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            *      Diabetes LISTSERV Group       *
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                           Welcome!
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Last updated 14September96: Added Fran Curran  
                                  Travis Zinck
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This file contains biographies of some of the people who participate
on the diabetes LISTSERV group.
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Maryle Ashley
mash@seq1.loc.gov

Location: Washington, D.C.
Date of birth: 19Sept44
Diagnosed: 29Mar89 NIDDM
Joined list: 19Apr93

First a little help with my first name...spelled correctly as Maryle,
and pronounced as if it were "Mary Lee." (What parents do to their
children:)

I was diagnosed in 1989 by accident. A simple urine test at the GYN
detected sugar. Since I was over 40 and had history of diabetes in my
family, I was instantly diagnosed as a Type II. I did not come to that
readily and spent the first two years trying to make this "high blood
sugar" go away through exercise and diet. I lost weight but didn't
shake the sugar.

Next stop was at an endocrinologist, and he tried to find some hormones
that might be acting up, especially cortisol. The medication to counter
cortisol did not work, and I had a scary incident of one leg going numb
from the knee down, so we went on to insulin. I felt better immediately,
and my starved body started to get some energy once again.

With trial and error and learning about insulin over the next year, I
moved into a pattern of Regular before meals and first NPH, then Lente
overnight. I noted that human insulin works rapidly in me, perhaps
because I use small doses, usually 5 units or less. In March 1994 I
started to have a strong dawn phenomenon (rise in the AM hours) which
the Lente did not cover. When I increased the amount of Lente, I
induced hypos around midnight since it peaked too soon. I tried using
pork Lente which I hoped would activate past the tender midnight hour
and deal with the 4-5AM rise. It worked sometimes but could not be
counted on evey day.

I had moved on to another endo by this point who is a big promoter of
the insulin pump. He gave me more management tools for my MI approach
(which he insisted I call MDI-multiple daily injections): a sliding
scale, five-hour rule, and carbo counting. I also learned I was an
excellent candidate for an insulin pump.

On December 2, 1994, I became a pumper, using a Disetronic pump which I
considered imperative for my small basal rates of .3 and .2 for the
midnight time slot. After about two weeks time, I felt the difference
in having the pump delivering small amounts of background insulin. I
had better energy over the day. I also gained confidence that I could
stay in a comfortable 100-120 range and not have to hug a lower
baseline to guard against rises taking me past 150. I love the pump!
The options it gives me for finer control make its paraphenalia and
constant companionship an easily overlooked irritation. Most of the
time I'm not even aware of its presence.

BTW my mother was Type I and an early user of insulin, beginning at age
3 at Dr. John R. Williams' clinic in Rochester, NY. Her diabetes was
brittle, and good control was hard to do before meters. Thus my birth
as a relatively healthy baby was quite a "miracle."

I live near Washington, D.C., and work on Capitol Hill at the Library
of Congress. I enjoy computer technology, and my job is to apply it in
new ways so we can make the collections more accessible (including over
the Net). A real perk from this location is meeting some of the virtual
people on this network when they come to D.C. for meetings. If you are
going to be near Capitol Hill or even better at the Library of Congress,
do feel free to let me know or contact me when you're here.
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Renato Barahona
U17801@uicvm.uic.edu

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Date of birth: 17Nov44
Diagnosed: Apr91 NIDDM
Joined list: Aug92

Renato Barahona (known as "The Little Inquisitor" on the Allmusic
group) is a card-carrying Hispanic. Rumored to teach history of Europe
at a major midwestern urban university, he is involved in a long-term
study of sex, honor, religion, and marriage in early modern Spain. When
he's not busy tending to his faculty duties, this type II is an avid
cook and lover of food, is a fanatic collector of musical records, and
is unfortunately a mediocre swimmer. Married to an epidemiologist, he
is the father of a 3-year old toddler. He is also a diehard Cubs fan.

When diagnosed in April, 1991, Renato was a near-blimp, tipping the
scales at a hefty 191 lbs. However, through diet and exercise he's
managed to bring his weight down to a respectable 165-166 lbs. and is
controlling his BGs nicely.
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Sue Ben-Dor
bendor@fdumad.fdu.edu

Location: Work  New Jersey
          Home  Rockland County, New York
Date of birth: 18November44
Diagnosed: June 1993 - NIDDM
Joined List: August94

I work as a librarian, and four years ago when we began computerizing
our library I overdid lifting heavy volumes and hurt my back. My left
leg went numb and then tingly. I put up with it for two years trying
exercise, meds and accupuncture and finally agreed to back surgery. I
threw a whale of a party the day before, and when I reported to the
hospital for my pre-admits, my bgs were in the 400 range. They canceled
my surgery and made me go to a doctor for treatment. I did not take it
well and considered various stupid and drastic options. But I did begin
on pills, had the surgery (it did not help) and tried to get back to a
life. I saw a nutritionist and lost 40 pounds and as soon as I was
allowed re-began my workouts so I was able to quit meds Sept. 1994.

Personally - I am married to a wonderful man who keeps me centered. I
have two grown kids and a one year old grandson. He is the light of my
life and the reason to take care of myself.

Interests - I love sci-fi and the bagpipes. I took lessons for a few
years, but my playing antagonized everyone within hearing so now I do
research on the history and folklore of the pipes. I love to travel,
and my three favorite cities in the world are New York, Jerusalem and
Rome, in that order. I love baseball and wish the strike hadn't ruined
my favorite sport. I am currently at work on my second masters and way
overly stressed (but then who isn't). Before I was a librarian I was a
Hospice worker. I thought librarianship would be less stressful. I was
wrong.
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Ernest Blade i Castellet
dblade@etseccpb.upc.es

Location: Barcelona (Catalonia), Spain
Date of birth: 4July67
Diagnosed: May94 IDDM
Joined list: Nov94

I work as a civil engineer in the Hydraulics Department, Civil
Engineereng School, Universitat Politecnica de Catlunya.

I was diagnosed after the classic symptoms of weight loss, thirst and
tiredness, three months after my brother's death in a traffic accident.
No other diabetics in my family.

My great hobby is climbing: Rock-climbing, ice-climbing, mountain-
climbing, mountain-skiing, and I also practice alpin-skiing, paragliding
and mountain-bike. I've been three times to the Himalaias, to climb
mountains.

When diagnosed I first thought that my climbing activities where
finished, but now I am climbing at the same level or even more than
before being diabetic. Now I pay more attention to my training and my
physical condition is better. I find it much more difficult to control
my BG when I don't exercise regularly.
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Joe Bork
zip@clark.edu

Location: Vancouver, Washington
Date of birth: 28May65
Diagnosed: 14Feb80 IDDM
Joined list:

Occupation: Computer programmer aspiring to become a graphic designer.

I am currently working as a computer programmer at Clark Community
College in Vancouver, WA.

My interests include mountain biking, weight training, graphic design,
and just about anything else. I'm hoping to make a career change to
graphic design very soon.

Right now, I'm taking Regular before each meal and NPH before bed. I
have a few problems with control, but I think they are mostly connected
to denial. I'm mostly a lurker on the list, but I enjoy the camaraderie
and will try to participate more often in the future!  :)
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Lee Boylan
boylan@everest.tandem.com

Location: San Jose, California
Date of birth: Feb45
Diagnosed: Feb88
Joined list: Around '92

Lee Boylan is an almost-middle-aged bachelor in San Jose, CA. He was
diagnosed in 1988 in his birthday week. He uses insulin, BG monitoring,
exercise, and a diet of low fat, low protein, and high complex carbs.
Besides DM, his interests include metaphysics and writing about himself
in the third person.
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Mary Brown
Mary.Brown@wpo.ftc.gov

Location: Washington, DC (live in Silver Spring, Maryland)
Diagnosed: TYPE II REGIME: Diabeta 5mg. (Diet & Exercise)
Joined List:  June94

I am a secretary at the Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Economics,
in Washington, DC.

I was diagnosed at 27 (14 years ago) by my gynecologist. Even though
the symptoms were there, I think most people ignore them in the
beginning. My GYN referred me to George Washington University Hospital.
I was instructed on how to inject myself. As it is with most people, I
went through a long period of denial. I was also referred to a
nutritionist -- but, of course, it didn't work because I was not ready.
In the meantime, the amount of insulin that I was taking was
increasing.

About 3 yearrs later, a new physician referred me again to a
nutritionist, and I did lose weight and religiously started going to
aerobics classes (5-6 times per week). As my weight decreased, my
doctor decreased the amount of insulin I was taking. I lost
approximately 30 pounds and was taken off insulin. I controlled my
diabetes for a number of years with diet and exercise.

I then started working a part time job in retail (at Woodies/Chevy
Chase). I got out of the habit of preparing my meals properly and
almost never getting to aerobics classes. The weight slowly came back.
My doctor then prescribed micronase 5 mg.

In November l993 after going for a routine visit, my doctor was none
too pleased when my blood sugar was high that afternoon. He told me
that if I came in again with high blood sugar >200, I was going to
leave with some insulin! He knows how I feel about taking insulin, and
this is really the last thing that I would want to do.

I have since been really trying to continue to increase my physical
activities and watch what I eat. I ride the lifecycle, use the
treadmill, or use the lifestep stair machine (with heart rate monitor)
when I go the health club. Trying to get into the aerobics classes at
the gym is usually difficult. My physician is confident that I will get
my weight back down and be able to control my blood sugar much better.

Other members of my family have diabetes. My mother has had it for over
25 years. In November '93, an older sister was diagnosed; in March '94,
an older brother was also diagnosed with diabetes.
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James Canning (AKA BJ, BirdieJim)
canning@holonet.net

Location: Rochester, New York
Date of birth: 20Oct42
Diagnosed: 15July59 IDDM
Began pump therapy: 15Feb82 (I think)
Joined list: 22Jul92

Pump-dependent SWM. I love bicycling, walking in the woods, playing
T-sax, learning piano and music stuff, generally. Contra dancing nut.
Love yakking on mailing lists, too.

My maternal grandfather had NIDDM. My IDDM probably got its start from
severe encephalitis when I was 8. Overdoses of aureomycin for that
infection caused permanent, profound deafness. I lived the early part
of my diabetes in very primitive times and was isolated by being deaf,
so it took me a long, long time to get straightened out. Luckily, the
family has tough genes on both sides. I have two older sisters, both
married, and neither has DM. I'm the DM lottery winner! I never had any
kind of real control till I got started on the insulin pump.

I graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology on 5-22-93 with a
BFA in Illustration. My plans are still very unsettled. I have an
interest in illustrating and maybe writing juvenile books.
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Chuck Cronan

Location:
Date of birth: 11April44
Diagnosed: NIDDM
Joined list:

Diagnosed as Type II about 4-5 years ago, on Humulin for 2 years, 3x
daily, 25R, 25R, 30N (breakfast, dinner, bedtime). I have an unusually
low, deceptive A1c of 4.5, which is the equivalent of an average bG of
75 (not possible!). Endo is curious about that. I have an unusually low
HDL, and my triglycerides are so high (forgive me for what I'm about to
say) my blood serum can be used as a butter substitute (YUK! ;^) ugly
comment, but true). The classic, so-called "Syndrome X" (thanks G.M.
Reaven, it's nice to have a name for it) kind of guy. Yes, at 210 I am
probably 30 pounds higher than my 5'11" frame allows.

I am a Principal Research Chemist at Miller Brewing Co., been here for
17 going on 18 years. My degrees are PhD 1976 @Lehigh, MS 1968 @USC
(alif), BS 1965 @Fresno State College. Throw in a postdoc at Brunel
University (UK). My research duties are now in many areas, new
products, on-line analytical development, and an electronic nose.

Personal: I am married for 22 years to a Type I (dx'd age 8). (We are
an interesting mix, and for this reason becoming diabetic was not as
frightening as it could have been.) We have a 13-year-old daughter - so
far OK except tending to be plump. My wife will by far outlive me - she
has only had some minor eye and hand problems and an HDL of 91!!!!
while I am beginning diabetic nephrotic and have a 25 HDL.

Hope this satisfies curiosity about new members. Since my address is my
Email address at work, I have requested a digest rather than real time -
I was bombarded by messages the first day I joined.
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Fran Curran
sfi8m4@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us or Fmcurran@aol.com

Location: Largo, Florida
Diagnosed: July92
Joined list: Sept95

I was diagnosed Type I in July 1992 at 26 -- had it happened exactly one
year earlier, I would have missed the bar exam. I started out on 70/30 
2x a day, but switched to MI (3x R, 1x NPH) after about a year.

Me, my wife (Christy) and our daughter (Lesley) live in the Tampa Bay 
area of Florida. Christy is an elementary school teacher, Lesley just 
started 6th grade, and I am a lawyer.

I subscribed to the list in September of 1995 -- just in time to see the
tail-end of "the Copyright Flame War" and to catch the beginning of "the
Great Insurance Flame War." Brings back some fond memories, eh?

My internet highlights include being called a "Barney-lover" by Carl
Lydick on m.h.d just before I subscribed to Lehigh, and meeting Arturo 
at an ADA continuing medical education meeting in Ft. Myers, Florida 
(proving that he is, apparently, not a collective figment of our 
imaginations!)
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Ronald Daggett
gandalf@kamikaze.com

Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Date of birth: 29Jul63
Diagnosed: 29May72 IDDM
Joined list: ????93

I was diagnosed in 1972, after having several problems typical with
undiagnosed IDDM, ie: weight loss, loss of appetite, drowsiness,
frequent urination, etc. My mother did not want to believe anything was
wrong, so she just did nothing. My grandmother came to visit us in
Seattle over Labor Day weekend that year, and at the time I was
sleeping close to 20 hours/day, only getting up to drink more water and
to go to the bathroom. My grandmother insisted on taking me to the
emergency room, knowing that this was not a normal life style for a
9-year-old. My earliest memory of a possible problem was in November of
'72, almost 6 months before I went in to see a doctor.

I spent a week in the Children's Hospital in Seattle, learning what
little they taught diabetics in those days. Learned how to test my
urine for sugar spillage using the old test tube and tablet method. My
doctors wanted me to keep the urine testing in the +1 range (I think
that's the terminology), which I now know to be an outrageous amount of
glucose in the blood. I was taking one shot per day, of beef/pork Lente.

I went to two shots of beef/pork Lente in 1985. I started home BG
reading in 1990 and went to Humulin NPH/R at the same time, again twice
a day. Today, this is the regime I use to manage my diabetes, with my
last A1c hitting at 5.8 (normal 5.0 - 6.4, I think), and the averages
of my tested BGs at the 135 mark. Thanks to home testing, Humulin and
multiple shots per day, I feel about 1000 times better than I did
through my teenage years.

I live in Phoenix, Arizona, and work in the software industry. Current
position is with American Express, working in the on-line group. (Check
us out on AOL. That's some of MY code out there!) I have three
beautiful daughters (who show no indication of DM, but I check at least
monthly), a loving life partner, and lots of fun. I'm a Zen Buddhist
(email me if you would like more information about this) and practice
random acts of kindness on a regular basis.

If you ever get to the Valley of the Sun, give me an email, and we can
get together, and I'll show you the fun spots here. We have lots, and I
enjoy re-visiting them as often as possible.
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George Davis
gsdavis@netdepot.com

Location: Marietta, Georgia
Date of birth: 9Sep36
Diagnosed: Jun64 IDDM
Joined list: Aug94

Work in Flight Sciences Division at Lockheed-Martin. Although my degree
is in Finance, my work has evolved toward PC/Network computer support.

When I was diagnosed in 1964, I had just had a flu shot that gave me
the worst flu I had ever encountered. Shortly thereafter, I was
diagnosed IDDM. I believe, but have no scientific proof, that the flu
encounter triggered the auto-immune attack that destroyed my beta
cells. Ah, what the hell, I have to blame it on something.

I have tried to maintain tight control, even before DCCT, because
common sense told me that if a normal person's BG was approximately
100, then I should strive for that also. Of course it can't be done,
but I try - I test 8 to 10 times a day and take Regular insulin before
each meal and Lente at bedtime. No complications yet, after living 30
years with the big "D".

Married to Sarah, who is an accountant, and we have two daughters who
are both teachers, and one new granddaughter. Wanna see my pictures?

I really, really appreciate the diabetic list and have learned more
this year than I learned in the preceding 29.  Thanks to everyone.
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Ishbel Donkin
ishbeld@compulink.co.uk

Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK
Date of birth: 18Dec25
Diagnosed: 1989 NIDDM then IDDM
Joined list: Jun92

Deaf, divorced, diabetic, in order of occurrence. No real idea of cause
of diabetes - maybe endocrinological in origin as I have practically no
thyroid left after 2 operations in the sixties (which necessitates the
twice daily ingestion of thyroxine). No known history of diabetes in
family, but recently discovered a cousin is NIDDM (kept it a close
secret!).

I have been using Novopen Actrapid and HInsulatard injections for a
year now, and never looked back (I had started in 1989 for 6 months on
Daonil tablets before taking 2 x injections daily of HI). Also
concentrated on improving my autoimmunity during the last year with
some success, although have slight numbness in one big toe and a still
slight cataract in one eye.

With two children then at school I graduated from the Open University
in 1976 in humanities and psychology. (The OU - inaugurated in 1971- is
unusual in that it runs courses through correspondence, radio and TV,
tutorials and summer schools, with interpretation and note-taking
support for deaf students.) Following that, I worked for a U.S.
computer company till enforced early retirement owing to office
politics, when I continued part-time art studies and painting.

Now I concentrate on like-minded friends and seeing my family (I have a
grandchild, soon to be increased) and keeping up with email.
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Kelly French
apples@midohio.net

Location: Delaware, Ohio
Date of birth: 23June62
Diagnosed: 1971 (9 years old) IDDM
Joined list:

I was diagnosed with type 1 at 9 yrs of age after being sick for a good 
week. Our family went to Dairy Queen for ice cream - as we did often - 
and later that night we went to the emergency room!! My parents were 
told I was 1 hour away from a coma!

Present - I am married with 2 boys, Chris, 7 years and Bryan ,1 year. 
I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and would have 25 dogs if I were allowed! I am 
a registered respiratory therapist in a large teaching hospital but 
only work as needed since the last birth.

Diabetes - I am on a Minimed pump now since October 1995 and have had a 
slight decrease in my A1C which runs high 9's! My only complication to 
date is a decrease in kidney function, although it appears to be stable 
right now.
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Donna Golemme
drg@tiac.net

My name is Donna Golemme. I have a four-year-old son who was diagnosed
IDDM in 11/94. His twin brother has tested positive for the ICA, and my
hsuband and I are pursuing this with vigor in terms of research and
medical trials that may be available to us.
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Terence James Griffin
Call Me: Ishmael (just kidding) Tere (pronounced "Terry")
Email: griffin@cam.nist.gov

Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland, suburb of Washington, DC
Date of birth: 17Sept62
Diagnosed: May74 IDDM
Began pump therapy: Aug86
Joined list:

No previous history of DM in the family except for a cousin (by
marriage?) of my mother. No illness or injury or such that is related
to my diagnosis. No complications or hospitalizations except when I
was diagnosed and when I got my first pump.

On pump since August, 1986, Baxter/Travenol Eugly (AS8MP). Just got a
Disetronic H-Tron V100 (I MEAN "just"...Today!(10/18/93)).

Favorite Bookstore:
   Powells Books
   10th & Burnside, NW, Portland, Oregon

   Take the whole day, you'll need it.

Favorite Movie Theater:
   Poor Richard's Read and Feed
   Tejon St, Colorado Springs, Colorado

   This is a bookstore/health food deli/coffee house. They used to
   have a theater in the book shop. Every week they would show
   foreign/independent films. Richard Skorman (owner) wrote a book
   called "Off-Hollywood Movies" in 1990 or 91. The theater had about
   200 seats. They had to close the theater because of competition
   with larger art film houses. So I moved.

Favorite Electronics Shop:
   Weird Stuff
   San Jose, California

   Like a graveyard/museum of old computer hardware. Really cool!

I'm a software engineer, currently very happily employed at The
National Institute for Standards and Technology (formally know as The
National Bureau of Standards. I live so close to work that if the
weather is bad, I walk; otherwise I ride my bike.

Speaking of which, just this summer ('93) I became a fanatical
bicycler. I have two road bikes: a vintage Holdsworth touring bike,
which represents the "retro-grauch" side of my personality, and a
brand new Trek racing bike that keeps the technocrat part of me happy.
All the details of my biking equipment have been registered with
Arturo. The reason I have two bikes is a long story that involves an
old bike, movers, frame damage, and subsequent insurance payments. I'll
leave the rest to your imagination. Anyway, after that whole experience
I went from being an occasional rider to being an avid rider, figuring
I should enjoy what I have, rather than take it for granted.

