[Diabetes-talk] Introduction and the first of many questions.

[Bernadette Jacobs]

Good Morning Linda:

First and Foremost, Linda, I want to give you a big W E L C O M E to
the list!!!  Honey, I wish I could just hug you!!!  I too, do a lot of
singing as a Church soloist; have sung for numerous weddings,
banquets, and the list goes on!  I too, am congenitally blind--ROP.
(Retinopathy of Prematurity).  Of course, this condition has had
half-a-dozen different labels in the past.

Next, gotta hand it to the rest of the "family" here!  You've gotten
lots of wonderful advice, my friend!  I'm sure it's overwhelming, at
first.  That's normal Darling.  I would recommend gathering the
evidence here and getting into a quiet place, (away from Hubby), as he
has even less of a clue.  Once you've been in your quiet place, (so to
speak) for awhile, long enough to sort things out and devise a plan,
Just take one step at a time one day at a time.  You'll be just fine.
I would also agree that you M U S T have an Endocrinologist!  That's
first and foremost.  he/she, if reputable, will get you in touch with
a good diabetic educator who should be able to help you a lot from
there.  I too, use a "prodigy" meter and have found it to be the best
out there.  One thing I would recommend so you don't have to do the
"pin cushion" thing, it to see if you can get several bottles of
"Control" solution to practice with.  The meter will draw the control
solution into the strip as this simulates blood and will give you a
reading.  Another thing with the meter is that if you set your lancing
device on "max" setting, you can touch the strip where it hurts and
your aim will actually become better than you think.  With your
lancing device set to the highest--#5, you should only have to poke
yourself one time.

RE: sources available to blind folks, you've come to the RIGHT place!!

As for this disease, that's exactly what it is--a disease.  And, ya
know what?  when I was diagnosed, I was madder than a wet hen and even
accused my grandmother, who had been dead and gone for twelve years,
of not only putting a curse on me, but coming back to haunt me--the
old bat!!!  I blamed her first thing.  I actually thought that when
she died, we'd all rest in peace???  Hmmmm!!!  Yes, I was one angry
mean beast!  So, that too, is normal Honey!!!  I too would like, if
you wish, to communicate with you off-list.  You can call me if you
want to scream, cry, curse, and whatever you wish!  Don't stop until
you've let it all out!!!  I don't shock or embarrass anymore.  When
you've become a parent, you don't embarrass anymore.  After working
for Community Corrections--Probation/Parole in WI for five years,
Honey, I've heard and seen absolutely everything there is to see and
hear!  My "shock" has entirely disappeared.  So don't ever be afraid
of how it comes out with me.

I'll be emailing you off-list with my phone information Linda!
Meanwhile, take care.  You'll be just fine with a little help from all
your friends here!!!  Thank you for coming to us!

Bern

On 9/28/12, Lynda Canaday <lynda at samobile.net> wrote:
> Hello to All:
>
> This is Lynda and I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 almost 2 months
> ago.  Because my blindness is congenital, I didn't think I could get
> this disease? condition?  My doctor says it is a disease.  I hate that
> label!  I'm having a very hard time coping with this.    Embarrassment
> is my immediate reaction to this because no one in my family has it and
> it has never been one of the things we have delt with.  Is this common
> or, am I as out of place in the world as I now feel?
>
> I am a Classical singer and voice teacher in Kansas where I currently
> reside with my husband, Jim and our pet yellow lab, ten-year-old Darby
> who should be getting out of surgery about now.
>
> I followed the "Weight Watchers Quick Start Plus Program when it first
> came out in the 1980s and several people in my class who were diabetics
> followed it as well.  so, I thought, "I'll just go back on that because
> it was the one version of the program that I completely understood and
> I love it!  However, this time it isn't working.  My husband has blood
> sugar problems because He takes a lot of steroids for his various very
> complicated health issues.  Although he watches his sugar he is not
> diabetic.    He says that with diabetes you count carbs not calories.
> Of course, he can't explain how it's done but, if I have a "bad
> carbohydrate, like half a bagel, he can say it's bad.  He also says
> that the Weight Watchers exchanges are different from the diabetic ones
> but he can't tell me why that is or the conversion formula if there is
> one.    Can anybody help put this right for me?  How are the exchanges
> different?  How can you tell which carbohydrates are good or bad?  How
> about portion control?  Both of us could stand to lose more than a few
> pounds which is fine with me, I would happily change whatever I need
> too in order to accomplish that.  As far as Jim goes... ask him what he
> eats in one meal and you will get the picture.  I have asked more than
> my one question.  and I have so many more about diet and nutrition,
> obtaining glucose readings or ratings.  Are there diabetic cookbooks
> available?  Where might I find them?  My doctor says that if I can drop
> the excess weight, I won't have this any more.  Is this true?
> Sometimes I can't tell if that man is joking or telling the truth.
>
>                 Some time ago when Jim ordered more sugar testing
> supplies, the company gave more than requested.  We didn't know that
> they were going to be needed so soon.  They sent him an extra Prodigy
> Meter, and enough neetles to last him for a lifetime, several lancets,
> testing solution and bottles of strips.  I have benefited from this
> bountiful supply.  After inheriting the new Prodigy Meter, two Lancet
> shooters, strips for the Meter, about thirty boxes of neetles, and
> testing solution for the strips, and a carying case I am in the process
> of figuring out just where to store things until I need them.  Learning
> to take my blood sugar before my first cup of coffee is difficult at
> best and some mornings I can't get it at all.  My diabetes educator at
> the hospital said that I have to practice taking my blood sugar in the
> same way that I practice for an upcoming performance.  If I did that,
> my fingers would be varying shades of purple and who knows what other
> colors I might turn.  I can't see myself poking my fingers for four
> hours a day just to get one silly little two or three digits to flash
> across a screen and tell me what they are.  What do they mean and why
> is it necessary to know them.           I will look forward to your
> answering as many of my questions as you can and it is my hope that
> some of us will become good friends.  I'll be watching my inbox.
>
> Lynda
>
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