the worst part for me is turning your fingers into pin cushions---makes me want to cry some weeks..I hate sticking myself. They got to perfect that --
no blood/no prick way of monitoring blood glucose.

those test strips will break your wallet too-- $1.00 a strip--that's $30.00 a month if you just test once a day. There's got to be a better way.

 

I can tell you that when I have had to submit to a physical (mostly in aviation and now in trucking) I have taken to seriously watching my sugar intake over the 1 to 3 days prior to the test. Also drink enough water so your urine is nearly clear just before the test and sugar will be nearly undetectable. Otherwise, eating right is the best option. I have meds that I take (Glyburide 2.5mg pill form) and I have a current medical from a local doc up here in Maine. I leave for orientation with Stevens tomorrow and I have a physical on Sunday. Hopefully they won't pull anything screwy being that I already have a clear medical (one year) from our doc up here. But I guess you never know. :roll:

 

I'm a type 2 as well.

You can manage diabetes on the road but it is hard --- read this as it requires very high degree of dedication.

Get with a diabetic educator and learn about this disease and the associated problems that can show up.

The only times that I'm aware that the company will worry about the diabetes is 1) diabetes is the cause for late deliveries too many times, 2) your next physical is due.

Exercise routine - some drivers (at least they say they do) use small weights while they are driving, walk around the t/s a few times.

 

You must be out of your mind. Having worked in EMS and transported more diabetics than I can count, you're "advice" is reckless. Becoming unresponsive is usually hypoglycemic. However, people who are hyperglycemic can become what we call "altered mental status." They act like they're drunk or sometimes act like they're high on drugs. They can become combative and act crazy and even die if their sugar is too high. There diabetes also makes them more prone to other major medical problems.

Some things are so trivial that I would agree on not disclosing to a DOT doctor. But something like diabetes must be disclosed. That doctor can still issue a 1 year medical card to make sure your disease is being monitored. Not to mention if you become insulin dependent, your career as a driver is over and rightfully should be. Diabetic drivers have caused a lot of accidents and there's a reason it needs to be monitored.

 

Right!(I am out of mind) I must be in one of those "altered" states you mentioned---my current blood sugar was 378 this morning--- then later I couldn't control myself---I had a chocolate shake AND a apple turnover from Arby's for lunch. My highest reading to date was 495! I did manage to get it down to
117( and lost 20lbs) now-- I've regained that 20lbs and back to the 300's.
I know it's destroying my organs.... and I could easily wake up one morning--blind.

I advised-- someone see a doctor-- that's not "reckless".

The only advise you're calling "reckless" is not disclosing that medical condition to a "shade tree" MD that signs a Medical certificate-- or doesn't-
and costs a Type-2 diabetic a potential JOB, causes said driver to lose a job, or be disqualified for 3 months. And having to re-certify every 3months at $50-$80 a pop.

Now, I said NOTHING about NOT getting treatment. I also said NOTHING about trying to "conceal" the use of Oral or Injected Insulin or diluting or substituting a specimen.

If a person's mild(this is what FMCSA-calls Type-2)diabetes isn't brought under control when time to test for medical certification-- the urine test will
red flag---and then the driver will be going through the conditional certification red-tape and will have that cost to deal with.

Otherwise, the only big problems I see- is;
(1) your company not getting you HOME for your SECRET doctor's appointments. <--- If they can't get you home on time you should probably be looking for another job anyway.

(2) Using the company medical Insurance plan to finance your diabetes treatment--is probably gonna ALERT said employer anyway.

 

[quote="headborg"]The only advise you're calling "reckless" is not disclosing that medical condition to a "shade tree" MD that signs a Medical certificate-- or doesn't-
and costs a Type-2 diabetic a potential JOB, causes said driver to lose a job, or be disqualified for 3 months. And having to re-certify every 3months at $50-$80 a pop.quote]

So you are suggesting he lie on the DOT form.

Maybe a couple months down the road he may lose conciousness and kill someone. At that time the police start digging and discover that he had a diagnosis. He then falsified his DOT medical. Now, he will probably go to jail.

Not to mention if a employer does catch on to him down the road, they will fire him for falsifying his DOT and report him to his state's DMV and he will get a license suspension.

