Diabetic bass players

[Orangeclawhammr]

I'm in...

I'm now living with the consequences of 20 years of not really living like I had the disease. I'd give everything I have to go back and get to live those years again and take care of myself. I'm 44 and hope I'll get to see my young son grow up, but with my health like it is I just dont know. So take the disease seriously, because it is. I'm looking at dialysis in probably a year or so.

Hope I didn't sound "preachy", just want everybody to be as healthy as possible.

BnB

Preachy? PREACHY?!?!

No way! Other than managing your illness as you should have, what more can you do for your fellow human beings and bassists than to warn us of the consequences of not taking diabetes seriously? I've managed mine, but my wake up call was a heart attack which was at least a consequence of my poor health habits. If one does not have health, what does he have?

You have nothing to apologize for in your post.

All teh best to ya.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

does anyone know of a pump or anything that also checks sugars? I HATE having to go out of my way to prick my fingers to test me sugars. There should be an insulin pump that also checks sugars. That would be so convenient.

My Medtronic pump had a device with it called a Constant Blood Glucose Monitor, that had a needle device that stuck under the skin and measured the innerstitial (I know I'm not spelling that right) fluid in the tissue of the body and gave you a trend of what your blood sugar was running. Problem was, you couldn't use it for a correction bolus, or for an eating bolus, and it wasn't nearly as accurate as the meter that you use when you prick your finger. I had one and had been using it for about two or three weeks when I felt strange one night. I looked at the reading of my blood sugar from the CBG monitor on my pump and it said 124. I went and pricked my finger anyway and the reading was in the 40s. I took the monitor out the next morning and have not used it since. I understand now that they have devices that are much more accurate, but to tell the truth, sticking my finger four or five times a day really isnt that big of a hassle anymore.

When they come up with a pump/monitor combo that reads your blood sugar level without having to stick anything in your skin, and then automatically delivers the proper dose of insulin to your body, I'll be a happy happy man!

BnB

 

[Lammchop93]

My Medtronic pump had a device with it called a Constant Blood Glucose Monitor, that had a needle device that stuck under the skin and measured the innerstitial (I know I'm not spelling that right) fluid in the tissue of the body and gave you a trend of what your blood sugar was running. Problem was, you couldn't use it for a correction bolus, or for an eating bolus, and it wasn't nearly as accurate as the meter that you use when you prick your finger. I had one and had been using it for about two or three weeks when I felt strange one night. I looked at the reading of my blood sugar from the CBG monitor on my pump and it said 124. I went and pricked my finger anyway and the reading was in the 40s. I took the monitor out the next morning and have not used it since. I understand now that they have devices that are much more accurate, but to tell the truth, sticking my finger four or five times a day really isnt that big of a hassle anymore.

When they come up with a pump/monitor combo that reads your blood sugar level without having to stick anything in your skin, and then automatically delivers the proper dose of insulin to your body, I'll be a happy happy man!

BnB

Whoah that's scary!

I just went to my doctor, and my readings have been in the 200 area for the past few months. I take Novalog for insulin when I eat, and Levimir every night, but he switched me off Levimir to Lantus.

The first night on Lantus I woke up with a sugar of 55. I always wake up at night when I have a low sugar. Anyone else do that? I'm very thankful I do wake up, or that could lead to some big problems.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

I think it's funny how your body lets you know that things are going on. When I'm asleep and my sugar is low, I dream the same event over and over again. To keep this kinda bass related, for example, I would dream I am playing the same song over and over. When I finally realize I've played the same lick over and over, I wake up and go eat something. It was happening quite frequently for a while, but I've got my levels straightend out somewhat.

BnB

 

[Katfish Krow]

Whoah that's scary!

I just went to my doctor, and my readings have been in the 200 area for the past few months. I take Novalog for insulin when I eat, and Levimir every night, but he switched me off Levimir to Lantus.

The first night on Lantus I woke up with a sugar of 55. I always wake up at night when I have a low sugar. Anyone else do that? I'm very thankful I do wake up, or that could lead to some big problems.

Yep, same for me....I end up waking up, and moving like a zombie extra from "The Walking Dead" A PB&J sandwich and Milk usually takes care of it. I'm thankful I wake up as well.

