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The pros and cons of modeling with diabetes......

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Posted by CSXect on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 10:02 PM
I e-mailed Ready Made toys and Walter is pretty good about responding to customer and those who are curious about his trains email. Hope to hear from him in the morning. He was kind enough to donate some trains to the troops in Iraq for a christmas layout. Even if you are not into O gauge you should visit his web site and look at what he is offering for the beginer and O27 crowd and also he has a very patriotic message on the homepage. It would be interesting to see what if any reaction the e-mail gets. will e-mail atlas o and Mth in the morning had problems with lionels e-mail.Big Smile [:D]
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Posted by loathar on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:02 PM
OOOH! I see what you mean about the ads! That's the first time I've seen a non hobby ad posted there.Wow!! [wow] That's really cool about the responce from Kadee. Maybe we could hook them up with a drug company and they could produce a Novalin or Glucaphage box car.Big Smile [:D]
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Posted by Zandoz on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:56 PM
 BRAKIE wrote:

Jeff,My diabetes is under control..My average is 97.According to my diabetes doctor anything above 120 should be unacceptable.I eat a well balance diet and still have some sweets even though I prefer sugar free candies and cookies..

If I fall below 70 I start to sweat and feel woozy.The lowest I been is 57 and I was really feeling weak and dizzy.

I really think what is "acceptable" ranges wildly.  My next to last doc was happy with anything under 200...my last doc looked for 120 or below before breakfast and 170 or below 2 hours after the evening meal.  

I know for me, my low threshold is actually in what most docs consider the normal range.  Anything in the low 80s or below really knocks me for a loop.  Thankfully, I've only had that happen a few times in the last year or so, and never before.  The last one was last week...I woke up at 3am with my head feeling like it was on fire...sweating like crazy...with the rest of my body freezing...and feeling very light headed  for added measure.  I tested at 80, swiped a couple of daughter's Oreo knock-offs, and a half hour later tested at 90 and all was fine.

Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.

Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."

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Posted by Zandoz on Thursday, March 1, 2007 12:01 AM
 loathar wrote:

jbloch-Where's your club at? I used to work at Clark Graphics on Wilson. Pretty much lived at Tom Thumb Raceway when I was a little kid.

The one thing that bothers me about some doctors, (and I'm not trying to bash doctors here) is once your branded with the scarlet D on your forehead, most doctors don't look past diabetes for a diagnosis.---Let's see here....Hmmm, this diabetic was hit by a bus. Well, his diabetes caused him to stumble in front of the bus. Give him this blood pressure and cholesterol medication. Tell him to check his sugar 10 times a day and come back and see me in two weeks.Confused [%-)]Banged Head [banghead]                                                                                                

I had two doctors treat me for nuropathy when I really had shingles. What a fun experiance that was! I know diabetes IS the major cause of most things, but a case of tunnel vision seems to happen once your charts read.

Being both diabetic and fat, all I can say is "I hear ya"...EVERYTHING is caused by one, the other, or both...Including the common cold, ear infections, and muscle twitches in the right eyebrow.

Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.

Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."

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Posted by Zandoz on Thursday, March 1, 2007 12:10 AM

 Fortkentdad wrote:
Final point  - for all those who have anything to do with Train Shows - given the number of diabetics we now know model, how about something other than fries and a burger?  And a soft drink other than Diet Coke (it keeps me up all night from the caffine - bad for my sleep apthnia).  I know my wife would make me eat at the Healthy Food Snack bar if there was one at the train show. 

This isn't diabetic related, but another big help at Train Shows (or any kind of show/expo/etc) would be having those battery opperated handicapped scooters available.  I had to abandon going to the train shows about 8 years ago when my arthritis/DJD got so bad I could not stand for more than a couple minutes.  Even if I had to pay a reasonable rental fee, it would be well worth it.  When the NMRA convention was in Cincy...just a couple miles from my house...it depressed me to no end not being able to go check it out.

Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.

Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."

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Posted by loathar on Thursday, March 1, 2007 1:17 AM
Not trying to make a joke here but have you called The Scooter Store? Don't know your situation but they might be able to help. That would stink being that close to the big show and not being able to go.Disapprove [V]
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Thursday, March 1, 2007 7:28 AM
I know what it's like not being able to go somewhere because of medical reasons. Just my monthly visit to the LHS in Alexandria is painful. Driving causes me pain, as well as standing for any period of time. Usually after reaching the LHS I'll sit on the floor in front of the displays and look through the items that are for sale. The young man who runs the place is also a diabetic and has placed the shelves at a reasonable level.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by CSXect on Thursday, March 1, 2007 9:24 AM

Thankyou everybody for the posts and reminders of just how serious this condition is.Approve [^]

Keep sending e-mails to the manufacters if you have the time to do so.

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Posted by Zandoz on Thursday, March 1, 2007 12:34 PM

 loathar wrote:
Not trying to make a joke here but have you called The Scooter Store? Don't know your situation but they might be able to help. That would stink being that close to the big show and not being able to go.Disapprove [V]

Unfortunately not an option for me...those things are seriously expensive, and my insurance company cut us off at the first mention of the word "scooter" with an emphatic "NOT COVERED". Sad [:(]

Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.

Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Alexandria KY
  • 470 posts
Posted by Zandoz on Thursday, March 1, 2007 12:47 PM

 jeffrey-wimberly wrote:
I know what it's like not being able to go somewhere because of medical reasons. Just my monthly visit to the LHS in Alexandria is painful. Driving causes me pain, as well as standing for any period of time. Usually after reaching the LHS I'll sit on the floor in front of the displays and look through the items that are for sale. The young man who runs the place is also a diabetic and has placed the shelves at a reasonable level.

