Questions answered during December 2005

1. can you suggest an alternative milk for me to drink?
   
2. what is the proper time to take metformin?
   
3. can eating candied yams within 24 hours of a glucose test cause a false reading?
   
4. he developed sores on the calves of his legs
   
5. does metformin affect the liver?
   
6. is glyburide the same as glibenclamide?
   
7. how does sickle trait affect the value of my HbA1c?
   
8. can I take Byetta or is it just for folks who can't seem to get under control?
   
9. can I take pioglitazone with insulin injections?
   
10. I had a kidney transplant; can I take Byetta?
    
11. is Byetta the same as insulin?
    
12. I need the name of a company that provides diabetes supplies
    
13. is it wise to skip shots of Byetta?
    
14. does a high value at one hour during a GTT mean you have diabetes?
    
15. I forgot my shot, and I don't know if I should take it now
    
16. how often should I be retested to see if I have developed full diabetes?
    
17. where can I buy olestra for use in recipes?
    
18. has anyone complained about hair loss while taking Byetta?
    
19. can diabetes cause your blood alcohol level to rise?
    
20. do you think I could take my Lantus twice daily?
    
21. perhaps this particular machine is defective?
    
22. should I go to the doctor and be checked out?
    
23. he is having trouble walking
    

Questions answered during November 2005

1. they ran a glycohemoglobin, which I had never heard of
   
2. metformin and hypoglycemia and confusion
   
3. do you know how I can get the pen I need?
   
4. for now can we just try to lower the dose?
   
5. I am considering getting a tattoo
   
6. why do blood tests from the same finger vary?
   
7. are products like Crystal Light drinks and AquaCal drinks safe?
   
8. would metformin prevent insulin resistance and help me lose weight?
   
9. is it safe and sensible to plan to stop my pills?
   
10. should I see an ophthalmologist for sudden onset of double vision?
    
11. my itching has not subsided after stopping metformin
    
12. do all monitoring machines have separate needles?
    
13. I have no energy. What could be the problem?
    
14. what does A1c measure?
    
15. he is now burping and farting all the time
    
16. is it possible to have high blood sugar and not have diabetes?
    
17. is it possible for an adult onset diabetic to later become insulin dependent?
    
18. where can I find information about metformin?
    
19. will it be a problem to get pregnant?
    
20. do you know why I have diarrhea?
    
21. is there any other treatment for neuropathy?
    
22. are there limited supplies of Lantus pens?
    
23. should I be concerned over these high levels?
    

Questions answered during October 2005

1. do you have any suggestions to find a diabetes specialist after I move?
   
2. is it true that metformin will decrease my chances of getting diabetes?
   
3. what are the chances that our child will develop diabetes after birth?
   
4. how long will the steroids affect my blood sugars?
   
5. is it safe to treat diabetes and high blood pressure with Tenormin?
   
6. does diarrhea make my blood sugar go up?
   
7. how often should I test?
   
8. has anyone asked that diabetes care be considered excessive, when the patient is on hospice?
   
9. how much protein should I be eating each day?
   
10. I splurged and ate potato soup and fruit for lunch
    
11. I'm wondering if I could have hypoglycemia
    
12. do you have any information on scuba divers with diabetes?
    
13. when someone on Medicare tests many times per day, how can he/she get enough test strips?
    
14. is Byetta a lifelong medication?
    
15. do diabetes pills cause a person to gain weight in unusual places?
    
16. I'm feeling light headed and dizzy. How do I get my sugar down?
    
17. what can I do about this weight gain?
    
18. how much water can I drink before a fasting blood glucose test?
    
19. could menstruation affect microalbuminuria?
    
20. can diabetes cause vaginal odor?
    
21. I have newly diagnosed diabetes
    
22. is my body not recovering properly?
    
23. LADA questions
    
24. is there reason for a person with type 1 diabetes to take a statin?
    
25. why doesn't Medicaid cover flu shots for people with diabetes?
    

Questions answered during September 2005

1. what causes a burning, sensitive feeling in my upper thigh?
   
2. When will Exubera (inhaled insulin) be available?
   
3. should I take metformin along with medications for mental illness?
   
4. if I have gastrointestinal problems, should I use Byetta?
   
5. I still have high readings — could it be all the stress I have at work?
   
6. can you have high blood sugar with no diabetes?
   
7. I am losing my hair and getting bald
   
8. which fruits are lower in sugar?
   
9. what are the effects of taking metformin and 3-4 glasses of wine?
   
