Diabetes is a medical condition that many people have to cope with these days. Here's a place to discuss those issues.

Hi
I have diabetes type 2, but suffer mostly with low blood sugar numbers or Hypoglycemia.


Kelly

Marking my place

Kelly...that's what my husband has too...as did his three sisters!  The oldest and only one still living is now 92 and she has a hard time keeping her numbers low.  It was over 300 at her last doc visit. 

It can sure be a hard condition to deal with. 

Jane

Hi Jane
Yes it can be difficult to live with.

I always take with me glucose tablets even on a walk.  And if out for the afternoon a sugary drink.

Kelly

The Diabetes Clinic gave me some of those tablets and I carried them in my purse for years.  Never  opened them so finally dumped them.  LOL

Hi WesternJoan
Since I have low blood sugar numbers, taking glucose tablets help me as it is a quick way of getting blood sugar levels increased.

Kelly

Who knows?

When you get the munchies, what is something to eat that satisfies but doesn't spike the sugar?

Jello makes some low or no sugar pudding cups that my son has been bringing in lately.

I munch on cashews.  Have no idea what my A1C is cuz after age 80 the Dr's here don't want to keep track of you.  They say "call if you need us".   Almost 3 years since I have seen my Dr.  No blood tests, nothing.

Really?  My husband is 80, and they pay attention to him....blood test about every 6 months for the kidney doc and his internal meds guy.  They do his A1c and the other stuff, including creatine (sp?).

Have you made an appointment for your yearly senior wellness exam, I think Medicare calls it.....what we used to call a physical? 

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-visit-and-yearly-wellness-exams.html


Yearly "Wellness" visits: If you've had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get this visit to develop or update a personalized prevention help plan to prevent disease and disability based on your current health and risk factors. Your provider will ask you to fill out a questionnaire, called a “Health Risk Assessment,” as part of this visit. Answering these questions can help you and your provider develop a personalized prevention plan to help you stay healthy and get the most out of your visit. It also includes:
A review of your medical and family history
Developing or updating a list of current providers and prescriptions
Height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements
Detection of any cognitive impairment
Personalized health advice
A list of risk factors and treatment options for you
A screening schedule (like a checklist) for appropriate preventive services. Get details about coverage for screenings, shots, and other preventive services.
This visit is covered once every 12 months (11 full months must have passed since the last visit).

Yearly "Wellness" visits --- But no "outside" tests. Lab, x-ray, etc.

The things done at a "Yearly "Wellness" visit" are things usually done by almost any good doctor in addition to tests the doc may see fit to do (blood work (PSA, A1c, etc), other "outside" tests).

Janr, hr told me last time I saw him to call if I needed him.  I haven't needed him so haven't called.

Every year in August I get a FULL PANEL appt. done. The take 2 tubes of blood. Do every test. My copy is about 2 pages. I have one Dr. that I have do it. Back in his office in 3 days. I then have him go over the list with me.. 
My Eye doctor. Every 6 months. ENT. once a year unless they have to check wax  buildup.
Mamo. and vain  and Arteries. done on Sona once a year. Bone scan.  Have done this for a long time.  I am a big believer in Prevention Medicine . Check whether need it or not.   

Hi Everyone
Is everyone here type 2 diabetes.

And do you have high blood sugar numbers or low blood sugar numbers.

I suffer with low blood sugars which result in hypos now and again.

Does anyone have hypo's.

kelly

I have Type 2 and when the Docs were checking my A1C it was usually 6.1

I have Type 2 that is, fortunately, manageable with dietary adjustments - mainly carefully watching carbohydrate count and spreading them out during the day.  I've successfully done this for 12 years
.
If I have problems, it's blood sugar going low- usually because I've waited to long to eat or didn't eat enough carbs at my last meal.  A piece of hard candy or a peanut butter sandwich fixes things in about 15 minutes.

One friend who has a worse problem with the hypo than I do keeps a can of frosting mix in the fridge.  She says the only problem with this is stopping with one spoonful.   I understand that!!! 

Hi CallieOk
With me the hypo's do not always respond with a sugary drink or chocolate.

Also I can eat as I am told little and often and watch when I exercise with walking on say one day and have no problem, but the next day I follow the same routine and very low blood sugars.

With having hypos, you can not predict when they will happen.

Kelly 

Very true,  Kelly - each person has different needs and reactions.  "Know thyself" and "Be prepared" are two old adages that apply to everyone.

Hypos are scary, aren't they?

Hi CallieOK
Yes hypos are scary.

I was diagnosed in 2009 with type 2, but I was having hypos for at least three years before that and I did not know what they were.

Kelly

My husband also has Type 2 as did all three of his sisters as they aged.  He was told by our great internal med doc who had the nerve to retire on us    40 yrs ago that Ray would eventually become a Type 2.  He was right.  It, unfortunately, also gave him kidney disease and so he sees a nephrologist every 5-6 months.  His A1c went down to around 6.6 from 7.2 when he started limiting his red wine in the evening.  His numbers stay in an acceptable range unless he's "overindulged" in some foods and he knows is numbers will be up. 

jane

Hi Jane
Thank you for sharing about your families Type 2 diabetes.

My A1c is usually near 8.0. but my lower reading can be 2.9-3.2.

Kelly

Seems like over half the population in the US now have been told to have Diabetes. Say it will just get higher and higher. Even children have come down with it more.  Many could be found to have it if they went and got tested. Don't know of any in my side of family but daughters both married into families where all seem to come down with it. Hope my Girls and their children watch close. Lot to do with diet and weight my Dr. says. Lack of exercise also.

My husband is 6'3" and has weighed 175 pounds for the last 40 years. He ran  marathons in the past and has always been very active....bicycling, swimming, walking, jogging, etc. before his knees and ankles said No More.  I think family genetics plays a huge role for many people, too.

I can only hope that my children never have it.  They all have different life styles guess we shall have to wait and see.

The good news is that it's easy to diagnose now.  And it's so much better than Type 1, it seems.   We have a friend who's had diabetes since childhood.  He now has to inject himself with insulin immediately after every meal.  When we eat out together, he has a syringe ornhis wife does and he injects himself in the thigh before we leave the table.   

Hi Jane
My friend's husband has to inject during the meal if he wants to have a dessert with his meal.  And check his BS numbers.

Kelly

I have a couple of different friends who have children with diabetes and they have been able to give the shots to themselves from being about 8years old.  Don't know if I could do it. I cringe just letting someone else Take blood or give me a shot.

Hi Everyone
Could you tell me what your low blood readings are if you have hypos please?

kelly

I normally run high but when I control myself and don't eat much I have run low. When I get down around 65 I start to get shaky. This most often happens when I get occupied with a job and lose track of the time and have exerted more than usual.  Then I get admonished by my wife for not paying attention to my health :-)

Hi Rammel
You must use different figures in America.

Average numbers here are  .5.5 mmol/L  to 7 mmol/L

But blow is below 4 mol/l

And mine are usually with hypos 2.9 mol/L - 3.1 mmol/L

Kelly