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

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  • Member since
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  • From: Central VT
  • 31 posts
Posted by vtCSX on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 4:01 AM

Hi all,

 I've been a type 1 since I was just shy of 24 y.o.  I'm now 31 and havn't had any problems yet.  My numbers used to be excellent, but within the past year they have spiked and I am still trying to figure out the solution.

I was the first one in my family diagnosed (with type 1), but since ALL of my aunts and uncles as well as my mom have been diagnosed with type 2.  Share the wealth or something...my mother was trying to figure out where my diabetes came from in the family.  Never mind that it isn't necessarily hereditary.  She doesn't wonder so much now.

My job as a police officer is a little hard on the feet.  After a shift my feet sometimes tingle a little, but that would probably happen without diabetes.  Good boots are a must.  Exercise helps keep things moving and feeling good too.

I do have a question....For those of you on pumps, what gauge is the catheter and how painful/difficult is it to change out.  Might be a little difficult to use under my vest, but it may help with my control issues.  It's something to look into.

A far as my modeling goes, again no problems.  I don't need glasses to see the detail parts, and on my last eye exam I was still almost off the scale for vision.  At least if it is ever effected, I have some breathing room before it becomes a problem.  I do need to get some carpeting layed down in my basement though.  Building a shelf layout attached directly to the walls so carpeting could wait, but I'm sure it would be more comfortable.

Hang in there everybody...If the pharmaceutical companies see a profit in it (greater than selling the medicines to control it) they may actually find a cure!

Marc

"The light at the end of my tunnel always seems to be a freight train..."
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  • From: Amish country Tenn.
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Posted by loathar on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 11:38 AM

Those Dr. Scholes shoe inserts work pretty good. (don't get the cheap knock offs) Your whole family has it and your mom wondered where you got it from?Confused [%-)] My mom was the same way untill I pointed out all the relatives that had "sugar" in the family.3-4 generations ago doctors didn't really know what it was or what caused it. I worked with a guy that freaked out on me when he heard I gave blood. Said I was going to infect other people. He though you could catch it from somebody.

PS-Gotta love that new CSX paint scheme!Big Smile [:D]

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  • From: Shanksville PA
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Posted by tsgtbob on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 11:54 AM
For some reason, this subject has popped up on several forums lately, which is a good thing!

I have been a diabetic since 2003, mine came up right before a deployment.

Almost everything went all at once, the vision went to double, major pain in my legs, massive thirst, the whole stinkin ball of wax!

Blood glucose in the 725 range!

After being on insulin shots, and a stay in the hospital to get it under "control" I'm now on oral meds.

One thing, with the vision issues, it made switching to O scale understandable to the Better Half!!!!

I have given up some things, (carbohydrates, sodas, candy, and such) plus, a portion of the budget that had been set aside for trains, was shifted to a gym membership!

I don't plan on being the greatest modeler, but, with the exercise, and watching what I eat and do, I want to be the World's Oldest Diabetic!!!!

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  • From: Columbus
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Posted by CSXect on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 1:44 PM

 tsgtbob wrote:
For some reason, this subject has popped up on several forums lately, which is a good thing!


That would be my doingBig Smile [:D]

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Posted by CSXect on Thursday, March 8, 2007 5:35 PM
Has anyone else e-mailed and heard back from the manufactures?
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  • From: PtTownsendWA
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Posted by johncolley on Thursday, March 8, 2007 6:56 PM
I have been type 2 for over 25 years, and still enjoy model railroading. My opinion, if you will, join a club, contribute where you can, and enjoy the rest! Also, if model and structure assembly is difficult, maybe learn operations, engine hostling, switching, and/or dispatching. There are ways to stay involved in the hobby. Hang in there. jc5729
jc5729
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  • From: ERIE PA.
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Posted by GAPPLEG on Thursday, March 8, 2007 7:15 PM
Well just out of curiosity I scrolled through all seven pages, and using just my memory(LOL) I counted thirty of us, what a collection we have. I guess were not a large percentage , but a large group none the less.
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Posted by lvanhen on Thursday, March 8, 2007 8:53 PM

 GAPPLEG wrote:
Well just out of curiosity I scrolled through all seven pages, and using just my memory(LOL) I counted thirty of us, what a collection we have. I guess were not a large percentage , but a large group none the less.

