Second opinions???
We are currently trying to get my son on an insulin pump. My husbands
insurance said they will not cover it unless we gget a second opinion. I
was wondering if anyone out there had to go through this nightmare too?
My sons readings are staying too high. He now requires 4 shots a day as
compared to 2 when he left the hospital. at 10:30am he takes a reading at
school and gets his shot usually then, and then they take another reading at
noon before he eats lunch. and just now at 3pm after school he was 353,
after not eating snacks and all he had for lunch was green peas and a
chicken sandwich.
He is now using humulin R and N. The doctor today put him on Humulog for
his slide scale shots. Has anyone else been on two different (types) of
insulin. Are there any difficulties that I should know about, anything
particular to look for.
I would reeally appreciate any and all help in this situation.
My sons first doctor called the period right after he got out of the
hospital as his "honeymoon period". Well I have come to the conclusion that
this is the "Nightmare period"
Help! Please.
Signed,
Paniced in Ky. Red <:)))><
August 21st, 2003 at 10:27 pm
Hi,
My daughter is now 10 dx at 8 1/2 yrs old. She started out just on small
doses of nph and I even had to decrease them, re the honeymoon period. Then
for the next 2 years we have been on a roller coaster of mostly highs or a
few lows and never in the target range. Then I tried humalog for a sliding
scale I’m an RN, and her doctor agreed with what I tried. We use her metric
weight and split it in thirds giving her 2/3 of dose in am and 1/3 at dinner
time and cover the highs over 200 with 1 unit per 100 over 200 like 300 3
units 400 4 units, etc. This has worked well as the humalog goes out of the
system in about 2 hours and you can recheck blood sugars and recover them if
needed. She currently was on 25 of n am and 15 n pm and the humalog as
needed and got the best a1c ever of 7.5. Then she got approved for an
insulin pump but we had to keep track of all her blood sugars for five months
and the insulin we gave. Our ins co approved it on the first try, but our
doc said this was very rare it usually took several months to get approval.
Try adjusting his daily injections and then covering highs when you find
them. She gets a snack at school and checks her blood sugars at lunch. At
first we had a lot of lows but was much better than all the highs we had
before.
Keep in touch.
I know lots of medical things require 2nd opinions, I can’t imagine your ins
turning it down totally as it is supposed to help keep all the health
problems from happening to the diabetics as the pump keeps the blood sugars
under better control.
Kathy
August 22nd, 2003 at 3:51 pm
Hi Red:
You’re in Kentucky?
You need to touch base with an endocrinologist who is familiar and
comfortable with pump therapy. He can write a hefty letter to the insurance
company..your pump rep should have been more helpful…I know I push Insulin
Infusion Specialists, but they were so helpful in facilitating the paper work
with my endocrinologist, they did all the prescreening for the
insurance,…it’s definitely worth a shot…you have nothing to lose…
1.800-838-7867 they’re in Louisiana, but have reps all over the country and
have been growing by leaps and bounds.
It’s not unusual for diabetics to be on different types of insulin. To help
with control. Just be very aware of signs of insulin reactions and how to
deal with them. Kids and growth hormones make control more of a challenge.
I forgot how old your son is…if he’s 10, he is more than capable to doing
his own fingersticks and keeping his log book. You have to help him take
control for himself. The transition will be easier for all of you, so get
started…Luck, Joan
August 22nd, 2003 at 11:59 pm
Hi Red:
Jan is right, but you need to calm down, which I know is hard to do…it
takes time and a lot of adjustment to help a child and his family to deal
with diabetes as most of us know.
Understand that the whole family should be meeting with a CDE - certified
diabetes educator and a nutritionist who is also a CDE, and work along with
him/her and his endocrinologist to start taking matters in hand. Like
anything new in the "relationship", learning about diabete will take time and
patience.
So, calm the panic, and get to work, all of you, it will definitely take
family effort. Joan
August 23rd, 2003 at 6:56 am
I agree with you about the insurance, in the long run the pump will help to
avoid much worse situations later, ar at least deter them for a time. Right
now I would just like to get him off these too high readings. His little
body is so exhausted by the end of the day trying to compensate for all of
this.
Your so very kind to post back and help with good advise in this matter
and I really appreciate it. You know how it goes, you’[ll try anything to
get those readings where they should be.
Will keep you all posted as to how the humulog works. Thanks
Red <:)))><
August 23rd, 2003 at 3:03 pm
Jan,
I pray that the Lord Bless you in a mighty way. Thank you so very much
for your most kind post.
I do my utmost for my sons care, and not alarming him is my most
important function. He has enough to deal with, and has been so good
concerning all of this. I am a very overprotective mom, which may or may
not be a good thing. But my sons health is of the utmost of importance on
my mind at all times.
I pray for strength daily concerning his care and reactions to things
which may effect his readings. I pray alot for strength to handle the
situations as they come.
So basically I do alot of praying on the matter. I find great strength
there, where I seemingly have none.
The only one who has seen me panic is my wonderful husband. who PRAISE
GOD!! is not like me and can calmly approach these type of situations with
grace and ease. On outward appearances he is calm and controlled, yet he can
figure other ways to go about things which in my state otherwise can’t seem
to see. The Lord has blest me there too.
I hope you too have a great holiday. and God Bless
Red <:)))><
August 23rd, 2003 at 11:11 pm
Thanks Joan, for your post. Strange how strangers can give me the most
important advise, the kind that I need to hear. I am so closely emotionally
linked to my son, that when he hurts I feel it, sounds strange, but that is
how close I feel to him, so it is difficult sometimes to grit my teeth and
do what I know needs to be done.
