Odds'n'Ends
This Discussion Forum is for almost any other diabetes-related topics that aren't covered by our existing Discussion Forums. I don't want stuff that's not related to diabetes, but just about any diabetes topic that's not covered by the other Discussion Forums will be okay here.
Notices to our new readers:
1) Inappropriate comments (for example, "I love vitamin Z -- it made my blood sugar miraculously return to normal") will be deleted without warning.
2) Also, the folks who are regular readers and writers about the new diabetes drug Byetta have developed all sorts of strange terms that you'll gradually come to know, including "lizard spit", "gillyspitkins", "lizard of Az", "yellow spit road", "little brother" and "big brother", "hug island", and lots more. I think I'll dedicate a new Discussion Forum soon to all this new lingo...3) Finally, you can still read many of the earlier comments, and search for information throughout those forums, by using your webbrowser's FIND or SEARCH feature while at the earlier forums, or by searching at the advanced search feature that is at the Diabetes Monitor.
Please review and follow our usual ground rules, at Ground Rules. (To share your thoughts, use the "Comments" link immediately below. Instructions for entering comments may be found at How to Enter Comments.)
Bill the diabetesdoc
info@diabetesmonitor.com
Diabetes.Blog.Com is a blogcompanion to our main website, the Diabetes Monitor, which you can find at http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/
I called the toll free number from the Insulin Shop, left a message, and a few hrs. later recieved a call back. He was very responsive, helpful, and I'll have my new freeze indicator soon. I also just wanted to say for everyone, keep checking the website as new products are going to be offered to make our lives easier. (Comment this)
Researchers and Reporters Requesting Responses.
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sorry for my delay...work, work, work....
anyway,
that's interesting. i was told to stay 2 inches away from belly button, told to "pinch" (by a skinny girl)
and nothing about stretch marks or surgical scars. i have lots of stretch marks, and 2 rather large scars, one small.
i think the callused areas come from injecting, don't think specificly from insulin. i think, in time, it would happen from byetta too, if frequently injected into the same spot.
i have noticed, since about my 3rd week on byetta that it stings quite often. my insulin almost never. i noticed others have said similar...have you had stinging? (Comment this)
my mom had very bad spinal stenosis, also 3 herniated discs, and 2 areas of spondolisthesis (sp?)
where the lie-up of the verterbrae is slipping. she has also had 2 fractured verterbrae.
she was in terrible pain, nearly crippled with it, in fact.
on august 25, this year, she had "laparascopic decompressive laminectomy". she turned 70 the next day.
she had a 3 1/2 inch incision, glued, not sewn or stapled. spent 3 days in the hospital, 7 weeks home from work (yes, she still works!)
she is back at work, off the narcotic painkillers, and back to going dancing!
she says at 69 she felt 80, but at 70 she feels 50.
back surgery used to be consider "last hope", and often went very badly. she waited until she found the right procedure and surgeon for her.
my mom says (about bad backs) "if you go to an orthopedist, you will get fused. if you go to a neurosurgeon, you get repaired"
you might want to do a little research, and see if there is something or someone who can help you.
also, rehab therapy in the water works great if you have access. mom used to go to the ywca here in n.y. years ago. they had arthritis exercise classes, done in a heated pool. no impact. very low fee.
don't be depressed, this is NOT the end for you.
good luck, stick with it, and do look into antidepressants, they can help a lot. (Comment this)
i actually did inject above the waist yesterday. got tired of looking for unpunctured spots.
i currently take humalog 75/25, but when i go back to the endo in december, i think he's going to switch me to something else. he and my diabetes educator don't like the 75/25. they didn't want to switch while i was starting the byetta, tho.
so far, my weight loss is minimal, as is my nausea.
my numbers are very erratic, but i'm hanging in htere, knowing many others have been down this road, and they do stabilize over time.
in any event, they are still better than they were. when i go in december, i expect my a1c to be way dowm. 6 or 8 months ago it was 12! two months ago it was down to 10 something, i think. i know it was an improvment, altho my m.d. didn't exactly see it that way.
it's like when my triglycerides were 400. everyone was freaking out, until i reminded them that my previous reading had been 2832! i hadn't thought that was humanly possible!
anyway, nice havin this conversation. have a great day. (Comment this)
I also believe the spit is the right thing and eventually I will get off of the other meds, in time. My weight loss is only 15.5 lbs but that's 15.5 lbs better than what it would have been without the spit on board. Success is just around the corner. I just know it. (Comment this)
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I have been using byetta for 1 month.
I have noticed that the byetta injections sting quite often. Have you or anyone else discovered why it stings? I would like to know what not to do so that it does not sting.
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Walking is a simple and important component of gaining control of our blood glucose levels. It is difficult when we have physical bodies that seem to stop us from exercising. It may be discouraging now to tire after just a few minutes of movement but take it from me start slow and increase the time at least once each week. After surgery for back and hip I started with 5 minute walks. I want share with you what my physical therapist and doctors told me after my back surgery(herniated disc and permanent nerve damage) and hip replacement. I was told I must WALK! They told me to start slow and stop before my back/hip really hurts. Try to walk at least 1/2 hour each day. It can be in 2..5..10..15 minute or even 30 minutes increments. It all adds up and my goal was for the entire day not for each time I went on a walk. Some walks were less than 5 minutes long at the beginning.
