My DDC blood drive history...

3/19/2013	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
11/20/2012	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
9/20/2012	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
5/30/2012	07:45 AM - 01:30 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Double Red Cell
1/25/2012	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Double Red Cell
7/27/2011	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
5/18/2011	01:00 PM - 04:45 PM	Dodge City Public Library	1001 North 2nd Ave Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
1/25/2011	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Double Red Cell
9/28/2010	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Double Red Cell
7/27/2010	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
3/16/2010	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801
11/19/2009	07:45 AM - 01:30 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
7/22/2009	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
5/26/2009	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
3/23/2009	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
1/20/2009	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
11/24/2008	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
9/23/2008	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
7/29/2008	07:45 AM - 01:30 PM	Senior Center	2408 Central Ave. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
5/28/2008	07:45 AM - 01:30 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
3/31/2008	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
1/30/2008	07:45 AM - 01:30 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
12/3/2007	12:00 PM - 06:00 PM	Knights of Columbus	800 W Frontview St. Dodge City, KS67801	Blood
5/16/2007	-		,
2/13/2007	-		,	Blood
12/13/2006	-		,	Blood
9/19/2006	-		,	Blood
7/24/2006	-		,	Blood
5/23/2006	-		,	Blood
1/17/2006	-		,	Blood
11/14/2005	-		,	Blood
6/30/2005	-		,	Blood
5/3/2005	-		,	Blood
12/15/2004	-		,	Blood
9/22/2004	-		,	Blood
5/17/2004	-		,
3/15/2004	-		,	Blood
11/3/2003	-		,	Blood
8/18/2003	-		,	Blood
6/16/2003	-		,	Blood
3/4/2003	-		,	Blood
10/3/2002	-		,	Blood
8/5/2002	-		,	Blood
6/3/2002	-		,	Blood
11/2/2001	-		,	Blood
3/19/2001	-		,	Blood
10/16/2000	-		,	Blood
8/7/2000	-		,	Blood
2/22/2000	-		,	Blood

my meds effective 28 April 2013

Vitamin C - 1000 mg

Vitamin E - 200 IU

Beta Carotene 25,000 IU

Postassium 99 mg

Garlic 4000 mg (2000 mg twice a day)

Vitamin B complex

B1 - 50 mg
B2 - 12.5 mg
B3 - 50 mg
B6 -12.5 mg
Folic Acid - 50 mcg
B12 - 12.5 mcg
Biotin - 25 mcg
Pantogthenic Acid - 50 mg
Calcium - 118 mg

Glucosamine - 3000 mg (1500 mg twice a day)

Condroitin - 2400 mg (1200 mg twice a day)
________________________________________
Current prescriptions effective 5 May 2011

Glyburide 5mg take in morning

HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 25mg (water pill) morning increased blood sugar

Januvia 100mg (diabetes) evening

METFORMIN HCL 1000mg (diabetes) 2/day

OMEPRAZOLE 20mg (stomach) ½ hour before breakfast

ProAir HFA (albuterol sulfate) (inhaller) as needed

SIMVASTATIN 20mg (anti-cholesterol) before bed time

________________________________________

I have given this drug list to Dr. Robert W. Hostetler, M.D.
620.227.1371
800.279.0429
fax: 620.227.1208

My drugs as of 28 April 2013

Vitamin C - 1000 mg

Vitamin E - 200 IU
 
Beta Carotene 25,000 IU
 
Postassium 99 mg
 
Garlic 4000 mg (2000 mg twice a day)
 
Vitamin B complex
 
     B1 - 50 mg
     B2 - 12.5 mg
     B3 - 50 mg
     B6 -12.5 mg
     Folic Acid - 50 mcg
     B12 - 12.5 mcg
     Biotin - 25 mcg
     Pantogthenic Acid - 50 mg
     Calcium - 118 mg
 
Glucosamine - 3000 mg (1500 mg twice a day)
 
Condroitin - 2400 mg (1200 mg twice a day)
________________________________________
Current prescriptions effective 5 May 2011

Glyburide 5mg take in morning

HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 25mg (water pill) morning  increased blood sugar

Januvia 100mg (diabetes) evening

METFORMIN HCL 1000mg (diabetes) 2/day

OMEPRAZOLE 20mg (stomach) ½ hour before breakfast

ProAir HFA (albuterol sulfate) (inhaller)  as needed

SIMVASTATIN 20mg (anti-cholesterol) before bed time

________________________________________

I have given this drug list to Dr. Robert W. Hostetler, M.D.
     620.227.1371
     800.279.0429
fax: 620.227.1208

¿Moderation?

There are way too many folks who believe this!

some comments on juvenile onset type 1

My wife and I went to the Lone Star in Garden City, Kansas, with another couple (Sheryl and Larry).

My wife and I took our evening pills and I remarked "I have to check my blood when we get home."
Sheryl asked: "Are you a diabetic?"
"Yes".
"So is Larry."

