Diabetic Recipes
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Both of my doctors, my endocrinologist and the doctor in charge of my bio-identical treatment, have sent disability status letters for me. It actually took very little effort, despite the initial feedback from the nurses in the beginning. I'm happy to get these out of the way and go forward with the process. I'll also be writing my own letter to support my case with a personal note.
In case you don't recall, I'm pursuing disability status at my college in order to get a little help with my diabetes and other conditions. The main services I need are early course registration and online textbooks. I have gotten varied responses on stating that I'm going forward with disability services. Some not so encouraging and others very enthusiastic.
I understand past definitions of disability have limited the disabled to those who are mentally or physically handicapped. I completely understand that definition. Fortunately, legal definitions have greatly changed to include any person who has a substantially limiting issue in their life. Something that limits them from typical, daily life events, like eating, learning, walking, etc.
My first response to learning the definitions of the law was that it didn't apply to me. I can eat and learn and walk without a problem. I'm not in a wheelchair. I'm not fed by a tube or with the assistance of someone else. So certainly, that definition isn't me.
But when I sat and thought about it and people began making points to me, I realized that it did fit my life. My diabetes and my other health conditions certainly limit my eating and learning and walking sometimes. They limit a multitude of things.
My eating patterns can be limiting. Even with modern diabetic technology, it's difficult (and unwise) to live on a varied daily schedule. My body likes to eat lunch at the same time every day, even when I'm in the middle of class. If I don't eat, I get low. I can lower my insulin (which I've tried this semester) and eat snacks, but I still get low.
When I get low, my learning and walking and breathing and entire life can be effected. I certainly can't be expected to take a test when my blood sugar has been low for hours because I haven't eaten lunch. I am limited.
My campus spreads across 10,000+ acres, many of which I have to walk every day. With bus schedules that are not always so predictable, I often bike or walk to campus. Granted, it's a great way to burn calories by walking a mile to class, but it also can wreak havoc on my blood sugars.
I would never ask for special treatment or excuses for any of my conditions. I've barely passed classes because of being in the emergency room during major exams (it's very rare for me to do poorly in a class). I've missed weeks at a time and lost points on my final grade because of it. I never asked for special treatment.
But disability services gives me a few more resources. The key term here is resources. They are available to anyone who goes through the process to prove that their issue is substantially limiting. They are a little added help to make everything a little easier on those of us who can't get the right schedule that doesn't interfere with our blood sugar control.
Early course registration puts me ahead of 45,000+ students so that I can obtain the best schedule for me. Those 45,000+ students fill up most of the necessary classes within two weeks of registration, long before my registration schedule opens up. The 600+ students listed with disability services are allowed to register before the rest of the students so that we can prevent walking miles across campus in 20 minutes, going to class through lunch, or working through afternoon fatigue.
Students who work over 20 hours a week in a job outside of school can also obtain early course registration. It's not special treatment; it's simply an added resource for those who need to partner with the university in order to make our college careers as successful as possible.
This last year I've had to make a few concessions to my diabetes. Primarily was changing my work schedule from 50 hours a week to 35. It's a drastic cut in pay for monies that I desperately need. But I am unalbe to work more than 35 hours a week without showing a definate and clear change in behavior for the worst.
But now I'm looking at having to make another change. On charting my diabetes I've realized that for the week and a half before my menses kick in I'm absolutely unbearable and cannot stand anything or anyone. I spend all 10 days gritting and grinding my teeth as every little sound hits that last nerve. And when you work a customer service job like I do, where 9 out of 10 calls are complaints, my teeth and head end up aching only minutes into shift. As a person with limited humor any vestige of humor I have disappears at that time. I'm on the verge of loosing my job over it.
The most cost effective route to changing this behavior is to become a regular smoker of pot during this timeperiod. On the higher end is to take prescription meds to calm me down. As this only affects me for 10 days out of every 32 I'm not too keen on being on a prescription I don't need for 22 days of every month.
If I do loose my job what am I going to do? If I can get into another call center I'm lookin at the same issue. But otherwise it's fast food for me. Since I cannot drive (due to what diabetes does to my perception) I have limited options. Mainly, fast food. I'm fine with the concept of working fast food. But from the last job I had in the industry and from how I feel at the end of workouts, I know that I'd not be able to work more than a few hours a day before I loose all feeling in my feet.
I'm beginning to wonder at what point I should file for disability.