I've worked in a few fields: database development, image processing and
process control. I am currently working in scientific visualization.
That is, taking a (very) large data set and turning it into some kind
of visual representation. Most of the time it involves animation. It
could be from experimental data or simulations. The visualizations
could be graphs or a model of physical process. Usually we transfer the
visualization to video tape and edit it into some kind of a
presentation.

I enjoy movies, music (*almost* any kind), skiing (X-contry and
downhill), swimming, and biking.

I have a fat cat named Gumbi, who talks in a deep, gravelly, growl of
a voice. She's extremely affectionate, especially when she's hungry.

I went to school in Southern Maryland. I've lived in the DC area most
of my life (since the age of 3). I moved to Colorado Springs in '88,
then to Portland in '90, then to Mountain View, California, in '92.
In February '93, I moved back to the DC area to take a job at NIST.
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Dave Griffith
dave@ohs.uwo.ca

Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Date of birth: 21May64
Diagnosed: 21Sept91 IDDM

Dave works at The University of Western Ontario where he is the
"Hazardous Materials Officer" or "Danger Guy," as he is referred to by
the campus newspaper and several employees.  When he isn't putting up
with old jokes about glowing in the dark, he does things like running
the hazardous waste management program, handling chemical or
radioactive spills that nobody else is stupid enough to touch, and
drinking too much coffee in his office.

Dave's hobbies include cycling (mele "vulcan" mountain bike, green),
camping, weight lifting (still has a visible neck), and tutoring. He
also is a volunteer for the Canadian Diabetic Association. At least
once a month he works at a place called Banting House. This was Fred
Banting's old home in London where he had his medical office. Now it is
a museum and discount store for diabetic supplies. Dave runs the store
on Saturdays, selling stuff and helping people with questions (not that
he always answers them). Dave is also known for his poor spelling;
please ignore it unless it is so bad that you do not understand what he
is saying. One of Dave's latest quests is to flood the list with all
sorts of exotic diabetic recipes.

Dave's family has no history of DM; he is a pioneer in the field. His
mother has to be reminded at least monthly that he is on a carbohydrate
reduced diet, not a low fat diet.

Dave has a strange (sometimes black) sense of humour. He often has to
watch movies he likes alone as no one else understands his sense of
humour. This may be one of the reasons that he remains single, but he
tends to blame the diabetes. His last relationship? He still claims
that it was all her fault!

It is rumored that when asked nicely he will go shopping for non-FDA
approved items that can only be found in Canada.

Dave's meter: One Touch II
Dave's needle:  the new Novolin Pen 1.5 w 30GA tips
Dave's insulin: Novolin Toronto (regular) and NPH
Dave's lancets: BD ultrafine
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Martha Gunnarson
mg@wpi.wpi.edu

Location: Oxford, Massachusetts
Martha's date of birth: 16July51
Adam's date of birth: 16Nov51
"Diagnosed": 19Aug88
Joined list:

Martha Gunnarson is a librarian, non-DM, married to an IDDM. Adam Zach,
her husband, had his pancreas removed in 1988 as a consequence of his
years of heavy drinking. He has been sober since 1984. Martha mostly
lurks in the background.
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Patricia (Patty) Hatch
hat@tiac.net

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date of birth: 18Feb64
Diagnosed: 24Sept85 IDDM
Joined list: July93

I work as a librarian at the Cardinal Cushing Library at Emmanuel
College, Boston, MA. I recently completed my Master's Degree in Library
and Information Science in June 1993 at Simmons College in Boston.
Before starting my first professional library position at Emmanuel on
June 2, 1993, I worked for three years as a library assistant at the
Harvard Law School Library.

I was diagnosed the week that Hurricane Gloria decided to trek to New
England. I experienced all the classic syptoms and assumed I had the
flu. When I came home from school (I had just started my senior year as
an undergraduate), my mother (always tactful) remarked that I looked
"like death" and insisted that I go see our family doctor the next day.
When I began not making intelligent sense to her, she rushed me to the
emergency room, where, after providing a urine sample, the nurse asked,
"Do you have any diabetes in the family?" My life was never the same.

My current regimen is 4 shots a day. I take Humulin R at meals and then
12 units of NPH at bedtime. The amount of R I take is based on a sliding 
scale worked out by my doctor. I take so much based on what my blood 
sugar reading is. I also count carbohydrates at each meal, which I think 
is a great way to maintain a diabetic diet. It gives a person a great 
amount of flexibility. I test my blood sugars 4-6 times a day.

My interests include reading, collecting Raggedy Ann and Andy
memorabilia, and learning the words to every Warner Brothers cartoon.
My husband collects all Bugs Bunny and other cartoon character
memorabilia he can find. I have no children, no pets, and, for the
moment, no big worries.
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Buzz Haughton

Location: Davis, California
Date of birth: '48
Diagnosed: '69 IDDM
Joined list:

Buzz Haughton is a mild-mannered librarian working for a great
non-metropolitan academic library, Shields Library at UC Davis. I've
been in Davis for almost twenty-one years now. I was born in Australia
in 1948 but have grown up in California and am a product of the
now-ailing system of higher education: BA from UC Santa Barbara and MLS
from UC Berkeley. I was diagnosed with Type I in 1969 after apparently
suffering an autoimmune reaction after contracting hepatitis. I have no
complications, thank God! I've followed an intensive standard insulin
regimen for some years now: R before each meal and L before bed.

My significant other is a poohbear who regularly saves me from
hypoglycemia when I'm too goofy to do it myself. Although my hypo
unawareness after twenty-six years of IDDM is pretty severe, recently
I've been able to become more aware by religiously avoiding BG below
50.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Heath
heathen@proweb.co.uk
heathen@innotts.co.uk

Location: Nottingham, England
Non-diabetic, no longer allied to a diabetic
Joined list: sometime in 95, IIRC, and rejoined in May 96

I initially joined this list as my then wife had been recently diagnosed 
type II, and I felt it might be a good way to learn a bit more about the 
condition (I don't consider it a disease) and how to deal with it.

I have found friends, allies, information, good humour - and support of 
a level I would never have believed possible. I am flattered that when I 
resigned the list after my marriage died, I was inundated with pleas NOT 
to go. It didn't matter to anyone here that I had no DM, nor connection 
with it. That's the sort of people this list has. Friends, every one of 
them, and if ever we meet, it will one heck of a party!

I'm fast approaching middle age, bankruptcy, and senility - not 
necesarily in that order. I have an off the wall British sense of humour 
which often gets me into trouble, a love of motorcycling, good food and 
good beer, and dread the day the dragon of DM may rear its ugly head at 
me - but at least I'll be a little prepared. I have a voracious appetite 
for trivia of all kinds, I read almost anything, though I'm partial to 
"techie" scifi, thrillers and "human" fiction.

I have a bunch of kids all growed up, more grandkids, and even a great 
grandson (that's my son's fault for marrying a grandmother). I'm a 
professional "very nice man" in that I'm a breakdown Patrol with the 
Automobile Association in England; I'm also part time office dogsbody at 
one of my ISPs - and I'm not telling which!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Donna Hill

Location: Snellville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta
Date of birth: 8Aug53
Diagnosed: 1Aug95 NIDDM
Joined list: 29Aug95 

Occupation: Independent Insurance Agent specializing in group health
insurance

In the summer of 1995 I had a sudden deterioration in my vision. By
sudden, I mean that it was literally overnight. I got up one morning,
put on the glasses that had been fine the day before, and they were
about 1.5 power too weak. I made an appointment with my optometrist. 
The day of the appointment, I had to change it to an earlier time,
because my cousin had died of complications of diabetes and I needed to
get out of town for the funeral. The doc examined me, but refused to
give me new contacts until I had a fasting blood sugar done because of
the suddenness of the change. He discussed the other symptoms with me 
(excessive thirst, excessive urination, sudden weight loss), and I 
didn't think I had any of them (I was wrong ... I had lost 17 pounds in
the last 2 months, I just didn't know it). He gave me a new scrip for
glasses, said he didn't think I had it, but still wanted the fbs results 
before he'd give me new contacts.

My best friend is a lab tech at a local hospital. I called her to see
if there was anywhere I could get one done without a lot of hassle, and
she volunteered to do it for me for free, at her house (well, we drew
it at her house ... she took it to work to run). Karen called me the
night she ran that test. I could tell by her voice the news wasn't good.  
She sounded very surprised, herself, when she told me my fbs was 282.  
"Donna, I think you're diabetic," were her exact words. I made an 
appointment with my internist for the next day, and his lab-run fbs
showed 317. I guess I didn't really believe it until that minute. I
cried the rest of the time I was in the doc's office, but haven't cried
about it since. I came home, got on the Net, and found MHD. I was so
disappointed by what I found there (Speaker and Betty were in the midst
of one of their more intense wars) that I shot off a note about it. I
received 121 e-mailed answers, and many of them pointed me here to
<diabetic>. I have gained so much in the way of motivation, coping 
skills, and knowledge here that I don't even know how to express it! I
firmly believe it has enabled me to maintain control through diet and
exercise.

