I Think I'm Allergic To Insulin

[thestrangequark]

You mean it's not gonna' be cured in four years!?! Arrrgh!

Or four years ago?

I hate to sound like a conspiracy guy, but I honestly don't believe a cure will come anytime soon, if at all. There are multi-billion dollar corporate empires that exist solely on the production and supply of diabetic care. They're not gonna' let anyone put them out of business.

Besides, our disease is considered "manageable."

Actually, I agree completely. In fact, I've read a fair amount of empirical research on the subject, and type 1 diabetes has already been cured! Mice, rats, rhesus monkeys, have all been cured of the disease. I am nothing if not a skeptic, but I strongly believe that a cure for diabetes is being held back because of corporate greed.

However, a couple of points of progress keep me hopeful. One is the identification of a specific virus that seems to be the "trigger illness" in most individuals who develop type 1. There is currently an effort being made to develop a vaccine to this virus, the administration of which could at the very least delay the onset of type 1 diabetes.
Another point of hope, though a terribly cynical one, is the continuing rise in the numbers of people with type 2 diabetes. Those of us with type 1 make up a swiftly shrinking minority of all diabetics, and so long as people continue to get fatter, eat poor diets, and exercise less, the numbers of type 2-ers will continue to rise (though, not all people develop type 2 because of poor habits, there is a genetic component -- just saying because some one got annoyed with me once for stating that type 2 is predominantly caused by poor health habits). So long as type 2 is around, the supplies folks can keep making their profits and they won't need us.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Poor tsq. I'm glad that insulin allergy is treatable, at least, but it's ridiculous that you have to wait so long for an appointment with an endocrinologist.

 

[Emher]

Don't know how I managed to miss this thread until now, but suffice to say that sucks like the vacuum of space in cas of a hull breach tsq Hope you get it under control.

 

[captcalhoun]

What kind of stupid system is that?.

US health care?

 

[Gryffindorian]

Aye.

 

[thestrangequark]

An update!

I FINALLY saw the doctor. She said that an insulin allergy is very possible, but even more likely, when taking into account my other symptoms, is a thyroid condition. She said a problem with my thyroid would explain my (now 11 lb since July) weight gain despite an extremely low calorie diet and plenty of exercise. It wold explain the dizziness I experience when rising, which is very annoying as I work with young children and crouch a lot to speak to them on their level. It would explain my heart palpitations despite a clean echo and resting heartrate of 50. It would explain the constant leg pain I've experienced and my general exhaustion. It fits too with the fact that my grandfather had both juvenile diabetes and a thyroid condition.

I had my blood drawn yesterday, and will see the doctor again January 8th -- it's a while to wait but that's what happens when you can't get insurance. I really hope that it's a treatable thyroid problem. I can't remember the last time I felt well, and I am so tired of the pain and discomfort!

 

[Robert Maxwell]

At least if it's a thyroid problem, they have drugs for that, and they work pretty well!

Certainly sounds better than an insulin allergy.

Thanks for the update! I hope you get this sorted out soon and start feeling better.

 

[RoJoHen]

At least if it's a thyroid problem, they have drugs for that, and they work pretty well!

Because everybody loves paying out of pocket for yet another prescription!

 

[Robert Maxwell]

At least if it's a thyroid problem, they have drugs for that, and they work pretty well!

Because everybody loves paying out of pocket for yet another prescription!

Well, yeah, that part sucks. But feeling better > disposable income? Hopefully...

 

[RoJoHen]

At least if it's a thyroid problem, they have drugs for that, and they work pretty well!

Because everybody loves paying out of pocket for yet another prescription!

Well, yeah, that part sucks. But feeling better > disposable income? Hopefully...

Hopefully, indeed. Up until a few months ago, I didn't have insurance. Then in November I got strep throat and went to the doctor. If I hadn't had insurance, it would have cost be about $1,800!

I can't imagine the cost of having a continuing condition that requires frequent trips to the doctor and a constant supply of meds.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Because everybody loves paying out of pocket for yet another prescription!

Well, yeah, that part sucks. But feeling better > disposable income? Hopefully...

Hopefully, indeed. Up until a few months ago, I didn't have insurance. Then in November I got strep throat and went to the doctor. If I hadn't had insurance, it would have cost be about $1,800!

I can't imagine the cost of having a continuing condition that requires frequent trips to the doctor and a constant supply of meds.

I've gotten to learn the joys of what "out-of-network" means with my insurance. I pay an arm and a leg for it, but if you go out-of-network, which my family has to because no one in in the surrounding counties takes my insurance, it costs a fucking fortune.

Luckily, a nearby office is hiring a new doctor in January, and said office is in-network, so they'll finally be able to get in.

But I pay an absurd amount of money for this insurance, and if you go out-of-network the deductible gets multiplied by 8, and they pay for nothing until you reach it.