And B N' B, thank you for your story man. I suppose its a warning to me directly as much as anyone. Like I said I scaled back on the drinking quite a bit (more due to money/family issues than health to be honest) but I still eat like crap, no matter how much I'm warned. Now true it's not like Im eating whole Pizzas for Breakfast with 2 Gallons of Cola and what not, but I do eat things (in the Fried department mostly) that I know I shouldn't. A Funny consequence of my wife's surgery is that I don't eat as much anymore as I used to, even if she's not around . It's nice to have a McDonald bill under 10 bucks for a change . But I gotta let that stuff go altogether...

Are you using the Minimed Paradigm Insulin Pump/Monitor btw?

When I first got diagnosed in the 90's and hated pricking myself, taking shots (as any kid would) my uncle said they were developing a system that used Ultrasound to both check the blood sugars AND Deliver Insulin...that was over 15 years ago...I tried searching to see if anything came of it but all I found was this 11 year old article about a scientist working on it

Invalid Link Removed

Wonder if anything came to fruition on it?

I'd like to switch to an insulin pump...I STILL after 4 years have a hard time giving myself shots, I have to count down and everything like a kid. My Doctor, who's none to a friendly guy (looking for a new one) won't even recommend them to me, he's pushing for surgery first

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Yea I use the Minimed pump but not the monitor. I probably could eat better, but I,m doing ok right now so I kinda cheat sometimes. At the time I got put on the pump I was working concert production a lot outside and having to keep my insulin in a cooler all the time was a real pain so I got the doctors to recommend the pump to the insurance company.

I had a neat little device that I would use to give myself my shot. I put my syringe in it and it was spring loaded and just kinda smacked the needle in there. I dont remember what it was called but I had to buy special syringes for it.

BnB

 

[Diplowmatt]

Only thing I'm good with is not drinking non-diet drinks. I haven't had a regular coke or pepsi in years.

I think it's a monetary issue, it's so much easier living cheap and eating fast food than it is living/eating healthy while diabetic medicine costs a fortune. Good thing I have a job with insurance...I didn't for a year and my insulin cost $200 every 2 weeks when I was making minimum wage...

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Yea, insurance is a must. Between the diabetes, high blood pressure and the kidney damage I have, I spent about $9,000 on meds/doctor visits last year. Good thing I have insurance. I dont see how people without good insurance manage. I guess I'm blessed to have it.

BnB

 

[EnviroMetal]

been diabetic since i was ten (diagnosed in 2000)
type 1
no history in my family at all...im the first to get at and hopefully the last

i usually eat a decent meal before shows. something with lots of protein and slow carbs. i have a pump so it makes eating anything easier but at the same time its quite tricky.
i do have fear of going low during a show but i'll make myself a bit on the higher side just to avoid it.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

EDIT: didnt realize I had posted in this thread a couple of years ago, but I guess this is an update....

Type one since I was 19 (now 46). I now have a good A1C and test about 4 times a day, every day. I try to eat as I should but could do better. My blood sugars are within the limits set by my doctor. However, my body isnt in very good shape because of the diabetes...

My kidney function is all but gone, down to less than 10%. I have had a fistula for dialysis put in my left arm to prepare me for when I need it (hopefully never). I am on a kidney transplant list. My blood pressure is high because of the kidney disease from the diabetes. I have severe anemia because of the kidney disease, along with all of the other stuff that the kidneys are supposed to do that they dont anymore. My hands and feet and legs cramp when I play for a four hour set now. I usually keep a candy bar or some juice or soda handy when I play or make sure I eat right before I play. I have an insulin pump, so It keeps things in control pretty well and my levels good.

I dont want to sound like your parents or something, but to those who dont check too often or at all, START! I used to think that I could tell what my blood sugar was when I was younger and so I never ever checked it. I'm sure I went around daily with levels above 500. For something like 20 years I had no clue what my levels were. And that's why my body is like it is now. I ended up in ICU for four days in 2008 with a blood sugar level of 900 and pnuemonia and my body shutting down on me I'd give everything I have to go back and do it all over again and take care of myself. Do it now while you can.

Sorry to rant...

BnB

 

[Lee H]

my wife was 36 years old when she lost her battle with diabetes.

She was in the trials for the islet cell transplant at Jackson Diabetes Research Center, in Miami. Then they found that her liver was expelling too many proteins. Within two years after that, she had lost kidney function, and was having heart problems...