Have you talked to your boss about the issue? I know I've had some hormonal problems that left me with mood swings that were quite unbearable. I take all natural progesterone which has greatly helped the issue. It's expensive, unfortunately. Maybe there is a way to cut down your hours on those 10 days so that your patience level gets to be a little shorter. Or maybe there is another position that they could transfer you to which isn't so "customer friendly?" I know a lot of managing my health is just being creative with how to go about life. Talk to your doctor or a counselor and your boss. You never know what ideas they might have. :) Best of luck!
And I thought it was just "me" being hateful. I didn`t relize it could stem from my diabetes. And I`ve been through menopause since I was 39 and I`m 55 in 14 days. You probaby neen to get out of customer service and try other areas of work. Start with what you like doing (hobbies?)and go from there. Also, you can be tested at the unemployement office to see where some of your abilities are. Good-luck an God Bless.
Good for you! I'm glad you made this decision!
Dear Lindsey:
I too am a diabetic, and a college student with certain learning disabilities. I can certainly empathize with your issues as a diabetic student, and understand your needs.
I also have more of an understanding of your diabetic issues, and "disabled" college student issues, than most individuals for two reasons.
One, because I have a B.S. in Health Science, and have worked for several years as a Diabetes Case Manager and have a deeper knowledge of how diabetes affects the human body. This career choice was purposeful on my part. I am also currently attending school again and am working towards my B.S. in Nursing, in order to become a certified Diabetes Case Manager.
Two, because I am a diabetic student, I also found myself needing certain "accommodations" on campus. Personally, I am not ashamed to have to sign up with the Disability Services on campus. If you are "limited", because of how particular diseases like diabetes, or because of how learning issues affect you, then you definitely NEED the assistance of these programs more than a person who does not have internal physical limiting factors does! There is NO reason that you ought to feel ashamed for requesting or using these programs on campus, Lindsey !!! None at all ! You have physically limiting factors, use them to your hearts content, they will be of HUGE help for you !!
Diabetes is hard on your body. Because our body does not process glucose as it does in a "regular" persons body, then we have issues, PERIOD. Taking insulin itself causes fluctuations of blood sugar.
Let's face it, as a diabetic we deal with fluctuating blood sugar levels that make it hard to concentrate, for example, and this is just one example of what glucose fluctuations affects !! Having these fluctuations also affects our energy levels, making things like walking around campus, burning energy, hard on our bodies ! We end up completely exhausted after several hours on campus doing what we do as a student! Then we go home, and just crash! Sound familiar, Lindsey ??
I applied for the disability services on my campus, which is huge as well, and am extremely grateful for the following:
Testing accommodations - Time and 1/2
of what is given in class
- Testing in a quiet location
- Testing in a TRANQUIL atmosphere
Use of on campus Disability Vehicle
to transport me back and forth to
classes
LINDSEY - check into this !!
Use of Alternative Media for better
comprehension; I have access to
learning tools such as a particular
reading program device, for example
Letting my instructor know I am
in the Disability Services program
so I can raise my hand during class
to be excused to go and test my sugars
and/or have a break to eat, when
my sugars are low
Use of a Notetaker, so that when I have
to leave the class, I won't have to
worry and stress about my note content
- and we know how the stress affects
our sugars !!
Last, but not least, EARLY REGISTRATION
online, so that I don't have to expend
lots of energy running around on campus
and wait in lines, worrying about my
blood sugar levels, and have lows and
take to run to the cafeteria for a bite
to eat !
So, Lindsey: Use all these "disability" services to your advantage. We diabetics have bodily issues that require that we have "special accommodations" in order to allow us to be able to perform at the best homeostatis level that we can with the unwelcome affects of this damn disease.
One last piece of advice, acquire some type of B complex vitamin, or vitamin drink, like B Clear, to boost your energy. Go to www.bclearusa.com for more info on that. Metformin is notorious for depleting the B vitamin stores in your body. Replacing the lost B vitamins will help you to have more energy. Insulin has its effects as well. Obtain ALL the resources you can find to assist you with your diabetes, and LIVE WELL !
I wish you all the success on campus with working hard to get your degree, and with battling your effects of diabetes. Take care!
Karen Thompson
Lindsey,
I have been type 1 since age 1. I remember the horrible struggle with school, schedules, life and trying to take care of my illnesses. I see that for the most part you have gotten good support. I hope that you have ingnored those whom have no understanding of our situations. If they do not get it yet someday they might and then they will wish they would not have been so judgmental.
While I too have other diseases that make my diabetes more challenging I do understand. I have had to swallow my pride and apply for disability. While I have disabilities, I condider myself to have disabilities not one that is disabled. Does that make sense. I try to do my best with whatever comes my way.
I say more power to you. You need to take care of you and always take advantage of anything that can help make life easier. While we cannot make this go away. We can do everything we can to live our life to the fullest with it.
I was diagnosed in 1979 and got my first glucometer when they came out in 1987. Although I have had this technology and am now on a pump that does not mean that I still do not struggle and have brittle diabetes. Tking care of me is a full time job. I do my best, however, I need help a lot. I do feel guilty at times but I did not ask for this and if I could be normal and work 80 hours a week and run around like a normal 30 year old, believe me I certianly would.
I hope that your school situation gets figured out and that maybe there is a counselor you could talk to about the schedule if the deadline is not lifted for you. Please keep us posted. I pray that all works out for the best.
Keep up the good work and never give up!
Angela
I'm with saraknic on this: Good for you for making this difficult decision. I believe that diabetes affects every individual differently; but I can testify that diabetes may become a disability. Diabetes led to the early end of a job I loved. I was a letter carrier for the USPS for 20 years. As my disease progressed I developed neuropathy and could no longer drive Postal vehicles. Today I am not ashamed to say they offered me a Disability Retirement and I accepted. Diabetes takes all day every day to manage, treat and live with. I am doing MUCH better now. I can focus on taking care of this full-time disease. Keep taking care of yourself. It sounds like you're off to a good start.
I was just diagnosed with type2 diabetes about 3 months now. I never knew there was disability insurance for people with diabetes. I really like to correspond about this issue with you. Don't know much about it. Some days I am so tired I can't even think straight. My words even slurr. People even know when I am tired my one eye goes half closed. Please contact me so I can learn more about all this. Thanks! Stacie
hello lindsey im a single parent with type 2 diabetes and i know first hand about stress i have three wonderful children which two of them are disabled they are one of a millions kids that have that ADHD and i know how your diabetes can one minute go well then all of sudden go south ive had diabetes for almost 18 yrs im young and if you look at me i dont fit the profile of being a diabetic i have the misfortune of having it in both sides of my family. dont let anyone tell you how you feel only you know how you feel its different for different people. for me it has made me realize how precious life is ive been through the ringer with the diabetes within the last 9 months ive seen death knocking at my front door but with the love of my kids and family and the doctors and nurses im able to live another day so take from me just keep your head up high and thank god that he has you in his hands for all will be fine MAY THE LORD KEEP YOU IN HIS GRACE TAKE CARE LINDSEY
I have been a type 2 diabetic for well over 20 years now. I have a difficult time controlling my illness daily. My sugar's drop and rise for no particular reason. I can hardly get out of bed some days. But I have to anyhow. I am the careperson for a 6 1/2 month baby boy, my Grandson. It is a very demanding thing. I do not know how some people do this every day. I just want to lay down and take a good sleep, just once in awhile. But that is not feasible here, not for awhile anyway.
I left my job of 23 years, as I have other illnesses as well as the diabetis. I was spending more time at home, so weak I could hardly stand up sometimes. My job had no set time for a person to have a lunch break, so I was stuck grabbing a much dreaded "snack" as soon as possible. I retired, too early in my opinion. Now I am just as sick as ever and still must get up and go, daily.
If you are able to get the services you need, you go girlfriend. I wish there were someway I could have retained my job. But, alas, not in the book for me. Just the simple task of running the vacuum cleaner here tires me for the rest of the day.
Good luck with you classes and you illness's. Keep the faith and eventually, we pray, it gets a little easier for you.
This really upsets me when people try to abuse the disability system. I am a Type 2 Diabetic and I am a OTR (over the road truck driver), and well I am not disabled at all. I was raised by a loving family that even though they were not Diabetics, they did have their problems, like my father which had 2 major bypass surgeries and a valve repair, he did not considered himself disabled. My mother was a double amputee and had over 30 major operations in her entire life, taught every kid in the family and neighborhood on how to swim and teach them that she is not disabled, I even taught her how to drive a vehicle after my dad passed away. She did everything that a normal person could do even probably better. She never considered herself disabled, even though she had a disability license plate, she parked where ever she felt like it.
People who say they are disabled (in their own eyes) maybe should go see a Dr. and get themselves checked out. Let the real people who are disabled to get priority.