In September I had a reocurrance of my back problems and had to stop taking 1/2 hour walks and go back to shorter ones of 5-10 minutes. Now I am again walking without pain and will soon be back to walking the 1/2 hour or more in one session.
My back doctor suggested I to try water walking in the winter when it is nasty outside. But you need to be sure to find a pool that has warm enough water. Water walking is going to a pool and walking in the shallow end where the water is at chest level. You can eventually move your arms with your palms cupped to provide added ristence. It will take the pressure off your back and joints. Some pools even have water walking times or areas set aside during the day for people to walk in the pool.
Be sure to celebrate the milestones. Like the first time you are able to walk for xx minutes! or The each time you add an new session during the week/day. or When you notice a drop in your weight or BG numbers due to the increased walking! Measure yourself against you and not others! Do see your doctor to get help with the depression that the illness has brought on.
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Researchers and Reporters Requesting Responses (Comment this)
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(4) Also: if you haven't yet answered our polls to tell us more about yourself, we'd encourage you to please do so:
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i don't know what to do to prevent the sting. i always use a fresh needle. i don't use alcohol. my insulin has only stung a handful of times over the years, but the byetta does more often than not. the thing i found that makes it stop quicker is to apply pressure to the spot immediately after removing the needle.
someone suggested it may be because it is cold. i'm starting to think that may be right. (Comment this)
hi. as anyone else who's been coming here a while would tell you, check out the "byetta basics", and if that doesn't tell you what you want to know, you can use the search feature.
from my own experience, and what i've read here...
the less time between shot and food, the less nausea.
the more time between shot and food, the more appetite supression. BUT you must begin your meal within 1 hour. after that, the byetta won't do its' job. you must have 6 hours or more between injections. so lunch/dinner shots are fine, as long as it's been 6 hours or more.
i don't believe it must be same time every day.
hope that helps you! (Comment this)
Click here.
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Yesterday I had steroid shots (Cortisone and a 2nd steroid) for my arthritic knees. The doctor warned me that this could have a negative impact on my BG levels.
Has anyone experienced taking cortisone/steroid shots for knees or hips, and what level of impact I might see? Also, I will be starting the artificial joint lubrication shots (Hyalgan) in January - does anyone know if these shots also negatively impact BG levels?
Thanks, (Comment this)
Thanks,
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The Ortho doctor did not recommend that I skip any Byetta shots, but let me know that my BG would probably get bumped for a couple of days. He was not kidding - steroid shots on Tuesday morning, Tuesday night fasting BG was 265, then it gradually fell off each day until Saturday fasting BG was down to 120-130. By Monday fasting BG is finally back to normal, around 90, although this evening it was down to 75. Hope this does not have an up/down oscillating effect before it stabilizes.
Yes, I know about those trade-offs - due to severe arthritis I've had multiple knee surgeries, and I take 800mg Motrin 2x daily. Trying to make the knees last as long as possible before replacement surgery.
;-)
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I have not tried acupuncture. I have had multiple knee surgeries and have been defering double knee replacement for almost 20 years. My delaying efforts will be coming to a close very soon - Ortho doctor hopes the lubrication shots will get another couple of years since one last bone repair will not last more than 2 years at best. After that it is replacement, regardless of my age. I don't think acupuncture would help much, the MRI of the ends of my leg bones look like pictures of the moon, with really BIG craters and fissures! When I stand up or turn corners you can often easily hear the joint popping and cracking up to 30-40 feet away.
After the first couple of days the steroids seem to help with the pain, but my BG is still bouncing from 75 last night back up to 147 this morning, and still at 132 at lunch. Oh well - just more trade-offs!
;-)
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I know acupuncture won't help the stability of your or my knees at all. I'm talking about the reduction of pain without the use of drugs, ie. steroids and Motrin. My numbers are coming down, instead of bouncing around since I started treatment and my numbers need to come down. I'm also relaxing more. Just thought I'd pass my success on to you. (Comment this)
I will have to ask around to see if there is a recommended acupuncturist in the area I can get in to see. I will also have to see if my health insurance covers acupuncture - it probably will.
Thanks for sharing information on your success!
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Great article on Dawn Phenomenon
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/article.cfm?aid=1023
Very high blood glucose in the early morning due to the release of certain hormones in the middle of the night. The body makes certain hormones called counterregulatory hormones, which work against the action of insulin. These hormones, which include glucagon, epinephrine, growth hormone, and cortisol, raise blood glucose levels, when needed, by signaling the liver to release more glucose and by inhibiting glucose utilization throughout the body.