It's probably been 6 or 7 years since I've been able to go in a LHS...probably 5 years since actually walking around in any kind of store.  My walking range without extreme pain is about 60 feet.  This is the reason for a lot of my questions on here...going to the LHS to "eyeball" something is out of the question.  Finding this forum and others in the last year, giving me a source of info from folks who may have eyes/hands on experience with products, is what has made even considering taking another shot at this hobby a possibility. 

Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.

Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."

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Posted by CSXect on Thursday, March 1, 2007 1:17 PM
Just e-mailed Atlas O. Will try lionel again and MTH later.
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Posted by john1947 on Thursday, March 1, 2007 6:09 PM

  Not for nothing, but, don't forget us guys that model in "N"  normal gauge. I wouldn't mind a boxcar  or whatever in my scale!

 

John

John The impossible is possible until proven impossible
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Posted by CSXect on Thursday, March 1, 2007 6:19 PM
 john1947 wrote:

  Not for nothing, but, don't forget us guys that model in "N"  normal gauge. I wouldn't mind a boxcar  or whatever in my scale!

 

John

Atlas does do HO O and N.   what does kadee do? I always thought they did couplers.

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Posted by loathar on Thursday, March 1, 2007 6:24 PM

The DMRA. (Diabetic Model Railroader Association) Should I start designing a logo and newsletter? Don't worry. I won't leave you N ormal scalers out.

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Posted by john1947 on Thursday, March 1, 2007 6:48 PM

DMPA sounds good to me, and thanks for including us N ormal people!

 

John

John The impossible is possible until proven impossible
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Posted by john1947 on Thursday, March 1, 2007 6:53 PM
 john1947 wrote:

DMPA sounds good to me, and thanks for including us N ormal people!

 

John

Sorry  should have been DMRA. Too many letters, not enough fingers!

John The impossible is possible until proven impossible
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Posted by CSXect on Thursday, March 1, 2007 7:26 PM
Uh-oh I guess it is official now we are a special interest groupCool [8D] anyone else e-mail the train makers of any scale?
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Posted by CSXect on Friday, March 2, 2007 3:06 PM
No responce from RMT yet.Confused [%-)]
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Posted by CSXect on Friday, March 2, 2007 7:23 PM
I e-mail Kadee and to second the idea. So far they sound like the best bet.
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, March 3, 2007 8:03 AM
If someoner comes out with a diabetes awareness car, I'd buy it.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by lvanhen on Saturday, March 3, 2007 8:33 PM

CSXetc has also e-mailed some manufacturers as I did.  Anyone else care to join in?  Here's the e-mail I sent:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/ This link is to a thread in the Model Railroader Forum, "The Pros & Cons of Modeling with Diabetes"  It has been proposed by one of the posters that perhaps one of the manufacturers may make a promotional "Diabetes Awareness" boxcar.  It appears that a large number of model railroaders are afflicted with diabetes, in part to the overall age of model railroaders.  As a group, we would greatly appreciate such a gesture from one or more of the companies we have so long supported by purchasing their goods. Thanking You in Advance, Lou Van Hentenryck

 If a bunch of us request a car - in whatever scale you model - the chances of getting one will increase!Smile [:)]  (maybe mention the number of replies & hits this thread has gotten!!)Approve [^]

Lou V H Photo by John
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Posted by CSXect on Sunday, March 4, 2007 7:36 AM
The word has spread to 3 forums nowWow!! [wow] Bill of MTJ was willing to let me post the topic of modeling with Diabetes on his forum. Also the newest forum www.thetrainforum.com liked the post so much he is going to bring it to the attention of Mike Wolfe of MTH.
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Posted by nbrodar on Sunday, March 4, 2007 3:07 PM

Has anyone thought about enlisting the support of the American Diabetes Association?

http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

Nick

Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/

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Posted by CSXect on Sunday, March 4, 2007 3:31 PM
Nick that ia an great idea.If more than one of us alert them to this idea it may help.
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Posted by CSXect on Sunday, March 4, 2007 5:24 PM
I just sent an e-mail to the diabetes association may be will hear something on MondayBig Smile [:D]
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Posted by lvanhen on Sunday, March 4, 2007 7:41 PM
 nbrodar wrote:

Has anyone thought about enlisting the support of the American Diabetes Association?

http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

Nick

Duh?  I have had it for 6+ years & never looked up the website!!  Joined today, posted a link to here, and have had 2 replies already!  Opening my big mouth sometimes pays off!!Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by CSXect on Monday, March 5, 2007 2:11 PM
I got a reply from Kadee and it sounds like they are interested in the idea for a"future" car. Have not heard from diabetes assoc. yet.
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Posted by CSXect on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 7:02 PM

I just got a reply from Kirstin@mth-railking.com and it sounds like thier marketing department likes the ideaApprove [^]

If you would like to see a diabetes boxcar I encourage you to e-mail as many train makers as possible. Thak you for your support.

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Posted by lvanhen on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 7:16 PM
Have all of us diabetics read about steamturbine 8500's heart attack?  Get the old ticker checked along with the blood sugar levels!!Dead [xx(]
Lou V H Photo by John
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Posted by loathar on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 9:21 PM
Yep. I've been getting a feeling in my chest like butterflies doing flip flops. Got so bad I dropped to my knees about two months ago.

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