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Group admin:: bjkiah
Created:: November 23, 2007
: 39 Members

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Health, Diabetes

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Diabetes as a Chronic Illness

Posted: Feb 2, 08 10:59am

As we Age...we also acquire other problems..besides high blood pressure..vision problems...cataracts...glaucoma...joint pain..diverticulitis...Cardiac...feet and back problems..but if you have Diabetes...it will cause all of these other problems to burden you more......so deciding what to treat first is a problem you with the problems need to decide........but Diabetes exacerbates all of these problems .

We all do the BEST we can with all of our physical problems...and me having Diabetes now for 35 years is no different than anyone else out there......I am now 65 and have a host of other medical problems...but know if I take care of my Diabetes which does the most damage internally to me...I will help control my other medical problems.....the Golden Years are not Golden for a lot of us...but needn't be AWFUL...either.

Fingerstick blood sugar testing can be difficult for some...make sure you use ultra fine lancets...and wash your hands under fairly warm water....brings blood to the finger tips...and most glucometers now ...need very little blood...but 2X a day is the minimum testing one can do for good information for your Diabetes Team or you to tell how your Blood Sugars are doing..although Diabetics who have flucuating Blood sugars need to test more often till we can help them get theirs under better control....everyone should have a Blood sugar range your M.D is striving for you to keep your blood sugars at....although I have had patients doing global testing when they do not get enough strips from their insurer....A1c only tells us your average readings..for 3 months....good but not good enough...to maintain good health.

Fingertip testing is better for us older diabetics...because off site testing may not be as acurate as we need it to be...your M.D or CDE can help you there.....You are the only one who can help control Diabetes...your Diabetes....Good luck to you all...

Janeece.

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Diabetes, taking care.

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3 Comments // 3 Members

gayle

Posted: Feb 2, 08 12:25pm

Janeece wrote:

As we Age...we also acquire other problems..besides high blood pressure..vision problems...cataracts...glaucoma...joint ...

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vwomack

Posted: Feb 2, 08 1:51pm

gayle wrote:

Janeece

I apologize for getting angry with you, and am sorry if I offended you, on the other post but I would like to...

Gayle--I was the one who posted the comment about people who can't be bothered to monitor their blood glucoses. My thoughts (and anger) are directed to those people, mostly Type 2, who don't understand how relatively simple it is compared to the inaccurate and messy urine tests that we used to use when I was coming along. I'm a 45-year case, and it was wonderful to finally have a way to know what was going on with my BG.

I hate to hear somebody whining about having to stick their fingers or take shots because it's inconvenient and a nuisance. These issues are really minor for those of us who understand what diabetes is and does to us.

I lost an aunt and a cousin, both type 2, who chose not to do the drill and died at 50 and 42, respectively.

But I can see and sympathize with your personal situation. I read your post in the discussion of chronic illness and pain, and it struck me that everything you are suffering from, including Diabetes, is some form of debilitating auto-immune disease. It sounds as if you're battling your whole immune system

From your description, you are doing the best you can in adifficult, exhausting and painful situation. You are not a non-compliant patient or a person too lazy and arrogant to be bothered with taking care of yourself.

I am so sorry that my post upset you, because I'm sure the last thing you need to manage your health situation (mine, too) is stress.

I hope you understand that you, or that person with Cancer, connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia, lupus or MS--among other things--are not the people I'm referring to.

I can't umderstand why those same people who just won't choose to do the simpler things that will prolong their lives and enhance the quality of life, would do ANYTHING if they were diagnosed with Cancer.

I'm not judging other patients on how they take care of themselves, but I'm damned angry at people who just refuse to do it. I've actually run into people who were hoping to get sick enough to draw disability...my endocrinologist won't treat anybody who won't do their part.

As for you, Gayle, continue to take care of yourself. One of the reasons I was interested in teebeedee is that I felt I would find other people trying to live "normal" lives in spite of physical suffering and limitations. Bless you and keep on keepin' on...

