The discussion delves into the intricate experiences associated with managing diabetes, particularly when faced with the unexpected challenges of routine medical procedures such as dental visits. Deborah articulately recounts her own recent dental experience, emphasizing her preference for minimal forewarning regarding procedures, a sentiment that resonates with many who grapple with similar anxieties. She highlights the disparity between typical health experiences and those of individuals managing diabetes.
"One of the things that I do when I have the flu is I try to take sugar soda, like a tablespoon of sugar soda every hour." -Deborah [06:56]
The episode deftly illustrates how seemingly mundane occurrences, like the common flu or a dental extraction, can escalate into significant health concerns for diabetics due to the necessity of maintaining glucose levels and managing insulin intake. This is true of type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Emphasis is shared in the focus on type 1 diabetes only because of how quickly type 1 can dip into diabetic ketoacidosis if these “common” situations are not monitored. The importance of preparing for unexpected medical situations cannot be overstated, especially for these type 1 diabetics.
- Flu symptoms in diabetics present unique challenges that require careful management of insulin and carbohydrates.
- Advocating for oneself in medical scenarios can prevent adverse reactions to prescribed medications.
- Researching medical procedures and potential medications is essential for informed decision-making and preparation.
- Being vigilant and prepared for unexpected health responses can significantly enhance a diabetic's health outcomes.
By sharing her personal anecdotes, Deborah prompts listeners to reflect on their own healthcare experiences while advocating for heightened awareness and preparedness in the face of unexpected health challenges. This narrative not only serves to inform but also to empower listeners to take a proactive approach in their medical care, particularly in articulating their needs and advocating for themselves when interacting with healthcare professionals.
Chapters
- 02:04 Expecting the Unexpected
- 03:44 Navigating Specific Health Challenges
- 08:49 Managing the Flu as a Type 1 Diabetic
- 11:55 Advocating for Yourself in Healthcare
- 13:51 Navigating Health and Unexpected Outcomes
Episode Resources
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Episode Credits
Perfectly Wonderful World [Episode Music]
Episode Transcript
All right, welcome everyoneback to another episode of DiabeticReal,
and I'm Deborah, your host.This week, I'm thinking about expecting
the unexpected. I havepersonally been recovering from a
visit to the dentist. And Iwas thinking just a normal visit
(04:45):
to the dentist. And I don'tlike to hear about procedures. Even
if I go in for a surgery, Idon't want the details of the surgery.
When I go in for blood draws,I don't like them to tell me, hey,
you'll feel a little poke. Ijust say, hey, just stick it in.
Don't warn me any of that. Andeven for seed surgeries, it's like,
go ahead and explain it to myhusband. But I don't need the details.
(05:09):
Just do what you need to do. Iusually make sure it's a surgeon
I can trust, of course, andit's a surgery that I need. But same
thing with the dentist. Evenif it's oral surgery, it's like,
hey, just do what you need todo, Doc, and come out the other end.
So I wasn't really fullyprepared for exactly how invading
(05:29):
it was going to be or whatthey were going to pull out. And,
yeah, it was okay. I'm notgoing to say this was like a walk
in the park or super fun, butit was the pain afterwards that was
very uncomfortable. Actuallyalmost more uncomfortable than regular
(05:50):
surgery. I've been throughsome pretty exotic surgeries, if
not exotic, I'm joking. Butsome serious surgeries, that the
recovery was easier. But I sayall this to say sometimes I'm kind
of joking about this, andtongue in cheek, no pun intended.
We think about some of thesenormal things in life. And as diabetics,
(06:14):
there's actually a lot more toit than what would be considered
normal. What I mean by that,let me take another stab at it from
something else that happens innormal life. I could get a cold.
I don't often get colds, but Icould get a cold and just a minor
(06:35):
cold and it won't interrupt mylife. Someone else could get a minor
cold, maybe it doesn'tinterrupt their life. Could get a
flu. And okay, it's a littlebit disruptive if you're having to
go to the bathroom. And sorryto say this on the air, but, you
know, expel. In other words,vomit. I'll just say it real quick.
(06:56):
That's a bit of aninterruption. And you certainly don't
want to go to work or to go toschool or go anywhere where somebody
else might catch it. So you dowant to take a sick day, at least
for that reason. But here'sthe thing. If you have that kind
of flu where you are expellingsomething, in other words, you're
not keeping food down.Somebody could have a flu, minor
(07:20):
flu, and it's no big deal, inthe same way of a minor cold, and
no big deal. But if a diabetichas that, when you consider that
food is actually a portion ofhow diabetes is managed, you've got
food, you've got medicine,you've got exercise. Those things
work together to. To helpmanage type 1 diabetes and type 2.
(07:44):
Now you are expelling the verything that you use to help manage
the diabetes. Now, that's aproblem. So if I have the flu for
over 24 hours, I'm in trouble,as would any diabetic be in trouble.
