You hit every critical point. One addition - If you are in the hospital, ask for an endocrine consult. Many nurses and other specialists have no clue about diabetes.
@@alice_rabbit8345 I belong to an online diabetes group and the number of people that show up not having a clue how to manage this disease is unreal - referral to a CDE is usually the first piece of advice I give them
It really helps take away the stigma and the fear and give you a sense that this is actually manageable. My class was instrumental, and it was good to confirm what I already knew and see how far diabetes care has come since my grandfather was diagnosed in the 90s.
I was diagnosed in Dec 2020. Type 1 at 51. I spent 2 days in the hospital with DKA. Was given prescriptions for Lantus and Humalog. No real instruction. I still do not have an endo. I immediately started researching on line. Most of what I found initially was type 2 info. Then found this and a few other channels dedicated to type 1. I've had the Libre 2 for about a year now. and I'm MDI. My time in range is around 96% and last A1c was 5.5.
T1D for 46.5 years. Most important thing, IMO, is do not rely only on insulin! You MUST move, you must kick the insulin into gear. When I worked in several high rise buildings over a number of years, and didn't have the luxury of being able to just get up from my desk and sweat it out, I used to go on stairway walks in the building. One building I worked in for a couple of years, I was on the 21st floor. I took the elevator maybe three or four times my whole time there. Sometimes, when I needed to lower blood sugar during the day, I'd walk down to the lobby, and walk up to the top of the building, 49 floors. Usually, blood sugar dropped nicely when I did 25+ floors. Walking stairs, although not really pushing myself, just regular walking, was much more effective than going on a level ground walk.
I’m one of those people that the doctor said you’re a diabetic gave me a pill and sent me on my way no real help but a lot of criticism from her. I just found your channel I will definitely go back and watch more videos thanks
That is what happened to me when I was first diagnosed. The good thing is I already knew some about diabetes so I wasn’t totally flying blind. And with the help of my mom she guided me through the last 7 years of getting where I am today. I also have to say my new Endocrinologist has been a big help also. My last visit she wanted to try me without the pump for 2 weeks and do injections so that is what we are doing. She said i have had the best results that have come through her office in the past month. She was so proud of me. My A1C went from 7.1 down to 5.2 since February. And my weight has went from 180 down to 154.4. I am beyond proud of myself of how well I’ve done in the last few months and yes it all is because I have been on the pump and I changed to a low carb eating to the best of my ability. No its not been straight low carb but very close to it. I take very little insulin during the day and now I take my nightly injections of 44 units and she seems to think I will be able to lower that amount as time goes by.
I've been a type 2 diabetic for 10yrs. And insulin dependent for the last 3yrs. Plus I have 3 autoimmune diseases. In July of this year I opened up a 20yr old skin graft on my shin. I was on oral antibiotics and still got Sepsis 3different infection in my blood. I had a pic line for a month. And was on IV antibiotics. In the hospital for 17days days. Went home with a IV. All of the antibiotics ruined my stomach lining. Which made me loose 45pds. My A1c is down to 7.8 it was 10 in July. My blood sugar levels are under 200 constantly. As soon as I hit 180 I have a headache. I use the nurses sliding scale. I was a ER RN. The one thing most people don't realize is how tired you can get especially if you have other autoimmune diseases. Having had Sepsis has helped my blood sugar levels. I need less insulin now than ever before. I take Lantus 40 units. But during the day because I sleep best during the day. Humalog varies. The most lately 8units. I do what we are told not to do is to take the fast acting insulin after I eat instead of before. This actually is working better. The weight loss has also lowered my BP dramatically n in turn I got to lower my blood pressure meds in half. Even before Covid I avoided crowds and wear masks. It also takes a year for your body to recover from Sepsis. Longer if you are diabetic. I don't know which one is harder, lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis or Diabetes.
This happened to me now I see an Endrocrenologist. Unfortunately it caused me to needing two amputations, Kidney failure,and severe heart attack. Im on a pump now. Thanks This helps people on the fence. Don't rely on a General Practician for diabetes care. Ask for a person that specializes in Diabetes. Much Love and appreciation
great video and advice, thank you for this! i am new Type 2 and did not get all these instructions from my doctor at all. The biggest mishap i wasnt aware i would need was not the medicine, but he needles for the Pins and the Sensors. So expansive, i had no idea
Thanks for all this information. Here is some advice and my story. I got diabetes when i was 33. I was on Lantus and novolog, later switched to humalog (insurance reasons) and was on those for years, increasing every visit. My A1c at diagnosis was 11.2 i was put on all different types of trial medications. alot did help my sugars, but im so sensitive, i would get stuck in the restroom! I got a new endo when my last one retired a few months ago, and she just switched me to Humulin R U-500. OMG!! the difference is unvbelievable. I got a congratulations, well done for the first time! It wasn't me, It was my body rquired a different type of insulin.After meals, my BG would stay up for hours! No matter the amount i ate. it would just barely start to go down when it was time to eat again. I only ate two meals a day. My dr now wants me to eat 3 smaller meals a day. I am seeing 119-140 regularly! i just get up above 300 at the 2 hr after eating mark, but then com down. I always went up over 400 before, even to 500s sometimes. Im very insulin resistant. Im so glad that my new endo has tried me on the concentrated insulin, not only is it concentrated, its peak lasts longer, thats what makes the difference for me. I'm telling this story for maybe some ppl out there with my kind of issue, ask about Humulin R U-500. You aso should beup to 200 units of insulin a day or very close to that before they will switch you to the concentrated kind, but there is a regular humulin R U-100 non concentrated that peaks the same too if you are interested in asking about it but aren't close to 200 units a day. the 200 units a day includes both insulins. Good luck to all diabetics.
I've been reading your web site and watching your videos trying to learn something. I was diagnosed one week ago. I have no prior experience with diabetes. I was told to stay away from carbs and sugar, exercise, take Metformin and Atorvastatin, and have a nice day. I am trying to learn how to eat, how to stick my fingers, how to properly hydrate, etc. It is overwhelming! Just this morning, I ended up doing my finger stick wrong or something because it is bruised and hurts like all get out. I have no idea what I'm doing and feel like I'm in drowning!
I’m sorry you have to do all of this without the backing of your medical team. I would ask your doctor for a referral to a diabetes educator. You can learn a lot from reading and watching videos but working with someone 1:1 is powerful. Don’t be too hard on yourself, no one learns how to deal with diabetes in a week. It takes time and is more of a constant journey
@@DiabetesStrong Thank you for the reply. I will ask my doctor for that. I am starting to realize that I just need to calm down and learn how to deal with this journey one day at a time - at least, that's what I'm telling myself. I appreciate your words of encouragement. Thanks again and have a wonderful week ahead!
Hi Crystal. I like the way you deliver your information straight forward and to the point. You’re a real ‘GEM’ when it comes to T1 learning! Thank you:) ✌️🦋
When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was never told which type I had, given insulin with no education and then a number of pills until I was finally told I have type 2. Its very infuriating when you get people who aren’t drs but make themselves the I know everything about the illness and put you down when you don’t meet there standards.
I'm so sorry you weren't given the proper care when you were diagnosed. Hopefully, you've found a medical team that can truly work with you. And yes, the "Diabetes police" is really annoying
I was diagnosed with T2D and given a prescription for insulin and Mounjaro. I had no idea how to inject them or what to do with them - let alone titration! And what is an Endocrinologist and how do you get one. Thank God for TH-cam videos that taught me what my doctor should have!
Boy, are you a great find! I’ve learned as much about my T1D in six months as I did in the last 70 years that I’ve had my condition! Kudos to you!! Jon V
Choir member here. Virtually everything that I know about diabetes and managing it beyond sticking myself with a syringe I learned on my own by digging for it in books and articles. Few of the doctors that I've met including, endos, know as much about practical ways of managing it as their diabetes educators do, and those who don't have type 1 diabetes when it comes to the latest technology don't understand it as well as I do. I'm not smart, just motivated. You and I have big advantages over them: motivation, experience and living through the evolution of +20 years. I have one more: tech and buzzwords don't intimidate me at all. "Pump algorithms" are just procedures that don't do anything that we couldn't and wouldn't if we had the time and patience. CGMs use the same basic principle of a glucose reaction causing an electrical current as finger stick testers. A $50 smartphone that a 6 year old can use is more complex than a looped IIS. (So is one muscle cell.) You are lucky to have had the chance to experiment with more of the forms of diet, exercise, syringes and insulin analogs than I. You learned through broad experience what I had to learn cheaply and efficiently. The tech and tools are less important that knowing what they can do and using the best one for the situation. Michelangelo created the statue of David with imagination, care, mallet and chisels. We are the creators of our lifetimes with diabetes.
I'm so sorry to hear that, as I mentioned in the video, stories like yours absolutely infuriate me. And it happens far too often. I'm glad you finally have the proper medical support
Hi Crystal My diabetes was basically out of control on insulin. I was on a long term twice a day and mealtime adjustment several times a day (I got up to 110 units a day), but I was still up around 200 at bedtime. Then I lost my first toe for me that was enough to make me choose the keto diet and now in between keto (20 carbs or less per day, and no seed or vegetable oils) and carnivore. I'm sorry that did not work for you. My A1C's are 4.5 (last 4 tests, and extremely stable BG). I don't even have to BG check unless I'm being dense with food. I haven't taken insulin in 3 years. Accept when in the hospital and they gave me antibiotics with glucose in them and steroids so much that they had to give me insulin (Do they live on a different planet????). I'm actually using a Dexcom G7 short term (out of my pocket, if you don't take insulin, they don't pay. Thieves) to watch for dips in my BG once in a while I get cellulitis and I think my BG goes poof to about 40 and of course with an infection I get semi-conscience. But other than that my DIABETES IS REVERSED WITH FOOD. Yes I know it comes back it I eat like an idiot so I don't. I would rather change my lifestyle than stick needles in my belly. 😃God Bless You All with Diabetes
Thanks, from your videos and others that I watch, I am learning that I shouldn’t freak out over a high reading on my CGM. I also shouldn’t obsess when my CGM readings are different from my blood strip readings. There is a significant margin of error on both devices. I just note what it was that made it rise and what I can do to bring it back down. I learn and improve. Except fast drops below 70, trends are what to look for. I have a great doctor managing my diabetes. She looks at my bloodwork in detail to see what is happening to my liver and kidneys. My last A1C was 9.1. However, my readings tell me that I should expect it to drop next time. I’m slowly lowering the Bgl where I live.
