Category Archives: Getting Healthy
Sharing Diabetes and Supplement Information #2: Janumet
Second post in a series…
This is the second in a series where I go through all the drugs and vitamin supplements that my doctor has instructed me to take and I provide you with a list of links / readings / background information.
For the full backstory and the 411 on Invokana and the ACA, check out the first post:
Sharing Diabetes and Supplement Information #1: Introduction, Invokana and the ACA
I can hear the collective groan from my assembled readers… “Just give us the short story!” — well as you should all know by now, I don’t do short very well. But, I shall try. 😀
I am a fairly new diabetic. I was diagnosed in June 2015, approximately 5 months ago. My doctor immediately put me two diabetic drugs. This was in addition to the drugs I was taking to control my high blood pressure and dust/dust mite allergies.
A month ago at my last doctor’s visit, I was ordered to start taking a HUGE number of mega-doses of vitamin and mineral supplements.
Which lead me to a BUNCH of questions:
Are there any interactions that I should be watching out for?
..- What are all these things supposed to be doing to improve my health?
.. - Are any of these things the cause of:
- …a constant low volume ringing in my ears?
- …a weird pattern I’m seeing in my blood sugar levels? [Since I’ve started taking the supplements, my fasting blood sugar levels have increased dramatically.]
..
Standard Disclaimer:
I am NOT a doctor. I am not offering medical advice. You should ALWAYS consult your doctor before making any medical decisions.
Why share such personal information?
Well, I’m a bit of a drama queen. LOL I love talking about Moí!
Actually, I’m a retired Librarian. I enjoy sharing information. I get a kick out of it.
Since I’m doing this research online no matter what for my own benefit, I thought I’d make a series of blog posts out of it so that others could benefit as well.
Read the first article in this series for more detail on how and why I chose these particular links / articles.
Janumet (Sitagliptin / Metformin)
Q: When and how should I take Janumet?
A: Online, everything I read said “take with meals” — but that wasn’t exactly “helpful. Sheesh. I wanted EXACTNESS! Did “with meals” mean just before the meal or actually when I was eating? Did the drug need time to be absorbed BEFORE I started to eat? And if I was supposed to take it “with meals” then wouldn’t that mess up the timing if I’m taking two pills a day? I mean, logically, it makes sense to take two doses of medication 12 hours apart if you are taking “two per day”. If I took it “with meals” then it wouldn’t be 12 hours apart — after all, breakfast and dinner are NOT 12 hours apart. *sigh*
Of course every article also said to “ask your doctor” so I did. 🙂
My doctor said: to take the 1st pill of the day 10 minutes before eating breakfast (basically I take it when I start cooking breakfast). For the second dose of the day, my doctor said to take it approximately 12 hours later. So if I eat breakfast at 9 am, then I should take the second pill around 9 pm.
Q: Any drug interactions that I should watch for?
A: Yes, as with most drugs there is a big long list of possible interactions.
I discovered that, for me, what I need to be most aware of is a possible interaction with my high blood pressure medication, Enalapril and with my Niacin supplement. So, I bet you can guess what I’m about to say…all together now:
Note to self: ask my doctor about this when I see her next time!
Janumet (Sitagliptin / Metformin)
Information / Articles / Links
Janumet (WebMD)
Link: http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-148074/janumet-oral/details
Diabetes Medicines You Don’t Inject (WebMD)
Link: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/oral-medicine-pills-treat-diabetes
Sitagliptin (MedlinePlus)
Link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a606023.html
Metformin (MedlinePlus)
Link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a696005.html
Medication Guide for Janumet (Food & Drug Administration)
Note: This is a PDF file. Get the current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Link: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/drugs/drugsafety/ucm204268.pdf
Janumet (website mantained by the drug’s manufacturer)
Link: http://www.janumetxr.com/sitagliptin_metformin_HCL/janumetxr/consumer/what-is-janumet/index.xhtml
Note: Yes, you can get lots of information on the manufacturer’s website.
However, when using any manufacturer’s website, you need to put on your “buyer beware” hat. Think about it: the company is a business which means that it is to their advantage to emphasis the positives and minimize the negatives even as they do everything the law requires them to do in terms of disclosure of risks.
