new …….
Hello….
I am diabetic and have been for close to 2 years now…..I’ve been
on a emotional roller coaster since I found out I was diabetic…
I was put on every pill you can imagine and nothing worked…out of
fustration I sought out a diabetic specialist and found byetta…..
I am still struggling with my levels and depression which I have a
difficult time shaking…..I hope to learn from all of you how to take
control of my life back……besides the diabetics I also have thyroid
disease, I currently am on kidney meds as well as liver meds. valium
to keep my stress level under control, 5mgs of byetta 2x’s daily,
potassium meds and magniseum meds…..I am 43 and over weight……can
anyone relate to this…..I feel very much alone and would like to
know it does get better…..I have not much of a support team at home
so I feel very isloated…..
thanks for listening…..
rosy
January 27th, 2004 at 6:55 pm
Welcome Rosy, You have come to the right place. Many of us have known what
you are experiencing with this disease. It is not easy but it is about to become
easier. People on this blog have had much experience with all the things you
listed. If you can make gains in one area the rest don’t seem so impossible.
That will help your depression and of course that will change your present
January 28th, 2004 at 2:34 am
Hi, Rosy, and welcome to the group. You’re not alone. I’m sorry you’re
having such a hard time, but it seems depression and diabetes go hand in
hand more often than not. I’m not a doc, but I surmise it’s probably
because of fluctuating blood sugars.
For the last few days, I’ve been carefully writing down everything I
eat, counting carbs more than calories. I confirmed that white bread
products are a big detriment to my health. They raise my bg and that
makes me feel depressed. Of course, when you have other things going on
at the same time as diabetes, that compounds the issues.
My dog and I walk a mile or more, 3-4 times a week, and I found it
helpful. I also take Omega 3 supplements, which some research now
suggests is healthy for mood. Of course, please check with your health
care professional, as each one of us is different.
Is there a diabetes support group in your area that you can plug into?
Some are affiliated with medical centers or hospitals.
Hang in there. There is hope.
Hugs,
January 28th, 2004 at 6:19 am
Hi Rosy,
My name is Marsha. I’m 56 and have had Type II diabetes for about 4-5 years.
I’ve had to take oral meds for part of that time.
I empathize with the depressive issues you are facing. I’ve got a history of
depression with two acute episodes and found that the pills were only marginally
helpful, group therapy was moderately helpful - mostly because a burden shared
is a burden lightened and individual therapy has its place…but it cannot
change the reality of whatever challenge we face. My challenges were not
related to diabetes as I was past the depression by the time this one rolled
around the mountain and started chasing me down the slope.
The things that really helped me in overcoming depression are about four in
nature: 1) I learned that depression is an option and that it takes a heck of a
lot of energy to "depress" - more than we know at the time when we are doing it.
2) I read the book "The Zen of Depression" and learned a Buddhist psychology
approach to allowing the depression to sort of roll in one side and out the
other without my hanging onto it in the middle. 3) After that I found (through
the mental health group I co-facilitated) the Feel Good Therapy of Dr. David D.
Burns, which is a form of cognitive restructuring therapy - you can find the
book and handbook cheap (used) on Amazon.com. We used it a lot in rural Alaska
and it helped people - if in the village, why not the city? 4) I found Neuro
Linguistic Programming, but it is complicated to learn on your own. That was
what finally got me over the big hump and I am no longer depressed nor have I
been for several years now.
Since coming to this list I have found, through the help of dear Janie, EFT
(Emotional Freedom Therapy) - which is sort of acupressure, NLP and TFT (Thought
Field Therapy) rolled into one. The easiest of all these methods is EFT, to my
mind and I have been studying it and applying it on myself for various issues
including stress.
Since one of my issues has been hypertension I started using the EFT on that and
it was quite normal today at the doctor. I did not suggest stopping the Cozaar
because it helps the kidneys, but in time, if it keeps going down, I will
suggest cutting back as I don’t want low blood pressure either.
I’m still working on level adjustment with my own BG. I experienced medication
failure about 3-4 months ago and have been pretty concerned about the high
levels. It prompted me to get more serious about my way of eating, exercise and
control issues. I went back and reviewed the material by the diabetes guru I
follow (Bernstein) and began implimenting most of his suggestions (sans the very
intense exercise, which is not an option for me). I also found out through
experimentation that I can tolerate meformin if it is NOT time release (which is
the opposite of what many people experience) and I’ve been on the 5mcg of Byetta
since the 22nd of March.