10. could drinking coffee with Equal for a sweetener raise my blood sugar level?
    
11. should I do a blood glucose reading one or two hours after meals?
    
12. weight gain on several medications
    
13. aching in my arms and legs and cold sweats from diabetes?
    
14. can I take all three of these drugs at the same time?
    
15. 3 questions about metformin
    
16. what does it mean when a diabetic says his or her t-cells are low?
    
17. I can't seem to get my blood sugar to stay down
    
18. could the Flovent inhalations be causing the rise in my glucose?
    
19. is there a list of all fruits and their sugar content?
    
20. will Byetta become available in our area soon?
    
21. where can I find information on Lantus activity beyond the 24th hour?
    
22. would a gunshot wound in Vietnam cause me to get type 1 diabetes?
    
23. with such a picky eater, do you have any suggestions?
    
24. could his paranoia be the result of not taking his insulin?
    
25. can you tell me where I might get a meal plan?
    

Questions answered during August 2005

1. could this excessive sleepiness be the result of metformin?
   
2. is there something else she can do?
   
3. can diabetes make you sick to your stomach, nauseated, tired, worn out?
   
4. not only am I upset, but he seems to rush me all the time
   
5. after 30 minutes of exercise in the morning, my blood sugar is going up
   
6. is it okay to take the Byetta without any other diabetes medicine?
   
7. perhaps my friend was allergic to concentrated sweets?
   
8. he has been sneaking sweets and has a little dementia
   
9. I saw an advertisement with a celebrity demonstrating a meter
   
10. is there a way now I can take care of myself so I don't get diabetes?
    
11. can metformin cause me to restart my periods?
    
12. her doctor has prescribed metformin for problems with her period; is this common?
    
13. what is the reduced life expectancy when beginning insulin therapy?
    
14. what about an occasional glass of wine?
    
15. do statins increase foot pain and itching?
    
16. my 80 year old neighbor has been diagnosed with neuropathy
    
17. is there is a way to do islet or pancreatic transplants without the need for anti-rejection medications?
    
18. I may suffer from alcohol induced hypoglycemia
    
19. could the improvement of my psoriasis be due to metformin?
    
20. I'm on 4000 mg/day metformin, and my glucose level has increased; is this normal?
    
21. if my husband's test results came out okay, then why add all the other medications?
    
22. can the company give me some help with this drug?
    
23. will my metformin side effects increase on a larger dose?
    
24. how long will it take for me to heal?
    
25. has anyone else gotten a rash?
    
26. I would really like to be a member of a type 2 diabetes support group
    
27. is there a policy and procedure about blood glucose monitoring at worksites?
    

Questions answered during July 2005

1. can I take all of these safely?
   
2. should metformin be taken before breakfast or after meals?
   
3. we can't afford Starlix
   
4. is there a magazine that is most popular?
   
5. is it safe to take metformin or would I be better with insulin before I become pregnant?
   
6. which meter do you recommend I should trust to be accurate?
   
7. should I take B12 shots when taking metformin?
   
8. do I have to get her up on time to do glucose checks, eat and insulin?
   
9. I was exposed to Agent Orange which they now say can cause diabetes. Is there any connection?
   
10. is it okay to eat such things, as long as they are included in our daily carb count?
    
11. are you aware of what support may be available?
    
12. how can his sugar level go up when he had nothing to eat?
    
13. should I increase my insulin, take it three times a day, or change my insulin all together?
    
14. is its strength different from my previous insulin?
    
15. how quickly does someone with type 2 progress to insulin dependent diabetes?
    
16. why doesn't the insulin work?
    
17. he suffers from serious nausea about once a month
    
18. should he be on metformin to prevent diabetes?
    
19. use of Amaryl with Avandia
    
20. is it safe to take metformin to treat polycystic ovaries?
    
21. prefilling Lantus and pens for Lantus?
    
22. nausea on Byetta and Glucophage
    
23. burning mouth syndrome
    

June 2005

1. what is the equivalent of these insulins in the States?
   
2. why do different sites have such variations in sugar readings?
   
3. does my fasting blood glucose depend on the food I had the previous day?
   
4. metformin for type 1 diabetes?
   
5. do you have any thoughts as to what my current problem could be?
   
6. how can I locate someone who will prescribe Byetta?
   
7. what blood sugar levels are you looking for when trying for and during a pregnancy?
   
8. does steroid use exacerbate previously undiagnosed diabetes?
   