I had no idea that he was diabetic. Larry and I both said we were type 2 and we discussed the pills we are on, We are both on metformin and glyburide and one or two other drugs as well.

Sheryl said they had a 38 year old son, who is a type 1 from the age of seven. He had "tried to be good" for many years but had "fallen off the [diabetic] wagon". Finally got a nice job, in his field (high class piano player for ballet), with medical and dental insurance. Then, he got talked into moving in with a friend in a different city. He gave up this good job and health insurance. He got a not so nice job with piss poor medical insurance and then his friend lost his job and could not pay his share of the rent. So, the son lost his apartment and had to move back in with Mom and Dad.

He ate the wrong meal choices, drank sugar drinks, smoked and drank too much. He went into a bar one night and only remembers entering the bar. He woke up in the center of a busy street with "paramedics working over him". He was extremely lucky that he was not run over. He spent three days in hospital being treated for hypoglycemia and this cost him like $8,000.

He recently got a good job with medical, dental and glasses insurance. When we heard this, Kathie and I both said "tell him to keep the job!" Sheryl said "we did". Unfortunately, this company decided they could cut costs by leaving Blue Cross for another insurance "provider". His costs have gone up and his coverage is worst. Still, he has medical coverage...

This sounds like my youngest brother Charlie's story. Charlie got fired from a good job and could not get another good job after that. He kept taking jobs with either piss poor medical insurance or no medical insurance. He went via ambulance to the emergency room and then checked himself into the diabetic ward. Of the three "visits" I know of, he owed $96,000 to one Portland, Oregon, hospital. (This hospital wrote off the debt as noncollectable. I had not expected such compassion or good sense from a hospital!) He ate a lot of pizza, drank Coca Cola or Budweiser and my wife once found a used insulin syringe in a pan of brownies. (A photo of this would have been an excellent example of irony.,)

Charlie finally got accepted by medicare and was accepted for Social Security payment for those who can not work.

Sheryl said she had given up on her son and did not want to know what he was doing, My Mother got the same type of despair about her youngest child and did not want to her about his health.

My brother, Charles Andrew Bell died of congestive heart failure at age 44 years, 1 month, 8 days on 10 December 2009. I still haven't gotten over his death...

screening bus

The Dodge City Lions are holding a District Convention Friday and Saturday at the new special events center. We are bringing in the state screening bus and will provide the following free screening on Saturday for:

 "Vision: basic visual acuity and field of vision
  Hearing: audiometer
  Blood sugar
  Blood pressure"

 

I think you will be impressed with this screening bus and will find the test results helpful.

 

http://www.bcbsks.com/AboutUs/Foundation/lions_mobile_screening_unit.htm

 

 

MB

injecting insulin in the head (toilet)

I saw a sad sight when I was leaving the Men's Room at the local IHOP this morning: a Father and Son were standing in front of the sinks. The Father was holding a insulin pen and was about to inject the boy. He said something that finished with "let the insulin work properly". The boy was in his early teens and much calmer than his Father. I watched the Father give his son insulin in the right bicep and I can understand why they did this in the "privacy" of the Men's Room.An injection at a table would have drawn unwanted attention and might upset other diners; as it was, it got my attention as I was leaving. (I still wonder what the boy could have done that would prevent the insulin from "doing it's work properly"?)

 

I fear he also makes the boy check his blood sugar in the Men's Room, which is too dirty a place for something as potentially dangerous as blood testing. The boy should be allowed to test at the dining table (screw the other customers if they are offended) or find some private table. Regardless, he should not blood test in a toilet room.  In fact, his parents should have quietly rigged the insulin pen and let the boy give himself a shot in the belly at the dining room table. He should not care if the other customers are offended!  (Perhaps the boy simply could not inject himself and needed the help? There were times when my Father and my youngest brother could not bring themselves to inject with the huge needles common in the 1980s and 1990s.)

 

I will admit it took me a long time to get used to openly checking my blood sugar at work and I am still successful in fending off the insulin needle! To be candid, I don't know if I would be any more sanguine about openly injecting insulin.  

 

It helps that I have a co-worker who openly test her blood and injects at the kitchen table at lunch. I know other diabetics who inject at the table and this simply is not a big deal. I am willing to put off finding out for myself!

As I have commented in one of the American Diabetic Association talk pages, diabetics are simply too secretive about their condition.

family cemetary stones

 

Two different photos of the cemetary markers; the copyright belongs to my brother Jim.

Just to remind myself:

 

 

 What's Cookin' with Diabetes
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 3231 N 14th Avenue, Dodge City, KS
October 22, 2012 from 6-8 pm

Presented by: Ethel Schneweis, Ford County Extension Agent and Kathy Smith, ARNP, CDE

 

What's Cookin' with Diabetes is a free, two-hour seminar prepared by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and K-State Research and Extension. For more details, click on the Diabetes 2012 (flyer) or Diabetes 2012 2 (registration). For more information, call 620-227-4542 or register online at www.bcbsks.com. Registration deadline: October 15.