I have gone from BG’s in the 250’s to BG’s in the 150’s. I’ve lost 6 pounds
since the 22nd. Before you feel bad about weight loss issues, I want to point
out that my dietary regimine is pretty rigorous and many people feel it is
absolutely not for them. I understand. I didn’t get here by choice, but by
necessity. I eat only about 800-1000 calories a day because if I eat more I
cannot lose weight and at 1500 calories a day I can gain weight. I eat only
about 20 grams of carbs. Last night, for instance, I had about 10 grams of
extra carbs and my bg went up far higher than it should have in response to
them. It is a lesson once again learned that I am very carbohydrate intolerant.
My meter tells me that "comfort foods" like fruit, pasta, potatoes, etc. are not
my friends. My foods are protein, some dairy, lots of low-carb vegetables and a
very small amount of low-carb fruit.
As you are on kidney and liver medications you will probably not be able to opt
for a very low carb diet and will have to work closely with a specialized
dietition to find the right path for you in terms of diet. One of my husband’s
friend has that issue and she has a rather challenging, but doable diet. The
hard part is sticking to the dietary plan, I know. I use hoodia for hunger
(byetta doesn’t seem to help in that regard) and it works very well for me. I
use EFT and NLP to deal with issues regarding and food obsessions (the other day
I was practically having visions of Domino’s Pizza "dots" with white icing) and
have largely learned to recognize that the anticipation is better than the
experience - at least that is how it is for me.
Other than that, changing one’s outlook is about all we can do - we may not have
a choice as to being diabetic (at this time) but we can change how we deal with
that reality. As Kermit the Frog would say - it isn’t easy being green - or in
this case, it isn’t easy being diabetic, but it is something that we can learn
to manage. The panic and fear is what is really very overwhelming at times -
that what happens to you if you don’t get it handled. I used that panic and
fear to motivate myself to exert control.
Welcome to the list. I hope that, over time, you find improvement using the
byetta and that you find some solace in some method of relief from depression.
Cheers!
Marsha
January 28th, 2004 at 12:37 pm
Hi Rosy,
my name is Annie. i can certainly relate. i am 45. i
have been overweight all my life. 200 lbs in the 5th
grade. my top weight was 300lbs. i am extremely
insulin resistant and have been on just about every
insulin and pill they make in huge quantities to no
avail. i walked around for 15 years with blood sugars
in the 600’s regardless of what i did, what i too, or
what i ate. i have been on byetta since dec 1.
Although i have had a very rough time with the nausea
and vomiting, this has been the miracle drug for me.
my current weight is 192lbs, my fasting bs is down
from 600 to 130’s. my after meal sugars have dropped
from the 600’s to the 105 range. my HgA1c has gone
from 15.6 to 8.4. my current meds are glucovance
500/2.5 twice a day and levemir 15 units at night (new
insulin) plus the byetta 10 mcg twice a day. I eat a
very low (20gm ) carb diet and actualy i eat below
1000 cal but that is mainly because with the byetta i
am not hungry. I also understand about the depression
and the kidney problems. I am also physically
disabled, so i cannot exercise. one thing i can tell
you is the changes don’t happen over night. it has
taken a good 3 months to get where i am. so don’t get
discouraged if you aren’t at optimum levels
immediatly. it will come. you can do this. and you
will soon be feeling much better
January 30th, 2004 at 2:11 am
Hi Janie,
I try to walk at leat 1/2 each day and I am slowly increasing that to a mile
when the weather permits. Yesterday I had a terrible time with leg and foot
pains. Iwas experiencing this before and was told it was my potassium and
magnesium levels. I was given 2 prescriptions and tod to take they 2x’s daily
and the pains seem to decrease but yesterday was the worst I’ve ever had them I
was in tears with every step I took. Finally I had to resort to pain meds I take
for my spine. I have 3 cracked discs which knock wood haven’t bothered me in a
while now. I have a doctors appointment on monday and I’m going to speak to him
about the depression, pains and the fustration of not being able to loose
weight. I know I’m my own worst ememy, I have no patients for myself. I try and
eat balanced meals with low carbs and I walk for exercise. My doctor told me not
to over due the exercise but I feel I have to do something I’m going nowhere.
My sugar levels are also higher than they should be, I feel like I’m on a roller
coaster. I’m hoping to learn from you and others here how to help myself cause
I’m at a loss right now.
