Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Diabetic bass players
- Thread starter Lammchop93
- Start date
Wow. Didn't mean to hit a nerve there- your blood sugar off a bit? You seem a wee bit cranky.
I don't associate faith with the trials that happen in my life. Never have. I do however associate faith with how I handle things in my life, good and bad. As it should be, for me anyway. An open, optimistic approach can make most situations managable.
Keeping in mind I was four when I became ill and have no clue whatsoever how the "other half" lives, diabetes is what it is- a controllable condition that doesn't have to limit my life, so it doesn't. I know what I need to do to remain healthy, and I do it. Good genetic disposition is part of the reason I believe I've remained in good health.
The other is that "my God" gave me the skills to cope with my disease.
Bob
Im coping with my disease just find thank you very much (And thank you for not commenting on my horrible spelling error
)I have no problem with my diabetes, as i am a atheist, i get a little angry when "god" or something get dragged in to things.
If he made everything, he also made disease's, and in my mind that makes him on the level with the "devil".. "Oh we need someone to blame bad things on... lets invent something bad and name him, uh.. the Devil"
I bet you, in 1000 years time "god" will be named "Gandalf" and "satan" will be named "Sauron".
My long term Blood sugar level was around 5, and my doctor told me it was to low..
its exactly what "normal" people are.
I'm not, but my father has it, my uncle had it (he's since died), and my brother's been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. So, uh...I'm starting to be more vigilant, losing some weight and trying to watch my diet a little more carefully now that I'm in my mid-thirties.
I'm not a diabetic, I'm a stroke victim(22 years old at the time, 23 now). Lost all control in my right side.....playing was not even an option. So, being able to play now, I really feel for all of you guys and girls who can't play. Anyone with a condition that requires as much attention as diabetes who still leads a normal life has my respect. Keep on truckin.
Im coping with my disease just find thank you very much (And thank you for not commenting on my horrible spelling error
I have no problem with my diabetes, as i am a atheist, i get a little angry when "god" or something get dragged in to things.
If he made everything, he also made disease's, and in my mind that makes him on the level with the "devil".. "Oh we need someone to blame bad things on... lets invent something bad and name him, uh.. the Devil"
I bet you, in 1000 years time "god" will be named "Gandalf" and "satan" will be named "Sauron".
My long term Blood sugar level was around 5, and my doctor told me it was to low..
No point debating The God/atheist thing- yours is yours, mine is mine and I'm cool with that.
Besides a debate like that is akin to kicking a boulder. You can do it, but it ain't gonna move.That your doctor that says your b.s is too low, though... recent ADA reports feel b.s. for a controlled diabetic should be less than 6. Even my doc(an endocrinologist, no less) thought that was nuts. Is he concerned about you dropping too low?
No point debating The God/atheist thing- yours is yours, mine is mine and I'm cool with that.
That your doctor that says your b.s is too low, though... recent ADA reports feel b.s. for a controlled diabetic should be less than 6. Even my doc(an endocrinologist, no less) thought that was nuts. Is he concerned about you dropping too low?
Yeah, i agree, so maby we just should quit it
Hes not my doctor realy, i had him one time, and since then i have moved to a different town, but he said that they prefered to have people with diabetes around 6 - 7... maby he is concerned about me dropping to low, but to be complete honest, i rarely do, i have episode about 2 - 3 times a month maximum, and never so bad that im not fully aware of whats happening and what to do..
Im not diabetic, but my wife is. She played DB in high school and college, but doesnt play currently.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 at 26, and has lost about 60lbs since then through better diet, exercise, and an ever changing set of meds (currently Metformin and Byetta, and likely to stay that way till we start a family).
Her A1c levels have been below 6 for a couple of years, and she hasn't had any complications pop up yet. I'm very proud of her for taking control of her condition and working hard to manage it.
I'm glad to hear that so many of you are working hard to control your diabetes. It runs in my family too, but so far my fasting glucose is normal, but I better start taking more steps to keep it that way.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 at 26, and has lost about 60lbs since then through better diet, exercise, and an ever changing set of meds (currently Metformin and Byetta, and likely to stay that way till we start a family).
Her A1c levels have been below 6 for a couple of years, and she hasn't had any complications pop up yet. I'm very proud of her for taking control of her condition and working hard to manage it.
I'm glad to hear that so many of you are working hard to control your diabetes. It runs in my family too, but so far my fasting glucose is normal, but I better start taking more steps to keep it that way.
Can I play?
Diagnosed Type 2 around 22-ish
'Graduated' to Type 1 around 27-ish
Just turned 35 on 8/1 and seriously contemplating the pump. Read all the info, etc., just waiting for that 'sign' or 'moment' to take the plunge (syringe joke-)
As I type this, I've had to check my blood 4x today already (6pm) and do 3 shots...
