Living with Diabetes

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  • Gastric bypass surgery

    I have been thinking about surgery since if I am going to do it, I need to do it this year.

    Lots of reasons not to though — first, I can always wait a year, and it wouldn’t be that big of a thing.

    I am afraid I would be trading one set of medical problems for another.

    There is a huge possiblity insurance won’t cover it, and I’m definately a believer that you don’t rely on insurance 100%. In fact, I just talked to someone who has had the surgery, happy with it, but has already paid for over half, and I wouldn’t be surprise if she doesn’t end up paying for all of it.

    FYI: If you don’t count on insurance covering things you won’t be rudely suprised. Been there, done that.

    I am still afraid that going with WLS means trading one set of health problems for another. In fact, I only have one health condition that will probably be solved by weight loss surgery, and I consider it the least of the problems (GERD).

    I also consider that waiting a year means that I’ll have a stronger case, I definately am getting good documentation on weight loss via the CDE.

    So I really think I’ll not be doing surgery. It really only comes up with me when I realize that it’s six months until June AND I’m depressed about weight loss, or lack there of.
    —
    From my Treo

  • A bunch of reasons for being on insulin rather than relying on oral agents

    Achieving Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes

    This paper will review currently available oral therapies, with a focus on the unique attributes of the insulin sensitizers for patients with type 2 diabetes.

    I’d heard this on a diabetes awareness piece but had posted anything about it here yet, because I didn’t have time to confirm it.

    BUT, according to this article and the news item I watched, oral agents only reduce A1C by 1.5 – 2.0 % —

    I suppose most people start out with diabetes more gradually than I did. Before my glucose tolerance test, my fasting blood sugar was never over 200, and I think (but don’t remember), it was between 150-200.

    My blood sugar was elevated to over 500 at the end of a glucose tolenance test, and never went below 400 until I went on insulin, no matter what I ate or did.

    And it took weeks on insulin to get it down to something reasonable.

    I still haven’t “recovered” from that excusion, my blood sugar hits over 300 if I forget to bolus, and it climbs to 200 if I get disconnected from the pump for several hours (like gets pulled off at night).

    I don’t think oral meds would have solved the problem even if we had played with combinations. And man, I didn’t enjoy the side effects.

  • This must be why their formulary is so skewed.

    Prescription Drugs | Lawsuit Alleges Medco Paid Health Plan $200 Million in Kickbacks – Kaisernetwork.org

  • Interesting updates

    I’ll pass on the inhaled insulin…. I’ve never done well if inhaled medications.

    Diabetes In Control – Drugs in Development

  • Doctor’s Visit

    Went to the primary care physician today. Couple of reasons — my prescriptions are starting to expire and I wanted to make sure we were both on the same page.

    Also wanted to talk to him about getting a different sleep doctor. I want someone a bit more aggressive and less reluctant to make sure I have the right equipment. I also want to make the switch when things are going well, I’ve had a chance to meet the new doctor before there is a real need or at least a crisis. I also want to avoid either someone who is really into drugs to solve the problem or surgery. In other words, someone who is a bit middle of the road.

    He doesn’t have any experience with sleep doctors, so is going to ask his referral person. I’m also going to run it by the endo and CDE before I make any appointments.

  • Depo problems

    This is what got me thinking about switching from Depo… I think I’m going to stay on it though.

    Increased bone loss with duration of medroxyprogesterone acetate use may not be completely reversible, according to the FDA.

  • Mask

    The new mask is working very well, I’m sleeping all night, not waking up, and was able to get up for 7:00 am departure for agility trials this weekend AND workout before going!

    Food is much better too.

  • Birth Control

    Called Medco and asked them about the birth control. I think I’m going to stay with Depo for a while, and go with the generic. It’s very inexpensive, but I am also going to talk to the doctor’s office about the last charge. I don’t think I should be paying an office visit for a shot.

  • Trying to decide what to do….

    Interesting post on Seasonale — which is the back of my mind to switch too.

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    http://haloscan.com/tb/emer/110101586670187616

  • New Mask

    Man is it making a difference.

    I came in and took about 1 1/2 nap very early, then went to bed at 10:30 – 11:00 and slept all night.

    The mask did not wake me up either time, which is a huge improvement. I was waking up and adjusting the other mask nightly, which doesn’t seem like a good thing to me. Doesn’t seem to bother the doctor, but oh well….

    Worth every penny…