Thursday, February 9, 2012

I was diagnosed a diabetic (type 2) July 2009

Since then, this life has been a roller coaster ride. The first year and a half were okay.  I took my medicine diligently, still read labels and counted grams of sugar.  I was even turned down for a Diabetes study because my A1C level was a 6.9 and it had to be a 7.0!  Go figure.  A month after that my life started to shift. All of the sudden it was out of control- my life and my sugars.  I started having horrible intense indescribable pain in my stomach area. At the time I was in Anatomy & Physiology 1 and all about the case studies.  So I did one on myself and was right, unfortunately; it was Gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis is a fancy word for "hey!  you know your stomach won't empty foods right?" or "it will be a few hours, we are backed up going into your small intestine!".  It is most common with diabetics and is when your Vagus nerve has had too much sugar and stops responding to your bodies commands.

Needless to say, my sugars were way out of wack after that.  I went all the way up to an A1C of 10.4  in 6 months, yes, I said 6 months. After that i spent most of 2011 being sick and having sugars between 300 and 450.  Nothing has been controlling them. I was put on insulin and gained 39 pounds.  Took myself off of it(told the doctor I was doing this against their recommendation) and lost 13 of the pounds already.  I think my insulin resistance has an adverse effect to insulin.

More to come later!

Thanks again for reading,

Kiki


please feel free to share your own stories, that is what this site is for!  

8 comments:

  1. My name is Paula. I went to school with your friend Jackie. She was in my sister class and I was in her brothers class. I've had diabetes now for 8 years. I've been on the roller coaster for all these years. I take the insulin 60mg @ night and 25 in the morning. I take Beyeta 10mg in the morning AND Metforman 1000mg twice a day! Still no control. I now suffer from neurapthy (or how ever you spell it) I went on the internet and looked up things to help with sugars. I have been on for 2 weeks Alpha Lipoic 400mg a day & B12 5000mg. It is a over the counter, I got it at Walmart. My sugars have been doing alot better. I just thought I would share this with you. Keep up the fight! I look foward to reading more from you! Paula

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  2. Hi Paula,

    First of all, thank you so much for responding to my blog. It is so appreciated!

    Secondly, I just want to say how sorry I am that you have been having so many problems. And to remind you that you aren't alone. :) When I read how much insulin you are taking every evening, and then in the morning I wondered which insulin you are on. Do you feel comfortable revealing which one? I've been doing a lot of research on insulin the last month or so but especially the last week after the scare a few days ago.

    I am like you on Met 1000 x 2 a day. But they wouldn't put me on Byetta because of my gastroparesis. It is similar to Januvia in slowing your stomach emptying. I have neuropathy also, my feet are my mini sugar monitors. LOL. I laugh because if not, I'll cry.

    I haven't tried the Alpha Lipoic or B12 but I will definitely ask my doc about them both next appt. I'm really happy to hear about your sugar numbers doing better. Thanks so much for sharing and definitely let me know how you are doing! You keep fighting too! We need to fight this together!

    Kiki

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  3. Kiki,

    Another day. The insulin I take is the Lantus Solostar 5x3ML. On the notes for my insurance it also includes Insulin Glagine INJ 100units/ml. I also have a one that I use during the day if I feel funny and my sugars are high, I have a sliding scale I use and have what is called the Novalog Quick acting insulin. That helps alot when I feel really out of wack and I start to feel real sleepy I'll check it and usually I need a shot. The Novalog you don't have to keep cool, I cary it with me in my handbag. It takes about 10 - 15 min. and I'm feeling better. With the neuropathy at night it bothers me alot, when I put my feet up streched out on the bed they hurt real bad sometimes and I can't stop shaking my feel just to give them some comfort, My Dr has given me a mild pain pill to take when I can't deal with it much. But I've been doing better this past week. I go back to the dr in a couple of weeks and I hope the A1C comes back better. This week I have woke up everyday taking my sugars and they have bee GREAT! Anywhere from 88 - 110... That is a major feat for me. Well good luck for now. Talk to you soon. Paula

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    1. Paula,

      Congratulations!!!!! I'm so excited to hear about your sugar levels! 88-110...wow, I know you must feel so good to see those #'s.

      So how is the Solostar? I was looking into that instead of the vial. I do have the Novolog pen, so far I like it. But I can already tell I'm starting to swell up. My ankles feel tight....

      I know what you mean about the neuropathy. It hurts so bad, I would love a pain pill too. But pain pills stop your stomach from emptying so they won't give them to me. I'm stuck with Tylonel. Are you on any high blood pressure meds? Or triglyceride meds? They put me on h.b.pressure for my kidney health but my triglycerides are awful even though my total cholesterol is great...

      Thanks so much and good luck to you too,

      Kiki

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  4. After posting my comments, I saw at the bottom of the screen the ad for Gravity Defyer's. Have you tried them? I've had my pair for 9 months and love them... Just a little food for thought. They are a little heavy, but the spring in them helps with you walking so much.

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    1. NO I haven't tried them but I will def look into it..especially with you saying that they are great.

      :)

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  5. Hi! Just taking a minute to say hello and let you know I'll be around! I'm no stranger to type 2 diabetes (mother, husband, brother) and I am proud of you for finding such a positive and creative way to deal with this disease...you are a fighter!
    Robin

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    1. HI Robin! I'm so glad that you came on and read the blog. It really means so much to me. I hope that I will have a huge following one day, that will help not only the diabetics but the family/friend members. I know that it surrounds you(Hi! Steve!) and it is so stressful.

      And as far as being proud of me, thank you so much, it means the world to me that you are. I will always try to live up to that! I didn't realize that you left this comment and I was actually talking to mom about you today...I was telling her that you are wonderful person and so dear to me, I wish you two could meet. I think you both would hit it off.. :)

      Always fighting!

      Kiki

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