Given the age demographic in this forum I am sure I'm not alone since it is one of the most common chronic diseases in the developed world.

I just achieved Vintage status in Janurary and had gone into a couple of specialists this past year for eye problems and what I thought was bad carpal tunnel. No one thought to check for diabetes since I'm in excellent condition and at my 'ideal' weight. I just did a full physical as required for the renewal of my Merchant Mariner's license (every 5 years) and my glucose, triglycerides, and cholestorol were practically off the high end of the scale. The GP at the clinic I went to said he was surprised I was able to even walk in under my own power given my levels.
So I suddenly find myself on 4 different medications with a huge variety of ugly side effects and basically unable to work, since I cannot renew my captain's license until my diabetes is "well-controlled".

I have a slew of appointments over the next couple of weeks with several different specialists and I am on a STEEP learning curve, I just posted up because I feel the need to vent. I am just pissed off (no pun intended-OK maybe a little ) more than anything else. This just came out of nowhere, I have a healthy diet and exercise daily, I do all the 'right' things. I do have the discipline to follow any treatment plan/schedule and I am aware that I can avoid all the ugly complications with strict glucose/insulin control. This is just making me mad!

This is going to absolutely kill my finances since I am currently uninsured. (yes yes, I know!) I have been paying for full coverage health insurance for 20+ years and have never used a DIME of coverage for ANYTHING other than my every 5 year physicals.

I am getting married next Friday and was going onto the +1's insurance after the nuptuials, so I let my obscenely expensive self-coverage lapse in January (I'm freelance self-employed and was paying $700 a month for basic health). I guess on the bright side I probably won't be paying more than 10K a year for diabetes expenses anyway and I can get covered under the +1's policy in 2 years.

Well, thanks for listening to my rant. I'd love to read any stories of encouragement you may have, feel free to PM me since I know health is a very personal/private issue for most people.

Now that I have made I post exclusively about a heath related issue, I finally feel truly 'Vintage'


Cheers,
Mike

 

Mike sorry to hear about the diabetes, focus on getting it under control, and more importantly focus on the upcoming wedding!! Good luck and congratulations!

 

Sorry to hear, Mike. I've had friends with the disease, and my mother in law had it as well. I'm sure the health professionals will guide you along in proper diet, testing of glucose levels, etc. It's time consuming, a PIA, but necessary, or the disease can cause many more problems as time goes by.

As far as your insurance, if you can get on +1's insurance sooner, even at your own expense do so ASAP. It is possible due to your previous lapse in coverage, they may deny many of your claims for a specified period.

Also, look into mailing away to Canada for your prescription needs while you are without coverage. For the heck of it I checked the price of my meds against US prices recently. One inhaler $156 here about $74.00 there. Another was $190 here and about $79.00 there.

Feel free to vent at any time. We're here for you.

 

The physical changes in life doesn't mean changes in the "quality" in life. Sorry to hear about the latest diag but with all of the options available for you, this will be something to discern and work through. Way too much and support from the friends on the S2KI site to let this tackle you. Thanx for posting and keeping us informed but now that this is out in the open, we'll be waiting for posts and pics from the Honeymoon...... .............Scott.

 

This is not a club that I want to say "welcome to the club" to you but I too remember feeling very angry when learning I had the exact same problems you're having. My numbers weren't off the chart but bad enough to be put on meds, given my age and medical history.

Fortunately, I had seen my MIL fight tooth and nail at the age of 80 to get her diabetes under control enough to come off most of her medications eventually. I was encouraged by that, knowing how stubborn she was at the time. I decided to fight it with everything I could learn about these diseases and found that these things can be controlled (notice I didn't say easily) with diet and meds and that you can have your life very close to normal again. It just calls for a new way of thinking and eating. You'll be fine once you get the hang of it all. Just work though the anger and do some serious research. Don't ignore the natural remdies either. Hang in there and march down that aisle knowing that you're going to beat this thing. Don't let it get you down, just put on your fighting shoes and knuckle down. Besides, you're still a young lil' whippersnapper. You've got plenty of fighting time left.

 

Darn sorry to hear that Mike, but on the other hand diabetes can be very well controlled. I hope that is your case. Of course they will also recommend lifestyle changes as well as the meds.
What I have learned about meds in the last few months is that its the side effects of the meds required other meds that have side effects as well. Not fun, but will eventually help you get healthy again, which is what we all wish for you.

 

Well, Ol' Diabetes was waiting for me. I was diagnosed in 2002 with routine fasting sugars of 250+. Now, I take one shot of insulin a day, 22 units, and a couple oral meds. My cholesterol, too, was off the charts with the clinician telling me the same thing about moving under my own control. One med for that and one for blood pressure.
My eyesight has been essentially stable for about 3 years with only very minor tweeks to my scrip. I eat pretty normally, I see my doc twice a year.
I was rather depressed to get this diagnosis, but shortly after that, I was at a family function and 5 of my father's living relatives were there. All but one has duiabetes. A cousin has had a pump since she was in her twenties. There does seem to be a strong genetic link in this.
Hang in there, it really isn't the end of the world.

 

Thanks for all the kind thoughts and encouraging words everyone!
What I am finding bizarre about this whole thing is that I felt absolutely fine. I'm sure many people who have serious heart attacks probably feel exactly the same way.

Some numbness on the insides of my hands and some minor vision changes were the only manifestations. (Attributed to carpal tunnel and turning 40, respectively) So it is important to get your blood tested!!

Anyway, there are lots of changes in store and I am keen to get as healthy as I can, as fast as I can by every means at my disposal. I am sure it is inherited in my case, 3 relatives on my father's side with type 2, but I guess I am lucky to have this as the only thing in my family history, absolutely no heart disease or cancer on either side.
I do plan to be around here for quite some time.


Mike

 

Mike, that sucks. Carpal tunnel, by comparison, would have been good news. Sorry to hear of your findings. Like others, I have friends who have learned to deal with it. Best wishes with working through this.

 

I was diagnosed 5 years ago with type 2.
Diabetes runs in my family and I guess the odds were pretty high for me to get it.
My younger brother did not take the disease seriously and he left us at age 37.
It is manageable with diet and exercise. Don't let the diagnosis mess up your head. Stay focused and you will be fine.