Hi ! new subscriber here....Been living with Diabetes T1 for almost 16 years and I got to say your information was very on point ! It's definitely a learning experience, you have to see what works best for you. After my diagnosis I got a pretty good team of doctors but even they were not able to give me all the insight I needed. Also tons of ignorance going around.. a not so fun anecdote: right after I was diagnosed my parents tried to cut all carbs off of my diet thinking that would help me, ended up binge eating a bunch of sweet stuff in secret and almost got myself into a coma. Loved your video
Thank you for sharing that. And really good point on restrictive dieting. I've been there, and being overly restrictive isn't good for my mental health. Enjoy the videos 🙂
You are so right and what a good video! I was 67 when my pancreas suddenly quit. My GP logically assumed I was type 2. After about a year of being totally out of control, I went to a good Endo who figured out I was type 1. Beware! I tried another endo, who did NOT believe me and told me that type 1 was ‘juvenile’!! Make sure you get tested for your Type!!! Now that I have a Dexcom CGM, my A1C is below 7, but I still struggle with carb control & roller coasters.
I have been diagnosed around 3 months ago, I am Dutch but live in India. 2 months ago I went to a diabetic clinic and very quickly they diagnosed me with LADA diabetes, after several bloodtests
I was misdiagnosed for 2 years as a T2D. About 1 year ago, after having months of raging, uncontrollable blood sugars, and numerous conversations with my endocronologist about my eating habits, (which were good, but the implication was I was lying about it), he finally sent me for further testing. Turns out I'm a LADA. My endocronologist sent this news to me in an e-mail - on a Saturday - with no way to contact the office till Monday. I had never heard this term, did not know what it was an acronym for, or that this diagnosis even existed. I had never felt so abandoned in my life.
Oh no! I’m so sorry. Unfortunately, this is not surprising as I’ve heard many similar stories before. I know it’s hard to find an endocrinologist, hope I you found another one that you could build a good relationship with
I was very very lucky to have a great team when I was diagnosed. They said i was in fact Type 1, except I was in the 'honeymoon stage' so my pancreas was pumping a little insulin, but it would soon fail. I was on a mixed insulin but had to go to my Dr's office an absurd amount of times to be tested and taught. Soon I was put on Lantus and Novolog. They'd teach me about diet and nutrition, but also the reality of my crazy life. So they'd have me bring in food I'd normally get even if it had high carbs. They'd teach me how to adjust my insulin when I was going to eat certain foods, the lifespan of the insulin. Except I got extremely sick backpacking in Yosemite. I had to be flown out. I had an abscess and it caused me to be in DKA so bad. I was iver 700. I was at Dr's Medical Center and had a random hospitalist after I had surgery, which caused the DKA. He doubled my insulin doses which I initially declined. The nurse said i was being insubordinate. So I took it. Then they gave ne a "" diabetic dinner""🙄 zero carbs. In about ten minutes my sugar had dropped to 25 (this was not my dr or in my my own town). I have been blind before (double retina detachments) which have been repaired. I had very high blood pressure that wasn't caught, so that was mainly why. I havs had in 22 years two hypoglycemic seizures where I was unconscious. One time I was in the hospital after a major surgery. I ussd to be an EMT, and it amazed me how many people were given the diagnosis (1or2) without any information. I'd ask "what was your blood sugar?" they didn't have a meter. Or they were drooping fast and I'd say you need to drink this juice, and eat a piecs of toast or something to help to keep you from crashing and stabilize it. Often they'd ssy "no I can't have carbs" I'd have to quickly explain why. But it nade me me angry that others aren't taught vital information. I'd say the biggest thing they didn't stress to me, was how it would affect my mental health. The emotions, the exhaustion and how it would affect those closest to me. No matter how much others are told about it, or seen me go through things, sometimes you feel alone. They get a little bit frustrated with you. They don't feel the days you might have the pendulum swing from high to low and back. It makes you so exhausted even if you're not active those days. Makes us feel like a burden, when really we can deal with this every second of every day. I have to say, my CGM has been a great game changer for me. I have 4 Dr's and they have diabetes support groups where we can get together and discuss issues that only we understand. They make it fun. For instance ny bf heard my low alarm go iff, but we were about to eat lots of carbs. My diabetes is my business. He got nad at ne fir saying that, because he saud it's a part of his kife too. I explained yes, it's low but imt about to eat carbs so it will be fine. It's tricky with family. I only let then 'follow' my cgm when they're out of town, because we as diabetics deal wuth rhus sress at alk rumes, i don't need others to freak out wgen I'll havd it olanndd out and under control. My kast A1c was 6 also! I'm excited to check out the Omni pod!!!!!! I'm on a cgm now and am so familiar with my diabetes.. They didn't quute
Hi and thanks as always for fantastic education for us all. I have been diagnosed with type 1 for about 2 years now (LADA and honeymoon is officially over). I have managed with multiple daily injections. But I’ve also managed by not really living and micromanaging everything. I just went back to work and have the stress factor and I’m learning to deal with that. But the one thing that I really need to understand is about the types of foods people are able to eat and the number of carbs. I have been keeping records of all my meals and exercise, which I wait train twice a week and walk 4 to6 miles most days. That’s been my lifestyle my whole adult life and I’m 59 years old. But I have been living on 35 to 45 carbs per meal for only three meals and zero snacks. My ratio for breakfast is now about 2 to 3 times higher than for lunch and supper. But my question is this : can I ever have a cupcake? And bolus for it? Can I go to a restaurant and bolus for carbs that may seem enormous? For some reason I guess I thought I had to eat the same redundant meals. And I’ve been successful to have about a 6.1 A1c. But as I said I’m ready to live and travel and be able to go to my mom‘s house and visit and not bring my half a peanut butter sandwich with Dave’s bread and half an apple. I would like to eat more vegetables but some of them really raise my sugar. So I’m just wondering do people just bolus a lot of insulin when they know their ratios or maybe have one cheap meal every once in a while? Or do I continue just trying to tell myself that life is more than just the food? I would love to have a cupcake. Laurie what is being served and just calculate the carbs and bolus for it. And then my second question is this, do you get fatty or where you give the shots because of the amount of insulin or just the fact that there is any insulin at all there? maybe that’s been in my brain as a lifelong exerciser that I just was worried that adding more insulin would make more body fat. Thank you if you can help with these major things I need to know. And I have a good nurse practitioner and dietitian at my endocrinology office, but they are always vague when I ask about eating a cupcake. Thanks for this and all your continued support for all of us with type one! You really are the best source of information out tHere and I do have Ph.D, so I know whereof I speak. Have a wonderful day!
Thank you for the kind words. This is a challenging condition, even for really smart people 🙂 The short answer is Yes, you can choose to have a cupcake or whatever else you’d like to eat. Those who don’t, are people who choose not to. Getting your dosing right will require a little work but it can be done (and to your point your goal is not to only eat cupcakes). First thing is to understand the carb count and your ratios (and yes, they’ll differ a lot depending on the time of day), then the food composition and dosing timing. For a high glycemic food like cake, you’ll probably want to pre-bolus fairly aggressively, increase your dose due to the amount of fat and potentially do a dual dose, again because of the fat content. I think this article might help explain dosing for fat diabetesstrong.com/dosing-insulin-for-dietary-fat/ And finally, I belong to the school of thought, that an occasional treat is 1000% okay 🙂
My biggest problem is heat. I live on the Gulf on 40 acres with a huge bayou running through it. It may sound interesting but I grew up in the mountains with winters almost as long as my summers now. My diabetes doc is a godsend and very much like my wife and is wonderfully kind and patient with me. She knows my diabetes goes crazy with the extreme heat and humidity down here. She calls me and if she doesn't like what she hears, I get sent to the ER. She knows how my brain works and knows I'm a character. I went back to graduate school at Tulane in my late 50's. I have 2 siblings that are surgeons and I guess I'm a underachiever? Sorry, this message is too wordy. I'm just very perplexed by my diabetes. I'm a retired analyst but I can't figure out a solution for my problem. Except drinking fluids and staying in the AC. Other then moving or succumbing to it because I've reached the average life expectancy for a non-diabetic. I use double the insulin as the temp climbs above 90. I tested myself for 3 months this past winter with a 1,200 - 1,500 calorie diet and many other tweaks and my A1C went to 5.5 and I took no meds. I might see what happens in July and August trying the same torture to see where my numbers go. I'm sure my doc will not be happy I played Russian roulette with my life. I see her next week and I'll find out! Thx, a million for caring.
This is all very good information....really good. I didn't read all of the comments, but one thing it took me a while to figure out as a Type 1 diabetic after 35 years (?) is figuring in how your insulin is going to work according to your physical activity. I like to think about diabetes as a three dimensional chess game board. The three main things are food intake, activity and insulin dosage. If I've been on the treadmill for an hour, it's going to affect and push the effectiveness of my insulin and cover of food intake.....it's just one of the finer points of managing my sugar and understanding it. I've always said that if I was going to have to choose a chronic disease, this would be the one, because you can manage it to a healthy outcome unlike some other diseases. Thank you for your videos.....my husband doesn't believe me when I tell him some things about how I'm managing my diabetes, but when he sees someone else saying the same thing, he'll listen......
Glad you like the videos (and that it can make your husband listen 😉). And agreed, exercise and diabetes is an interesting equation to figure out and master
Hello Crystal. This, I’m afraid is going to be a long comment. First, my son and I are new to your channel. You have helped us a great deal. He was diagnosed at the age of 28. He’s been Type 1 for many years, and wasn’t taking care of himself. In 2019, he had some eye issues, and found out his A1C was 10. He’s now 56. He has 6 different Drs. He’s living with me now, and we’re doing ok. He has an Endocrinologist, and sees him about every 3 months. His A1C is 7 right now. He was wearing the Libre 2 for a couple of years, but now is new to the Dexcom 6. Something I think, is a problem, is that everyone wants him on the pump, including his Diabetic Dr. 11:04 👍🏻He is having some memory issues, and is seeing a Neurologist. We have the pump in our possession, but is waiting for the class. The pump teacher is having him learn carb counting first. I watched your video on why you don’t wear a pump. We are going to go through the class, but like you said, it isn’t for everyone. I’m thinking it will be a lot of work, due to his other health issues, and I will be helping him. I’m 76, and somewhat of a caregiver to him. He can no longer drive. He has 6 Drs. and a lot of appointments. I just want to say your videos have been a great help to us. Especially yesterday, when we had to change the Dexcom for the first time. Thank you, Crystal for your great, informative videos on the diabetic journey.
Sounds like he’s doing much better managing his diabetes with your help. That’s great, congrats to both of you. And I’m glad my channel has been helpful. I’m glad you’re going to the pump training, it might be the right option, but again you might find it’s not. But there’s only one way to find out, right 🙂 I do want to add that if you try it and then decide it’s not the right solution after all, it’s okay to go back to insulin pens. Insurance will allow you to switch back. Just a thought. All the best
@@DiabetesStrong Thank you for answering me. One thing Im concerned about is scar tissue in his stomach from so many injections. He does move his injections in different areas of his stomach. He is not a big person, so his leg area is thin. He’s 5’ 4” and weighs about 153. Have you ever experienced scar tissue problems? Thanks.
