Archive for September, 2009
I’m more or less wondering since I inject my Lantus at 6:30 every morning, give or take a half hour here or there, how long should I wait to shower after injecting my insulin? I’ve read because of the hot water, the Insulin could absorb faster, thus resulting in a low. How true is this?
Never heard of that. My son has had diabetes for seven years and he has taken a shower right after taking insulin without any complicatons. He’s now on the pump and takes it off right before getting in the shower and puts it back on immediately after without going low.
Diabetes can cause sleepiness and is a common complaint among people who have not yet been diagnosed. Contact a doctor immediately if severe exhaustion occurs after taking diabetes medications and not eating with advice from a family nurse practitioner in this free video on diabetes symptoms.
Duration : 0:1:4
Intro video for Jay Hewitt, Ironman Triathlete with Type 1 Diabetes, motivational speaker, www.finishlinevision.com.
Duration : 0:3:47
http://www.PreOp.com
This program will demonstrate the use of insulin pens.
The goal is to inject the Insulin into the subcutaneous tissue between the top layer of the skin, the dermis and the underlying muscle layer.
Insulin pens are devices that can provide an easy way to carry and give insulin when away from home. Also, for people who are not comfortable working with syringes and bottles to draw up and measure individual doses, the pens provide a convenient and accurate alternative.
There are two types of insulin pens:
* those that are completely disposable after providing a single dose of insulin
* and those that use disposable cartridges to provide multiple doses.
* If you use more than one type of insulin, you must use a separate pen for each type. The basic method of use is similar for both pens and there are four main steps to be learned.
An insulin pen has three components.
* A base which contains the mechanism for measuring the correct dose.
* A holder for the cartridge of insulin
* and a cap, which is removed and replaced by the needle prior to the injection.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to remove the cap, separate the base from the cartridge holder by unscrewing it.
Rewind the base dose regulating mechanism back to zero and put down the base.
Pick up the cartridge holder. Shake out the used cartridge.
Check that the new cartridge contains the correct insulin and insert it, metal end first, into the holder.
Screw the cartridge holder back onto the base.
* Keep a record of all your injections and also record when you begin a new cartridge.
* Subtract the total insulin used in previous injections from the total of 150 units in each cartridge to be sure you have enough insulin left for the next dose.
Clean the end of the cartridge holder and the projecting cartridge with an alcohol swab.
Remove the seal from the end of the new needle unit. Don’t touch the exposed needle or allow it to touch any other object.
Screw the needle unit onto the end of the cartridge holder.
Pull the outer shield off the needle. Do not throw it away. You will need it later to remove the needle unit from the pen.
Pull the inner shield off the needle and discard it. Hold the pen upright and tap the cartridge holder to enable air bubbles to escape through the needle.
Dial the dose knob so that #1 is in the dose scale window and prime the pen according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Hold the needle upright. Press in the injection button at the end of the unit and check that insulin comes out of the tip of the needle. If no insulin is seen, continue to dial up one unit at a time and press the injection button until insulin is seen. A new cartridge may take 4-6 units before insulin flows.
Dial in your dose of insulin in addition to the units needed to produce the insulin flow. For example, if it took 4 units to start the insulin flow and your insulin dose is 20, the total in the dose scale window will be 24.
* Choose and clean the injection site as usual.
Pinch the skin and insert the needle through the skin at a 90Ë? angle. Press the injection button at the end of the needle and wait 5 seconds for the injection to be completed before removing the needle from the skin.
* The needle must be removed from the pen immediately after the injection is finished.
Place the outer needle shield that you had saved on the counter top with the opening facing up.
Without holding onto the shield, insert the pen needle carefully into the shield and push down firmly. Grip the shield and unscrew the needle from the pen.
Dispose of the shielded needle into the puncture proof container that you have reserved for your needles. Store all pens that are in use at room temperature.
Duration : 0:6:16
Not only is Type 2 Diabetes completely preventable, but it is virtually curable for anyone who is willing to put in the hard time and work and recovering their Insulin and leptin sensitivity.
Duration : 0:5:24
Lately I have been having a good amount of the symptoms for diabetes specifically T1 but I haven’t been loosing rapids of amount of weight at all. So should I get checked out even though I don’t have all of the symptoms?
Yes, it’s possible, and it’s even better to get checked out now rather than later. Early detection, before you start having symptoms, improves your chance of having a better outcome with the disease and catches it before it has done damage to your body. If you have any concerns I recommend seeing your healthcare provider ASAP.
I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow and due to my weight of 315 pounds and the fact that I would be considered morbidly obese with a BMI greater than 40, I will most likely be tested for Type 2 Diabetes. I wouldn’t be suprised if I do have it though.
The first test to do is called A1C. this is a simple blood test that most doctors do in their office in 5-10 minutes IF they have the equipment. if not, they will take a blood sample and send it to a lab for 2-3 days.