Thank you for listening,
Rosy
January 30th, 2004 at 5:37 am
Rosy,
If walking is too painful, how about yoga? Very
gentle stretching exercises, not the wrap the foot
around the neck and blow your nose with your toes
type. Some of the yoga exercises are good for bad
backs. I don’t find much helpful for my neck with the
compression fractures but the lower back exercises are
helpful as are the arm and leg ones.
The pain in your feet and legs may subside as the
diabetes is controlled, assuming there is a
relationship there between the pain and the diabetes
and it is not of some other origin.
I don’t know if it is possible financially or
emotionally for you to see an acupuncturist, but mine
has done great things for me. When I first went to
see her I had been told by a doctor that I’d have to
learn to live with the incredible pain in my knees
that I felt would end up crippling me. I was amazed
that rarely did a needle hurt at all (they are really,
really tiny) and my acupuncturist/nurse
practitioner/chinese herbalist understood both western
and eastern medicine and was able to help me with
relaxation and other techniques to get me past the
pain. Although I have one knee that still gives me
grief now and then I am doing so much better than I
ever thought I could. I rarely take pain medication
stronger than an OTC med and I rarely take those now.
You might want to see one, who like mine, is skilled
in both western and eastern medicine if you are
concerned about trying a new area of care which is
unfamiliar to you. My initial treatment was pretty
intensive and expensive, but since that time I have
only needed periodic treatments to get back on track.
You may find the EFT/tapping helpful for pain as well.
Being in pain causes us to tense up and be in more
pain which then creates the cycle of tension, pain,
more tension, more pain. Sometimes, stepping out of
the pain is the only way to go. Pain clinics will
teach ways of dialing down the pain or stepping away
from it in one way or another. That is another option
- a pain clinic.
The thing that really messes me up about my knees is
not the pain, but the fact the knee cap will give way
and I can lose my balance and almost fall on my face,
but I am working on that with EFT too - heck, I have
nothing to lose by trying!
January 30th, 2004 at 10:27 am
Hi, Rosy. Thank you for responding.
I was taken by your mention of magnesium. When I was seeing the PA, he
had me take a series of magnesium shots to help my heart. What surprised
me is that it helped heal the nerve pain I had after a serious bout of
sciatica and subsequent surgery. My left leg is still numb (the disc
broke off and lodged against the sciatic nerve), but I can function
fine. I just can’t sit for any length of time. I also had generalized
muscle pain that was helped with the magnesium shots.
It had been a year since the series of magnesium shots, and my muscle
pain returned full force a few month’s ago. My naturopath scheduled a
series of four magnesium shots to include B12 (takes the sting out),
then once a month from now on. The pain is gone. Even thought I was
taking magnesium supplements, I don’t assimilate it. This is just my
experience with magnesium, and I’m not a doc, so please take this in the
context of which it is written.
Having three cracked discs would make it so you have to carefully watch
what you do. I didn’t realize how disabling back problems were until I
had problems with mine.
Yes, diabetes is roller coaster, but there’s hope, Rosy. It just takes
time to put the pieces of the map together to help you figure out the
direction you need to go. And Byetta has made it easier for me to follow
your roadmap.
Hugs,
February 1st, 2004 at 5:46 am
Hi Janie,
I’m a bit down today I went to a function and couldn’t dance or feel
comfortable due to the leg pains and the food was rich not what I would eat at
home. I find myself moody and fustrated. My step-mom doesn’t understand my
health problems and causes me much stress. I am on kidney meds and liver meds
which she questions constantly and the fact that I don’t lose weight is a big
issue with her too. She has a friend who is diabetic and doesn’t take the amount
of meds I do and we argue about this all the time. I have no support here at
home and I feel like I am floundering when it comes to my health. I was so alive
before the diabetics now I feel like I am doing a prison sentence. I don’t know
what happened. I’m going to talk to my doctor tomorrow but I feel like crawling
in a hole right now. Another thing I’ve noticed since adding the potassium and
magnesium is that I am bloated. I don’t know if this is due to the fact that my
levels were low and now they are getting back
on track. I had to buy clothes which I really didn’t want to cause I was hoping
to loose some weight but I have nothing. Another thought could the leg pains be
coming from the back?
My back itself doesn’t hurt but my legs feel like they are on fire at times and
rubbing doesn’t do anything for the pain. I’ve changed shoes but wondered if I
could possibly benefit from diabetic socks. I’m at a loss right now I don’t know
what to do to help myself. Any suggestions?