Diabetes means pain, fear and death to me.

This may sound morbid but it is grounded in fact. Regarding the pictures^©, the first grave marker is for my youngest brother, the second grave marker for my parents.

My youngest brother, Charles Andrew Bell, was a juvenile onset (around age 14) type one. He fought the disease for years but I think he got tired. He lost a good job with good benefits and after that, either did not

have medical insurance or grossly inadequate medical insurance.  Due to inadequate health insurance, he would go to the emergency room when he got sick and then would go to hospital when he was very sick. He also smoked and “partied” too much. He died of congestive heart failure at age 44.  I think that being able to routinely see an MD could have extended his life.

My Father, Jack Warren Bell, was diagnosed as type 1 when he was in his late 50s. (I was in the Navy and not in close contact with my family.) My Father was retired USAF and, in theory, had excellent health

insurance (CHAMPIS). However, my Mother told me there were problems with the Portland Oregon hospitals accepting CHAMPUS patients. My Father smoked unfiltered Chesterfield cigarettes for 35 years (his count). He flew an SA-16 in the mid-1950s and flew into and out of lagoons in the vicinity of nuclear tests; this exposure to radio-isotopes lead to future health problems (his thyroid). He had triple bypass surgery and they took a vein from his left leg when he was 49. When he was diagnosed, he lost weight, worked out, and tried to eat right.  Later, when his diabetes began to overwhelm him, he lost his left leg to unstoppable infections. He died of congestive heart failure at age 68.

I am a type 2, with reasonably good medical insurance and have an MD and VA Doc I trust.  I am doing what I can to stave off the complications of diabetes and hope to outlive my Father. I have never smoked, consumed illegal drugs and got my “hard drinking” phase out of the way when I was junior enlisted (Navy) in the early 1970s.

Diabetes is a way of life.

It is also a vicious opponent with a multitude of tricks and fighting it can be most discouraging. Yet, I still feel hope.

^© Picture copyright belongs to my brother Jim.

extra

diabetic footcare advise

http://www.bettermedicine.com/topic/diabetes/diabetic-foot-problems?did=t1_rss4&hpt=hp_bn16

 

The above reference has some excellent advise for diabetics. I'll have to pass it along...

"A Day in the Life of Diabetes"

The ADA is asking folks to upload photos to facebook about  "A Day in the Life of Diabetes". I assume this means uploading to the ADA facebook page and have written "askADA" about this.

My Father was an adult type 1 and my brother Charlie was a jouvenile onset (age 14). Diabetes has meant early deaths in my family (at the risk of being  morbid). My Father 2 November 1925 - 3 February 1994 and brother Charlie 2 November 1965 - 10 December 2009. Both died too damn soon! 

medications as of 21 September 2012

This is  my latest collection of drugs. The main change was replacing Proventuil with Asmanex Twisthaler.

Asmanex Twisthaler 220 mcg per activation (2 puffs at night)
Furosemide 40 mg morning
glyb uride 5mg  morning
Januvia 100mg evening
etformin HCL 1000mg 2/day
Omeprazole 20 mg ec cap
Prfoventil emergency use only
Simvastatin 40 mg (1/2 tab evenings)

Byetta injection

This young woman is giving herself a byetta shot.  I kept the photo since she is just so cute!

upcoming blood drive

I am scheduled for a double red blood donation on Thursday, 20 September. Since this donation type uses a large needle for a lengthy period, I won't be able to do heavy lifting that evening. I will need help with the upper air.

 

MB

health status

This has been my week for medical attention.

I had my dilated eye exam Monday of this week and it came out very nicely. Dr. Copeland didn't mention cataracts so I'm happy about that. He did tell me last year that I had the fringes of cataracts. 

He told me my A1C had gone from 6.2 to 6.9. Since I really haven't been eating more, I conclude that not walking the treadmill has harmed me. I basically quit when the asthma began kicking my ass. I am now on a twice daily med, which has apparently put the asthma at bay. I thought about walking this morning but the new and much stronger water pills have me peeing a lot. So, I chickened out. I plan on walking the treadmill tomorrow and once again, plan on starting back on weight lifting this coming Moanday.

We'll see...

annual dilated eye exam

I just had my annual dilated eye exam and everything was fine. Dr. Copeland told me that had I not told him I was diabetic, he would not have been able to tell from my eyes. I was quite happy about this!

Dr. Copeland uses a lot less eye dilation drug than Dr. Tarwater did and has neater ;eye exam toys.

I will be able to drive home by myself next year.

wishful thinking

It would be very nice if my co-pays were to go down, my medical device costs (i.e. lancets, test stripes and eventually syringes) were to go down, my medical costs were to go down, my medical bills in general go down and the quality of medical treatment were to go up. I like to think "Obamacare" is the start in that direction. Unfortunately, it looks like the Republicans will win in November er and they will both kill off "Obamacare" and not replace it with anything.

