[Diabetes-talk] New Member Introduction

Robert Shelton rshelton1 at gmail.com
Tue Dec 15 06:01:11 UTC 2009 

I really appreciate the suggestions and the supportive way that they are
offered.  I hope to be around the list for a very long time, hopefully a
quiet member who can learn from the rest.

Best wishes.

--Bob

"Out of clutter find Simplicity; from discord find Harmony;
In the middle of difficulty lies Opportunity. "
-- Albert Einstein

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of K C
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 10:02 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] New Member Introduction

Hi, Robert.  I agree with Gary.  You, and your wife share a lot of respect, 
and I'm pleased that you're willing to step up particularly since you're 
totally blind, and any number of excuses could be used not to step up. 
Joyce has the right idea in terms of practicing with the Voice  with plenty 
of control solution.  When you get the meter, it will have some included in 
the supplies package.  You can always order more from Advance Diabetes 
supply should you need more.  This way , you won't have to stick yourself. 
Also no matter how diligent any of us are in this cause, there will be 
nights like what you two experienced, though with your knowledge, and help, 
hopefully, they'll be very very far between.  :)

As you now know, you've got a lot of different points of view on all this. 
Do stay on the list, both for yourself, and your wife.  Support helps a lot 
with Diabetes, no matter the situation.  Take care.

K C


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Wunder" <gwunder at earthlink.net>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 10:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] New Member Introduction


> This is a fantastic message filled with love, respect, and the tension 
> there sometimes is between the two.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Shelton" <rshelton1 at gmail.com>
> To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 3:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] New Member Introduction
>
>
>> Thanks.  This is definitely something I need to figure out.  We've been
>> really lucky so far, but I know that I can take responsibility and handle
>> this.  Linda is quite protective (for lack of a better word) in wanting 
>> to
>> manage her condition independently.  We have always divided our
>> responsibilities that way.  I've made the pay checks and she's managed 
>> the
>> house, kids, and everything else.  Now we are coming to the time when I 
>> need
>> to step up.
>>
>> K C suggested I share what I know about how Linda manages her sugar, and
>> also where I am in my own knowledge and skills.  Fair enough.
>>
>> Linda is insulin dependent and insulin resistant which means she needs to
>> take a lot -- something north of 60 units per day.  Most of this is 
>> Lantus
>> taken at night, the remainder Humalog taken during the day to correct. 
>> She
>> tests several times a day and has gotten fairly good at detecting ups and
>> downs -- at least she can tell when it's time to test.  I don't know the
>> brand of her glucometer, but I can use it to test her sugar; of course, I
>> can't read it.  We're getting the PV -- I suspect that I'll get to 
>> practice
>> using it on myself, not a problem.
>>
>> All of Linda's serious low incidents have happened at night.  As I said, 
>> she
>> can head them off fine if she's awake.  I seem to know when she's going 
>> low.
>> I've awakened to Linda being in a cold sweat, and got her up and righted.
>> Friday night was just a whole lot worse, maybe because I didn't wake up 
>> in
>> time to catch her while she could still help me.   Once she goes past a
>> certain point, she's completely incapable of helping me at all, but
>> fortunately, she can swallow liquids.  I've always had emergency juice
>> stashed away, but for some reason, it wasn't there Friday night.  I 
>> looked
>> high and low, but the best I could do was some chocolate which doesn't 
>> have
>> much sugar.  I'm not sure she would have been able to drink anything 
>> under
>> these circumstances anyway.
>>
>> The paramedics had squeeze tubes of glucose concentrate, and that worked
>> great.  I've already ordered a supply from our mail order pharmacy.  I 
>> think
>> getting comfortable using the meter, and having a proven, certain 
>> emergency
>> sugar source, will go a long ways toward solving our problems.
>>
>> Poor baby, when she goes low, she's pretty obstinate.  Even when she 
>> catches
>> it herself, it's like she goes into slow motion.  Like I said, I just 
>> have
>> to step up and take responsibility while respecting her wishes to be
>> independent.  Not sure I'm making the best of sense here, and not sure I
>> really provided the right information.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> --Robert
>>
>> "A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm,
>> thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to
>> others. It is a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with
>> bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity."
>> --Jimmy Carter
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Paul & Paula 
>> Jordan
>> Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2009 12:27 PM
>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] New Member Introduction
>>
>> Hi Robert:  I am a diabetic with a totally blind spouse, and I'm not sure
>> what her reactions would be in an emergency.  I'm not sure how she'd feel
>> about testing me, nor am I sure how I would feel either.  I know that 
>> when I
>> test, I can tell how much blood I've got, but I'm not sure what she'd do.
>> I have mentioned your situation, and I think she'll probably share some 
>> of
>> her ideas later.
>> Hang in, and I hope and trust we can get you some help soon.
>>
>> Paul
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert Shelton
>> Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 10:04 PM
>> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] New Member Introduction
>>
>> Hi.  My wife (sighted) is a diabetic and I'm a total.  Linda was 
>> diagnosed
>> almost 10 years ago, and is heavily insulin-dependent.  We've been 
>> muddling
>> through - maybe half a dozen incidents of heavy insulin shock over ten
>> years, and I've always been able to handle things, but last night was
>> different. I wound up calling 911.  What I'm looking for is how a blind
>> person can best be prepared to handle emergencies with a diabetic 
>> partner.
>> I looked at the list archives but didn't see a search function.  I've got
>> emergency sugar stashed away, but I need to make sure I can read her 
>> blood
>> sugar without depending on Linda - surely there are solutions for this. 
>> If
>> anyone has suggestions, I'd be more than grateful.
>>
>>
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>>
>>
>> --Robert
>>
>> "...and you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinking, and 
>> you
>> spend your life diggig' coal from the bottom of your grave."
>>
>> --Patty Loveless "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive"
>>
>>
>>
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