How people with chronic conditions survive without insurance, I have no idea. It must be awful.

 

[RoJoHen]

I am actually on my mom's insurance (Illinois changed the laws, and now you can stay on your parents insurance until you're 26 whether you're a student or not), but hers is the same way. Luckily, her network is very large.

 

[Amaris]

It does suck to be diabetic and have HBP without insurance. My general practitioner helps me out as much as possible, but most of my money goes to my medications. God forbid I go to the hospital.

J.

 

[thestrangequark]

How people with chronic conditions survive without insurance, I have no idea. It must be awful.

I support a public option, and am hopeful that we will still see one in America someday soon. Until then there are programs out there that help, but they don't help much. I found a program that allows artists to trade artwork, performances, and service to the hospital for medical treatment and prescriptions. Before I found this program 17% of my income went to prescriptions alone.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I can't remember the last time I felt well, and I am so tired of the pain and discomfort!

This makes me sad. I hope this is a condition that is readily diagnosed, and easily and affordably treated.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I've gotten to learn the joys of what "out-of-network" means with my insurance. I pay an arm and a leg for it, but if you go out-of-network, which my family has to because no one in in the surrounding counties takes my insurance, it costs a fucking fortune.

Have you consulted with your insurance company about this? If there are no suitable in-network providers in the area, we pay at the in-network level. Of course, we're a non-profit, so we often do things differently than other companies.

 

[Trekker4747]

How people with chronic conditions survive without insurance, I have no idea. It must be awful.

I support a public option, and am hopeful that we will still see one in America someday soon. Until then there are programs out there that help, but they don't help much. I found a program that allows artists to trade artwork, performances, and service to the hospital for medical treatment and prescriptions. Before I found this program 17% of my income went to prescriptions alone.

TSQ, your problems are shining example of what's wrong with the health-care system in our country. You should hunt-down Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, and all of the Republican members of Congress and scream in their face about yout situation. As you're just one example of millions who are struggling to afford to just live.

That there's people like you who have a good percentage of their income going to medicines and other treatments to just ensure their own body does do them makes me so angry I'm sitting here clenched in anger. It shouldn't be like this. You, and others like you, shouldn't have to struggle to keep their own pancreas and thryoid from killing them.

I wish you the best of health, the best of luck and most of all a Merry Christmas.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

This is a strange thing to say, but I am glad you have a thyroid condition TSQ. At least that sounds much better than the old alternative.

FWIW I haven't had insurance in awhile and I have Type 2 diabetes. I guess I am lucky that I was able to find a free clinic in my area that I get all my meds from. There are programs that are sponsored by the drug companies themselves that will provide medications to uninsured and low-income people. Anybody who has chronic conditions that need maintenance should at least check into county health services and local free clinics. They may be able to set you up with these programs.

BTW to all diabetics on the board I am curious if anyone has tried the diabetes program developed by Richard Bernstein. He is an MD with Type 1 diabetes who pioneered blood glucose monitoring. The program is very strict, but is supposed to work wonders.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

How people with chronic conditions survive without insurance, I have no idea. It must be awful.

I support a public option, and am hopeful that we will still see one in America someday soon. Until then there are programs out there that help, but they don't help much. I found a program that allows artists to trade artwork, performances, and service to the hospital for medical treatment and prescriptions. Before I found this program 17% of my income went to prescriptions alone.

I support a public option, too, because while I can afford insurance, I've known way too many people who can't get any insurance at all. People like you, who have conditions that no insurer wants to touch. What are you supposed to do, just lay down and die? It sickens me that anyone finds this state of affairs acceptable.

It does suck to be diabetic and have HBP without insurance. My general practitioner helps me out as much as possible, but most of my money goes to my medications. God forbid I go to the hospital.

J.

Yeah, I was listening to the NPR the other day, and they had a quick little bit about someone who went to the ER for something that turned out to be minor. The treatment? A bag of ice. The bill? $1800. God bless America.

I've gotten to learn the joys of what "out-of-network" means with my insurance. I pay an arm and a leg for it, but if you go out-of-network, which my family has to because no one in in the surrounding counties takes my insurance, it costs a fucking fortune.

Have you consulted with your insurance company about this? If there are no suitable in-network providers in the area, we pay at the in-network level. Of course, we're a non-profit, so we often do things differently than other companies.

Yeah, I have. It's HealthNet. They don't care. They're ranked the worst insurer in the country, and now I know why. But most of the people at my job are single and don't have kids, so they go with the HSA option. HSA is simply worthless to me. I'd have to pay what I'm paying now and throw money into an HSA account every month. I cannot afford to do so. And the out-of-network penalties for the HSA option are even worse...

 

[Kestra]

Before I found this program 17% of my income went to prescriptions alone.

I have insurance and a huge part of my income goes to prescriptions alone. It's ridiculous. If half of my family weren't doctors, I'd be screwed.