@@margieneary272 I don't have any scar tissue, but I think it's a valid concern. You don't have to use the stomach though, injections as well as infusion sets can also be at the back of the arm, thighs, or lower back
Excellent video Crystal. I've been type 1 since 1991 also. I was not unaware of the issues at that time.I had just finished an Internal Medicine residency. I started a Dermatology residency the next year. Your video has great points. I've only used MDI injections. No pump. Dexcom G6 for 4 years. Been averaging 6.2 HbA1C for the last 4 years. Last Feb. had a 6.6. I was bummed. But last week I was back to 5.9.!!! Zero retinopathy after 31 years. Great ideas. Hang in there doing what you do. Love your message ma'am.
I was diagnosed by in office A1C test not taught anything finally put on insulin and still not taught anything the only CDE they let me talk to had been a pharmacist, she called me weekly and changed my basal insulin, then once also on bolus insulin they called every three days, I also have Multiple Sclerosis, this dr. never did lab work the entire year I saw him. My new Endo has been much better.
I was diagnosed as type 2 but was type 1. A1C more than doubled 1 year later and lost over 60 lbs (as my husband told me, I was too skinny and I have never been skiiny in all my life, never mind ‘too skinny’. Downside of the misdiagnosis? Some neuropathy. I feel both disgusted and scared sh_t less when I touch my right toe. I try not to think about it bcs it used to literally haunt me every night and I would mentally downward spiral into this agonizing depression. On the positive side,, since being on insulin, thought not a bad thing….constipation does not exist. For some reason insulin regulates me.
Great video! I would say that continuous monitoring is the key. You can decide properly only if you know where you are with you BG. Another important suggestion I would give to a new diagnosed T1D: prepare a lot of checklists (and keep them updated). One for every situation that can occur in life (going to the gym, at school, traveling...). If you do so, you won't need to remember each time what to do or what to bring with you. It will make you feeling more confident. It's like following yowr own personal recipe.
My family doctor diagnosed me with type 2 with a simple failed fasting glucose even though my A1C was 5.7. I have had reactive hypoglycemia since I was a child and refused that diagnosis. They look at my obesity and say it's type 2, but there's Lada, Mody 1-5, pancreatic issues, liver issues, kidney issues, thyroid issues, and more. My beta blockers are a hyperglycemic too. First endo I saw said he suspected lada cause of what my charts were showing and that metformin was dropping me into dangerous hypos. He wanted me on Libre and possible a weekly insulin but I was never able to get back to him cause Covid. Family doc at this time gave me the "you're type 2, I know how to treat them" lecture but never listened to me about what I thought it was. Doesn't help one whit that Canada only really recognizes type 1 and 2 and gestational. Please note: I never had gestational. Second one wanted me to take a carb blocker and all I did was fart around (side effect of the carb blocker). I tried keto and IF before I even met up with the third one who said if I did IF for 2 months, I could lower my a1c from 6.9 and loose weight. Yah, my A1C went down to 6.4, but nothing else because the beta blockers have to be taken with food. She was also a bitch who refused to use my mmol/dl numbers because I was in the US now so I had to use US numbers. She also refused to keep me on a libre or script a dexcom or anything to watch my numbers. The conversion factor of 18 was too much for her! She didn't even consider that my mother died of pancreatic cancer, nor that there is a family history of severe kidney disease, information I found out after I saw the first endo. I see a fourth one later this month. My beta blockers have caused my A1C to rise to 7.5. I hit 400/22mmol/dl a couple of weeks ago. I felt off and decided to test and when I saw how high that was, I know how my body reacts and was sure I'd been in a crash soon and I was. I know I don't have type 2. I have something else and it is driving me nuts because all the doctors, nurses, etc I have seen immediately say "type 2." *pulls hair out* if I was type 2, metformin would not have been an issue. I eat better here than I did in Canada and still my numbers are getting worse. I could scream.
Just being realistic, what kind of health insurance would allow someone access to the additional tests (antibody and c-pertide tests)? Most doctors, I would surmise, would not even prescribe these tests because their insurance (probably HMOs) do not cover such additional tests. But I agree, most doctors are not diligent enough in doing the right thing for their patients.
The day I was diagnosed with type two, it was right as h1n1 reached its peak where I lived. They had me in an isolation room in the hospital because the symptoms were flulike. They ended up checking my a1c.
My Otalogy Neuro treating me for meniers (inner ear fluid/rocks in ear out of balance) which causes virtigo and dizziness put me on an almost zero salt diet for the past month and for at least 3 more weeks. The problem I have at night if I it a low, and I will if I dont snack enough before bedtime is what to use to bring the blood sugar up and stabilize til morning. I used to eat a peanut butter sandwich b4 bedtime and cheese and peanut butter crackers along with a glucotab to stabilize at night. Since almost all crackers and peanut butter are high in sodium i am struggling as to the best way to correct with this diet.
If you consistently go low overnight you want to discuss your long-acting insulin dose with your doctor. We only go low if we have too much insulin onboard. Until then you could try a piece of fruit instead of the crackers and still add the peanut butter to prolong the blood sugar impact
I wish mine stayed within 180. It's getting better for over a year I was averaging being 250-500 readings after barely eating anything for majority of the day. I was sensitive to anything I eat or drink even when I took insulin. Now I'm on a by carb and correction chart. It's helping stabilizing my blood sugar levels but I tend to be high for at least a few hours before it stabilizes. I was diagnosed with Type 1 at 30 years old. I started with an A1C of 8.5. Over the year with testing every 3 months I was averaging over 10.2 A1C. I am also using a Dexcom G6 glucose monitor but I notice there's a difference in readings between the Dexcom and my Acucheck meter readings so I'm not sure which to really rely on. But I plan to switch to Omnipod within a month or so hoping that will help my numbers. I'm still grasping onto straws on how to manage my diabetes. Sometimes I just want to give up. Diabetes is such an expensive and depressing thing to have.
It can be tough. Hopefully getting Omnipod (5?) will help you. Adjusting your insulin to your needs can be a lot of work but the pump can be a great tool to help you with that
@@DiabetesStrong Yes, we were discussing starting the Omnipod 5. They just changed up the way I take insulin which is a by carb and correction chart. It seems to have improved my numbers dramatically in the last 5 days I’ve tried it. She’s having me monitor my numbers with the dexcom g6. Sometimes I notice the blood sugar numbers are a bit different between my acucheck meter and and dexcom at times. I did recalibrate it a couple times when it was drastically off. Otherwise there’s usually 10 or so points off but it could be because there’s a difference between poking your fingers and having the dexcom on the arm.
I am convinced that if you were on a low carb / keto diet that it wasn't the low carb diet itself which caused your insulin resistance. Hopefully someday you'll try it again and share the results with us.
I think it was the amount of fat that lead to the insulin resistance rather than the carb amount. That's actually one of the few things I agree with the high-carb low-fat movement on 🙃 My problem would be getting enough calories just from carbs and protein. Maybe someday but for now I'm happy with my varied diet
@@DiabetesStrong Thanks for all the great content on your channel, it has helped me a lot and I share your vids. Being a LADA has been almost a walk in the park because of the content here on TH-cam. Dr. Berg, Dr. Berry, Dr. Bernstein, Dr. Ekberg, yourself, and others change the game
@@colleenluciow7914 Well, in my case, I'll be honest with you; I haven't gotten my C-Peptide done yet. However, keto has taken me down from around 195 to 5-12 units a day. Was DKA in the ICU with a BG over 500 so likely not producing any insulin.
@@DiabetesStrong also referring to @5:04 From what I’ve read & maybe understand, a NAFLD diagnosis would describe insulin resistance in the toxic/excess presence of cellular (both liver and muscle) fat. When you were experimenting w/ low-carb/keto, did you ever asses your lipid panel, or other imaging of the liver? Also, have you ever had an insulin-resistance test? My Dad is thin like you but seems to be insulin resistant (c-peptide normal, 10 basal insulin U) ... but he’s “controlled”, in that, instead of fasting at 90 mg/dL he’s at 150-170, w/ excursions to 200+ (if keto) 300+ (if balanced macros). A second clue of his possible resistance is muscular weakness & nearly zero endurance. Seems to not be storing glycogen? (just last year he was quite physically active). Your thoughts?
Ty for this video and I liked your annoyance animation I’m still riding the rollercoaster but I’m still on the newly diagnosed bandwagon so I’m still learning.
I was told when I was 25 that I had type 2 diabetes. I am now 47. I had a type 1 diabetic the other day tell me all I had to do to get rid of diabetes was stop eating carbs. Unfortunately for me my blood sugar goes all over the place with every little chamge I make in my diet.
Love this, I was also misdiagnosed as T2 because of age. Took several years and a C-peptide test to get the correct diagnosis. Every day is different is probably the biggest lesson I had to learn. For me a Tandem pump and a lot of tinkering has made a world of difference.
Ok, my private doctor wanted my to get on a cgm. So i got the VA to give me the dexcom g7 starting back in dec 3023. I figured out how to make a bedtime profile and set it up so i only would get woken up if i was low or critical low. But no one has told me how to interupt the data it collects. Can you direct me to a resource to help me with this? BTW, love your videos.
I think the only way to delete the data is to uninstall the app and remove the data from your phone (for example if you have it connected to Apple Health).
Great video. I watched this just after watching the latest FlavCity (with Bobby). He’s well meaning but doesn’t know diabetes, and his advice is t all that good. I really appreciate Diabetes Strong because you’ve walked the walk. You really understand one size doesn’t fit all and I find your advice/suggestions to be really sound. I’ve been type 1 since 1970. You are certainly capable of teaching an old dog new tricks. 😀
I ate a pound of chocolate fudge from Boscov at 8:PM setting in their parking lot. The next morning at 8:AM my girlfriend tested my blood sugar. It was 99. This happened about 2 years ago.
You started this video questioning whether doctors correctly diagnose diabetes as either type 1 or 2. But I disagree. Beg your doctor to diagnose you as type 2. That's because insurance companies and Medicare limits the medications they cover based on either type 1 or type 2 diagnosis. For example, my A1c plummeted after I added Ozempic to my insulin regimen. Ozempic has only been approved for type 2 diabetics, not type 1. Ozempic and similar medications cost about $12,000 annually. That is a significant amount for fixed-income diabetics like myself. After a while, my doctor switched me to a similar drug, Mounjaro (about the same cost). It's nearly impossible to even treat insulin-dependent diabetes without some insurance. After I added Ozempic to my treatment, my insulin dosage decreased by 50%. Before turning 65, I paid cash for my insulin; the annual cost was $35,000 (if purchased in the USA). So before I qualified for Medicare, I saved 50% of $35,000 or $17,500 annually. Luckily I live in Arizona and can drive to Mexico, where the same Eli Lilly insulin costs only $2,500 annually. That's a 95% savings by buying the same medication outside the USA. If you have health insurance, the USA offers excellent healthcare. But if you don't work for a company that offers insurance, you must know where to buy the same drugs for far less money. This is true for many drugs, such as Eliquis. But Ozempic is not available in Mexico (yet). That's why you want to be a type 2 diabetic and not a type 1 diabetic. If your target audience is aimed at diabetics lucky enough to have insurance, then you are right on. But for those Americans who can't get insurance, I suggest you add cost considerations to your videos. Remember, many companies won't hire diabetics because their group insurance costs increase. Companies won't admit to this type of prejudice.
