O/T My apology for any Stupid Diabetic Tricks this AM.
If I have been blathering more than usual and making even less sense, I had a notable low BG episode this AM.
My BG got down to the mid 40s mg/dl. Not dangerous but low enough to cause some functional issues.
My appologies for anything untoward I may have said and hopefully it was nothing more than a bit of entertainment for the readers.
My little brother coined the phrase 'Stupid diabetic tricks' for my low BG antics episodes. He stole the title from David Letterman's 'Stupid Pet Tricks'.
Some of my more memorable events, though I remember nothing, were getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom then going to the kitchen for some OJ to raise my BG and standing there with the frige door open drinking OJ out of the carton while peeing in the frige.
Taking the garbage out apparently while my BG was extremely low. Similar scenario. Went to the frige for OJ, put the garbage in the frige.
Modern technology has for the most part stopped the risk of that severe of an event. Insulin pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors scream to high heaven when a precipitous drop or rise is happening.
My dad was pulled over by
My dad was pulled over by police. They tried to breathalyze him several times and he kept testing at zero blood alcohol. Cops were totally bewildered because my dad had the glossy eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. More and more police officers arrived. As I was driving, I see that a man pulled over and surrounded by several cops was my dad. I pulled over and found out how the the roadside alcohol screening device was used several times and it kept coming up as zero. The reason more cops arrived was to bring another ASD. All produced the result of zero blood aclohol level. I took one look at my dad and knew it was his blood sugar. He never looked after himself. He ate what we wanted, when he wanted and however much he wanted. I have kicked in his door several times to find him in diabetic comas. The man was totally hedonistic and never learned. Well, why should that day have been any different. I explained to the police that diabetics can appear drunk when their blood sugar goes wonkey and that's why they get a zero reading while my dad exhibits all the signs of an impaired driver. Well, he is impaired by not by alcohol. They let me put him in my car and take him home and they called a tow truck for my dad's car. I was thankful because the truth is my dad was impaired. He was not driving safely. Anyway, when my dad stabilized his blood sugar and was able to think clearly he handed me his keys and told me to sell his car. He took himself off the road. Other times it was saying dumb shit to people and me being embarrassed in public, but the drunk driving investigation was something else. It took us a while to laugh about that one.
It is scary. The few times I have been severly hypo while
driving I was scared not only for myself but for others. I have been able to pull over, park, and correct the low myself. In my 42 years as a T-1... and counting.... .I have had two incidents where I was so low that I was notably empaired. One when I was in my early 20s about 5-6yrs post T-1 Dx and one in 2019.
The challenge is that when closely managing BG and losing weight, I experience hurdle points in weight loss where I become far more sensitive to insulin. So, what would be a normal dose of insuling suddenly works far better than it may have been for moths or even years. That is what I think is happening now.
My BG is responding far more aggressively to insulin and my pump is taking a few days to adjust to the improved BG response to insulin. This is the third-ish round of this since I started the fat dump 7mos ago.
When I was far less well controlled I could function and correct BG lows down into the mid to high 20s. Now... If I am in the 40s, I get skitchy enough that I am impaired and need to correct. Though it does not sound like like it, this a good thing.
I get infuriated with people who do not effectively manage their disease. It is manageable. Which helps prevent the tragic outcomes that so many who are uncontrolled suffer. Blindness, amputations, automobile accidents, etc, etc, etc.....
That your dad came to the realization that he was a danger to himself and others speaks well of him.
That scary Rags, take care of
That scary Rags, take care of yourself!
Hey, Rags,
Hey, Rags,
I just finished a fascinating mystery called, ‘Blood Sugar’, by Sascha Rothchild, about a woman married to a T1 diabetic. Reading about the continuous watchfulness required by diabetics to maintain their health gave me a whole new outlook on that nasty disease.
I thought of you with a new respect regarding your determined efforts to control your symptoms. Hey, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
Thank you Gran.
When I was Dx'd one of my doctors while I was hospitalized for two weeks was a young Bangladeshi MD. During one of our discussions she told me that it used to be thought that to know Syphilis was to know medicine. At the time of my Dx, 1980, she told me that due to the impact that T-1 Diabetes has on nearly every system in the human body, that to know T-1 diabetes is to know medicine. Not sure if that is still the philosophy, but it made an impression on me when I was 16.
Yes, back in the days of animal insulins (beef, pork, and blend) 10 drop method urine glucose tests, etc.. managing the disease was a challenge. Meanwhile 4+ decades later and back at the ranch, closed loop pump/CGM systems and analog human RDNA synthesised insulins, managing the disease and avoiding the nightmare consequences of uncontrolled diabetes is entirely possible.
