[Diabetes-talk] New Member Introduction

Wed Dec 16 02:39:49 UTC 2009

Bob:

I haven't put my $0.02-worth in here because everyone else has said what I 
would have. I'm Mike Freeman; I'm the President of the Diabetes Action 
Network. I'm glad you find our list useful; we have a lot of very caring 
people on this list who are more than willing to share their experiences, 
hints and kinks and tips of the trade. I hope you stay with us for a long 
time and that your wife lives a long and happy life with you!

Warmly,

Mike Freeman, President
Diabetes Action Network
National Federation of the Blind

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Shelton" <rshelton1 at gmail.com>
To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 10:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] New Member Introduction

>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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>>    >
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>>
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