The hardest thing to deal with in my opinion is having an episode in public. As stated before, it's not readily apparent you have Diabetes... I probably just look like some long-hair who's stoned in public...
It's unpleasant to have a sweat/shakes episode irregardless of where you are, but at home you don't feel the need to explain yourself.
What's my Diabetic Bassists Club Membership# ????
Your number 24.
I'm in same boat have heard it for years and looking at my family's history it appeared that way. So no can cite a reference I just know it going crazy these days. I look back and seems like the trend in more fast foods (carb's), supersize, and corn sweetener appears to match the timeline. Now have friends who kids are not overweight becoming diabetic. Something going on???
wow, i respect all of you guys.
never had any problems with my health, but then again i'm only 14.
definitely influences me to further watch my health
never had any problems with my health, but then again i'm only 14.
definitely influences me to further watch my health
Something is going on, i am not thin, i was around 90 kg around the time i got diabetes, but i also am 190 CM high, so i could back up that weight, so i wasnt fat.
I have never been one of those who eat alot of candy, drink alot of soda, i dont even drink alcohol or smoke. I like to think that i have always had a regular diet, and i got diabetes in a age of 19. That is a reason i am a little frustrated, if i had done SOME of the stuff that they say is the reason young people today get diabetes, i could understand, but i realy never had.
Even more frustrating, after a year on a place where everyone exept me and my Girlfriend drank alcohol about every bloody day, I am the one getting a "lifestyle disease"..
DocBop: You forgot to mention, "The use of alcohol is increasing" Some kids even drink about every 2nd day, and then they drink until they fall under the table.. they are the one who are supposed to get diabetes, NOT ME!
I have never been one of those who eat alot of candy, drink alot of soda, i dont even drink alcohol or smoke. I like to think that i have always had a regular diet, and i got diabetes in a age of 19. That is a reason i am a little frustrated, if i had done SOME of the stuff that they say is the reason young people today get diabetes, i could understand, but i realy never had.
Even more frustrating, after a year on a place where everyone exept me and my Girlfriend drank alcohol about every bloody day, I am the one getting a "lifestyle disease"..
DocBop: You forgot to mention, "The use of alcohol is increasing" Some kids even drink about every 2nd day, and then they drink until they fall under the table.. they are the one who are supposed to get diabetes, NOT ME!
Nick Man,
Is that a Medtronics pump? Do you use the one with the extra sensor unit or do you still do the finger stick? I'm hesitant for numerous reasons (some silly/some not) and I was thinking if I had something attached to me anyways, why not add ANOTHER thing to your stomach but have to do ZERO finger pricks...
I wear my bass higher, is it uncomfortable when playing sitting down? (i.e. does your injection site bump against the back of the bass, etc.)
A major concern of mine is having the unit attached to me and trying to play with my dogs, do sweaty/dirty yard work & if it will bother me with a bass or g**tar strapped on.
Thanks for any feedback (or to any other pump users who want to jump in...)
Is that a Medtronics pump? Do you use the one with the extra sensor unit or do you still do the finger stick? I'm hesitant for numerous reasons (some silly/some not) and I was thinking if I had something attached to me anyways, why not add ANOTHER thing to your stomach but have to do ZERO finger pricks...
I wear my bass higher, is it uncomfortable when playing sitting down? (i.e. does your injection site bump against the back of the bass, etc.)
A major concern of mine is having the unit attached to me and trying to play with my dogs, do sweaty/dirty yard work & if it will bother me with a bass or g**tar strapped on.
Thanks for any feedback (or to any other pump users who want to jump in...)
As I understand it, currently the insurance companies are not paying for the new constant monitor units, or they will pay for the unit but not the monthly supplies. Supplies run about 300.00 a month so I guess if your rich you could afford it. I've seen one of the early Medtronics units and it look a little cumbersome at the monitor site (ie large attachment with lots of tape to hold it in place). As with the pumps these should be improved.
My meter came with a glucose monitor that communicated directly with the pump but you still had to accept the reading and any adjustments that it calculated. After checking it against actual lab blood draws I determined my One Touch was much closer. The monitor was so far out Medtronic had me send it back for a replacement. The replacement was no better so I sent it back too. When the third meter arrived I just left it in the box it came in.
I think I'll wait until the next generation of constant monitors comes out. By then they will have improved and the insurance companies should be paying for the monitors and the supplies.
My biggest problem with the pump is the infusion sets. I'm a heavy sweater and sometimes they fall off (Bards Wipes work best as a site prep) but mostly I get them caught on a piece of machinery, door frame, plywood, or some other edged surface when working. I keep extras close by so I just put in a new one. Small hassle for such a great benefit.
