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• February 9, 2010 2:26 p.m.

  This was a great entry! I’ve read over it and I thought you may be interested in join the online JPEC community by participating in free online CME/CDE/CE activities related to diabetes and oral health. I’m interested in the same subject and have participated in these events before and they are extremely informative and helpful. I hope you join to further spread the awareness. You can join through the website at: http://www.jpec.joslin.org

  - Tammy

• February 7, 2010 12:08 p.m.

  My mother has diabetes and heart problems - she has had a stroke. Right now she is doing pretty well, but her hands and fingers always feel tingle and feel numb and the problems with gripping things is there. I am wondering if there is anything I (we) can do to make that go away, or at least lessen the symptons? Thank you, Pat

  - pat

• February 5, 2010 8:45 a.m.

  This doesn't pertain to your topic but am looking for information .I am a grandmother of a nine year old with type one diabetes. Healthy Kids ( the state of Fl. insurance) has deemed them not qualified for the month of Feb , due to lack of paperwork. About once a year or so, whichever insurance company they have will deny coverage for varying reasons, this always ends up with a mad dash to get insulin,test strips, pump supplies etc, that she needs to live. I am always shocked to find that there is no program to help her. I have searched the web,called drup co.'s , gone to local politicians,hospitals, etc... but to no avail. The cost of her supplies are very expensive and beyond most families budgets. If anyone out there knows of any programs for type one diabetics to get free supplies please post it. It would be greatly appreciated. thank you.

  - brenda

• February 5, 2010 7:41 a.m.

  I agree about your advice on pedicures. I used to get bad infections but have solved it for now by wearing open toe shoes(breath better), not getting foot massages(caused stinging in my feet), cutting my own toenails properly right after my bath when the skin is soft+it's most clean. I would do anything to avoid seeing the podiatrist as it was painful. Probably my blood sugar control enables me to not get the same infection. Is it common for closed toe shoes to cause pressure+numbness? I even by special high quality shoes not specifically for diabetics but FootSmart makes alot of different brands I can choose from with my specific problems. Hope this helps someone! It took me several infections to regaurd my feet as my temple base!:) I could not go for a pedicure with my being so much more susseptable to infections. Only I could understand why I just couldn't trust that! Reading how likely we are to loose a toe/foot=no way!!!

  - anita

• February 3, 2010 9:55 p.m.

  My husband has type II diabetes for about 5 years now. He doesn't take care of him self in any way other than taking his drugs. I was wondering as to why he is looking bloated. Do people retain fluid with diabetes? He has no energy and despressed.

  - Kris

• February 1, 2010 6:42 p.m.

  I was Dx with T2 in 2007 age 52, and have struggled for 2 years to manage BGLs on average 1200 cal diet and max dose of Diabex. My wt did not budge. When my BGL, triglycerides and HDL took a turn for the worse in December 2009, my local GP reached for the script pad. I never got the scripts filled, but instead got a 2nd opinion from a GP interested in diabetes management based on clinical studies. He told me to have an egg daily to increase HDL, and recommended adding supplements of fish and krill oil, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium to my usual antioxidants. He suggested monitoring BG more astutely and consuming healthy carbs only so long as my BGL permitted. I discovered a low carb diet keeps my pancreas happiest, and have resolved to stick with it. My BGL is now hovering at the top of the normal range. Also, I am now losing about 100 - 200 g per day, which amounts to a good kilogram (2.2 lb) per week: good enough for me! A side benefit of the fish oil has been a reduction in muscle stiffness and back pain, with result that I move more and am more active than I was. The new GP told me that some studies have shown heart-attacks related to homosystine levels rather than LDL cholesterol. I'm looking forward to my own blood-tests in a week or 2, and the look on my old GP's face!

  - Helen

• January 29, 2010 10:42 a.m.

  Has anyone ever had this problem My son 37 diabetic since age 3 has had 3 episodes which go like this He awakens gets up can talk and act normal get dressed and then has a convulsion. blood sugars when tested by an emt average 80 now they think it maybe something else??? He does not rember anything about these episodes

  - Pam

• January 27, 2010 10:08 a.m.

  Where did I read that you should NOT take supplements before having an A1C test?

  - Midge

• January 15, 2010 11:43 p.m.

