It’s been public on social media since last week when we made the announcement, but we’ve been adjusting to a medical diagnosis given on July 31. Hard to believe it’s been less than a week and half, considering how much our lifestyle has already changed.
Fulltime RVers aren’t immune from “normal” challenges, sickness being one of them. But we’ve joined a courageous band of travelers who don’t let conditions or diseases keep them from traveling. There are still unknowns, but we’re determined to protect our life on the road.
In the process, we want to encourage others who are facing unknowns of their own. So here it is–transparent as always–the beginning of our fight against Type II Diabetes.
Something Was Wrong
Silas, Eric, and Javen (foreground) with Kolan and his sonsEric was not feeling right, or well, for most of July. He could not drink enough water to quench his thirst. He was up multiple times a night using the bathroom, which wrecked havoc on his rest. He had lower back pain. His vision went blurry. So blurry that it wasn’t safe for him to drive, so we got him prescriptions for glasses and contacts.
Last Monday, he was playing a role-playing game with our three older sons–with us for the summer–and one of his best friends, Kolan, and Kolan’s sons. He had been so parched all day that he drank every water bottle for sale in the game store. Then he started in on soda and gatorade because his mouth was so dry.
Towards the end of the night, Eric placed Kolan’s hand on his forehead. He was clammy with cold chills. How fortunate that Kolan is an experienced physician, now medical director at the hospital in Somerset, KY where we were visiting his family. Kolan took Eric into his hospital immediately for bloodwork.
Those of you who are familiar with the disease already know where this is going. Eric’s blood sugar was over 500 (the meter maxed out at 500). Normal blood sugar is 80-130. Prediabetic is 130-250. Eric most definitely had–and has–Type II Diabetes.
What Do We Do With This Medical Diagnosis?
This aisle, along with most of the aisles at the grocery store, are off limitsIn addition to feeling terrible physically, Eric was in shock. Really, the shock is just now starting to wear off a week and a half later. More than anything, it’s the required dietary changes that are the biggest lifestyle change. Those of you who know Eric, know that he loves his burgers, pizza, and ice cream. He’s been known to scoff at healthy food, and has proclaimed multiple times that he will die with a double bacon cheeseburger in his hand.
In light of all that, I’m amazed by and proud of the way he has chosen to diligently comply with his new reality. He’s carefully monitoring what he eats, has joined a diabetes support group on Facebook, and is constantly researching the disease. As we try to get his blood sugar under 130, his diet is extremely strict. He’s not enjoying it much. But he’s doing it.
My life has changed, too. I’d been cooking meals at home less and less ever since we started traveling, but I almost stopped completely as my pregnancy progressed and I had less energy. We were eating out all the time. Now, we can still eat out, but not what Eric wants, so we eat at home. Since last Monday, I’ve cooked almost every meal at home, and meals I’ve never made before. The planning, shopping, and time commitment were overwhelming at first, but it’s starting to be fun.
Not only that, but Eric never used to eat breakfast before his diagnosis. Now, we gather at the table every morning before we start work. Eric usually feeds Caspian while I make his breakfast, and then we all sit at the table together and take a collective breath before diving into whatever the day holds. It’s so beautiful.
How Does This Diet Work?
One of Eric’s early diabetes snacks–carrots, blueberries, and crackers are now off limitsEric is eating five small meals a day at roughly 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. All meals are between 350-400 calories so we don’t deprive his system, or shock it with a huge meal. The reality is that he’s never hungry with the regular meals.
As of right now, Eric is following a ketogenic diet: low carbs and high fat. His diet mostly consists of meat and fish, cheese, eggs, nuts, vegetables, and some berries. He’s avoiding processed foods, carbs, and sugar, even including most fruit and corn that are sweet.
Goals and Results
Kolan said he wanted Eric to be consistently under 160 blood sugar in two weeks. Obviously the ultimate goal is normal blood sugar: 80-130. Nine days ago on July 31, Eric’s sugar was over 500. We don’t actually know what it was. It could’ve been 700 or even higher.
His low was this morning: 156. His low two hours after eating was last night: 170. So we’re getting there, but still have a way to go.
How Do We Get Medical Care?
We’re still figuring out what Eric’s medical care will look on the road. Once his sugar is under control, his liver should just need to be checked twice a year. But right now, he’s only been unofficially checked by Kolan and through a trip to the emergency room (it wasn’t an emergency, just the best way to get care at the time with our insurance).
Eric’s primary care manager is in Austin. We can go to urgent care or an emergency room if necessary, but there’s no way for us to visit a doctor, get a prescription, or get a referral to a specialist without seeing the primary care manager first. That’s the way our insurance works (TriCare Prime, the military retiree insurance program).
Technically, we can change insurance regions, and then change primary care managers. In fact, that may be what we end up doing. Eric’s short-term metaformin prescription will run out soon, so we’ll need to do something. But are we going to need to change primary care managers every few weeks until this thing is under control? I have no clue yet.
So What Do We Know?
We know next to nothing. But we know we’re in this together, and we know it’s going to be okay.
We know Type II Diabetes is serious. On NPR the other day, I heard a chilling fact. If trends continue, by the year 2050, 1 in 3 adults will have diabetes. This is serious stuff, people. So if you haven’t been checked, get checked. If you’re not sure you’re eating right, then you probably aren’t. Wouldn’t you rather choose what you eat, mixing healthy food with fun food every once in a while, rather than being forced into a specific diet?
