![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 31. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on October 20, 2006, at 10:06:02
I came to the astounding (for me) insight that I am not avoiding taking my blood sugar merely because I'm lazy. I felt so bad last night that I realized I probably should take my blood sugar and I realized that I was avoiding doing that because I didn't really want to know the answer.
I realized the same thing this morning, and took my blood sugar, which was 156 fasting. Not horrible, but certainly not where I'd like it to be. At least for a few days, I need to use my monitor on a regular basis to see where I'm at.
Could someone nag me?
Posted by MidnightBlue on October 20, 2006, at 12:19:13
In reply to I need someone to nag me, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2006, at 10:06:02
I'll try. Dinah take that blood sugar! Did you get that babble mail I sent you? In a week or two I'm going to try to eat right again. Gotta get well first........
MB
Posted by Jost on October 20, 2006, at 17:27:28
In reply to I need someone to nag me, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2006, at 10:06:02
I can do a pretty good imitation of nagging someone.
Any particular requests? ie frequency, preferred level of surprise, shock, indignation, horror, or personal offront, at the news that my nagging has not yet produced results after a few times?
any particular phrases that you find especially effective or off-putting when being nagged?
Do you prefer pitbull nagging, or softer more paternalistic nagging?
any other information about your personal nagging profile would be helpful.
Tell me when to start, also. I'm available at most hours, night and day.
Jost
Posted by Declan on October 20, 2006, at 17:50:29
In reply to I need someone to nag me, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2006, at 10:06:02
Well, I hope you've taken your blood sugar this morning. Time and again I have told you to do this, not that you listen to me, and one day you will wish you had, no doubt when it's too late. Don't you care about your family? Don't you know how much they depend on you?
Failing to take your bloodsugar is simply selfish.How about that for starters? Is that what nagging is like in your neck of the woods?
Declan
Posted by Dinah on October 22, 2006, at 10:52:23
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on October 20, 2006, at 12:19:13
Thanks, Midnight Blue. I hope you start to feel better soon. I'm still having trouble with the diet, because work is so stressful right now. Food has always been what keeps me going, and it's hard to find something else. Exercise might help long term, but it's hard to find the time and energy short term. (I was cleaning the floor the other day, and my husband grew absolutely alarmed at how winded I got.)
Which is my longwinded way of saying that right now it's important that you take care and feel better.
Posted by Dinah on October 22, 2006, at 10:56:26
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me, posted by Jost on October 20, 2006, at 17:27:28
rofl.
I had no idea there were so many choices involved! Clearly I need to refine my nagging techniques.
I suppose I was hoping public shame would help me do what I'm supposed to do, which it did to some extent.
I'm a bit depressed because my fasting blood sugar doesn't seem to be getting better even though I'm watching what I eat, carb wise. But my levels after eating don't seem really out of line. It's not horribly high, but maybe I'll call my internist.
Still, at least I'm taking them a bit better, although I still get that cold feeling in my stomach as I get out the equipment. Next! To write down the results.
Posted by Dinah on October 22, 2006, at 10:57:31
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me » Dinah, posted by Declan on October 20, 2006, at 17:50:29
Very nice form. I give it high marks. :)
It seems to be working. I've been better than I have in quite some time. Except that I need to write the darn results down.
Posted by Declan on October 22, 2006, at 14:05:23
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me » Declan, posted by Dinah on October 22, 2006, at 10:57:31
Well, I'm glad of that. I was getting worried there for a bit. :)
Posted by Declan on October 22, 2006, at 14:10:55
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me » Jost, posted by Dinah on October 22, 2006, at 10:56:26
I had a 4 hour glucose tolerance test recently, to investigate carbohydrate metabolism. Because they didn't use a canula, I had 9 lots of blood taken. By the end of that I looked as if I'd had a very interesting weekend. The results suggested that my carbohydrate metablism, the (gluose/cortisol/insulin interaction) had actually improved/stabilised somewhat since 5 years ago.
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 22, 2006, at 23:11:26
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me, posted by Declan on October 22, 2006, at 14:10:55
Congratulations for doing something scary and hard- checking. I would feel the same way. If you can record tests regularly, several times a day, or twice anyway, you will have data which will really help you and your internist work together to get the blood sugars down to a healthy level. Don't feel it's all your responsibility to do that. Lots of credit to you- and keep checking!
Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 9:34:32
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me. Dinah, posted by Pfinstegg on October 22, 2006, at 23:11:26
Thanks. :)
It is surprisingly scary.
I guess I'm used to my mother's stance on diabetes. She always said the stress of constantly worrying about her blood sugars was worse than eating a few carbohydrates, and she rarely tested while I was growing up. She did have the ability to tell when her blood sugars were high or low enough to do something like take insulin or drink orange juice.
My therapist reminds me that someone with parts of both feet missing, and diabetic retinopathy that causes hemorrhages in her eyes is not the model of someone who did ok by that method.
But this just isn't how I was brought up to look at diabetes. And it's hard to change my viewpoint, and really surprisingly scary.
Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 9:40:50
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me. Dinah » Pfinstegg, posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 9:34:32
But oddly, I feel worse. Sort of sickish and weak.
Ah, good health.
