So I'm about to lose my right foot.

Bummer to hear about this TJ, yea the healthcare situation in this country really sucks One thing to consider if you can afford it is an insulin pump. The pump itself costs about $6,000 plus the consumables (infusan sets, reservors, & IV prep pads), but it does wonders controlling your BG, my wife has one and it has turned her control around.
Here's hoping you the best of luck with your leg. :rockon:

 

And the combination of killing people and bailing out the thieves that put the economy into recession in the first place means that we have even less available for health care....

 

Diabetes does not have to be a disease that progresses. It can be controlled by diet enough that most, if not all, of the complications simply do not occur.

The book "There is a Cure for Diabetes" by Dr. Gabriel Cousins describes his treatment protocol. Naturally he would prefer that you attend his clinic/retreat in Arizona, but the book tells you most of what he does. The diet is challenging, and most people would rather die than follow it. At least the book gives you a choice.

My endocrinologist, Dr. Prendergast, hasn't had to send any of his diabetic patients to the hospital in the past 10 years. The unique aspect of his protocols is the use of 5 grams of arginine, 1 gram of citruline, and at least 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day. This protocol promotes enough healing that most people actually reverse their atherosclerosis (and that's what does the damage to diabetics). If that dosage isn't enough, then doubling it works better. Visit his website at Endocrine Metabolic Medical Center

Dr. John McDougall treats diabetes with diet alone. People who attend his resident program are generally taken off their medications during the first week, and still run better blood sugar levels than they had with the medications. He has a number of books available that would allow you to follow his program by yourself. The diet is vegan, but designed to be familiar to most Americans. His website is at McDougall Program & Dr. McDougall's Health and Medical Center

I just found out about the website http://www.doctoryourself.com It looks like a useful resource if you can't afford a doctor. Or maybe even if you can.

Note that while I've recommended 4 different doctors, none of them agree with each other on many aspects of diabetic treatments. If I were to pick one as the most effective, then I guess it would be Dr. Cousins. But I really only include him as the wild man who makes the rest of them appear more conservative. Dr. McDougall's program is actually cheaper than the average person's diet. You can save money on food alone, not to mention the reduction in doctor visits. Dr. Prendergast is expensive, but his major treatment protocol is cheaper than most drug programs. He uses some expensive tests to monitor progress, and several expensive drugs when the simple protocol isn't enough. One of his type-1 patients is off all insulin, and runs normal blood sugar even though there is no detectable insulin in his system. I think that patient is on Byetta, a drug that causes regeneration of the pancreas.

PM me for info on a cheap source of the arginine/citruline. There are premix formulas available, but they all cost several times as much as the bulk powders that I use. I don't have diabetes, but I would like to have arteries that are as flexible as a teenager's (like Dr. Prendergast has at age 70+).

Taking care of that foot is the first order of business. Regardless of how it goes, the protocols used by these doctors stand a good chance of preventing any future problems.

 

Man TJ, when are you going to get a break? This is terrible news but you are going to deal with it as you always do, knowing that you have no other options but to continue on with a smile. A smile generated by the fact you are still alive and surounded by friends and those women that flock to your hotrod.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by TJandGENESIS
No health insurance, so no money for emergency rooms.

"I don't understand this? "

I assume that you cant get insurance due to a preexisting condition?

 

Or, the cost of the insurance....

 

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned or if it would be of any benefit to you, but have you looked into hyperbaric oxygen therapy for your foot?
http://www.baymedical.org/dept/hyperbaric/

 

I have my fingers crossed for you and the successful completion of the EDA treatment (it is kind of hard to type with my middle finger standing in for the index finger and vice-versa; but that is what happens when typing with crossed fingers...). You might inquire about hyperbaric oxygen therapy in combination with EDA.... Just a thought, but it might further 'enhance' the prospects for a successful outcome.

 

TJ; keep the positive attitude. i know it can be hard, but sometimes you just have to accept what life gives you, but you NEVER have to give up!!

praying for ya, man!

 

About "free" insurance :

Typical of a report I read, on CNN, myths between Canadian & US health care.

In the US, typically, people wait for serious issues before showing up to the hospital. In Canada, it's the opposite, people show up too early sometimes. However the cost to fix the health problem, when there is one, is much lower overall.
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TJ, while I could always recommend you making a PayPal TIP JAR so I and others can help you, please consider humor - Adam Hills - laughter as a form of medication.

I enjoy your posts, TJ, and wish you the best.

 

OKay did the Americans get the bottle of ketchup at the beach joke.

See Daniel, the Australians understand.

 

See new thread "A Little Help For Our Friend"

 

As a Canadian, this is the best I thought of. IOW I probably don't get it.

 

T.J., Hope it gets better soon! We'll be thinking about you! Take care and keep us posted.


Bonnie.

 

TJ you are in my prayers