We’ve truly appreciated the encouragement from our community. Keep the tips coming! We’re drinking from a fire hose, but learning everything we can.
-B
Behavior changes that are so closely linked to habit and pleasure can be really difficult to deal with for one person alone, let alone one’s family. Throw the logistical issues you’ve stated concerning how to deal with getting the medical care the Eric needs in your nomadic lifestyle and you a hunk of changes coming your way. But in the end, its just analogous to the changes you made to start and maintain being FT RVers; you do the research, follow the necessary steps, forgive small any small failures and digressions, take a deep breathe and then repeat. Eric will get better and yah’ll just settle into your new routine. Life happens. Best wishes and good health to your whole family.
Hang in there! I was diagnosed with Type II last March. Taking Metformin and checking levels one to two times a day. Also modified diet to cut down carbs and lose sugar altogether. Since then I’ve lost 25 pounds and plan to lose a lot more. Increased cardio to daily from 1/2 hour to 2 hours (walking and cycling). A1C is down to 5.6, levels staying between 130 and 86. Sounds like you are doing everything you need to! Best of luck to you and safe travels.
Sounds awesome, @disqus_FwUvwzqwxj:disqus! Eric is just now starting to get his energy back and has been very active the past three days. It’s now been 6 days since his blood sugar was over 130, so we are in good shape so far.
I love the phrase “courageous band of travelers who don’t let conditions or diseases keep them from traveling!”
I’m part of it, although for a very different condition. I’m a breast cancer survivor (3.5 years), and we return to San Antonio for my check-ups every 6 months (TriCare for us too). We’ve been making that work for the 2 years we’ve been RVing full time.
Both cancer and diabetes are scary diagnoses that lead to some big changes in lifestyle, and are far more manageable when caught sooner rather than later.
That said, I fully get that someday — if I’m lucky — I will be “done” with cancer. But your family will be dealing with diabetes every day, for the rest of your lives, and that’s where the tremendous difference lies.
May we all continue to survive and thrive, and to draw strength from each other’s triumphs over medical challenges.
We’ve got this.
You are a fabulous conqueror, @OwnLessDoMore:disqus! Much respect to you.
I have Tri Care prime myself, but also go to the Veterans Administration clinic for some of my care. I am in Florida and I find the VA clinics to offer outstanding customer service. Since Eric is retired he can get care from the VA.
So this is very interesting to me since we have tricare as well. When we started full timing in our RV last November 2016 we also had issues filling prescriptions. We had to change to “Standard” from “Prime”. We were advised to do this so you don’t have to stay in any one area with your Primary care Doc. It has worked great since we are planning to tour the whole US. My wife was also pre diabetic, but we switched to a more vegan type diet and it has made a big difference, she no longer needs to take drugs to lower her blood sugar.
We’ve definitely considered Standard, @jon_kling:disqus, and know other full-timers who also use it. We’re hoping that one we get back to Eric’s primary care manager in December, that we can develop a care plan that works. Time will tell.
Hello! We are new to this forum and have just read about your plight. I am an RN and understand what you are going through. It’s a major challenge in many respects. I firmly believe that you can get a handle on the diabetes and with proper diet may not need to see a physician often. There is nothing worse than having to go to the doctors office, especially when we are on the road. I am a distributor of a product called Juice Plus+, which is 30 + dehydrated fruits and vegetables in capsules. I have many customers who have both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who take this daily as it is one sure way to get the proper nutrients that come from the foods that diabetics cannot eat (fruits raise blood sugar levels) into their bodies. Hardly any of us eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables ( 7-13 servings daily). Proper nutrition and the proper phytonutrients are essential for managing this disease. If you would like more information, let me know. Honestly, I have physicians and their families who buy this product and believe in the research behind it. I could care less if I made money on this ( although it is a nice benefit now that we are preparing to be on the road full time) but it is very important to me to be able to continue to help people live their best lives possible. IF you are interested in learning more, email me at lgammill0812@yahoo.com. I really just want to help. 🙂
I am sorry to hear about Eric. I, as a Latin, have been around diabetis all my life. I am borderline and have been for many years. I am one of the lucky ones. I am very careful of what I eat, unfortunately I tend to go on small skids of ice cream and then feel guilty about these. My mother was diabetic for her last 55 years of life. She changed her eating habits. At first she took pills, later insulin injections. She passed away at 92 of a heart attack. She loved sweets, ice creams, spaghetti, rice and beans. She ate small portions of these, are here favorites and maintained her numbers down. Her low blood sugar episodes were more scary. Always have orange juice close by just in case. Ericwill be with you and your son for many more years for sure. Eric pay attention to your doctor and your diet always. Best wishes
Thank you for your kind words, @disqus_bdXgXNOPZB:disqus. Eric’s grandfather died from complications related to diabetes, and his mother has been living with diabetes for more than two decades. She does a great job managing it, and is able to eat pretty much whatever she wants at this point.
As a TriCare Prime policy participant you can call your regular Dr for a referral to get Urgent Care, If you switch to TriCare Standard you may have to pay out of pocket first but you can file for reimbursement later. See This link – https://www.tricare.mil/FindDoctor/Traveling
@FlamingoMoonCampers:disqus, we’ve been able to go to urgent care and even the ER whenever necessary. What’s more challenging is routine care on the road. We haven’t wanted to switch to Standard, and will probably hold out as long as we can! Eric’s blood sugar is perfect now and we were able to get the one prescription he needs. So we should be good until we get back to his primary care manager in December.