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--- Re: New to Diabetes--please help
(Sorry for top posting) Thanks to everyone for the input and suggestions. Big Thanks. To those who asked about her not having a computer, she's low income. Basically, can't afford one. Even if I could cobble together a 386 or something for her, I doubt she could afford the extra $20/month for aol... Turns out--she called me last night--she'd forgotten to take her pill. That was the cause of the dizzy-shaking (hypoglycmic?) episode. She did have her blood meter with her and checked herself. Yep, low. But I am still worried as she doesn't seem to be taking the bull by the horns here. I am going to print out all the suggestions culled from the 3 diabetes groups and see if I can't manage to get her involved with a another support group locally. Funny thing is, I don't even know her that well, just feel so sorry for her in her isolation and denial... Thanks again--these are great groups--and I'll be in touch. ;-) In article Mack > On Thu, 14 Aug 2003 01:57:36 GMT, Lisa > > >I'm writing for a co-worker friend of mine who is new to Diabetes and > >doesn't own a computer. Bear with me, since I know little about the > >disease and she seems to know even less... > > You are not the first person to do this for a diabetic friend who does > not have their access to the net. Post away and take your time. ASD > specifically welcomes people exactly in yours and her situation. > Suggestion, if she has access to a public library she may be able to > get here on her own simply by using the library computer's web browser > and reading this and other groups through http://www.google.com . If > not and even if she does, please continue to post and learn. > > > > >Today "Jane" had a breakdown at work, where she was shaking and > >nauseous, and started crying. Our boss let her go home, we got her OJ > >and stuff so she felt good enough to leave. > > Rule number one, she needs to bring her BG meter with her to work and > test while there. If at any time she "feels" like she is low aka hypO > (short for hypoglycemic) she needs to test right then. Treating a > hypo is best done in a controlled manner by ingesting 15 grams of fast > carbs and testing again every 15 minutes until the BG is above 80 > mg/dl on the meter. a half cup of OJ at 15 minutes later a BG test > and repeat if necessary. There are also glucose tabs and glucose gel > that can be purchased from any pharmacy, cheaply, over the counter. > Table sugar mixed in any fluid, or regular soda will work just as well > too. > > Exercise after a hypo is not recommended, like walking to the bus > stop. It could put her at risk of another hypo but this time without > help from you and her coworkers. > > I understand the embarrassment, all diabetics do. However, once the > BG is normalized, unless there was a fall and injury because of the > hypo, she should not make it a habit of leaving work. Severe, > unconscious hypos should be treated by EMTs and if the doc at the ER > recommends it through the EMTs, she should go to the hospital.(This is > for severe hypos) > > She doesn't drive, so it > >wasn't a concern that she'd be unable or unsafe to drive. (she busses) > >She was involved with a local support group, but because she doesn't > >have a car and no computer, she feels very isolated and alone. She is > >not coping very well right now, and told me "I just don't want this--I > >don't want to deal with it."(not sounding very healthy or smart to me, > >but she is very fragile right now.) > > if this was a diabetic support group, through her doctor's office or > local hospital she should get the phone numbers of the members of the > group and USE those numbers. Being a part of support group means that > you want help and in return are willing to give help when you can. > No-one can give if they are not called. Giving in this case could be > as simple as a ride to the meetings, someone to talk with on the phone > for a few minutes or more, or someone to come over and help with > learning how to prepare a proper meal or just someone to hang out with > and talk about anything "other" than diabetes. Believe it, diabetics > who support each other don't always talk about diabetes. > > > > >Details: she was DX a year ago, started