Thanks for listening,
Rosy
I was taken by your mention of magnesium. When I was seeing the PA, he
had me take a series of magnesium shots to help my heart. What surprised
me is that it helped heal the nerve pain I had after a serious bout of
sciatica and subsequent surgery. My left leg is still numb (the disc
broke off and lodged against the sciatic nerve), but I can function
fine. I just can’t sit for any length of time. I also had generalized
muscle pain that was helped with the magnesium shots.
It had been a year since the series of magnesium shots, and my muscle
pain returned full force a few month’s ago. My naturopath scheduled a
series of four magnesium shots to include B12 (takes the sting out),
then once a month from now on. The pain is gone. Even thought I was
taking magnesium supplements, I don’t assimilate it. This is just my
experience with magnesium, and I’m not a doc, so please take this in the
context of which it is written.
Having three cracked discs would make it so you have to carefully watch
what you do. I didn’t realize how disabling back problems were until I
had problems with mine.
Yes, diabetes is roller coaster, but there’s hope, Rosy. It just takes
time to put the pieces of the map together to help you figure out the
direction you need to go. And Byetta has made it easier for me to follow
your roadmap.
Hugs,
Janie
Author; Homeschooling & Special Ed Advocacy Resources
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." Einstein
Anything posted in this group is the opinion of the person who posted it.
Visit your group "Diabetes_And_Byetta" on the web.
———————————
February 1st, 2004 at 10:04 am
Hi Marsha,
thank you for sharing with me. I am looking into a number of things yoga was
one of them another was Tai Chi. I need to find a way to relax my stress level
is through the roof. I have more bad days than good right now. I’m sure the
weight is a big factor but if I can’t move or function how am I going to loose
any weight.
I love to walk the further the better, and with summer coming I’m trying to get
myself in shape so I can do things with the kids. I don’t want to miss out so to
speak. I’m only 43 and feeling like 90 somedays. I also have problems with one
knee it either locks into place and I can’t walk or it slips out and I suddenly
fall.
had to drag my leg around 3 weeks ago due to the locking of the joint. Then it
suddenly went away. I just told my doctor about this last week so when I go
tomorrow I hope he has some answers or exercises for me to do. These problems
pop up and then disappear so I don’t know how to address them.
Do you know of any good books on diabetics that you have read and found helpful.
I’m trying to educate myself so I can be more involved with my treatment.
Again thanks for sharing,
Hugs,
Rosy
If walking is too painful, how about yoga?
nothing to lose by trying!
Cheers!
Marsha
Anything posted in this group is the opinion of the person who posted it.
Visit your group "Diabetes_And_Byetta" on the web.
———————————
February 2nd, 2004 at 6:42 am
Rosy,
The diabetic guru I (mostly) follow is Richard K. Bernstein. His methods are
draconian, but they work. I don’t know if you want to go there right now - or
maybe you want to jump in and get at fixing the problem. His book is Diabetes
Solution. If nothing else, it will give you an excellent understanding of how
diabetes works.
I have cookbooks by Dana Carpenter on low-carb cooking and they are life-savers.
Everyone loves it when Dan and I bring food to a pot-luck because our food is
really great food. People forget it is diabetic fare. We adapt Dana’s recipes
to fit our needs. We met her through her husband, who used to be on a list of
ours (now defunct).
When I had knee problems I was not fortunate enough to have a doctor who knew
how to help me. I hope yours does. I went to an acupuncturist and got relief.
Some people with knee problems require surgery (one of our friends just had one
of her knees totally replaced and she is in her 20’s). If the G.P. is no help
I’d suggest a sports medicine doctor. Or an acupuncturist. The Physical
Therapy made me worse. I’m one of those people who respond really well to
acupuncture - not everyone does. It is a YMMV thing, I think.
Good fortune to you!
Marsha
February 2nd, 2004 at 11:32 am
Hi, Rosy.
It’s interesting, but I never had any back pain with my back problems.
It was the sciatic nerve down my leg that caused me the grief. My back
didn’t hurt even after the surgery. I didn’t study anatomy in high
school or college, so what did I know about that particular nerve? <g> I
thought it was my knee, which took the brunt of most of the sciatic
pain. After surgery, I had worse pain in my leg because the nerve was
waking up, and now my leg feels partially numb. But I’m functioning and
can walk two miles, and probably more. I just can’t sit for any length
of time. I have to be getting up and walking around or it affects my
leg. Two doctors told me what I had happen is rare (disc breaking off
and lodging against the nerve). All I know is I never, never, never want
to go through that kind of pain again.<s>
I’m 56, and one thing I’ve been forced to come to terms with this past
year is that some people will never understand me, including being
diabetic. I acknowledge I’m not perfect and am learning to forgive
myself as I forgive others. But when I look at how these same people
treat others, I have to conclude I’m not totally at fault here. They
need time to grow up, and have a need for drama in their lives right
now, and no amount of talking or meeting them half way is going to
change that. Shrug… But I’m fortunate in that my husband, mom, close
friends and most everyone in my family is supportive, and that helps, as
diabetes is toxic mentally and physically in and of itself.