Though watching people scarf down on pizza, pasta, bread, pastries, sweets then hitting their insulin pump like a game controller... or worse... buying the crap that causes all of the risks for their T-1 child's life long health irks me beyond measure. Until a cure or genetic treatment is found, the disease can be managed. Though even with the amazing technologies, insulin introduced under the skin from a small tube is not as effective as insulin produced within the body of a non diabetic.
The simple truth is... carbs are poison and the kiss of blindnes, amputation, erectile disfunction, heart disease, and potentially even death for diabetics.
When my DW went low CHO with me, my ability to manage the disease improved dramatically and we both became much healthier... and much lighter.
All IMHO non medical professional opinion of course.
I am blessed that I won the parent lottery and that they immediately set the requirement that I manage my disease. Not that I haven't lost the plot a number of times over the decades. Though so far not for long enough to have caused myself harm..... hopefully anyway.
Scary stuff...
I was diagnosed a year ago with diabetes. They think it's T1, but still not sure. Go figure! I know all too well about the low blood glucose. It just happened a couple hours ago and it's very scary. I feel as if I will die. Take care of yourself, Rags!!!
This disease is entirely manageable.
Take care of yourself.
Are you seeing an Endocrinologist or working only with your PCP? If you are with your PCP, please find a reputable Endo practice to work with.
Whether you are T-1 or T-2, or both, which is really a thing, please consider this book (se below). It has been my go to management guide for this disease for 25+ years and provides a very solid understanding of the disease, how to manage it, and I have found has been a big tool for managing my diabetes management team. Not that I am a Doc. I am not, but, each of us is the expert in our disease and each of us knows our diabetes batter even than the Endo/management team. We live our disease 24/7. They do not.
Dr. Bernstein is a T-1 himself. Dx'd when he was 12yo. He is in his 80s. There are not many T-1 diabetics who were Dx'd as children who make it healthily into their 80s.
You can read excerpts from a number of the books chapters at the below site.
Take care of you.
Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution, low carbohydrate diet, control blood sugars (diabetes-book.com)
Thank you!!
Thank you, Rags, for your advice and I will try to buy the book. I am seeing an endocrinologist and she's really great. I am now switching my PCP because the clinic at our village is absolute garbage. The doctor I saw there told me to just eat well for a few months (get my sugar under control so I can have my back surgery) and then I can eat whatever I want. Figure a doctor telling a diabetic that piece of advice!
Anyway, I've only been living here three and a half years and don't know the system. My husband is so healthy (which I'm so grateful for) so he never goes to the doctor and has no clue how anything works. Sweden's healthcare is like an HMO and in decline but the wealthy municipalities have better everything. Little country villages like ours suffer from incompetent doctors, sadly. I am happy we can just switch until we find the right PCP. In our village I've never seen the same doctor twice and neither has my son. Now we are learning since I'm a bit compromised with my poor back and diabetes. I apologize to my amazing husband that he got a lemon, something that makes him sad and laugh at the same time. He says I'm not a lemon but a luxury car with a flat tire, so it's just a little burp that I'm troubled. I'm doing well with the control and I still keep myself like when we met seven years ago and that counts for something, lol!!
Im taking very good care of myself. You do the same! That low blood sugar is not pleasant!!!
I am so glad you are managing this disease.
I hope that you find the book to be a useful reference. It is my go to reference. As for Endocrinologists, I have had a couple who are truly outstanding. My current Endo is brilliant and a T-1 herself. Having someone who lives this disease 24/7 is a paradigm shift in care and partnership in managing my disease.
Keep up the great work.
Your DH is right. A classic with a flat tire is a classic none the less. I hope your back surgery gets you back in order.
Take care of you.
I found it!
I found the book on Amazon.se and ordered it!!! Thank you so much!!!!
Hey, HappyEOW,
Hey, HappyEOW,
I absolutely loved your husband’s supportive remark:
'He says I'm not a lemon but a luxury car with a flat tire, so it's just a little burp that I'm troubled.'
Yup, you married the type of man that I was able to 'secure' (as per Charlotte Lucas, 'Pride and Prejudice') with feminine wiles and great, good fortune. These fine fellows are not thick on the ground and should be valued accordingly. He’s a keeper!
Thank you!!
He really is an amazing man and he loves me maybe more than I deserve. After 17 years in an abusive marriage, I am the most blessed woman to have found him. I am happy you found an amazing man too!!!