For years I’ve watched her cook, laughed at her jokes and simply enjoyed her from my living room couch.

I also wondered how someone who made such beautifully rich food could not have some health issue.  I figured she took care of herself like we all should and was lucky.  Not every person that eats good, rich food gets or has diabetes.  It was one of the things I had to learn to deal with when I was diagnosed.

A week ago, while watching Fox and Friends in the morning, they talked to Paula’s son Bobby who was debuying a new show  “Not My Mama’s Meals” on the The Cooking Channel.  He is taking Paula’s recipes and reworking them with less calories and fat, and all the other bad stuff some of us would cringe at.

The weekend after that show, I was getting a mani and pedi and while sitting there was watching one of Paula’s shows on the television.  I mentioned to Willa (whose husband is a T2 like me) that I really loved all the recipes Paula created, but I couldn’t eat them nor know how to fix them other ways so I could.  We figured that was the reason for Bobby’s new show.

The next week, Fox and Friends reported Ms. Deen had announced she had Type 2 Diabetes and had been dealing with it for three (3) years now.

To say I was floored is an understatement – but not at all surprised.   I don’t wish this condition on anyone and I will not say it is because of her lifestyle with food or anything else.  How you “get” diabetes is still hit and miss.  Yes, there are people who get T2 because of their body issues, but not all of us.

Then a few days later I heard many people, including chefs, were speaking out about how Paula should have told everyone earlier and some people were pretty nasty about it too.

Having dealt with being a PWD for many years now, I was appalled at those sentiments.  When I was first diagnosed to say I was on shock is putting it mildly.  It took at least two years before my doctor and I found the right combination of medication to have it under control.   And as the years have moved forth, the learning and adjusting has never stopped.  You cannot simply take a pill in the morning and that is all you do to keep this condition in line.

So if Paula did  not want to tell us for three years about her T2, so be it.  I can only imagine from experience what she has been going through to bring her to this point.

Here is one ignorant, meant to be hurtful, comment by that idiot Joan Rivers: “Paula Deen and a stick of butter is kind of like Melissa and me. Sooner or later we’re going to kill each other,”.  Joan – butter has nothing to do with it.

This is what ignorance is all about people.  Some of it comes from fear, some from wanting to make a name for themselves  by basking in others misfortunes and most is from jealousy.   Joan Rivers is a has been and we all know it.  This way she can keep her face and ugly mouth in the media.

I saw a lot of similar statements made on Twitter.

I just shake my head and laugh.   I was a size 6 and weighing in at 110 pounds when diagnosed.  My endocrine system had already been damaged with my Thyroid condition years before and a lot of thyroid patients have diabetes and vice verse.

So you ignorant bunch of animals out there, I have one thing to say:  Be careful who and what you  laugh at – karma is a bitch.

I wish Ms. Deen all the best as she travels this new road in her life.   As a diabetic you can still enjoy good ol’ home style southern cooking, but moderation is the key.  Be vigilant and you can live a very long life with T2.

Welcome to the family Paula.  Good Luck!

Frankly – I’m filled up and over flowing.

Family is the worst place for drama and everyone has a drama queen/king to contend with.  These are people so insecure in their own lives they have to feel good about themselves by causing others pain.  

dra·ma (noun)
1. a composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character, especially one intended to be acted on the stage; a play.
2. the branch of literature having such compositions as its subject; dramatic art or representation.
3. the art dealing with the writing and production of plays.
4. any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional, conflicting, or striking interest or results: the drama of a murder trial.
5. the quality of being dramatic.

Of course you can tell which one I’m talking about (if not, look at #4 and #5).  Normally, if people around me start putting on their drama queen hat, I just turn and walk away.   But  when dealing with a drama queen or king in your family, walking away a lot of times has more ramifications than dealing with stranger drama.

I have no contact with my family – period.  This is because I shut off access to myself because of mother’s drama.  Clearly my sisters have sided with her, as they have made little attempt to stay in contact with me.   This saddens me, but sanity is paramount in my life.

Please, if you have to be the center of attention, head on over to your nearest psychiatrists office and beg for help.

Carry on…

When I was prescribed my Lantus back in October 2005 I was instructed to take it in the evening.  However, now that I am waking up in the low 60′s and spiking to the 200′s an hour later, something had to change.   So I did a bit of research on the Internet and found many people took their Lantus in the mornings.

I tried it and liked it.   I seem to have better control throughout the day and into the evening.

But, my dose doesn’t take me well into the next morning.   Granted I’m not having readings in the low 60′s anymore, but like this morning, it was 138.   So now what do I do?   I’m going to try taking about five extra units before going to bed and see how my morning readings are then.

Taking the ten units in the morning has also reduced my need for as much Novolog as I was using. At times I was using up to 20 units a day.  Now, if I really watch what I eat, I can go all day with just the initial five units I take in the morning for the spike.

And how was your week?

The poster reported having gone on a camping trip to a national or local park with friends and children.  While in the course of their time there, the poster had to take an insulin shot and instead of hiding in their tent, the shot was taken out in the open by the fire.  At the time this was happening, other people walked by and started shouting at this person, calling them a junkie, asking how they could do drugs in front of children, etc.  Of course they didn’t respond – but the ignorance of people dropped my jaw.

People – if you are reading this post for whatever reason – educate yourself ASAP!  Insulin is taken with a needle.  That means it could look like someone is “shooting up” (well in a way they are), but its for living, not recreation.

I know what would have happened if that had been me and hubby, he’d've educated them post haste and they would have been so chastised afterward they wouldn’t ever do something like that again.

It is also a said state of affairs in this country where drug use is so prevalent, that necessary medication taken in injection form is looked upon as illegal drug use.   The pens used to administer insulin are expensive and a lot of people who have to pay for their own medications, or with larger co-pays, use vials & needles instead of the pens.  Raising Hand Here!  I take two insulins a day.  One is taken at home and one can be taken in public.  Yes, I usually go to a restroom if necessary, but I still don’t hide it.

If taking insulin in public shocks someone, so be it.  Since the schools in this country are more worried about teaching sex between gays than real issues they could deal with, we have some seriously ignorant people walking around.

I think employers and employees in America need to get their act together and read up on this.

Questions and Answers About Diabetes in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

I just read a post by someone on a support forum who lost their job because they were out too many days due to their diabetes.  Now, I don’t know all the circumstances surrounding their being let go, but if there was a violation of the ADA by the employer, they might have some recourse.  This person now has no insurance, can’t get any state or federal assistance (even from Obamacare), and was begging to find out how to obtain their medications on the cheap or free.

There are organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and other areas they can receive help, so that is a good thing.

Insulin

Fortunately, and by the grace of God, I work in the best place on the planet.  There is no harassment, discrimination or repercussions from my condition.   I also have never hidden it which could be part of it.  If someone is in the lady’s room when I need to administer some insulin, I ask them if it bothers me using the needle.  Most say no, and if someone says, “I hate needles!” I’ll laugh and say, “so do I, but I like living.”  Everyone has been very supportive.  The gals on my team know where my glucose tablets are, or have someone in their family with diabetes and know how to react with bad lows (which fortunately I haven’t had here).

I felt so bad for the person mentioned above for losing their job.  Yes, there could be other circumstances, but if there is proof her condition is why she was let go, her previous employer could be in some serious trouble.

Listen – I pretty much hate anything the federal government does outside of the requirements of the Constitution … BUT!!!! Discrimination should NEVER occur in this country and especially against people with medical conditions. 

Jack Challem‘s article on dlife.com, titled “A Spoonful of Vinegar Helps the Blood Sugar Go Down” provides more insight.

“Scientific studies over the past 10 years show benefits from vinegar consumption,” says Carol Johnston, Ph.D., head of the nutrition department at Arizona State University, Tempe. Vinegar decreases both fasting and postprandial (after-meal) glucose levels, she says. “It’s inexpensive and can be easily incorporated into the diet. Used in combination with diet and exercise, it can help many people with type 2 diabetes.” Much of the vinegar research comes out of Johnston’s laboratory and that of Elin Ostman, Ph.D., at Lund University in Lund, Sweden.

Anything that can help me from having to take more medication is a bonus. And to the article’s point, I have tested before eating a salad with balsamic vinegar as the base of the dressing and afterward, my levels have gone down.

Do you use vinegar to help manage your glucose levels?

On the heels of the FDA’s admission that Chantix, Pfizer’s smoking cessation drug, may aggravate heart problems in those with cardiovascular disease, new research suggests that they’re not the only ones at risk. Chantix may increase the risk of heart attack and other adverse events for those with a clean bill of cardiovascular health.

