Diabetes

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• April 6, 2010 4:42 p.m.

  Please give me the name of two or three residential care centers for diabetes care. I have a friend who has had Diabetes II for appx 5 years and is developing several complications--poor weight control, swollen feet, feet ulcers. In our opinions (several very concerned friends) she needs a residential program that can help her adjust her lifestyle. Thank you for your assistance

  - betty

• April 6, 2010 10:50 a.m.

  I am a newtype II diabetic. I test my blood sugar daily. What is my ideal blodd sugar? I've been avaraging about 145 over the past few months. Is this acceptable?

  - steve

• March 31, 2010 9:00 p.m.

  Yvonne, Sounds like you need to meet with a dietician and continue to meet with one until you gain weight. Or a diabetc nurse. I am concerned about you!

  - Lou

• March 31, 2010 8:57 p.m.

  My husband is diabetic and so am I. I got a vaginal yeast infection and passed it on to him. He has had it now for about two months but it does not want to go away. Any ideas. I did not even know men could get yeast infections.

  - Lou

• March 30, 2010 Noon

  I was diagnosed w/ type 2 14 years ago. No matter what medications I have tried I seem to have a lot of gastrointestinal problems. Is this common? With some meds I have constant diarrhea, w/others just the opposite. On Byetta I have often bouts of projectile vomiting. Any ideas

  - Karen

• March 26, 2010 10:15 a.m.

  Is there a way to test your meter for accuracy? Last night I test my BS and got a reading of 194 two hours after eating a salad with a slice of toast. I checked my BS right away from the same finger and got a reading of 166. Is it the meter or me?

  - Diane

• March 25, 2010 8:49 p.m.

  What can I eat at night?

  - Tom

• March 25, 2010 11:49 a.m.

  i have had diabeties for 2 years and it just seems like i have no control for not only do i have diabetes i also have copd i'm tired and it just seem as if they is no support for me.

  - toni

• March 23, 2010 10:05 p.m.

  Steve- Metformin definitly causes diarrhia. My doctor took me off of it because of that. Jenuvia has no side effects for me, but it doesn't help me much to lower my sugar levels---read my other comment.

  - Yvonne

• March 23, 2010 10:00 p.m.

  My endocrynologist took me off insulin because my sugar went down to 15 and I passed out. He put me on Jenuvia, once a day for a week. My sugars were between 200's and 300's. I ate very little because my levels wouldn't go down. I wrote down everything I ate or when I didn't eat (I weigh 76 pounds--I lost 1 pound in that week (last week). I gave the written account to him and he said to continue another week. My levels are 335 now & it's bed time & I'm afraid to go to bed. If I make it through the night, I think I will call him or see him tomorrow. I need help. Thank you.

  - Yvonne

• March 23, 2010 3:55 p.m.

  Phil: Here is a link to inexpensive accommodations in Rochester: http://www.visitrochestermn.com/visitors/accommodations.asp?subcat=Special+Needs+Stay Hope this helps. Best wishes to your family.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• March 23, 2010 3:14 p.m.

  My BS in the morning is running around 136. use to be low 120's. I am a metabolic syndrom trying to control with diet. I try to eat protein at night and take fenugreek. I am 59 weigh 204. weight doesnt want to budge. I do ellipitcal and stationary bike.

  - linda

• March 23, 2010 9:52 a.m.

  When changing injection site from stomach to my leg I developed redness, heat and swelling. Again changed from leg back to stomach and developed redness, heat and swelling. Am taking clindamyacin and it seem to help. Is there some way to avoid these hematomas?

  - Roger

• March 22, 2010 8:32 p.m.

  I AM DESPERATE. MY DAUGHTER WHO IS ALMOST 18 YEARS OF AGE HAS A VERY RARE CONDITION. SHE IS TYPE 1 DIABETIC AND THE INSULIN IS NOT WORKING. SHE IS ON MEDICAID HERE IN IDAHO BUT WILL BE CUT OFF WITHIN A YEAR, I THINK, UNLESS THE NEW HEALTH CARE BILL COVERS HER. THE DOCTOR HERE SAID ONLY IN MINNESOTA OR SALT LAKE CITY OR TORONTO COULD THEY TREAT THIS RARE CONDITION. I JUST SOLD MY HOUSE WITH HOPES OF GOING TO HAWAII TO GET HER HEALTH CARE. WE HAVE TO BE OUT OF THE HOUSE BY THE 13TH OF APRIL AND NEED A RENTAL. I AM A SOCIAL WORKER WHO WORKED FOR YEARS AND GOT LAID OFF. I HAVE 4 KIDS AND HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR OVER 25 YEARS. ANYONE, IF YOU CAN RENT OR SELL TO ME, HELP! I AM AN HONEST MAN AND CANNOT TAKE THIS! WHAT MUST I DO? IF I COULD GET HER TO THE MAYO CLINIC IN MINNESOTA SHE COULD GET HELP.