  Thank you Nancy & Peggy. At least now we have a starting point to address this problem. He had all kinds of blood work done, especially for heavy metals and everything came back normal. We will take this information to his doctor. Thanks again.

  - Cathy

• January 15, 2010 3:14 p.m.

  Cathy: A metallic taste is a side effect of metformin. The literature states that about 3 out of every 100 people who take glucophage have an unpleasant metallic taste when they start taking the medicine. It should last a short time. If it continues, we recommend that you consult your primary care provider.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• January 14, 2010 7:07 p.m.

  My husband takes Metformin to control his type 2 diabetes. He has been having a metallic taste in his mouth for some time now and I wonder if this is a side effect of the meication. Has anyone else experienced this?

  - Cathy

• January 14, 2010 8:49 a.m.

  I have had Neuropathy in my feet for two years now due to type 2. The pain and lack of balance is horrible. I am only 43 and don't know wnat the future holds. I have already tried Lyrica, Neurontin, Amitryptylin, Zonegren, Cymbalta, Darvocet. If anyone knows of any other treatmets I would greatly appreciate it. I have been out of work for a year now and I just can't believe that this might be the end.

  - Jim

• January 12, 2010 5:04 p.m.

  Judy, PS, do not get down on yourself if you do not meet that weekly goal, just try harder the following week.

  - Karen

• January 12, 2010 3:26 p.m.

  Judy, you should be taking care of yourself for yourself and your own future. Sometimes having something to look forward to can help. I was in weight watchers and learned that setting small goals and actually meeting those small ones is much easier that trying to change everything at one time. Know what your final goal is and then set yourself a weekly goal and work hard to accomplish it, then the following week set another, you get the picture. Before you know it you will find you accomplished your final goal. I hope this helps.

  - Karen

• January 11, 2010 4:51 p.m.

  i have type 2 for 5 years medications in pill form but having a real hard time getting back on reality eating for my diabetes. i wonder after so long of being good in controlling my condition am i having trouble maintaining. i find i am getting angry with myself and frustrated with my condition which i know solves nothing. any ideas to get me back on track.

  - judy

• January 11, 2010 12:32 p.m.

  As I was reading my own comment I thought I should clear up one thing. By drinking constantly I meant not being able to get enough fluids. I was drinking large amounts of water and Gatorade. If I was awake I was drinking one of the two. I also want to let everyone know that I could not see clear for about 6 weeks after my return home. I could not see, everything was a horrible blur and I surely could not read anything during that time. Please do not take this disease lightly.

  - Karen

• January 10, 2010 6:49 p.m.

  I was recently diagnosed with diabetes. My blood sugar levels were always in the 90's, usually around 95 then in about July of 2009 my blood sugar levels were between 100 & 110. My doctor kept an eye on it but it did not go over 110 so he was not overly concerned. I maintained a healthy diet and use a treadmill for exercise. In October I was feeling like I had the flu, vomiting diahrea and running a low grade fever. A couple of days into this not feeling well I started not being able to sleep due to this horrible, nausiating sweet insence type smell and drinking constanly. I started passing out and coming around again and so hot I could not stand to have clothes on so I was stripped down as far as I could go still remaining decent. After a few days of this my friend called and I suppose I was passed out because she said I did not respond to the calls. I know she saved my life. She called the paramedics. They too thought I had a flu because of the symptoms. When I was in the emergency room they tested my blood sugar and it was 1350. By that time I was also hallucinating. My doctor said he had never in all his years of practice heard of blood sugar that high and did not know why I was still at times concious. Without saying it I think he thought I should have been dead or at the least in a coma. I spent 5 days in the hospital leveling my blood sugar. This is how I was diagnosed, please take care of yourselves. I would not want anyone to go through what I di

  - Karen

• January 6, 2010 4:42 p.m.

  Have Type 1 diabetes and have been a regimine of Lantus (35 u morn 35 eve) and humalog sliding scale. QUESTION - Does anyone know of an anomoly whereby the pancreas works intermittently? I have had a hard time keeping my bs high enough and some days I only take 35 units of Lantus. Any answers would be great.

  - Paul

• January 5, 2010 10:23 a.m.