Look for the misery index to go up and the death rate to go up.

type 2 down, asthma up

I am in the strange position of seeing my type 2 diabetes settle down at the same time the asthma is truly kicking my ass!  I went to the family MD and he put me on some drugs in case I had a lung infection and a morning pill to open up my lungs.


He noticed that I have not had a chest X-ray in ten years. Actually, the last one of June 2004, so it's about 8 years. I am going to drop him a note and ask if I can get a chest X-ray.  The way the asthma is whacking me is something that needs looking into deeper and that sounds like X-ray to me.

a note to "my" House Member...

10 July 2012

Tim Huelskamp

Dear Mr. Huelskamp,

According to news reports, members of the House are planning on voting on a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The PPACA was created to solve serious problems. You have had two years to come up with a replacement bill that solves the same problems of:

·       Insuring folks with “pre-existing conditions”

·       Not cancelling health insurance when someone develops a serious illness

·       Keeping co-pays truly affordable

·       Keeping medicine costs and medical device (i.e. diabetic test stripes) costs down

·       Keeping unwed children on their parent’s health insurance till they are 26

·       Eliminating the Medicare “donut hole”

If you vote to destroy “Obamacare,”  please tell me what you propose to replace “Obamacare”with. Kindly refrain from saying “common sense” or “Kansas common sense” approach as neither means anything to me.  The phrase “incremental chance” is equally disingenuous. My math background tells me that an “incremental change” can be zero, positive, negative and extremely small.

What is a person to do if they develop a serious illness and cannot afford health insurance?

Going to the Emergency Room is not a free replacement for regular MD visits. An emergency room MD is focused on solving the problem you present. When I went to the Emergency Room with a broken ankle in 2007, the MD simply dealt with the ankle and did not inquire into my other medical problems. The mentality of an Emergency Room MD is:

“See the problem, solve the problem.”

I have a friend who has two grandchildren who are juvenile onset type 1 diabetics. What are they supposed to do for health insurance when they turn 26?

I know of a man with serious type 2 diabetes, who works 38 hours per week and does get not employer supplied health care insurance. He cannot afford health insurance. He has gone to the Emergency Room several times and is now deeply in debt.  What is he supposed to do?

There are many people like these folks, who have other serious problems and either no medical insurance or grossly inadequate health insurance. They are our fellow Kansans.

What do you propose to do to help them?

Respectfully,

Support Group meeting today

There is a Diabetic Support Group meeting today.  Given our county has a 9.3% diabetic population and  33,000 (roughly) folks in the county, we should have 3,069 members in the Support Group. I am hoping that one very ill individual will be able to make it to the meeting today.

I have officially been a type 2 for 8 years, 2 months and 9 days…

The group meeting was implicitly cancelled when the facilitator did not show up.  I was told, by the other attending group member,  that the group did not meet in June. (I was out of town.)

Romney opposes Romneycare er Obamacare

"Romney immediately vowed to make repeal of the law a major part of his campaign, calling it too expensive, too much government, and too much of a burden for job creators."

Supreme Court upholds Obama health care mandate

 Richard Wolf and David Jackson, USA TODAY

This is the Romney who created "Romneycare"?

Sadly, it is. I wonder if former Governor Romney is just jealous that President Obama got "Obamacare" passed when it is so similar to "Romneycare".   This is enough to make me wonder if former Governor Mitt Romney is just flip-flopping to get elected President. After all, former Speaker of the House called  former Governor Mitt Romney "a liar".


Someone once said that you should smile politely and be hopeful if a politician promises you nice things.


You  should believe absolutely when a Politician promises awful things.  People did not think he meant it in Mein Kampf but he did! 










http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mein_Kampf

Three consequences to the 9 black robes on "Affordable Health Care" Insurance

Here are what I see as the three consequences to the Supreme Court's upcoming decision on "Obamacare".

1. They kill it off; my quick thoughts on that.

2. They kill off the Republician created "Health Care Mandate". This reduces the money pool for paying medical bills and results in jacked up premiums. As those refusing to buy health insurance become ill and start buying insurance, they will bring their new conditions in with them. In the Republician sponsored universe, such new conditions would result in the FNGs not getting insurance.

3. The Supremes let "Affordable Health Care" continue as it is.  The Republicians will fight to kill it off and will use "lets kill 'Obamacare'" as the center piece of their Presidental erection election campaign.

If the Nine uphold this bill, I will send every one of them who supported it a Thank You card! Hell, I might even send flowers!

The Supreme Court made the Right Decision!

I was quite surprised that Chief Justice Roberts voted the correct way and wrote the Majority  Opinion!

Consequences of killing "Obamacare"

If the Supreme Court decides to kill off "Affordable Health Care", they will return millions of United States tax payers to their previous status of uninsured, sick and heading for early deaths. I think that every death from today on should cause the following questions to be asked:

1. Did the deceased have health insurance or health care with decent limits?
2. If the answer to question one is no, could the death have be prevented with routine Family Doctor visits?