My meter came with a glucose monitor that communicated directly with the pump but you still had to accept the reading and any adjustments that it calculated. After checking it against actual lab blood draws I determined my One Touch was much closer. The monitor was so far out Medtronic had me send it back for a replacement. The replacement was no better so I sent it back too. When the third meter arrived I just left it in the box it came in.
I think I'll wait until the next generation of constant monitors comes out. By then they will have improved and the insurance companies should be paying for the monitors and the supplies.
My biggest problem with the pump is the infusion sets. I'm a heavy sweater and sometimes they fall off (Bards Wipes work best as a site prep) but mostly I get them caught on a piece of machinery, door frame, plywood, or some other edged surface when working. I keep extras close by so I just put in a new one. Small hassle for such a great benefit.
What happened to everyone in this thread? It was going good for a couple of days then nothing. Anybody?
Anybody?
Try hard to watch your health. But if your're going to get it I would say get it a younger age,(that if if it is type 1) because if you get it under control at a young age you will be in better control at an older age. I got mine at age 13 and my parents tell me that it was better that I got it then instead of 10 years from then.
type 1 since 2002, age 15 now 21. finger pricking bothers me alot, but ive recently learnt of alternative testing sights...
not the best diabetic but im picking up my game abit. went through a season of complete apathy towards the disease, still took needles but never tested and never watched my diet. but i've since improved...
the way ive always thought of it is that considering all the medical complications i (or anyone) could have, i feel lucky to have D which is fairly managable and is pretty much lifestyle based, when life could have dealt me a hand with cancer or a mental illness on the cards.
i only hope they figure out a cure before i have kids, would hate to pass these genes on....
not the best diabetic but im picking up my game abit. went through a season of complete apathy towards the disease, still took needles but never tested and never watched my diet. but i've since improved...
the way ive always thought of it is that considering all the medical complications i (or anyone) could have, i feel lucky to have D which is fairly managable and is pretty much lifestyle based, when life could have dealt me a hand with cancer or a mental illness on the cards.
i only hope they figure out a cure before i have kids, would hate to pass these genes on....
slowburnaz
Commercial User
Type 1 diabetic here. I was diagnosed on December 31st, 2002. I was 28 at the time... almost 29 (I turned 29 on Jan. 20th, 2003).
The crazy thing is that no one in my family is diabetic as far back as I can trace. While they think Type 1 diabetes is partly genetic, there is mounting evidence that it is an autoimmune disease. Even getting a virus that makes your immune system go a little nuts, can make it attack your pancreas, giving you Type 1.
It doesn't affect my bass playing at all. I've been able to keep it mostly under control, but my A1C went up last time I had it checked, so I've had to take more of the long-acting insulin lately. I'm up to 20 units of Lantus now.
I still drink, though very moderately. The problem with alcohol is that it causes a dip in blood sugar levels at first, then the carbs in what you're drinking shoots them back up. That may be bad, but I refuse to give up everything I enjoy to a disease that, if I'm careful, I can still control. Gotta die of somethin, right? Hell, I could die in a car crash tomorrow.
Like this one comedian said when speaking of health nuts, "A lot of these health nuts are going to get a big surprise one day, as they lay in their hospital beds, dying of nothing." I know, I know... I'm only half serious. I still need to take care of myself, and do pretty well at it.
The crazy thing is that no one in my family is diabetic as far back as I can trace. While they think Type 1 diabetes is partly genetic, there is mounting evidence that it is an autoimmune disease. Even getting a virus that makes your immune system go a little nuts, can make it attack your pancreas, giving you Type 1.
It doesn't affect my bass playing at all. I've been able to keep it mostly under control, but my A1C went up last time I had it checked, so I've had to take more of the long-acting insulin lately. I'm up to 20 units of Lantus now.
I still drink, though very moderately. The problem with alcohol is that it causes a dip in blood sugar levels at first, then the carbs in what you're drinking shoots them back up. That may be bad, but I refuse to give up everything I enjoy to a disease that, if I'm careful, I can still control. Gotta die of somethin, right? Hell, I could die in a car crash tomorrow.
Like this one comedian said when speaking of health nuts, "A lot of these health nuts are going to get a big surprise one day, as they lay in their hospital beds, dying of nothing." I know, I know... I'm only half serious. I still need to take care of myself, and do pretty well at it.
Thunderchief:
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, free pump & a Huge bump in monthly upkeep cost, I hate finger testing but it's not worth that much extra, no thanks, My dogs' gots ta eats! Thanks for the info about infusion sets, doors, corners etc. I sweat alot outside (FL is humid...) and now that I think about it, I should probably go for one piece of tape to deal with at first. And have less on me to bump into something.
metallicafan18:
As sick as it sounds, I think it is better to get Diabetes at a younger age.
