Dusty The Diabetic

[Sector 7]

Take care and follow doctor's orders, Dusty! You can do it.

I have always wondered exactly how people discover their diabetes. Do they just eat one too many cookies one day and then fall to the floor?

I found out I was Type 2 diabetic while I had a respiratory infection. (I have fibromyalgia so such infections are common.) After taking the medicine I became even more sick. The Physician's Assistant said, "It's not the medicine. You're diabetic", and walked out of the room. After finding a decent doctor, I went to a class to make sure I had the latest information, then started the process of managing my diabetes.

I worked very long hours combined with a 75 mile driving commute (each way). To stay alert, I was drinking several Mountain Dews per day. This eventually pushed me over the edge into Type 2 diabetes. I was at high risk for diabetes because two of my grandparents and both parents are diabetic... it was just a matter of time. I am the oldest of 8 children (7 of whom lived to adulthood), yet I am the only diabetic among them... lucky me.

 

[sojourner]

^Diabetes is not hereditary. In fact, all they can really say is "it just happens" .

 

[Holdfast]

^Diabetes is not hereditary. In fact, all they can really say is "it just happens" .

Untrue.

Both type I and type II have genetic components, type II moreso.

And even disregarding the genetic component, there are a number of environmental lifestyle risk factors also associated with developing type II, so it certainly does not "just happen" with no explanation.

Type II has a multifactorial aetiology with a number of contributing risk factors, each of which has a different degree of relevance to a given individual.

 

[sojourner]

That's what the doctors told me. I am the first in my family to develop any form of it, and I have type 1. Discovered at the age of 35.

 

[Holdfast]

That's what the doctors told me.

Are you sure they didn't mean that they can't tell you what caused it for you, rather than what causes it in general terms? There's a huge difference between the two concepts.

On a population level, developing Type I is thought to be multifactorial, with about 20 genes implicated and several different potential environmental risk factors have been suggested so far, including several types of viral infection.

Translating those potential and interacting risk factors on a population level down to what caused it for you is a whole other kettle of fish, and currently impossible to do. That's probably what they were trying to convey to you.

 

[thestrangequark]

When I was first diagnosed with type 1 my doctors told me that both parents have to carry genes for it. My grandfather on my mother's side has type 1 and so does a cousin of my dad's. My sister (9 at the time) was given a genetic test to see if she'd be likely to develop it, and my nephew who is now 18 months was given a genetic test as well.

On a population level, developing Type I is thought to be multifactorial, with about 20 genes implicated and several different potential environmental risk factors have been suggested so far, including several types of viral infection.

I read an interesting article on the BBC website several months ago about a sort of roundabout vaccine for type 1. It was found that 70% of children with type one had been ill with the same virus prior to diagnosis, so by developing a vaccine against that virus doctors hope to prevent or at least delay some cases of type 1.

 

[Holdfast]

When I was first diagnosed with type 1 my doctors told me that both parents have to carry genes for it. My grandfather on my mother's side has type 1 and so does a cousin of my dad's. My sister (9 at the time) was given a genetic test to see if she'd be likely to develop it, and my nephew who is now 18 months was given a genetic test as well.

On a population level, developing Type I is thought to be multifactorial, with about 20 genes implicated and several different potential environmental risk factors have been suggested so far, including several types of viral infection.

I read an interesting article on the BBC website several months ago about a sort of roundabout vaccine for type 1. It was found that 70% of children with type one had been ill with the same virus prior to diagnosis, so by developing a vaccine against that virus doctors hope to prevent or at least delay some cases of type 1.

Interesting!

It's been a long time since I did my clinical training (and of course, I've forgotten lots of it since, 'cos I didn't go anywhere near endocrine work afterwards) so I'm not remotely familiar with the latest research in the field. I assume they must be trying to target one of the enteric viruses, like Coxsackie. I don't think a vaccine exists at the moment for it (though as I say, I'm totally out of the loop on the latest news).

 

[RoJoHen]

That's what the doctors told me. I am the first in my family to develop any form of it, and I have type 1. Discovered at the age of 35.

Just because it wasn't hereditary for you doesn't mean it can't be hereditary for others.

 

[sojourner]

^That's not what I said. I was told it's not hereditary.

 

[Mary Ann]

^That's not what I said. I was told it's not hereditary.

I was in the opposite situation, where the diabetic nurse refused to believe me when I told her that no-one else in my family suffers from any type of diabetes with the exception of a old great-aunt who developed it in her 80s. The nurse actually told me that my family knowledge must be wrong.

