I don’t bother with a hole for the sensor. I use a tape called Hypafix and just slap it over the whole sensor. You don’t need to change it for bathing or swimming. Usually after about a week, the edges start pulling up. I take it off by holding one finger down firmly in the center of the transmitter and then peel up the tape around it. I’ve never pulled out a sensor doing this.
The bad kind has no number after it. It is just diabetes in all its forms. I refuse play the good kind bad kind game. If the measure is which causes the most complications or which is the most lethal then they are equal because we all experience them the same.
Thank you for you recgonizing the seriousness of T2 but I consider my T2 no worse or better than any form of this scourge.
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Here is what I consider the “bad kind” of diabetes: the uncontrolled kind. Nothing to do with type.
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Thanks! I try to be careful and not clump people all into one simple category, but it’s the nuance of that particular misunderstanding that drives me bonkers. Today at work I had one of the seniors ask me why her BS was high in the morning after eating only red meat for dinner and what to do about it. I asked her if she was on insulin (cause that’s how I know to counteract the highs) and she looked at me in horror and said “No! I manage with just my diet!” So I told her to go for a 30 min walk after her meals and she had plenty of excuses why that wouldn’t work either. Maybe it’s just the amount of excuses that some people rely on that drives me crazy… I simply wish my life was easy enough that I could take a walk and my BS would stay in range…I would become proficient at sleepwalking for sure!!
Here is another pet peeve of mine that not many people understand. I am labelled as “uncontrolled” because for 8 years it has been impossible for me to stay in a tight balanced range for more than 5-6 hours at a time. Even with the pump I have at least two high peaks and two very lows within a 24 hour period. I prefer being called “brittle” though, because for me “uncontrolled” implies I’m not doing anything to control it…when in fact I am nearly (literally) killing myself at times struggling with every ounce of purpose and strength and determination I have to try and “control” my goddamn diabetes!
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Very often—perhaps most of the time—people will pretend to ask for advice when what they really want is either agreement, or a painless magic bullet. So they reject sincere and valid suggestions. Doesn’t only happen with diabetes. It happens with everything. Human nature . . . sigh. Sometimes I wonder how the species has made it this far . . .
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I think the only good to come out of diabetes in general is that it is an opportunity to learn how to be healthier. I fully believe that every diabetic who makes the effort to do their best and learn what works and what doesn’t is healthier and more well-adjusted than a majority of “healthy” people. I was shocked when I first learned about the schism between T1 and T2 when it comes to insulin…but I think all the ignorance is the fault of all the doctors, nurses and educators who never bother to reflect on their depth of understanding about D and how it affects everyone differently. So we are left trying to learn everything on our own and then being told what is “good” or “bad.” I absolutely agree with your assessment of the lack of seriousness involved. And I guess that is what will drive me nuts at times…just the fact that I was never allowed that option to have hope that diet and exercise alone could help. I just can’t help but to sometimes feel resentful when someone who had an opportunity to NOT be diabetic didn’t take it. Unfortunately, all those people who do manage to waste that opportunity are T2s…
I know it’s a big misconception on my part probably, but I don’t like my son’s T1 being compared to my overweight families T2…which they do sometimes. It pisses me off because, T1 CAN’T BE CURED…only managed; whereas, many overweight people, when they lose the weight, they also lose the T2. I’m not saying this is all cases, I understand it may not be…it’s just my experience. Try living with something that you never have a choice in whether or not you can lose it.
Prior to my diagnosis with T2, I did “everything” – everything “they” said would “prevent” diabetes. i ate the “right” foods in "moderation, I managed my weight at a “healthy” level. I was active, including cycling every day and weight training several times a week. I actually felt as good or better than any point in my life. I was never diagnosed with prediabetes - just worroed about it, because my mother is Type 2 - but one day, I went to a doctor for an unrelated problem and BAM – he sent me for a blood test on the suspicion of diabetes. Four months later - and since - I was on insulin. Clearly, it was unavoidable, I never had a choice about it, and losing weight and exercise, while helpful in other ways, prevented nothing in the area of diabetes. Call it what you want, but I am living with something I never has a choice about and cannot lose it.
As an aside, my mother, whose Type 2 was managed well over many years on just metformin, HAS lost the weight and exercised several times since diagnosis, but the T2 remains. Diabetes of any type is nobody’s choice; however, hopefully one day soon all types will be able to be cured.
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According to the most recent studies and research, Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable. About 9 cases in 10 could be avoided by taking several simple steps: keeping weight under control, exercising more, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking. You may be the 1 out of 10 that this hasn’t worked for…but the science/medicine communities all indicate T2 is a “MOSTLY” preventable disease. I’ll just say this…IF you’ve done everything you can on your end to control your weight, eat AND LIVE healthy (no smoking, etc.,), exercise, etc., and IF you still cannot get rid of T2, then I am as sympathetic, and empathetic for you, as I am for my own son. IF; however, you (in the general sense) fall into the category of those who are not doing everything they should do to prevent T2, then I’m not that sympathetic. No offense or disrespect meant by any means…IF you fall into the later category, then I urge you to try and deal with the root of the problem so that you can avoid the burdens of insulin.
I clearly fell/fall into the “first category” and did/do all the things mentioned (and never smoked). My doctor was even incredulous at the diagnosis, however clear it was (my HbA1c at diagnosis was 11.8). Whether or not it was “preventable” was never in question in my case.
Regardless of me, however, I still take issue with the “recent studies and research” that “proves” that Type 2 is preventable – at least on the basis of lifestyle. I think there is definitely a association in many cases between obesity and/or sedentary lifestyle and Type 2 diabetes; however, having reviewed study after study, I still fail to see a proven cause-and-effect, and in fact there are those that claim the opposite: that diabetes causes obesity and/or the propensity for a sedentary lifestyle. (I am unsure of those people are correct, either). In addition, there are those that claim that other factors cause BOTH obesity and diabetes.