Lindsey, I'm glad you have been able to ask for disability status. People who do not have Type 1 diabetes do not understand the differences from Type 2. I know I didn't understand Type 1 well enough when I worked with someone who had to quit her job rather than be scheduled on a public desk so that she was unable to eat after she had already taken her insulin. Unfortunately that was the last straw for her. I feel very badly that I didn't make the effort to better understand her needs and help her with the powers that be.
I know many people who have been disabled by conditions that are essentially invisible to the public eye, and I believe that services should be available to them if they qualify.
I was fortunate in that I became old enough for Social Security at the point at which I could no longer do my job. I was able to retire with my pension and Social Security rather than go through the seemingly unending process of qualifying for SS disability. How I got through that last year I'll never know.
Keep up the good work, Lindsey. You're educating all of us.
Hi e1, I too am a diabetic, on ss disability, and have a school loan for 7500.00 that I now cannot pay. I have had dr.'s, both my primary and my podiatrist fill out paper work cause of my diabetes circumstances. I was a medical asst at a local hosp. for 1 yr. In that 1 yr I would say I worked about 1/2 of it due to ulcer's on my feet cause of the diabetes, hard to heal and when they did I would go back to work and within a couple of weeks or so I would have another one again. The review board for the paperwork for this says they do not have enough info., they want to know how long I can sit, stand, walk, etc., among other information, your whole life basically, it was like I was applying for welfare or something. I been trying to get approved by the school to get my loan reversed for 2 yrs now and it never ends, they do this so you will eventually give up and just pay it....well good luck to e1 who is trying to take care of something, I know I need it.......
I commend you on going forward with what you are doing. My diabetes limits alot of things for me,too. People who sdon't have diabetes don't realize we just can't get up at the crack of dawn and jump out of bed, skip breakfast or lunch to get to class,etc.I hope that everything works out for you.
Lindsey, Many people who do not have multiple health issues don't understand that challenges of diabetes are intensified. I, too, have other diagnoses which add to the challenge. One dx alone can be managed; the more issues added to the mix, the greater degree of difficulty in management. Frequently, "muscling through" a situation only makes issues worse.
Congratulations on understanding your own needs and getting those needs met.
Lindsey, I am shocked and horrified at some of the negative responses that you have received regarding your pursuit of disability accomodations at college. As a mother of a Type 1 Diabetic I hope and pray that my son will one day be given the opportunity to go to college in a manner that accomodates his Diabetes. My son's blood sugars are not well controlled by the nursing staff at his school, so I shudder to think what mught happen when he attends college and there is no nursing staff. I commend you on your courage and determination to do what is right for you. Until you have had a low or watched how someone who is intelligent and insightful, lose the ability to string words together, you do not understand why accomodations might be necessary. While the world may expect you to be up at 8 a.m. for class that is not a resonable request for someone such as yourself if that is whenyour body is the least stable. You have no control over that even with today's control options. My son has failed to test into the Gifted Education program at his school, because no matter how we stabilize him beforehand, the testing itself stresses him out and his blood sugars fluctuate. Does that mean he is not gifted? NO!, it means that alternative should be offered to him, just as alternatives should be offered to you. Thank you for fighting this one through your college. I hope that wehn my son makes it there your work will have come to fruition for him. To those of you who berate Lindsey....walk in her shoes for a day and then decide....no two Diabetics are alike so don't project your experience on her.
Lindsey -
Though I understand why you are applying for disability status, I must admit it is not something I would ever consider doing myself. This is not to say that your doing so is wrong - it is a very personal thing making the determination and then declaring - an in a very public way - that your diabetes and other illnesses impact your life in a way that makes it impossible to function normally.
For me, the combinations of my diabetes and other illnesses can be a real struggle - and one that I don't always handle well - but I am unable to say truthfully that they make me unable to physically handle my day to day life.
I have to say that I'm shocked by the negative reactions of both the type 1 and type 2 diabetics here. They should know - more intimately than anyone else - that this disease is so unique to each person dealing with it that none of us can judge someone else's experience with it.
Does it make me nervous that another person with diabetes is formally declaring that they consider themselves disabled? Honestly - yes it does - because I know how little accurate information is out there, I know that most people don't know just how different diabetes can be from person to person and I know that humans have a tendency to lump all of us into one group. And the fact is I don't want to be considered disabled. But do I think you should let our society's ignorance get in the way of making your life more livable - healthier? No way.
I can see both sides of this. But you have to do what's right for you. You have to make choices for yourself that you can live with - and that makes you more capable of a fruitful, healthy life. And no one has a right to judge you for doing just that.
- Nicole