on injectable insulin (Lamsent? > >sounded like thats what she said), > more likely Lantus. > > > then went to pills to be taken with > >each meal, and within the last month or so, the Dr put her on a 1x daily > >pill (Gluberite, 2.5mg). She is 37, the diabetes is hereditary in her > >family, she is not overweight and seems in normal health otherwise. > > > >Obviously, the pill isn't working or she's not eating right or > >something. She is going back to her doctor on Friday. She doesn't want > >the injectable insulin, which is just awful and terrfying for her. > > it may be that the pills or the dosage is not working or the diet or a > combination of both, or she may simply be too stressed out. or all > three. we'd need a hell of a lot more info but a good starting point > are these questions: > > Exactly what meds and how much of each and what time are these meds > taken? > > type and frequency of exercise. > > what and how much foods are being eaten through out the day. when are > meals and snacks taken. (need to be honest and frank with this) both > in the questions and the answers. > > Even though she is not over weight, we still need to know her weight. > There are basic guidelines we need to start with as far as our eating > habits go which are based on weight and age. > > keep an accurate record of all the above on a daily basis as well as > sick days, stress levels, arguments etc and make the doctor review the > data. If the doctor is a qualified endocrinologist he/she will > greatly appreciate the extra data. > > > > >Does anyone have any suggestions for her? Better coping/managemnet > >skills, books, support info, dietary recommendations..anything? It's > >really hard with her not on a computer and no car, but I'd like to be > >able to help her take better control of this thing and learn to deal > >with it better. Obviously, with so many people having diabetes, there > >have to answers out there... > > > "Diabetes for Dummies" is a popular book amongst readers here. Others > will post books specific to type 2 diabetics. > > > > >Thanks SO MUCH for your time, > > > >Lisa (and Jane.) > > > Some of the ladies here may be willing to use the regular mail and > become pen pals with Jane. If so do NOT share the snail mail > addresses in the groups, contact the ladies via email for that info. > > Mack > Type 1 since 1975 > http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org > http://www.insulin-pumpers.org > > In tribute to the United States of America and the State > of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and > terrorism.
In misc.health.diabetes Lisa [snip] >Turns out--she called me last night--she'd forgotten to take her pill. >That was the cause of the dizzy-shaking (hypoglycmic?) episode. She did >have her blood meter with her and checked herself. Yep, low. That doesn't make sense. I suspect the problem was she didn't EAT. >But I am still worried as she doesn't seem to be taking the bull by the >horns here. I am going to print out all the suggestions culled from the >3 diabetes groups and see if I can't manage to get her involved with a >another support group locally. Good for you. She definitely needs to get empowered around her disease. Priscilla
> > > > > >Today "Jane" had a breakdown at work, where she was shaking and > > >nauseous, and started crying. Our boss let her go home, we got her > > OJ >and stuff so she felt good enough to leave. > > > > Rule number one, she needs to bring her BG meter with her to work > > and test while there. If at any time she "feels" like she is low > > aka hypO (short for hypoglycemic) she needs to test right then. > > Treating a hypo is best done in a controlled manner by ingesting 15 > > grams of fast carbs and testing again every 15 minutes until the BG > > is above 80 mg/dl on the meter. a half cup of OJ at 15 minutes > > later a BG test and repeat if necessary. There are also glucose > > tabs and glucose gel that can be purchased from any pharmacy, > > cheaply, over the counter. Table sugar mixed in any fluid, or > > regular soda will work just as well too. > > > > Exercise after a hypo is not recommended, like walking to the bus > > stop. It could put her at risk of another hypo but this time > > without help from you and her coworkers. > > > > I understand the embarrassment, all diabetics do. However, once the > > BG is normalized, unless there was a fall and injury because of the > > hypo, she should not make it a habit of leaving work. Severe, > > unconscious hypos should be treated by EMTs and if the doc at the ER > > recommends it through the EMTs, she should go to the hospital.