need a diabetic penpal

[yoshi]

I'm looking for a an email penpal who's a diabetic (doesn't matter what type). I'm a T2 on insulin, Amaryl and Metformin. I'm trying to follow a reduced-carb program (60 to 75). Gender and age aren't important to me. In case they're important to anyone wishing to respond, I'm a 51-year-old female. I would like to communicate with someone by email or snail mail who shares the common ground of being a diabetic -- to share the ups and downs, frustrations and milestones, laughter and tears -- to encourage and motivate one another. If you also want to be an accountability buddy for weigh-ins, food journals and exercise motivation, that would be great, too. PM me with your email address (or physical address for snail mail).

I would welcome any penpal, diabetic or not. It's just that by trying to control my diabetes, it has taken control of every aspect of my life. Maybe if I was more seasoned, it wouldn't have so much control. My non-diabetic friends and I don't have very much in common anymore, and we've drifted apart. I feel isolated by this disease and very much alone most of the time, which is why I'm needing to interact with others like me.

[Pcola Girl]

Just wanted to say hi. I was just diognois with diabeties also and was put on a pill a day for it, am not sure what the name of it is unless I go look at it on my prescription bottle. I was shocked I had it because I take my finger prick everyday and it runs about 104 in the mornings and up to 110 in the evening but my doctor said my blood work is saying I am diabetic because of some point system and mine was 6. something..I do not quite understand how it all works so I plan to do some research on diabeties and find out. I just found out this yesterday when I seen my doctor. I don't want to be on medication for diabetes if I don't need to be. It just seems that my sugar readings are not that high. I just thought they needed to be real high in order to have diabeties.
I have alot of weight to lose so I am cutting back on carbs and following Akins. I know it will take a while to lose it because I am not very active anymore due to arthritis in my knees real bad.
I stay home alot and I know how you feel about getting lonely, I do to. Thats one reason why I play here on my computer so much. I have made some nice friends here. I try to do some hobbies but even that gets boring after awhile when you have no one to chat with and have coffee with.

Will try to come back tomorrow, hope you are here to.

[yoshi]

Hi, Mary. Thanks for responding.

My understanding is the A1C test (that's the blood test your doctor was probably referring to) is more accurate in determining how well your blood glucose is being controlled than sticking your finger before meals or at bedtime. I used to do my sticks just before meals and bed and thought I was doing okay. But after you eat, your glucose level rises. For some people, it peaks at 1 hour. For others, it may be 2 hours. Mine appears to peak at 2 hours, but can still be too high at 3 hours. Because I was waiting 4 to 5 hours to have my next meal and do the next test, I wasn't seeing how high my numbers were going after meals, which means the combination of meds I'm taking isn't working the way it should. The A1C test picks up on the highs you aren't even aware of.

Like I said, I used to test only before meals and before bed. Somehow, even if it was subconsciously, I was trying to manipulate my readings so they would look good. When my current doctor said I should be testing between meals, too, I thought "why bother?" I was doing everything right -- following my diet, taking my meds, exercising, etc. My numbers looked good, so why rock the boat? Because I don't like my doctor (he's a jerk, but I'm stuck with him, for now), I decided to do some in-between meal testing, partly to prove to him I had everything under control, but also because I'd noticed all of my readings were a bit higher than before and I wanted to get it under control before I went back to see him. At first, the in-between numbers were a little high, but not above my target. Then, 2 days ago, I tested 2 1/2 hours after dinner and got a 187. Tonight, I tested 3 hours after dinner and got a 167. I'm not pleased with it. I already take a shot every night before bed of long-acting insulin (Lantus). I'm supposed to take rapid-acting insulin (Novolog) if my reading is above 150. These are the first readings I've had over 150 in over 3 months. So, both of those numbers required I give myself an extra shot, and I absolutely hate giving myself shots.

I used to be terribly phobic of needles. I couldn't even watch someone pretending to give a shot on a TV show (still can't). What's funny about that is when I was a kid, I used to help my grandmother give herself shots. I think it was hormone shots. She developed diabetes and had to give herself insulin, but that was later when I was in my late teens. Anyway, from the time I was a kid, I wanted to be a nurse. I started nursing school a year after graduating from high school. I didn't even get through the first year. I was okay until I had a panic attack, or something like it, while trying to insert a needle into a man's arm to draw blood. After that, I would get light-headed and pass out whenever I was around needles. For a long time afterward, I would pass out while having blood drawn for a blood test, if more than one vial was taken.

Several months ago, I realized my blood glucose levels had spiraled out of control and that my oral meds were no longer working. I kept putting off going to the doctor for one reason or another. I think I was afraid the doctor would put me on insulin, and the worst thing I could imagine was having to give myself shots. The second worst thing I could imagine was being sick and in the hospital and not being able to work (I have no insurance and no paid leave). Well, three months ago, both things happened. I ended up in the hospital with an abscessed gall bladder, which had spread to part of my liver, and blood glucose readings of 300. I left the hospital 8 days later, minus my gall bladder and part of my liver, and giving myself up to 5 shots per day. By then, the shots and needles didn't bother me as much as they used to. My first night in the hospital, the lab people drew 18 vials of blood for blood cultures to see how well the IV antibiotics were working to curtail the infection. The vials were small, but they still required 18 sticks. My poor arm got so sore, they had to start taking it from the back of my hand, which hurts a lot more. Somehow, that cured me of my phobia. I don't like giving myself shots, but I can do it, without passing out, I might add.

Sorry to have gotten so far off track (I do that a lot). Anyway, I go for my blood test next week. I'm not looking forward to the results. Hang in there. I can't say for sure that it gets better. I haven't gotten to the "better" stage, yet, but I'm working at trying to get there.

Lynette

[Pcola Girl]

I am real concerned about ever having to go on insulin shots. I had ratehr keep on my pills if I can help it. Thats one reason why I am so serious about losing all this weight I have on me. My friend lost alot of weight a few years back and they took her off her shots of insulin because her diabeties was doing so good. So losing weight does help it alot.
I see my doctor again in October and I have to have more blood work to in October before I go back to see him so I am hoping all will be ok.
I am new at all the diabetic terms, thats why I was not sure what that blood test for diabeties was called. Guess I will have to learn them now.

Will get back Monday, we stay busy on the week-ends. Take care of yourself ok. See ya Monday.

[December]

I also have diabetes type 2 for over 12 years now. It is tough but I lost quite a bit of weight about a year ago or so. I found with the weight loss my sugar was not as high, and I wasn't dieting . Just going threw terrible stress.
I have 33 lbs to lose now have lost 1 so far but I wasn't following induction to the T and I am finding you need to do that. I am in ketosis so I was happy to see that. It gave me encouragement.

Good luck to you and you can do this.

[Pcola Girl]

Just wanted to see how you are doing Lynette and December.
I am having alot of trouble with getting up at night time to go to the bath room. My doctor said it was the diabeties causing it but still wants me to take my pill everynight. But for the last five nights I have gotton up every hour to pee and I am not getting much sleep because of it. I am beginning to feel dyhydrated some now and dizzy so I have a call in to my doctor now and waiting for them to call me back.
I know feeling like this is not right.
Have you ever gone through this same problem with your diabeties?
I am newly dignois with it so all this is new to me.
I am just worried it may be worse than I had thought. I was trying not to have to go on injections for it if I can help it.

You all have a great New Year ok...We will be staying home to babysit our two grand children so our daughter can go out with friends.
We never go out on New Years much anyway now that we are older.

[yoshi]

Hi, Mary.

I got both of your cards. Sorry I haven't responded by snail mail or email. The last few months have been rough, and I'm horrible at procrastinating when it comes to sharing and letter-writing during the hard times. Most of the time, it's after things happen and I've passed through the fire before I feel like talking about it. There's been a whole lot of fire in our lives this past year.

I got very sick again, this time trying to follow a low carb diet. There are foods I used to be able to eat that I can no longer tolerate. I've had to cut out most animal protein, fats, dairy and some vegetables from my diet and add beans, peas, fruit and whole grains back in. I've had to increase the insulin because I'm taking in more carbs, but it beats having constant digestive problems by eating low carb foods I'm not able to digest. I don't think it's all because of my gall bladder being removed. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the infecton that spread through my body from the rupture and the heavy-duty antibiotics I was on for 3 weeks. Whatever the cause, I've had to shift my entire concept of what's good and bad food-wise.

I know the thought of going on insulin is scary. I felt scared and like a failure when I had to start taking it. Now, I understand it's benefits. I still don't like giving myself shots, but I feel better and sleep better (I take it at night before bed) taking it. Trust me. If you have to start taking it, don't think of it as a "bad' thing.

Take care and have a wonderful New Year. I can't promise, but I'll try to get something out to you in snail-mail soon.