Trust, but verify be thy motto when reading information provided by the manufacturer.
Discount ($5 copay program / Savings Card for Janumet)
Note: I am on this program. The application process is easy to complete. Basically the program works like a coupon when you pick up your monthly prescription at the pharmacy. My copay for this drug is $100. The pharmacy rings up $100 then they apply the “coupon” and Tah-DAH, my balance due is only $5.
Link: http://www.activatethecard.com/7159/
Free Trial for Janumet (30 day supply)
Note: I took advantage of this when I first started taking Janumet. For me that was 60 tablets because my doctor ordered me to take it 2x per day. The Free Trial works like a coupon at the pharmacy during checkout. When the coupon is applied, there is zero cost. You pay nothing. Your insurance company pays nothing.
Special Note: If you have trouble redeeming the coupon have the clerk ring the transaction all by itself. When I did this, it wouldn’t work if I had anything else on the ticket other than just the Janumet. I have no idea why the computers were not happy but once ONLY the Janumet was on the ticket, everything worked fine.
See ya on the dance floor!
P.S. If you find any of this information valuable, please “Like” and “Share” it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter etc.
P.P.S. If you found this information REALLY helpful and/or valuable then please consider helping me out by making a small donation via PayPal to help me
- pay for my medications,
- pay for vitamins & supplements,
- and/or to help me pay for practice fees as I return to the dance floor.
See ya on the dance floor!
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Sharing Diabetes and Supplement Information #1: Introduction, Invokana, and ACA
First post in a series…
When I started writing this post two days ago, I had intended it to be just a “quick” post.
SIGH
Well, it is turning into quite the project. And waaaaaaaaay too long for a single post. So, here is the “introduction” and the 411 on Invokana.
For those who aren’t hip to all the current jargon… “411” is what the kid’s these days call “information.”
Questions! I got Questions!
Because of a recent doctor’s visit, I have a bunch of questions. And I went online and started doing some research, trying to get answers to those questions.
After a little bit, it occurred to me that I should put the information I found into a blog post. Sort of a one-stop shop with links, where I use my searching skills to save you folks a lot of time.
I know that I’ve had a recent surge of new subscribers who found my blog because of the Diabetes information that I’ve posted.
So, if any of you folks have answers or comments based on your own experience then, please SHARE them in the comments at the end of this post.
Standard Disclaimer:
I am NOT a doctor. I am not offering medical advice. You should ALWAYS consult your doctor before making any medical decisions.
A bit of background…
I was diagnosed with diabetes in June of this year. I started taking Invokana and Janumet in mid-June and started testing my AM fasting blood sugar levels in late June.
I’m visiting my doctor once a month right now so that my doctor can keep a close watch on things not only because I’m a newly diagnosed diabetic, but because I’m “obese” (workin’ on that!) and I have high blood pressure (workin’ on that too!)
One bonus of going to see my doctor monthly is that it really helps me; just knowing that I’m going to weigh in and will have my blood pressure checked, keeps me on track. To date, I’ve lost 27-30 lbs since my heaviest weight of 333 lbs. Yay!
My weight fluctuates a little, of course. This morning I weighed 305 which gives me a 28lb loss to date. But the good news is that I’m nearing at a threshold / plateau breaker of 300 lbs. Unfortunately my body is resisting going past that hurdle. Grrrrrrrrrr
At last month’s regular visit, about four weeks ago, I had a really BIG blood work panel done when I was at my doctor’s office. That visit was the 3 month anniversary of my diabetes diagnosis; which is why she did the big blood work panel — 3 months after I had been taking the two diabetes medications.
Well, last week, at this month’s doctor visit, she gave this multi-page report that were the results from the blood work.
OMG! It was huge.
Who knew that you could discover so much about a person just from their blood! A bit overwhelming actually.
Good & Bad News in the Report
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My shortest post ever… “I’m on a Positive Feedback Loop”
In completely random order…
OK, folks this is going to look more like a “Facebook” or “Twitter” post than one of my usual blog posts…
BUT… Sqqqqeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! I am feeling AWESOME at the moment and I just had to share
The past couple / three weeks have seen some NOTICEABLE improvements in my health and fitness. A few months ago I felt as if I had hit the very bottom; I just didn’t see how it could get any worse.