If the answer to question 2 is "yes", then each of the Supreme Court members who voted this bill down and each Congress critter who refuses to reinstate the important parts of the "Affordable Health Care" bill are quilty of yet another needless death!

Each of these bastards should be occaionally notified of their current death count. On the first anniversary of the death of "Obamacare", each of these guilty bastards should be publically credited with their death count.  It would require the cooperation of the medicdal establishment but it can be done! 

It must be done!

Never mind!

The Supreme Court made the Right Decision!

I was quite surprised that Chief Justice Roberts voted the correct way and wrote the Majority Opinion!

Several hours to Supreme Court on "Obamacare"

It is now several hours before the Supreme Court plays God again and tells us their decision on "Obamacare".  I'd bet on a 5-4 to kill it and tell most of us "we can go fuck ourselves". I wonder if any of the "Supremes" are diabetic or have kids or grandkids who are?

Fucking diabetes runs in my family^*.

My youner brother, also a type 2, has a slender son (a marathon runner), who has a slender, healthy and very active 3 year old daughter. I told his son, "CJ", that there is nothing good or desirable about diabetes. He said, "we are watching [her] very carefully." My nephew was clearly worried about his daughter. After all, his grandfather on one side died of a heart attack caused by his adult onset "type 1", his Uncle Charlie also died of a heart attack caused by his  jouvenile onset type 1, his Father and his Uncle Mike (moi) are type 2s.

My nephew "CJ" has very nice medical insurance and can easily cover his family. You can't tell what will come later when a Republician eventually becomes President. I simply do not trust those fuckers! (I campaigned for Berry Goldwater, was a member of the "Young Republicans" in college (central Mississippi), and voted for Nixon in 1972, a decision I have never regreted.)

I wonder if the Republicians realize the average diabetes rate is around 9% in many places. I live in a county with 33,000 people, so that means there are

• 2970 diabetics in this part of Kansas
• 5% or 148.5 are type 1 and
• 2821.5 are type 2

in the county I live in. (I suppose the new 0.5 diabetics could be combined into one "type 2"?)   This is a really large number of people to have to consider what President Obama has tried to do for them and what presumptive Republician Candidate former Governor Mitt Romney would do to all of us!  I don't expect Romney to keep his Mitt's off "Obamacare" if it survives and if fG Romney becomes President. Maybe we'll get "Romney Care"?
Well, it is now 9:42 am CDT and time to go water my garden and otherwise get ready to go to work this afternoon. I can gin up letters to "my" Congress criters later. They are all Conservative Republicians who put the finiancial well being of the top 5% ahead of "white trash" like me. (I must be white trash as I am in the top 50% and will never be in the top 25%...)

I wonder how Tim, Jerry and Pat would react to "Obamacare" if they or their loved ones were to lose their health care? Well, they can tap dance on this issue when they send their weekly newsletter emails out.  Maybe I'll go off the wagon, have a gin-n-tonic and read them?








* I was not an English major; my BS required calculas and physics, so I don't buy the idea that single sentence paragraphs are a no-no.

ER patient who should not have needed the ER

A friend of mine (Fred) told me last night that a friend of his, a newly diagnosed type 2, had been to the emergency room earlier that day. That was all Fred would say. This is the back story:

About a month ago, Fred was gone from work for several hours. By eavesdropping, I learned he had been gone since a friend had collapsed and been taken to the local hospital. It turns out his friend's blood sugar was (around) 340 and his A1C was around 9. The  emergency room doc put this man on metformin and taught him how to use a blood meter.

This man works 38 hours/week but this is not enough for him to get medical insurance. Had he medical insurance, his MD could have treated him and his diabetes would probably been under control. But, he doesn't have the insurance and doesn't have his condition under control.

The best I can do from him is suggest he go to the Diabetic Support group. I go to this group. It consists of the facilitator, a retired lady and me. Given the county I live in has a 9.1% diagnosed-as-diabetic level, there should be about 3,003 diabetics available for our diabetics support group. It is hard to advertise the group.

The next county west of us has a lot fewer people but an active evening support group, which publishes a monthly newsletter. It is run by the county Health Department. It would be nice if our county Health Department would do the same!

some dispairing thoughts on "Obamacare"

It just occurred to me that "Affordable Health Care Reform" (AHDR) has probably been killed by the 5 to 4 Republican majority in the Supreme Court. I'd like to think they'll do something right for the American people and preserve AHDR (aka "Omabacare") but I see little reason for hope.

When the Supreme Court kills "Obamacare" and the Congress refuses to address the issues raised by it, then every person who dies from causes that could have been prevented by "Obamacare" will be a kill to be credited to each Supreme and each congress critter who refused to help the American people. This will require coroners to make such determininations and then report them. I suspect the numbers will grow enormously...