One of the things, and I'd becurious to know how other diabetics
(08:08):
handle it, but one of thethings that I do when I have the
flu is I try to take sugarsoda, like a tablespoon of sugar
soda every hour. Now try tokeep that down and keep working that
through so that I'm gettingsome kind of sugar. If I can take
more than a tablespoon ofsugar soda, great. If I can work
(08:30):
it up from there, great.Because then I'm getting some kind
of carbohydrate into my systemto offset insulin, because you can't
just stop insulin or you'reheaded possibly to diabetic key acidosis.
So there's that balance thatyou have to play with. Now if it
goes longer than a day. NowI'm looking at going to the hospital.
(08:55):
And in the hospital, they canmanage it by hooking you up to an
IV and getting that nutrientsthat you need and also monitoring
you for diabetic ketoacidosis.Of course, when I say you, I'm talking
about the type 1 diabetic.Now, they can work with balancing
out and watching, you know,watching your electrolytes, keeping
you balanced, checking thelabs, all of those things. In the
(09:17):
hospital, I say all that to,say, the flu. That's just not your
everyday normal thing with atype 1 diabetic. Same thing with
a dentist. The reason Imentioned the dentist and that came
up is because if you'rehaving, for instance, tooth extractions,
and it's not with the wisdomteeth, okay, they're the back of
(09:39):
the mouth can still eatsomething, but if that's affecting
what you can eat now, at leastyou can still eat puddings, eggs,
you know, things like that.You can still get it Down. But if
you're having problems gettingfood down now again, you're getting
back into that balance. Toothextractions, you probably, you at
(10:03):
least can drink sugar soda, soyou can still get some carbohydrate
in there. You're not supposedto drink with a straw. So, you know,
don't try to drink the sugarsoda with a straw. Just drink it
normal. And of course, listento your doctor, your dentist. But
the thing that I was thinkingabout, and this is something else
(10:24):
that came up, I had somestrange reactions to antibiotics.
And the reactions didn't comeup until this is another reason why
I was thinking about theexpecting the unexpected. I had the
strange reactions come up, ofcourse, on the weekend, and I'm sure
(10:44):
there's an emergency numberthat I could call for the dentist.
But I'm used to being able toreach doctors on the weekend. But
I don't think of emergencyphone calls for dentists on the weekend.
I'm sure that's available.It's just not in the forefront of
my mind. But I'm thinking,wow, I'm not normally allergic to
(11:05):
antibiotics, but if you have areally odd reaction to medicine that
you've received from thedentist, especially, I happen to
have two chronic illnesses.That's another area of unexpected
that you wouldn't think ofjust going to a routine dentist appointment.
So, again, in the area ofunexpected, you can prepare yourself
(11:28):
by asking questions like that,asking about the antibiotics. Now,
in my case, I actually didexpress concern because the antibiotic
that I was being prescribed isone that I don't take and one that
does not work well for me. SoI did actually express concern about
this particular antibioticthat she was prescribing, and she
(11:51):
kind of forced the issue thatI should use that one anyway. So
that's a separate issue.That's. Maybe a person like myself
needs to advocate for myself alittle bit more because it seems
I did have an adverse reactionto the antibiotic, just as I suspected
that I would, although it wasa different adverse reaction. So
(12:13):
what I learned is I shouldpossibly be a little bit more vocal
in the area of advocating formyself. But I'm on the last day of
the antibiotic and it seems Ilived through it. So that's a good
thing. And if it's permanentreaction to the antibiotic, I guess
(12:33):
I will be a very wealthywoman. So anyway, I think there can
be a few things that we canglean from that, and that is research.
Even though doctors anddentists like to say, don't use Google
for your research. I'm notsure what else you use for research
if you're not going to Googleyour results, but Google and learn
(12:59):
as much about the procedurethat you're going to have done beforehand.
And think in terms ofexpecting the unexpected and thinking
outside the box. Take all ofyour chronic illnesses into consideration.
Research the differentmedicines and antibiotics that could
(13:19):
be used, the different painmedicines that may be prescribed.
Call ahead and ask whatmedicines could be prescribed so
that you come prepared andknow what questions to ask. And by
all means, ask questionsbefore you leave the doctor's office
or the dentist's office. Andif you have any problems, definitely
(13:44):
call right away. And before aweekend hits, just a final thought.
I did actually lose a cousinwho was healthy, did not have diabetes
type 1 or type 2 and diedafter her second Covid shot of a
(14:04):
seizure that she had in showerand not a place that you want to
have a seizure. It's not thatthe seizure necessarily killed her,
but the location that she hadthe seizure. Even if you're not a
diabetic, the unexpected canhappen. So especially for those type
(14:25):
1 and type 2 diabetics, pleaseexpect the unexpected and be as prepared
as you possibly can for thoseunexpected responses to even the
most normal things, like adentist appointment. All right, guys,
(14:46):
hugs to everyone and this isDeborah E signing off in DiabeticReal.
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