A Whiter Shade of Poell

[dvandom]

Saw an internist today, name of Dr. Poell (pronounced "pale"). He's pretty sure I have type 2, and is proceeding with treatment on that assumption. I got a prescription for Metformin (500mg, twice daily) to start
out with...fortunately I managed to find my prescription benefits card after some digging in my wallet, so I only paid $4.14 for the month's supply.

I got scheduled for a diabetes education session over at Lafene, the medical building that houses student health stuff, tomorrow afternoon. It means missing another group meeting, but at least it's within walking distance, so I don't need to mess around with parking on campus in the afternoon. There I will get the whole spiel, and learn how to use the glucose monitor. Dr. Poell doesn't care for the arm-testing models, so I guess I get to poke my fingers until the technology improves.

Dr. Poell also pointed out, as others have to me in various fora, that exercise itself isn't going to generate much weight loss, and that diet is the main thing there. BUT, exercise is still important overall, even if the calories burned at the time are small (also, I know it raises overall metabolic rate, so it helps you burn more while sitting still afterward).

Unfortunately, amidst all of this, I'm not getting anything specifically done about the indigestion problems that made me go to the doctor in the first place. :/

Comments

[loki-liesmith.livejournal.com]

Suck. My wife just finished dealing with gestational diabetes during her pregnancy with our daughter. The diet, surprisingly, allows a LOT of items I would have figured would be no go, it's more about portion sizes than cutting out specific foods. It DOES, however, (and unfortunately for my wife) specifically forbid fruit juice. The diet sheet she got had "NO FRUIT JUICE" in big bold letters at the top. Not sure how that'll affect you, but just a heads-up.

The glucose monitor is actually not nearly the pain I would have expected it to be. Try to stay to the sides of the fingertips, not directly in the middle, and you shouldn't have too mcuh pain or irritation with it.

Also, listen to the doctor. I'm just trying to give you a heads-up based on what we just went through for a few months, I'm hardly an expert. Sorry to hear about it, though, I know it's not any fun.

[foomf.livejournal.com]

I'm paranoid. This is ringing all my alarms.

Did he LISTEN to you when you said that you have indigestion and why?
Did he explain to you why the diabetes is more urgent to deal with than the indigestion?

It's very nice that he thinks the weight is 'causing' the problem but there is no science which shows a causal correlation for EXTERNAL bodyfat and type-2 diabetes, and a strong correlation recently (per my endocrinologist) for intra-abdominal fat having a significant effect, and for it responding very fast to exercise, and his recommendation, exercise (starting with walking as briskly as you can for about 45 minutes a day) will have as strong an effect on your insulin resistance as taking that pill, over time.

I strongly urge you get the services, not of an internist, but rather an endocrinologist. Go to the top to start with. Do not go to the medical equivalent of the overseas call center.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Actually, the indigestion didn't come up in the office visit yesterday, but I'm definitely bringing it up when I have my appointment this afternoon...especially since stomach upset is a listed side effect of the meds I'm on. I spent most of last night lying down thanks to stomachache.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Two hours since breakfast (and the morning dose) and no stomachache, so it looks like I may not suffer that side effect of Metformin...it was just my pre-existing sour stomach.

In other news, a "lap" of the physics building (across third floor, down to second floor, across that, back up) is about 225m, give or take. Walking it briskly took me 190 seconds. So ten laps would be half an hour or so and in the vicinity of a mile and a half. Not that I'm up to ten laps right now...one lap left me a little light-headed. But something to work up to.

[foomf.livejournal.com]

The thing is, some of the minor, and major, things that can cause protracted indigestion, can also mimic diabetes.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. Would that mimicry also extend to a test of sugar on/in blood cells? I had blood drawn Tuesday for such a test, which is supposed to give a sort of three month average.

FWIW, I didn't have any indigestion problems yesterday beyond a few belches, even with the forgetting to take the meds until an hour after dinner.

[andrusi.livejournal.com]

Wonderful. From now on, I am going to have to go out of my way to say things about multiple fora just so I can call them fora instead of forums. I hope you're happy.

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Diabetes may not be infectious, but I am. ;) Fear my memes!