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As of June 1, 2008, the ability to post new comments at the Discussion Forums at Diabetes.Blog.com has been disabled. The old comments will remain available for you to read.

Please go to Diabetes Discussions to see new comments and to add your thoughts!

Instructions for posting comments may be found at Getting Started.

Thanks.

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

• Actos and Avandia
• Byetta
• cholesterol and lipid medications
• Exubera
• Januvia and Galvus
• Lantus
• Levemir
• metformin
• research about meds
  
• Symlin
  

If you would like a specific discussion forum about a different medication, please let me know!

Comments primarily about vitamins, supplements, herbal concoctions, "nutraceuticals", and nonprescription medications may be deleted without warning if, in my opinion, they are perceived as promotions, advertising, or outlandish testimonials: for example a claim that "I took PRODUCT X and lost 100 pounds in the first month" would be deleted.

Please review and follow our usual ground rules, at Ground Rules. (To share your thoughts, use the "Comments" link immediately below.)

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'll start off with my own story:

• I was a 2-3 pack per day smoker until November 11, 1969. On that day I went cold-turkey, because of a life-altering event. My wife was in labor, and I was chain-smoking as usual. However, it crossed my mind that this was a perfect time to stop: my daughter would never see me smoking. So I stopped then and there.
• Did I relapse? Yes, once about 10 years later. I was superstressed about something, and bummed one cigaret from someone. But it tasted lousy, and stank, and I wasn't tempted to try another. And never have.

Bill the diabetesdoc
wwq@diabetesmonitor.com

Diabetes.Blog.Com is a blogcompanion to our main website, the Diabetes Monitor, which you can find at www.DiabetesMonitor.com. Further information about quitting smoking can be found at Smoking: it's never too late, at the Diabetes Monitor.

NOTE: It's unclear to me whether Chantix has been studied in people with diabetes (PWD). The USPI tells the prescribing physician that among other side effects, there is "Infrequent: Diabetes mellitus... [and] Rare: ... Hypoglycemia." Until there's clarification of what this drug does in studies of PWD, I'm uncomfortable advising its use in PWD. I can't tell if the development of diabetes means an increased risk of hyperglycemia in PWD, nor if the hypoglycemia was related to the nausea the drug may evoke. I've called Pfizer to ask, and will let you know what they find out when they review their studies and call me back.

Today, I got in the mail a semipersonalized letter from the Senior Medical Director of my insurance company's "Healthy Outlook Program", inviting me to participate in their "Caring for Diabetes" program. Since they are available 24/7, I decided to give them a jingle. Especially as I wasn't sure how they had found out I have diabetes!

Well, the very patient people on the phone call explained that the insurance company apparently extracts diagnoses from claims forms from doctors' visits, lab forms, and meds. Not hard therefore to figure out that since I'm taking insulin, getting A1c's, and checking my BG, that I might be a candidate for their program. Interestingly, however, the people on the phone at the Healthy Outlook Program had no idea whether I am checking sugars (they asked if I wanted a free meter -- but no free strips), nor whether I'm on insulin or pills or both or neither, so they apparently were willing to believe whatever I might tell them, no matter how outrageous.

Turns out that the RN's answering calls are specialists in (get this!) diabetes, low back pain, and two other disorders... No CDEs, no RDs, no expertise except at reading scripts. And unclear about the "American Diabetic Association", and unwilling or unable to give advice when I specifically offered an example: I had a BG of 146 before driving home from work (I'm usually averaging about 100-105), and he didn't have anything except platitudes to offer. I pointed out he could ask about missed meds, extra stress or calories, malfunctioning meter, etc., but I think this wasn't available in his script.

I did let the cat out of the bag, and told the RN that I was an endocrinologist myself, and invited him to read this blog entry. He was good enough to remain unshaken at this, and I hope he does, and if so, please add any comment you want.

Why am I frustrated and a bit p/o'ed? Because the company nowhere indicated that some of their clients are under the care of endocrinologists with ready access to CDEs, and are offering this competitive service to what endocrinologists do on a daily basis. Maybe their program might help some patients who are under the care of stupid or stubborn physicians (and my profession certainly has its fair share), but for the admittedly small minority of patients who are seeing a diabetes team already, this "service" is self-serving, redundant to what the diabetes teams offer, and smacks of a PR stunt, not a serious effort to help the highly-motivated person with diabetes who routinely reads and participates at this blog.

BTW, I figured out why my BG was high this afternoon: I had a meeting right after eating lunch, and forgot my noontime bolus injection of insulin.

Bill the diabetesdoc
wwq@diabetesmonitor.com

Diabetes.Blog.Com is a blogcompanion to our main website, the Diabetes Monitor, which you can find at http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/

This Discussion Forum was closed to new comments on October 24. See the follow-up Discussion Forum on the same topic, CLICK HERE.

It was for anyone wishing to send a message of greetings, best wishes, condolences, or other personal comments.

Examples of appropriate greetings would include "Happy Birthday", "Get well soon", "Happy New Year" or whatever.

It is not the place to exchange angry messages; if you wish to do so, please use e-mail, not this website!

Please review and follow our usual ground rules, at Ground Rules. (To share your thoughts, use the "Comments" link immediately below.)

Bill the diabetesdoc
mailto: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 reserve the right to delete promotions for organizations that are not directly diabetes-related, or which are spinoffs from commercial organizations, or which are solicitations for money to help a single affected individual.

Examples of appropriate organizations would include ADA, CDA, DiabetesUK, and JDRF and their local affiliates. Smaller local organizations raising funds for diabetes are usually appropriate. Organizations soliciting supplies (or requests from organizations for supplies) may also be appropriate.

Inappropriate organizations might include American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and other similar disease-oriented organizations. It is also inappropriate for fundraising on behalf of a single person (example: to help a poor teenager get an insulin pump).

Please review and follow our usual ground rules, at Ground Rules. (To share your thoughts, use the "Comments" link immediately below.)

Bill the diabetesdoc
mailto: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/