  - Phil

• March 18, 2010 8:12 a.m.

  I posted comments on march 16th about itching gums. They do not itch when I am in bed. When I get up in the morning, I have a sugary taste in my mouth and there is one place in my gums where sugar seems to be secreting. Is diarrhia common from metformin? I have it now that my metformin was doubled.

  - Steve

• March 17, 2010 2:20 p.m.

  I saw my endocrynologist today, after looking over my numbers on my meter, he knew about the reading of 15 and the ER visit, he took me off insulin. He said I'm insulin sensative. He put me on Jenuvia, once a day, and call him next week. Metformin was not working for me, except give me the diarrhia. I asked him what were the critical highs and critical lows. 400 too high & 50 too low. If I hit 400 and can't get it down, ER. If I hit 50 & can't get it up, ER. He told me that what the ER doctor told me about, it might hit 400 that night & go to bed, was wrong! I also asked him for a prescription for glucagon to keep at home, in case my husband finds me passed out again. Thank you for this blog!

  - Yvonne

• March 16, 2010 9:52 a.m.

  Help!! I have intolerable gum itching on the bottom left. Itching started 3 yrs ago when I had a tooth pulled. Gum chewing reduces the symptom. Recently, it became intolerable. I get a "funny" fealing in my chest when the itching is at its worst. My blood sugars went wild during this time - I was not eating right either. I also have jock itch and athletes foot that is resisting treatment. My dentist told me yesterday that he thought I might have a systemic fungal infection. My doctor told me afterwards that I don't and she gave me suggestions on the athetes foot and jock itch. I am following her treatment suggestions but I am scared by the dentist's comment - it can be fatal.

  - Steve

• March 16, 2010 9:44 a.m.

  Renee, Sometimes it takes a while to get the right insulin program for each individual person. 10-15 units of insulin are just starting doses and need to be titrated up until the blood glucose is in target range. It may take several weeks. The right insulin dose is the one that keeps the blood glucose in target range; whether it is 20 or 100 units.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• March 16, 2010 8:51 a.m.

  dan, sorry to hear about your new diagnosis of diabetes. Please contact a physician that works with diabetes and get an appointment to see a diabetes educator and dietitian on how to manage your diabetes. These first steps can help ensure a better quality of life in the future and prevent diabetes complications.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• March 16, 2010 8:45 a.m.

  Yvonne, it is a difficult situation you have described. I would see your endocrinologist to see if you can figure out why you had the low blood glucose in the first place and make adjustments in your insulin program. With insulin pump therapy the smaller doses of insulin delivered into the tissue are generally better absorbed and give a more consistent level of insulin. Having enough fatty tissue for a pump is an issue too but the smaller size infusion sets may work for you. Discuss these issues with a diabetes educator that works with insulin pumps.

  - Nancy and Peggy

• March 15, 2010 6:07 p.m.

  I got diabetes through partial removal of my pancreas during another surgery. It is not inherited. When I was diagnosed with type 2, I weighed 115 pounds, 4'10" and 65 years old. I now have type 1 and weigh 78 pounds. I have to buy children's clothes. I cannot gain weight, anything that could put weight on me, I cannot have. My bigger problem is not being able to control my blood sugar. Two nights ago, I woke up sweating heavily. This happened to me only once before, in the middle of the night, so I got up to check my sugar. For some reason, I couldn't handle the lancer & finally passed out. My husband found me & called 9-1-1. My sugar was 15. My pancreas works SOME of the time, so trying to figure how much insulin to take is really, really hard. I've been told to get a pump. And attach it where? I am all bones with skin on top. And I'd still have to check my sugar & push the button to release the insulin, so where does that help? Can anyone help me?

  - Yvonne

• March 14, 2010 3:02 p.m.

  i found out last thursday that i have diabetes, i was hospitilized for 3 days, but i am not sure what to do know, the hospital dr gave me pills and sent me home, i not sure what to eat, i am afaid to eat or drink, that it is going to cause my blood sugar to go way up i need help

  - dan

• March 8, 2010 9:34 a.m.

  after a week of one a day insulin injections of 10 units each, my husband blood sugar levels are increasing !The dr has just today changed it to two injections per day at 15 units and it is still increasing. What could be the cause of this ?

  - Renee

• March 2, 2010 10:38 a.m.

  My mother has had diabetes for about 9 years. She had carotid artery surgery 8 years ago, recently had a stent put in right artery almost a month ago. She had high blood pressure at the hospital, was put on high blood pressure medication 1 week ago. Other tests run, nothing else out of whack. She "feels like crap" still. Getting concerned. Blood sugar is back regulated (takes pills) and blood pressure coming down. Yesterday it was 145/80. Why does she still feel so badly? Thanks!

  - Leslie

• March 1, 2010 4:29 p.m.

  Larry, I would see your health care provider to determine the reason for the weight loss and if it is related to the medication or blood glucose control.

  - Nancy and Peggy