Diabetes Talking

Question:

I was sitting in the computer room reading the newsgroups at 1 pm on 3-11-03.  

hmmmm….   why did it take you 3+ months to post???? I had tested my BG about 30 minutes prior, it was 140 and I had a small snack, crackers and peanut butter.  My other half had just walked out the door to go to work and I was planning on going to bed within the next hour (I work nights).  

ok!  but is that 2nd shift or 3rd shift? The next thing I remember is thinking (hallucinating?) that I was at my last job in the dispatch office having a hypo and trying to hide it from the people I was working with.  

heavens! It was so real and vivid that I actually recall answering the phones and dispatching guards over the radio.  As the hypo got worse I knew I needed help but was to scared

too to ask for it.  Then I imagined receiving a call reporting radcon incident and couldn’t figure out what to do or who to notify.  I imagined I was sitting there listening to people asking for help and direction in what to do and was terrified that I couldn’t do my job.

heavens!! Then suddenly I was home, laying on the floor,

totally believable to me.  :- unable to move

totally believable to me.  :- and barely able to make any noise.  

totally believable to me.  :- I literally couldn’t see anything.  I

BIG bummer! don’t know how long I laid there

BIGGER bummer!! before I was able to start moving and calling for help.  My liver must have released glycogen, at least enough to bring me to this point.  I managed to sit up and fall over several times.  I kept yelling for help but couldn’t remember if anyone was home.  Some how I located the phone and after several failed attempts was able to dial 911.  I heard the 911 operator asking what was wrong but my speech was so obviously garbled that she couldn’t make out what I was saying.  After what seemed like forever and a day later, the police and paramedics arrived and the woman told me that they were going to break in the door to get to me.  They had to lift me by my wrists and ankles in order to get me out of the computer room through the hallway and into the gurney in the living room.  When they strapped me in, I went into convulsions and passed out.  Next thing I knew I was waking up in the ambulance at the entrance to the ER.

as a pumper, you might want to try slow beef-R insulin in yer pump.  :) really.  :) After I came around enough to be able to think clearly and answer and ask questions we pieced together That I had been out for nearly 8 hours before making the 911 call.  

fwiw, many T1s die.  :((((( it’s called "death in bed" fwiw, the big pharmas have they’re asses fully covered so don’t even think about trying to sue them That it took 2 doses in the ambulance of d5w IV to bring me around.  That I had banged, bruised and scraped myself up during the convulsions I must have experienced before the EMTs arrived.  That, obviously, I had not been in the dispatch office and no radcon event had occurred.   I have to admit that this was the most frightening hypo I have ever had.

fwiw, i can relate.  :(( Unrelated to the hypo.  The ER doc noticed a black spot on the bottom of my foot.  The skin was not broken but it looked as if something might be embedded in it.  I had been feeling some pain their for a few days but I had not seen anything on my foot.  I check them daily. Turned out to be some kind of infection.  Taking antibiotics and setting up an appointment with a podiatrist. Thankfully my insurance is active again so I won’t have to worry about the bills.

fwiw, imo we’d _*ALL*_ be better off paying out of pocket paying out of pocket is THE one thing that’d put real restraint on the phenomenal spiral in USA medical  costs the only dude that might have done that was ross perot so don’t hold yer breath – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Came home to find the door frame needs to be replaced.  Police had to use their ram to get in.  No-one broke in while I was gone thankfully. Renter’s Insurance will cover the repairs. Sweetie came home and freaked out thinking someone had broken in and robbed us.  Then freaked again when I explained what had actually happened. Obviously I took the night off from work.  Can’t sleep right now. When I lay down and close my eyes I get a little panicked.  I’m sore from all the bruises.  BG is holding steady in the 140s.  We are both off tomorrow, actually tonight was my last night this week so I am off until Sunday at midnight.  Will get the door repaired then take it easy for the rest of the weekend. oh, and I checked my meter with the control solution and against a spare meter to make sure the pre hypo reading was correct.  Meter was working fine. So, how was your day? Mack   Type 1 since 1975

ditch the pump and give beef-L 1x a try it’ll cost 1/20th of what you spend on yer pump and it’ll be 200 times as good.  :) bill t1 since ‘57, ex 8-yr pumper, beef-L 1x, simple MDI/DAFNE

Response:

I was sitting in the computer room reading the newsgroups at 1 pm on 3-11-03.   hmmmm….   why did it take you 3+ months to post????

typo that should have 6.11.03 I had been up all night even though I was worn out from that hypo. I had tested my BG about 30 minutes prior, it was 140 and I had a small snack, crackers and peanut butter.  My other half had just walked out the door to go to work and I was planning on going to bed within the next hour (I work nights).   ok!  but is that 2nd shift or 3rd shift?

both depending on what is needed. as a pumper, you might want to try slow beef-R insulin in yer pump.  :)

I am currently not on the pump and wasn’t at the time of the hypo.  I am also allergic to animal insulins.  I get a skin rash at the injection site and the insulin is so ineffective I have to inject a hell of a lot just to get poor numbers. fwiw, many T1s die.  :((((( it’s called "death in bed"

I know that death is a possibility. fwiw, the big pharmas have they’re asses fully covered so don’t even think about trying to sue them

why would I?  it wasn’t their fault. I am grateful to them for making the kinds of insulins that I am not allergic too which have kept me alive this long. Mack Type 1 since 1975 http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org http://www.insulin-pumpers.org  In tribute to the United States of America and the State  of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and  terrorism.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was sitting in the computer room reading the newsgroups at 1 pm on 3-11-03.   <various snips I had tested my BG about 30 minutes prior, it was 140 and I had a small snack, crackers and peanut butter.  My other half had just walked out the door to go to work and I was planning on going to bed within the next hour (I work nights).   as a pumper, you might want to try slow beef-R insulin in yer pump.  :) I am also allergic to animal insulins.  I get a skin rash at the injection site and the insulin is so ineffective I have to inject a hell of a lot just to get poor numbers.

ah, the ‘ol "animal" word again anyhow, thank you for providing some detail given that you started insulin in ‘75, you had to use "animal" insulin for about 7 years or so.  when did you switch to synthetic insulin and what did you use? out of real curiosity, what exactly do you remember using of the older insulins?   fwiw, at that time, there were 3 main alternatives: 1. beef/pork mixes (by far the biggest selling insulin) 2. pure beef-insulin 3. pure pork-insulin (with reputedly the least allergy issues) (i’m not sure of sales volumes of pure beef vs. pure pork, but suspect that pure pork was the smallest seller) and how long was it before your allergy problems started? Mack     Type 1 since 1975

bill t1 since ‘57, ex 8-yr pumper, beef-L 1x, simple MDI/DAFNE one other question: you used the word "sudden" in this thread title, with this narrative: <<"I was sitting in the computer room reading the newsgroups at 1 pm on   3-11-03.  I had tested my BG about 30 minutes prior, it was 140 and I   had a small snack, crackers and peanut butter.  My other half had just   walked out the door to go to work and I was planning on going to bed   within the next hour (I work nights).  " followed by: <<"I am currently not on the pump and wasn’t at the time of the hypo" have you ditched the pump? and what exactly were you doing?  trying the new glargine/Lantus?

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was sitting in the computer room reading the newsgroups at 1 pm on 3-11-03.   <various snips I had tested my BG about 30 minutes prior, it was 140 and I had a small snack, crackers and peanut butter.  My other half had just walked out the door to go to work and I was planning on going to bed within the next hour (I work nights).   as a pumper, you might want to try slow beef-R insulin in yer pump.  :) I am also allergic to animal insulins.  I get a skin rash at the injection site and the insulin is so ineffective I have to inject a hell of a lot just to get poor numbers. ah, the ‘ol "animal" word again anyhow, thank you for providing some detail given that you started insulin in ‘75, you had to use "animal" insulin for about 7 years or so.  when did you switch to synthetic insulin and what did you use?

I switched as soon as humalin R and N hit the market. out of real curiosity, what exactly do you remember using of the older insulins?   fwiw, at that time, there were 3 main alternatives: 1. beef/pork mixes (by far the biggest selling insulin)

this is first brand I used.  Rashes started about a year after diagnosis and slowly got worse as the effectiveness of the insulin got worse. 2. pure beef-insulin

switched to this for a year and then went back to the beef/pork.  Rash was far worse on it than with the beef/pork. 3. pure pork-insulin (with reputedly the least allergy issues)

never tried pure pork insulin.  switched to the humulin brands. (i’m not sure of sales volumes of pure beef vs. pure pork, but suspect that pure pork was the smallest seller)

I’ve never even been interested in what was selling the most. and how long was it before your allergy problems started?

a year after diagnosis/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mack     Type 1 since 1975 bill t1 since ‘57, ex 8-yr pumper, beef-L 1x, simple MDI/DAFNE one other question: you used the word "sudden" in this thread title, with this narrative: <<"I was sitting in the computer room reading the newsgroups at 1 pm on  3-11-03.  I had tested my BG about 30 minutes prior, it was 140 and I  had a small snack, crackers and peanut butter.  My other half had just  walked out the door to go to work and I was planning on going to bed  within the next hour (I work nights).  " followed by: <<"I am currently not on the pump and wasn’t at the time of the hypo" have you ditched the pump?

I’m still debating. and what exactly were you doing?  trying the new glargine/Lantus?

I was using ultralente and R because of a lack of insurance and no scripts for lantus or novolog.  I start Lantus 30 units a day today. Novolog via pen as needed for meals. Mack Type 1 since 1975 http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org http://www.insulin-pumpers.org  In tribute to the United States of America and the State  of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and  terrorism.

Response:

one other question: you used the word "sudden" in this thread title, with this narrative: <<"I was sitting in the computer room reading the newsgroups at 1 pm on  3-11-03.  I had tested my BG about 30 minutes prior, it was 140 and I  had a small snack, crackers and peanut butter.  My other half had just  walked out the door to go to work and I was planning on going to bed  within the next hour (I work nights).  " followed by: <<"I am currently not on the pump and wasn’t at the time of the hypo" have you ditched the pump? I’m still debating.

how long did you use an insulin pump for? and what exactly were you doing?  trying the new glargine/Lantus? I was using ultralente and R because of a lack of insurance and no scripts for lantus or novolog

what were you doing with UL dosing?   i.e. 1x or 2x?  and when did you dose? I start Lantus 30 units a day today. Novolog via pen as needed for meals.

hoping you have good luck with that t1 bill

Response: