[breezeonby]

I am taking a diabetes self-management class for T2 on insulin. There are several people in the class that are not new to diabetes. I was amazed at how little some people with diabetes know about the disease and how to treat it. People with diabetes who are using insulin really need to be educated about the use of it. Most doctors do not have the time to sit down and explain the ins & outs of insulin. Insulin is a wonderful drug to treat diabetes, but I think that it is a drug that needs to be customized for each individual and this takes time and is best explained by a doctor, nurse and diabetes educators. If you are new to insulin, do some research on the use and how to make the most out of the regimen you are on.

 

[onaughmae]

I agree. I have to wonder how much of it is " I dont want to know". I know that if I have a disease that is affecting my whole body I sure at least want to know what it is about.

 

[diabetes86]

Even if your not NEW there are still some wrong and bad assumptions, people think they know about diabetes or didn't know they didn't know about it.

Education is always a good idea

 

[Jen]

Being new to this forum, I'm not sure recommending books is OK, but here goes!

When I started using the magic elixir (insulin) my husband got me two books: Think Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner and Using Insulin by John Walsh. Fantastic references for those new to insulin, or experienced users who are encountering problems. Walsh's Pumping Insulin is also invaluable even for MDIers - it really torked my thinking on basal.

Jen

 

[Richard157]

Excellent choices on books, Jen. Those are the same three I recommend most frequently.

I will add Complete Guide To Carb Counting by Hope Warshaw; The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (First Year, The) by Gretchen Becker; Diabetes On Your Own Terms by Janis Roszler; and the Calorie King.

 

[breezeonby]

Excellent choices on books, Jen. Those are the same three I recommend most frequently.

I will add Complete Guide To Carb Counting by Hope Warshaw; The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (First Year, The) by Gretchen Becker; Diabetes On Your Own Terms by Janis Roszler; and the Calorie King.

Thanks for the book recommendations. I want to read Diabetes On Your Own Terms, sounds interesting. You can never know enough about diabetes.

 

[Jen]

You can never know enough about diabetes.

LOL! Don't you sometimes feel that you're taking graduate courses in physiology and nutrition? Hey - where's my diploma?

Jen

 

[kooshbal]

Excuses

I have taken a couple of classes, but the scope of the classes were carbohydrates and emphasis on weight loss. As a type 2 I have never been encouraged to test. My doctor never mentioned it, whether I had a monitor. My original monitor was given to me by my daughter who is a nurse and was working a clinic where they worked with severe diabetics doing injections with sugars and insulin to stimulate the body into producing more insulin.
The reason for ignorance is attributed to insurance companies and coverage. The insurance company I was with offered no covered classes. For me, avaialability of classes and a doctor who emphasizes diet and exercise.

I am taking a diabetes self-management class for T2 on insulin. There are several people in the class that are not new to diabetes. I was amazed at how little some people with diabetes know about the disease and how to treat it. People with diabetes who are using insulin really need to be educated about the use of it. Most doctors do not have the time to sit down and explain the ins & outs of insulin. Insulin is a wonderful drug to treat diabetes, but I think that it is a drug that needs to be customized for each individual and this takes time and is best explained by a doctor, nurse and diabetes educators. If you are new to insulin, do some research on the use and how to make the most out of the regimen you are on.

 

[breezeonby]

I have taken a couple of classes, but the scope of the classes were carbohydrates and emphasis on weight loss. As a type 2 I have never been encouraged to test. My doctor never mentioned it, whether I had a monitor. My original monitor was given to me by my daughter who is a nurse and was working a clinic where they worked with severe diabetics doing injections with sugars and insulin to stimulate the body into producing more insulin.
The reason for ignorance is attributed to insurance companies and coverage. The insurance company I was with offered no covered classes. For me, avaialability of classes and a doctor who emphasizes diet and exercise.

I understand your situation. I have taken 2 other classes that were more for the newly diagnosed. The class outline was basically testing, diet & exercise. I went online and googled diabetes self-management class for my city. There was a at least 10 classes available. I researched all of the classes and was lucky to find the T2 class for those using insulin. As a matter of fact, the class was being offered through the main office of the group of doctors under which my doctor is a part of. He wasn't even aware of its existence. I do understand that many insurance companies do not cover classes. You might want to call your local chapter of diabetes associations. Columbus Ohio local chapter offers classes. If you do not have insurance, they will work with you and agree on an amount that you can afford to pay for the class. I found the book Using Insulin by John Walsh, PA, CDE was a good investment. I bought it so I would have it around all of the time and could highlight important info. Just doing research on the internet and being a part of a forum has been helpful.

 

[Guest]

The Problem Is..

BreezeOnBy said in part..

I was amazed at how little some people with diabetes know about the disease and how to treat it.

Why would you be amazed? I would think it's like that with most any medical problem people have. As a example, ie:

A person goes to their Dr. for their general checkup and finds out on the return visit that they have a higher than normal LDL count. In addition.. their HDL is on the low side, Triglycerides are elevated and Lp(a)'s are out of whack.

Now let's be reasonable. How many patients are going to go home, jump on the computer and spend a few hours looking up information on the above? I would dare say very few.. if any.

What will happen? Their Dr. will write out a couple of scripts, they'll go to the drug store, return home with the meds and start popping pills.. all without knowing what's going on.

And why would most people do that? "Because it's the easy way out!"

Why go through all the time and trouble to learn why and how it happened, what needs to be done through life style changes (and in most cases that's the hardest part), when all one needs to do is just open up that little brown plastic bottle.. and supposedly it's all taken care of for you.

That's my thoughts from this side of the monitor.

Breeze 2 User

 

[Shanny]

Boy, I dunno, B2U . . . everyone I know with the exception of my 91-year-old father, goes on the computer for everything. Whether they accept the splashy spammy headline advertising, or dig in for in-depth research, I think a LOT of people DO utilize computers this way. It isn't just a gaming device.

Whether or not people expect to participate in their own preventive/proactive medical care is another issue. My own experience may be unusual, but the people I know well are not the sort to blindly follow doctors' orders. They're searching out second opinions and finding what choices are available to them. But the differences in my environment and that of others may be the telling sign . . . rural populations do tend to be more independent and self-sufficient. Maybe if I'd lived in a major metropolitan area all these years, I'd have a different outlook, but my experience is that people DO want to participate in their own lives, and aren't necessarily looking for the easy way out. They just want to live long & prosper, whatever it takes.

 

[jfolgar]

I am taking a diabetes self-management class for T2 on insulin. There are several people in the class that are not new to diabetes. I was amazed at how little some people with diabetes know about the disease and how to treat it. People with diabetes who are using insulin really need to be educated about the use of it. Most doctors do not have the time to sit down and explain the ins & outs of insulin. Insulin is a wonderful drug to treat diabetes, but I think that it is a drug that needs to be customized for each individual and this takes time and is best explained by a doctor, nurse and diabetes educators. If you are new to insulin, do some research on the use and how to make the most out of the regimen you are on.

I totally agree. I've been searching online looking for places to get reliable information and I found this one link. This company is offering a free online info session discussing the ins and outs of diabetes (health, nutrican, exercise, etc). Best part of all (or at least the reason why I signed up for the free event), you get to ask questions to a real live doctor.

Below is the link. I recommend signing up. Event is on May 11 from 1-2pm est.

To register visit clinilabs dot com slash participate. The link to register should be on the left hand side.

 

[jsntay]

I totally agree. I've been searching online looking for places to get reliable information and I found this one link. This company is offering a free online info session discussing the ins and outs of diabetes (health, nutrican, exercise, etc). Best part of all (or at least the reason why I signed up for the free event), you get to ask questions to a real live doctor.

Below is the link. I recommend signing up. Event is on May 11 from 1-2pm est.

To register visit clinilabs dot com slash participate. The link to register should be on the left hand side.

Thanks for the link, I just signed up. Kinda sounds like they are looking for people to join clinical labs also. I mean clinical trials lol

 

[Guest]

URL Doesn't Work..!!

jfolgar said in part..

To register visit clinilabs dot com slash participate. The link to register should be on the left hand side.

I tried "clinilabs dot com slash participate" as both the URL and also as a Google search and came up with nothing that even closely resembles what you were talking about, so unless there's a different URL address that I don't know about.....

Breeze..2..User

 

[Shanny]

Ummmm . . . sometimes spelled-out words need to be converted to symbols - words like "dot" and "slash", and the spaces closed up too.

They're only posted spelled out to avoid posting a clickable link which is frowned upon in some forums.

 

[kooshbal]

Webinar

Linked worked for me, there is a webinar on Type 2 on May the 11th, I signed up for, so it does work.

Ummmm . . . sometimes spelled-out words need to be converted to symbols - words like "dot" and "slash", and the spaces closed up too.

They're only posted spelled out to avoid posting a clickable link which is frowned upon in some forums.

 

[Shanny]

You doing okay over there, kooshbal? Good to see you.

 

[jfolgar]

You doing okay over there, kooshbal? Good to see you.

Sorry for the confusion. Heres the link to register:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/947633208

 

[andrews]

I am new to diabetes and unfortunately pested everyone on here with threads on questions which i will have to learn in my life.

What i have noticed is that outside the UK, there seems to be more information and support in relation to diabetes.

When i was diagnosed a few months ago with type 2, all i recieved was badly photocopied leaflets on food and diabetes, and basicly told work it out, get on with it as this is the hand you have been delt with.

On the upside, i'm not knocking the NHS, i do got a free blood testing meter and strips, Metformin and needle insets on free monthly perscription.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME IN SAYING BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE ON HERE, FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. Thanks x

 

[onaughmae]

I am new to diabetes and unfortunately pested everyone on here with threads on questions which i will have to learn in my life.

What i have noticed is that outside the UK, there seems to be more information and support in relation to diabetes.

When i was diagnosed a few months ago with type 2, all i recieved was badly photocopied leaflets on food and diabetes, and basicly told work it out, get on with it as this is the hand you have been delt with.

On the upside, i'm not knocking the NHS, i do got a free blood testing meter and strips, Metformin and needle insets on free monthly perscription.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME IN SAYING BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE ON HERE, FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. Thanks x

You are very welcome! Thats the great thing about this forum. We all learn from each others experiences. Its great to learn things from your Dr and educators...but its invaluable to be able to learn from people that are living with exactly what you are going through. We have all been there and tried one thing or another and its good to get insight from people with personal experience