Calling Diabetics!

[RedGlitter]

A couple years ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, caused by a drug, Zyprexa, that I was taking at the time.

I take 36 units of insulin (Novolog Mix 70/30) twice a day and Metformin (generic Glucophage) twice daily.

I admit I do not pay much mind to what I eat other than I usually avoid sugared soda and I don't eat many sweets very often.
I saw a dietician one time and by the end of the session, I was totally confused as to how to count my food. I have books on it but I still don't really understand how to do it and it's a pain anyway.

But...I know the dangers of this disease too so I'm thinking maybe I should learn.

So how do you handle your diabetes?

Do you adjust your own units of insulin or rely on just what the doctor says to use?

Are you able to control it with exercise and diet or do you have to take pills and/or insulin?

Metformin pills smell really bad and taste yuccky. Does anyone else notice this? Do we know what's in them?

Can diabetes ever be reversed once you get it?

For those who take insulin, how do you deal with the scar tissue lumps that form? Right now they're not that bad but if I have to do this all my life, will I be one walking lump?

Where do you choose to inject? I take it in my stomach or closer to my side or occasionally my thigh. The arm hurts too much.

Those are some of my questions. Any advice you might have would be really appreciated too. Thanks.

[KB.]

I've been an insulin dependant diabetic for 21 years now. I used to take the shots in my stomach, but don't anymore. The scar tissue ain't bad but do it for twenty years and it wont go anywhere. I use my arm now, its easy to get to, and the needles are tiny, they don't nother me. I don't eat sweets, if I drink a plain coke it is because my sugar is low and that is all I have handy. You have to watch starches, all they are is a simple sugar. My diabetes I am afraid is doing something it shouldn't be doing. I used to take 20-30 units of 70/30 twice daily, but now I take 4 or 5 shots of 10 units of the R (fast acting) (me medicating myself, it works for the time being). I love food, especially starches. I'm going ot have to make a decesion as someone who isn't a teenager anymore to take better care of myself or it'll kill me. Get diabetics for dummies, I know it sounds cheesy, but it will help.

[RedGlitter]

Originally Posted by KB.

I've been an insulin dependant diabetic for 21 years now. I used to take the shots in my stomach, but don't anymore. The scar tissue ain't bad but do it for twenty years and it wont go anywhere. I use my arm now, its easy to get to, and the needles are tiny, they don't nother me. I don't eat sweets, if I drink a plain coke it is because my sugar is low and that is all I have handy. You have to watch starches, all they are is a simple sugar. My diabetes I am afraid is doing something it shouldn't be doing. I used to take 20-30 units of 70/30 twice daily, but now I take 4 or 5 shots of 10 units of the R (fast acting) (me medicating myself, it works for the time being). I love food, especially starches. I'm going ot have to make a decesion as someone who isn't a teenager anymore to take better care of myself or it'll kill me. Get diabetics for dummies, I know it sounds cheesy, but it will help.

Yep, I hear that. I know about the blindness, kidney failure, amputations, and all that and yet I still think I'm immortal. Time to knock that off.
I actually do have Diabetes for Dummies. I will get it back out and start going through it. Thank you for reminding me.
I'm with you on the starches. Those are hard to stay away from.
I started at 25 units and they increased me so that's not too good.
I was taking Actos as well until I read that it can damage one's teeth so I quit that on my own.
Thanks for replying.

[Lon]

Originally Posted by RedGlitter

A couple years ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, caused by a drug, Zyprexa, that I was taking at the time.

I take 36 units of insulin (Novolog Mix 70/30) twice a day and Metformin (generic Glucophage) twice daily.

I admit I do not pay much mind to what I eat other than I usually avoid sugared soda and I don't eat many sweets very often.
I saw a dietician one time and by the end of the session, I was totally confused as to how to count my food. I have books on it but I still don't really understand how to do it and it's a pain anyway.

But...I know the dangers of this disease too so I'm thinking maybe I should learn.

So how do you handle your diabetes?

Do you adjust your own units of insulin or rely on just what the doctor says to use?

Are you able to control it with exercise and diet or do you have to take pills and/or insulin?

Metformin pills smell really bad and taste yuccky. Does anyone else notice this? Do we know what's in them?

Can diabetes ever be reversed once you get it?

For those who take insulin, how do you deal with the scar tissue lumps that form? Right now they're not that bad but if I have to do this all my life, will I be one walking lump?

Where do you choose to inject? I take it in my stomach or closer to my side or occasionally my thigh. The arm hurts too much.

Those are some of my questions. Any advice you might have would be really appreciated too. Thanks.

Just curious, but did you happen to sue? I think Eli Lilly was the maker of that particular drug, zyprexa.

[KB.]

I hate to use the word lucky with the worlds 6th ( I think) biggest killer, but you are lucky to get it now rather than younger. Hormones can really screw it up, as can any thing from a flu to a stomach virus. Ive been in a coma (not long), had no blood pressure, and once lost 60 pounds in two weeks because of it. I look at it being the thing that kept me from heading to the woods and living like a hermit, hard to get insulin when your pharmacist is a bear.

[KB.]

As far as counting foods. Don't let it overwhelm you, do as I say not as I do. Eat healthy, veggies, fruit (you have to do some research there due to their high sugar content), lean meat, etc. Walk, I do at least do that. Stay away from sweets. Just eat healthy. Forget a fad diet, it ain't rocket science.

[RedGlitter]

Thanks for the good advice, KB. I will take it.
I didn't know that about hormones and viruses. I had no idea. 60 pounds in 2 weeks? And a coma? It sounds like you're the lucky one here. To be alive that is.

Lon, yes, I am presently in a lawsuit with Eli Lilly. It's a class action suit so I doubt I will see much which upsets me but it's a suit nevertheless. Zyprexa is a great drug in my opinion but the fact they knew it would very likely make me (or anyone!) a diabetic and they didn't tell anyone but the doctors, who didn't tell their patients, is criminal, I think.

[Nyx]

Originally Posted by RedGlitter

Thanks for the good advice, KB. I will take it.
I didn't know that about hormones and viruses. I had no idea. 60 pounds in 2 weeks? And a coma? It sounds like you're the lucky one here. To be alive that is.

Lon, yes, I am presently in a lawsuit with Eli Lilly. It's a class action suit so I doubt I will see much which upsets me but it's a suit nevertheless. Zyprexa is a great drug in my opinion but the fact they knew it would very likely make me (or anyone!) a diabetic and they didn't tell anyone but the doctors, who didn't tell their patients, is criminal, I think.

May i ask what Zyprexa is taken for? How long have you been a diabetic because of it?

[Marie5656]

My husband was diagnosed with Type 2 about 6 years ago. He is not insulin dependant, but does take metformin and other drugs. His diabetes is under control now...but he will never be "cured".
He went from having to measure his glucose level twice a day to doing it just once or twice a week.

I got a copy of Dr. Phil's calorie count book and it really seemed to help, as it gives so much other information also.

[RedGlitter]

Originally Posted by Nyx

May i ask what Zyprexa is taken for? How long have you been a diabetic because of it?

It's a drug for bipolar disorder (manic-depression.) I've had diabetes for umm... I think it's been three years now.