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I am opening this thread for people to discuss coping with diabetes
use this thread to discuss
diet
exercise
medical findings
any tips you may have to help keep diabete in check.
this thread is not just for diabetics and there is no need for anyone to identify themself as being a diabetic in order to post in this thread.
hmmm, ‘medical’ findings… 😉
One thing I can tell you for sure. Diabetics are supposed to see the doc every three months. Oh, and there are lots of blood tests involved! 🙂
I am not an endocinologist (I dont think I even spelled the specialty properly!) and make no claims of expertise…..with that said it should be pointed out that there are 2 types of diabetes, the 1st is Type 1 diabetes often called Juvenile Diabetes and the 2nd Type 2, often called Adult Onset (but more and more kids are getting Type 2).
Type 1 is permanent, and is “treatable” only through the use of Insulin which takes over for the inability of the persons pancreas to process glucose at all. Most of the topics listed above do not apply here. Lifestyle choices, excercise choices or diet will not help in any way as far as Diabetes is concerned (of course, it makes a big difference as far as other health related matters are concerned). Advances in technology make living with Type 1 Diabetes much easier.
Type 2 Diabetes is very much affected by the choices one makes.
One excellent support group for Frum people is the organization Friends With Diabetes, http://www.friendswithdiabetes.org, I am sure there are others.
Not sure why “medical findings” is so amusing. People who live with Type 1 Diabetes for example do not find the creation of the “insulin pump” to be funny. Sure it brings a smile to their face, but because it is a wonderful way to live with “insulin therapy”. Sure beats multiple daily injections. The Ribono Shel Olam has provided many advances in the types of Insulin available, blood glucose monitoring and testing devices that are a benefit to those who need them. Surely a cause for a smile 🙂
webmd.com also has some great postings for many medical issues and sites where you can find out more. i worked with a child who has diabetes (R”L) and this is a great site to better understand medical issues, terminology ect. it is very important to tell whoever is working with the child what it is all about, what are signs of an emergency, what not to let them eat/do ect.
just thought i would mention another instance of diabetes called gestational diabetes which women may get during pregnancy. happens because some of the hormones that help the baby grow, block the insulin from doing what its supposed to do in the mother. once the pregnancy is over, the diabetes usually clears up, though it may return in a later pregnancy, or they may develop type 2 diabetes later on in life.
There is also another type of diabetes which can be very difficult to manage and that is Gestational Diabetes. Take it from me it is not fun to try to be PG and not be able to eat what you are craving.
My parents and husband are diabetic,so this is a great thread for me.
Studies have shown that cinnamon can stablize blood sugar. Goggle the info. I have no idea how to paste or cut, but the info is out there.
I heard that if someone is having a hypoglemic episode, chocolate is not good to eat as if gives a peak and then drops or something like that. this person told me that a tsp. of sugar is better (but not as tasty)
is it Hghgba1c on a blood test that determines diabetes?!
People should know that just as diabetics can get sick from too high a blood sugar (hyPERglycemia), they can also become ill from too low blood sugar (hyPOglycemia). Too many people are under the impression that diabetes = no sugar, when in reality sometimes a diabetic can c’v die without it. Diabetics can usually tell if they’re feeling ill because of too much or too little, and anyway, they can check to know for sure. So if you see a diabetic about to stuff some cake into his mouth, don’t come running to the rescue! He probably needs that cake!
jax
its HgA1c
the hg stands for hemoglobin, i dont know what the a1c is.
im not familiar with it being used for diagnosis of diabetes, but its posssible i suppose.
its generally used for monitoring of diabetes
the blood sugar levels give you an instantaneous idea of the current blood sugar level.
the A1c gives you a general idea of what level the blood sugars have been over the past few months on average.
its a measurement of the concentration of the glucose molecules that have become attached to the hemoglobin molecules in the red blood cells, or something like that
feivel: oh thanx! how about BMI-what’s that?
whoops
its HbA1c not HgA1c, Hg is the chemical symbol for mercury, Hb is the medical abbreviation for hemoglobin
body mass index
its a way of calculating approximate amount of body fat using a formula inputting height and weight (maybe age also) there are much better ways of measuring it physically, generally expensive, there are commercial scales that claim to measure it, athletes sometimes use them, i dont know if they work or not.
generally the higher the bmi the less healthy and more difficult to control diabetes other things being equal
have to run
Good Shabbos
feivel: thank you! have a good shobbos!
BS”D
Rabbi Avraham Lieder from Ahavas Chesed in Crown Heights has a diabetic support group meeting every month or so at his new facility. I think his is organized by Methodist Hospital; I am sure Maimonides does something similar through one of the BP chessed groups.