I’ve also learned, through prayer and study, that I would rather be
human and feel all the emotions that come with the territory, then to
dissociate and become apathetic. In other words, even though I’m hurting
and I often wish I didn’t hurt so much, I’m glad I’m me. While this
helps, I know some of the hurt will always be there because I’m an
empathic person. Whenever I get down and think of these people who won’t
make an effort to meet me half way, I visualize a butterfly flying from
my heart and landing softly on their shoulders, as a reminder to them
that I still care for them. This is my way of shielding myself from
their negativism - focusing my thoughts on something more positive so I
won’t be held hostage by their problems. It took time for me to learn
this, and I had to focus on learning one thing at a time so I wouldn’t
get overwhelmed.
Around 6 months ago, our paper published some letters to the editor
slamming people with weight problems. The writer’s didn’t realize there
are medical and psychological issues involved. How can you slam someone
who has gained 3 dress sizes because of the medication she takes to
control her heart problems? Or mental health problems? Or diabetes? But
it happens.
Before byetta, I often wondered why I couldn’t keep up with friends my
own age, or even older. I admire the ADHD friends I have as they are so
energetic. <g> I did some calculating one day, and came to realize the
major stressors in my life were accumulative. Adding them up, and it’s
over 90, and I’m 56. So it’s no wonder I can’t keep up with people my
own age.
All in all, I know exercise is a big help for depression, and you’ll get
more active as you feel better.And please share your concerns with your
doctor; he is there as a partner in your care.
It’s one step, one day at a time, and hope is right there with you.
Hugs,
February 2nd, 2004 at 9:35 pm
Rosy.
as for the pain in you legs, one or both of the
following may be goingon. you could have some referred
pain from your back injury. when i ruptured the first
disc in my lumbar (i have 3)my back didn’t hurt. my
ankle on the other hand felt like a hornets nest. took
a course of steriods to get it under control . of
course that is a risky thing if you are diabetic. i
wasn’t back then. the other thing that could be going
on is diabetic neuropathy.feels like your feet and
lower legs are on fire. mine often also feel like
someone is driving nails thru my toes. The one thing i
have found that really helps is lyrica. it is for
diabetic neuropathy. another thing that helps is
vitamin B12 and alpha lapoic acid helps too.
hope this is helpful
February 4th, 2004 at 1:41 am
Hi Janie,
Interesting comment about the "some people will never understand me."
We are having a law day dinner dance in May. I have tried twice to nail down
what the menu is and the student body president says amorphously - oh, chicken,
starch, vegetable and dessert. I have told her twice that I have dietary
restrictions and I must know if the chicken is fried or baked, whether it has a
sauce or not and what the sauce has in it (starch/sugar). She is totally
unwilling to even discuss it. There is a fair amount of expectation that I will
pay the big bucks to attend because I am the school newspaper editor. If I were
Orthodox Jewish or observant Muslim and needed a meal I could eat, she would not
be so blase. I figure if I pay $40 a ticket for a dinner dance where I can’t
eat the food without harming myself and, as a hard-of-hearing person I have to
shout over a DJ to other people who are shouting over the DJ and over other
people’s shouts that it just ain’t worth it. One I could endure, both are just
too much.
I have worked too hard for too long to get the modest BG dimunition I have to
blow it. I also refuse to go somewhere I cannot eat for hours because the SBA
won’t deal with a health need. I can only imagine what they’d do if attended,
brough all my own food in a cooler and refused to eat - I doubt the country club
would allow it.
I don’t really think that asking the person who is planning the dinner to find
out what is being cooked (is the chicken baked or fried, coated or plain, sauced
or not, and what the sauce contains) is over out line.
So, I vote with my dollars and my feet - I won’t pay and I won’t attend. I
don’t make a huge deal of it, but when SBA members try nailing me to the wall
about why I won’t attend I tell them that it is because they refuse to make it
possible for me to attend by giving me food I can eat. Sheesh - one wonders if
they would have a chicken peanut dish that would kill the dean and if by
pointing out that peanuts could kill him he would be considered cranky and
inconsiderate. 8^P
Cheers!
Marsha