My CGM gives me on average 1.5 + different reading compared to my finger sticking I contacted the CGM manufacturers they told me that this was in range, I asked them which reading should I trust, I was told both. Please
Diabetes is a very complicated diseases to deal with. It takes away your freedom to eat what you like without worrying. The complications are brutal. There should be more aim for a complete cure. I’m not diabetic but I feel for people who are. Good luck to everyone to be able to manage this hideous disease
Definite YES to the first point - Doc: "Hey you've got type 2 because you're a few kg overweight." A year later and now underweight. "Yeah, strange you're not in remission" Another year and seriously underweight, a1c going up despite being Keto: "Hmm, maybe you're LADA" Another 8 weeks: "Oops, we just found your test results. Yeah, you're LADA. Here's some insulin and a Libre, now off you go" Nothing short of negligence is what it is
I think it’s more nuanced than a simple yes or no to that question. But high level yes, you can manage blood sugars to target with insulin without following a specific diet or exercising.
Found this in my files from years ago... Sad part is I have heard almost all of them. The top 29 most annoying things to say to people with any type of diabetes: 1. My grandma had diabetes. She lost her leg, then she died. (Thank you, that’s inspiring!) 2. You’ll die if you eat sugar, right? 3. You have diabetes? You don’t look that fat. (Gee, thanks….) 4. You take insulin? Oh, you must have the bad kind of diabetes. (Really? What’s the good kind?) 5. Your child has diabetes? Did they get it because you fed them too much candy? 6. Oh my god, you have to take shots every day? I’d die if I had to do that. (Well, I’d die if I didn’t.) 7. Doesn’t that hurt? (Um, yeah, it’s a sharp object going into my body. Duh!) 8. Well, that sounds better than something like leukemia. 9. Oh my god, can you eat that? You can’t eat that! 10. That’s the disease that causes you to lose your legs, right? 11. I heard you can cure that with diet and exercise. (Great, that sounds so easy!) 12. I eat so much sugar, I’m probably gonna give myself diabetes, too! 13. So you just have to avoid sugar, and you’re okay, right? 14. Why don’t you get a pump that just manages it for you? 15. My friend’s daughter has one of those pump things that just manages it for her. 16. Are you allowed to eat that? (Is it your job to police me?) 17. You just have to take insulin sometimes, and you’re okay, right? (Yup! It’s that simple.) 18. They say cinnamon can level your blood sugars. 19. They say __(any random food)__ can level your blood sugars. 20. Your kid has diabetes? Well, at least he can grow out of it. 21. You have diabetes and celiac disease? Geeeez, how many diseases do you have? 22. You have diabetes? But you look normal. (You mean my freaky diabetes features haven’t shown yet?) 23. So you just have to, like, manage it and you’re fine? (Yup, except the “manage it” part is kind of huge!) 24. You have diabetes? But it seems like you take such good care of yourself? 25. You need to exercise more and you can cure it. 26. You’ll die if you have children, right? Like Steel Magnolias? (Nope, thanks a lot, Julia Roberts!) 27. Ewww! You have to take shots? That is so gross! (Um, thanks…but it keeps me alive.) 28. Well, it’s your fault, right, for eating too much and not exercising? 29. Oh, you have diabetes? That sucks! (Yes, thanks for reminding me!)
I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age 54 ,I have been accused of alcohol and drug abuse which none of that is true. My doctor has confirmed that actually, I’ve been accused of drinking and drugs since the age of 14 because I slur my words at times I went into the hospital because I passed out and they did over 15 drug test on me did not find any drugs in me, my diagnosis was I was thick blood and lazy that was before I was diagnosed as a diabetic six months later I went to a different emergency room because I wasn’t feeling well. He never accused me of anything he took some bloodwork. He asked me if I was a diabetic I said no and he said to me, you really need to be tested. 81C which I did and they said I was a diabetic to based on my age. My diabetes is not in control, but they say my A1c is good based on my numbers which I don’t understand nobody ever looks at my numbers I have highs and lows and when the average them out comes out to be an OK A1c, I’m not overweight and I’m sick of others telling me I’m on drugs or drinking when I’m not I’m 58 years old and I know there’s alcohol and drug abuse out there but you could take a drug test on me any day of the week and I don’t abuse anything. I feel horrible all the time, the doctors don’t listen to me they just keep telling me that my A-1 C is great and it’s good that I’m not heavy but I keep asking them about the highs and lows back in 2019. I was accused by two police officers that I was on drugs or drunk they wouldn’t believe that I was a diabetic, and that time I was newly diagnosed to be honest with you I hate being a diabetic I’ve live so much trauma to those two police officers that put their hands on me and put over 54 bruises on me because they wouldn’t believe that I was a diabetic and I did get mouthy with them but that still didn’t give them good cause to arrest me for drug use in Monday did the drug test and alcohol test? Everything was negative. I hate being a diabetic. My mood swings are terrible. Like I said this is been going on for many years of my life, but nobody caught it, I was a diabetic when I was pregnant but they said that came with being pregnant in to be honest with you. I don’t know what to do about my diabetes I beg and beg for somebody look at my numbers but they don’t. Sincerely, Deborah.
Sometimes my blood sugar will not go down after exercise. This really upsets me. Blood sugar is higher all through the night after exercise as well. Even an just doing 40 minutes on my bike. Any thoughts?
That does sound frustrating. Usually, exercise makes us more insulin sensitive the hours after. I can’t tell you why your body gets that stressed out from exercise but I think I’d focus on getting enough food, insulin, and liquid to manage your body’s stress response. You could also play around with your insulin levels during your workouts to try and reduce the rise
@@DiabetesStrong Thank you for your reply. I think it’s just my body. It’s been through the medical wringer! I am a kidney transplant recipient. My hormones are Super messed up as well. 6-years ago when I crashed, doctor told me I was type 2. 6-months ago, I was told I was type 1. Medical system! Ugh!
@@DiabetesStrong I have taken my health into my own hands. I’m doing better with my WILL and Brain, that God gave me! Than any doctor had done for me. I’m a bit of a Phoenix! Thank You for all you do! I only trust those who walk the path! ❤️
My fast acting insulin recently is not taking affect until after it supposed to already be out of my body my fast acting insulin has not been taking affect until six maybe seven hours after I have taken the insulin what’s up with that
An A1c of 6.1% equals an average blood sugar of 128 mg/dl. There’s no clinical evidence that going lower makes any difference when it comes to potential complications and this goal allows me to live a normal life. But it’s okay to have a different goal
@@DiabetesStrong your data are old and taken form the wrong source. ADA is sponsored by the food industry and as such tends to like us eating food products they make.Clinical studies need sponsors, they are paid by those who are not interested in us taking less medications and being more healthy. No $$$ in it. I went form 5,8% to 4,7% and got rid of neuropathy, numbb toes and no need to sleep with hand braces any more. You can do whatever you want, but giving the advice that 6,1 is O.K. is not good.
11:30 Your diabetes does NOT have to be with you for ever! You can probably reverse your diabetes by simply losing weight, as I did. I was never told by any medic, I found out by accident. The presenter admits to not being a medical professional, so she needs to get up to date with her information, or leave the advice to someone who understands diabetes and how to reverse it.
Not all types of diabetes can be managed without medication/insulin. I do not have an insulin production (type 1 since 1997) so if I stopped taking my insulin I’d be dead within a few days. You can’t assume everyone is in the same situation as you
I have the DEXCOM G6 for 5 days now and I’ve been experiencing nausea n a lot of gas after eating that the gas makes me nausea .. could it be I’m allergic to the insert DEXCOM G6? I lost 4 lbs already cause I’m on track of the high n lows of sugar.. could u get back to me please.. thank U
I don't know but sounds like you might want to check in with your doctor. If you're concerned about an allergic reaction I would take the sensor off right away. Sorry to hear you're going through this
Stop eating sugar and get you a stationary bike and exercise and you will be amazed at how your blood sugar will be controlled I use Splenda and eat sugar free candy.
I am shock I call my freeStylelibre 2 Company to see if I could get a free sensor because mine fell off with 6 days left on it after answer a few questions there going to send me a new sensor you have been very informative thank you.
You hit every critical point. One addition - If you are in the hospital, ask for an endocrine consult. Many nurses and other specialists have no clue about diabetes.
Great addition. Thank you
Anybody that's been given a diabetes diagnosis (regardless of type) should be immediately and automatically referred to a diabetes educator (CDE).
I agree! I was referred to one immediately and it was very helpful. I was diagnosed LADA 5 years ago and still see her every 3-4 months.
@@alice_rabbit8345 I belong to an online diabetes group and the number of people that show up not having a clue how to manage this disease is unreal - referral to a CDE is usually the first piece of advice I give them
👏 YES! Education is everything
It really helps take away the stigma and the fear and give you a sense that this is actually manageable. My class was instrumental, and it was good to confirm what I already knew and see how far diabetes care has come since my grandfather was diagnosed in the 90s.
🤣🤣🤣yeah right
I was diagnosed in Dec 2020. Type 1 at 51. I spent 2 days in the hospital with DKA. Was given prescriptions for Lantus and Humalog. No real instruction. I still do not have an endo. I immediately started researching on line. Most of what I found initially was type 2 info. Then found this and a few other channels dedicated to type 1. I've had the Libre 2 for about a year now. and I'm MDI. My time in range is around 96% and last A1c was 5.5.
Great job! I'm glad you're doing well
T1D for 46.5 years.
Most important thing, IMO, is do not rely only on insulin!
You MUST move, you must kick the insulin into gear.
When I worked in several high rise buildings over a number of years, and didn't have the luxury of being able to just get up from my desk and sweat it out, I used to go on stairway walks in the building.
One building I worked in for a couple of years, I was on the 21st floor. I took the elevator maybe three or four times my whole time there.
Sometimes, when I needed to lower blood sugar during the day, I'd walk down to the lobby, and walk up to the top of the building, 49 floors. Usually, blood sugar dropped nicely when I did 25+ floors. Walking stairs, although not really pushing myself, just regular walking, was much more effective than going on a level ground walk.
You r an inspiration to thousands of diabetics people like me. From pune, Maharashtra, india namaskar 🙏🏻
I’m one of those people that the doctor said you’re a diabetic gave me a pill and sent me on my way no real help but a lot of criticism from her. I just found your channel I will definitely go back and watch more videos thanks
I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope you find the channel useful, and if possible, can find a new doctor
That is what happened to me when I was first diagnosed. The good thing is I already knew some about diabetes so I wasn’t totally flying blind. And with the help of my mom she guided me through the last 7 years of getting where I am today. I also have to say my new Endocrinologist has been a big help also. My last visit she wanted to try me without the pump for 2 weeks and do injections so that is what we are doing. She said i have had the best results that have come through her office in the past month. She was so proud of me. My A1C went from 7.1 down to 5.2 since February. And my weight has went from 180 down to 154.4. I am beyond proud of myself of how well I’ve done in the last few months and yes it all is because I have been on the pump and I changed to a low carb eating to the best of my ability. No its not been straight low carb but very close to it. I take very little insulin during the day and now I take my nightly injections of 44 units and she seems to think I will be able to lower that amount as time goes by.
