Damnit...sometimes I get so sick of this shit.

[LeftyFingerPop]

Sorry, but I have to complain so I'll feel better.

I'm a diabetic with some other health problems. I'm not in horrible shape, but it runs in my family.

So just to eat this stupid 200 calorie parfait, I have to go through my morning ritual...

poke finger and check blood sugar
dump 23 pills and capsules down my throat in one gulp (yes it's possible)
stick a syringe in my stomach for the long acting insulin
stick a needle in my stomach for the byetta
stick a needle in my stomach for the short acting insulin

Just ONCE, I'd like to put a piece of food in my mouth without these fucking needles...just once. This god awful routine (with some variation), will repeat at lunch and dinner.

Then, if I know I want a beer or 2 later, I have to plan for it and adjust insulin.

Oh well, at least we are spending billions in IRAQ instead of wasting the money on disease cures. :sarcasm: The fuckers.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. sorry. sounds terrible. hugs.

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. thanks pri...

:hug:

There are worse things for sure...but sometimes I just don't have the energy or the mindset for this. Starts to wear on you after a few years...

[BarenakedLady]

2. I can't even imagine...

:hug: :hug: :hug: for you, my friend.

[LeftyFingerPop]

5. Thanks BNL...

:hug: :hug:

I don't want to turn this into a sympathy thread, I just needed to get if off my chest. The worse part is, there are very few people who understand...

[Shine]

3. I'm sorry, that sucks.

:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

6. Thanks a lot Shine

:hug:

Anyway, a sense of humor helps...:hi:

[mzteris]

7. jeez

NEEDLES in your STOMACH????

aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh




I had no idea it was that - involved!

How terrible for you to have to go through all of that. Surely there must be an easier way?

[LeftyFingerPop]

9. Well...

You can either stick them in your stomach (most convenient, just pull up shirt), the back of the arm (pain in the ass...my arms are fairly muscular, and you have to hit fat), or the top of the thigh (again a pain in the ass...hard to pull down your pants in a restaurant...unless you are SPK :hide: :rofl: )

I am thinking about going to the pump...my insurance will probably pay for it since I have to shoot so much.

Thanks :hug:

[Dora]

13. The pump made my cousin's life much easier.

If your insurance will cover it, what do you have to lose?

Think of the time you'll free up not diddling around with testing and injections!

[LeftyFingerPop]

16. You are right Dora...

Thank you...I'm reaching the point where I am going to have to look into it. :hi: :thumbsup:

[FloridaJudy]

17. The pump is a great idea.

I know many diabetics who use them, and they're a godsend. If course you may have to still stick your fingers to measure your blood sugars. There's a monitor out now that allows blood sugar testing from a minuscule drop of blood that can be taken from almost anywhere, which strikes me as a civilized advance. I also know it's a heckuvalot more expensive than the average monitors, but it might be worth it.

[LeftyFingerPop]

18. Thanks for the info Judy...

I think I'm going to move into the 21st century and see what technology can do for me :hi:

[mzteris]

23. ooooo - he's gonna get you for that.

(And you left out taterguy!)

Besides - it might make your dining experiences much more colorful (just think - more great stories for the Lounge) - or at least the dining experience of the other patrons! :rofl:


Didn't I hear about some type of spray or something that's recently come out? Can you use that?

Damn the way this country/world wastes money on killing others rather than saving lives and making them more enjoyable!! :grr:

[FloridaJudy]

28. That's the "nasal insulin"

There have been rumors for years in the medical community about the possibility of such a delivery system for insulin - several drug companies are reported to be working on it. But as far as I know no such thing is yet on the market. It's a pity: it would be a huge advance for millions of diabetics (and likely a major source of $$$ for the pharmaceutical house that offers it).

[mzteris]

30. inhaler-

I went looking - I don't know if this will help philboy or not, though . . .


Food and Drug Administration has approved a new type of insulin for people with diabetes. It's inhalable, and it's the first new way to take insulin since the therapy was developed in the 1920s.

. . . Exubera is fast acting, and is meant to be used at mealtime, to take care of the sudden sharp spike in blood sugar. Some people -- including all those with type 1 diabetes -- will still have to take a slow acting injectable insulin that continues to work between meals.

. . . "Some patients were studied out as long as seven years. We have a large amount of data from the clinical trials speaking to the safety of this product overall, and the safety of this product in the lungs as well," Myer said.

. . . Exubera is a powdered form of insulin that comes with a new type of inhaler the size of an eyeglass case.

. . . Nathanial Clark, a physician and an official with the American Diabetes Association, noted advantages and disadvantages.