The issues include:

• cancelling health insurance for people "coming down with" severe illness (i.e. diabetes)
• not insuring those with "pre-existing conditions"
• limits on amounts paid
• not covering medical devices
• arbitrary benefit cuts and
• arbitrary co-pay increases

There are probably other issues I've overlooked. There is the horrible truth that many folks don't become sensitive to issues until they are forced to. I bet that if any of the Republican Supreme Court majority developed serious disease or their grandchildren do, then they'll modify their approach to laws.

some dispairing thoughts on "Obamacare"

It just occurred to me that "Affordable Health Care Reform" (AHDR) has probably been killed by the 5 to 4 Republican majority in the Supreme Court. I'd like to think they'll do something right for the American people and preserve AHDR (aka "Omabacare") but I see little reason for hope.

When the Supreme Court kills "Obamacare" and the Congress refuses to address the issues raised by it, then every person who dies from causes that could have been prevented by "Obamacare" will be a kill to be credited to each Supreme and each congress critter who refused to help the American people. This will require coroners to make such determininations and then report them. I suspect the numbers will grow enormously...

The issues include:

• cancelling health insurance for people "coming down with" severe illness (i.e. diabetes)
• not insuring those with "pre-existing conditions"
• limits on amounts paid
• not covering medical devices
• arbitrary benefit cuts and
• arbitrary co-pay increases

There are probably other issues I've overlooked. There is the horrible truth that many folks don't become sensitive to issues until they are forced to. I bet that if any of the Republican Supreme Court majority developed serious disease or their grandchildren do, then they'll modify their approach to laws.

organizing SHARPS disposal

How Might Kansas Ensure Safe Syringe Disposal by Individuals in the Community?

 

The state legislature and individual communities may wish to more actively encourage individuals to safely dispose of used syringes and make it easier for them to do so. Many options for state and local action exist. They range from gathering data, to developing community collection site programs and education efforts, to creating partnerships with interested groups, to considering amending laws and regulations. All will help Kansas move toward the goal of "no syringes discarded in the trash or public locations."

 

http://www.cdc.gov/needledisposal/ks/index.htm#disposal_options

Fwd: odd question

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <askada@diabetes.org>
Date: Thu, May 10, 2012 at 12:49 PM
Subject: RE: odd question
To:


Dear Mike,

Thank you for contacting the American Diabetes Association. We received your e-mail regarding traveling with diabetes supplies.

We are aware of people with diabetes having concerns with the screening process prior to flying, not specifically being accused of carrying drugs. The American Diabetes Association continues to advocate for the rights travelers with diabetes. We work with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to ensure that passengers with diabetes have access to their diabetes supplies and equipment, especially during those times when the nation s security threat level rises and screeners must react quickly to changes in security checkpoint screening protocol.

The Transportation Security Administration makes the following recommendations for airlines passengers with diabetes and additional  "Tips for Travelers" may be accessed from TSA's website: www.tsa.gov or call their hotline at 1-866-289-9673.

 Notify the security screener that you have diabetes and are carrying your supplies with you.

 Make sure a professionally printed pharmaceutical label identifying the medication (insulin) accompanies your insulin vials, insulin pens, jet injectors and insulin pump.  Since the prescription label is usually on the outside of the box containing the vial of insulin or pens, it is recommended that passengers refrain from discarding their insulin box and come prepared with their insulin in its original pharmaceutically labeled box.

 There is no limitation on the number of empty syringes that may be carried through the security checkpoint; however, insulin must be with you in order to carry syringes through the checkpoint.

 Lancets, blood glucose meters, blood glucose test strips can be carried through the security checkpoint.

 For passengers who test their blood glucose levels, boarding with lancets is acceptable as long as the lancets are capped, and the lancets are brought on board with a glucose meter that has the manufacturer's name embossed on the meter (i.e. One Touch meters may say "One Touch Ultra"). Meters should not be affected by security scanning devices.

You may also see:

http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/know-your-rights/discrimination/public-accommodations/air-travel-and-diabetes/

Other Tips:

Before you travel, you should:

- Have a medical exam to make sure your diabetes is in good control.
- Get a letter from you doctor saying that you have diabetes.
- Get a prescription from you doctor for insulin or oral diabetes pills.
- Get a list of ADA affiliates or chapters if you're traveling in the US.
- Contact the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for list of foreign diabetes associations: www.idf.org
-Get a list of English-speaking physicians in other countries from the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers at www.iamat.org
- Get immunization shots-if you need them-at least one month before you leave.
- Carry a "Diabetes Alert Card".
- Wear a medical ID bracelet.

Do you have a question regarding diabetes, the Association or our publications? Our trained coordinators can answer your questions online just go to our website www.diabetes.org  click on a topic of interest and look for the chat button at the top of the page or you can call us at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).


Sincerely,



Jane Nyondo
Center for Information and Community Support
American Diabetes Association
1-800-342-2383

You can join the fight to Stop Diabetes by visiting stopdiabetes.com there you can  share your story, act by becoming an advocate or by getting involved through volunteering or participating in a local event, you can learn more about diabetes or you can help us stop diabetes by making a donation. Please join the movement and make a difference in the lives of people with diabetes.