Lynette

[Pcola Girl]

Lynette, I understand about not getting the cards out, thats ok. I got mine out because I have so much free time on my hands that I like to keep busy doing things so I won't get bored.
I don't get out much as I would like to anymore due to my bad knees and just feeling tired so much.
I feel like I may have to go on insulin one of these days so I will try hard not to be scared of it. I do know alot of people who use it.

I am trying to re-do induction again because I messed up so bad during the Holidays and I am feeling the tireness of it to and I have not been sleeping well either. I keep check on my sugar and its always under 120 and sometimes down to 100. But I am still getting up at night to go to the bathroom really alot.
I have cut out some of my liquids during the day to see if it would help any so tonight I will see. I would love to sleep all night without getting up.

Do you have much weight to lose? I have so much I don't think I will ever lose it all.
Hate myself for ever allowing myself to get this big in the first place.

Take care and have a great new year and I will check back in later with you.

[Pcola Girl]

Yoshi, just wanted to see how you were doing today.

[yoshi]

Hi, Mary. Thanks for staying in touch with me, even though I'm not good at responding. Just knowing someone cares about me means a lot right now. I'm not in a very good place and haven't been for a while.

I felt good after my surgery, but I guess it was from the absence of the infection that I hadn't been able to fight any longer. A couple of months ago, I started reacting to foods I used to be able to eat when I still had my gall bladder. I pretty much have to limit animal protein, cheese and other dairy products, all fats and oils, soy products and most spices. It doesn't leave a whole lot to eat that's appetizing and makes it impossible to follow any kind of low carb diet plan.

I have about 80 pounds left to lose. My doctor keeps dropping hints that I should stop taking my insulin and diabetic medication in order to lose weight. He doesn't come right out and say it, but he brings up the subject every time I see him. He claims that's how they treated overweight diabetics 20 years ago and maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to try that kind of treatment again. He's such a jerk and very unsupportive. I can't talk to him about anything. He can be very condescending and sarcastic. I go to him only because I can't afford to go anywhere else. I'm at the point of deciding not to go to him or any doctor anymore, and when my prescriptions run out, that's it for the meds. Money is so tight anyway, and every month it's a major struggle to acquire the medicine and testing supplies I need.

Yeah, I'm depressed. I know God cares, but it's hard to see it through the gloom I feel 24/7. Last year was such a harsh year for us. Actually, the past 4 years have been hard, each year getting harder until last year, which was absolutely the worst. I keep hoping and praying this year will be better. Thanks for listening to my whining.

Lynette

[sfmama123]

Hi Everyone,

I'm finally starting to post on this site after lurking mostly. I was diagnosed with diabetes during my pregnancy and was insulin dependent, then diagnosed type II after. It's scary and it stinks, but it is something that is manageable. I firmly believe that any form of exercise, done daily for at least 15 minutes, greatly helps our blood sugars. Even a slow walk helps, in addition to diet of course. I take no meds now, and my a1c is 5.5, from lowcarb and exercise. I hope I can keep it this way, and I'd love to be a support to you and anyone else who is going through what we are. I hope that this New Year brings great blessings and health for all of us. Take care!

[Pcola Girl]

Yoshi, hope you are doing ok today, wanted to check in with you thats all.

December, how are you doing today to?

Sfmama123, nice to have you here with us to.

It seems like alot of people these days have diabeties, maybe its because we are over weight. I just found out that I had it and it scares me. My doctor said losing weigh will help it so thats what I am working on to do. Right now I am on pills for it but I was told if it get worse I amy have to go on the shots and I don't want that.
Do all of you take shots for your diabeties?

Sfmama I try to get some form of exercise to most everyday. I do swim and do water aerobics with a group at a Aquatic center and thats been alot of fun.
I have some major health problems with arthritis of my spine and also in my knees so exercise is limited for me right now except for the water ones.

Will check back in tomorrow soeat right and lose some of this weight.............

[Pcola Girl]

Hi everyone, just wanted to see how you are doing today.
I am resting my old knees as usual, Have my appt. with my doctor on the 22nd. to talk with him to see if he wants to do surgery on them or not.
Not looking forward to that all all.

My sugar was down to 100 this morning so thats good. I have really been watching it so I won't have to go on any medication for it.
Trying to eat right to so maybe thats whats helping it.

[sfmama123]

Hi Peeps,

Just stopping by to say hi. My fastings are around 100-great for me, since I've got the dawn phenomenon. After eating, got down to 85-super! Average around 100, tight control. How's everyone else doing?

[Pcola Girl]

I am staying around 100 also with my readings.

[Pcola Girl]

Where is everyone? Miss you all, come back and post more often and let me know how you are doing.