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 23, 2006, at 11:39:32
In reply to Blood sugars close to where I want them this am, posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 9:40:50
Hey Dinah,
We've got to set it up so that it's part of your routine.Keep the tester with you in your purse, attached with a rubberband to your breathmints/gum/carkeys/lipbalm/cellphone?
Keep it in the bathroom, attached with a rubberband to your toothpaste?
Keep a sticky note in one of the places you visit frequently, like the bathroom, fridge, computer. When you start ignoring the sticky note, pick it up and stick it somewhere new, like the kitchen faucet, or by the telephone in the den.
Have a sticky note attached to your round clock face, where it blocks the number "4" and everytime you curse, 'cause you don't know what time it is, just take your blood sugar.
just some dumb suggestions from someone too lazy to keep her cuticles moisturized...
-Li
Posted by Declan on October 23, 2006, at 15:03:40
In reply to Re: Blood sugars close to where I want them this a » Dinah, posted by Lindenblüte on October 23, 2006, at 11:39:32
I'm sufficiently self obsessed to get a kick out of measuring stuff like blood sugar.
It *is* best to look after it though. An acquaintance was found dead from a heart attack, related to type 1. And I know someone blind from type 2. Neither was old. Once the damage is done it can't be undone.
So, I'm glad you have checked your blood sugar this morning, Dinah.
Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 17:10:03
In reply to Re: Blood sugars close to where I want them this a, posted by Declan on October 23, 2006, at 15:03:40
I know, Declan. I guess I just don't want to think of that in relation to me. I guess I just want to think of it as a pesky annoyance, rather than a disease. :(
I'm glad your test results showed improvement!
Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 17:10:54
In reply to Re: Blood sugars close to where I want them this a » Dinah, posted by Lindenblüte on October 23, 2006, at 11:39:32
Perhaps I should put the sticky note *on* the curse cup. Then my son could not only have the joy of penalizing his mother, but of nagging her as well. :)
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 23, 2006, at 18:39:38
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me. Dinah » Pfinstegg, posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 9:34:32
It IS very scary- but I'm proud of you for having the guts to do it anyway. I think scary things like this are easier if you have sort of a little team in place helping you. Can you sign on your husband and internist? My father-in-law did something like that, and he got an award from the Joslynn Clinic (very well-known in Boston for diabetes) for 50 years with no complications. You really don't have to get any, but in order not to, you do have to work hard on knowing your levels and eating in accordance. In other words, being different from your mom!
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 24, 2006, at 7:57:05
In reply to Re: Blood sugars close to where I want them this a » Lindenblüte, posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 17:10:54
What is a curse cup?
Is that a place where you put money in everytime you say an asterisked word?
I grew up in a household without such structures, I was just wondering?
I'm sorry that you are struggling with this stuff, Dinah. It must make it hard to eat around your children and friends and family. You must be tempted to think that just because you don't "feel" ill, that you are not prone to the dangerous long-term effects of uncontrolled blood sugar.
I think you're very brave for facing up to it, and admitting that this is something that you CAN and WILL get under control.
-Li
Posted by MidnightBlue on October 24, 2006, at 17:25:58
In reply to Re: Blood sugars close to where I want them this a » Lindenblüte, posted by Dinah on October 23, 2006, at 17:10:54
Dinah,
Why don't you fine yourself 25 cents every time you don't take your blood sugar! Maybe that will help!
MB
Posted by karen_kay on October 25, 2006, at 7:00:58
In reply to I need someone to nag me, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2006, at 10:06:02
take your medicine and check your blood. do it! do it now!
Posted by karen_kay on October 25, 2006, at 7:01:41
In reply to I need someone to nag me, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2006, at 10:06:02
Posted by karen_kay on October 25, 2006, at 7:05:05
In reply to I need someone to nag me, posted by Dinah on October 20, 2006, at 10:06:02
well, what ar eyou waiting for? do it NOW!!! (dinah, i'm the nag queen. i can nag you all day long, but don't be defiant and not check because i keep nagging you. now, do it!!!! or i'll come down (over, up) there and do it myself!
and what's this crap about not wanting to know? at least then you can say 'ok, i feel like crap because my sugar's off and not because i'm mad at kk for nagging me! wish my husband could say the same ;)
i've got a hungry kid to feed, but i'll be back to nag some more....
Posted by Dinah on October 25, 2006, at 9:51:37
In reply to Re: I need someone to nag me, posted by karen_kay on October 25, 2006, at 7:05:05
:)
I wasn't so good yesterday, but I took it this morning. Now I just need to remember to write the things down.
Not horrible, and better than it was, but I think I'll call my internist and see if it's where she wants it to be.
Posted by Dinah on October 25, 2006, at 9:52:23
In reply to Re: Blood sugars close to where I want them this a » Dinah, posted by MidnightBlue on October 24, 2006, at 17:25:58
Might well. :)
I still owe a dollar to teh curse cup.
Posted by MidnightBlue on October 27, 2006, at 0:00:28
In reply to Re: Blood sugars close to where I want them this a » MidnightBlue, posted by Dinah on October 25, 2006, at 9:52:23
Dinah,
Watched a program on diabetes tonight on PBS. PLEASE take your blood sugar!
MB
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Health | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.