diabetes

[MaryKay]

Today I found out that I will need to take Insulin shots. I am and have always been afraid of needles and most things medical related. I do know insulin needles are tiny and very thin, but it's like E-cigs...the needles, the insulin, the testing and timing ect. You end up having it in your life 24/7 and NO flavors! After seveal disastrous surgeries I ended up with panic attacts and insomnia when faced with anything medical care related.
I don't know what to do, I am really upset. It didn't help that not only did my doc delivered this news but she hands me a pile of scrips for tons of tests. I was so upset when the nurse came in for a blood test that I told her to shut up. She was yammering on and on about all the tests and making me panic. I don't normally tell anyone to shut up.
I lost a lot of weight in an effort to get rid of diabetes, I take my meds..all of them. I try to eat right but don't always stay on plan. I walk about a mile to 3 miles a day in good weather. It just p.o.ed me that she was ANGRY that my weight was dropping! She said my sugar levels were up and that's why I lost weight. This after being told to get my weight down. I am so freakin confused. (I am 10 lbs overweight) Which in my opinion at 58 is not bad.
The only good news I got today was that my blood oxygen levels were up, No indication that I might be getting copd from smoking. She didn't even say good for you, when I told her I was 5 weeks smoke free.
Sorry I am rambling..just scared I guess.

[Walrus]

I've been doing it for years. It's a scary thought at first, but it really is easy and it becomes second nature. You can practice using an orange. Pretty much just set the needle against your skin, and turn (spin) the syringe... it'll go in all by itself. Hit the plunger and you're done.

Try injecting it somewhere with some cushion. It hurts more in muscle.

[booboo]

Vaping does raise your blood sugar tremendously. I'm sure you know that, but could that be why you need shots now? I was hypoglycemic before I vaped and went for blood tests. My fasting blood sugar was 52 then. About 6 months later, after vaping 3 months, my fasting blood sugar was 101 (which is 1 point over, and for me always having low blood sugar, it was really high.) Only difference was I smoked before the first test, and vaped before the second.

ps. sorry for your news and be careful with th e's.

[MaryKay]

Thanks Walrus, that helps..a bit LOL What a waste of oranges.
Boo Boo, my fasting sugar level was 350! But for me that isn't all that bad, 10 years ago it was in 1,000 range. I had pink milk for blood and could barely put one foot in front of the other. I did have down to 150, but it's been going back up. But with less weight,exercize and better food choices for the last couple of years, I think it genetic more then what I do or don't do.
My blood sugar hasn't gone up or down with vaping. vaping helps me stay off snacks!

[Walrus]

lol there's no need to waste the oranges. Don't peel it... choose one with a thick skin, like a navel orange. Don't actually inject it with anything You'll just practice the light touch needed to insert the needle. When you are done practicing, eat the orange

[Christopher]

I love needles, I got into vaping just for the syringe! Well not really, but it takes all my willpower to not put that syringe in my arm to try to draw blood.

I have have been in the hospital a lot and have grown to like strange things I guess.

[Walrus]

Originally Posted by Christopher

I love needles, I got into vaping just for the syringe! Well not really, but it takes all my willpower to not put that syringe in my arm to try to draw blood.

I have have been in the hospital a lot and have grown to like strange things I guess.

Lol, strange doesn't begin to describe it

I've been in/to the hospital & doctors so much that while having blood drawn didn't use to bother me, now I have panic attacks when I have to have it done. Severe ones... cold sweat, faintness, hysterical blindness...

The only way I can have phlebotomy done when I go to my Oncologist (I also suffer from hemochromatosis) is for them to cover the blood bag with a towel so I can't see it.

[1 Cute Canadian]

My 5 year old son gets daily injections (not for diabetes though) and I know the fear you feel. When he was 20 months I had to give him his first shot. Let me tell you I cried harder that he ever did that day, the nurse yelled at me just do it, I frooze, he was all swaddelled in blankets so he could not squirm and I couldn't see through my tears. It was the 2nd worse day of my life, the first being told his diagnosis. I gave my self a bunch of jabs first to see how it felt and yes it stings,but what I learned is you can do it, when you have to do it. To see the improvements in my son and the fear of loosing him was incentive enough. He does not get up without grabbing his glasses (looks like a little professor) and reminding me to "warm up the poke" for him. You can do this!

[Ladycats]

Originally Posted by Walrus

I've been doing it for years. It's a scary thought at first, but it really is easy and it becomes second nature. You can practice using an orange. Pretty much just set the needle against your skin, and turn (spin) the syringe... it'll go in all by itself. Hit the plunger and you're done.

Try injecting it somewhere with some cushion. It hurts more in muscle.

Yup .. what he said ..

I have to carry/keep on hand, a liquid form of cortisone, in case I go into a "crisis" .... and that's (the orange) the way I was taught to self inject ... once you get the feel of it ... not hard at all ...

[MaryKay]

I got the needles and insulin today. I stocked up on testing strips too. All I could think of was..this could have been a couple of batteries, atomizers and some new liquid!
Tomorrow I go back to the Dr.'s so the nurse can teach me how to torture myself. My husband was suppose to go to keep me from killing some little 12 year old nurse..but he has to meet the electrician. The Nurse will have to fend for herself.
I am still not sure about this.
Chris, you are weird..