"The advantage of inhaled insulin is that it's inhaled and not injected," he pointed out. "The disadvantage is that patients may find it more cumbersome in comparison to the currently available devices for injectable insulin, such as insulin pens, which have become essentially painless due to the size of the needles, etc." . . .

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5176120

[FloridaJudy]

31. I googled "Exubera"

It's only been approved for Type 2 diabetics, alas. Most of the folks who require multiple injections daily are Type 1 diabetics who can't depend on Exubera alone for their insulin. Since it's possible to load two types of insulin in a single syringe, it would not really be an improvement to use the inhaler and still need to stick oneself - which is likely why it's not recommended for Type 1 diabetes.

Too bad. But this really is a exciting advance for those who can use it.

[GenDem]

8. Holy shit

I honestly didn't know that it was that intensive.

I'm sorry you have to go through this every day.

Stem cell research should be a top priority. This will change with a Democratic president.

[LeftyFingerPop]

10. God I sure hope so...

:hi:

[ThomCat]

11. I'm very sorry that you have to go through that.

A cure for diabetes would be a much, much better use of a few billion dollars than a month of this shit in Iraq. :(

:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

14. Thanks Thom...

I almost feel guilty bitching about it...but it's the routine that bothers me the most. Then there is this...I have to keep track of refills for 13 DIFFERENT drugs (23 pills total), syringes, pen needles, 2 types of insulin, byetta, test strips, lancets to poke fingers, alcohol swabs...and none of them are refillable at the same time. YIKES!!

The best to you Thom...and thanks :hug:

[Ellen Forradalom]

12. That sounds like a colossal pain in the ass.

No getting around it, needles just suck. Although jabbing yourself in the ass in public sounds like a good way to touch off an entertaining scene :-)

I have health issues that not everyone understands either. That part arguably sucks worse.

[LeftyFingerPop]

15. Ellen...

I'm very sorry for your health issues.

Here's what bothers me...if people can't see it, they don't think you are sick. That's what sucks. :hi:

[Ellen Forradalom]

19. I know just what you mean about the invisible part

That describes mental-health issues precisely. The twist there is that if you're acting funny, people just think you're being a jerk, not that there may be an illness involved.

I have bipolar disorder. It has plagued me for 30 years, but happily it is not bothering me too much these days. But damn, you really gotta stay on top of it. I manage well with medications and watching my lifestyle very carefully: healthy diet, very little alcohol, managing stress, exercise and sunshine, and trying not to let people get to me.

[LeftyFingerPop]

21. I hear ya Ellen...

and you have my empathy and understanding. :hug:

I have major depression (controlled well) as a direct result of the diabetes.

This has taught me to never take things at face value. I always try to put myself in the shoes of others to figure out if something may be going on with them to cause them to act a certain way.

One thing I have noticed...I think that people who have depression issues, bi-polar, etc...tend to be incredible people, because, in general, they can empathize with others.

Best wishes Ellen :hug:

[Ellen Forradalom]

24. Aw *blush*

It's all I can do most days to be decent. But thank you.

Keep scaring people with that needle! If you're gonna be stuck with needles for the rest of your life, may as well have a little fun with them.

[1gobluedem]

20. Oh, that sounds so awful

I feel so bad for you. Most people eat so mindlessly (and badly); I can't even fathom having to go through that routine every time. How lucky I am.

I have some physical issues that I have to explain from time to time but nothing like what you have to go through. I hope the pump is a viable option for you.

[LeftyFingerPop]

22. Thanks so much....

but I believe we all have our crosses to bear. I guess I'm lucky, because if it was not this...it would be something else...perhaps worse. :hi:

[nosillies]

25. I'm sorry you have to go through that

Having grown up with a good friend and a cousin in that situation, I've seen what you're going through. it's no way to live.

Let me say that the pump was life-changing for both of them.

I remember what my cousin used to say when she would look on the bright side (she's such an optimist). She was pleased that at a very young age, she learned how to take care of her health and listen to her body. She knows that as she ages, she has an advantage, because she knows better than most how to treat her temple.

Take care!

[LeftyFingerPop]

26. Thanks for that Amy...

:hi: :thumbsup:

[Parche]

27. PB

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

37. Thanks Parche...

:hug: :hug: :hug: :thumbsup: :hi:

[SPKrazy]

29. I know that must suck...

hopefully there might be some solutions in the pump or some other options that come along.

you're right though we spend so much money on defense of any kind and in Iraq it is just horrendous yet we spend pocket change in comparison on disease cures.