 

[RoJoHen]

^That's not what I said. I was told it's not hereditary.

Well, you were told wrong.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Dusty, sending you well wishes. I hope you feel better soon.
My dad was insulin diabetic for over 40 years. It will take some adjustment to your diet and exercise but you'll be ok. I know it isn't easy, but as long as you listen to your doctors you should be just fine. I'm sending you lots of {{{squishy hugs}}}!

 

[Dusty Ayres]

I worked very long hours combined with a 75 mile driving commute (each way). To stay alert, I was drinking several Mountain Dews per day. This eventually pushed me over the edge into Type 2 diabetes. I was at high risk for diabetes because two of my grandparents and both parents are diabetic... it was just a matter of time. I am the oldest of 8 children (7 of whom lived to adulthood), yet I am the only diabetic among them... lucky me.

I too went off the wagon as far as pop and food was concerned ( I should have been drinking diet pop all this time and dieting) and I also have distant relations on my mom's side who had the big D as well. My mom warned me about this, but I didn't listen, like a big fracking idiot.

Now, my life has changed; according to the nutritionist, I must eat small portions, can't drink juice as much, and must be physically active. So far this week, the diabetic instructor has shown me how to handle my insulin, and I think that I've got the hang of it so far; it's the dieting that's going to be the problem.

But, I must get the hang of it, for my sake.

And yes, just like you, I'm the only diabetic out of three kids...amazing how life can go.

Dusty, sending you well wishes. I hope you feel better soon.
My dad was insulin diabetic for over 40 years. It will take some adjustment to your diet and exercise but you'll be ok. I know it isn't easy, but as long as you listen to your doctors you should be just fine. I'm sending you lots of {{{squishy hugs}}}!

Thanks again!!!! Sending some back! {{{squsihy hugs}}}

 

[thestrangequark]

^Dusty, have you been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2?

Dieting might not be as hard as you think, you just need to learn how different things affect your blood sugar. Firstly, I would recommend NOT drinking diet soda. It's horrible for you in other ways. Try soda sweetened with stevia instead.

If you like large portions you can fill up on things that don't contribute too many calories and don't affect your blood sugar. Non-starchy veggies, lean meats, low-fat cheeses, etc. And no matter what anyone says, don't completely abstain from the things you like -- let yourself have an occasional treat. One of the great things about modern insulin is that it can be very fast-acting, which allows for that chocolate bar or piece of cake every so often.

 

[TrickyDickie]

Here's hoping that you will be able to do well on a medication other than insulin, or that if insulin is necessary you will do well on it.

My dad had a heart attack in May of 1971, when I was 4, due to Diabetes that he was not aware he had.

Early on, he was treated with oral medication. It was a drug called Orinase back at that time. In the early 1980's his Diabetes got worse (Diabetic Retinopathy caused him to go legally blind in 1982) and he had to start taking insulin.

Insulin made from beef and pork was not a perfect treatment, but for my dad it made the disease reasonably manageable.

Everything changed for the worse when they stopped making that kind of insulin and started making Humulin. That is made by manipulating a benign form of e. coli bacteria, according to the insert in the package.

For my dad, Humulin was a disaster. No matter how many minute adjustments were made to the dosage, you just could not regulate the disease anywhere near as well on that stuff. Lows were lower and highs were higher and there was a lot of back and forth.

Diabetes can affect mood to begin with. Well, I am here to tell you that on Humulin my dad's moods fluctuated drastically....to the point where one minute he would be completely normal and the next minute he would say that he wanted me dead. For someone who thought the world of his parents, that was the ultimate nightmare for me. And it went on that way for years. My mom was forced to get a divorce and move away, because she just couldn't take the verbal abuse any longer that came from it.

When my dad passed away, in November of 2004, it was from complications of Diabetes that can be linked directly to that forced change in insulin.

And the legacy lingers on: potential employers hold it against me that I took care of my dad for years and didn't hold a regular job.

It is articles like this that I despise:

http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/110/19341/beef-pork

Oh sure, don't blame the insulin.

Bullshit. I know better. I was there for all of what happened every day.

I don't want to scare anybody. I just hope that anyone with the disease does not have to go through the kind of mood swings that my dad did.

 

[Sector 7]

^That's not what I said. I was told it's not hereditary.