Thanks for your insight,
Red <:)))><
August 24th, 2003 at 7:19 am
Joan,
The second opinion wanted by our Insurance is from an Endocrinologist,
she is in Evansville IN. Our appointment is set for Dec, 7th. Hopefully
things will go faster after we see her.
red <:)))><
August 25th, 2003 at 2:35 am
Red,
It would help to know the answers to the following:
How old is your son?
What grade is he in?
How long since dx date?
What’s his name?
Thanks,
Jan
August 25th, 2003 at 3:49 pm
His name is Mark he’s 10 and in the 5th grade. What do you mean by a dx
date?
Red <:)))><
August 25th, 2003 at 11:44 pm
DX=Diagnosed date.
fp
What does <:)))>< stand for?
August 26th, 2003 at 11:05 am
Diagnosis
August 26th, 2003 at 8:43 pm
Frank
August 27th, 2003 at 3:13 am
Dear Red and Mark,
It took me several months to prove that my daughter and I were responsible
enough to use the pump as I will not always be there with her esp at school.
Also the doctors go by if the child wants the pump and why the want the pump.
Keep a very good log book and show it to your doctors and your ins co it is
proof that you are already checking his blood sugars 4-6 times a day.
Keep at it I know it will be worth it we go to get her pump DEC 16 she will
spend three days in the hospital on a machine that will monitor her blood
sugar 24hrs continuously. My daughter is 10 and was dx Feb 2 1997 she is in
the fifth grade.
Good luck and we’ll pray for you too.
Kathy and Alisha
August 27th, 2003 at 11:58 am
Luck Red…I’ll be praying for all of you…Joan
August 28th, 2003 at 4:13 am
Dear Red:
He’s your child and a part of you. You gave him life and want to see him
have a full and normal one…keep your prayers going and have patience…and
don’t be afraid to ask the lady endo a ton of questions….Luck, Joan
August 28th, 2003 at 8:28 pm
Red:
Jan wants to know when Mark was first diagnosed with diabetes. Helps us get
a handle on how to help you all.. Joan
August 29th, 2003 at 4:36 am
Hi fp:
the <)))>< is a fish — god’s property, get it? Joan
August 29th, 2003 at 9:01 am
got it!!
fp
August 29th, 2003 at 5:22 pm
His date is Aug 7 1998, This <:)))>< is my little fish. It is a Christian
symbol. Back when speaking about God and Christ was forbidden, old men
would greet each other and one would make half of the fish(it was a
different sign than the one I now use) using their staffs they would draw
half of the symbol in the sand. If the other person knew what it was, he
would then draw the rest of it. Making the endire fish. Then the two
people could speak of their religion in private. and no one would know.
I was sent an email when I first got online with this symbol, and have
adopted it as part of my signature. I have several email addys, and
whenever I sign it Red <:)))><, all of my friends know whom has sent it,
even if they don’t recgonize the addy.
Do you realize, you are one of two people who have asked me what it is.
Either others know, or they don’t care, or don’t care to know. That’s sad.
Have a great Turkey Day!
To me and my house, it is a great day to be THANKFUL FOR HIM WHO SAVES US
FROM OURSELVES.
Red <:)))><
August 30th, 2003 at 1:29 am
Thank you so much Frank, for the encouraging words. We have a great doctor,
who also is a diabetic, and knows exactly what Mark is going through, which
makes Mark feel more at ease with the situation.
I am a fighter, and very stupborn, as my husband will attest to. I will
get us through this and if I have to I shall write the company myself and
send them his records, for proof.
"I have only begun to fight!!!"
Red <:)))><
August 30th, 2003 at 9:24 am
Well red, I’ve learned ,if ya don’t ask ya won’t learn. Thanks for the
response and welcome
fp
August 30th, 2003 at 5:45 pm
Thank you so much Frank, for the encouraging words. We have a great doctor,
who also is a diabetic, and knows exactly what Mark is going through, which
makes Mark feel more at ease with the situation.
I am a fighter, and very stupborn, as my husband will attest to. I will
get us through this and if I have to I shall write the company myself and
send them his records, for proof.
"I have only begun to fight!!!"
Red <:)))><
August 31st, 2003 at 1:52 am
I have to stop here folks and humbly thank all of you, for helping a scared
and very tired mom through a most difficult time. Mark is the apple of my
eye, and when he hurts I do also. You all have been so sweet in giving of
yourselves in good advise and uplifting words. The addition of new sources
for me to research helps also. I can’t tell you how much better I feel, it
helps so much knowing we’re not alone in this fight.
When Mark was first diagnosed, I saw Diabetes as this big bad monster to
battle daily. And at first, it was not a problem. Carrying snacks and such
emergency things for Mark when we go out of town, was merely an
inconvienence. Now I have fought high readings, and different shot recipes
and then more shots.
Through it all Faith has carried me through, faith and good friends,
willing to give of themselves to help others.
I thank all of you so very much for all your help. I feel so much
stronger with you at a "post" away.
I pray that the Good Lord Bless each one of you in a mighty way. That He
Keep you safe and healthy, and He make His light to shine upon you and your
families. May His Peace fill you to overflowing.
All my love, Red <:)))><
August 31st, 2003 at 9:47 am
Red, You’ll find the pump will make life a lot easier you and your son he
can miss meals, eat late, or not at all, exercise etc. it’s the next best
thing to being normal. That’s my experience anyway.
fp
August 31st, 2003 at 5:55 pm
Red, You’ll find the pump will make life a lot easier you and your son he
can miss meals, eat late, or not at all, exercise etc. it’s the next best
thing to being normal. That’s my experience anyway.
fp
September 1st, 2003 at 9:31 pm
Red,
Did I pass this post from another list to you? It may be of interest to all.
Jan