Early in my list days, I would try to answer the health insurance
questions that inevitably arise here on the list. I found that this was 
guaranteed to start a war, since I've spent 15 years in the health
insurance field and naturally present things from that viewpoint. 
Therefore, I no long answer on the list, but I *do* answer every 
insurance question that's asked in private, and many of the list members
know my background and know to come to me when they have a question they 
think my experience can help answer. I would hope that all 700+ members 
would feel that way!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcia Johnson

Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Date of birth: 30May51
Diagnosed: Aug60 (age 9)
Joined list" 02May96

I was dignosed with juvenile diabetes at age 9 after a very serious 
illness. While they waited on test results the doctors told my parents 
that I either had a brain tumor or diabetes. It turned out to be the 
latter. I don't remember what my BG was at the time of dignosis but it 
was very high. I was so very thin (weighed 48 pounds at age 9) but 
always had a distended stomach due to all the liquid I was consuming to 
combat the excessive thirst. I was hospitalized for 6 weeks while they 
tried to stabilize me and taught me how to give myself a shot and do 
urine tests. At approximately age 23 I began to have eye problems and 
was told that the only thing they had to offer at that time was a 
research program going on at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. I 
lived in Orlando at the time so my mom and I went to Bascom Palmer and I
became a part of the research for laser surgery for retinopathy. There 
were approximately 1800 of us who were in this program and I had 
fabulous results. Apparently not everyone did. I go every year to have 
my eyes checked but have not had any bleeding for about 18 years now. I 
married in 1980 and in 1983 I had my daughter Whitney. It was a long, 
eventful pregnancy and they hospitalized me 9 weeks before she was due 
and delivered her by C-Section 5 weeks before she was due. She weighed 
in (5 weeks early) at 8 lbs., 5 oz. She stayed in the neo-natal 
intensive care section for a few days but fortunately did not have any 
complications. She is now 13 years old and several years ago my doctor 
tested her to find out if she was predisposed to develop diabetes and 
thank God the test came back negative. I wouldn't wish this on my worst 
enemy, much less my only child. After I was dignosed at age 9, my 
father's father was then dignosed and them my mom's aunt was dignosed. 
My father (who passed away about a year and a half ago) was also 
diagnosed about 4 years ago and was put on insulin. I am on 4 shots a 
day (R before breakfast, lunch and dinner and L before bed). My doctor 
took me off the Iletin insulin I had been on all my life and put me on 
Humalin about 2 months ago and it has not been an easy transition. My 
bg's have been very erratic lately and we are having a hard time 
pinpointing the exact reason. I feel like my life is filled with stress 
(a divorce, trying to be single mom, trying to make enough money to keep 
my head above water and working full time) so I'm sure that the stress 
factor has come into play. I have not at this point figured out how to 
relieve some of the stress. It's nice to know that there are so many of 
us out there struggling with the same daily routine. I work at The
Lovett School (a private K-12 school) as an administrative assistant to 
the Director of the Study Lab (an area where students can come to get 
one-on-one help) and assistant to the technology director. It's always 
jumping down here but I love my work and the people with whom I work. I 
graduated from this school in 1969 so it is interesting seeing things 
from this side. This is my 6th year here and my daughter is in 7th 
grade here.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Roberta Lopez
RLOPE@FINLAN.MI.SPRINGARBOR.COM

Location: Britton, Michigan (near Ann Arbor)
Date of birth: 9July63
Diagnosed: Mar89 IDDM-MI 4x
Joined list: May95

I am the supervisor of the Computer Operations Department at Spring
Arbor Distributors. We support end users throughout my company, both
on site and at 5 remote sites. We generate reports for users, post sales
to our databases. I have been here 13 years and will be laid off in the
next 6 months or so. (I have known this for 2 years, the date just keeps
getting changed). We are migrating to a new computer system, and they
think they don't need as many people.

I have Type I diabetes (6 years). Started out on oral medications,
upping the dosage to the max over about a year period. When my GP
decided I needed to go on insulin, I decided I wanted a specialist's
opinion! I went to the U of M diabetes specialist. My A1c was 13
something. They said if I could quit losing weight I wouldn't have to
take insulin. (Personally, I liked how much I weighed - 123 - the
skinniest I have ever been. It was great!) To no avail, after about 6
months I started taking 2 shots a day - NPH. My BG improved, but still
not great.

The beginning of 1992, my insurance changed at work to a PPO and U of M
did not participate. I switched to 1 of 3 endos in my book. At first we
didn't hit it off too well. Personality conflict I guess. He kept
calling me a rebel and boy did I take offense to that! By August of 92
I was taking 4 shots a day, sliding scale of NPH at BF and BT, R at BF,
LNCH, DINN. R was the answer to my problme of high BG, but it was also
the beginning of weight increases! 45 lbs. since I first started taking
insulin. I went to an aerobics class for a year, but just recently quit
because my arches were really bothering me. I do like my doctor much
better now.

Well, I decided about a year and a half ago that my biological timeclock
was ticking and I'd better have a baby if I was ever going to. Yes, by
the way I am married (7 years) - but my husband and I had previously
decided on not having kids. He comes from a very large family (18 kids).
VERY LARGE FAMILY (18 KIDS).

My A1c was 10 - after about 8 months I finally got pregnant, but lost it
after about 9 weeks. (April 15) Very upsetting. My BG had improved
tremendously after finding out I was pregnance, and is still very good.
I am working on keeping it better for the next time around, although
they can't say what was the cause of the miscarriage, I am going to be
sure high BG next time won't be a factor! My last A1c last week was
8.7, my best ever :-) :-)!

Diabetes runs on my mother's side of the family. My grandmother and
mother both have it (NIDDM).

My husband and I like to collect antiques to go in our 100-year-old farm
house. It is up for sale if anyone is interested, we are hoping to buy
a great house in the country that has 2 acres and a couple of barns. We
just need to sell ours first.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryan Lowry
BLOWRY@CMSUVMA.CMSU.EDU

Location: Warrensburg, Missouri (1.5 hours SW of Kansas City)
Date of birth: 20Aug58
Diagnosed: 16Jan77 IDDM
Joined list: 16June93

Hmmmmmm. To describe myself is hard. I am not a librarian, which does
exclude me from at least one FAQ.

I am from Scottish descent. I am 6'4", I have blue eyes and brown and
light red hair (which is heavily streaked with silver).

I am from the San Fernando Valley (LA) area, where, at the age of 18, I
developed type I. I now live in Missouri, where I work as a
Microcomputer/Network Specialist for a small, rather fun university.

I enjoy snow skiing and backpacking (I have hiked the entire John Muir
and Appalachian trails). I also walk... a lot :-) I play guitar
semi-professionally, but cannot - I repeat, cannot - sing.

I have been single for a year and a half now, after being married for
nine years. I am a member of the Society of Creative Anachronism
(Middle-ages), where we dress up as knights and bang each other over
the heads with big sticks. And yes, I look quite good in a kilt. I am
also a dyed-in-the-wool Star Trek TNG admirer.

I have never before associated with other DMers... I'm not sure why,
but I admire and thoroughly enjoy this group.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Karen McCain
kmccain@melpar.esys.com  (work)

Location: Manassas, Virginia
Date of birth: 04Sept59
Diagnosed: Nov66 IDDM
Joined list: Jan95

Work: Ashburn, Virginia (soon Falls Church, Virginia)
DX:   November 1966, IDDM, MI-N&R-Syringe

I was diagnosed (before meters) around Thanksgiving. I really don't
remember a lot of my younger years as a DM, except that in elementary
school I had to stand out in the hall when I had my snack. Also, I used
to tell kids that they couldn't hit me because I had diabetes. There is
NO history of DM in my family; I believe it was triggered by my having
the mumps (May 66).

I always went to endos up until my work changed insurance plans, then
endos were referral doctors. I currently go to an internist. I really
have only had two BAD hypo episodes in my life, one when in elementary
school. Tested my urine and instead of drinking OJ, took a shower, next
thing I knew, my brother was holding me up and my mom was stuffing
honey in my mouth. The last one was just last year in June. I drove to
work, went to get something else to eat, and the next thing I knew the
EMTs were asking questions. But I am glad to say even with all that I
NEVER have been rushed to the hospital.

I believe that from my doctor and CDE I have learned more about DM in
the last year than I ever did from any previous doctor. Also, I am
extremely happy to have found the list. It has helped me to understand
more about DM and how to take care of myself.

Personal  -  I am married 7 years in December. Have two cats, Rusty 5yo
(orange) and Smokey 3yo (gray and white). He looks like he's wearing a
tuxedo all the time. I have lived in Alex & Manassas, Virginia, all my
life. My parents are from North Carolina.

Hobbies  -  Music (country, swing, classic rock), movies - I love the
AMC channel, soap operas, cross-stitch. Games on computer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jenny McGrorey
Jenny_McGrorey@notes.pw.com
onesmlmick@juno.com

Location: San Francisco, California
Date of birth: 29July64
Diagnosed: November94
Joined list: Jan96

I was scheduled to see the OB/GYN Fertility Specialist and hoped that I 
would have answers to the reason why I wasn't able to get pregnant. I 
listened to the OB/GYN tell me that she detected sugar in my urine as 
calmly as possible. The doctor proceeded to tell me that in order to 
have a healthy baby, I had to get the sugar in control, "if you are 
diabetic." As soon as she said "diabetic," I know that my face must 
have drained of all color - my best friend is Type I and I couldn't 
watch her take insulin! I have an extreme fear of needles - EXTREME 
fear. Grudgingly, I had a blood test and went home. Well, when I got 
home, the OB/GYN called to tell me the blood results (guess she had a 
STAT on the blood) of the bgs - 351! The OB/GYN advised me to talk to 
my physician immediately to get treatment for the high sugar. After 
talking with her, I broke down crying - this could not be happening to 
me, this was not fair, why me? Instead of calling my physician, I 
called my best friend to whine in her ear - she understood the fears 
and emotions but urged me to call the doctor immediately.

After almost a year of Micronese treatment for the Type II diabetes, I 
was told that the pills cause birth defects to a fetus. Therefore, if 
we are serious about having a baby, then I would have to confront my 
fears of needles and go on insulin. Now, when I was a little girl, in 
the examining room in nothing but my undies, the doctor came to me with 
a needle as large as the flag pole (hey, I was a little girl at that 
time) - I started screaming and ran past him, out into the waiting 
lobby while the doctor and my mother running after me, yelling my name, 
out the office I ran - straight into the car (my mom never locked the 
car doors then) and locked the door. Boy, I never saw my mom's face so 
red before and saying words that usually meant soap in the mouth would 
follow afterwards. Now I am to inject myself?!?!? What am I going to 
do? Run outside my house in my undies (not a pleasant site right now) 
and scream while holding the syringe/needle chasing myself? I don't 
think so.

I have been on insulin, Novolin Regular and Novolin NPH, since this 
past October - and still have the fear of needles, but I grudgingly 
inject twice a day. I recently had my three month average fasting blood 
test done and discovered that I was taking too much insulin ... the 
results were 48 ... hmmm ... guess that explains the sweating and 
shaking at nighttime, sometimes I was able to remember to test my blood 
... tested at 34 ... hmmm ... guess I need to eat something with sugar 
and follow it with milk.

My husband, Paul, of two years and my 12 year old son, Anthony, (from a 
previous marriage nine years ago) are still adjusting to this new 
challenge of diabetes and insulin in my life - the hypos are more 
frequent than ever, but slowly I am getting better at controlling the 
sugars. I have lost weight since February - 25+ pounds, but more 
importantly, I have lost inches. Anthony and Paul are concerned about 
the fact that I may not wake up in the morning, or that some days I 
will act irrationally - then they try to calm me down and test ... and 
as usual, they are right - hypo city.