Gayle--I was the one who posted the comment about people who can't be bothered to monitor their blood glucoses. My thoughts (and anger) are directed to those people, mostly Type 2, who don't understand how relatively simple it is compared to the inaccurate and messy urine tests that we used to use when I was coming along. I'm a 45-year case, and it was wonderful to finally have a way to know what was going on with my BG. I hate to hear somebody whining about having to stick their fingers or take shots because it's inconvenient and a nuisance. These issues are really minor for those of us who understand what diabetes is and does to us. I lost an aunt and a cousin, both type 2, who chose not to do the drill and died at 50 and 42, respectively. But I can see and sympathize with your personal situation. I read your post in the discussion of chronic illness and pain, and it struck me that everything you are suffering from, including Diabetes, is some form of debilitating auto-immune disease. It sounds as if you're battling your whole immune system From your description, you are doing the best you can in adifficult, exhausting and painful situation. You are not a non-compliant patient or a person too lazy and arrogant to be bothered with taking care of yourself. I am so sorry that my post upset you, because I'm sure the last thing you need to manage your health situation (mine, too) is stress. I hope you understand that you, or that person with Cancer, connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia, lupus or MS--among other things--are not the people I'm referring to. I can't umderstand why those same people who just won't choose to do the simpler things that will prolong their lives and enhance the quality of life, would do ANYTHING if they were diagnosed with Cancer. I'm not judging other patients on how they take care of themselves, but I'm damned angry at people who just refuse to do it. I've actually run into people who were hoping to get sick enough to draw disability...my endocrinologist won't treat anybody who won't do their part. As for you, Gayle, continue to take care of yourself. One of the reasons I was interested in teebeedee is that I felt I would find other people trying to live "normal" lives in spite of physical suffering and limitations. Bless you and keep on keepin' on...

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Posted: Feb 2, 08 1:51pm

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Gayle--I was the one who posted the comment about people who can't be bothered to monitor their blood glucoses.  My thoughts (and anger) are directed to those people, mostly Type 2, who don't understand how relatively simple it is compared to the inaccurate and messy urine tests that we used to use when I was coming along.  I'm a 45-year case, and it was wonderful to finally have a way to know what was going on with my BG.

I hate to hear somebody whining about having to stick their fingers or take shots because it's inconvenient and a nuisance.  These issues are really minor for those of us who understand what diabetes is and does to us.

I lost an aunt and a cousin, both type 2, who chose not to do the drill and died at 50 and 42, respectively.

But I can see and sympathize with your personal situation.  I read your post in the discussion of chronic illness and pain, and it struck me that everything you are suffering from, including Diabetes, is some form of debilitating auto-immune disease.  It sounds as if you're battling your whole immune system

From your description, you are doing the best you can in adifficult, exhausting and painful situation.  You are not a non-compliant patient or a person too lazy and arrogant to be bothered with taking care of yourself.

I am so sorry that my post upset you, because I'm sure the last thing you need to manage your health situation (mine, too) is stress.

I hope you understand that you, or that person with Cancer, connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia, lupus or MS--among other things--are not the people I'm referring to.

I can't umderstand why those same people who just won't choose to do the simpler things that will prolong their lives and enhance the quality of life, would do ANYTHING if they were diagnosed with Cancer.

I'm not judging other patients on how they take care of themselves, but I'm damned angry at people who just refuse to do it. I've actually run into people who were hoping to get sick enough to draw disability...my endocrinologist won't treat anybody who won't do their part.

As for you, Gayle, continue to take care of yourself.  One of the reasons I was interested in teebeedee is that I felt I would find other people trying to live "normal" lives in spite of physical suffering and limitations.  Bless  you and keep on keepin' on...

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gayle

Posted: Feb 2, 08 2:02pm

gayle wrote:

Janeece

I apologize for getting angry with you, and am sorry if I offended you, on the other post but I would like to...

vwomack

Thank you for this post.

I was hurt because it was a very bad pain day, and yes I have a lot of auto-immune type illnesses, and have had a sinus infection, for over three years, that I have started another anti-biotic for, and may still require surgery for, and my father was suspected of having cancer, (and was diagnosed with it this Monday), so yes I am really stressed, so I really over reacted. I am sorry for that and apologize to you for my behaviour, it was unacceptable. I saw that it made you mad, and I thought how can she be mad when she doesn't know their story?

It really was all my fault, and not yours.

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