Now, a few months further along, I think I was right. That was the “bottom” — why? I’m glad you asked. Because since then things have been getting better, a little at a time. A TEENY tiny LITTLE itty bitty bit at a time, but better.
So, in no particular order, these are the things that I’m happy about this morning:
- My weight on the scale this morning was 300.6 lbs. OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!!!! Sooooooooooooooooo close to being under 300lbs! I can almost TASTE it!
- I went shopping at Kroger this week. Which is a HUGE step. I’ve been shopping at this tiny grocery mart called “Braums” for the bulk of my food. Because frankly I didn’t have the strength or stamina to go shopping at a large grocery store — the distance I had to cover to do my shopping was more than I had the strength to do. Literally. No exageration. But this week I shopped at Kroger, AND I was able to carry ALL of the groceries up the stairs without having to ask my room mate for help! Yay!
- I did a two loads of laundry on Saturday. And it wasn’t until I was done that I realized that it wasn’t an ordeal. Which is FRIGGIN’ AMAZING!
- I have met my Out of Pocket Maximum with my insurance for the year, which means that for the rest of the year everything is covered at 100% Yay! Even doctor’s visits copays and Rx copays are all zero! Yay!
- Did I mention that my weight was 300.6 lbs?
- I sold my bed! Yay! That means that I no longer have to pay $29 a month for a storage unit. Yay!
- And the money from the bed ($150) covered the gap between my monthly pension and the amount I need to pay bills. Now all I need to earn is money for food for the 2nd half of the month. Yay!
- I did a chart for my doctor — I have an appointment tomorrow morning (Tue Oct 6). My blood glucose numbers are on a downward trajectory which means that the diabetes medication is doing its job. I think it will do an even better job once I start taking it on a completely regular schedule. I sometimes forget to take the night-time dose. (My bad.) My doctor is going to give me a “Mom Look” tomorrow when I see her. But she’ll give me a hug for loosing more weight! 😀
- Avg for Last two weeks: 125
- Avg for Last four weeks: 126
- Avg for Last Last eight weeks: 127
- Avg for Last twelve weeks: 130
- Avg for Sept: 126
- Avg for Aug: 128
- Avg for July: 137
- And finally. This is the week. Come hell or high water, I am going to get to the dance studio three times this week! Well, technically, I’m not going to a “dance studio” — For me my “dance studio” is actually 24 Hour Fitness aerobics room, butcha know what I mean.. 🙂
See ya on the dance floor!
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What is a normal Blood Glucose Level?
It is harder to figure out than you think…
I’m headed to my doctor’s office on Tuesday, so in preparation for that I’m printing out reports from my Blood Glucose Meter.
I was looking at the reports and started to wonder about those “target ranges” and what exactly did they mean. I wanted to know:
- “What is a normal blood glucose level?” (the answers I found are in this post)
.. - “Given that there is a normal RANGE… is it OK for a person who is diabetic and on medication to be anywhere in that range?” (couldn’t find an answer from a trusted source so I’m gonna ask my doctor on Tuesday)
Getting a “good” “reliable” answer…
Depending on where you look, you get different answers. sigh And it MUST be correct because it’s on the Internet! Right? sigh
All kidding aside, some sites are better than others when it comes to reliable information. But even with sites you trust, there can be differences.
Take it from a retired Librarian with over 30 years of searching experience: check and double check when doing “research” on the web. Then check it again, just to be sure. Not all information resources are created equal.
The ones I’m sharing with you now are, in my professional opinion, on the “reliable” end of the spectrum.
Bayer (as in Bayer aspirin) the maker of my Blood Glucose Meter says:
The meter I use is the Bayer Contour Next. The default settings are:
- 70 – 180 mg/dL — Overall
- 70 – 130 mg/dL — Fasting
- 70 – 130 mg/dL — Before a meal
- 70 – 180 mg/dL — After a meal
I’ve been testing consistently for about 3 months now and my doctor wants to look at the data when I visit her on Tuesday — which is what prompted my questions and this post in the first place. 🙂
One of the questions I have for her is whether or not the default settings in the monitor are what she wants me to use as my “target” ranges OR does she want me to use something different.