(This > > is for severe hypos) > > > > She doesn't drive, so it > > >wasn't a concern that she'd be unable or unsafe to drive. (she > > busses) >She was involved with a local support group, but because > > she doesn't >have a car and no computer, she feels very isolated > > and alone. She is >not coping very well right now, and told me "I > > just don't want this--I >don't want to deal with it."(not sounding > > very healthy or smart to me, >but she is very fragile right now.) > > > > if this was a diabetic support group, through her doctor's office or > > local hospital she should get the phone numbers of the members of > > the group and USE those numbers. Being a part of support group > > means that you want help and in return are willing to give help > > when you can. No-one can give if they are not called. Giving in > > this case could be as simple as a ride to the meetings, someone to > > talk with on the phone for a few minutes or more, or someone to > > come over and help with learning how to prepare a proper meal or > > just someone to hang out with and talk about anything "other" than > > diabetes. Believe it, diabetics who support each other don't > > always talk about diabetes. > > > > > > > >Details: she was DX a year ago, started on injectable insulin > > (Lamsent? >sounded like thats what she said), > > more likely Lantus. > > > > > then went to pills to be taken with > > >each meal, and within the last month or so, the Dr put her on a 1x > > daily >pill (Gluberite, 2.5mg). She is 37, the diabetes is > > hereditary in her >family, she is not overweight and seems in > > normal health otherwise. > > > >Obviously, the pill isn't working or she's not eating right or > > >something. She is going back to her doctor on Friday. She doesn't > > want >the injectable insulin, which is just awful and terrfying for > > her. > > > > it may be that the pills or the dosage is not working or the diet > > or a combination of both, or she may simply be too stressed out. > > or all three. we'd need a hell of a lot more info but a good > > starting point are these questions: > > > > Exactly what meds and how much of each and what time are these meds > > taken? > > > > type and frequency of exercise. > > > > what and how much foods are being eaten through out the day. when > > are meals and snacks taken. (need to be honest and frank with > > this) both in the questions and the answers. > > > > Even though she is not over weight, we still need to know her > > weight. There are basic guidelines we need to start with as far as > > our eating habits go which are based on weight and age. > > > > keep an accurate record of all the above on a daily basis as well > > as sick days, stress levels, arguments etc and make the doctor > > review the data. If the doctor is a qualified endocrinologist > > he/she will greatly appreciate the extra data. > > > > > > > >Does anyone have any suggestions for her? Better coping/managemnet > > >skills, books, support info, dietary recommendations..anything? > > It's >really hard with her not on a computer and no car, but I'd > > like to be >able to help her take better control of this thing and > > learn to deal >with it better. Obviously, with so many people > > having diabetes, there >have to answers out there... > > > > > > "Diabetes for Dummies" is a popular book amongst readers here. > > Others will post books specific to type 2 diabetics. > > > > > > > >Thanks SO MUCH for your time, > > > > > >Lisa (and Jane.) > > > > > > Some of the ladies here may be willing to use the regular mail and > > become pen pals with Jane. If so do NOT share the snail mail > > addresses in the groups, contact the ladies via email for that info. > > > > Mack > > Type 1 since 1975 > > http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org > > http://www.insulin-pumpers.org > > > > In tribute to the United States of America and the State > > of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife > > and terrorism.
On Wed, 20 Aug 2003 04:31:30 GMT, "Jesse Spencer" uh Jesse? did you forget to include your comments? Mack Type 1 since 1975 http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org http://www.insulin-pumpers.org In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and terrorism. >> > > >> > >Today "Jane" had a breakdown at work, where she was shaking and >> > >nauseous, and started crying. Our boss let her go home, we got her >> > OJ >and stuff so she felt good enough to leave. >> > >> > Rule number one, she needs to bring her BG meter with her to work >> > and test while there. If at any time she "feels" like she is low >> > aka hypO (short for hypoglycemic) she needs to test right then. >> > Treating a hypo is best done in a controlled manner by ingesting 15 >> > grams of fast carbs and testing again every 15 minutes until the BG >> > is above 80 mg/dl on the meter. a half cup of OJ at 15 minutes >> > later a BG test and repeat if necessary. There are also glucose >> > tabs and glucose gel that can be purchased from any pharmacy, >> > cheaply, over the counter. Table sugar mixed in any fluid, or >> > regular soda will work just as well too. >> > >> > Exercise after a hypo is not recommended, like walking to the bus >> > stop. It could put her at risk of another hypo but this time >> > without help from you and her coworkers. >> > >> > I understand the embarrassment, all diabetics do. However, once the >> > BG is normalized, unless there was a fall and injury because of the >> > hypo, she should not make it a habit of leaving work. Severe, >> > unconscious hypos should be treated by EMTs and if the doc at the ER >> > recommends it through the EMTs, she should go to the hospital.(This >> > is for severe hypos) >> > >> > She doesn't drive, so it >> > >wasn't a concern that she'd be unable or unsafe to drive. (she >> > busses) >She was involved with a local support group, but because >> > she doesn't >have a car and no computer, she feels very isolated >> > and alone. She is >not coping very well right now, and told me "I >> > just don't want this--I >don't want to deal with it."(not sounding >> > very healthy or smart to me, >but she is very fragile right now.) >> > >> > if this was a diabetic support group, through her doctor's office or >> > local hospital she should get the phone numbers of the members of >> > the group and USE those numbers. Being a part of support group >> > means that you want help and in return are willing to give help >> > when you can. No-one can give if they are not called. Giving in >> > this case could be as simple as a ride to the meetings, someone to >> > talk with on the phone for a few minutes or more, or someone to >> > come over and help with learning how to prepare a proper meal or >> > just someone to hang out with and talk about anything "other" than >> > diabetes. Believe it, diabetics who support each other don't >> > always talk about diabetes. >> > >> > > >> > >Details: she was DX a year ago, started on injectable insulin >> > (Lamsent? >sounded like thats what she said), >> > more likely Lantus. >> > >> > > then went to pills to be taken with >> > >each meal, and within the last month or so, the Dr put her on a 1x >> > daily >pill (Gluberite, 2.5mg). She is 37, the diabetes is >> > hereditary in her >family, she is not overweight and seems in >> > normal health otherwise. > >> > >Obviously, the pill isn't working or she's not eating right or >> > >something. She is going back to her doctor on Friday. She doesn't >> > want >the injectable insulin, which is just awful and terrfying for >> > her. >> > >> > it may be that the pills or the dosage is not working or the diet >> > or a combination of both, or she may simply be too stressed out. >> > or all three. we'd need a hell of a lot more info but a good >> > starting point are these questions: >> > >> > Exactly what meds and how much of each and what time are these meds >> > taken? >> > >> > type and frequency of exercise. >> > >> > what and how much foods are being eaten through out the day. when >> > are meals and snacks taken. (need to be honest and frank with >> > this) both in the questions and the answers. >> > >> > Even though she is not over weight, we still need to know her >> > weight. There are basic guidelines we need to start with as far as >> > our eating habits go which are based on weight and age. >> > >> > keep an accurate record of all the above on a daily basis as well >> > as sick days, stress levels, arguments etc and make the doctor >> > review the data. If the doctor is a qualified endocrinologist >> > he/she will greatly appreciate the extra data. >> > >> > > >> > >Does anyone have any suggestions for her? Better coping/managemnet >> > >skills, books, support info, dietary recommendations..anything? >> > It's >really hard with her not on a computer and no car, but I'd >> > like to be >able to help her take better control of this thing and >> > learn to deal >with it better. Obviously, with so many people >> > having diabetes, there >have to answers out there... >> > >> > >> > "Diabetes for Dummies" is a popular book amongst readers here. >> > Others will post books specific to type 2 diabetics. >> > >> > > >> > >Thanks SO MUCH for your time, >> > > >> > >Lisa (and Jane.) >> > >> > >> > Some of the ladies here may be willing to use the regular mail and >> > become pen pals with Jane. If so do NOT share the snail mail >> > addresses in the groups, contact the ladies via email for that info. >> > >> > Mack >> > Type 1 since 1975 >> > http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org >> > http://www.insulin-pumpers.org >> > >> > In tribute to the United States of America and the State >> > of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife >> > and terrorism. 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