Well done 👏 You're doing great!
I've been a type 2 diabetic for 10yrs. And insulin dependent for the last 3yrs. Plus I have 3 autoimmune diseases. In July of this year I opened up a 20yr old skin graft on my shin. I was on oral antibiotics and still got Sepsis 3different infection in my blood. I had a pic line for a month. And was on IV antibiotics. In the hospital for 17days days. Went home with a IV. All of the antibiotics ruined my stomach lining. Which made me loose 45pds. My A1c is down to 7.8 it was 10 in July. My blood sugar levels are under 200 constantly. As soon as I hit 180 I have a headache. I use the nurses sliding scale. I was a ER RN. The one thing most people don't realize is how tired you can get especially if you have other autoimmune diseases. Having had Sepsis has helped my blood sugar levels. I need less insulin now than ever before. I take Lantus 40 units. But during the day because I sleep best during the day. Humalog varies. The most lately 8units. I do what we are told not to do is to take the fast acting insulin after I eat instead of before. This actually is working better. The weight loss has also lowered my BP dramatically n in turn I got to lower my blood pressure meds in half. Even before Covid I avoided crowds and wear masks. It also takes a year for your body to recover from Sepsis. Longer if you are diabetic. I don't know which one is harder, lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis or Diabetes.
This happened to me now I see an Endrocrenologist. Unfortunately it caused me to needing two amputations, Kidney failure,and severe heart attack. Im on a pump now. Thanks This helps people on the fence. Don't rely on a General Practician for diabetes care. Ask for a person that specializes in Diabetes. Much Love and appreciation
Glad you’re now getting the right medical care. Thank you for watching
great video and advice, thank you for this! i am new Type 2 and did not get all these instructions from my doctor at all. The biggest mishap i wasnt aware i would need was not the medicine, but he needles for the Pins and the Sensors. So expansive, i had no idea
Thanks for all this information. Here is some advice and my story.
I got diabetes when i was 33. I was on Lantus and novolog, later switched to humalog (insurance reasons) and was on those for years, increasing every visit. My A1c at diagnosis was 11.2 i was put on all different types of trial medications. alot did help my sugars, but im so sensitive, i would get stuck in the restroom! I got a new endo when my last one retired a few months ago, and she just switched me to Humulin R U-500. OMG!! the difference is unvbelievable. I got a congratulations, well done for the first time! It wasn't me, It was my body rquired a different type of insulin.After meals, my BG would stay up for hours! No matter the amount i ate. it would just barely start to go down when it was time to eat again. I only ate two meals a day. My dr now wants me to eat 3 smaller meals a day. I am seeing 119-140 regularly! i just get up above 300 at the 2 hr after eating mark, but then com down. I always went up over 400 before, even to 500s sometimes. Im very insulin resistant. Im so glad that my new endo has tried me on the concentrated insulin, not only is it concentrated, its peak lasts longer, thats what makes the difference for me. I'm telling this story for maybe some ppl out there with my kind of issue, ask about Humulin R U-500. You aso should beup to 200 units of insulin a day or very close to that before they will switch you to the concentrated kind, but there is a regular humulin R U-100 non concentrated that peaks the same too if you are interested in asking about it but aren't close to 200 units a day. the 200 units a day includes both insulins. Good luck to all diabetics.
Thank you for sharing
I've been reading your web site and watching your videos trying to learn something. I was diagnosed one week ago. I have no prior experience with diabetes. I was told to stay away from carbs and sugar, exercise, take Metformin and Atorvastatin, and have a nice day. I am trying to learn how to eat, how to stick my fingers, how to properly hydrate, etc. It is overwhelming! Just this morning, I ended up doing my finger stick wrong or something because it is bruised and hurts like all get out. I have no idea what I'm doing and feel like I'm in drowning!
I’m sorry you have to do all of this without the backing of your medical team. I would ask your doctor for a referral to a diabetes educator. You can learn a lot from reading and watching videos but working with someone 1:1 is powerful.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, no one learns how to deal with diabetes in a week. It takes time and is more of a constant journey
@@DiabetesStrong Thank you for the reply. I will ask my doctor for that. I am starting to realize that I just need to calm down and learn how to deal with this journey one day at a time - at least, that's what I'm telling myself. I appreciate your words of encouragement. Thanks again and have a wonderful week ahead!
Hi Crystal. I like the way you deliver your information straight forward and to the point. You’re a real ‘GEM’ when it comes to T1 learning! Thank you:) ✌️🦋
Thank
When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was never told which type I had, given insulin with no education and then a number of pills until I was finally told I have type 2. Its very infuriating when you get people who aren’t drs but make themselves the I know everything about the illness and put you down when you don’t meet there standards.
I'm so sorry you weren't given the proper care when you were diagnosed. Hopefully, you've found a medical team that can truly work with you. And yes, the "Diabetes police" is really annoying
high glycemic index foods are my biggest challenge.
I was diagnosed with T2D and given a prescription for insulin and Mounjaro. I had no idea how to inject them or what to do with them - let alone titration! And what is an Endocrinologist and how do you get one. Thank God for TH-cam videos that taught me what my doctor should have!
Boy, are you a great find! I’ve learned as much about my T1D in six months as I did in the last 70 years that I’ve had my condition! Kudos to you!! Jon V
That's high praise, thank you 😊
Choir member here. Virtually everything that I know about diabetes and managing it beyond sticking myself with a syringe I learned on my own by digging for it in books and articles. Few of the doctors that I've met including, endos, know as much about practical ways of managing it as their diabetes educators do, and those who don't have type 1 diabetes when it comes to the latest technology don't understand it as well as I do. I'm not smart, just motivated.
You and I have big advantages over them: motivation, experience and living through the evolution of +20 years. I have one more: tech and buzzwords don't intimidate me at all. "Pump algorithms" are just procedures that don't do anything that we couldn't and wouldn't if we had the time and patience. CGMs use the same basic principle of a glucose reaction causing an electrical current as finger stick testers. A $50 smartphone that a 6 year old can use is more complex than a looped IIS. (So is one muscle cell.)
You are lucky to have had the chance to experiment with more of the forms of diet, exercise, syringes and insulin analogs than I. You learned through broad experience what I had to learn cheaply and efficiently. The tech and tools are less important that knowing what they can do and using the best one for the situation. Michelangelo created the statue of David with imagination, care, mallet and chisels. We are the creators of our lifetimes with diabetes.
I was told I have diabetes and sent on my way. After 10 years I finally found a Endometriosis and we're working on it now
I'm so sorry to hear that, as I mentioned in the video, stories like yours absolutely infuriate me. And it happens far too often. I'm glad you finally have the proper medical support
Hi Crystal
My diabetes was basically out of control on insulin. I was on a long term twice a day and mealtime adjustment several times a day (I got up to 110 units a day), but I was still up around 200 at bedtime. Then I lost my first toe for me that was enough to make me choose the keto diet and now in between keto (20 carbs or less per day, and no seed or vegetable oils) and carnivore. I'm sorry that did not work for you. My A1C's are 4.5 (last 4 tests, and extremely stable BG). I don't even have to BG check unless I'm being dense with food. I haven't taken insulin in 3 years. Accept when in the hospital and they gave me antibiotics with glucose in them and steroids so much that they had to give me insulin (Do they live on a different planet????). I'm actually using a Dexcom G7 short term (out of my pocket, if you don't take insulin, they don't pay. Thieves) to watch for dips in my BG once in a while I get cellulitis and I think my BG goes poof to about 40 and of course with an infection I get semi-conscience. But other than that my DIABETES IS REVERSED WITH FOOD. Yes I know it comes back it I eat like an idiot so I don't. I would rather change my lifestyle than stick needles in my belly.
😃God Bless You All with Diabetes
Thank you for sharing
👍🏿awesome
Thanks, from your videos and others that I watch, I am learning that I shouldn’t freak out over a high reading on my CGM. I also shouldn’t obsess when my CGM readings are different from my blood strip readings. There is a significant margin of error on both devices. I just note what it was that made it rise and what I can do to bring it back down. I learn and improve. Except fast drops below 70, trends are what to look for.
I have a great doctor managing my diabetes. She looks at my bloodwork in detail to see what is happening to my liver and kidneys. My last A1C was 9.1. However, my readings tell me that I should expect it to drop next time. I’m slowly lowering the Bgl where I live.
Sounds like you're making great progress in your care, and learning how to manage both your blood sugars as well as your mental health 👏
Hi ! new subscriber here....Been living with Diabetes T1 for almost 16 years and I got to say your information was very on point ! It's definitely a learning experience, you have to see what works best for you. After my diagnosis I got a pretty good team of doctors but even they were not able to give me all the insight I needed. Also tons of ignorance going around.. a not so fun anecdote: right after I was diagnosed my parents tried to cut all carbs off of my diet thinking that would help me, ended up binge eating a bunch of sweet stuff in secret and almost got myself into a coma.
Loved your video
Thank you for sharing that. And really good point on restrictive dieting. I've been there, and being overly restrictive isn't good for my mental health.
Enjoy the videos 🙂
You are so right and what a good video! I was 67 when my pancreas suddenly quit. My GP logically assumed I was type 2. After about a year of being totally out of control, I went to a good Endo who figured out I was type 1. Beware! I tried another endo, who did NOT believe me and told me that type 1 was ‘juvenile’!! Make sure you get tested for your Type!!! Now that I have a Dexcom CGM, my A1C is below 7, but I still struggle with carb control & roller coasters.
I have been diagnosed around 3 months ago, I am Dutch but live in India. 2 months ago I went to a diabetic clinic and very quickly they diagnosed me with LADA diabetes, after several bloodtests
I’m glad you got the right diagnosis. LADA is unfortunately often misdiagnosed as type 2
@@DiabetesStrong yes, as I am skinny and lost several kg's till I was 46kg the doctor almost immediately thought of LADA. So I was happy with that.
This was very insightful. Refreshing testimony.
Your a God sent!😊
I was misdiagnosed for 2 years as a T2D. About 1 year ago, after having months of raging, uncontrollable blood sugars, and numerous conversations with my endocronologist about my eating habits, (which were good, but the implication was I was lying about it), he finally sent me for further testing. Turns out I'm a LADA. My endocronologist sent this news to me in an e-mail - on a Saturday - with no way to contact the office till Monday. I had never heard this term, did not know what it was an acronym for, or that this diagnosis even existed. I had never felt so abandoned in my life.
