulin shots, but I have to warn that sometimes it makes me very nauseous. You have to really watch the clock when taking Byetta.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 1:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
Aw then my hubby wouldn't take them. Besides that I read up on them and I really doubt the VA would pay for them. Only the best generics for our disabled veterans!!!!
[ETA there are some exceptions but that's usually after trying everything cheap they can and fighting for better meds.]

Are you type 1 or 2 Twinkie?

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 2:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
And Jagger I'm sorry I'm too late with this but you can do a search on "free blood glucose meter" and find plenty of places to send you one. I just got an offer the other day [how they got my name I don't know, hubby's the diabetic] for a free one, had a choice of two. A regular one and a mini one. I chose the mini one so hubby can keep it at work. We'll probably have to buy the supplies for it but it will make me feel better him having one there to actually check before going to drink a coke. I've tried him on the glucose tablets he "says" they don't work. *keeps mouth shut* I've reminded him that the RD told him to keep a trial size can of coke and drink it warm, about 2 ounces but it doesn't stop him from drinking the whole can. Although I do have to say since moving he hasn't had too many times at work that he's had to raise his sugar. Amazing because he hasn't changed his diet, gets less exercise, and has probably alot more stress here.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 7:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
Type 2, Serate.

Konamouse
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, August 24, 2007 - 3:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Konamouse a private message Print Post    
Less exercise & more stress results in increased blood glucose levels. So it's easy to understand why he doesn't need to treat any hypoglycemia lately.
1 full can soda = 45 g carbohydrate; way too much resulting in overtreating (and hyperglycemia). 1 glucose tab = 4 g glucose and usually quite effective if someone is treating themselves because they feel woozy with a blood glucose of 90-100.
But you are right, *he* has to be the one interested in self management, you can only be there to support.


Kristylovesbb
Member

09-14-2000

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - 10:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kristylovesbb a private message Print Post    
My numbers on my first visit with new doc was 6.2 A1C with 104 glucose but my Triglyceride was a whopping 339. I go back Oct 25 for recheck and so far, in just 1 month I have lost 18lbs. I used to drink tons of sweet tea and I mean real down south sweet tea. Now I drink unsweet only and diet drinks plus the doctor prescribed Amitriptyline which is supposed to help me. Also work out on the treadmill for an hour or more per day.
I am feeling much better already. Sometimes I would sleep all day until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Could not stay awake no matter what I tried that's how I knew something was wrong with me. I hardly ever even take a nap let alone sleep the entire day. I thought it was coming from severe allergies that I am bothered with.