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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/17/2014 4:35:28 PM

LafayetteLady

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The social security she receives from her deceased husband is SSI. Social securiity has three payments type. SSD, for those who worked and become disabled, SSDI, those who didn't work but are disabled and SSI, the original for the retired or spouses of the decease retired. She should still get medicare through that.

If the insulin is for spikes only, then alarms aren't all that helpful. It sounds as though she won't recognize the physical feeling of a spike and know to check her BS. The alarms can help with the pills.

Many may disagree but the way for her to learn to do insulin might be to have insulin instead of oral medss. Insulin isn't because diabetes is worse or meds fail. It is just another tool. Personally, even though I'm still adjuting to insulin, I find that it gives me more control over my BS than the oral meds.

My thinking is that based on what you say, the injections will become a habit so if there is a spike, some of that habit could be useful. She will already be thinking that this reading means this shot, where with meds, regardless of reading not much you can do unless it is a crash, not a spike. Just a thought.

Your mom's personality seems to indicate you guys have a tough road ahead. I'm really sorry to hear that. However, the fact that you are all working together will make things much easier.

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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/17/2014 4:55:04 PM

littlewonder

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Apparently they were going to give her insulin instead of the pills but after weeks of trying to teach her, they decided she just isn't capable of learning (which we told them from day one when she landed in the hospital. You can't tell my mom how to do something. You have to show her and even then there's no guarantee....as they have found out). So this is why she's on the pills instead and insulin for when she spikes. She has been told she needs to test herself twice a day. At least she knows enough to do this and knows the number she is supposed to look for as too high. So that's why I like the alarms. It will remind her to test herself twice a day and it will also send an alarm to our phones so we make sure she she has tested herself.

I think a lot of people overestimate my mom's abilities to do things but me and my siblings are very much aware of having raised ourselves because she wasn't able to do so. Thank gawd for having a brother and sisters 15 to 20 years older than me who were actually my parents!

I always get the SSI and SSD mixed up. My dad was on SSD most of the time I was growing up due to COPD so I was thinking that when you said SSI. So yeah, she gets SSI. It's not much but at least it's something. Hell, when my dad was on SSD, they tried to pull my dad off of it twice because they felt he could work....eerrr....he was hooked up to an oxygen machine 24/7 and couldn't even leave the bed except to go 2 feet into the bathroom that was built in the room for him. Yeah, these days I don't put too much stock in our government health system which is why I'm willing to put out the cash for whatever I can to make mom's life easier for her to comprehend.

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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/18/2014 9:14:30 PM

MercTech

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

The Accucheck Aviva monitor has switched to single coding. One black chip codes all future strips.

What "debilitating" effects did you have on Metformin?

Gas that would double me over in pain.
Diarrhea that would not go away... ever.

I finally quit using the metformin and started taking niacin. Guess what, my blood glucose didn't change but the gastric problems cleared up and my blood pressure dropped.

I found when researching treatments for diabetes that Niacin was originally refined and used for lowering blood glucose. (before insulin) The problem with Niacin is the flushing many people have with it and the lowering of blood pressure with the flushing. (sounds like hot flashes doesn't it) I take my niacin, eat my breakfast, have my morning hot flash then continue on. Much better than a cramping gut all day.

I'll be interested to see how the universal code key works with the Accucheck Aviva Plus.

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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/19/2014 1:46:14 AM

LafayetteLady

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The code key works just fine. I just switched to it about a week ago.

They make "no flush" niacin. You should check it out.

I didn't like that I had to take other drugs with the metformin to protect my kidneys. I was taking 3 diabetes drugs (which didn't work for shit), 2 cholesterol drugs, blood pressure, lyrica, and I forget what else.

Now I take 3 in the morning, 4 at night and four shots a day. Still not seeing great results but we are tweaking the insulin, so hopefully some changes soon.

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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/19/2014 7:10:58 AM

angelikaJ

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MercTech

quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

The Accucheck Aviva monitor has switched to single coding. One black chip codes all future strips.

What "debilitating" effects did you have on Metformin?

Gas that would double me over in pain.
Diarrhea that would not go away... ever.

I finally quit using the metformin and started taking niacin. Guess what, my blood glucose didn't change but the gastric problems cleared up and my blood pressure dropped.

I found when researching treatments for diabetes that Niacin was originally refined and used for lowering blood glucose. (before insulin) The problem with Niacin is the flushing many people have with it and the lowering of blood pressure with the flushing. (sounds like hot flashes doesn't it) I take my niacin, eat my breakfast, have my morning hot flash then continue on. Much better than a cramping gut all day.

I'll be interested to see how the universal code key works with the Accucheck Aviva Plus.

They make an extended release form of metformin that is supposed to be much better in regards to GI issues.

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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/19/2014 6:53:52 PM

littlewonder

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My mom is on the metaformin. She's also taking a med for GERD and has to drink some kind of thick liquid dietary stuff to supplement her diet since she's not able to eat anything hard or solid. The docs have told us she may now be on it for the rest of her life. She hates the stuff! Poor girl.

The metaformin seems to make her stomach really upset and she feels ill all day from it. The docs know but they haven't given her anything different yet. I guess they feel her body will get used to it. I hope so.

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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/19/2014 10:03:35 PM

LafayetteLady

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How long has the metformin been making her feel this way? For me, if sucky side effects aren't gone in a week, I demand change. Sucky side effects that are lasting more than a week or two are going to make your mom stop taking the medication.

Ask about other generics, or using the brand name. Most of the time, sucky side effects are caused byy inert ingredients and a different manufacturer can make a difference.

There are loads of different options for diabetes meds. Since she has a nurses aid, even something like byeta (I think that's the spelling) can be an option. Its a non insulin injectable that is only once or twice a day. In other words, the aid can give the shot.

Sadly, doctors often give the whole, "just stick with this" attitude and don't want to try other things unless the patient (or caregivers) push for different options.

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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/19/2014 11:21:49 PM

WinsomeDefiance

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Metformin made me very ill as well. My doctor switched me to Amaryl and it was much better. It is also only one pill a day, which was a nice change from 2 pills twice a day.

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RE: glucose monitors suggestions? - 3/19/2014 11:42:14 PM

littlewonder

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

How long has the metformin been making her feel this way? For me, if sucky side effects aren't gone in a week, I demand change. Sucky side effects that are lasting more than a week or two are going to make your mom stop taking the medication.

Ask about other generics, or using the brand name. Most of the time, sucky side effects are caused byy inert ingredients and a different manufacturer can make a difference.

There are loads of different options for diabetes meds. Since she has a nurses aid, even something like byeta (I think that's the spelling) can be an option. Its a non insulin injectable that is only once or twice a day. In other words, the aid can give the shot.

Sadly, doctors often give the whole, "just stick with this" attitude and don't want to try other things unless the patient (or caregivers) push for different options.

I'm not sure how long she's been on it. After she finally woke up at the hospital, they transferred her to a rehabilitation center for about two weeks to gain her strength back and that is when she seemed to get ill with the meds they were giving her so I'm guessing that's when they started her with it. That was about 3 weeks ago now and my sister said she's still feeling a bit ill from them. She has another doctor's appt next week so my sister or whoever is taking my mom will make sure the docs are aware of the issue.

I'm hoping they are able to find the correct meds and/or doses to make her at least feel well enough to get back on her feet. I've really gotta make a trip back soon to make sure I get to personally find out what she needs and what exactly is going on with her meds and everything else in her life. It's really hard for me to get a grasp on everything when I'm not there personally.

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