Oh no! I’m so sorry. Unfortunately, this is not surprising as I’ve heard many similar stories before. I know it’s hard to find an endocrinologist, hope I you found another one that you could build a good relationship with
Great video Crystal! Thanks for sharing with a type 2 diabetic for over 2 years and 65 years of age.❤😊
I was very very lucky to have a great team when I was diagnosed. They said i was in fact Type 1, except I was in the 'honeymoon stage' so my pancreas was pumping a little insulin, but it would soon fail. I was on a mixed insulin but had to go to my Dr's office an absurd amount of times to be tested and taught. Soon I was put on Lantus and Novolog. They'd teach me about diet and nutrition, but also the reality of my crazy life. So they'd have me bring in food I'd normally get even if it had high carbs. They'd teach me how to adjust my insulin when I was going to eat certain foods, the lifespan of the insulin. Except I got extremely sick backpacking in Yosemite. I had to be flown out. I had an abscess and it caused me to be in DKA so bad. I was iver 700. I was at Dr's Medical Center and had a random hospitalist after I had surgery, which caused the DKA. He doubled my insulin doses which I initially declined. The nurse said i was being insubordinate. So I took it. Then they gave ne a "" diabetic dinner""🙄 zero carbs. In about ten minutes my sugar had dropped to 25 (this was not my dr or in my my own town).
I have been blind before (double retina detachments) which have been repaired. I had very high blood pressure that wasn't caught, so that was mainly why. I havs had in 22 years two hypoglycemic seizures where I was unconscious. One time I was in the hospital after a major surgery.
I ussd to be an EMT, and it amazed me how many people were given the diagnosis (1or2) without any information. I'd ask "what was your blood sugar?" they didn't have a meter. Or they were drooping fast and I'd say you need to drink this juice, and eat a piecs of toast or something to help to keep you from crashing and stabilize it. Often they'd ssy "no I can't have carbs" I'd have to quickly explain why. But it nade me me angry that others aren't taught vital information.
I'd say the biggest thing they didn't stress to me, was how it would affect my mental health. The emotions, the exhaustion and how it would affect those closest to me. No matter how much others are told about it, or seen me go through things, sometimes you feel alone. They get a little bit frustrated with you. They don't feel the days you might have the pendulum swing from high to low and back. It makes you so exhausted even if you're not active those days. Makes us feel like a burden, when really we can deal with this every second of every day. I have to say, my CGM has been a great game changer for me. I have 4 Dr's and they have diabetes support groups where we can get together and discuss issues that only we understand. They make it fun. For instance ny bf heard my low alarm go iff, but we were about to eat lots of carbs. My diabetes is my business. He got nad at ne fir saying that, because he saud it's a part of his kife too. I explained yes, it's low but imt about to eat carbs so it will be fine. It's tricky with family. I only let then 'follow' my cgm when they're out of town, because we as diabetics deal wuth rhus sress at alk rumes, i don't need others to freak out wgen I'll havd it olanndd out and under control. My kast A1c was 6 also! I'm excited to check out the Omni pod!!!!!!
I'm on a cgm now and am so familiar with my diabetes..
They didn't quute
Thank you for sharing. I'm so happy you have a great medical team👏
Hi and thanks as always for fantastic education for us all. I have been diagnosed with type 1 for about 2 years now (LADA and honeymoon is officially over). I have managed with multiple daily injections. But I’ve also managed by not really living and micromanaging everything. I just went back to work and have the stress factor and I’m learning to deal with that. But the one thing that I really need to understand is about the types of foods people are able to eat and the number of carbs. I have been keeping records of all my meals and exercise, which I wait train twice a week and walk 4 to6 miles most days. That’s been my lifestyle my whole adult life and I’m 59 years old. But I have been living on 35 to 45 carbs per meal for only three meals and zero snacks. My ratio for breakfast is now about 2 to 3 times higher than for lunch and supper. But my question is this : can I ever have a cupcake? And bolus for it? Can I go to a restaurant and bolus for carbs that may seem enormous? For some reason I guess I thought I had to eat the same redundant meals. And I’ve been successful to have about a 6.1 A1c. But as I said I’m ready to live and travel and be able to go to my mom‘s house and visit and not bring my half a peanut butter sandwich with Dave’s bread and half an apple. I would like to eat more vegetables but some of them really raise my sugar. So I’m just wondering do people just bolus a lot of insulin when they know their ratios or maybe have one cheap meal every once in a while? Or do I continue just trying to tell myself that life is more than just the food? I would love to have a cupcake. Laurie what is being served and just calculate the carbs and bolus for it. And then my second question is this, do you get fatty or where you give the shots because of the amount of insulin or just the fact that there is any insulin at all there? maybe that’s been in my brain as a lifelong exerciser that I just was worried that adding more insulin would make more body fat. Thank you if you can help with these major things I need to know. And I have a good nurse practitioner and dietitian at my endocrinology office, but they are always vague when I ask about eating a cupcake. Thanks for this and all your continued support for all of us with type one! You really are the best source of information out tHere and I do have Ph.D, so I know whereof I speak. Have a wonderful day!
Thank you for the kind words. This is a challenging condition, even for really smart people 🙂
The short answer is Yes, you can choose to have a cupcake or whatever else you’d like to eat. Those who don’t, are people who choose not to. Getting your dosing right will require a little work but it can be done (and to your point your goal is not to only eat cupcakes).
First thing is to understand the carb count and your ratios (and yes, they’ll differ a lot depending on the time of day), then the food composition and dosing timing.
For a high glycemic food like cake, you’ll probably want to pre-bolus fairly aggressively, increase your dose due to the amount of fat and potentially do a dual dose, again because of the fat content.
I think this article might help explain dosing for fat diabetesstrong.com/dosing-insulin-for-dietary-fat/
And finally, I belong to the school of thought, that an occasional treat is 1000% okay 🙂
My biggest problem is heat. I live on the Gulf on 40 acres with a huge bayou running through it. It may sound interesting but I grew up in the mountains with winters almost as long as my summers now. My diabetes doc is a godsend and very much like my wife and is wonderfully kind and patient with me. She knows my diabetes goes crazy with the extreme heat and humidity down here. She calls me and if she doesn't like what she hears, I get sent to the ER. She knows how my brain works and knows I'm a character. I went back to graduate school at Tulane in my late 50's. I have 2 siblings that are surgeons and I guess I'm a underachiever? Sorry, this message is too wordy. I'm just very perplexed by my diabetes. I'm a retired analyst but I can't figure out a solution for my problem. Except drinking fluids and staying in the AC. Other then moving or succumbing to it because I've reached the average life expectancy for a non-diabetic. I use double the insulin as the temp climbs above 90. I tested myself for 3 months this past winter with a 1,200 - 1,500 calorie diet and many other tweaks and my A1C went to 5.5 and I took no meds. I might see what happens in July and August trying the same torture to see where my numbers go. I'm sure my doc will not be happy I played Russian roulette with my life. I see her next week and I'll find out! Thx, a million for caring.
Thank you for sharing. I hope you bring all of your analysis with you when you go see the doctor. She’ll probably find it fascinating
This is all very good information....really good. I didn't read all of the comments, but one thing it took me a while to figure out as a Type 1 diabetic after 35 years (?) is figuring in how your insulin is going to work according to your physical activity. I like to think about diabetes as a three dimensional chess game board. The three main things are food intake, activity and insulin dosage. If I've been on the treadmill for an hour, it's going to affect and push the effectiveness of my insulin and cover of food intake.....it's just one of the finer points of managing my sugar and understanding it. I've always said that if I was going to have to choose a chronic disease, this
would be the one, because you can manage it to a healthy outcome unlike some other diseases. Thank you for your videos.....my husband doesn't believe me when I tell him some things about how I'm managing my diabetes, but when he sees someone else saying the same thing, he'll listen......
Glad you like the videos (and that it can make your husband listen 😉). And agreed, exercise and diabetes is an interesting equation to figure out and master
I'm glad I found u!!! A realistic approach to diabetes
Hello Crystal. This, I’m afraid is going to be a long comment. First, my son and I are new to your channel. You have helped us a great deal. He was diagnosed at the age of 28. He’s been Type 1 for many years, and wasn’t taking care of himself. In 2019, he had some eye issues, and found out his A1C was 10. He’s now 56. He has 6 different Drs. He’s living with me now, and we’re doing ok. He has an Endocrinologist, and sees him about every 3 months. His A1C is 7 right now. He was wearing the Libre 2 for a couple of years, but now is new to the Dexcom 6. Something I think, is a problem, is that everyone wants him on the pump, including his Diabetic Dr. 11:04 👍🏻He is having some memory issues, and is seeing a Neurologist. We have the pump in our possession, but is waiting for the class. The pump teacher is having him learn carb counting first. I watched your video on why you don’t wear a pump. We are going to go through the class, but like you said, it isn’t for everyone. I’m thinking it will be a lot of work, due to his other health issues, and I will be helping him. I’m 76, and somewhat of a caregiver to him. He can no longer drive. He has 6 Drs. and a lot of appointments. I just want to say your videos have been a great help to us. Especially yesterday, when we had to change the Dexcom for the first time. Thank you, Crystal for your great, informative videos on the diabetic journey.
Sounds like he’s doing much better managing his diabetes with your help. That’s great, congrats to both of you. And I’m glad my channel has been helpful.
I’m glad you’re going to the pump training, it might be the right option, but again you might find it’s not. But there’s only one way to find out, right 🙂 I do want to add that if you try it and then decide it’s not the right solution after all, it’s okay to go back to insulin pens. Insurance will allow you to switch back. Just a thought. All the best
@@DiabetesStrong Thank you for answering me. One thing Im concerned about is scar tissue in his stomach from so many injections. He does move his injections in different areas of his stomach. He is not a big person, so his leg area is thin. He’s 5’ 4” and weighs about 153. Have you ever experienced scar tissue problems? Thanks.
@@margieneary272 I don't have any scar tissue, but I think it's a valid concern. You don't have to use the stomach though, injections as well as infusion sets can also be at the back of the arm, thighs, or lower back
Excellent video Crystal.
I've been type 1 since 1991 also.
I was not unaware of the issues at that time.I had just finished an Internal Medicine residency. I started a Dermatology residency the next year.
Your video has great points.
I've only used MDI injections. No pump.
Dexcom G6 for 4 years.
Been averaging 6.2 HbA1C for the last 4 years.
Last Feb. had a 6.6. I was bummed.
But last week I was back to 5.9.!!!
Zero retinopathy after 31 years.
Great ideas.
Hang in there doing what you do.
Love your message ma'am.
I do low carb diet. Intermittent fasting. And keto-like diet.
Thank you! And glad you're doing well. Congrats on a stellar A1C 👏
I got my eyes checked two days ago. Again, after 14 months ago.
Still Zero retinopathy!
From anecdotes, this happens when you keep below 7.0 HbA1C.
Thank you for this dose of reality. Keep up this good work.
