Newbie here…..
Hi all, my name is Cathy and I’ve just found out
(monday) that I have diabetes. I’m gonna warn ya now, this
message may be a little long I’ve got so much going on in
my head right now with all this mess. I honestly
kind of expected this to come, I had gestational
diabetes 3 yrs ago, and am also a third generation
diabetic, but I did not expect to be diagnosed at this
point in my life. I guess you could say I’m still in
the “shocked” mode. I went to the Dr. because I had a
sore throat (it turned out to be step) and when he
learned I had recently lost 50+ lbs without really
trying, they did a fasting fingerstick test, to my utter
shock, my BS level was a whopping 400. The doctor
ordered more blood work, and sent me home with a couple
of bottles of Glucotrol and told me to eat as good
of a diet as I could, he also said, my elevations
could be a result of the infection. I go back Monday to
get the results of my tests, and hopefully a better
plan of action. I’ve been watching what I eat (trying
to at least, I am a VERY picky eater and have a hard
time with many of the options) and I’ve been walking
daily, yet I have still been unable to get my readings
to go under 250, and that was fasting. I wasn’t told
to check my BS levels yet, but I took it upon myself
being as I had a glucometer from when I had the
Gestational Diabeasties (loved that term!) I chose to join
this club because after reading almost all of the
posts, you guys really seem to care about one another,
also just the name drew me in. I’ve been VERY
emotional this week, running the gammut from angry, scared,
depressed, and now that I think I MAY be coming to terms,
DETERMINED, that I will make it through and have a healthy
life. I will probably have tons of questions in the
next few weeks, so I hope you can handle me lol. I did
come across something today completely out of the
blue, that impressed me. While I was getting my taxes
done (procrastinator that I am) my preparer mentioned
that she is a diabetic, I told her I was newly
diagnosed, but could not get my BS levels in check and that
my fingers were killing me already from the
fingersticks. Well, lo and behold she whipped out her
glucometer its called a Freestyle, and said she doesnt even
have to stick her finger anymore, she does it in her
arm and it is painless, she even tested my BS, right
there in H&R Block! I’m telling you, if my insurance
doesn’t cover this machine, I am going to get one anyway,
it was COMPLETELY painless!!! I was wondering if any
of you use this and how acurate it seems to be
(unfortunately when she checked my BS, it was 392, that was
three hrs after breakfast and 40 minutes walking this
a.m.) Well, now that I’ve probably put you all into a
deep sleep, I guess I will conclude. Please bear with
me over the next few weeks, I may need all the
support I can get!!! Thanks for listening.<br
May 20th, 2004 at 10:51 am
Cathy, <br
belong to several diabetes clubs and this is the most
active with the most caring, helpful people. <br
am sorry to hear you have diabetes and are going
through all those emotional stages. I know exactly how
you feel. I was the same way when I got diagnosed. It
took longer for it to happen to me though because I
was trying to be strong since my mom was really upset
about it. After my family and friends adjusted to me
having it is when my emotions went haywire. I was just
diagnosed with type 1 almost a year ago. <br
have any questions, need any support, or just need to
talk, feel free to email me. Oh, and about your fasting
blood sugars still being high, it takes a little while
to get adjusted to the right dosage of medication
and let it take affect. It took me probably 4-6 weeks
after I was diagnosed to start maintaining tight
control. This may be longer than the usual adjustment time
because I was misdiagnosed as having type 2 at first and
was taking the pills that did nothing for me at all
(forgot what type). Anyway, I’m on 3 shots of insulin a
day now and doing good for the most part. I still
have some emotional roller coasters but I am glad to
have a disease that I can control.
May 31st, 2004 at 2:46 am
If they don’t cover the Freestyle, the Lifescan
ULTRA allows one to use their arms too. I have a
glucometer DEX and a vacuu-lance on which I use my palms. As
a guitarist, I don’t like using the fingertips
either.<br
that I think I’d fear for you if you weren’t feeling
them. They are the five stages of grief and we all have
gone through them in varying stages.<br
they took a c-peptide test on you, not knowing your
age or weight and such, this would tell them and you
if you actually may have to use insulin.<br
the H & R Block employee…. (evil giggle) we are
EVERYWHERE… we are taking over the world….LOL! At least 10^
of the population has diabetes. and 10% of that 10%
have type 1 (Insulin Dependant) diabetes. More common
than one thinks. Surprising we get such a small share
of research money in finding a cure,
huh?<br
know what you find out.<br
June 3rd, 2004 at 7:33 am
Dear Cat, I remember that feeling well!!! I had
gestational Diabeasties in 4 out of 5 pregnancies and 7
months after my youngest was born I got sicker than a
dog and after being sick for 6 weeks I was finally
diagnosed with diabetes, These feelings were scarey,
depressing and everything in between, But I learned to deal
with it one day at a time, and some days better than
others, but oh well at least all the people here are
dealing with the same stuff which certainly helps alot,
because we all understand and you can not beat a team
like that!!:) Deb C