Original poster, do you father a favor and tell him to NOT hide this. Sooner or later it will catch up to him. He needs to see a dietician and a doctor(preferably an endocrinologist) and get this under control BEFORE he starts driving an 80,000 pound vehicle down the highway.

 

@ Greg

Original poster can't HIDE it--- he already failed the medical test--- A copy of it will find it's way to his home state, and THIS current employer now KNOWS.


and if he is Type-2----he's probably already been driving a 80,000lb rig just fine down the road for several years.

 

Thought I'd come back to the original post again.

"They diagnosed him with diabetes"---not the med clinic doing the DOT physical.
Only a "real" doctor can "diagnose" diabetes- and it takes more blood tests than just that urine test. But since he's now on pills-- I say he's seen a doctor--and that's good.

"Now he's on the pills"-- what kind of pills? as long as it's not oral insulin---
then this discussion is still Type-2 Diabetes.

Will they test him randomly?-----if you consider having to re-certify frequently as random testing--Yes, But he needs to be testing himself daily with a meter.

Does he need to get out and do some exercises? Recommended routine?


Try to park as far away as possible back row of truck stop and walk-maybe even get some weights and ware them. If the company will do it for him--remove the jump seat-put in a exercise bike----and pedal off the pounds. I'd bet good money-- if he's type-2 he's also overweight.

Bally Total Fitness has clubs across the US. If he get's unloaded and has a layover or 34restart. He should go to the Gym.

http://bally.know-where.com/BallyFitness2/

"Where and what to eat and not to eat etc..? Snacking recommendations?"

meats & veggies are ok

got to cut the carbs & sugars out;

no sugar in anything---they make a diabetic sugar substute.

no breads, no pasta, no processed foods--- these are loaded with refined processed flour and other starch and crap.
if he has to have bread--whole wheat, whole grain or tortilla ---takes longer to break down.(slow release)

no potatoes-too much starch.

portion control is very important---no more all-you-can eat meals.

no more than a hand full of anything....and instead of 3 meals a day--- 5 spaced out (snacks)

take your meds; monitor your glucose levels--- and try to reduce stress.

 

Wrong. Diabetics need to moderate these (which as far as the body is concerned is the same thing). Try to go carbless, or reduce too much and controlling blood sugar is as hard as getting too much. A diabetic person should consume about 5 carb units per meal, based on a 3 meal a day diet plan. A carb unit is 15 grams of carbs. If a person chooses to do a diet plan that includes snacks, or a 4 or 5 a day meal plan then the total daily carbs should be divided out evenly among how many times per day that person eats.



Whole grain breads and pastas are better, but not really for the reasons stated. Whole grain foods are more "heart" healthy and usually lower in cholesterol/fat than highly processed grain foods. High cholesterol and coronary problems often go hand in hand with diabetes.



See the first thing in this reply.

VERY TRUE

Maybe yes, maybe no. For some people eating 3 meals a day works best, for others 4 to 5 meals or 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks a day work best. Either way you want to maintain the same amount of calories, carbs, and fats. You need to figure out which way works best for you.

============================================
Headborg, much of your suggestions are based on 20+ year old diabetic guidelines. In the last few years however research has shown that many of those actually make steady blood sugar control more difficult if not impossible. Sadly there are also still doctors and dietitians out there who have not gotten the message.

I have been a diabetic for the last 8 years, and have went through a lot of rough times with this. The above guidelines I have posted have been adopted by the American diabetes Association as a result of several studies conducted by various groups including the Mayo Clinic, which is where I learned of this.

 

hmmm, so I & my Dad (diabetic too) need to Fire our doctors get new ones?
(second opinion)

Easy for me, but Dad uses the VA. Harder for him to fire those quacks.

And I need to throw away this American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes Fourth Edition?
hmm, it was published 2006.


How's your A1C today? btw?


you're probably right-- my doctor is a old geezer. And when I was- lowering my sugar level the first time(with diet alone) I was noticing that the more I
tried to avoid all those things( that I was suppose to-by doctor's advice) the next morning --no noticable real reductions...

but then when I say "frack this" and went inside the Petro and had steak and big baked potatoe and Garlic Bread-- or even cheat with pasta----the
next morning---I had low readings---
but anyway, I did lose about 20 pounds in 3-4 weeks.