Choking in sand

Having high blood glucose - I'm talking > 300 mg/dl - and being extremely thirsty go together like a matching pair of socks. If you are used to having high sugars, you don't notice the effect any more, but having a normal blood glucose ending in a high number is sheer horror to me. I feel sick and awful and I have this overall feeling I'm choking in sand! My throat is so dry and it's like I've been eating ground cork. I would drink a bath tub of water. I won't eat until that horrible number has come down...

In cooking class, there was a type 1 who was diagnosed some 30 years ago. She was not doing well. Having lost most of her sight, she had one of her feet partially amputated. Her blood sugars have been raised for most of her diabetes career, leaving her with a HbA1c (it's supposed to be < 7% for diabetics, while non-diabetics have a HbA1c between 4 - 6%) of no less than 13%!! She called herself a brittle diabetic, meaning her diabetes was hard to regulate. For thirty years, she had been seeing the same endocrinologist. When I came home, I asked myself: would I have tried to find another specialist? Someone who was able to help me where the other doctor failed? She's not allowed to use more than 4 strips a day. Can you believe someone with poor diabetes control is prohibited from using more blood strips??? I don't get it.. I just don't. I'm so sorry for this lady. I wish it were different. She's still young and she's not facing a bright future. The damage has been done and it's irreversible.

It is so important for us diabetics, to have good control. It is so important to understand what diabetes is about. It's as important to have a good and happy life. Having terrible blood glucose is not a good life by far. The complications and their effect on your health are merciless. I'm glad I was diagnosed in 2002, not 1980. I'm glad my doctors and nurse are doing the best they can. I'm happy for my diabetic friends, who can tell me about their experiences and who teach me what there is to know. I'm so thankful for the support of our Belgian diabetesforum..