Though concerns over Chantix’ effect on the heart were raised during the drug’s approval process in 2006, the FDA’s recent move to include a cardiovascular warning in the drug’s safety information marks the first time the organization has publicly discussed such potential risks. It’s a move that is a long time coming for Dr. John Spangler, co-author on the new research, a meta-analysis published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Via ABC.com

Not only does big pharma and the FDA hide bad studies, but they try and remove old, proven drugs from the market to make money for the drug companies.  I go through the “No, my script is for this as written” kabookie dance whenever I get my thyroid medications refilled.  The other one – just on the market – is cheaper – but not proven.

Also – a lot of times the insurance companies want you to switch without knowing your conditions.  I am allegic to several HBP medications.  The one we’ve found I’m not allergic too is not cheap, so Tricare is always trying to switch me.  

So far they haven’t blinked at my diabetes medications.  Not too many “generic” insulins out there I know of.

Before you start taking something “new and improved”, research it first.  The Mayo Clinic and WebMD have great drug data bases for medications.

In the door I explained to him my issues and handed him my labs.  He reviewed them and then asked why I was still alive?  After much discussion about how the different medications work and are made, I settled on trying Armour Thyroid from Forest Labs.  Made from organically grown pigs, I figured it was as close to natural as I could get.  We started out slow – but after the first dose, I could tell a difference.   Within six weeks I was stable on 2 grains a day and have been on that does since that point in time.

Recently a new product has hit the market from Acella Pharmaceuticals in Georgia.  My pharmacy tried to switch me to their version of naturally dissected thyroid, NP Thyroid, because of the cost – even though my doctor wrote the script “as written“.  I always check my medications upon pick-up, never leaving the pharmacy until I know they are right.  When they tried to switch me, I immediately told them no – fix it.  They did.  BUT they for some reason did not fix it in the computer system, so when I went to get my refill today – yup, it was NP Thyroid.

Now I understand saving on costs of medications and since Tri-Care is the one paying for my medications, they want to force a different product on me because its cheaper – without even knowing if it works! [Obamacare at its finest]  Anyone that has dealt with government programs for your medical care knows the last thing they worry about is the patient – its all about the bottom line.

Below is the break down of the two products.  Yes, they both appear to have the same levels of T4 and T3, but …  Are they made the same way?  Are the pigs organically grown or in a slop house – like a puppy mill?  These are questions thyroid patients have (especially those of us that need total replacement) because this medication keeps us alive and functioning. 

Will I try the new medication?  Not sure yet.  I don’t have a problem with using a cheaper medication if it provides the same support as the more expensive one.  But this is a new company, yet untested, and according to the DailyMed website, its marketing status is “unapproved drug other.” Hello? Unapproved?  Yeah, and Tri-Obama-care wants me to put my life in that company’s hands?

So here is the break-down of the two drugs.  You decide.

NP THYROID 60 (levothyroxine, liothyronine) tablet
NP Thyroid (thyroid tablets, USP) for oral use is a natural preparation derived from porcine thyroid glands. They contain both tetraiodothyronine sodium (T4 levothyroxine) and triiodothyronine sodium (T3 liothyronine) providing 38 mcg levothyroxine (T4) and 9 mcg liothyronine (T3) per grain of thyroid (or per 65 mg of the labeled amount of thyroid). The inactive ingredients are calcium stearate, dextrose monohydrate, maltodextrin and mineral oil.

ARMOUR THYROID (thyroid) tablet
Armour® Thyroid (thyroid tablets, USP) for oral use is a natural preparation derived from porcine thyroid glands and has a strong, characteristic odor. (T3 liothyronine is approximately four times as potent as T4 levothyroxine on a microgram for microgram basis.) They provide 38 mcg levothyroxine (T4) and 9 mcg liothyronine (T3) per grain of thyroid. The inactive ingredients are calcium stearate, dextrose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate and opadry white.

Right off the bat, the levels of T4 and T3 are the same.  The main differences are the fillers.  Armour has a lot more and some people may have issues with them.   This is something each person has to decide upon. 

Again – I am not sure about switching yet.  I will talk to my doctor and pharamacist and check out each of the fillers.  Now Armour has dextrose and microcrystalline cellulose – both sugar substances.  I have expirmented and determined Armour does not spike my glucose levels.  But sugar is sugar for a diabetic, no matter the form of it. I have linked to various parts of the internet that describes what each inactive ingredient is (if you consider sugar inactive that is).

You decide for yourself.  I may try it yet after this research alone, but until today, was just simply afraid to change out to a medication I wasn’t sure of and with a company barely out of infancy.  This is MY health I’m dealing with. 

Cost be damned.

Initially I was using it to cure the spikes and not as a preventative.  How did that work for me? Not too good.  Not only was I still experiencing massive highs, the lows were more and more.  It was difficult determining how much to use for a high, the actual ratio over normal to units of Novolog.  After much searching on the internet, I was still confused.  Some folks said one unit would drop your glucose 55 points.  Well, not for me!  Then I fell upon several articles where people were using a 1:20 or 1:25 ratio to bring down a high.  I thought that sounded more real.  I started using the 1:20 ratio and the lows abated.

But, I was still experiencing massive highs an hour after my morning readings and after eliminating everything I consumed but water within that first hour, nothing worked.  I also found many users that took their Lantus in the mornings, or a shot am & pm.  I was only taking mine at night.

So this week I did another expirement.  Hubby had four days of medical appointments at 7:30 am and I had to take him.  The procedure was such he couldn’t drive afterward is why.

So Tuesday morning I got out of the shower and tested at 106.   I took five units of Novolog AND 10 units of Lantus.   Then I ate my bowl of ceral and some almonds.  I just knew I’d be crashing soon.  I mean, 106 and I’m pumping IN fast acting and long acting insulins?  Well – I didn’t.  Two hours later I was at 84. Before lunch I was 88 (I took Novolog with a 1:15 carb ratio before I ate).  After lunch I was 92.  Before supper I was 92!  BONUS!  I took another evening dose of Lantus 10 units before going to bed.  I was at 78 when I got up Wednesday.   I did the same process and had a great day as well.   Because I was so low in the morning, I backed off my Lantus at night to 8 units and this morning I was 109.   However, this morning, I forgot to take my Lantus until we got back from the doctor’s office and it was up to 160 before lunch.   I’m also using Glucerna mini-snack bars for snacks.

But clearly, there is something going on in the mornings after I get up that is shooting my glucose up and the Novolog is the only thing that is bringing it under control.

The added benefit is I am feeling so  much better than I was before getting the Novolog.  I’m sleeping better and have more energy.  At first I was going to use the Novolog only (if I could) as a way to get me back to where I was, but clearly this is an extra step that is needed and has proven beneficial for me.  When I go back in four months for a follow-up, I’m going to ask Doc to switch me from needles and vials to a pen for the Novolog.  I’ll stick with the Lantus in a vial since I don’t have to take that with me during the day.

So I’m going to keep trying.  I hope to adjust my Lantus down in the evenings to where I’m taking 10 units only in the morning -  but if an additional 10 units in the evening is what is going to work, so be it.  Doc will probably snort around a bit I took this upon myself adding it, but if my A1C is down under 7, I think he’ll get over it.

What does a diabetic look like?

Blank for an answer? 

Me too.

While getting through the paperwork to purchase this, I mentioned to the salesmen that the OnStar (free for one year) would be a great thing to have, seeing I’m a diabetic and we can crash while driving.  He looked at me and said, “You don’t look like a diabetic.” 

I didn’t have a response.

So — what does a diabetic look like?  Amy here doesn’t “look like a diabetic” does she?  Diabetes is worn on the inside and we don’t have a letter D emblazoned on our chests.

I “think” what he meant was the sterotypical “look” is someone that is overweight.  No, I’m not overweight yet some diabetics have to loose weight to help with their treatment.  So, we may not physically look like someone with a disease, but then you can’t tell all the time when someone has a back problem either.

I wear a med-alert bracelet, but it doesn’t say “diabetic” on it.  It opens to a small peice of paper with my medical information on it listing that I am both a thyroid patient and Type II diabetic.

But to look at me – I don’t fit the sterotype.

So how about today we decide that “looks” of a disease don’t match what you thought it was and start to learn that no matter the shape, race, or age, diabetes can strike at any time.

I know my salesmen meant no harm and it was a compliment, but I buttoned up my lip in getting snarky with him — he was selling me my desire