Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Insulin or Death
    Insulin or Death
    Insulin or Death
    Ebook158 pages3 hours

    Insulin or Death

    By Stephen Lehmann

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    This is my story of LADA Diabetes. In 2009, I was diagnosed with diabetes, but misdiagnosed as Type II. It is estimated the 20% of patients face the same misinformation.

    If you, a family member, or a friend have diabetes, this story is important to you. Don't miss the opportunity to learn the lessons that almost took my life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStephen Lehmann
    Release dateJan 30, 2013
    ISBN9781301812844
    Insulin or Death
    Author

    Stephen Lehmann

    STEPHEN LEHMANN brings dramatic, insightful writing to tell this buried story. A retired air traffic controller, Stephen’s talent for historic novels shines as he delves into the details of Ruth’s life that must be heard. Stephen has three children. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his dog, Lady.

    Related to Insulin or Death

    Related ebooks

    Wellness For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Voicing Our Fears

      Aug 30, 2019

      Voicing Our Fears
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Covid-19 Vaccine: The True Fallout

      Apr 1, 2024

      The Covid-19 Vaccine: The True Fallout
      14 min read

    • Article

      Internet

      Jun 1, 2021

      Internet
      1 min read

    • Article

      For Older Adults, Change In Weight Linked To Death Risk

      Dec 18, 2018

      Middle-aged and elderly adults who gain or lose a moderate to large amount of weight—defined as a 10 percent change in weight—may have an increased risk of death, particularly from cardiovascular disease, a new study shows. Between them, weight loss

      1 min read

    • Article

      Trust Your Gut

      Mar 3, 2020

      Trust Your Gut
      9 min read

    • Article

      THE Genius Paradox

      May 4, 2020

      THE Genius Paradox
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Immortality Hype: Despite the hyperbole, private funding is changing the science of aging for the better.

      May 26, 2016

      It’d be easy to miss the unobtrusive brown door to Joon Yun’s second floor office, tucked away next to a dry cleaners and a hair salon in downtown Palo Alto, California. But the address itself speaks loud enough. Four-hundred-seventy University Avenu

      17 min read

    • Article

      Bugs for POCD

      Nov 21, 2021

      Bugs for POCD
      1 min read

    • Article

      Focus (if You Still Can)

      Jan 7, 2022

      Focus (if You Still Can)
      13 min read

    • Article

      Health Matters

      Mar 18, 2023

      Health Matters
      1 min read

    • Article

      Comorbidities Are The Primary Cause

      Jul 25, 2021

      To be fair, the official story and statistics have reported that underlying health conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes are key factors in Covid-19 fatalities. Yet the data show they’re more than contributing factors: they’re the pr

      2 min read

    • Article

      Which Infections Trigger Particular Diseases?

      Nov 24, 2019

      Below are some of the typical infections associated with the most common autoimmune disorders. If your autoimmune condition is not listed, do your own research by searching online for “[your autoimmune condition] and infections” to learn which specif

      1 min read

    • Article

      The Benefits Of Cannabis

      Feb 21, 2023

      The Benefits Of Cannabis
      1 min read

    • Article

      Your Biological Age

      Dec 11, 2019

      It turns out the age of constant self-examination given everything we do is reflected on our Fitbits and iPhones where our daily performance is perpetually evaluated might indeed have some survival value. Social media might simply be reflecting our g

      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Insulin or Death

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Insulin or Death - Stephen Lehmann

      Insulin or Death

      My Journey with LADA Diabetes

      By Stephen Lehmann

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2013 Stephen Lehmann

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      All rights reserved

      This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted any form by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise – without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

      Published by Serenity Book Publishers

      www.serenitybookpublishers.com

      Cover Photograph: John Michael Hinton

      ISBN 978-1-301812-84-4

      Disclaimer

      This is my story of my journey in the world of LADA Diabetes. I am not a medical doctor. I am not giving medical advice. Every person has different medical needs. If you think you have diabetes, see a doctor.

      Dedication

      This is dedicated to my daughter, Marlaina. The teen years were hard, but she has stood with me.

      Table of Contents

      Chapter 1 Call 911

      Chapter 2 D O A?

      Chapter 3 I Can’t Read That

      Chapter 4 Pee in the Cup, Please

      Chapter 5 Crisis, What Crisis

      Chapter 6 School Time

      Chapter 7 A Pinch of This

      Chapter 8 Time for a Change

      Chapter 9 Life is Good

      Chapter 10 It’s Time

      Chapter 11 Diabetes Saved My Life

      Chapter 12 Author

      Chapter 13 On the Road

      Chapter 14 I See You

      Chapter 15 On the Needle

      Chapter 16 Choices

      Chapter 17 The Ups and Downs

      Chapter 18 Lessons Learned

      Appendix

      The Discovery of Insulin

      All In

      Diabetes Myths

      Common Terms

      Chapter 1

      Call 911

      Steve, are you okay?

      I heard Brenda, the waitress at IHOP. I saw concern on her face. I felt her touch on my shoulder. The only thing that I could not do was tell her that I was sick.

      Steve, are you okay? You’re shaking like a leaf!

