[acb-diabetics] personal up-date

[MARILYN LUTTER]

Hi Everyone,

I am sending this update so that everyone who ever wonders about how I am 
doing will know what has happened to me since the July convention.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1998.  I have seen myself as doing 
well for the most part.  Once my blood glucose levels were initially 
stabilized my a 1 c has been below 7.  The only complication I had was 
neuropathy in my feet.  That has been well controlled with lyrica for the 
past several years.

On August 8, I noticed a lot of burning in my feet which felt like my 
neuropathy did before I found any medication to help.

I forgot to take my medicine that night which is extremely unusual for me. 
The next day I had a lot of pain in my right foot.  I have a chronic pain 
problem there and thought  it was an extreme episode of that pain.  My 
cleaning lady said there was something on my foot.  Since I had seen my 
podiatrist the day before and he had said I had a little athlete's foot on a 
couple toes.  I told her I had athletes foot and nothing else was said.  I 
should have asked what it was and where it was.  Lesson learned.

On the tenth I woke up with a very swollen toe.  It was the one next to the 
big toe on my right foot.  Ordinarily I would have called my podiatrist 
immediately.  I had an appointment for ten am. for my annual check-up.  When 
my doctor saw my foot he said "forget about the annual check-up.  You are 
going to the hospital."

To make a long story short, I had a severe staph infection and had to have 
the toe amputated two days later.

I have recovered and am doing well, but I learned a lesson about the 
importance of foot care.  I thought I was doing a good job, but apparently 
not good enough.

After I got out of the hospital I asked my cleaning lady what she had seen 
on my foot the day before I went to the hospital.  It was a red spot.  If I 
had asked that question the day before I went to the hospital I could have 
gotten medical treatment more promptly.  Of course I don't know if this 
could have prevented the amputation, but maybe It would have.

Hope this doesn't scare any one to death, but I will never forget it, and 
don't want anyone else to experience such a thing.

Marilyn Lutter