I was diagnosed by in office A1C test not taught anything finally put on insulin and still not taught anything the only CDE they let me talk to had been a pharmacist, she called me weekly and changed my basal insulin, then once also on bolus insulin they called every three days, I also have Multiple Sclerosis, this dr. never did lab work the entire year I saw him. My new Endo has been much better.
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry to hear that was your initial experience. I’m glad you now have a good endo
I was diagnosed as type 2 but was type 1. A1C more than doubled 1 year later and lost over 60 lbs (as my husband told me, I was too skinny and I have never been skiiny in all my life, never mind ‘too skinny’. Downside of the misdiagnosis? Some neuropathy. I feel both disgusted and scared sh_t less when I touch my right toe. I try not to think about it bcs it used to literally haunt me every night and I would mentally downward spiral into this agonizing depression.
On the positive side,, since being on insulin, thought not a bad thing….constipation does not exist. For some reason insulin regulates me.
Thank you for sharing
Great video! I would say that continuous monitoring is the key. You can decide properly only if you know where you are with you BG. Another important suggestion I would give to a new diagnosed T1D: prepare a lot of checklists (and keep them updated). One for every situation that can occur in life (going to the gym, at school, traveling...). If you do so, you won't need to remember each time what to do or what to bring with you. It will make you feeling more confident. It's like following yowr own personal recipe.
Great idea! Thank you
Thank you ..took a long time to get on insulin....wonder if diagnosis was a bit slow
My family doctor diagnosed me with type 2 with a simple failed fasting glucose even though my A1C was 5.7. I have had reactive hypoglycemia since I was a child and refused that diagnosis. They look at my obesity and say it's type 2, but there's Lada, Mody 1-5, pancreatic issues, liver issues, kidney issues, thyroid issues, and more. My beta blockers are a hyperglycemic too. First endo I saw said he suspected lada cause of what my charts were showing and that metformin was dropping me into dangerous hypos. He wanted me on Libre and possible a weekly insulin but I was never able to get back to him cause Covid. Family doc at this time gave me the "you're type 2, I know how to treat them" lecture but never listened to me about what I thought it was. Doesn't help one whit that Canada only really recognizes type 1 and 2 and gestational. Please note: I never had gestational.
Second one wanted me to take a carb blocker and all I did was fart around (side effect of the carb blocker). I tried keto and IF before I even met up with the third one who said if I did IF for 2 months, I could lower my a1c from 6.9 and loose weight. Yah, my A1C went down to 6.4, but nothing else because the beta blockers have to be taken with food. She was also a bitch who refused to use my mmol/dl numbers because I was in the US now so I had to use US numbers. She also refused to keep me on a libre or script a dexcom or anything to watch my numbers. The conversion factor of 18 was too much for her! She didn't even consider that my mother died of pancreatic cancer, nor that there is a family history of severe kidney disease, information I found out after I saw the first endo.
I see a fourth one later this month. My beta blockers have caused my A1C to rise to 7.5. I hit 400/22mmol/dl a couple of weeks ago. I felt off and decided to test and when I saw how high that was, I know how my body reacts and was sure I'd been in a crash soon and I was.
I know I don't have type 2. I have something else and it is driving me nuts because all the doctors, nurses, etc I have seen immediately say "type 2." *pulls hair out* if I was type 2, metformin would not have been an issue.
I eat better here than I did in Canada and still my numbers are getting worse. I could scream.
Thank you for sharing. That’s frustrating. Keep pushing, so you can get that antibody test
Just being realistic, what kind of health insurance would allow someone access to the additional tests (antibody and c-pertide tests)? Most doctors, I would surmise, would not even prescribe these tests because their insurance (probably HMOs) do not cover such additional tests. But I agree, most doctors are not diligent enough in doing the right thing for their patients.
Spot on, thank you!!
You are so welcome
Good day evry one watching from the philipines diagnose diabetic since 2017
Thank you for watching
The day I was diagnosed with type two, it was right as h1n1 reached its peak where I lived. They had me in an isolation room in the hospital because the symptoms were flulike. They ended up checking my a1c.
That must have been scary
I have gone vegan and don’t touch processed food before and my weight went down and my sugar never went over 200 except a couple times.
My Otalogy Neuro treating me for meniers (inner ear fluid/rocks in ear out of balance) which causes virtigo and dizziness put me on an almost zero salt diet for the past month and for at least 3 more weeks. The problem I have at night if I it a low, and I will if I dont snack enough before bedtime is what to use to bring the blood sugar up and stabilize til morning. I used to eat a peanut butter sandwich b4 bedtime and cheese and peanut butter crackers along with a glucotab to stabilize at night. Since almost all crackers and peanut butter are high in sodium i am struggling as to the best way to correct with this diet.
If you consistently go low overnight you want to discuss your long-acting insulin dose with your doctor. We only go low if we have too much insulin onboard. Until then you could try a piece of fruit instead of the crackers and still add the peanut butter to prolong the blood sugar impact
I wish mine stayed within 180. It's getting better for over a year I was averaging being 250-500 readings after barely eating anything for majority of the day. I was sensitive to anything I eat or drink even when I took insulin. Now I'm on a by carb and correction chart. It's helping stabilizing my blood sugar levels but I tend to be high for at least a few hours before it stabilizes. I was diagnosed with Type 1 at 30 years old. I started with an A1C of 8.5. Over the year with testing every 3 months I was averaging over 10.2 A1C. I am also using a Dexcom G6 glucose monitor but I notice there's a difference in readings between the Dexcom and my Acucheck meter readings so I'm not sure which to really rely on. But I plan to switch to Omnipod within a month or so hoping that will help my numbers. I'm still grasping onto straws on how to manage my diabetes. Sometimes I just want to give up. Diabetes is such an expensive and depressing thing to have.
It can be tough. Hopefully getting Omnipod (5?) will help you. Adjusting your insulin to your needs can be a lot of work but the pump can be a great tool to help you with that
@@DiabetesStrong Yes, we were discussing starting the Omnipod 5. They just changed up the way I take insulin which is a by carb and correction chart. It seems to have improved my numbers dramatically in the last 5 days I’ve tried it. She’s having me monitor my numbers with the dexcom g6. Sometimes I notice the blood sugar numbers are a bit different between my acucheck meter and and dexcom at times. I did recalibrate it a couple times when it was drastically off. Otherwise there’s usually 10 or so points off but it could be because there’s a difference between poking your fingers and having the dexcom on the arm.
I am convinced that if you were on a low carb / keto diet that it wasn't the low carb diet itself which caused your insulin resistance. Hopefully someday you'll try it again and share the results with us.
I think it was the amount of fat that lead to the insulin resistance rather than the carb amount. That's actually one of the few things I agree with the high-carb low-fat movement on 🙃 My problem would be getting enough calories just from carbs and protein. Maybe someday but for now I'm happy with my varied diet
@@DiabetesStrong Thanks for all the great content on your channel, it has helped me a lot and I share your vids. Being a LADA has been almost a walk in the park because of the content here on TH-cam. Dr. Berg, Dr. Berry, Dr. Bernstein, Dr. Ekberg, yourself, and others change the game
Do you mean that guys like dr berg have given advice that has been truly helpful with LADA?
@@colleenluciow7914 Well, in my case, I'll be honest with you; I haven't gotten my C-Peptide done yet. However, keto has taken me down from around 195 to 5-12 units a day. Was DKA in the ICU with a BG over 500 so likely not producing any insulin.
@@DiabetesStrong also referring to @5:04 From what I’ve read & maybe understand, a NAFLD diagnosis would describe insulin resistance in the toxic/excess presence of cellular (both liver and muscle) fat. When you were experimenting w/ low-carb/keto, did you ever asses your lipid panel, or other imaging of the liver? Also, have you ever had an insulin-resistance test?
My Dad is thin like you but seems to be insulin resistant (c-peptide normal, 10 basal insulin U) ... but he’s “controlled”, in that, instead of fasting at 90 mg/dL he’s at 150-170, w/ excursions to 200+ (if keto) 300+ (if balanced macros). A second clue of his possible resistance is muscular weakness & nearly zero endurance. Seems to not be storing glycogen?
(just last year he was quite physically active).
Your thoughts?
Ty for this video and I liked your annoyance animation I’m still riding the rollercoaster but I’m still on the newly diagnosed bandwagon so I’m still learning.
Thanks 🙂 I thought that little lama was perfect too
I was told when I was 25 that I had type 2 diabetes. I am now 47. I had a type 1 diabetic the other day tell me all I had to do to get rid of diabetes was stop eating carbs. Unfortunately for me my blood sugar goes all over the place with every little chamge I make in my diet.
That to me is such irresponsible advice, I'm sorry on behalf of us with type... 😑
Love this, I was also misdiagnosed as T2 because of age. Took several years and a C-peptide test to get the correct diagnosis. Every day is different is probably the biggest lesson I had to learn. For me a Tandem pump and a lot of tinkering has made a world of difference.
Thank you for sharing that
Curious...do you have antibodies or just low C Peptide? I am an Atypical Skinny Type 2. No antibodies but low and dropping C Peptide.
Excellent information
Glad you liked it
Ok, my private doctor wanted my to get on a cgm. So i got the VA to give me the dexcom g7 starting back in dec 3023.
I figured out how to make a bedtime profile and set it up so i only would get woken up if i was low or critical low.
But no one has told me how to interupt the data it collects. Can you direct me to a resource to help me with this?
BTW, love your videos.
I think the only way to delete the data is to uninstall the app and remove the data from your phone (for example if you have it connected to Apple Health).
Great video. I watched this just after watching the latest FlavCity (with Bobby). He’s well meaning but doesn’t know diabetes, and his advice is t all that good. I really appreciate Diabetes Strong because you’ve walked the walk. You really understand one size doesn’t fit all and I find your advice/suggestions to be really sound.
I’ve been type 1 since 1970. You are certainly capable of teaching an old dog new tricks. 😀
Aw, thank you. That means a lot. Appreciate you
I ate a pound of chocolate fudge from Boscov at 8:PM setting in their parking lot. The next morning at 8:AM my girlfriend tested my blood sugar. It was 99. This happened about 2 years ago.
You started this video questioning whether doctors correctly diagnose diabetes as either type 1 or 2. But I disagree. Beg your doctor to diagnose you as type 2. That's because insurance companies and Medicare limits the medications they cover based on either type 1 or type 2 diagnosis. For example, my A1c plummeted after I added Ozempic to my insulin regimen. Ozempic has only been approved for type 2 diabetics, not type 1. Ozempic and similar medications cost about $12,000 annually. That is a significant amount for fixed-income diabetics like myself. After a while, my doctor switched me to a similar drug, Mounjaro (about the same cost). It's nearly impossible to even treat insulin-dependent diabetes without some insurance. After I added Ozempic to my treatment, my insulin dosage decreased by 50%. Before turning 65, I paid cash for my insulin; the annual cost was $35,000 (if purchased in the USA). So before I qualified for Medicare, I saved 50% of $35,000 or $17,500 annually.
