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Lotus · 11-27-2006, 08:20 PM

...and if you have type I diabetes, you NEED it.

I'm 26, and I've had type-1a diabetes since I was 17.

I hope you know how type-1 diabetes "works"? You know that certain cells (beta cells) which produce the hormone insulin in your pancreas are destroyed?

I don't want to be the "you can't" voice here, but you put your life in danger if you stop taking insulin and go over to pure meditation or exercise without insulin. You NEED insulin, and there is no way around it. Islet-cell transplants are available in Canada, and in late research phase in the US. This is the only "cure" for type-1 diabetes that is currently known.

You can lessen your insulin needs. One way is to eat right. Have you talked to a RD lately about your diet?

Another thing is to start exercising. Increasing your muscle mass (and decreasing your fat) will lower your insulin needs. Resistance training (weight training) is a very good way to increase muscle mass. I find that after a heavy session of weight training, my insulin needs drop severely for several hours. Over the long term, your total insulin needs will drop.

As far as control. How often do you test your BG? What insulin(s) are you using?

Do you have a pump? Is that an option for you? I can't even begin to tell you about how much I love my pump. I can eat almost anything I want (keeping in mind that this little freedom comes with the consequence of weight gain); I'm not a slave to insulin peaks and valleys; I have fewer highs and lows in my BG. But to have a pump means having to test your BG at least 4 times a day. Of course, in the US, the continuous BG monitors are out now... but you still have to do calibration checks with a meter.

I tried to kill myself last January. Not because of the diabetes, but because of depression. I gave myself 1600iu of Novolog. (For you non diabetics, that's a bottle and a half of fast acting insulin.) For some reason, it didn't work.

Did you know that poor BG control is a risk factor for depression? Tell your father that you're sorry about the insulin costing so much, but that you can't help the diabetes. He very likely doesn't know how you feel responsible and those comments can sting. I feel the same way about all my health problems. It was worse when I was younger -- my family is not rich, and my parents were scrabbling to make ends meet... because I had so many hospital bills for stuff I just couldn't help.

You can't help having diabetes, but you can take care of yourself. That means eating right, exercising, and maybe going to a psych or (better yet) a support group for young people with diabetes.

11-27-2006, 08:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
Lotus Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Why is Kansas windy? Because MISSOURI sucks Posts: 138	Insulin is Insulin is Insulin ...and if you have type I diabetes, you NEED it. I'm 26, and I've had type-1a diabetes since I was 17. I hope you know how type-1 diabetes "works"? You know that certain cells (beta cells) which produce the hormone insulin in your pancreas are destroyed? I don't want to be the "you can't" voice here, but you put your life in danger if you stop taking insulin and go over to pure meditation or exercise without insulin. You NEED insulin, and there is no way around it. Islet-cell transplants are available in Canada, and in late research phase in the US. This is the only "cure" for type-1 diabetes that is currently known. You can lessen your insulin needs. One way is to eat right. Have you talked to a RD lately about your diet? Another thing is to start exercising. Increasing your muscle mass (and decreasing your fat) will lower your insulin needs. Resistance training (weight training) is a very good way to increase muscle mass. I find that after a heavy session of weight training, my insulin needs drop severely for several hours. Over the long term, your total insulin needs will drop. As far as control. How often do you test your BG? What insulin(s) are you using? Do you have a pump? Is that an option for you? I can't even begin to tell you about how much I love my pump. I can eat almost anything I want (keeping in mind that this little freedom comes with the consequence of weight gain); I'm not a slave to insulin peaks and valleys; I have fewer highs and lows in my BG. But to have a pump means having to test your BG at least 4 times a day. Of course, in the US, the continuous BG monitors are out now... but you still have to do calibration checks with a meter. I tried to kill myself last January. Not because of the diabetes, but because of depression. I gave myself 1600iu of Novolog. (For you non diabetics, that's a bottle and a half of fast acting insulin.) For some reason, it didn't work. Did you know that poor BG control is a risk factor for depression? Tell your father that you're sorry about the insulin costing so much, but that you can't help the diabetes. He very likely doesn't know how you feel responsible and those comments can sting. I feel the same way about all my health problems. It was worse when I was younger -- my family is not rich, and my parents were scrabbling to make ends meet... because I had so many hospital bills for stuff I just couldn't help. You can't help having diabetes, but you can take care of yourself. That means eating right, exercising, and maybe going to a psych or (better yet) a support group for young people with diabetes.