9. I have numbness on the left side of my body; should I be concerned?
   
10. can I harm my pancreas if I do not increase my dosage?
    
11. have you heard of diabetic psychosis?
    
12. what blood sugar levels are high or low?
    
13. when will inhaled insulin be available?
    
14. my BG was 125 and 126: is this diabetes?
    
15. is it possible to have diabetes without the BG showing positive?
    
16. is this true or a newspaper misprint?
    
17. I am planning my first marathon
    
18. can Splenda make your blood sugars go high?
    
19. she is still not under control
    
20. will the sugar level come down after I stop taking prednisone?
    
21. gastroparesis with gastrointestinal bleeding and hiccups
    
22. is sulfa used as a filler in metformin?
    
23. his sugar level is always high in the morning
    
24. is there danger from this increase in BG from steroids?
    
25. perhaps it's stress at work?
    
26. should I be seen soon for the burning sensation in my leg?
    

May 2005

1. how can I help avoid full-blown diabetes?
   
2. I am pregnant, and wonder if my baby is likely to be diabetic
   
3. why is there such a variance in her blood sugars?
   
4. why is my fasting glucose higher than the two hour glucose?
   
5. what additional oral medication can I add?
   
6. I will have an opportunity to work in the USA for a year. What should I do?
   
7. why are insulin injections painful sometimes?
   
8. I am looking for summer job vacancies at diabetes camps
   
9. what will the Byetta injection pens look like?
   
10. how can we can get his Medicare to pay for the monitor and supplies?
    
11. why do you get different test results using blood from other body sites?
    
12. will adding another glitazone drug will be of value?
    
13. is an A1c below 6% reasonable?
    
14. what is the ADA meeting?
    
15. is there an alternative to Avandia?
    
16. is there a relationship between diabetes and ongoing severe pain after motor vehicle injury?
    
17. is the insulin pen for Lantus available in the US?
    
18. if body cells become insulin resistant, why inject insulin?
    
19. I can no longer get the test strips for that machine
    
20. severe itching
    
21. is it okay to take low-dose baby aspirin every other day?
    
22. what should I be doing?
    
23. where are they doing islet cell transplants?
    
24. I was able to maintain good control, but now it just seems out of reach
    
25. metformin and thallium treadmill testing
    
26. what type of snacks can I have between exercises?
    
27. is it okay to go tanning?
    
28. do you feel I should purchase an ID bracelet or necklace?
    

April 2005

1. do diabetes medications affect your menstrual cycle?
   
2. what should my A1c be?
   
3. shouldn't my blood sugar go up when I'm off my diet?
   
4. I had GDM and now I'm on metformin for prevention of diabetes
   
5. is it possible to have a blood sugar level of 700 mg/dL?
   
6. glucose and sugar
   
7. can you recommend a glucose meter?
   
8. what can I do to make my mom's life easier?
   
9. I am controlling it fine without medication
   
10. should I be more aggressive in reducing my glucose levels?
    
11. could this be blood in the urine?
    
12. he becomes violent when hypoglycemic
    
13. his ankles and hands became very swollen
    
14. Advil or Tylenol?
    
15. is it dangerous to give her sweets?
    
16. can you explain how to use them properly?
    
17. is this truly diabetes?
    
18. PCOS and metformin and possible hypoglycemia
    
19. can insulin cause weight gain?
    
20. stress lowers my blood sugar
    
21. what are the chances of me developing type 1 diabetes?
    
22. are there any alternatives to injections?
    
23. two hours after a meal my blood sugar may go up
    
24. hypos with normal readings
    
25. his muscle mass seems to be disappearing
    
26. is this a reasonable use of metformin?
    
27. I have a low renal threshold
    
28. she's sick to her stomach and is nauseated; what should she do?
    

March 2005

1. my blood sugar jumps before I eat
   
2. is there some possibility to rectify diabetes fully?
   
3. I get different readings on two separate fingers
   
4. 1000 Euros for tea that regenerates insulin producing cells?
   
5. bloating and terrible smelling gas from metformin
   
6. do diabetes pills cause kidney failure?
   
7. how can I get put on the list for a pancreas transplant?
   
8. information on the Pelikan Sun
   
9. can Glucophage cause blurred vision?
   
10. will complications happen if the HbA1c is normal?
    
11. I am struggling finding a supplier for a glucose meter
    
12. can I use sugar alcohol and "natural sugar"?
    
13. would diabetes cause itching of the eye?
    
14. is tooth loss and periodontal disease more common in diabetes?
    
15. can metformin cause her to develop diabetes?
    