There may be only 30 or so posters, but we've had over 2500 hits!!!  If only 3% of the hits are from fellow diabetics that's 75 people!  Add to this the number of modelers that do not participate in this forum & it becomes rather substantial!  I've posted on the Diabetes Assoc board http://community.diabetes.org/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=index&webtag=amdiabetesz&redirCnt=1 and there seems to be some interest there as well.  I'm sure our fellow diabetics number well into the thousands overall!Smile [:)]

Lou V H Photo by John
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Posted by loathar on Thursday, March 8, 2007 9:06 PM

I heard that 30-40% of folks in the U.S. have some sort of diabetes and don't know it.

I had a real bad week last week. I was droping stuff left and right. I think I did more swearing than modeling.

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Posted by GAPPLEG on Thursday, March 8, 2007 9:14 PM
I hear Ya, 2500+ hits is quite alot.  Loathar, I'm not dropping much this week , but the fatigue is what gets me, sooo tired all the time . It's frustrating when I want to work on the layout but I'm just too beat. I hope I can get into a good regime of excercise . I think it would help me get some stamina.
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  • From: Columbus
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Posted by CSXect on Friday, March 9, 2007 4:27 PM
I had a dry mouth all day long and did not eat any carbs for breakfest just bacon and eggs. If you cut out carbs all together your body does not function well and could cause low blood sugar. It is a balencing act with carbs as I have been high and low a few times.
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Posted by CSXect on Saturday, March 10, 2007 6:10 PM
So far we have heard from an HO and an O manufacture anyone e-mail the N guys?
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, March 10, 2007 8:19 PM
You're right about the balancing act with the carbs. I really have to watch what I eat and drink. Too few carbs and I feel like * all day and may have a sugar crash, too many and I may pass out from my blood sugar being too high. Many people don't realize that it's the carbs that get you in trouble, not necessarily the sugar. I get a good laugh when I see the people shopping at Wal-Mart or whereever for their diet foods. They buy things that are marked low sugar and no sugar added and sugar free. If you look at the label, 9 times out of 10 the carbs are through the roof! I bought some sugar free cookies one time without checking the label. 3 cookies to serving, 32 carbs per serving! WOW!! I don't get those anymore.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
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Running Bear Enterprises
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beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by loathar on Saturday, March 10, 2007 8:37 PM

I try and stay away from the breads and pastas and other carbs. The sugar doesn't bother me that much. There's enough good tasting sugar free tea and lemonade out there that I don't miss soda.

Old Jarred talks about the low fat Subway subs. Wonder how many carbs they have with all that bread?

  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, March 10, 2007 8:43 PM
Trust me, you don't want to know!

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


  • Member since
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  • From: Westcentral Pennsylvania (Johnstown)
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Posted by tgindy on Saturday, March 10, 2007 9:22 PM
 loathar wrote:

I heard that 30-40% of folks in the U.S. have some sort of diabetes and don't know it.

Two years ago at a church festival we had an R.N. doing blood pressure screenings, and mine was 160/100 for the first time in my life.  The family physician is an internal medicine specialist who said a full blood draw might show something helping to create the high blood pressure.

The sugar reading was at 125.  The second blood draw a month later was 127.  That just happened to be the tipping level where one has consistantly crossed over into Type II Diabetes territory.

Two years later, the blood pressure is controlled at 120/70, and; one Actos of 15mg/day takes care of my Type II Insulin Resistance, and in effect controls sugar similar to the way blood pressure is controlled by medication.

The result:  Blood sugar has never been higher than that 127, and it has averaged 103-106 for the past couple of months.

Questions:  What if I had not taken that initial blood pressure reading?  What if I had not acted quickly after the discovering high blood pressure?  What if we had not uncovered the Type II Diabetes so early in its spiraling development?

Like all of you, I don't know what the future holds, but I can certainly testify that the sooner you discover a medical problem and take care of it with what preventative action you can, the better off you will be in the long run!

P.S.:  The Actos website is quite informative - http://actos.com/

Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956

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Posted by CSXect on Saturday, March 10, 2007 9:24 PM

Just posted to the Diabetes forum on the Diabetes Association website.