A1C Test measures the AVERAGE of your blood sugar over the last 90 days. NORMAL is between 5 and 6.
if the A1C is more than 7, the doctor may want a second test called Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT). This is a more complicated test. it takes longer (3-4 hours) and is a bit painful.
But GTT will give a definitive YES or NO answer, if the GTT says YES then you are diabetic and you need to start treatment immediately.
Some doctors use the Finger Stick Blood Glucose Test. They stick your finger, then take ONE DROP of blood into a handheld meter. The readings come back in 30 seconds. This is the same test diabetics do 3-4 times a daty to control their blood sugar.
The problem with this test is that it is affected by WHEN, WHAT, and HOW MUCH you’ve eaten. Therefore, for purposes of DIAGNOSIS it is unreliable.
Since the A1C was invented (3-4 years ago) the "Finger Stick" test should NOT be used for diagnosis. The Finger Stick test is for CONTROL only.
Given you weight, you should INSIST on getting an A1C test. If the doctor pricks your finger and puts blood into a HANDHELD METER, this is NOT an A1C test (it is the figner stick test). Insits that the doctor do the A1C test properly.
As well, you should insist that the doctor repeat the A1C test every 3-4 months. You might not have diabetes now, but you could start next week. The A1C test will catch diabetes early enough that you can begin treatment and avoid the damages diabetes causes — blindness, kidney disease, amputations, sexual dysfunctions.
And of course you know the drill — watch your diet, get more exercise, lose weight. Sounds like a broken record, but this is how you control diabetes. if you don’t already have it, this is how you keep it away.
My wife has type 1 diabetes. We are expecting our first child and have heard many of the wonderous medical miracles of cord blood. But can the cord blood be used by my wife to treat (or even cure) her type 1 diabetes?
This is NOT one of the "miracles" of cord blood.
There is some promising research into using stem cells to cure Type 1 Diabetes, but that work is still in its infancy, So far, diabetes has been cured with stem cells in a few lab rats. [ADULT stem cells were used, not embryonic stem cells] It is a LONG journey from lab rats to humans! IF this proves effective in humans, the testing, clinical trials, and FDA approval for treatment is still 20-30 years away.
The only thing that the two Types of Diabetes have in common is the fact that for both, poor control leads to elevated blood sugar levels, which can be very dangerous.
Type 1 is caused by an autoimmune disorder in which the body actually attacks itself and the Beta Cells in a portion of the Pancrease called the Islets of Langerhans are either totally or partially destroyed. These Beta cells are responsible for the production of Insulin, a hormone that is released in response to elevated blood glucose levels, which occurs following consuming food, particularly carbohydrates. Insulin acts like a key opening up gates or channels in the cells to allow for the uptake of Blood Glucose (Blood Sugar). Without this key, Blood Glucose cannot be taken up into the cells and the cells are then starved for energy. The Type 1 Diabetic does not produce enough insulin to adequately open these channels. They require insulin to be injected into their body since they do not produce it or enough of it naturally. Type one can be very hard to control however newer technology and insulin pumps have made control much easier and more possible.
Type 2 Diabetes is a result of a defect in the function of this “key” or insulin in opening the channels to allow glucose into the cells. One who has Type 2 does not have a problem making or releasing insulin rather the insulin they do release does not work properly. It is believed that there is a defect in the 2nd messenger system inhibiting the signal for the channels to move to the outer portion of the cell to allow Blood Glucose into the cell. Treatment for the Type 2 Diabetic is mainly related to diet and following a strict meal plan, limiting carbohydrates typically to about 40-50% of total calories and greatly minimizing simple sugars. If diet alone does not work medications increasing Insulin sensitivity may be necessary or other medications that may effect the livers production of glucose may be warranted.
One thing to keep in mind is that exercise will alter the confomation of the cells of the body allowing for them to take sugar in without the use of insulin and therefore should be considered by the Type 1 Diabetic when giving insulin. For the Type 2 Diabetic, it is a great tool to help control blood sugars.
we need ivf to have children and our only option,due to money, is to egg share. we went to a consultation and on the face of things it’s all good. but the questionaire we have to fill out asks if i have any Family History of Diabetes mellitus. my younger brother died as a result of cerebral eodema caused by ths condition, although we weren’t aware he was diabetic until it was too late.no one else in our family has or is diabetic so will this class as a family history and will it stop me sharing my eggs?
I’m no expert, but I don’t think so. The guidelines state they will stop you donating if there is a family history of genetic or inheritable diseases, but diabetes is not necessary inherited. Did he need Insulin for his diabetes, or just medication diet controlled? The non-insulin dependent diabetes has little family link – its more to do with age, weight and diet. As there are no other members of your family that are diabetic, I should think this was NOT genetic, and therefore should not be a problem. I would suggest speaking with them anyway, to put your mind at rest. They may carry out some genetic testing just to make sure before you donate your eggs. Good luck with it, its a great thing to do. I looked into it, but I do carry a inheritable syndrome in my genes so its a no go for me!
All the very best. x