If that is what your doctor told you (assuming you remember it correctly), then you need to find a new doctor. Hopefully you will find a doctor who has a better understanding of diabetes.

I worked very long hours combined with a 75 mile driving commute (each way). To stay alert, I was drinking several Mountain Dews per day. This eventually pushed me over the edge into Type 2 diabetes. I was at high risk for diabetes because two of my grandparents and both parents are diabetic... it was just a matter of time. I am the oldest of 8 children (7 of whom lived to adulthood), yet I am the only diabetic among them... lucky me.

I too went off the wagon as far as pop and food was concerned ( I should have been drinking diet pop all this time and dieting) and I also have distant relations on my mom's side who had the big D as well. My mom warned me about this, but I didn't listen, like a big fracking idiot.

Now, my life has changed; according to the nutritionist, I must eat small portions, can't drink juice as much, and must be physically active. So far this week, the diabetic instructor has shown me how to handle my insulin, and I think that I've got the hang of it so far; it's the dieting that's going to be the problem.

But, I must get the hang of it, for my sake.

And yes, just like you, I'm the only diabetic out of three kids...amazing how life can go.

I have fibromyalgia which means always exhausted anyway, plus the schedule I was keeping back then did not help. The caffeine which would normally give most people too much energy... brings my energy level up to normal. I thought it was helping, but obviously not.

It is not an easy thing to change your eating habits. One thing I have learned is that it takes about 3 weeks to establish new eating habits and tastes. Most people try diet drinks a couple of times and, because it tastes different, give up on it. If they try, for example, Diet Coke, it will taste different at first, but after 3 weeks of sticking with it... regular Coke will taste strange to you. [This is also why most dieters fail. They don't give their body time to acclimate to the new tastes of their diet food.]

Also, when you want something to munch on... get used to carrot and celery sticks! They will fill you up AND are good for you, too! Now that I am used to it, I'd rather have celery with peanut butter than chips or candy. Peanut butter is the secret weapon! Something about it helps level your sugar. Also, cinnamon helps your body metabolize sugar and helps level out those peaks of high- and low-blood sugar levels. I buy cinnamon capsules and take them every day.

 

[thestrangequark]

^I'd never heard that about cinnamon, interesting! I'm going to have to read up on it. Do you know of any studies displaying this effect?

Carrots and celery are a good snack, but I do find that carrots have an effect on my blood sugar, and usually reserve them for an exercise snack.

I still say that the aspartame in Diet Coke is too nasty to risk on a regular basis. Zevia is a good diet soda sweetened with stevia, which is not only natural and healthful, but increases insulin sensitivity and has been used for centuries as a traditional treatment for type 2 diabetes.

 

[Marc]

I was diagnosed with Type II in April last year age 38. My new doctor was getting bloods run for baseline and they'd shown an abnormally high blood sugar levels (stress and illness can contribute to it - I'd been fighting a cold combined with the sudden death of a close friend). Go into the doctor and she tells me I have diabetes.

So it's metaformin 3x a day but at this point in time I'm not self testing but the doctor and the local diabetes clinic are fine with that. Though on the subject of self testing, I saw an ad on a tv broadcast for a blood sugar level meter that doesn't require the figure prick - does anyone have any idea of the one I'm talking about?

Now blood sugar levels (as well as cholesterol) are now under control. I've lost 12 pounds in 8 months which my doctor is happy with as long with more excersize (going to the gym).

No family history but my mum once commented my dad was borderline (and I got his damn blood pressure issues).

Though I do know once person who's type II and her father was type 1. She's in her early 60s and has problems with her legs do the impact on the diabetes on her blood vesels which limits her walking ability but her father didn't have that problem.

 

[thestrangequark]

So it's metaformin 3x a day but at this point in time I'm not self testing but the doctor and the local diabetes clinic are fine with that. Though on the subject of self testing, I saw an ad on a tv broadcast for a blood sugar level meter that doesn't require the figure prick - does anyone have any idea of the one I'm talking about?

I've not pricked my fingers in 6 years. Many meters these days require a small enough amount of blood to be sampled from the arm. I prick my forearm, and it's usually completely painless.

 

[sojourner]

^The finger prick has never bothered me at all. Also, I use the Insulin Pens, so dosing does not hurt at all. (the needle is _so_ small!) I never liked the idea of the insulin pumps. Just something about having the thing semi-permanently attached that I don't like.

As far as Soda goes. Coke Zero has been a god send! Now if they just had Mr. Pibb Zero in my state!