Oh Bugger

rubberduck

rubberduck

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www.atlas-courier-express.co.uk
On day release from hospital & have had another issue added to my many problems, insulin dependant Diabetes. I always treat each issue as a little battle & that way I win or at least hold at bay all the various bits, but it is all now becoming a full scale war !!
So any advice that could help with latest battle front would be much appreciated. (what to drink for a start !)
 
Bad luck :(

I hesitate to point you in the direction of another forum, but have a look here: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/, if you haven't already. Lots of contradictory claims (if you think MMGW is contentious, wait 'til you get stuck into the low carb high fat vs low calorie face-off :)) but some very useful advice, in amongst it. You'll be advised to take it easy on the carbs (bread, rice, spuds, pasta, anything else made with flour, etc) and this is generally good advice.

So far as booze is concerned, spirits are probably best (no, seriously!) as all the carbohydrate has been distilled out of them, so - for example - a Scotch and diet dry ginger is the way to go. Beer is "liquid bread", and should be mostly avoided, if possible.

Having said all of which, if you're insulin dependent, you can, to an extent, alter the dosage to fit what you're eating. The Newcastle diet (mentioned above) does seem to work for Type 2 Diabetics, particularly if done in the early years of diagnosis, but I don't know if it works for T2s on insulin. There's no cure (yet) but people have achieved some serious remission.

I wish you well; there's lots you can do. The advice you will get from GPs, Diabetic Clinics and the like isn't necessarily cutting edge, so further research is a good idea, though there's some seriously whacko stuff out there.
 
rubberduck said:
On day release from hospital & have had another issue added to my many problems, insulin dependant Diabetes. I always treat each issue as a little battle & that way I win or at least hold at bay all the various bits, but it is all now becoming a full scale war !!
So any advice that could help with latest battle front would be much appreciated. (what to drink for a start !)
Click to expand...

Well for a start, no alcohol! I've had a couple of friends die of diabetes because they can't stop drinking!
not sure of your age, but they are really banging on about exercise these days for the elderly. I've been going down the gym working hard a couple of times a week since I was 50 and I'm now 67. Not taking any medication at all and feel very healthy.
The only time I feel rough is when I've been down the boat for a couple of weeks drinking lager every day!
 
Oops, wrong forum(brain not at best), thanks for replies though. Its not unexpected, just another complication of what started 10 years ago, not that hard to cope with, but probably in for fun with insurers regarding moving trucks around etc. Always been hands on, if need be jump on a fork lift or back a lorry on to get loaded / unloaded. If I can do it so can everyone else, takes the "I can't do that " excuse away, not about to give that up.
 
Medskipper said:
Well for a start, no alcohol! I've had a couple of friends die of diabetes because they can't stop drinking!
Click to expand...

But presumably they were drinking quite a lot?

The advice given to Diabetics about alcohol is the same as that given to everyone else: limit yourself to the overall weekly number of units that the authorities advise and don't save them up for a binge.

If I couldn't drink at all, I think I'd give up and top myself, rather than waiting for Mother Nature to do it for me ..... :)

PS to Rubberduck: You may find that your insurance premia get loaded but the main stipulation that you'll get (I suspect) is that you must check your blood/glucose levels before getting behind the wheel - this is the case for everyone on insulin, because if your levels are too low you could have a hypo and black out whilst driving or operating machinery, which would seriously spoil your day. You'll have to get your licence renewed at least every three years as well, I'm afraid ......
 
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Hi RD........ DONT PANIC ABOUT IT !!!!!!..... my swmbo has been insulin dependant for 30+yrs.... the "secret" is one word ..MODERATION !!!!!......yes it will take a bit of adjustment to your life style BUT its all the same IF your sensible 90% of the time ...my swmbo has a couple of "blowouts" a year eg ..on holls or b.day........ hope this is a mind steadier ...
 
Yes, although I'm considering (yet again :)) whether or not to sell the boat - a combination of fluctuating levels of work and not being able to use it much. I was under the weather this summer (but much better now) hence my recently-acquired knowledge of the subject matter of this thread..... :)
 
Too keep it boaty, I had an episode last week when everything started spinning, dizzy, bright lights, had to use walls to stay upright, & couldn't even figure out how to get to kitchen for a glass of water. Now bearing in mind the MOB thread, even if I wasn't alone (don't do solo) but on deck with ropes, fenders etc, I would have been in serious trouble. It was probably infection or diabetes induced, & I'm unlikely to be on the boat like that, in fact left the boat up the Thames & caught a cab home this year & got it later for this very reason, but, is it responsible to carry on ?
 
No more irresponsible than driving or operating machinery, I'd have thought?

Just check your levels from time to time, and educate your crew to force feed you biscuits and glucose tablets if you start acting funny :)

(Edit: of course, that won't help if your levels are too high, but it can't make things much worse, and it will help if they're too low....)
 
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See if your doctor can get you on a DAFNE course, all free and will tell you everything you need to know. They are very good. Some info on courses here...http://www.diabetes.co.uk/education/

You will soon get used to knowing the signs of high and lows, in the mean time test often until you find what works for you. The biggest worry with drinking is if you get a low when you are sleeping, make sure you nibble on food while drinking and have a few biscuits before bed, you can always set and alarm in a few hours just to check you are ok. Keep some gluco tabs in your car and on the boat, even a hypo kit just in case.

Biggest thing is to test all the time so you can see what gives you the lows and highs and work it out from there. It shouldn't impact on your life much and the technology with pumps today make it even easier.

Stay well :encouragement:
 
Some great replies people
rubberduck, my best mate copped for D1 when he was 27, now 69 and a fair career behind him owning an Hotel and drinking too much!!!!!
I can tell if He is 'High' or 'Low' by just looking at him or talking on the phone
Poor bugger also has just copped for Rhuematoid Athritis plus memory loss and me calling around most nights to raid his drinking cabinet (well it's bad for you Terry);)
Forgetting whether He has tested is a problem and the bad Athritis hampers his testing etc
He has been on a pump now for a few years and that really helped
'Test' 'Test' 'Test' I harp at Him and he does now
3 years ago No1 and only Grandson copped for D1
It is amazing how He copes, along with his single mum, who is a Star
In some respects it might be easier for a child to cope as it kinda becomes a lifestyle I suppose
Plus maybe during No 1 grandson's life medical science might find a way:encouragement:
I know it's a bummer rubber
But as they say 'Worse things happen at Sea'
Just to bring a Nautical theme back to the Thread
Why do they say that anyway?:ambivalence:
 
Thanks Guys.
Back at work after they released me today, I believe in open plan with everyone equal in the team, I don't play boss but like to keep up with everything, the buggers have moved me to the back with help of wife & son, so I can't get stressed apparently !!! did a few bits that needed doing & played with the dog. :ambivalence:
 
rubberduck said:
Thanks Guys.
Back at work after they released me today, I believe in open plan with everyone equal in the team, I don't play boss but like to keep up with everything, the buggers have moved me to the back with help of wife & son, so I can't get stressed apparently !!! did a few bits that needed doing & played with the dog. :ambivalence:
Click to expand...

Dogs can be trained to spot hypos ;) Stress can higher you blood sugar levels too so chill out. Don't buy everything to do with combating Diabetes....they just want your money. Have a card in your wallet saying you are type 1 (insulin dependent) ((type 2 can be also)) the paramedics look for it if you get ill, same as a donor card. I don't know your age but a positive from having a condition that can kill you is free prescriptions lol. You will get used to it so don't let it hinder your life, live it to the full :encouragement:

Edited to say, while you are learning this new thing you can get very depressed because of it, it's relentless and never goes away... try and spot this.....get help for it...........Life can be normal when you conquer it, and you will :encouragement:
 
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Been up against it for years so not one to get depressed, working on the chill out bit but what with a gas leak at home Tues when I got home from hospital, & a complete power cut for the whole day at work today, (wouldn't mind so much but I've run them all through disaster recovery, including switching on the generator, but still ended up on the phone from the doctors surgery this morning talking them through it, & drove up there at about 11, & just got home. In early tomorrow to check everything then off to the London Clinic to see yet another specialist. As Marvin said, "Don't talk to me about life" lol.
 
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