My BS is never very high nor very low, but I have autonomic neuropathy - at least twice a week my bowels are unpredictable - and peripheral neuropathy which means I can't walk very well or very fast. If you think being grumpy because you have high or low BS is bad, you should try the lovely combination of diarrhea and feet that don't work well. It's pretty ■■■■■■, Gary. I just make the best of it, carry spare clothes, and keep on truckin'. I hope you can do the same some day.
It's pretty clear we all get different symptoms and get them at different levels. My dad is also diabetic and he can be low or high and rarely feels much of anything. My symptoms are quite disturbing and I get them not too far out of range. Unless anyone experiences exactly what I do it's really unfair to judge. I admit I don't have very good coping skills and in general and because of my background I am a very worried nervous person which only complicates matters far worse when I don't feel right. I think we all can agree no matter how you manage your diabetes its nearly impossible to get normal fluctuations consistently in the 80-120 like a non diabetic. That being said not by choice but due to circumstance I feel forced to remain hopeless unless there is a treatment breakthrough. As far as my topic question I find it interesting that most diabetics will go out and do things socially despite how their sugars are running and how they feel.
I disagree that it's "nearly impossible to get normal fluctuations consistently in he 80-120 like a non-diabetic" assertion. My will to power exerts itself on my blood sugar and puts it where I want it. It's not always easy and there are mysteries lurking all over the place but I am not hopeless at all about surviving with diabetes as I've already survived longer than I would have thought I would 20 years ago. I'm oblivious to a cure until I can go buy one or (ha ha...) file insurance claims to see if they'll cover it.
It occurred to me though that I might be concerned about swimming and BG as the few times I've been swimming in the last couple of years, it seems to kill my BG. About the only reason I'd swim would be for some sort of triathlon and, of course, practicing for that but I suspect that it would be a big challenge. A friend of mine said "hey, we oughtta do the [local] triathlon in August..." and I've been mulling it over. Last year, I needed a break from the grind of marathon training by that time and a triathlon would be a fun diversion. It's 400 yards/ 13 or 14 miles cycling and a 10K which I think I should be able to do but the swimming's a wild card? I'' keep it on the radar but I suspect that when I think about it I'll blow it off. Not just the BG reason but well, I suppose it's there?
i believe you're a type 2 on no medications...so, i think gary's situation is FAR different than yours. Also, if your BG's are never high or low, you need no medications, A1C 5.1% how do you have automonic neuropathy...that is an extreme intense condition, effecting usually every part of the body.
I would say Jan's account of the symptoms would establish a certain degree of bonafides, if you are talking to her? I guess one never knows on the internet? I suspect that w/ T2, one can go on at a level that's "OK" to doctors for quite some time before complications manifest themselves which is why I agree w/ Dr. Bernstein, and disagree w/ Gary, that normal BG should be our goal, whether it's T1 or T2 or one of the other types and subtypes/ branches? Once you "come together" with complications, the pathologies are very similar I think?
I find it disappointing when I see dismissiveness of people of other types. I think we all of much to learn from each other. AR's point about the pathologies is a good one. With that said, Kate, because of the content of your post, I zipped over to your page to see if you were a T1 or T2 making the comment, but your profile is set to private.
Thanks Donna. To me, the big problem w/ diabetes, in the absence of a practical and cost-effective cure solution, is the "goal" issue because if your average BG is 140, your doctor will say "you're doing ok" but you are assuming not-insignificant risk of the sort of complications that Gary, ConsummeJan and BrokenPole and other brave individuals have shared with us here. On the other hand, if one goes too far, one assumes the quicker and more disturbing "complication" of hypoglycemia (at least w/ insulin in the picture?) which is also a problem. The goals of "normal" and "stable" don't seem to be part of the medical picture and I have to think that the reason people with diabetes have the problems we have is because our doctors have already "given up" by not adopting braver goals themselves? Yes, there'd be risks involved and there'd be greater costs for reasonable amounts of test strips and reasonable amounts of access to medical dialogues to discuss the results of the additional testing but, if that's what it takes, it should be done. The root of the problem is in the medical industry.
yeap me too that's why frequent check is important. If really worst come to worst I will not go or do anything. Correct the hypo first. Even if I happened to miss some important events(which I did) I will tell myself relax life is long and I shld not be affected by diabetes so easily.
I think complications for T1 and T2 can manifest differently. The reason is that many T2's are undiagnosed for 8 or even 10 years. This is a long time for complications to accumulate.
I think I was undiagnosed for a good 8 years. I have peripheral neuropathy but the symptoms, burning etc. did not intensely manifest themselves until diagnosis when I started getting my numbers under control. My A1C dropped from 13.1 to 5.6 in a matter of months but during that time period my PN symptoms especially intense burning and pain continued to get worse. I have maintained decent A1C's in the 2.75 years since diagnosis(currently 5.8)and the burning and pain have gone away, but I still have very little feeling in my feet. Others have reported complete healing once they gain control.
Most posts on this website concern T1 and it's easy to forget that a T1's experience may not have a whole lot of relevance to a T2's. Having said that I like the fact that on tuD all types interact with one another as opposed to most forums where posts are more segregated. It has certainly given me an appreciation for the unique set of challenges T1's face, that I would not have gotten on other forums.