Luckily I live in Arizona and can drive to Mexico, where the same Eli Lilly insulin costs only $2,500 annually. That's a 95% savings by buying the same medication outside the USA. If you have health insurance, the USA offers excellent healthcare. But if you don't work for a company that offers insurance, you must know where to buy the same drugs for far less money. This is true for many drugs, such as Eliquis. But Ozempic is not available in Mexico (yet). That's why you want to be a type 2 diabetic and not a type 1 diabetic.
If your target audience is aimed at diabetics lucky enough to have insurance, then you are right on. But for those Americans who can't get insurance, I suggest you add cost considerations to your videos. Remember, many companies won't hire diabetics because their group insurance costs increase. Companies won't admit to this type of prejudice.
My CGM gives me on average 1.5 + different reading compared to my finger sticking I contacted the CGM manufacturers they told me that this was in range, I asked them which reading should I trust, I was told both. Please
I generally trust my glucometer over my CGM since that measures directly in the blood and the CGM measures in the fluid under the skin
What do you think about Dr Oz Gummies?
I don't know anything about them
Diabetes is a very complicated diseases to deal with. It takes away your freedom to eat what you like without worrying. The complications are brutal. There should be more aim for a complete cure. I’m not diabetic but I feel for people who are. Good luck to everyone to be able to manage this hideous disease
I don't know what c peptide is or lada. I'll have to look that up.
A c-peptide test can tell you how much of a insulin production you have. And here’s more about LADA diabetesstrong.com/lada-diabetes/
Definite YES to the first point -
Doc: "Hey you've got type 2 because you're a few kg overweight."
A year later and now underweight. "Yeah, strange you're not in remission"
Another year and seriously underweight, a1c going up despite being Keto: "Hmm, maybe you're LADA"
Another 8 weeks: "Oops, we just found your test results. Yeah, you're LADA. Here's some insulin and a Libre, now off you go"
Nothing short of negligence is what it is
I’m so sorry you had to go through that. It’s unacceptable
So am I wrong when I say the medicine won’t help unless you eat, right and exercise
I think it’s more nuanced than a simple yes or no to that question. But high level yes, you can manage blood sugars to target with insulin without following a specific diet or exercising.
Found this in my files from years ago... Sad part is I have heard almost all of them.
The top 29 most annoying things to say to people with any type of diabetes:
1. My grandma had diabetes. She lost her leg, then she died. (Thank you, that’s inspiring!)
2. You’ll die if you eat sugar, right?
3. You have diabetes? You don’t look that fat. (Gee, thanks….)
4. You take insulin? Oh, you must have the bad kind of diabetes. (Really? What’s the good kind?)
5. Your child has diabetes? Did they get it because you fed them too much candy?
6. Oh my god, you have to take shots every day? I’d die if I had to do that. (Well, I’d die if I didn’t.)
7. Doesn’t that hurt? (Um, yeah, it’s a sharp object going into my body. Duh!)
8. Well, that sounds better than something like leukemia.
9. Oh my god, can you eat that? You can’t eat that!
10. That’s the disease that causes you to lose your legs, right?
11. I heard you can cure that with diet and exercise. (Great, that sounds so easy!)
12. I eat so much sugar, I’m probably gonna give myself diabetes, too!
13. So you just have to avoid sugar, and you’re okay, right?
14. Why don’t you get a pump that just manages it for you?
15. My friend’s daughter has one of those pump things that just manages it for her.
16. Are you allowed to eat that? (Is it your job to police me?)
17. You just have to take insulin sometimes, and you’re okay, right? (Yup! It’s that simple.)
18. They say cinnamon can level your blood sugars.
19. They say __(any random food)__ can level your blood sugars.
20. Your kid has diabetes? Well, at least he can grow out of it.
21. You have diabetes and celiac disease? Geeeez, how many diseases do you have?
22. You have diabetes? But you look normal. (You mean my freaky diabetes features haven’t shown yet?)
23. So you just have to, like, manage it and you’re fine? (Yup, except the “manage it” part is kind of huge!)
24. You have diabetes? But it seems like you take such good care of yourself?
25. You need to exercise more and you can cure it.
26. You’ll die if you have children, right? Like Steel Magnolias? (Nope, thanks a lot, Julia Roberts!)
27. Ewww! You have to take shots? That is so gross! (Um, thanks…but it keeps me alive.)
28. Well, it’s your fault, right, for eating too much and not exercising?
29. Oh, you have diabetes? That sucks! (Yes, thanks for reminding me!)
#19 “random food” 😆, aka Ocra and water and #22 🤪 Thank you for sharing your list
I was diagnosed with diabetes at the age 54 ,I have been accused of alcohol and drug abuse which none of that is true. My doctor has confirmed that actually, I’ve been accused of drinking and drugs since the age of 14 because I slur my words at times I went into the hospital because I passed out and they did over 15 drug test on me did not find any drugs in me, my diagnosis was I was thick blood and lazy that was before I was diagnosed as a diabetic six months later I went to a different emergency room because I wasn’t feeling well. He never accused me of anything he took some bloodwork. He asked me if I was a diabetic I said no and he said to me, you really need to be tested. 81C which I did and they said I was a diabetic to based on my age. My diabetes is not in control, but they say my A1c is good based on my numbers which I don’t understand nobody ever looks at my numbers I have highs and lows and when the average them out comes out to be an OK A1c, I’m not overweight and I’m sick of others telling me I’m on drugs or drinking when I’m not I’m 58 years old and I know there’s alcohol and drug abuse out there but you could take a drug test on me any day of the week and I don’t abuse anything. I feel horrible all the time, the doctors don’t listen to me they just keep telling me that my A-1 C is great and it’s good that I’m not heavy but I keep asking them about the highs and lows back in 2019. I was accused by two police officers that I was on drugs or drunk they wouldn’t believe that I was a diabetic, and that time I was newly diagnosed to be honest with you I hate being a diabetic I’ve live so much trauma to those two police officers that put their hands on me and put over 54 bruises on me because they wouldn’t believe that I was a diabetic and I did get mouthy with them but that still didn’t give them good cause to arrest me for drug use in Monday did the drug test and alcohol test? Everything was negative. I hate being a diabetic. My mood swings are terrible. Like I said this is been going on for many years of my life, but nobody caught it, I was a diabetic when I was pregnant but they said that came with being pregnant in to be honest with you. I don’t know what to do about my diabetes I beg and beg for somebody look at my numbers but they don’t. Sincerely, Deborah.
I'm sorry you had to go through all of that and still are. Thank you for sharing
Even endocrinologists don’t educate.
Sometimes my blood sugar will not go down after exercise. This really upsets me. Blood sugar is higher all through the night after exercise as well. Even an just doing 40 minutes on my bike. Any thoughts?
That does sound frustrating. Usually, exercise makes us more insulin sensitive the hours after. I can’t tell you why your body gets that stressed out from exercise but I think I’d focus on getting enough food, insulin, and liquid to manage your body’s stress response. You could also play around with your insulin levels during your workouts to try and reduce the rise
@@DiabetesStrong Thank you for your reply. I think it’s just my body. It’s been through the medical wringer! I am a kidney transplant recipient. My hormones are Super messed up as well. 6-years ago when I crashed, doctor told me I was type 2. 6-months ago, I was told I was type 1. Medical system! Ugh!
@@Wisteria7854 😕
@@DiabetesStrong I have taken my health into my own hands. I’m doing better with my WILL and Brain, that God gave me! Than any doctor had done for me. I’m a bit of a Phoenix! Thank You for all you do! I only trust those who walk the path! ❤️
What do think If I 5.8 A1C ?
Great, if you can get there without your diabetes management completely taking over your life, go for it
To be honest, we need a cure.
My fast acting insulin recently is not taking affect until after it supposed to already be out of my body my fast acting insulin has not been taking affect until six maybe seven hours after I have taken the insulin what’s up with that
Interesting. Are you injecting into the same area? I wonder if it could be a scar tissue issue
@@DiabetesStrong No I do rotate injection sites
@@anitaboddington4837 Got ya. Since it does work, just delayed, it's probably not an "insulin gone bad" issue. I'm not sure why this would happen...
Have you taken the COVID vaccine?
Yes, and the booster
Frustrated that you might be the first to know about CGM, but either never or the last one to get them because of NO Coverage.
😕
why so high 70-180 what about 70-115
Generally, the recommendation for people living with diabetes is 70-180 mg/dl but it should be customized to the individual.
Why don't you want your A1c lower? 6,1% means your average blood sugar is 140 (7,8). It is in a risky range.
An A1c of 6.1% equals an average blood sugar of 128 mg/dl. There’s no clinical evidence that going lower makes any difference when it comes to potential complications and this goal allows me to live a normal life. But it’s okay to have a different goal
@@DiabetesStrong your data are old and taken form the wrong source. ADA is sponsored by the food industry and as such tends to like us eating food products they make.Clinical studies need sponsors, they are paid by those who are not interested in us taking less medications and being more healthy. No $$$ in it. I went form 5,8% to 4,7% and got rid of neuropathy, numbb toes and no need to sleep with hand braces any more. You can do whatever you want, but giving the advice that 6,1 is O.K. is not good.
11:30 Your diabetes does NOT have to be with you for ever! You can probably reverse your diabetes by simply losing weight, as I did. I was never told by any medic, I found out by accident. The presenter admits to not being a medical professional, so she needs to get up to date with her information, or leave the advice to someone who understands diabetes and how to reverse it.
Not all types of diabetes can be managed without medication/insulin. I do not have an insulin production (type 1 since 1997) so if I stopped taking my insulin I’d be dead within a few days.
You can’t assume everyone is in the same situation as you
I watch your videos because you’re hot and I just got diagnosed a year ago
The average Doctors know 5/8s of bugger all about managing diabetes.
That's probably a fair assessment when we talk about primary care doctors
Carnivore
I have the DEXCOM G6 for 5 days now and I’ve been experiencing nausea n a lot of gas after eating that the gas makes me nausea .. could it be I’m allergic to the insert DEXCOM G6? I lost 4 lbs already cause I’m on track of the high n lows of sugar.. could u get back to me please.. thank U
I don't know but sounds like you might want to check in with your doctor. If you're concerned about an allergic reaction I would take the sensor off right away. Sorry to hear you're going through this
That Dexcom G7 sensors won't stay in your arm. Keeps falling out.
Stop eating sugar and get you a stationary bike and exercise and you will be amazed at how your blood sugar will be controlled I use Splenda and eat sugar free candy.
I am shock I call my freeStylelibre 2 Company to see if I could get a free sensor because mine fell off with 6 days left on it after answer a few questions there going to send me a new sensor you have been very informative thank you.
That’s great! Very happy to hear that
How much do this company pay you to pimp their products like the G7?
You come across a bit rude. But to answer the question, no I don’t work with any of the CGM companies, so no they don’t pay me. I just use the product