Had to protect 'merikuns from saddam so he wouldn't ever attack New York again :sarcasm:

or whatever the fucking lie of the week was/is about Iraq

:pals:

life man... people need ya.

:hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

38. Shit...I'll tell ya...

I'm not going to go down easy. I'm a fighter, I just like to bitch and moan. :rofl:

[FloridaJudy]

32. Damn.

Don't you sometimes feel like you need a degree in advanced math just to eat a friggin' meal? I'm not a diabetic, but I have lots of friends and relatives who are. "Sugar" sucks, big time.

[LeftyFingerPop]

39. Yep...It's a pain in the ass...

you have to count your carbs, figure out what daily stress is doing to your blood sugar, etc. Then, if you get sick with something else, forget it...it's like a horror show. :hi:

[lost-in-nj]

33. aw hon

It does sound like it sucks.....
I'm sorry

:hug: :hug:

and you know they will never find a cure for diabetes

or cancer....
to much money to be made....




lost

[LeftyFingerPop]

40. Thanks lost...

:hug: :hi:

[TOhioLiberal]

34. Hi philboy...

...it sucks to have to go through that. :hug::hug::hug: Take care of yourself, you're a good friend to a lot of people here (especially me!) :pals:

[LeftyFingerPop]

41. Such kind words TOL...

thank you. And I consider you to be a friend also. :hug: :hug: :hug:

[graywarrior]

35. Man, that has to be a pain in the arse.

Sorry, dude.

[LeftyFingerPop]

42. Thank you graywarrior

:hi:

[seemunkee]

36. I'm sorry

And to top it off prezident asshole won't fund stem cell research which could help find a cure for people like you.

My father was a diabetic who didn't take care of himself. He was an alcoholic whos kidneys quit on him. I don't know if the drugs and monitoring tools that are available today would have helped him but at least they are there for people who want to properly care for themselves.

After all that I hope you enjoyed your parfait.

[LeftyFingerPop]

43. Thanks a lot seemunkee...

I'm sorry about your dad. :hug:

[skater314159]

44. Man... sorry to hear that...

... but I am equally angry at the state of American Healthcare and Research.

I have PKU, RA and an Auto-Immune disorder... and thanks to BushCo I have seen my meds shoot up in price.

I have been on the same meds for the AutoImm disorder since I was 15 and started having real problems... now a typical flare will cost me tens of thousands of dollars - some of the injections I have to take are 600$ -1000$ a dose here in the US. That is just one medicine, one dose. If you can't afford it, you have to sign up for "clinical trials" and be a guinea pig for Big Pharm companies. The thing that sucks about trials is you don't know if you are getting the medicine, if you are getting a placebo, if the medicine they are trying is gonna help, or if the medicine is going to hurt you. I'd have better luck going to vegas and using a slot machine or throwing craps to determine my health care.

Anyone who has to be on chemo or be treated for chronic pain is totally screwed. Anyone who has a disesase where stem cell research or treatment may work is screwed. Anyone who can't afford or get coverage for Health Insurance is screwed. America is worse than a third-world nation in terms of medical care.

I am so angry that we spend billions and billions every day for a war, when people, Americans, are here DYING and SUFFERING... all for OIL.

Peace :hippie:

[LeftyFingerPop]

47. Damnit...I am so sorry to read about your situation...

:hug:

I share your fury at our health care system.

It's not a good feeling knowing that if I lost my insurance, I would be dead within a few months.

I know there are programs for the indigent, etc...but I take so much that I would never be able to properly coordinate the timely delivery of my meds.

I am familiar with the health care systems in both Canada and the United Kingdom...no comparison to here. These people do not have to worry about dying if they get sick.

My best wishes to you.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

45. What's not to enjoy about stabbing yourself in the gut???

Actually, there but for the grace of God go I. It runs in my family also- it managed to take my big brother from me when he was just 40. In my entire family, I'm the only one who does not have diabetes AT THIS TIME. Knock wood- for my sins I have a rather nasty form of arthritis, which also runs in my family, so while we are in different orbits the gravity seems to be much the same.

[LeftyFingerPop]

46. PNS...

thank you for posting this, and I am so sorry to read about your brother's early passing. :hug:

I am also sorry about your arthritis...I have some relatives that have it, and I know how painful it can be.

Now if I may offer some advice...I'm not sure of your age, but I am thankful that you do not have the diabetes. Since it runs in your family, do whatever you can now to fight it and stave it off...eat well and exercise.

Best wishes.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

48. I have in fact recently begun modifying my diet

My cholesterol was at 251 when it was checked recently. So I'm exploring some alternatives.

[LeftyFingerPop]

49. I wish you well with that. n/t