This thread is a great chance for me to try n correct a BIG MISCONCEPTION out there:
ppl with type 1 diabetes can have AS MUCH SUGAR AS THEY WANT just like anyone else, It’s not good for a type 1 to eat too much sugar the same way it’s unhealthy for the rest of us…
To simchaallthetime,
While scientifically you are correct -you prove the point a little knowledge is dangerous. Type 1 diabetics are usually prescribed a set amount of insulin. The Mayo clinic says -“People with diabetes on rapid insulin meal coverage need to develop their skills at portion control so they can match their rapid insulin to the total grams of carbohydrate they are eating for better glucose control”. In other words type 1’s also need to be on a diet. If diabetics would follow your advice, not only would they have poor glucose control, a lot would go into DKA. So no, Type 1’s can’t have “AS MUCH SUGAR AS THEY WANT”. Even with the pump they wouldn’t have that tight control that they need.
My late aunt was a perfect example of how dangerous it is to think that if one is on insulin they can have as much sugar as they want. She figured she would eat a piece of cake and have the ice cream, and just give herself a shot. She was wrong, the sugar highs and lows caused serious health issues for her, and she never stabilized her BSL. Portion and diet control are the best weapons for an insulin dependent diabetic. A healthy diet and medication, plus weight loss and exercise are the best weapons for Type 2 diabetics. But neither party can indiscriminately consume simple carbohydrates.
I know someone that is a type 2 diabetic that sometimes gets so busy that he forgets to eat…by the time he remembers he is usually feeling pretty ill. Does anyone have some good advice on what to do about this?
get that person an alarm clock watch that is set to a preset time interval at which he must eat something, either a meal or light snack.
hi friends i just saw this thread and decided to let you all know that having diabetes is okay and the main thing you should do when someone tells you that they have diabetes whether it be type 1 or type 2 bh a person can lead a normal life. i have a son with juvenile diabetes type 1 and 2 children with autism. i am a mumche in both areas so if you have any questions please feel free to ask. there is a person who really knows his stuff. his name is rabbi meisels. he himself has diabetes for many years and is in constant communication with big doctors. his number is 845-352-7532 and his website is http://www.FriendsWithDiabetes.org he is a mentshe and can help in many ways. he has meetings and shabbatons for boys,girls,married and parents that need help and guidance. so please call him and more important get on his mailing list bec he sends out different magazines with important info.
The insulin pump has done away with the “highs and lows” associated with an insulin shot regimen for those living with type 1. Of course the pump is only as good as the one using it. Boluses must be properly calculated and administered as does the continuos insulin feed. Baruch hashem, the ribbono shel olam, has sent medical advances in insulin, insulin delivery and glucose checking and monitoring to the world along with many wonderful shluchim to help in the use of the advances. What’s most important fpr people to understand is that those who live with diabetes under the care of a professional, can and do live perfectly normal lives.
yup i agree with jphone, its true a person can lead a very normal life with diabetes as long as he/she takes care of the issue notice i said issue not problem bec its not a problem its a situation and an issue that a person has to deal with and if that person has the right mehalach and the right care all can be well.
Every day they are coming out with new meds for type 2. There are so many- my head is spinning. If you aren’t able to keep tight glucose control with one, try another.
Its very hereditary, so if you have grandparents, aunts or uncles, parents or siblings with diabetes you should check your glucose levels every once in a while to make sure that if you have it you can control it as soon as possible.
it is true that if someone from your family has it you are more LIKELY notice i said the word LIKELY to get it but not for sure, you are more susceptible, possibly, not for sure, so if you are in doubt check it out.
EDITED
I don’t think there is a legitimate study that concludes diabetes is hereditary. Not type 1 or type 2.
jphone is right there are no legitimate studies shown by scientists that diabetes is heredity. if you do have it the main thing is to check your blood sugars all the time to make sure your sugar is balanced and to take the insulin whether it be novolog or humalog, and it doesnt matter which way by needle or pump although there have scientific research that the pump is much better and can really control the sugar.
According to the endocrineweb.com website, type II diabetes has a significant herediatry/ genetic component (that’s why it’s much more common in some populations, such as Native Americans), though obesity is also a factor.
“Type 2 diabetes tends to be fairly hereditary in contrast to type 1 diabetes. Approximately 38% of siblings and one-third of children of people with type 2 diabetes will develop diabetes or abnormal glucose metabolism at some point…Studies with identical twins showed that 90-100% of the time when diabetes developed in one it would also develop in the other compared with 50% in type 1 diabetes.”
Researchers suspect that while some may be genetically disposed to Type I diabetes, environmental exposure plays a stronger role than in Type II. One factor under consideration is the effect of infant formulas; the TRIGR study is investigating this possibility.
