I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Off-Topic => Diabetes => Topic started by: Sluff on October 24, 2007, 09:19:37 AM

Title: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on October 24, 2007, 09:19:37 AM
As most of you know I have diabetes TypeII. My Ac1 has been around 13 for a few years and in the past I have not been very compliant at taking my meds and insulin for one excuse or the other, sometimes unintentionally. Well I was at the doctors office today and they went way out of their way to help me out. I received a new glucose meter, test strips, Novalog (2 bottles) and my Lantus all free. They claim they had extras, I am so appreciative for this.  Livecam and goofynina have scolded me a time or two to get this under control, and this time I really will do my best.  I was in awe to get all these much needed items. I just had to share it with all of you.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: MyssAnne on October 24, 2007, 10:23:42 AM
It's easier to take control when the implementation is THERE. Good luck, Sluff!! You can do it!
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: okarol on October 24, 2007, 10:25:44 AM
My mom keeps a daily log of her sugar tests, 3 times a day, every day. It's a little notebook and she takes it with her for Dr. appts so they can track the effectiveness of her meds.
After seeing all the patients at Jennas dialysis clinic who are blind or missing limbs from diabetes, not to mention kidney failure, I feel very strongly about this!
I am so happy you are going to get more involved with taking care of yourself Sluff!
 :cuddle;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: thegrammalady on October 24, 2007, 10:39:27 AM
was that a diet pop you were drinking at dinner, hmmmmmmmmm? (you know i luv ya  :P)
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: paris on October 24, 2007, 11:37:02 AM
Good for you,Sluff!  We all want you to take very good care of yourself because we want you here for a long, long time!  Keep us updated on your numbers and how you are doing. Glad the doctor loaded you up with freebies.   :thumbup;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Joe Paul on October 24, 2007, 12:21:10 PM
 :thumbup; You can do it Sluff!!
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on October 24, 2007, 12:26:39 PM
was that a diet pop you were drinking at dinner, hmmmmmmmmm? (you know i luv ya  :P)


I couldn't live without my Diet Coke.  :lol;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: angela515 on October 24, 2007, 01:34:52 PM
I'm so happy to hear your going to try your best, we want you around for a long long time and off dialysis as long as possible.  :grouphug;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: goofynina on October 24, 2007, 06:11:38 PM
Allright Mr. Sluffman,  this is it, i am gonna be on you like white on rice my friend, your gonna get tired of me nagging you but i am going to ask you on a daily (or maybe even more) basis about your sugars and meds and such,  I (we) care too much about you to let you get sick, ok? ok!  Amigo, you were blessed with the tools to help you get better, it is up to YOU to use them.  You will be hearing from me very soon (ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE, IT'S ME) lol, ok, maybe not that soon, but i am gonna call you  ;)
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Chris on October 24, 2007, 06:38:17 PM
Good for you Sluff. Th sooner the better in controlling diabetes is essential. You have the tools and machice, so get crackin :lol; If you do not like to carry a log book around, there are fre programs online for keeping track of glucose reading. Some show charts and graphs of progress. Accu Check. LifeScan, Eli Lilly come to mind off the top of my head who offer free programs. Hopefully they went over carb countig, the sliding scale for readings and meals.
Good Luck
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: livecam on October 26, 2007, 11:39:53 AM
Ya know Sluff to use a term made popular by a guy I knew from Tennessee controlling diabetes "ain't no thing" especially when compared to dealing with the damage it does.  If I could go back in time I would have listened 25 years ago when a doc said I was "borderline" diabetic.  Now just what did that mean then?  Not much.  And then 12 1/2 years ago when I was diagnosed as diabetic after I couldn't shake a dose of bronchitis...should have listened then but did I?  Sort of is the answer.  Then when the first neph said adopt a low protein diet and control blood sugars better did I listen?  I was busy, no time for that.  Less than 18 months later dialysis and you know the rest of the story.

Moral of the story here is you have to do it and you can do it!  :thumbup;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on October 26, 2007, 01:22:28 PM
Thanks for all the advice, and goofynina enough with the phone calls 4 x a day geez... JK you know I like talking to ya. Truthfully everyone I felt a little foolish starting this thread but I thought if I made a more public post that it would help me stick with it. So far so good but my appetite has picked up and unfortunately so has my eating. I know I need to not eat as much but it's hard not to. My Doctor even told me I would gain weight but I really don't want to gain any weight.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: angela515 on October 26, 2007, 01:35:29 PM
but my appetite has picked up and unfortunately so has my eating. I know I need to not eat as much but it's hard not to. My Doctor even told me I would gain weight but I really don't want to gain any weight.

I understand this part 100%. I am not diabetic, but one of the side effects of Prograf AND Rapamune is increased appetite.... so.. I can eat, and of course.. I am gaining weight. One thing that helps me eat less, is drinking more water before I eat. I don't know if your on a fluid restriction yet, so maybe you could try that. Another thing that helps is I try to have a salad (healthy salad!!) with lunch and supper.. for me it's no problem, b/c I love salad.

Either way, we need to look at the positives... we either take the meds and have to kind of watch what eat since were wanting to eat more, or don't take the meds and reap the consequences... which are far worse than gaining some weight.  :thumbup;  :grouphug;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: goofynina on October 26, 2007, 01:49:43 PM
You know amigo, you can alway snack on celery and carrot sticks, there are good things out there for you to eat and will help supress your appetite a bit.  WE can do this together amigo,  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Romona on October 26, 2007, 02:09:05 PM
You've got a double whammy. The keeping your diabetes in control and protecting the function you have left of your kidneys. I don't have any advice, but I offer encouragement. Following any type of diet is frustrating. I followed low potasium, low salt, low protein, and low phophorous. If I food wasn't on one list it was on another. Good Luck.

http://whfoods.org/foodadvisor.php
This is a great site to tell you about foods! Best Wishes.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: kidney4traci on October 26, 2007, 02:31:38 PM
Try keeping cut veggies in a bowl with a little water in the fridge so they are immediately available.  Also, consider trading cokes for water or tea.  They lower your alkaline level to dangerous levels and the aspartime has been shown in studies to increase hunger!  You get fatter eating "diet" foods.  Stick with as close to "live foods".  Boring?  Not really, there are lots of spices we can have that help.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Chris on October 26, 2007, 04:54:53 PM
The advice I was given when I was diabetic was to eat snacks and smaller meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals. You just have to space them out, but requires stricter glucose testing and adjustments to insulin dose to the sliding scale if you are using that system of maintenance. Have you talked with a diabetic dietician about meal planning and insulin dosage?

Angela, I wish my Prograf gave me an appetite. I do not have one after my transplant, I miss it, but then again it saves money.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on October 26, 2007, 06:25:35 PM
Thanks everyone for the helpful information.     :thumbup;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: angela515 on October 26, 2007, 06:29:59 PM
Angela, I wish my Prograf gave me an appetite. I do not have one after my transplant, I miss it, but then again it saves money.

Well, like I said, my Rapamune has that side effect also, so it could be both doing it, or just one.. so it may just be the Rapamune.. who knows, as I don't plan on stopping one to find out.  :lol;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Black on October 26, 2007, 09:54:17 PM
Thanks for the post - nice to know there are still some docs that care and really try to help their patients.

Have you ever taken any brand of metformin (Glucophage, Diabex, Diaformin, Fortamet, Riomet, Glumetza, Cidophage)?  It works for many Type II diabetics and causes weight loss!  My mom's A1C stays around 5.8 - 6.0 and she lost quite a bit of weight the first year she was taking it.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: boxman55 on October 27, 2007, 01:53:48 PM
Sluff, don't ignore this. You know to many people who have, and now have missing limbs, poor or no eyesight, kidney failure and so on. I was like Livecam (ignored the symptoms and lax on the treatments)  and now I am paying the price. This disease will let you go along and along but then out of the blue SHIT hits the fan...Boxman
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: goofynina on October 27, 2007, 01:59:16 PM
Your not alone guys,  my motto is:  Denial got me to Dialysis  :oops;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Meinuk on October 27, 2007, 02:29:07 PM
Sluff,

I know that you are doing this for yourself & you family but you are also taking care of yourself for US too.  We need you as healthy as you can possibly be.  After all, your wedding was the coolest wedding I have ever been to!  And I get around!!

I am looking forward to sharing more good times with you & Christy.

Best,

Anna
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: okarol on November 04, 2007, 12:40:10 PM
How's it going Sluff?  :waving;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on November 04, 2007, 07:33:47 PM
Things are going well. I missed my first dose of Lantus Friday night because I was on the phone at the time I usually take it. I thought about it while I was on the phone but forgot when I got off the phone. My sugars are still upper 200's but I'm gradually upping the dose of lantus until we get a reading of 150 or less. After we reach that goal then we will adjust the novolog.

Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: okarol on November 04, 2007, 07:50:09 PM
 :thumbup; Keep it up!
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: goofynina on November 05, 2007, 12:17:10 AM
On the phone?  hmmmm, couldnt you have taken it when you got OFF the phone Mr.?? No excuses  >:(  ;)
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Ken Shelmerdine on November 05, 2007, 03:16:12 AM
Allright Mr. Sluffman,  this is it, i am gonna be on you like white on rice my friend, your gonna get tired of me nagging you but i am going to ask you on a daily (or maybe even more) basis about your sugars and meds and such,  I (we) care too much about you to let you get sick, ok? ok!  Amigo, you were blessed with the tools to help you get better, it is up to YOU to use them.  You will be hearing from me very soon (ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE, IT'S ME) lol, ok, maybe not that soon, but i am gonna call you  ;)

You Keep him under control Susie, we don't want him getting sick. Whip him if you have to. Lol
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on November 05, 2007, 04:01:34 AM
On the phone?  hmmmm, couldnt you have taken it when you got OFF the phone Mr.?? No excuses  >:(  ;)

Yeah I know but the person I was talking to never shuts up, I can tell him I have to go but he just keeps on talking, then he has me checking on websites and all that then I have to call him back and I just got distracted and forgot all about it because I couldn't wait to get to bed.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Amanda From OZ on November 11, 2007, 05:51:12 AM
Hope your looking after yourself..  ;) :)

 :cuddle;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on November 11, 2007, 01:12:03 PM
Things have been going well. Staying on a schedule is difficult but then I think of the members here that are on dialysis and I realize how simple I have it in comparison to them.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: paris on November 14, 2007, 08:51:32 PM
Hey Sluff, how are your numbers doing?  You know we all want you to take good care of yourself!   How is Christy?  Tell her "hi" for me.  You have to stay healthy so we can all get together again next year!
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on November 15, 2007, 04:04:46 AM
Still working on them paris. Thanks for asking, we should try and get together twice a year. Once on the eastern side of the US and then once in Vegas or Cali.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: thegrammalady on November 15, 2007, 07:12:54 AM
Things are going well. I missed my first dose of Lantus Friday night because I was on the phone at the time I usually take it. I thought about it while I was on the phone but forgot when I got off the phone. My sugars are still upper 200's but I'm gradually upping the dose of lantus until we get a reading of 150 or less. After we reach that goal then we will adjust the novolog.


???

i found myself missing doses of medication so since i'm never without my cell phone (even though none of you ever call, pooh!) i set the alarm on it to remind myself. it does work, haven't missed a dose in quite a while
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: paris on November 15, 2007, 12:42:24 PM
I am ready for another meet-up.  I will go anytime, anyplace!
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Bajanne on November 15, 2007, 09:35:28 PM
Things have been going well. Staying on a schedule is difficult but then I think of the members here that are on dialysis and I realize how simple I have it in comparison to them.
Like many others, in hindsight, we see how we could have avoided our present situation if we had been just a bit more compliant.  So, Sluff, we love you so much.  PLease care yourself.  You are not on dialysis yet.  Keep your diabetes under control, as well as your diet.
The diet coke contains lots of phosphorus, but I don't know if that is a problem for you right now.
Be careful with the glucophage, etc.  you should have regular kidney monitoring with these kinds of drugs.
Sluff, you have an entire international community rooting for you! :grouphug;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: paris on November 16, 2007, 09:58:09 AM
Bajanne said it so well.  We all love you and want you to have the absolute best health you can have.  So, if we keep bugging you, it is just because we care so much! :grouphug;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Sluff on October 28, 2008, 09:57:37 AM
update: 

BP readings have been around 160's over 86-98 which is still high but a lot better than what they used to be and no more consistent headaches.

BS readings have been anywhere from 136 - 180 again not perfect but a lot better than 400's.
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: okarol on October 28, 2008, 10:09:13 AM

 :thumbup; Progress is a good thing!

Take care of yourself my friend - we want you around for a long long time!  :waving;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Joe Paul on October 28, 2008, 03:27:53 PM
update: 

BP readings have been around 160's over 86-98 which is still high but a lot better than what they used to be and no more consistent headaches.

BS readings have been anywhere from 136 - 180 again not perfect but a lot better than 400's.
Not bad Sluff  :thumbup;
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: monrein on October 28, 2008, 03:32:15 PM
That's definitely the better direction for things to be going in.     :bunny:
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: pelagia on October 28, 2008, 07:23:41 PM
Take care of yourself Sluff.  You never know when I'll show up in Last Post Loves IHD and you need to be at the top of your game for that challenge.  :-*
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: jbeany on October 28, 2008, 10:52:22 PM
Much better numbers, sluff!  Keep it up!  :cheer:
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Romona on October 29, 2008, 02:00:14 PM
 :yahoo; We got to keep you around for a long time!
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Bajanne on December 15, 2008, 11:42:05 PM
Please update, Sluff!  How are you doing these days?
Title: Re: I'm really going to try this time.
Post by: Wenchie58 on January 11, 2009, 05:45:58 AM
I agree....enquiring minds and all!