Mine developed in my early 20's and as much as I was pissed it's better it happened then than now (35) for me. My Uncle (non-blood related)was diagnosed with type2 last year. He's in his early 50's and while he's always been stubborn, he is really screwing himself up. He's in the same angry/apathetic/denial stage (as mentioned by dan.ablett) we all went thru (I assume...) but he's got a lot more time invested in his bad habits at 50-something than I did at 22. He knows better as my grandmother (blood related) was borderline and my other Uncle(blood related) DIED from not taking care of his Type 1. He helped my Aunt look after them, Yet he STILL won't shape up his act. You'd think he'd know better. I'm a model of perfection compared to him (and I have a crappy A1c avg of 7.2-ish).
Getting it early helps because it's sooo much easier to whip your ass into line when you're younger and much less set in your ways.
But not too early, I really feel for kids who have to get shots before they even know what the hell is going on.
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, free pump & a Huge bump in monthly upkeep cost, I hate finger testing but it's not worth that much extra, no thanks, My dogs' gots ta eats! Thanks for the info about infusion sets, doors, corners etc. I sweat alot outside (FL is humid...) and now that I think about it, I should probably go for one piece of tape to deal with at first. And have less on me to bump into something.
metallicafan18:
As sick as it sounds, I think it is better to get Diabetes at a younger age.
Mine developed in my early 20's and as much as I was pissed it's better it happened then than now (35) for me. My Uncle (non-blood related)was diagnosed with type2 last year. He's in his early 50's and while he's always been stubborn, he is really screwing himself up. He's in the same angry/apathetic/denial stage (as mentioned by dan.ablett) we all went thru (I assume...) but he's got a lot more time invested in his bad habits at 50-something than I did at 22. He knows better as my grandmother (blood related) was borderline and my other Uncle(blood related) DIED from not taking care of his Type 1. He helped my Aunt look after them, Yet he STILL won't shape up his act. You'd think he'd know better. I'm a model of perfection compared to him (and I have a crappy A1c avg of 7.2-ish).
Getting it early helps because it's sooo much easier to whip your ass into line when you're younger and much less set in your ways.
But not too early, I really feel for kids who have to get shots before they even know what the hell is going on.
Type 1 diabetic here. I was diagnosed on December 31st, 2002. I was 28 at the time... almost 29 (I turned 29 on Jan. 20th, 2003).
The crazy thing is that no one in my family is diabetic as far back as I can trace. While they think Type 1 diabetes is partly genetic, there is mounting evidence that it is an autoimmune disease. Even getting a virus that makes your immune system go a little nuts, can make it attack your pancreas, giving you Type 1.
It doesn't affect my bass playing at all. I've been able to keep it mostly under control, but my A1C went up last time I had it checked, so I've had to take more of the long-acting insulin lately. I'm up to 20 units of Lantus now.
I still drink, though very moderately. The problem with alcohol is that it causes a dip in blood sugar levels at first, then the carbs in what you're drinking shoots them back up. That may be bad, but I refuse to give up everything I enjoy to a disease that, if I'm careful, I can still control. Gotta die of somethin, right? Hell, I could die in a car crash tomorrow.
Like this one comedian said when speaking of health nuts, "A lot of these health nuts are going to get a big surprise one day, as they lay in their hospital beds, dying of nothing." I know, I know... I'm only half serious. I still need to take care of myself, and do pretty well at it.
Btw- Whether a disease is genetic or not has nothing to do with it being an autoimmune disease or not. Type 1 Diabetese is in fact an autoimmune disease, because the body attacks it's own insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Type 1 is also a genetic disease, that can be triggered by a number of environmental factors. We just don't know all of those factors. Meaning, if you don't have the genetic code for type 1 diabetese, then the things in your environment won't affect you like they would for someone who does. People who don't have it in their genes won't get Type 1.
While on this subject, I might as well point out a few of the differences between type 1 and type 2. People with type 2 produce insulin fine. It's just that the cells that need to absorb that insulin can't recognize it anymore and succesfully absorb it. Thus, type 2 is not an autoimmune disease. That's why a modified diet with some other lifestyle changes will usually be just the solution for type 2 sufferers.
In type 1, the cells that need to absorb the insulin work perfectly well and would be able to absorb it fine. It's just that the cells in the pancreas that create the insulin have been attacked by the body's immune system. Meaning, no insulin production. = autoimmune disease.
Oh, and 20 units of lantus. Psh, that's nothing, if your talking about giving that much once a day. I'm up to 33 units of lantus each evening.