16. I have been feeling very sick
    
17. what causes you to go into ketosis?
    
18. how safe is metformin compared to pioglitazone?
    
19. how often would someone have to inject themselves with insulin?
    
20. is it difficult for people with type 2 diabetes to lose weight?
    
21. terrified of insulin
    
22. what do I do to keep her blood sugar from dropping?
    
23. could sleep apnea cause his blood sugar to go low?
    
24. is 144 mg/dL [8 mmol/L] good or bad?
    
25. can you send information on pancreas transplantation?
    
26. his feet are very swollen, and they are constantly burning
    
27. does the bitter mouth have anything to do with diabetes?
    
28. does that mean I no longer have diabetes?
    
29. is it possible for my body to not use all of the insulin I inject?
    
30. is there a diet you can suggest to help me lose weight and get control of my diabetes?
    

February 2005

1. my blood sugar was 440 mg/dL [24.4 mmol/L]. What should I do?
   
2. is there an Excel® spreadsheet to monitor her sugar?
   
3. today my reading said "HI"
   
4. my cardiologist tossed the information in the waste basket
   
5. is urine infection connected to diabetes?
   
6. I have terrible diarrhea that my doctor says is quite normal
   
7. are VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoproteins) actually triglycerides?
   
8. can you help me find a diabetes doctor?
   
9. I want to find out what steps we should take to cure it and to control it.
   
10. can someone direct me to a patient assistance program for diabetes pills?
    
11. my reading is 12.2 mmol/L [220 mg/dL]. Am I in danger?
    
12. Amaryl and direct sunlight
    
13. what is the duration of activity of metformin?
    
14. Avandia and heart disease
    
15. weight loss or low sugar?
    
16. do excess calories from non-carbohydrate foods produce a rise in glucose?
    
17. what exactly is the merit of exercise to a person with diabetes?
    
18. which diabetes pills are most likely to cause weight gain or weight loss?
    
19. why does my glucose level rise during the day?
    
20. does acarbose block the absorption of wine?
    
21. I'm confused with my blood sugar readings
    
22. insulin resistance or not enough insulin?
    
23. diabetes and uncontrolled vomiting
    
24. I have had difficulty controlling my eating
    
25. can excess calories from non-carbohydrate foods produce a rise in glucose levels?
    
26. is it possible to control diabetes with proper diet and exercise only?
    
27. what type of breakfast should I eat if my sugar is high?
    
28. are these lab tests normal? should I maybe be on medication?
    
29. I wonder if my medications could be interacting in some way?
    
30. I am looking for something that would alert a person if their sugar level went too low or jumped
    
31. is there a prescription weight loss drug for diabetics?
    
32. where can I find an appropriate meal plan?
    
33. could I have neuropathy this soon?
    

January 2005

1. does this indicate that she could have diabetes?
   
2. is she "insulin deficient" or "insulin resistant"?
   
3. is OJ OK?
   
4. where to find a list of things to buy at a store?
   
5. diabetic neuropathy or carpal tunnel syndrome?
   
6. what is in Glucophage that lowers blood sugar?
   
7. what would cause occasional hyperglycemia after treating a low sugar?
   
8. is a cholesterol of 201 mg/dL that bad?
   
9. is it all right for me to use the Cambridge Diet?
   
10. how do I order an insulin pen?
    
11. do I need to worry yet?
    
12. why take Advandia instead of metformin?
    
13. can I have diabetes without high blood sugars?
    
14. if blood sugar and A1c are in control, how can they determine that there is diabetes?
    
15. will metformin and losing weight help clear up my symptoms?
    
16. fiber supplements
    
17. can I take metformin if I take Lanoxin every day?
    
18. aspirin and Reye's Syndrome
    
19. is there any difference from metformin and metformin HCl?
    
20. how often should we run controls on a meter in a rehab center?
    
21. should the A1c be done 3 times over 2 to 3 months?
    
22. what are the chances of stem-cell research being the cure?
    
23. do you know of any financial help for her?
    
24. can use of Glucophage cause impotence?
    
25. my husband has been having major problems with his shoulder
    
26. can I take as much insulin as I want?
    
27. I would like to reduce my metformin
    
28. when will inhalable insulin be on the market?
    
29. will my blood sugar soar if I stop the metformin?
    
30. is there any relation between her diabetes and the forgetfulness?
    
31. I know 29 mmol/L [522 mg/dl] is extremely high
    
32. why is my blood glucose higher before eating in the morning?