Diabetes: November 2002 Archives

There's hope! But, I'll have to wait, unless I follow Mom's move and seek a European option. Read Wired News: Stem Cells Key to Diabetes Cure

I am pathetically depressed and overwhelmingly disenchanted with the medical establishment.

Today's visit to the Endocrine clinic was akin to going to a drive-thru staffed by drooling, paraplegic six-year-olds and one dyslexic nanny. The blood test I had done a week ago was lost, as was my medical file. And to top it off I am still pending for Medicaid. But that doesn't stop the bills from coming. They now top $40K. I think it would be cheeper for me to have some cotton candy, a hot fudge sundae and a Snickers bar. (<-- Check 'em out. They're fun links.)

I have been working for the last six weeks toward some hope of improvement. I have poked, prodded & stabbed every inch of virgin flesh. I have recored 210 test strips, logged 672 items of nutritional data and wasted countless hours on the net looking for answers. In the end, they couldn't tell me squat. So I did what I do. I went to a book store and here's what I found out:

I'm Type I - period. Late onset, yes. Uncharacteristic, yes. Unlike 90% of people with diabetes, yes. Unlike 90% of the people with Type I diabetes, yes. But I am Type I nonetheless. It seems that in extremely rare cases someone can actually "trigger" the disease by way of "free radicals" in the system or by a virus that has weakened the system. When this happens the immune system kicks in and starts attacking things it thinks are foreign. In my case it was my pancreas and my immune system started producing antibodies to attack it. What I didn't know, but learned while book shopping, is that once you start producing those antibodies you don't stop. That's it. Stick a fork in him. The best that I can hope for is a long Honeymoon phase but that's not too likely. Instead, I will just have to start dealing with the fact that I am now and due in large part to a poorly chosen diet, insulin dependent.

On a brighter side, I did find a book I liked called Natural Treatments for Diabetes.

Quote: "Although people with Type I diabetes must take insulin injections for life, with natural therapies it is possible to reduce insulin requirements." [source].

I'm not sure how this will effect me as I am on a relatively low insulin regimen as it is - maybe 18 to 20 units a day when eating a full diet. For comparison, the typical diabetic (if there is such a thing) needs approximately 40 to 60 units a day. Although I must be realistic and question if I'm not already in the Honeymoon phase. Either way, I plan on making good use of this book and its offerings.

On the 14th of November 2002 it was 8 weeks since I was taken to the hospital DKA a near coma. Since that time I have learned quite a bit about diabetes (both Type I & Type II) as they still don't know how to label me, believe it or not. I am hoping that on Wednesday when I go in for my 6 week (since last) follow-up clinic that they will have a better answer to this much sought after category.

Many might think that it doesn't really matter all that much. Either I take insulin or I don't. But its not that simple. The treatments may look similar on the surface but the long term solutions and "headaches" are very much different. In a Type I situation, you might as well remove your pancreas as it would serve better as a hood trophy for your car. In a Type II situation, you want to be careful to give the weak pancreas a chance to heal - unfortunately this is often in spite of other endocrine systems attacking it. Think of it as a "transplant" where the donor's organ is being rejected.

The real knuckle ball in my situation is that I fit the profile for a Type I. I am young, thin & healthy with good eating habits. The conflict is that I'm too old for Type I - often called juvenile diabetes. It should "hit" in the early 'teens at the latest. On the flip, I don't fit the profile for Type II at all. They tend to me overweight, over 50, have poor diets and some other health condition that adds to the weakness. It has been suggested, by Type Is that recover, that there is a 3rd classification - thin Type IIs, but the medical profession dismisses this as readily as a "curing the clap with OJ" suggestion. I'm not sure if the latter will work, but you see what I mean.

Anyway, I hope to lick this - either by beating it into submission or by natural "time" healing. We'll see & I'll update on Wednesday or Thursday as to what the black witches (doctors) say. :-)

Will Cross a high school principal in Pittsburgh travels around the world to raise awareness for diabetes. NY1 - Diabetic Walk to South Pole

The NovoLog Ultimate Walk to Cure Diabetes will embark on its journey across the Antarctic in November 2002. The Novolog Ultimate Walk