My problem is I like juice orange and cranbery/grape but can not have much if any at all Sigh [sigh]

I eat pizza and pasta in small amounts every now and then and I also have a colesteral problem from too much Beef mostly trying to fill that void with what I can haveBanged Head [banghead] I have switched to a vegei burrito at Chipotle mexican grill has more flavor and is a once a week treat as there is a small amount of carbs in the beans, rice and shell. If I did this more often I would probably get sick.

I have a part time temp job referbuishing old computers and setting them up for those who are trying to reenter the work force after a bout with mental illness or substance abuse. And I am finding that handeling these big @$$ desktop/towers is wearing me out not to mention running up and down stairs from my work area and the IT office. I find it does not take much to work up a sweat and this can cause a drop in sugar levels.

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Posted by loathar on Sunday, March 11, 2007 2:46 PM
I wish I tested 127! I'm either 30 or 300. No insurance and no money to go see a doctor like I should.
  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Sunday, March 11, 2007 4:12 PM
Cholesterol is something I don't have a problem with. My bad level is 71 and the good is 89. Now if my diabetes would cooperate I'd have it made.

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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  • From: Columbus
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Posted by CSXect on Sunday, March 11, 2007 6:06 PM
Just e-mailed Atlas again and started a thread on thier forum.Big Smile [:D]
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Posted by CSXect on Sunday, March 11, 2007 7:16 PM

And the word spreadsApprove [^] 47 hits and one reply on the atlas forum.Cool [8D]

I would like to thank the moderators for allowing this thread to exist and for posting links about diabetes in the ads.Bow [bow]

 

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  • From: Amish country Tenn.
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Posted by loathar on Sunday, March 11, 2007 8:10 PM
Yep! it's pretty cool of them. I wonder how those ads work? If they just key off certain words in the title automatically or what?
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Posted by CSXect on Monday, March 12, 2007 8:08 AM
Wow as of a few min. ago there was 303 hits and 11 posts on the Atlas forum(HO) I e-mail Atlas and expressed an interest in a boxcar in N, HO, and O no reply as of yet maybe by this afternoon.
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Posted by CSXect on Monday, March 12, 2007 5:52 PM
There are now over 450 hits on this topic at the atlas forumsThumbs Up [tup] still no word from RMT, Atlas or lionelSigh [sigh]
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Posted by CSXect on Thursday, March 15, 2007 7:25 PM
I e-mail two manufactures od S gauge trains and one of them thought it was a worthy cause but had no interest in it, but however gave me a idea about doing custom decals so that it would be better suited to multiple scales. Anyone care to take this idea and run with it??? I would persue it my self but am busy seeking employment that fits my situation.Black Eye [B)]
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Posted by Tracklayer on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 8:42 PM

I've already made a reply to this thread way back when it first started, but at that time I was feeling okay. After over four years of feeling well, Sunday night I started feeling bad after eating dinner. My legs became weak, I started feeling shaky, my head began to hurt, I got dizzy, queasy at my stomach, started having problems seeing and became real sleepy. Now here it is Tuesday and I'm still not feeling all that great. Until I start feeling normal again there's no way I'm going to be able to work on my layout, enjoy my trains or anything else for that matter.

Young people, please cut back on sodas and sweets in general while you can. Eat plenty of green vegetables and get lots of exercise and sleep. You don't want to end up sick like this. This stuff is no fun at all...

Tracklayer 

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  • From: Amish country Tenn.
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Posted by loathar on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:09 PM

I know that feeling. I went to Steak n Shake yesterday. I didn't even really pig out like I normally do. Got home and felt like total crap. Checked my sugar and it was 650. Felt bad enough that I almost went to the hospital. It seems like my diabetes has gotten worse over the past few weeks.

Hang in there Tracklayer.

  • Member since
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  • From: Southeast Texas
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Posted by Tracklayer on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:24 PM
 loathar wrote:

I know that feeling. I went to Steak n Shake yesterday. I didn't even really pig out like I normally do. Got home and felt like total crap. Checked my sugar and it was 650. Felt bad enough that I almost went to the hospital. It seems like my diabetes has gotten worse over the past few weeks.

Hang in there Tracklayer.

Thanks loathar. I'm trying. On top of all else, I also have spring allergies along with a low grade body temp, but can't take any medication for it because it makes me feel depressed... It really sucks to be me right now.

You hang in there too man. I hope you get back to normal soon.

Tracklayer

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