-----Original Message-----

From:  
Sent:  5/10/2012 11:58:10 AM
To:  <AskADA@diabetes.org>
Subject:  odd question

Jane,   Given the number of other diabetics I know, I can attest that we have had some interesting conversations. Have you heard of any diabetic users of injections either being accused of carrying illegal drugs or have you heard of anyone having illegial drugs in their "insulin" bottles or pens? I know this is a strange subject but it is something I've wondered about since I started carrying my own medications through security. Oddly, I have never been asked about the number of pill bottles I lug around and my youngest brother said he'd never been asked about his syringes or drug bottles...     Mike

A1C

I went to the Diabetic Support meeting and was surprised with the offer of an A1C test. It was the same as the test in February: 6.3.

2012 Lions Strides Walk in dear old DDC

It is early May and I have done nothing to set up a Lions Strides Walk. I suppose I could get really busy and arrange one but I would have to do so without help from the Dodge City Lions Club. Without their help, this Strides Walk simply can not happen. Three years ago, I thought I had a Strides Walk wired and had two young Lions join my team. They joined my team simply to tell me that I wasn't ready for a Strides Walk and to forget it.

So, it is May and the Strides Walk isn't until October/November and it is already too late to try for one. Damn, but it hurts to  say that!

This is the "Top Ten Tips For Organizing A Strides Walk":

Here are the items:


1) Select your Organizing Committee: Since this is a Lions event, I would need Lions from my club. That would be difficult as the two members (who also shut be down) are the two young enough to be energetic. Still, I think I could get Lions to help. Perhaps I could get members of the Kiwanis and even the Knights of Columbus. I don't believe I could get out of town Lions to help. Maybe I could get the members of the ADA "Walk To STOP Diabetes" to help?

2) Hold your first meeting. Establish a regular schedule for STRIDES meetings. First, I must get a team together. I am beginning to have much more respect for "Community Organizers". 

3) Identify community contacts from among committee members. This can include
potential sponsors, media supporters, entertainers, poster distributors, and groups
of participants. I have some ideas for this but definitely need the help of fellow Lions and my wife's coworkers...

4) Set the event date and start time Some time in late October or early November

5) Establish a route The city owned gym/health centre (Sheridan Centre) has a nice track. We also have the high school football field, which has a track and and meeting room under the bleachers. There is a parking low between the Civic Center and the Guard Armoury; both facilities might be used if their management would give us access free. The Sheridan Centre would...

6) Seek official approval from town, parks, and other departments This could take some doing. Fortunately, my wife and I have known a member of the City Commissioner for years and the manager of the Sheridan Centre is very approachable. However, the City government is talking about giving the management of Sheridan Centre to the YMCA and there is no way of knowing if they would let us use "their" building for free. (They should as the city tax payers will still be paying for the upkeep of the Sheridan Centre!)

7) Organize local sponsor solicitation for giveaways, food and beverages Something that I need help with and something that killed my last attempt. 

8) Approach the media (radio, television, print) for publicity and possible sponsorship See the answer to question 7...

9) Inform and invite local health care professionals, officials and celebrities for support
and presence on event day We could try getting the help of several local MDs, including one who is well known publicly.  We do have a diabetes specialist at the local medical clinic but I get the feeling she is very much uninterested in doing something public.

10) Visit site and route to determine volunteer needs,  placement of equipment, and and
potential concerns   This is an end game event...


We would have to charge an entrance fee for two reasons:

1. People who have paid to participate in something generally take it a lot more seriously and
2. Why should Lions pay for STRIDES pins for possible no-shows?

I wonder if a STRIDES Walk could be combined with an ADA "Walk to STOP Diabetes" Walk? The nearest ADA office and thus, the nearest "Walk To STOP Diabetes" is about 160 miles away. I don't have a lot of hope for help from them. None the less, the Wichita Kansas Lions might be interested in getting involved?

CDC 2011 Diabetes Fact Sheet

Here is the 2011 diabetes fact sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/factsheet11.htm

A Bizarro cartoon and diabetes

Do you really wonder why we are a nation of fat fracks?

Do you really wonder why the number (in Kansas) of type two diabetes is growing?

We can take dubious pride in being the descendants of folks who could gained weight and survived famines. This is truly a dubious distinction! At least we can take dubious pride in knowing we're taking the rest of the "advanced" world down with us.  (Is this called leadership?)

a 5 year old type one...

The Dodge City Globe (22 April 2012) wrote a piece about a boy in Cimarron Kansas who was diagnosed as type 1 at 10 months. The litttle boy is now (as of this writing) using an insulin pump and apparently otherwise a normal little boy. I'm happy to see this...
Cimarron family copes with childhood disease
By Eric Swanson

Dodge City Daily Globe Posted Apr 23, 2012 @ 05:41 PM

======================================================================

Eric Swanson

Dodge City Globe

Eric,

Your article about "Eric's disease" was very nicely written. I wish the poor boy and his family the best of luck. His life may be great now but I fear that won't last. It didn't last for my youngest brother and probably won't for a friend's grandchildren.

