Good afternoon, new in this place

Hello.

My mother had undiagnosed diabetes for many years.A brother of his had diabetes for many years with his feet full of wounds that did not heal.A first cousin is also diabetic.And 10 years ago (I'm 60) I was given a pill (diamicron) and I was confident until a couple of months ago that it was due to an injury caused by a blow to my right foot, now with diabetic foot, arteriopathy, neuropathy, also hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, both now under control.Kidney function and retina appear to have been unaffected.

The worst, the punctures and insulin, because needles have always scared me, and they still do.In fact, I'm still not able to take insulin on my own and I didn't even decide to at least measure myself with the reagents.Tremendous, I say I won't be the only one.At night 24 units of slow and I wake up between 110-140, during the day I don't usually click fast because I don't go below 100-110 nor do I usually go over 150. I reached more than 250 in the hospital with the foot infection.Very scared and depressed, to be honest, with the turnaround that my life has taken.With meals I think I'm not quite right, I follow the plate rule, or so I try, and no alcohol, tobacco, sugar, salt, etc.So I liked rice and pasta.

If someone is a Muface mutual member like me, through Asisa, maybe they can help me if they have problems like me with the delivery of material each month, that is, strips, lancets, especially needles.I will probably change to the Soc. Sec. at the beginning of the year, although I read that there may also be problems depending on where.

Thanks for reading and any advice will be appreciated.All the best.

Hi @Coubert

Welcome to the forum, although I wish it had been for another reason.

First of all, good luck.It's normal for you to be scared after everything that has happened in such a short time.An admission for a diabetic foot changes the way one views the disease, but it can also be the turning point to start taking care of oneself in a different way.

Regarding the fear of needles, believe me, you are not the only one.Many people have gone through that.At first it costs a lot, but over time it ends up becoming a routine gesture.If you still need help taking insulin right now, don't beat yourself up about it.Take small steps: you have already managed to measure your glucose, and that was also an important barrier.Little by little you will gain confidence.

From the values ​​you mention, it seems that basal insulin is doing its job.In any case, do not modify the doses on your own and discuss with your endocrinologist or nurse educator any questions about when to use the rapid or how to adjust the diet.

Regarding rice and pasta, don't think that they are gone forever.The key is usually in the quantities, the type of food (for example, better whole grains when possible) and what you accompany them with.Over time you will find a balance that allows you to continue enjoying food without feeling that everything is prohibitions.

Regarding the Muface/Asisa material, surely a colleague who is in the same situation can guide you.If you finally go to Social Security, it also depends a lot on the autonomous community and the health center, so it is worth knowing the experiences of other users.

And one last thing: although now you see everything very black, you comment that the retina and kidney function are fine.That is very good news and shows that you still have time to protect your health for the future.Here you will find many people who have been through similar times and who will be happy to lend you a hand.Don't hesitate to ask anything you need.

A hug.

Thanks, Fer.

Welcome to this sweet family.

Fear of needles, well, a little, especially the ones used for testing, the insulin ones are so small and thin that they are not noticeable.

Meals can be made but when you have more time and can calculate the insulin well.It takes learning and diabetes nurses help a lot for that.

In the SS they give us everything, I don't have problems in Madrid, in some other communities they give us more trouble but it depends more on the people than on the institutions.If your nurse is nice, you will have everything without problems.

And well, we are here to support each other, ask if you have any questions and we will try to help you.

Thank you, Ruthbia.

Precisely because of what you say is because of changing to Social Security.In Asisa, where I have been for years as a mutual benefit member, there are no diabetes nurses.And no one teaches you anything at the beginning.They diagnose the disease, they stabilize you more or less and when you are discharged you will be fine.The materials are collected monthly at the branch and always with problems to save.That is my experience that perhaps someone who is in Asisa can ratify or correct.

As for the needles, they are noticeable, the 8 mm ones they gave me leave a trickle of blood.At the pharmacy they gave me 4 mm samples.5mm.and 6 mm.The pharmacist told me that the 5's are the standard and I have to buy them myself.What a story.

By the way, I spent a month in the hospital.I lost track of time.The nurses make 3 or 4 visits a day to prick my finger and the same number of visits to inject insulin into my arm.Set aside one pill in the morning and one at night of Januvia (sitagliptin).And a few others for tension, cholesterol, etc.And that's how I came out and that's how I continue, with 24 one.Lantus at night that a relative gives me and Apidra during the day if it goes over 150, which I'm close to more than once.I'm reading you and I tell myself, I couldn't last that long.I suppose because in 60 years I have not set foot in a hospital until now, nor have I had surgery for anything except cataracts a while ago.

(The cancer thing is very familiar to me, it took my parents. You don't know how much I regret coming across people who suffer from it).

Ah!Well, I feel great with my breast prostheses, I have had some after-effects like neuropathies, but fine.And I overcame cancer with my pills and their little things.

They give us 4mm needles in the SS, I liked the 8mm ones but hey, in the end I have adapted.And I have changed the sensors from Abbott to Dexcom.

With basal insulin, in the SS they prescribe blood glucose sensors and you avoid having to puncture your capillaries.As soon as you change, ask for them.