to being diagnosed as diabetic in 1991, I suffered frequent urination; excessive thirst; blurry vision; fatigue; frequent indigestion; diarrhea; profuse sweating at night even in cold weather; swollen knuckles; pinpricks on my hands, legs and feet which felt like bugs crawling inside my skin. My former family physician, Dr. Antonio Loreno, called this “tingling sensation” and advised rubbing liniments and applying a hot water bag massage on my legs when the liniments didn’t work and elevating my legs when asleep. This only worked for a few hours but never completely relieved my discomfort.
For excessive urination and thirst, Dr. Loreno told me to avoid sweets, salty and fatty foods. For extreme fatigue, he prescribed daily over the counter vitamins; a refreshing warm bath before sleeping; avoiding alcohol (which I never drink) and caffeine from coffee which I drink excessively.
He ordered a blood test which showed the onset of diabetes. He referred me to a diabetes specialist, Dr. Muriel Levy-Kern, who classified the blood test result as “diabetes in limbo” since the blood sugar level was not high enough to be classified as diabetes and not low enough to assure that diabetes was not present.
Controlling Fluctuations of Diabetes Blood Glucose, Healing and Preventing Nerve Damage with Baby’s Milk
It was very comforting when Dr. Loreno advised that I could avoid diabetes by eating no sweets, no salty or fatty foods and exercise like walking around the block.
In the summer of 1991 an urgent phone call alerted me to a very dangerous medical condition.
Dr. Thomas Klepacki of the Prudential Insurance Company advised me that my husband’s life insurance application on my behalf was denied.
Sensing that I was nervous and defensive, he urged me to write his address: Prudential Insurance; Eastern Medical Operation at Fort Washington, PA. 19034 with his phone number 215-754-2401. It was a very unusual call. When he urged me to rush to the emergency room of our local hospital and tell my family physician to call him. I nervously replied, “I am not going to any emergency room and won’t call my family physician unless you, Dr. Klepacki, tell me why.”
After a few seconds hesitation, Dr. Klepacki said, “I am not allowed to give professional advice even though I am a medical doctor, since my work with Prudential is insurance. Your blood sample taken by the nurse from Prudential showed a dangerously high urine glucose level of 9 mg/dl and blood glucose of 652 mg/dl. I called you because this information alarmed me. I suspect diabetes.” He volunteered to wait an hour in his office so as not to miss my physician’s call.
What a very kind and caring man!
He continued pleading, “Mrs. Lidman, please go to the hospital. If you are unable to contact your family doctor, the emergency room physician will contact him for you. But please. PLEASE. Go to the hospital. Ask someone to drive you. You could lose consciousness. Your vision could blur.”
After I murmured, “Thank you,” he wished me well and hung up.
Immediately my husband rushed me to the emergency room of Bayshore Hospital in Holmdel, New Jersey.
The triad nurse recorded the information that Dr. Klepacki advised. Another took my blood sample and told me the results would be available in two hours. She led me to an improvised waiting room and gave me an oxygen tube as I lay in the bed.
I must have slept because when I awoke, the wall clock read 2 A.M.
How??? I got here after 5P.M.
I dimly recognized Dr. Loreno and Dr. Levy-Kern in their white doctor’s coats standing at my bedside.
“What time is it?” I asked.
Neither answered.
“Did I pass out?”
Controlling Fluctuations of Diabetes Blood Glucose, Healing and Preventing Nerve Damage with Baby’s Milk
Neither answered.
Gently, Dr. Loreno filled me in. He introduced the nursing staff who specialized in diabetic care. “You’re on the fourth floor of the diabetic department. Go back to sleep.”
Dr. Levy-Kern added, “I’ll go home to get some sleep too.”
Go back to sleep? How? I was wide awake.
How did I get to the fourth floor?
“Go back to sleep,” said the nurse who took my blood.
“Go back to sleep,” said another nurse who came for a urine sample.
“Hello, you look better,” said yet another nurse who took my blood pressure and pushed a thermometer inside my mouth, saying, “Under your tongue. Under your tongue,” looking at her wristwatch to check my pulse. “There. There. Very good. Very good.”
These nurses may be good at their jobs but how are patients supposed to go back to sleep when they wake us up as soon as we fall asleep?
They wake you up to take blood samples; they probe you with stethoscopes; they count your pulse; they shove thermometers under your tongue and demand urine specimens.
The worst place to sleep is a hospital.
Since Dr. Klepacki’s frightening phone call and my hospital stay in 1991, my life had not been normal until 2002 when I noticed a big difference in my energy level. This high level of energy continues to this date, 2009, after I made and followed my own diet plan (menu) based on the Glycemic Index Food information in the Glucose Revolution Books, suggested by Dr. Jennie Brand-Miller. I had more pep and a wonderful sense of well-being. My strength increased and I felt energized and ready to do all the endless household chores.
What made this huge difference?
“The food!”*
During my four day hospitalization, Dr. Loreno, Dr. Levy-Kern, a social worker and a dietician, along with the nursing staff kept track of my blood glucose. Too high or too low is dangerous.
To perform blood tests I was taught to prick the tip of my finger with a small lancet which holds a tiny needle; place a drop of blood on a reagent strip and insert it into a small digital machine which reports the glucose level. This taught me to be aware when my blood sugar rose above 160/180 mg/dl. The urine often contained white spots which are dried splashes of glucose-filled urine in the toilet bowl. I looked for this and noted it keenly in my daily logs.
This information helps my physician determine whether my diet went awry; whether there is a need to readjust my oral medication; whether other types of tests are needed; whether I should be tested for albumin.
Controlling Fluctuations of Diabetes Blood Glucose, Healing and Preventing Nerve Damage with Baby’s Milk
The social worker concentrated on my mental health – a major diabetic issue involving depression; suppressed anger; personality changes; mood swings; and the impact of all these on me every day.
She added the availability of health professionals, should the need arise.
I felt like a bewildered animal who lost its way. My diabetes felt like a death sentence.
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