You didn't mention two things:

1. There are a lot of diabetics and way too many juvenile onsets (type 1). I am a type 2. My youngest brother was a type one juvenile onset; he had considerable problems getting medical insurance and died young (44 years, 1 month and 8 days.).
2. If "Obama Care" is cancelled by the Black Robed Republicans -er- Supreme Court Justices and the needed items are not replaced by the House and Senate and even the Kansas House and Senate, then children like Eric will be denied medical insurance when they must leave their parent's medical insurance. The excuse will be "pre-existing conditions".

We need "Affordable Health Care" because:
a) People who have faithfully paid their medical insurance premiums should not lose their medical insurance when they need it,
b) People should be sold affordable and good health insurance despite "pre-existing conditions",
c) There should not be lifetime limits on coverage,
d) There should not be small coverage ceilings on health insurance insurance.

Insurance is based on having a pool of customers who cover the costs of other customers. These are the people covering the costs of the above. This was the basic for the “Republican Mandate”that became the “Obama Mandate” and put so many people in a tizzy.

The insured should not see their money used to make top insurance executives millionaires or bribe politicians. Oops, maybe I should have said "contribute to political campaigns"?

I wonder if those opposed to "Obama Care" either have great health insurance or don't think they will get sick. There will be screams of pain and desperate attempts to get medical insurance when their health begins to crap out...

I abhor the phrase "ObamaCare" because it is highly disrespectful to a man of high accomplishment and because it is "cutely"!

There are a great many subjects involved with diabetes that you could write many articles. You can contact Lions Club International Foundation and the American Diabetics Association for suggestions. You could be crucial in establishing diabetics support groups for the various groups in or near Dodge City. There are many of us (diabetics).

useful information...

Myth: If you have type 2 diabetes and your doctor says you need to start using insulin, it means you're failing to take care of your diabetes properly.

Fact: For most people, type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. When first diagnosed, many people with type 2 diabetes can keep their blood glucose at a healthy level with oral medications.  But over time, the body gradually produces less and less of its own insulin, and eventually oral medications may not be enough to keep blood glucose levels normal.  Using insulin to get blood glucose levels to a healthy level is a good thing, not a bad one. 

 

Source: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-myths/?utm_source=Community&utm_medium=Type2&utm_content=Resources&utm_campaign=CON

test

This was one of the simpler equations we had in first term calculus (as I recall).

 

 

 

 

poor girl or coming "train wreck"...

My wife and I went to the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson yesterday. We were there to work on the Kansaas State Lions health van. Kathie operated one eye sight tester and I was the gate keeper for those entering the van of testing gear. I kept people from going in without first filling in the liability release form and kept one old gent from pushing his way ahead of a kid...

An unhappy and very pregnant girl walked over and I asked her if she had gone through the screening van. She said she had and said "my blood sugar was high". I replied "what was your blood sugar?"

She replied "399".

"It was 399? Do you have gestational [diabetics}?

"Yes but I've been a type 1 since I was 10."

Later, I talked with the Nurse who was taking the blood sugar readings and she said she'd talked with this girl. This young woman was actually 26 (but looks a lot younger) and claimed to be 7 months along. However, we (the nurse and I) agree that she should looked a lot further along than a mere 7 months!

The young woamn said she was on insulin 4 times a day and had taken a shot a hour before the 399 reading. I later talked with this girl and her husband (or boy friend) and they both looked scared! Well, they should look scared! The young woman n eeds some serious medcal care and that means some heavy duty medical insurance. I hope he has a good job with good medical insurance but I fear they are unwed so she can still be on her parent's health plan. Once she is too old (27 years old?), she won't be on her pariental health insurance. She would then have to have a husband with good medical insurance or a good job herself with good medical incurance. She is going to have trouble holding a job when her type 1 diabetics get much worst. (We could ask my late younger brother Charlie about being a juvenile onset type one and the piss poor medical insurance such folks but "late" means he is dead. Charlie died of complications from his dibetics...)

I fear that "Omamacare" will be overturned by the next Republician President and insurance companies will go back to:

• refusing to insure those with pre-existing medical conditions siuch as diabetics or
  
• those who develop serious new medical conditions (i.e. type 2 diabetics)
  
• letting pharm companies charge why too much for meds or to increase costs after a med has been in use for a while or
• unbundling costs and jacking them too high -er- "making them reasonable" (OK, too damn high) and
• insurance companies not covering medically required medical devices. Some of these "medcially required devices include:
  
  • diabetic test stripes
  • catheders
  • eye glasses
  • hearing aids
  • prothestic limbs and
  • a number of other devices...

Politicans who kill off the provisions of "Obamacare" will be responsible for the consequences of the loss of "Afordable Health Care" (i.e. "Obamacare") and that includes responisible for those who died because "their" medical insurance companies screwed them. Of course, the politicans - and this includes the Tea Baggers Tea Party politicans - will deny responsibility for the future deaths and maiming and the medical companies have never taken responsiblity for their evil!