Gary may I ask why you are still using NPH and Regular and not something like Humalog and Lantus/Levemir...those insulins while not 100% perfect are certainly MUCH better than the old Regular and NPH, I dont know many who could maintain steady control using those older insulins. For YEARS I was on 70/30 mix with just such variable results, HIGHS and LOWS...it made all the difference in the world switching to Humalog and Lantus...and even MORE difference in switching to a pump. You have been told many times by many people, frequent testing and watching the amount of carbs you eat are key...but you refuse to do that...well IM sorry but if you refuse to do that, do what many of us on here ARE doing with consistent good results...and minimal high spikes..then you ARE going to feel miserable and like crap. It's really on you Gary to WANT to make a change and NOT let D consume every bit of pleasure and happiness in your life. I've refused to do that, Im going to live my life to the fullest. Acceptance is key, and until you accept the fact your life is not going to be 100% EASY with D, and accept the fact you need to test frequently and watch to some degree what you eat and how much of that do you eat, then you have no one to blame but yourself for feeling absolutely miserable all the time.
I apologize in advance but Gary you so remind me of patients I see EVERYDAY who just want a magic fix and do not want to take any personal responsiblity in managing and treating their illness and then ■■■■ and moan because they dont feel good or are not getting good results. Take some personal accountalbity Gary and take some initiative in TRYING to maintain some good control. When you purposely say you do NOT want to test frequently and you do NOT want to watch what you eat cause boo hoo it robs your life of any normalcy then THATS on you. We are ALL in the same boat here Gary its just how we choose to deal with it.
I agree with you BadMoon. It's a big part of the reason I was so drawn to this site. We can all learn from each other.
Honestly I do not really think a transplan is a great idea. Transplants come with HUGE risks, not only from the risk of rejection, but also the risk of all the high risk medications involved in transplants. Do not think transplants are a magic fix, because they are certainly full of risks and the likelyhood of failure at least as far as pancreas transplants go. Until they can figure out what caused an autoimmune reaction in the first place...a transplant in my opinion is a waste of time, especially when its NOT a life and death situation. Diabetes can be managed and managed well with some effort on our part with frequent testing, watching what we eat, and using modern up to date insulins...and with fewer risks than what a transplant would be. The instance of the young man on the lung transplant list that makes perfect sense to me, because the benefits definately outweigh the risks. But Gary to qualify for organ transplants it is a RIGOUROUS process and maybe for u...u are willing to accept those risks and think it is a great option...however your lack of frequent testing, of simply compliance on your current treatment plan is going ot go a LONG way against you if a transplant option ever does become available. Do not think simply whiniing about how miserable you feel all the time on insulin is going to qualify you, especially when organs are already in really short demand. They WILL go to people they deem are most psychologically fit, most compliant, and most in need. Not just my life sucks because I have D will get you a transplant.
That's a good point about the different paths to diagnosis but, at the same time, the issue of hyperglycemia causing the pathological issues that lead to complications is sort of the same but the medical path to a diagnosis and treatment is different? If I blow off my control for a while and run my BG up there at my age, I would figure I would probably get some complications in fairly short order too?
BTW, to answer the original question: If my BG is 300, or even 200, I feel like @*$#. If someone asks me to go do something, I take a little insulin, suck it up, and go do it anyway. If everybody else is eating, I just drink water and coffee, and try to enjoy their company. There's no point in staying home, lying in the fetal position, waiting for a transplant that will almost certainly never be available. Take every chance you get to do stuff. None of us are going to be around forever, diabetic or not.
+1
Couldn't agree more Sam Iam. Life's to short to sit back and put all our hopes and dreams on hold waiting for a treatment option that quite frankly probably never will occur and if it does comes with HUGE risks. From the minute we are born we are ALL dying like you say diabetic or not. So enjoy life while you can and make the best of the situations you have been dealt with.
+1 BadMoon, and Donna.
ar I agree totally with your statement I disagree that it's "nearly impossible to get normal fluctuations consistently in he 80-120 like a non-diabetic" assertion.I disagree that it's "nearly impossible to get normal fluctuations consistently in he 80-120 like a non-diabetic" assertion.
If I didn't test as frequently as I do, and eat as I do, sure it would be 'nearly impossible'. I believe I'm worth it, though, so I do what's in my power to keep my BG between 80-120. My standard deviation over a months' time is very rarely over 20, usually less. It's a lot of work, and takes a lot of attention.
When I was first dx and in denial/angry, I was dismissive of the things I could do - testing, bolusing, etc etc
I love this community :)
ERRRR Christy I done that with the pancres transplant and all ur right the risks are worse that the "cure" some of the meds u have to take have REALLY bad sideaffects and I still wound up with the D after trying it a few months into the transplant but I thought at that time if it worked for furture generations of Diabetics I would try it. Not the brightest Idea I've ever had for sure
+2
I like your putting the name to show who you're responding to, MC, but just a question - why "@acidrock" - why not just ACIDROCK in bold and caps to make it stand out. I'm guessing it's some social media thing?