In the middle of the night, there is a surge in the amount of growth hormone the body releases, followed by a surge in cortisol, which effectively cranks up glucose production in the liver, presumably to prepare the body for daytime activity after a period of fasting. In people who don't have diabetes, these processes are offset by increased insulin secretion by the pancreas, so blood glucose levels remain relatively stable. However, in people with Type 1 diabetes, whose pancreases don't make insulin, and in people with Type 2 diabetes, whose livers may not respond to insulin well enough to stop glucose production, changes in glucose metabolism during sleep can have a profound effect on morning blood glucose levels. Typically, the blood glucose level rises between 4 AM and 8 AM.
It is important to realize that high morning blood sugar may be caused by something else: the body's rebound from low blood glucose levels at night. Rebound hyperglycemia, also caused by the release of counterregulatory hormones, represents the body's defense mechanism against low blood sugar. The only way to tell the two phenomena apart is to check your blood glucose level in the middle of the night (around 3 AM). If your blood sugar is high, you are probably experiencing the dawn phenomenon; if it is low, rebound hyperglycemia is probably at work.
If you experience high blood glucose levels when you wake up, talk with your health-care team. They can recommend further testing and changes in your meal, exercise, or insulin regimen to alleviate the problem.
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I was thinking when the middle of the night would be for me as I wake up at 5am. (Comment this)
The growing field of research puts more importance in the trillions of microbes that live in our guts and elsewhere, crediting it with everything from generations of people getting taller to increases in diabetes and asthma.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001053_2.html
scientists explain how our gut flora are involved in how we regulate body weight and may even be a factor in the obesity epidemic with our exclusive video.
www.nature.com/nature/videoarchive/gutmicrobes/index.html
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It starts: "Byetta is not insulin and is permitted under FMCSA rules and should not affect a driver's qualification to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce."
Thanks to my colleagues at Amylin for getting this info to me so rapidly!
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In response to a diabetes epidemic resulting in a significant increase in death and costly complications nation-wide, TCOYD has developed a new television series with Producer-Director Heidi Rataj of the UCSD School of Medicine. Dr. Steven Edelman hosts the talk-show series which includes guests from various medical and professional backgrounds providing information ranging from common emotional barriers, nutrition, exercise, insulin therapies, oral medications, technological advances, neuropathy, foot care, study results and legal issues.
http://www.tcoyd.org/05/TV.shtml
http://www.ucsd.tv/series/index.asp?show=show&number=204
[NOTE: This comment is very close to being an advertisement. I will let it stay, but in the future, if anyone wants to post such comments, be aware that I may choose to delete them if I view them as advertising... Thanks!
Bill the diabetes doc.]
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Has anyone else had problems in this area?
I have had diabetes now I know of for just over a year. My last A1C was only 5.1.
I now have the osteoporosis and my dentist is worried about the enamel I am loosing on my teeth He asked if I had started sucking on Lemons or eating acid foods. I have not
Is there a relationship between Bone loss and Diabetes? (Comment this)
At any rate, it was a load off my mind..and it was also better when I realized my bs was not great..its not in the stratosphere either:
My first morning reading---159
But I have a question: last night I tested before my asthma meds (10:30pm) and was at 169, after asthma meds (nothing else) at 11:15 it was 227 (I was showing my daughter how it worked..hers was a wonderful 90)
Has anyone else had their asthma meds make the blood sugar go up, or was it maybe just going up anyhow?
It was about 4 hours after I had eaten...dinner was 28 carbs and about 550 calories
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I have been hunting online but unable to find an answer
Thanks
Denise (Comment this)
My Doc has not mentioned this and I can find no information on the oral diabetic med combined with Byetta use.
First is it better to take the metformin one hour befor I inject the Byetta or when I eat?
My glipizied is supposed to be taken 30 minutes prior to a meal so I take that when I inject.
But there is no information on metformin when is best to use it in conjuction with Byetta.
What are any of you that use Byetta and take orals doing? (Comment this)
DIANE: You will probably get more responses to this on the Byetta island. Some people say it doesn't matter when you take the metformin. Many try to separate it from Byetta injections. The generally accepted timing here is one hour before or two hours after. Also, for better control of blood sugar, many take metformin at lunch (when no injection is used) or at bedtime with a snack (for dawn effect problems). With their doctor's approval, lots of people experiment a bit to see what works best for them. If you are new to Byetta, you might like the articles listed in column #16, to the right. They are Experiences from the Blog and Byetta Basics. :) (Comment this)
Thanks, I guess if the doc thought it was too bas she have got me in sooner than the 14th of this month,as she was sent all my med records so knows about my kidneys..just a worry wart where they are concerned
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May I recomend the
Taking Control of Your Diabetes Conference & Health Fair at the RIVIERA HOTEL & CASINO
Saturday, March 10, 2007
www.tcoyd.org/05/conferences/conf_03.10.07.shtml
I attended the one here in Des Moines Iowa and learned many things from the lectures I had not known about Diabetes. I also came home with to big bags of free samples and had good lunch and a great time.
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There is also the Diabetes Expo here in Denver this Saturday Feb 10, 2007 at the Convention Center. That's all I know about it since I threw the info away a few days ago. (Comment this)
Has there been any additional information released about Amylin's petition to the FDA to change the storage specifications for Byetta to allow storage of an open pen at room temp for 30 days - e.g. no refrigeration?
Thanks, (Comment this)