I was unemployed during the time I had decided to take insulin, so the 
classes I took were quite helpful. Then, this past January, I got a 
great job as a Word Processor in a wonderful company (top six 
internationally) that provides e-mail for employees ... thus, discovery 
of the Lehigh list ... and became a "family" member in January. My new 
boss, aka Slavemastah, is a wonderful man - very understanding about my 
diabetes. After me talking about the dm, my boss can recognize my hypos 
even before I can ... and he doesn't mind if I have to inject at work, 
act goofy or whatever during a hypo, knows what to do if I pass out and 
et cetra. He may crack that nasty ol' whip sometimes, but he is the 
best boss I can ever ask for - even when he calls me sick and twisted 
most of the times ;-}.

I enjoy playing on the computer(s), scanning pictures, sending pictures 
and talking to my family on the Lehigh ... my latest fear right now is 
trying to inject insulin and a huge earthquake hits ... now THAT 
wouldn't be nice ... 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Mellor
mellor@hq.sylvania.com

Location: Peabody, Massachusetts (near Boston)
Date of birth: 11Nov49
Diagnosed: 1979 IDDM
Joined list: Feb95

I was diagnosed after several weeks with the usual symtoms - looked
awful, felt awful, lost weight, get up to pee every 5 minutes .... Then
tried oral medication for 2 - 3 months which didn't do anything. It was
lots of fun to pee in a cup and then dump in some chemicals and wait for
it to turn whatever was the color of the day. Then I went to the Joslin
Clinic in Boston and came home with several bottles of insulin.

I would like to be able to estimate fat, carbs and calories in food as I
have never been able to keep to a strict diet, but this is a skill that
escapes me. Lately I have gotten interested in some active sports, so I
have been doing 4 -6 x/day blood tests and keeping a diary. Much to my
surprise, I find that I have better control than I thought ... Now if I
could only get on that Nordik Trac machine....

I like to scuba dive from the beach near here. Aware that this is a
"forbidden activity," I got consent of my endo and instructor first.
Then I have to do a lot of testing and make insulin adjustments. A few
times I get to the beach and then don't go in after looking at the Bg
tests.

Also in the last year I lived in Germany (where Metformin has been
available for some time and is used for IDDM as well as NIDDM). I was on
this drug for a short time but had big problems with "intestinal
distress", so I stopped. So in a vist to Switzerland I become interested
in paragliding and began training for this. PG is a flying sport similar
to hang gliding and does not require a strenuous workout but nonetheless
it is necessary to test more intensively before taking off to be sure
Bg is above 120 and not going down. Coming back to the US I had to start
the training over again as a lot of time passed before I could find a PG
school in the Northeast near here.

If anybody has an interest in these sports - call or write.

I'm married with one son (12), a stepson (12 - this gets interesting)
and stepdaughter (18 - I couldn't believe how expensive college has
gotten since '71!)  BA, MS in mathematics and I work in the research lab
for Osram Sylvania where I study the diffusion mechanics and consumption
of mercury in flourescent lamp gases and phosphors.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gardar Thor Middleton
gardar@holter.mei.com

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date of birth: 06Nov58
Diagnosed: Jan95 NIDDM
Joined list: Jan95

Address......: 13800 W. Ferguson Rd
               New Berlin WI 53151

Education....: MS EE from University of Wisconsin Madison. Currently
               working on MBA degree part time at University of
               Wisconsin Milwaukee

Diabetes.....: Diagnosed Jan 1995. Type II, Diet and Exercise

Occupation...: Software Engineer with Marquette Electronics Milwaukee WI.

Personal.....: Married, two daughters, 11 yr. old (born 1983) and 6
               month old (born 1994)

Motto........: "Never bet on a three legged horse"

Since I was diagnosed with NIDDM I have been making efforts to change
my life-style. I used to exercise but not very regularly, and my eating
habits really very bad. When I started having symptoms I was about 220
pounds.

Now with regular exercise and watching my diet I have gone down to about
190 pounds (aiming for about 185).

I was born in Grand Cayman in the West Indies, and I grew up in Iceland,
from the age of 2. I came to the US in 1981 to go to school and kinda
got stuck here in Wisconsin (I used to say that I could never live
anywhere that did not have mountains).

In my copious leisure time I ride my bike (then the weather allows),
read books and spend time with the family.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vicki S. Mossman
vsmossm@bentley.univnorthco.edu

Location:  Greeley, Colorado
Date of birth: 8Dec52
Diagnosed: April94 NIDDM
Joined List: March95

Family: Husband, Sam; 1 son, Carl 14. Sam and I met while we were both
students at UNC in 1970. We've been married over 23 years now.  We were
truly blessed when we adopted Carl at the age of 3 months. He is the
joy of my life. and I thank God every day for bringing him into our
lives.

Occupation: Insurance Manager, University of Northern Colorado

Interests/Hobbies: Reading of all kinds, swimming, snorkeling, travel,
Boy Scouts

Diabetic History: Diagnosed April 1994, but now that I look back,
suspect I had it a year or two before that because of the many symptoms
I had. Started on Diabeta, 5 mg. That was decreased to 2.5 mg in 2
months, and I was taken off it after 4 months. I have lost 67 pounds
over the past year, which I'm sure accounts for my excellent control
now and ability to get off the medication.

I also have difficult to control hypertension and had many side effects
trying to get it controlled (was on 3 medications, now I'm down to 2 a
day). Also have arthritis, along with other medical problems. I have
struggled with serious weight problems my entire life, and it doesn't
get easier as I get older.

I've worked in all sorts of jobs. At one time or another I have been a
medical records clerk in a hospital, a reference librarian, a
newswriter, an executive secretary, a computer specialist at a nuclear
power plant, owner of a word processing business, and my current
position as insurance manager for the student health insurance program
at a university. Don't know yet what I want to be when I grow up!

My dream is to live in Hawaii someday. We travel there on vacation as
frequently as possible. I ADORE swimming and snorkeling.

The only people in my family that I know of with DM were a great aunt
with NIDDM in her 60's and a younger third cousin with IDDM DXed at a
very young age.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
John Myers
jamyers@netcom.com
31125 Morris Dr., Palo Alto, CA 94303

Location: Palo Alto, California
Date of birth: 18Nov50
Diagnosed: 10Apr60 IDDM
Joined list: 10Mar93

Occupation: Independent Data Processing Consultant (read as currently
            looking for regular work B-))

Family Status: 1 spouse (Kathleen)
               2 daughters (Rachel, born 1970; Diana, born 1974; both
                 in college)
               2 cats (Jennifer, Sandy)
               4 dogs (Stanley, Jason, Heather, and Megan)

Interests - Sort of needless to say - animals, particularly dogs,
            particularly the Brittany breed. I first got a Brittany
            because their description read "requires frequent, long
            walks" and I needed the exercise. Through a variety of
            acquaintances, I became involved working with the
            humane societies in the SF Bay area performing breed
            rescue for Brittanies. In the last year I have found
            homes for 20+ Brittany dogs that were either turned in
            at the shelters or otherwise abandoned by their owners.
            Till they get homes they stay with me, so I have four
            now. I have anywhere from three to six (needless to say
            I have to read my own electric meter).

Diabetic history - Insulin dependent since 1960, have been on pump
                   since September 1980 (an early guinea pig B-))
                   Complications: retinopathy, no vision in one
                   eye, laser treatments in the other; nephropathy,
                   30 per cent kidney function remaining; autonomic
                   neuropathy; irregular heart beat.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jenny Nash
JENNY@NOVELL.UR.UTK.EDU

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Date of birth: 25Nov 57
Diagnosed: 31Jan73 IDDM
Joined list:

I work part-time at the University of Tennessee as a writer, doing
articles about alumni and faculty for various publications. I'm
married to a psychologist who's an associate professor at UT. We have
one son, Logan, born in January of '89. I grew up in Atlanta with
stints in England and India. I lived in New York City for 5 years but
am now back down south. I've had retinopathy and, consequently, I am
blind in my left eye and don't have any peripheral vision in my right.
For exercise, I walk or use a cross-country ski machine. I like to
read, do the New York Times crossword puzzle, and take classes (Italian
is the latest). I'm considering going back to school, either for an
M.A. in English, or law school. Theater was my undergraduate major.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Nesbitt
nesbitt@diabetes.ca

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date of birth: 10March66
Diagnosed: IDDM March72
Joined list: 07May96

Mark Nesbitt is an underemployed journalist, currently doing contract 
communications work for the Canadian Diabetes Association. That's why I 
have such a cool address (nesbitt@diabetes.ca). 

I'm somewhat odd and am determined to enlarge the diabetic gene pool by 
wedding my sweetie, another long-term IDDM. I've been involved with 
diabetes stuff for years, mostly with the CDA, and spent many summers at 
Camp Huronda (diabetics only, don't ya know). I have had some laser 
therapy, my kidneys are starting to misbehave and little numb spots are 
creeping in on my extremeties. Just started MDI program, four stabs/day, 
and life is good, no?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Newman
Billn@cyber1.servtech.com

Location: Rochester, New York
Date of birth:
Diagnosed: '86 NIDDM
Joined list:

Insulin Dependent Type II for 2.5 years

Home Address:  2117 Buffalo Road, Suite 304
               Rochester, NY  14624
               This is purely a mailing address and not a physical
               address.

Employers:  Salvation Army -- Transportation and Disaster Services
            Town of Chili -- Parks Department Public Safety

Diabetic Problems:  Some foot nerve problems
                    Heart Problems
                    Minor eye problems (clearing now under better control)

Hobbies and interests: Bike riding (ride during work in parks department)
                       Reading and writing
                       Computer games and internet

Married since 1982.
Wife's name is Kay.
Have lived in the Rochester area for all my 43 years.
My wife is from Maine, north of Bangor.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Marianne Oren
22968mlo@msu.edu

Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Date of birth: 13June63
Diagnosed: May83
Joined list: 8July96

I have had type I diabetes since age 20 and was diagnosed at the 
beginning of spring term while I was attending classes at Michigan 
State University as an undergraduate. I had all the classic symptoms - 
ravenously hungry, eating like a horse (yet being hungry again 20 
minutes later), frequent urination, sleeping all the time. I was 
hospitalized and taught how to give myself injections over a long 
weekend. I remember being pretty stoic (one of many family skills I'd 
developed) for the first year, not feeling a lot of anything. Then I 
went to a local chapter meeting of the ADA and saw people in 
wheelchairs, elderly folks with visual impairments and others and came 
face-to-face with the denial I had been side-stepping. I remember 
calling in sick to work the next morning because my eyes were so puffy 
from crying all night. I also remember yelling at God a lot that night, 
asking "Why me?"

I finished my bachelor's degree (English Education), missed out on that
fall's teaching window of opportunity, and came back to work at MSU
full-time while I worked on my master's degree (Counseling) on a part-
time basis. Full-time clerical employment gave me health benefits, even 
though it did not present the excitement I had hoped for from the 
working world. Being underemployed, I learned, can be stressful, too!  
Knowing the struggles that I have faced over the next few years, I wish 
I had known about or had access to a newsgroup like this one! I 
facilitated a couple of diabetes support groups as part of my practicum 
experience as a Counselor-to-be, and then wrote a grant for funding a 
research project looking at the effects of two other diabetes support 
groups on social support and glycosylated hemoglobin. I'm now getting 
ready to launch a community support group at a local hospital, and am 
thrilled to have 7 type 1 diabetes members who will join a group for 10 
bi-monthly sessions. I continue to work as an Office Assistant at the 
Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at MSU, and hope that the 
private counseling practice work will continue to grow and provide me 
with the more interesting, stimulating and creative career-focus that 
I've worked so hard to achieve through continuing ed. The full-time 
employment at MSU gives me access to the health benefits that I so 
desperately need and I do get to use a bit of creativity when I use 
desktop publishing and work on two newsletters.

I often find myself resenting the lack of choices I have available to 
me as a single woman living with diabetes, knowing a lot of my married 
peers may be more able to leave their (less satisfying) work to make 
the leap to self-employed private practice with the advantage of access 
to their partner's health benefits. I'm interested in talking with 
others who have faced limited employment options or who feel that 
they've cleared a  hurdle that had kept them from taking a risk in 
employment, relationships, gaining better bg control, etc.

I'm currently taking 3 shots daily, mixing NPH and R Humulin insulin.  
I check my bg 3-4 times daily with a One Touch Profile, and look 
forward to the new fast-acting insulin that's supposed to be available 
this fall. I love to dance, take long walks with my dog, Buddy (a 
golden retriever mix), go camping, and spend time in the garden and 
working at improving the home I live in (trying hard not to allow my 
expenses to surpass what I may get back at selling time).

I'm delighted to be a member of this newsgroup and will pass on the 
word about the group to other folks who might benefit from joining!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandra Potter
vunet.vinu.edu

Location: Vincennes, Indiana
Date of birth: 7May60
Diagnosed: 2Dec84 IDDM
Joined list: 20Apr93

IDDM, MI, Humulin NPH and R. The only other known DM in our family was
my great-grandfather. The onset of my DM followed an extended bout with
a viral infection. Married 3/85 (after DX in 12/84), husband Gary. Two
successful pregnancies, Son Derek 9/26/91 and Daughter Haley 10/31/94.
Starting CHO Counting Classes this month (3/95), and look forward to a
change from the exchange system. Employed as a Secretary, Vincennes
University, Vincennes, Indiana, where I'm lucky enough to have access
to this informative *support* group.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ian Preece
ianp@dktower.demon.co.uk

I'm a 44-year-old Brit, living on the South coast of England, but
claiming my ancestry from a small island of the West Coast of Scotland
(it's warmer, down here...).

By trade, I'm in the computer business - mainly, helping clients to get
more return on their IT investment, but also anything else that will
pay the bills! I'm self-employed, working mainly at home, unless I'm
travelling (hence, I have a lifestyle problem right away - I don't get
enough exercise, since "going to work" simply involves climbing a
flight of stairs to The Garret and sitting in a different chair).

By *inclination*, however, I'm a seafarer... I sail whenever I can, I
even manage to get paid for it, from time to time - in the summer, when
the opportunity presents itself, I'll drop the pretence of being a
serious IT consultant, go off and be a charter skipper for a friend's
corporate entertainment business...  This is just one of many reasons
why I'm not rich. :-)

I'm an information junkie, so I tend to surround myself with books and
references, just in case I need them some day. This often makes me come
over as a pedantic smart-ass, something which I can't help, but for
which I apologise, in advance!

My mother was diabetic before me, so I got involved in the whole process
some time ago, which gave me a good base of knowledge from which to
understand it when it happened to me, too. (It also meant that I knew
there was a good chance it was coming!)

Medically, I'm a Type 2, diagnosed a little over a year ago. I was
fairly lucky, in that my doctor spotted it early, as a result of
investigations for something else, so I was able to start the
corrective actions in the very early stages. So far, I'm still on diet
and exercise, and my control is still generally good. I also have mild
hypertension (another legacy from my dear mother), so I've been on
various anti-hypertensives for the last 15 years or so. I just finished
taking beta-blockers (Monocor - bisoprolol fumarate), a week or so back,
and switched to calcium channel inhibitors (Motens - lacipidine), which
is a whole new game... right now, I'm dealing with the transition from
one to the other, which is a kind of biochemical roller-coaster.

Eyes: brown, Hair: receding, Hat Size: 6-7/8, Inside Leg 29"... clean
driving licence, no criminal record (that anybody can prove...:-),
non-smoker, housetrained, (mostly) clean habits, does not shed fur....

..Do I get the job? :-)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Reed
reed-alx1@kaman.com

Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Date of birth: 16Aug48
Diagnosed: Aug54 IDDM
Joined list: 2Dec94

I am 46 years old, married with one daughter, and I have had IDDM for
41 years. I stayed very active in sports through college and was an All
American football player as a middle linebacker, played baseball as a
pitcher, and participated in just about every other sport you can
imagine. Back then I was one of the only diabetics I ever knew who also
competed in sports at that level. Juggling school, sports, a love of
food, mostly from the dessert food group {;-), and hypo/hyperglycemia
presented some interesting challenges. I also managed to earn a few
degrees along the way in my spare time, and I am currently the Director
of Technical Development for the Data and Analysis Center for Software
(DACS), a DoD Information Analysis Center for Software Engineering
operated by Kaman Sciences Corporation. I spend a fair amount of time
traveling around the country working with DACS users to help them solve
their software problems and to speak to groups at scientific
conferences and seminars on software engineering issues, capabilities,
and developments.

My wife Linda and I have known each other for over thirty years, since
we were in geometry class together in our first year of high school
back in 1963. She teaches kindergarten and first grade and will also be
going back to school in January at George Mason University to pick up a
degree in Studio Art. We only recently moved to the Washington D.C.
area, having lived in upstate New York until the summer of '94. While
there, she taught in the elementary program at the New York State
School for the Deaf. And she misses her kids terribly. Many of them
still write to her as do the school faculty members. She has stayed
involved in the Deaf Community by taking advanced American Sign
Language classes and hopes at some point to do some interpreting. Our
daughter Andrea is now grown up and on her own, living in upstate New
York. And poor old Dad misses her a bunch!

I follow the DCCT guidelines for maintaining tight control, and I take
four injections of Humulin NPH and R alone and in combination each day.
I test my blood glucose on average, four times a day - more when
necessary. My last (and best ever) HbA1C was 5.9, and both my doctor
and I were thrilled. I am considering going to a Novolin Pen injector,
mostly as a matter of convenience. I have stayed pretty healthy until
the last few years, but I am now fighting proliferative retinopathy,
neuropathy, circulation problems, and arthritis.

I enjoy riding along the Potomac River on my hybrid Bianchi bike, and I
still play a mean round of golf. When I have control problems they
usually stem from job stress and the physical stresses caused by
diabetes complications. Since I live on the Internet, I hope to be
pretty active in this group.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maurice Rich
maurice@gu.edu.au
M.Rich@ens.gu.edu.au

Location: Queensland, Australia
Date of birth: 22Feb61
Diagnosed: 19Aug89 IDDM
Joined list:

Maurice Henry Rich. Occupation - Computing Support Officer. Lived in
the State of Queensland in Australia all my life. Married 12 years with
four children (Jessica [10], Leah [8], Sean [6], Rachel [4]). IDDM on
multiple injections daily. NO history in family of DM. An operation at
age seven uncovered that I am allergic to intravenous iodine, no other
allergies or health problems.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken Ridley
kdr@tc.cornell.edu

Location: Ithaca, New York
Diagnosed: IDDM

I'm an IDDMer who works very hard at controlling my BGs. I was
diagnosed less than 2 years ago, so I'm still learning about control. I
work as a computer nerd in the systems group at the Theory Center at
Cornell University.

Some have called my diabetes "brittle" and others "labile." All I know
is that if I don't pay strict attention to my diet, exercise, and
injections (and often even when I do), my BGs go on a roller coaster.
I'm an avid - if not adept - tennis player, and I do aerobic gardening
when the upstate NY weather permits.

I spent some time recently at the Joslin Institute in Boston.  They
gave me lots of new ammo for my daily battle with erratic BGs, but
they were not able to stabilize me. With plenty of experimentation,
3 a.m. tests every night, and strict attention to balancing exercise
with extra food, I'm making slow progress towards stability.

Oh, I should say that my wife just had a baby girl. It's our first.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Arturo Rolla
rolla@world.std.com

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date of birth:
Diagnosed: N/A
Joined list: Sep92

Arturo R. Rolla is an endocrinologist from the New England Deaconess
Hospital in Boston who tries to answer scientific questions and medical
problems as best he can.

He's a fanatical cyclist (although he doesn't shave his legs) and
black spandex leggings or shorts have been known to peek out from
underneath his white coat. :-)

A tireless globe-trotter, this South American endocrinologist has a
marked fondness for tennis and soccer, sports he practices to
compensate for the generous servings of paella and bottles of rioja he
consumes during junkets that are billed as working conferences. ;-)

He's afflicted -- fortunately, for us -- with multiple personality
disorder, a condition that allows him to interface with the equally
bizarre and diverse personalities that populate the list. However,
we've come to accept and appreciate him as he is and have, in time,
also become his good friends and admirers.

He speaks a multitude of languages and quotes at length from the
classics. He expresses himself best through the idioms of caring,
concern and humor, excelling in the latter. Despite continuous computer
problems, including several mailbox mishaps (read, explosions), he's
persevered and continues dispensing invaluable medical advice and human
support. Without him, this list (which he's always referred to as a
forum), would not be what it has become, namely, an essential tool of
our constant attempt to understand, to educate, to battle, to grasp the
complex facets of DM.

Warning: If you refer to this person as Dr. Rolla, you have to pay for
a consult. If you call him Arturo, his advice and information is free
of charge. 8-)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Roseman
Lehigh University Computing Center
lusgr@chili.CC.Lehigh.Edu

Location: Hellertown, Pennsylvania
Date of birth: 11Jan51
David's date of birth: 12Nov78
David diagnosed: Sep83 IDDM
Joined list: 11Dec90

I am Steve Roseman, Lead Systems Programmer at the Lehigh University
Computing Center, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and maintainer of the
DIABETIC mailing list. I am the father and son of IDDM diabetics (my
father passed away in 1969, and my son was diagnosed in 1983), so I've
lived with it most of my life.

David was diagnosed in September of 1983, right before starting
kindergarten. He's currently on 3 injections/day, is a picky eater, and
is too "thin" for his height. Interests are amateur radio, electronics,
computers, stage lighting and construction, and model airplanes
(anything but schoolwork!)

Other family includes wife Fran (lost mother, aunt, and uncle to NIDDM
complications), BG fine so far, and son Michael (b.1976), who is
insulin-advantaged.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary Salmond
mary@unix.cde.com

Location: Eustis, Florida
Date of birth: 10Sep41
Diagnosed: IDDM Type I or II since 1983
Joined list: 22Apr96

I found out I had diabetes myself. Found sugar in my urine so I ran a 
5hr GTT. Called my favorite Dr and told him. Just happened to be Endo 
and a friend.

I was very involved with showing horses at the time. My daughter and I 
showed Registered Paints around Florida and Georiga. It was the best 
time of my life. We bought Cassandra's youth horse when they were both 
12yrs old. They are 27yrs old and thankfully living at home.

My son Craig is very involved in computers. He now sells Internet 
Access, plus being a System Administrator for large group in Orlando. He 
has taken over the running of the home as his father passed away 7yrs 
ago.

I spent my life being a laboratory technician, phlebotomist, horse
handler, and raising Bassett Hounds. Now I am trying to become more 
computer literate, as I am retired.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
James Sandberg
6245710@lmsc5.is.lmsc.lockheed.com

Location: Sunnyvale, California (3 miles +- N. of San Jose
          International Airport)
Date of birth: 43 years old
Diagnosed: IDDM 28 years - No complications (won't bet either way)

Looking for ways to get the emotional/spiritual aspects of diabetes
more generally accepted by the medical community. Consumer member of
Diabetes Education Committee at local HMO. Recovering diabetic - belong
to Diabetics Anonymous. Willing to say "The Emperor isn't wearing any
clothes."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Laurie Schatzberg
rattner@carina.unm.edu

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Date of birth:
Diagnosed:
Joined list:

Diagnosed in adolescence, during an annual checkup, don't remember the
year or my age, but the season was spring/summer  -- in about 1970.
Initial treatment (about 1.5 years) was oral meds, then moved to single
dose of Ultra and Regular. In 1980's "graduated" to multiple injections
of U/R, gradually getting to 3-4 shots/day. 1994 switched to pump --
and delighted with the results. :-)

"Grew up" in upstate New York, mostly Troy. Went to school early and
often and graduated from most of the colleges in the capital district
area: SUNYA, Russell Sage, and my "terminal" (PhD) degree is from
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Moved to New Mexico to begin a career
as an MIS professor at University of New Mexico. Life in the Southwest
is nearly perfect for me.

Happily, no complications to speak of. Trying to be careful about
borderline hypertension -- Captopril plus some lower-sodium vigilence
seems to be working pretty well.

Heritage? From a largely Eastern-European Jewish family. Love to travel
(and eat wherever I go!) and spend time with family and pals --
especially when there are kids involved. :-) Chronically optimistic.

Wedding plans coming along. Date is 6/25/95 to John Schatzberg who's
daddy to Rosalind (Rozzi).  :-)  :-)  :-)  The rest ... is
yet-to-be-written history!

I can be tracked down in a number of ways:
rattner@carina.unm.edu

Anderson Schools of Management
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque,  NM  USA  87131

505-277-4961
505-277-7108  FAX
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jennie Schiller
Schiller@hslc.org

Location: West Orange, New Jersey (Northern NJ)
Date of birth: 25Jul70
Diagnosed: Jul86
Joined list: Nov93

Right after my "sweet 16," I went on Micronase and diet therapy.  
February 1990, the pills "just stopped working on me," according to my 
then doctor. I went into the emergency room, dehydrated, my BG's way 
above 400. I started insulin treatment. I began with one injection in 
the AM. I now take two - one before breakfast and one before dinner. I 
used to take Novolin 70/30, but now take Humulin N and Humulin R 
(30N/18R in the AM and 20N/2R in the PM). I also take Glucophage two 
times a day.

About me: I graduated from Rutgers University in NJ with my masters in 
Library Science. I concentrated on Children's and Youth Services and am 
now working as a children's and reference librarian in a public library.  

I am an only child, live at home with my mother, grandmother, and 
father, who are my main support network before finding this group. I'm 
single...just can't seem to find Mr. Right, who will take me as I am for 
now (I have a few extra pounds that I'm trying to shed that I gained 
when I went on insulin.) It's tough, but some day it'll happen. :)

Hobbies and likes include: Dancing, music (listening to it), reading, 
penpals, computers, collecting Precious Moments, rubber stamping, and a 
newfound hobby - cross stitching.  

Musical tastes: Hmmm, what >don't< I like??? I listen to almost 
anything! I really love, though, Jethro Tull and Gloria Estefan (I know, 
opposite ends of the spectrum!). My favorite all time singer happens to 
be Michael Crawford (broadway tunes...known for Phantom of the Opera's 
"Music of the Night"). Oh, and I've also added Country music into 
something I love...since I've started Country Dancing as a hobby and 
find it not only great exercise, but lots of fun too!

Well, that's me...but not all of me...there's plenty more to learn, and 
I add to myself almost every day, with new experiences and new hobbies.

Oh, one important thing I forgot to mention above...I am a very big 
HOCKEY fan. My favorite team is the NJ Devils!!! And a second totally 
unrelated thing...I was the first person in my family to have diabetes.  
Yup, I always was unique!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rolf Schreiber
rolf@mathematik.uni-stuttgart.de

Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Date of birth: 24Mar65
Diagnosed: 4Jan91 IDDM
Joined list: 24Jun92

I have Type I DM. I live in Stuttgart, Germany, where I'm working at my
Ph.D. thesis in mathematics. I'm currently on a 3-shot regimen with
variable doses according to the BG and the amount of CHO I will eat.
I'm known to eat _everything_. Doing lots of exercise helps me to work
out with the fat. Apart from DM, my contributions to the discussions
are for biking, juggling, and gambling.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Natalie Sera
nsera@nsn.unr.edu

Location: Reno, Nevada
Date of birth: 3Mar48
Diagnosed 19Aug92, type indeterminate

Convoluted story:
I had some fasting glucose tests that indicated possible impaired
glucose tolerance in 1991. The doctor advised me to buy a glucometer
and test to find out what was going on. The tests showed normal BGs so
he said not to worry about it. ('Course, I DID!)

In August 1992, I had a coronary artery spasm, which is like a heart
attack, except that they did an angiogram and found out that my
arteries were not clogged. My BG was 171, my cholesterol was 325 (HDL
35 and LDL 180), and triglycerides were 450, so they diagnosed me with
NIDDM. However, as soon as I got out of the hospital, the BGs dropped
right back down to normal, and a few months later, I had a normal A1c.
(Hypothesis: I had enough insulin to cover ordinary life but not enough
for a crisis?)

In the summer of 1993, I took a wonderful, 5-week-long trip to Japan
and Korea. When I got back and started back to teaching (I teach
high-school Japanese and English as a Second Language), I started
having the symptoms of being very thirsty, peeing 8 times a day, and
being very hungry all the time. I was also groggy and dumb!

So I trotted off to my doctor, who tested me, and it came out high (I
don't remember exactly how much, but not EXTREMELY high), so she said
to come back in a month and she would test me again. The second test
also came out high, and she put me on Diabeta. I had erratic reactions
to Diabeta, sometimes high and sometimes uncomfortably low. So she sent
me to an endocrinologist who put me on Glucotrol (December 1993).

Glucotrol worked to some extent for about 2 months, but I was still
experiencing both highs and lows, and my dawn phenomenon was creeping
higher and higher (190s and 200s). I was also still constantly hungry.
So we added a shot of NPH to the pills. That also worked more or less,
but I was not getting the level of control that I wanted. I was still
waking up high (160s and 170s) and going higher after breakfast (low to
mid 300s). So we decided to go to insulin alone. At first I was on 2
shots a day, which controlled me nicely during the day, but I was still
waking up high, so then in September 1994 we added a bedtime shot,
which worked like magic. At that point, the endocrinologist changed his
classification to IDDM.

I also have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune dysfunction
of the thyroid. That may be the reason that the endo changed the
classification, but I am certain that I am producing insulin, because I
am easy to control and don't have the wide swings in BG that true Type
I's have. So I skirt the issue and call myself Type 1.479 or 1.892, or
whatever number strikes my fancy. What matters in the long run is how
good is my control, and I pay attention to ALL the info for both Type I
and II!

One of the blessings of having gone on insulin is that my cholesterol
and triglycerides have come down nicely and are now in the normal
range. This is truly JOYFUL news for me since my father had high
cholesterol and had his first heart attack in his late 40s or early
50s. So I figure I have a double-whammy for heart disease and had
better control my risk factors as closely as possible!

Neither one of my parents had diabetes, but my grandmother did. When my
mother got into her 60's and 70's with no sign of it, I heaved a sigh
of relief, believing that it was directly genetic and I was home free
because of that. It was emotionally crushing to find out that I did
have it.

I am a single mother; my son Josh is 21 and going to college at the
University of Nevada, Reno. I have two cats, The Au Lait (he is the
color of tea with milk), and Ankle Biter, the baby blargosaurus. My
hobbies are early music -- I play the viola da gamba which is a
Renaissance stringed instrument with six strings and frets like a
guitar and held between the knees and bowed like a cello, with an
underhand grip -- reading science fiction, Esperanto (a world
language), and travel.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Floyd Shipman
F.S.Shipman@LARC.NASA.GOV

Location: Newport News, Virginia
Date of Birth: 22Dec37
Diagnosed: Somewhat diagnosed circa 1982
Joined list: 20Nov92 (currently lurking on digest)

I live in Newport News, Virginia, and work as a Research Engineer for
NASA. I am married to Lydia who is a Middle School teacher. We have
three children: Jeffery who is married to Debbie and lives in Newport
News, Adam who lives at home, goes to college and works part time for
Busch Gardens, and Gideon who is married to Amy and is in the
Air Force. I was originally from St. Louis, Missouri. Lydia, who was
raised in small towns, thought it was great to marry someone from the
big city. Then we moved to a small city in Southeastern Virginia. She
has put up with it for 30+ years and three children. The city got
bigger but has not moved from Southeastern Virginia :).

Diagnosed with "elevated blood sugars" about 10 years ago during a
routine physical. No one ever used the word diabetes. Went through
three years on pills, ignorance, and denial; three more years on
insulin and denial. Original doctor died. The next 2 or 3 replacements
were not particularly useful. Trained by a diabetic trainer and
dietitian in a hospital-based program. I have Dupuytren's contraction
which I have had surgically repaired. I also have the diabetic
complications of impotence and slow responding heart (caused by
autonomic nerve damage). The impotence has been partially repaired by
surgery. I have no diabetic visual problems.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vanessa Squibb
vms@vectis.demon.co.uk (preferred)
stu_squibb@cix.compulink.co.uk
dc243@cleveland.freenet.edu

Location: England
Date of birth: 13Mar68
Diagnosed: 8Sep92 IDDM
Joined list: 20Mar93

Vanessa Squibb (known as Nessa). Married to Stuart. Diagnosed IDDM
September, 1992. Use Novopen II. I work for local government as an
administrative assistant dealing with elections and electoral
registration. My hobbies include cooking, biking, swimming, and this
list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Joan Stout
sasjcs@unx.sas.com

Location: Durham, North Carolina
Date of birth: 1May55
Diagnosed: Jan72 IDDM
Began pump therapy: May92
Joined list: Aug92

I was diagnosed at age 16 with IDDM (Type I). I began with one
daily injection of NPH and four daily urine tests. Now I am using
a Disetronic pump and testing my BG a minimum of four times a day.
The pump has helped me achieve my lowest A1C ever and to stabilize
my kidney disease. I also eat a low-protein diet to help my kidneys.
I have had laser treatments for diabetic retinopathy, but this condition
has been stable for many years. My acceptance/denial level varies daily.

I graduated from Guilford College in 1978 with a BA degree (majors
in music and sociology). Over the years, I've made my living by
working in book stores and insurance agencies, teaching piano, and
indexing a daily newspaper. In 1990, I earned a certificate in
software technical writing, and I now work as an editor/indexer
at SAS Institute. I also do freelance book indexing.

I have two Border Collies, Jake and Petie. We herd sheep as often as
possible, and Jake and I do pet therapy with cancer patients. For 
exercise, I walk, ride my bike, take aerobics classes, and work out at 
the SAS gym. I love whitewater canoeing, but I haven't done it for a 
couple of years. I also like going to the beach or the mountains, and I 
read a lot.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Stef ten Bras

Location: Leiderdorp/Leiden the Netherlands
Date of birth: 26dec58
Diagnosed: 7april95
Joined list: Jun95???
Native language: Dutch. (So excuse me for the mistakes).

Familly.
One daughter (3 years), one son (1 year). (And my wife Liesbeth).

One aunt with DM, but that's statistically less than average. (Large familly).

On the 7th of april 95, I went with some complaints to my general
practisionar. After discribing the symtoms he sugested that sugar could
be related. After Bg metering (one Hi, then a 27) he diagnosed DM.
After the weekend he convinced me that it would be permanent, but maybe a diet
would be sufficient. Next appointment scheduled a month later. I never made
that appointment, in between I started loosing weigth, feld very bad, was
put on tablets which didn't do anything and was send and admitted to
a hospital on the 4th of may. I was put on insuline that evening.
(Indication for staying in the hospital was, national holiday followed by a
weekend and some ketoacidosis).
The first contact with the diabetic nurse was after the weekend. Got some info
and a Bg meter. Became member of the DVN (Diabetic Organisation Nederland).
But haven't had any contact with other DMers. Still searching for contact from
recently diagnosed IDDMer's. (so if any ?)

Insuline:
Novo Nordisk Novolet 3 Actrapid (Regular) and Insulatart (NPH).
Considering switch to a refill pen.

Metering.
Accutrend Alpha. (Fast and easier to use than the Checkmate, (but only 9 
                  memories.))
Checkmate Plus (Like it because of the memory's (bg/time/insuline, 
                pc connectivity and software, but it's more of a hassle to use
                and slow (90 secs))
Vinger Pricking.
Softclix (from BM) like it (not really) because of it's adjustable.
Checkmate Plus (Hate it, because it's more severe).

Bookkeeping.
Pen and paper. (Flexible).
Use a PC with Quatro Pro. (Bookkeeping an analys).
(The software CHECKLNK for Windows gives several selection possibilities and
several presentations. All very comprehensive.)

Haven't heard or anybody using the Checkmate/Checklnk. (Anybody ?)

Thing specific to The Netherlands.
No, we don't have non invasive meters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
James M. Williams
willijim@ohsu.edu

Location: Portland, Oregon
Date of birth: 26Oct43
Diagnosed: 5Sept65
Began pump therapy: Mar95 (anticipated)
Joined list: 1992

I was in the U.S. Navy and had a car accident in March 1965. Symptoms
developed immediatly. I went to Sick Bay every week (I was in upstate
NY, not on a Base, so the doctor only came once a week) from July until
September when they sent me to the city hospital where the doctor
immediately diagnosed me. The end of a Navy career. I treated my
diabetes with Clinitest and NPH and Regular (pork) until 1978, through
the VA. At that time went on Humulin and started to experience lows
that sent me to the hospital with BG's as low as 17, and that was after
I had enough IV glucose to bring me back. In 1992, after I had A1C of
14.4, I started going to private doctor for treatment of diabetes and
found out about other treatments. I joined this list and learned about
MI and the problems with two shots a day to control BG's. I got my
first meter around 1985. I got a OneTouch II in February 1993. I used
to think if my BG was under 200 I was doing good. Now my BG's are
averaging around 135 with one or two highs a week. I am currently on
beef UL and Regular. Soon to go on a pump.

I am married and live in Newberg, Oregon, if any one gets out this way.
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Will Young

Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Date of birth:
Diagnosed: '87 IDDM
Joined list: '92

Age: 22
Type of Diabetes: Type I, insulin dependent, insulin pump (H-TRON V100)
School attending: Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky

Hello, my name is Will Young. I'm currently a student at a university
in Morehead. My major is music education. I'm active in my paddling
club in Lexington. I'm a kayaker and a flute player, not to forget a
recorder player. I'm also active with computers and have used them
since I was in first grade.

I like using my Novo and Novolin pens better than just normal injection
devices. I'm currently thinking about a pump, but still debating
because of cost and freedom debates.

Hello, my name is Will Young. I'm currently on an H-TRON V100 pump, and
no one could take that away from me. I really wish that everyone in the
USA would consider using a pump. I'm involved in lots of activities,
such as kayaking and musical groups. I regularly play the bagpipes now
(Scottish highland) and also flute, recorders, baroque flute, fife, and
many other instruments that I'm currently learning. I also camp, have
backpacked, and love the outdoors.
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Travis Zinck

Location: Texline, Texas (The very northwestern corner of the Texas
          Panhandle, 10 miles from Clayton, NM.)
Date of birth: 30Sept78
Diagnosed: Oct94

My name is Travis Zinck. I had a good idea what was going on when I got 
diagnosed. My mom had looked my symptoms up in a "home medical" type
book, and eliminated it to "sugar diabetes", and another form of diabetes
caused by the pituatary gland. She told me, "You better hope that it is 
not sugar diabetes, that disease does a LOT of damage to your organs and 
your whole body!" I remember thinking, "Whatever"! 

At the time I was coming home from P.E. everday drinking about a gallon 
of water and sitting in front of the air conditioner.  It was really 
hot, and we never thought much of it.  Then we went to Amarillo one weekend.
We literally went from gas station to gas station where I would buy a 44
ounce coke, and go to the bathroom (the latter always first).  I had severe
trouble making the trip home (120 miles) without stopping more than the 3
times we did stop!  My mouth was constantly dry, I had lost about 10 lbs,
and right after being diagnosed lost another 10 lbs in two weeks!  Of course
I had also rapidly gained weight before I was diagnosed (something not I,
but my family had noticed, but not commented on!)  I was "guess" diagnosed
by my doctor in Amarillo (the next weekend on Friday), and was told to come
back Monday for the results of my tests.  The fatty lipids in my sugar
prevented their lab from being able to read my exact sugar, but they knew my
urine sample was extremely high.  I was sent home, and on the way took a
cold medication caplet for a cold I had at the time also.  Then I read the
back:  "Do not take if you are diabetic".  We panicked, and called 911, and
the poison control.  I got home, checked my sugar, and it read 350.  The
doctor had said to get worried if it went above 150!  We rushed to the
emergency room, where I was admitted, and after 10 units of insulin, my
sugar was in range!  The next night, after being released from the hospital,
I checked my sugar and it showed 450!  The hospital would not simply give me
the insulin or the shot, but instead insisted on admitting me.  We called a
nurse that had been at the hospital, and she met us on a dirt road a few
miles from her home (she was off duty) and gave me a shot of the insulin we
had bought from the local pharmacy we had had open up.  (This was at 11:00
at night)!

So to say the least, in the three days from the time they said that
they thought I had diabetes, to the time that I got my test results and was
referred to the internist I go to now, I learned more about this "fun"
disease than I learned from the educators I talked to on Monday when I went
back to the doctor!  
        
I went on two shots a day of 70/30 insulin, (1 shot  for a about a
month before they added the 2nd shot.)  About 3 months later I then had a
really bad reaction at night, after having about two weeks of really low
blood sugar ranges.  (At the time my internist was in the hospital with
stomach cancer!)  I couldn't breath, and my chest felt like it was going to
blow.  After about 30 minutes I was better, and the doctor on call pulled me
off of insulin totally!  I was off of insulin and in my honeymoon phase for
a full year and a week with my sugars always in range!  It was so nice, but
I really took it for granted!  When I got off of my honeymoon, this last
February, I went back on my two shots, and later on my own choice, asked my
doctor to go on intensive therapy. I have been on it for about 8 weeks, and
I am still regulating my sugar to get it under control, with my doctor.  I
love the increased flexibility of the intense therapy, and also love my pen
that I started using right after I changed therapies!
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