WebMD says:
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5 – 6 – 7 – 8 — UPDATE! Woo Hoo! Dancing is upon us!
Isn’t that CUTE?!?!
Get it?
“5-6-7-8” as in the count off which dancers use to start dancing and then…
…TahDAH! “Update” Woo Hoo.
I think I shall keep it and use it as a standard “Quickie” header for a four point update post.
Whatcha think?
Five…
You may have noticed a theme in the last few posts and a flurry of activity…
Yes, you have correctly noticed that I’m kinda freaking about about MONEY! It is because I need it and I don’t have it.
Why? Well we are in the Fall.
And “Fall” is when I have to do an oil change on my truck, a tune up on my truck, get my truck inspected and pay the annual registration taxes/tags to the State. It is also when my AAA (American Automobile Association) membership renews each year.
AND it is one of two times a year (every six months) when my auto insurance renews.
And this time $#@#$@@##$@@!!!!! Progressive, which is otherwise a pretty good insurance company, RAISED MY FRIGGIN INSURANCE RATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON other than the money sucking fat cat capitalists want to GET EVERY LAST penny out of people like me who live below the poverty line!
Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!
Yes, I’m stressed. And I need money, so I’m trying to sell some stuff and yes, I’m begging for donations (which no one has ever actually done…) sigh
Want to be the first? The donate button is always over there in the right hand column…
Or you can buy a cool design from my online store: TxCowboyDancer Designs
And check out “My Online Garage Sale” — There will be more stuff added to it over the next little while. Most of the stuff will be dance related in one way or another. — No, I can’t have an “actual” garage sale. The complex I live in has rules against that kind of thing. SIGH
Six…
2010 Worlds – Line Dance World Champion! — Yes, that’s me in the top spot! Graduating into the Advanced Division!
However, the “once a year bills” are not the only money stressor.
There is a bigger one that is directly related to my long-term goals of getting fit and healthy.
(By the way, I use big words – once a gain my spell check had no idea what a particular word was. In this case — what a “stressor” was. I had to add it to the dictionary on my computer.)
I admit defeat. There. I said it. I will never ever “exercise” for the sake of “exercise.”
I hate exercise. I will. NOT. Do. It.
But I do love to dance!
Dance is not exercise.
Dance is fun.
Dance is passion.
Dance is what I miss MOST from “before” my health went to crap.
Dance is what I love to do — which my body “thinks” is “exercise” but which my mind and my heart sees as “fun”
Cycling is the other one, but DANCE has the potential to also enable me to MAKE money eventually and dig myself out of this financial hole that I’m in because once I get to a certain level of fitness, I can start TEACHING dance again! So Dance gets priority over cycling.
And, “dance” is what will help me become physically fit and healthy again! Who Hoo! Woot even! and YeeeeeeeHawwwwww!
But for now, at the outset, Dance is also a money-stressor. sigh
Why? I’m glad you asked. 🙂
I need choreography…
One thing that is adding to my stress levels is that I need money to pay for Choreography.
As part of my (1) return to dancing and competition dancing and (2) as part of my efforts to become fit and healthy, I want / am planning to / strongly desire to compete in Showcase Line Dance next year.
I can choreograph, but my choreography, compared to a talented professional choreographer is like a child’s finger painting compared to a Picasso or Monet.
I have only begun to play around with choreography and that is what my choreography looks like – a beginner’s efforts.
And folks you don’t “win” at Worlds with choreography that looks like a beginner’s efforts! A major portion of the scoring for Showcase Line Dance is the quality of the choreography!
I need the help of a Pro!
I have my first choreographer lined up. She has agreed to do it for $80 per hour. She is an amazing dancer and choreographer with years of experience. She has even choreographed for Hollywood and Broadway!
She thinks it will take 3-4 hours do to it which means that I need between $240 and $320 to pay her for the choreography.
5-6-7-8 Dancing My Way to a Healthy Me! 