I’m not sure where the studies are published, but the inheritability of Type II diabetes is a generally accepted fact in endocrinology, found in any basic textbook on the subject.
does anybody know of a good endocrinologist who takes teenage boys in brooklyn
Dr. Ten from Miamonidies is known to be a great! endoc. but it might be an issue for boys bec. of the way she dresses… The best would be to speak to Rabbi Meisels who is an amazing person who does sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much on behalf of the klal he can help u out with info to help you choose the right Dr.
yea i do speak to him all the time except he does not know of doctors here in brooklyn and dr. ten is okay but not for jewish teenage boys. she really doesn’t understand the halochos and how to deal with privacy issues. thanx anyway!!!
To Mosh,
I personally don’t know any endocrine docs, but if you do a superpages look up, you’ll find 3 male jewish-named docs in the BP area. Not much of a choice, but at least there are 3.
rebbitzen: I do NOT agree with you! forget about shidduchim for a minute, keeping it a secret allows girls to feel normal and not the odd one out all through school and beyond.
sorry but i agree with the rebbitzen. if a person keeps something a secret in general then he/she feels guilty and thinks that its their fault this happened and does not even have any bitachon that hashem will help out . it says “imo anochi batzara” that hashem is with a person all the time especially when facing a tzarah but if you keep it a secret then you dont take HIM in to account. is it your fault that hashem gave you diabetes? no of course not remember HE is in charge and everything comes from HIM so…. why keep it a secret its like your embarressed that hashem decided that you have to have this test. i understand that you dont have to shout it from the rooftops ut its okay to let people know. i make shidduchim and its okay .
Someone in my family actually does have it and that s/o also happens to be ME! I definitely hear what ur saying but I also know that the decision had nothing to do with me the fact that it was kept a secret. My parents were the ones that felt it was better this way. It wasn’t TOP secret, quite a few ppl(including some good friends) who needed to know were told. But generally I can say myself it is VERY hard to deal w/ in itself w/o having to worry about keeping the secret.
But I don’t agree w/ Mosh3 I DEFINITELY don’t deny it coming from the one above and am not embarrased about it even one bit! Keeping it a secret and acknowledging where hashem comes into the picture is not a contradiction at all
There is a LOT of ignorance in the general population about Diabetes. While I dont think those living with Diabetes should keep it a secret (on a practical level, it can be a sakanah), I can understand why someone WOULD hide it from people due to the ignorance of others. That ignorance can be hurtful.
To the diabetics,
You seem to be young people, so I’m assuming you have type 1. At what age were you diagnosed? Even if you have type 2 -how long from onset of symptoms to diagnosis?
mother of a diabetic diagnosed at 19 with type one . i am curious to know from other mothers of sons what the shidduch scene is out there. are boys only redt girls with issues or are regular girls interested in great guys who just happen to have type one diabetes ? and by the way, type one is definitely not hereditary.
To yehudaw,
How long did he have symptoms before diagnosis? Also, it depends what you call hereditary. If hereditary means genes -then about half of type 1 have some sort of diabetic gene(s). If hereditary means first degree relative, then you are correct.
yehudaw: From the things I’ve heard the shidduch scenes these days r pretty bad out there, ppl hear the word diabetes and literally go running w/o even knowing the definition of “that “D” word”. That’s not really giving a/o a fair chance but I guess hashem has his plans set for e/o. As Rabbi Meisels repeats all the time from the Novomisker Rebbe, he promised that no shidduch will ever be stopped due to Diabetes. When ppl say no bec. of it that just shows straight out that it’s not the right match
Rebbetzin, you are 100% correct. However, there is so much ignorance about Diabetes that it is inevitable that when it comes to shidduchim it is lumped together with all the other “problems”.
i am a mother of a son with diabetes who got it at age 9 and now he is 16 1/2 but i make shidduchim and its really not an issue. i know quite a few boys, excellent boys who got top rate girls regardless of their diabetes. the problem is like jphone said ther is so much ignorance about diabetes that people assume the worst and think all sorts of things which is not true. maybe if people got educated like articles in the yated and hamodea and dr should give speeches in shul regarding this subject it might help. for example maybe for 10 min before mincha a dr who really knows the facts can get up by the bima and explain what diabetes is and people can then ask questions about their doubts. its just a suggestion.
To mosh,
One of the reasons I blog here is to educate people. I don’t know of any medical professional who will get up in public without being asked. And most won’t do it even if they are asked. This is one of the maalos of the internet -you can find a lot of medical info right at your fingertips. The internet is practically a necessity if you are a student in the health sciences, like me.
I think it’s less of a worry for boys in shidduchim, than girls, but Hashem is the father of both…He has a plan for everyone! We just need to keep reminding ourselves. I’m totally talking to myself on this one…
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