      Activity was picking up around me. The other customers were staring. I was the center of attention, but it was not the attention that I wanted. All I wanted was breakfast. I had to make the decision I faced every morning, should I get the Simple and Fit 2x2x2 or the Simple and Fit Blueberry Harvest Grain ‘N Nut® Combo?

      Steve. Steve! Is it your diabetes?

      The Blueberry Harvest Combo has 560 calories, and the 2x2x2 has 400 calories. I’ve lost another 25 pounds in the last two months. I can afford the extra calories.

      I need some help back here! Brenda was yelling. Steve, should I call 911?

      Order breakfast and then do the crossword puzzle and the Sudoku. That’s my routine. I’m sticking to my routine.

      Oh my God, I think he’s going into diabetic shock.

      The activity grew to a crescendo around me. In the background, I heard someone say, My uncle has diabetes. That man needs sugar or orange juice, now! Within seconds, someone was feeding me sugar, and then I felt a glass of orange juice pressed to my lips.

      Instantly, the effects of sugar and orange juice vibrated through my body. My body trembled like a can of paint in a paint shaker, and I could not control it. I stared at my hands, willing the shaking to stop to no avail. Why can’t I control my body? I can always control my body. This is bad!

      Steve, Brenda was saying, we’ve called 911. Do you need more orange juice?

      I tried to wave my hand, but because of the shaking I did not know if anyone could understand that I was sure the orange juice was not helping. My ears began ringing, and my head felt as if it were about to explode. A lucid thought finally penetrated into the depths of my mind. I’m having a stroke!

      When first diagnosed as being diabetic, I researched my disease. I remembered reading that one of the potential effects was heart attacks and strokes. I had never experienced a stroke but knew that the pressure in my head felt like a balloon about to burst.

      I have no idea whether the paramedics arrived in two or twenty minutes. In my present condition time had no relevance. Am I going to die in IHOP? Will my kids miss me? These stupid questions flashed in my mind as I realized that I could be facing death.

      They were tugging on my arm and trying to move me to a stretcher. I can’t leave yet. I drank orange juice, and I have to pay my bill. I struggled to express myself, but they could not understand what was coming out of my mouth. As they got me to my feet, I wrestled my left hand free and reached into my pocket for money.

      Don’t worry about that! Brenda said. You need to go with them.

      The paramedics performed the standard test: blood pressure and heart rate. Brenda told them that I was diabetic, and they pricked my finger for a blood glucose (BG) test. Within seconds of the BG, I felt the stretcher beginning to move. In the back of the ambulance, questions came at me fast and furious from the lady EMT.

      What’s your last name, Steve? the EMT said.

      I quickly gave up trying to answer because they did not understand my mumbles. How can I tell them? My wallet and license!

      Steve, we’re going to take you to the hospital. Would you rather go to Community South or Saint Vincent?

      You don’t understand that I don’t care!

      She asked again, and I pointed when she said, Saint Vincent.

      Suddenly, I felt a needle inserted into my arm and fluids began pumping into my system. As the ambulance started moving I heard her talking on the radio, giving my vitals to the hospital.

      I’m safe. They’re going to take care of me. I can relax again.

      Steve, wake up! You can’t go to sleep yet!

      I struggled to remain awake.

      I could hear her on the radio, Male, age 53. BP 128 over 78. Diabetic. Probable DKA. Be ready when we get there. ETA six minutes.

      Did she just say DOA? She thinks I’m going to be Dead on Arrival in six minutes!

      Return to Top

      Chapter 2

      DOA?

      Steve, what’s wrong? the EMT was saying.

      D O A? I managed to get her understand, finally.

      What? What are you talking about?

      I labored, again, to form words that she could understand. You said DOA on the radio.

      No, I was just giving them your vitals. I told them that you were probably suffering from Diabetic Ketoacidosis, DKA.

      Her eyes gave away her thoughts, and I could almost see a light bulb shine as she understood the miscommunication.

      You mistook DKA for DOA. We’re going to get you to the hospital, and they’ll take care of you. DKA is serious, even critical, but they’ll take care of you.

      As I digested the words, the anxiety drained from my soul. I noticed that she had not said that I was going to die.

      The marvels of modern medicine pulsated throughout the room; IV tubes in the wrist, blood pressure cuff on the arm, EKG tabs on the chest. Nurses came, most introduced themselves, but the names went in one ear and out the other.

      I avoid doctors as a rule; too many seem arrogant. During my professional life, arrogant people are normal. We enjoyed telling doctors and lawyers what to do and where to go. Our job was to keep them safe. My life was in their hands now. I was in their home field and depended on them.

      Every 15 minutes, a nurse stood at my bedside, asking for a finger to prick. For the first couple of hours in the emergency, I was rarely alone.

      We’re going to keep you here in the emergency room for a couple of hours, the nurse was saying. After we make sure that you’re stabilized you’ll be going to ICU.

      Any idea how long I’m going to be in the hospital? I was able to ask.

      You’re going to be with us for a while. It’s hard to say exactly, but this weekend you might be going home.

      Weekend! Today’s Monday. Thanksgiving is coming in three weeks. It’s been a

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1