  I have had type II diabetes for about five years. I have been managing it well, with readings twice a day between 85 to 120. In March I gave up smoking after more than 55 years. Since that time, my blood sugar readings have been vey high, as much as 170 in the morning before eating. My blood pressure is also way up. My Dr. says quitting smoking is not the cause, but nothing else has changed. Has anyone else experienced this?

  - Helen

• January 1, 2010 7:10 p.m.

  Denny, this comment is for you. Stress does make your blood sugar go up really high. I think it is the hormones your body releases in response to the stressful situatuation and then your liver releases stored sugar into your bloodstream to give you fuel to deal with the stress...only in this day and age we don't have to worry about a dinasour chasing us!. Something that you might not learn from your doctor or health care person is that the foods that we eat at a meal all have different digestion times. So if you drink a glass of milk and eat a big carrot cake muffin from the bakery...some of that will make your sugar go up right away, but then a big part of the flour in the muffin will take hours to digest and then 2 or 3 hours later you get a huge spike in your bloodsugar and you don't know why. So this could be happening based on what you are eating at your meals. Also, meals that have high fat content, slow down the absorbtion of the carbs int he meal. So again you can have a spike many hours later. I have used many natural supplemnets to lower my bloodsugar naturally, an cinnamon works really well. I am not sure what is in it, but I try to take one measuring teaspoonful in cereal or on top of toast with a little bit of honey and butter. When I use the cinnamon, I then am able to take about half the insulin I normal would at that meal. Just don't take it before be. It will keep you up. But you can use it at any meal. Good luck to you.

  - LInda

• January 1, 2010 7:01 p.m.

  This comment is for the person that posted a comment about about their husband who is addicted to sweets. She signed "Annika". I just wanted to say that I have had juvenile diabetes since I was 11 (1976). 35 years now..I have made it to the ripe old age of 45. I used to be addicted to sweets too, and it took about five years for me to figure out what I am going to tell you. When You start keeping your blood sugars close to a normal range, (for me it is betwen 85 and 135) your sweet cravings start to dissapere. You also have to quit eating them because they are like heroin..you just keep waiting for that next "fix". But when I stopped eating them and also sugar free stuff, the cravings really started going away. When ever my sugar is high, anywhere from 180 to 400 I want nothing but sweets..My only other tip is to have him read the book "Protein Power". I think the author is a husband and wife team with the las name of "Eeads". To this day it is the best book I ever read and it has helped me tremendously with my diet. I hope this helps you and your husband have a better new year!

  - Linda

• January 1, 2010 2:11 p.m.

  Hey everyone, I'm 58 been tp2 for 8 years switched to insulin 1 year ago and it did a great job. Took on a big stressful project over last 4 months and levels became hard to manage I take 100 lantus & Humalog on sliding scale from the begining. Project is done and I still have horable readings 130 am up to 309 10 minuts ago I am eating properly. I,m I still stressed and don't know it? Get tested every 3 months last was not good at 8.1 but we agreed it was the stress. Any Ideas?

  - Denny

• December 28, 2009 9:39 p.m.

  My husband is type two diabetic and has been for over twenty years. He's already had quadruple bypass surgery, has lost sixty pounds, but, does not excercise. He also "loves and craves" sweets. He will eat two pieces of pie, two doughnuts, several cookies, and five scoops of ice cream, all in the same evening. I am scared, do not know what to expect next, although his doctor is pleased with his A1C's. How is that even possible? He does take insulin, does not check his blood sugar, ever! Help! is he addicted to sugar or is this psychological?

  - annika

• December 23, 2009 4:50 a.m.

  I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for about 2 years, I am wondering if getting hungry in the middle of the night is part of what can happen with diabetes, and if it is a good idea to go ahead and eat? Sometimes I get up and have a few bites of turkey. Thanks

  - Rita

• December 18, 2009 1:48 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with type 1 after I had panc fail due to a reaction to a drug and I also have MS Fibro digen disc disease and seizures and have several drug allergies that make treatment I have several diets for all the different issues and not a single one fits into the other the diabeties dr i saw wouldnt even hear about anything else but the diet he wants me to follow the biggest issue is since my panc has totally failed I cannot digest foods enough to eat anything that isnt very processed or raw veggies.

  - deno