I'm New

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
I'm New
17
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 12:45pm

Hi, my name is Yvonne and I was just diagnosed the day before yesterday with Diabetes II. I'm scared to death of "diabetes" and in addition I have Fibromyalgia and 8 ruptured discs from my cervical spine to my lumbar. You could say that I feel like I'm falling apart and I'm only 43.

I've been reading materials on Diabetes and it seems a little less scary, but not much. I'm glad that I've found this message board - I need the support and the education that you guys might be able to help me with.

Thanks for being here and I hope to meet a lot of supportive people who can help me cope by sharing your own stories and remedies.

Thanks...and I look forward to getting to meet some of you.

Yvonne

Yvonne

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Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: majica13
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 12:56pm

Hi Yvonne and welcome to the board.


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-08-2009
In reply to: majica13
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 1:19pm

My blood test said my sugar was 317 and that was after fasting. I've got a meter but don't really know how to use it yet or what the reading should be. I went to a surgeon for another matter and he's the one who informed me that I had diabetes and prescribed 4 different medications for me and told me to start taking them immediately. I can't afford the meds yet, so haven't gotten the scripts filled yet. He suggested a lap band, I'm overweight, but that isn't the way I want to go. So frustrating...thanks, by the way, for the support here and help! I can't say enough about not going through this entirely alone. I have no family and one friend who is willing to help me get to appointments, etc. but she is growing weary, it's quite obvious.

Yvonne
Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: majica13
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 2:32pm

Ok, so no doubt you are diabetic!


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
In reply to: majica13
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 4:12pm

Just popping in to say hi. It's almost exactly 2 years since I was diagnosed - what is it with January? Anyhow, you've already got a lot of great info to look into. I just wanted to add that the booklet that came with your meter should tell you how to test using that meter and they often have the American Diabetes Association guidelines for glucose levels because the meter may have an 'alert' setting that will beep if the reading is too low or too high. Oh, also, any moving you can do (given the situation) will be helpful - if you can walk for 5 minutes, great! If you can do 10 minutes, lovely! If you can park just ONE parking space further at the grocery store, marvelous! Getting your muscles to use up the glucose rather than being resistant to the insulin your body is making is really important.

I will say that I didn't get all that overwhelmed right at first - mostly I got mad and set my mind to fight. So, I got all the info I could (including hitting this wonderful board) and set to work being in charge of the situation. For quite a while I would not say "I'm diabetic" - instead I'd say "I have diabetes" - a semantic difference certainly but one that says "I have this" rather than "It has me". It was helpful to keep from feeling totally out of control while I was sorting out everything and trying to figure out what worked and didn't.

--Deb

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
In reply to: majica13
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 8:12pm

If you have a regular pharmacy as the pharmacist! They should be familiar with your type of meter, and you will be getting refills there for the strips I am guessing.


See if your you can get into diabetic

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: majica13
Wed, 01-14-2009 - 10:13pm

Hey Yvonne,


I am the other community leader on this board. Everyone has done such a wonderful job of introducing you to diabetes that there isn't much for me to add.


I know that our meds can be expensive. Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Target and some other stores are offering meds at $10 per perscription. Check out and see if your meds could be covered by one of these stores.


I look forward to getting to know you better and I hope that you will pull up a chair and join our coversation.


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
In reply to: majica13
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 10:18am

One other thought popped out at me in the shower this morning: given your other physical issues, are you taking steroids? Steroids raise blood glucose levels and contribute to weight gain as well. That needs to be taken into account as you are dealing with diabetes. My grandmother had really serious, debilitating arthritis (it took both hands for her to barely even hold a coffee cup) and she was on steroids for that, long term, which led to type 2 diabetes.

--Deb

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-10-2003
In reply to: majica13
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 1:09pm
I also see an ad on TV for one med for depression where they even warn in the ad that it can cause high glucose readings.
Community Leader
Registered: 12-21-2001
In reply to: majica13
Thu, 01-15-2009 - 2:36pm

Hi Yvonne and Welcome!


I'm sort of new too.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-11-2009
In reply to: majica13
Fri, 01-16-2009 - 7:13pm

Hi Yvonne, I just about fell apart when I was diagnosed with diabetes so I understand how you feel.

Lainy

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