Diabetes Talking

Question:

I am making this urgent request on behalf of my husband.  He has been a Type II diabetic for the past 7 years.  His mother was a Type I on insulin for over 45 years.  Our current problem (really, crisi) is this.  Due to esophagus cancer he is sustaingin himself on a nutritional supplement called Two-Cal.  He was told by his VA endocronolgist that he might have to go on insulin.  His blood sugars are now out-of-control (300 to 400 on a LifeScan monitor).  The VA has told him that his endocronolgist is on maternity leave until the end of June and to come back then.  Imagine!

Don’t wait.  Pay the bucks if you have to, but see someone else in the meantime. At any rate, he has gone back onto 3 Diabenese a day and we are investigating a new supplement.  Does anyone on this list have any familiarity with these supplements?  We are looking for one specifically for diabetics.  Any help or ideas would be reatly appreciated.  Please respond either to the list or to me Carol Anderheggen

I think 50/50 makes their own version of Nutri-Fast – which, while not being a terrific replacement for Two-Cal, might help out a little. Gah.  This on top of cancer.  Ugh. They make really good TPNs these days – but they require in-home nursing care or hospitalization.  How is his weight?  Staying steady or dropping off? Contact another doctor – find the bestest, brightest endo you can find – or contact the Joslin Center for a referral.  Good luck!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am making this urgent request on behalf of my husband.  He has been a Type II diabetic for the past 7 years.  His mother was a Type I on insulin for over 45 years.  Our current problem (really, crisi) is this.  Due to esophagus cancer he is sustaingin himself on a nutritional supplement called Two-Cal.  He was told by his VA endocronolgist that he might have to go on insulin.  His blood sugars are now out-of-control (300 to 400 on a LifeScan monitor).  The VA has told him that his endocronolgist is on maternity leave until the end of June and to come back then.  Imagine! At any rate, he has gone back onto 3 Diabenese a day and we are investigating a new supplement.  Does anyone on this list have any familiarity with these supplements?  We are looking for one specifically for diabetics.  Any help or ideas would be reatly appreciated.  Please respond either to the list or to me Carol Anderheggen

I think they are now experimenting with a drug called METORMIN (sp?). It is used as a supplement to the list. At any rate you need a doctor to get it. (You need another speialist

Response:

This is a crisis and he does need to be seen.  Stress can increase blood sugars, too; it isn’t necessarily the supplement, although a lot of them have a lot of simple sugars in them.  Read the labels.  I think that Isocal and Compleat B have little or no sugar (although they are really meant for tube feedings and may taste absolutely wretched). It’s almost the end of June now, although if those sugars get any higher he will probably need to be hospitalized.  One thing you can do is get the name of another endocrinologist at the VA, and call them and tell them that this is an emergency and you are coming in that day.  Then do it. Bring reading or knitting and stay there until the doctor sees you.  They won’t like it, but tough.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Response:

I am making this urgent request on behalf of my husband.  He has been a Type II diabetic for the past 7 years.  His mother was a Type I on insulin for over 45 years.  Our current problem (really, crisi) is this.  Due to esophagus cancer he is sustaingin himself on a nutritional supplement called Two-Cal.  He was told by his VA endocronolgist that he might have to go on insulin.  His blood sugars are now out-of-control (300 to 400 on a LifeScan monitor).  The VA has told him that his endocronolgist is on maternity leave until the end of June and to come back then.  Imagine! At any rate, he has gone back onto 3 Diabenese a day and we are investigating a new supplement.  Does anyone on this list have any familiarity with these supplements?  We are looking for one specifically for diabetics.  Any help or ideas would be reatly appreciated.  Please respond either to the list or to me Carol Anderheggen

Response: