r/diabetes

I need advice on dry cracked feet. I’m pre diabetic ( i’m not sure if i’m fully or not bc i don’t have health insurance im in the process now but this issue has been going in for a while ) My right foot are pretty fucking bad. It’s super dry ahd cracked and no lotion seems to be helping. wtf do i do. I’m super fucking embarrassed about it and i’m just lost rn. I know i need to work on my diabetes but idek where to start without a doctor.

You know how people will ask "Oh what's one weird smell that you like?" Well I would say that I like the smell of insulin. Is it just me?

Brief cliff notes context: So I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes recently. I have barely been able to start dealing with it. When this hit me I hadn't had an established pcp for years since my doc retired. Trying to get in as a new patient has been a nightmare. ER said i needed meds asap but still getting months-out appointment dates. I work sooooo many hours so getting in to an appointment has been next to impossible. I work through office hours. Many days 8-8. I'll schedule a half day and still end up unable to leave until 5 and not make it to my appointment.

I know I need to go in. I'm stressed. I know I need meds. I need help. I need a care plan. But im struggling to survive. And thats WITH insurance.

Today I had to make a heart breaking decision. My work insurance renews Sept. 1st. I had to remove it. The premiums have jumped so high I just cant afford it and survive. I'm a single parent and groceries and gas and crazy high rent are beyond bleeding me dry. I cant afford $1000/month for just me. I had to just through hoops to get the kids covered outside of work because I certainly can't afford over $2K/month to have all three of us covered through work. So the kids are covered. But if we are going to survive cost of living....my insurance has to go.

Any advice on how to even begin to get any kind of diabetic care, or my insulin, or just....anything without insurance. My mom lost half a leg last year right before I was diagnosed. I dont want to lose limbs. I don't want to die. I'm not trying to be dramatic. Just genuinely scared and don't even know where to start. Any advice helps and is greatly appreciated. I'm in Colorado if that helps.

What suggestions do you all have when it comes to glucose? I’m looking for something easy to pack for traveling and also tastes decent. I’m not a huge fan of glucose tablets so preferably something other than that.

My grandfather, diagnosed with diabetes, is suddenly losing his eyesight. He said it's getting difficult to see and can no longer distinguish faces, just silhouettes. I don't know if he's seeing black or if it's blurry, I have to ask about it more.

To those who have similar experiences with people close to them, what can I do to help make his daily living a bit easier? What activities can he do so he can remain occupied? He really loves watching TV. Any tips can help.

Hi everyone. Im currently 16 years old and I’ve been diabetic since the age of 9.I’m the only person in my immediate and extended family to have diabetes so there’s that. I struggled very hard with maintaining my blood sugar when I was first diagnosed but eventually managed to learn to control it. Recently, I haven’t been feeling up to it and sometimes I skip my insulin injections because I just can’t do it. I’ve really tried hard to start taking them but last week, I went four days straight without a single shot. I’m scared to tell my parents but I just can’t inject myself anymore. what should I do?

Recently i was put on Atorvastatin for Cholestrol. it's not bad just 5 but as I'm Diabetic Nurse said it's a bit higher than they'd like it to be.Now someone in another Diabetic group as just told me Statins cause full blown Dementia in a few years!!😳 I can't believe the Nurse as put me on them and they cause that.Im only young well not young young but young compared to some Diabetics.I turned 54 in August.If I could get it down without them surely she would have said but now I'm worried I don't want to end up with that.As this happened to anyone on Statins on here or do u know of someone who as developed Dementia from Statins?

My dad had part of his pancreas removed 5 years ago. Recently he's lost a lot of weight. He is a patient of the VA. His labs done in early August showed a blood glucose of 491. I saw those labs the next day and sent him to the VA urgent care. They gave him fluids and an Rx of Semglee 10 units before bed.
I just saw that his labs taken at urgent care on 8/5 recorded the results of a Hgb A1C test 5 days later on 8/10; his result was >14.

Since his urgent care visit, his sugars have continued to be all over the place - all above 250 but for example he said it was 427 this morning and 327 this afternoon. These numbers in the tens and ones place may not be completely accurate as he has not been thinking clearly and also had a severe stroke a couple years ago leaving him nearly paralyzed on one side of this body.

I am wondering if it's normal to not be called in for correction and stabilization of blood sugars IMMEDIATELY for a new diabetic. I say new but looking deeper into his labs, his A1C July of 2025 was 6.8 yet not a word of diabetes was mentioned by his doctor about this. I found it myself looking into his chart.

I have to add a flair. I am adding type 1.5/LADA but I do believe there could be some damage to his pancreas making an adequate amount of insulin since his surgery.

Should we demand of endocrinology appt? Or trust this primary who missed his diabetic A1C level last year? Again, he goes through the VA.

I have heard so many things. Drink water, drink LOTS of water. Oh, but don't! Your brain might swell from water and you'll die! You have to drink water and eat salt!

No, no, will say yet another group, you should eat food. Carbs. Yes, it is weird, but eat a banana and rage bolus. Trust us. My diabetologist also gave me this advice on the last visit I had.

So here I am, my second time this year when my pump quietly disconnects while I'm asleep and I'm up at 2:30am knowing I'll likely have to call in sick tomorrow because the kind of sick you get from high BG + 3 hours of no insulin is a unique kind of torture. And I'm drinking water and am mildly annoyed, because I don't really know what to do to be "proper" about this. Should I snort some salt as a chaser after the 0.5L I just chugged? Should I go get a banana from the fridge instead?

I'm unashamedly a bit of an idiot. Fellow Type 1 Diabetics, what do you do when your blood glucose jumps out of orbit to safely return to Earth?

Edit: Thank you everyone for the suggestions! I went for a walk and did some squats and then as soon as my BG hit 300 on its way down I went to sleep. I am now awake, feel like I have the world's worst hangover, and am about to go to work. Thank you for keeping me company at the ass crack of dawn, y'all are awesome!

Hi everyone, I’m a 21M with Type 3c (pancreatogenic) diabetes due to chronic pancreatitis, which I’ve had for around 6 years.

My recent HbA1c was 6.9%, and over the past few years it has generally been around 6.2–6.9%.

My endocrinologist has told me that, for Type 3c, keeping HbA1c between 6-7 % represents good control. However, I still feel quite anxious about whether my control is actually good enough, especially because I experience fluctuations in my blood sugar.

I currently manage my diabetes with Humalog insulin pens along with Glucobay (acarbose). Unfortunately, in my country, insulin pumps and CGMs aren’t covered, so I rely on finger-stick glucose testing.

I’d really appreciate hearing from others with Type 3c:
What is your usual HbA1c?

Do you guys notice a-change in pattern regarding blood sugar spikes and lows? Whenever i visit different cities, my sugar levels changes drastically. Sometimes requiring 20-30 units of Humalog a day or sometimes no insulin at all.

I really appreciate some tips for managing blood sugar.

I know everyone’s situation is different, but I’d really like to understand what “good control” looks like for other people living with Type 3c.

Some of you might remember this thread I posted the other day. Everytime I lifted weights my blood sugar would drop.

https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/s/DFO7ARmOEo

My A1C is 4.1 and wow I was NOT expecting that. It’s time to find an endocrinologist. I did not think it would be this low. I have lost 200 pounds and walk 20,000 steps a day. Thank you to this community for all of your support.

I have type 2 diabetes and want to continue smoking mariuana via bong just for helping me sleep, is that bad for me?

My Dad 51M has Type 2 Diabetes. Not only has he always been an angry guy, but he also intentionally seeks out things that make him angry like sports, the news, and arguing with people online he doesn’t agree with. Today he got banned on an app because he’s ruthless on there and he was desperate for my phone number to make a new account. I know that anger releases cortisol, and frequent anger leading to heightened cortisol most of the time can affect blood sugar for people with diabetes, and also being angry that much can put strain on the heart, and he has a history of heart problems. Does anyone have advice about this?

Just wondering if there is some sort of a general concensus on this.

Both my sons are T1.

As I get close to retirement (and death) , I find my self really worrying more than ever about their coverages being tied to work. I tend to think it might be better for them to move abroad and change vocations as needed. Of course, I can't make them move, but when we talk about it, Canada is the obvious choice ( we are near Detroit) ...

One works for Ford, and the other remote IT/WFH. Both have insurance, but both are getting crushed with co-pays and assorted death by 1000 cuts type costs.

I was diagnosed w type 2 dm like a month ago, i started going to the gym a week ago.

what is the best routine for me, i hear so many things but i cant decide for ex: a full body workout, pro split etc

can someone offer any guidance for what to do? and like give me a weekly plan?

i go 3-4 times a week and try to walk 10k steps in the days i don't go(i don't always finish them lol)

thanks