Association does not prove causation. Despite the consensus of much of the medical community, there is no absolutely clear answer yet. It wasn’t all that long ago that the medical community was certain that “bad blood” caused all illnesses. Leeches, anyone?
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There is a common misconception here, when an obese T2 looses weight they have not lost their T2 they are managing it, their T2 has not gone away.
I rarely chime in on this subject, I prefer not to bring attention to it. Statements dismissing T2 do oh so much harm because they do nothing but reinforce the shame heaped on Type 2s. It is this shame that prevents many from seeking the help they need. Some aspects of T2 are emotional, being told its your own fault really does mess with your emotional well being.
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I have read innumerable learned, “expert” opinions that say that. I have seen no science that backs it up. Opinions are like . . . you know what. Everybody has one. There simply is no emprical evidence supporting that mantra. The plural of “anecdote” is not “evidence”.
That certainly is the traditional wisdom. Of course, it has also been the traditional wisdom at one time or another that T1 only occurred in young people, T2 only struck adults, and smoking is good for you. All of those myths have been obliterated. Traditional wisdom is often wrong, and traditional wisdom in medicine is almost always years behind reality. It’s been that way for centuries and it still is.
But the whole idea that some kinds of suffering are justified while others aren’t reeks of bigotry, lack of humanity, and elitism. There is no more potent way to stay rooted in the past and render progress impossible.
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I will try to become more educated…and compassionate…toward everyone, T1 and T2. I made a previous post, but I’ve deleted it because, after reading it, I don’t agree with what I wrote…I do feel compassion for anyone suffering through this difficult disease.
I’ll try to help any way I can.
My apologies to anyone suffering from either of the tragic diseases, and my apologies for making any comments that could have come across in an offensive manner.
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may I suggest a 16 minute video from Peter Attia that completedly opened my eyes and changed my thoughts on judgement of type2s
and to remind us of our values
https://forum.tudiabetes.org/t/the-values-of-tudiabetes/34720
"A note about the different types of diabetes: We believe that no one
with diabetes is responsible for having this condition, and we do not
support debates about “which type is worse” or comments which place
blame on anyone for their condition. The different types of diabetes
have more similarities than differences, and within this community we
focus on our commonalities and the ways in which we can all support one
another as a unified group. "
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I’ll apologize, too. This particular topic tends to push my buttons harder than almost anything else.
Over the years, the community has experienced uncountable flame wars on this subject, and it’s (obviously) a sensitive one. The community was founded on and is rooted in the premise that no one with diabetes should ever have to feel alone. Inclusiveness is one of our bedrock principles and this is one of those subjects that tends to spawn divisiveness, so it’s a bit of a third rail. None of which excuses bad manners, and I can be as guilty as the next person.
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I’m so sorry. This video definitely opened my eyes to the possibilities that exist. Looks like I’m guilty of falling into his same line of reasoning…albeit as flawed as it may be.
Thanks for sharing the video and my apologies, again, to anyone my words may have offended earlier.
It is indeed an eye opener. It’s worth mentioning that the science is beginning to tilt, ever so glacially, toward Peter’s premise that diabetes and obesity may both be symptoms of an underlying cause rather than being linked in a cause-effect relationship. It’s a constantly evolving subject.
Are there any other subjects in any field that you’ve seen definitively proven cause and effect relationships in science? Have you personally definitively seen it proven in science that electricity is a flow of electrons or that gravity exists or that the world is round?
There is certainly room for spirited debate as to whether widespread poor diets and sedentary lifestyle is causing widespread obesity and it is also seperately causing widespread diabetes OR widespread obesity is directly linked to diabetes itself. That’s a fair debate. the reality that it’s a disease LARGELY attributable to lifestyle and diet though is inescapable— as clearly evidenced by different cultures with different diets and lifestyles have dramatically different diabetes rates. Is that true in every single individual case? No, of course not. Is it an insult to those of us with the disease-- no, it shouldn’t be. Is it helpful to pretend that diet and lifestyle don’t enter the equation because we can’t quantify definitive proof of that (or of almost any other reality in the universe)-- no, it’s detrimental.
I understand there’s a guilt and a shame attached to having a disease that is rightly considered largely preventable. I have and do feel it myself. It’s not the fault of the individual though. This is the result of a society that mass produces unhealthy food, makes healthy food unaffordable or otherwise unobtainable and rewards sedentary occupations more highly than it does physically active ones. It’s really just that simple. It’s a problem in our society and culture, not in one person’s pantry.
If we can’t accept that, as a culture, that we are doing things wrong and we can and should do things differently, each generation will be more and more doomed. I personally believe we are better than that. We, people with diabetes, can be honest that we can stack the deck in our children’s favor instead of against it. We can do better, we can in many cases defeat this disease-- let’s join forces and do it instead of staying trapped by our own insecurity.
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Great video. In which he acknowledged in a way that hopefully people are willing to accept, that diets and behaviors are the factors which can be manipulated in the case of insulin resistance… And of which he is himself a shining example of. The cause needs more ambassadors like him.
Cliff’s notes— the system is failing people who develop insulin resistance. Diet and behavior are causing insulin resistance, insulin resistance (aka diabetes) might be causing obesity, not the other way around.
Bottom line-- behaviors and diets need to change on a grand scale. This is not an individual criticism of any human being but a social and cultural imperative. I hope the world gets this message because honestly we are on track to seemingly willingly allow this to become our extinction event as a civilization, and it is completely avoidable.