Chris Matthews Hospitalized

[soothsayer]

MSNBC's DC-based Chris "Hardball" Matthews was due to host a 2008 presidential race kickoff at the Smithsonian Castle last night. But he was a no-show, having been hospitalized due to complications from diabetes. He's slated to return home today.....
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/on/get_better_chris_48471.asp

[ClassWarrior]

1. I thought maybe Nov. 7 made his big yellow head explode.

:evilgrin:

NGU.

[savemefromdumbya]

2. or the Russians had poisoned him!

:evilgrin:

[asjr]

3. Oh, I thought it might have

been mental problems that put him there.

[mondo joe]

4. Hm, maybe we have an explanation for his erratic behavior.

I have a coworker who often mismanages his diabetes.

He's had a couple of bad episodes at work when his blood sugar is out of control. Once I found him walking around the neighborhood very disoriented.

[AspenRose]

8. That would explain his election-night behavior, all right.

Yikes.

[mondo joe]

11. The co-worker I mentioned would often be sort of borderline - it became

slowly evident at meetings, but you'd often not know if he was just being emotional or contrary or was having a low blood sugar moment.

And when he WAS having a low blood sugar moment, it was incredibly difficult to convince him that he was.

[WolverineDG]

32. If you're still working with him, here's a suggestion

My brother is diabetic, also doesn't take care of himself, & gets contrary when you make suggestions that he needs to eat something when it's obvious his blood sugar is too low/high. My solution? "Hey, I'm going to XXX Restaurant, want to join me?" Don't be too surprised if your co-worker says he's not hungry, but he'll join you to "keep you company" & then order something on his own.

You have to be sneaky.

dg

[mondo joe]

37. I finally started keeping a bag of raisins with me, so when it looked

like he was going off I'd just casually put some raisins on the table and offer them to anyone who'd like one.

[Luna_C_06]

52. As a type 1 diabetic

I really shouldn't giggle at that solution, but you're right. For some reason a lot of diabetics won't eat when they're low, including me. That and sometimes they may try to fight you. :o I had many problems with low blood-sugars when I was younger, and yes I did try to fight my friends and family members when they tried to get me to eat. Thankfully they knew what was wrong (well, that and they always outnumbered me...).

[nashville_brook]

105. olbermann offered him a donut at the end of the night

yikes, indeed.

[Lurking Dem]

113. Maybe he knew he had low blood sugar.

A lot of my family know to just casually offer me something sweet rather than demand I eat/drink something because I am low. The adrenalin can make you very combative.

[nashville_brook]

117. my mother died of complications of diabetes

boy, am i familiar with the combativeness. my ex had blood sugar issues too. if he went just five minutes into the bad zone, things got ugly fast. i can't imagine having such a high-stress job along with the disease. election night must have been hellish for him.

funny tho -- i watched the returns on MSNBC and noticed matthews was a little ill-tempered, but i didn't think he acted unprofessionally on camera. a little partisan, but not unprofessional. knowing this about his condition, i can imagine things in the studio might have been touch and go.

i have a screaming migraine as i write this, nausea, the whole nine yards -- it simply blows my mind that the people we watch on tv deal with the same issues we have in our tiny little private lives. right now i can't imagine making a grocery list. having the weight of such a giant job with a chronic illness -- it neems heroic no matter which side of the fence anyone is on.

[Lurking Dem]

120. I'm sorry about your mom.

I can't work at all any more so I don't know how these folks manage.

[Skidmore]

129. Bet you are right on that one. Matthews gave him a funny look too

when KO did that.

[grasswire]

5. hmm, he's a diabetic

I wish him well. Yeah, he's a hack.

[UTUSN]

6. Did he stop DRINKING? Alcohol plus diabetes is a no-no.

As they said on "Scrubs" ---"Bless our regular, Mr So-and-so, who gets hospitalized every couple of months for DRINKING WITH TYPE TWO DIABETES!!!!1"

[madinmaryland]

13. I worked with a guy who drank and was diabetic.

The mood swings, plus when he drank, he became an incoherent fool. It was hard to tell if he was drunk or having an episode (except for the booze smell).

[mondo joe]

17. The guy I work with doesn't drink, but really pushes the envelope with his

diabetes management, and I experienced the same thing - couldn't tell when he was having an episode or just being difficult.

[madinmaryland]

21. I went to high school with a guy who did the same thing.

Never took care of it, and continued to drink. He only lived to 35. Apparently he looked in his 70's when he died.

[mondo joe]

24. Unfortunately, my coworker is an MD, which I think contributes to his poor

management of his own diabetes.

I finally started keeping a bag of raisins with me so if he started to lose it in a meeting I could just casuallly offer him a snack.

[LetsGoMurphys]

69. now that scares me

one of my best friends was diagnosed w/ Type I last year (at 23). He continues to drink like a fish. How should I warn him?

[jaysunb]

88. I have diabetes & I drink

Red wine sometimes a beer, very rarely the hard stuff. Also several close friends w/ same condition enjoy a snoot.
I have never been told to NOT drink, but have been urged to moderate and not go over board.

I'm type 2 and have been diagnosed for over 15 years.

[Lurking Dem]

95. I have type 1 and I drink.

Hard stuff, too.

Everyone, diabetic or no is an individual and reacts differently to different things.

As a matter of interest, diabetes used to be treated with 500 calories of blood sausage and all the red wine you could hold.

The danger of alcohol is not that it raises blood glucose but that it lowers it. That can be bad in a person who doesn't test or is unaware of how to adjust their medication.

[jaysunb]

98. I'm getting all the red wine I can hold , for sure!

:rofl:

[Lurking Dem]

111. LOL

It's easy to laugh about now but at the time diabetics spent the few years they often lived totally drunk.

So much so that it became linked in people's minds and helped feed the stereotype that diabetes was a personal failing (the same way people mistakenly look at alcoholism now) and not a genetic disorder.

Be very careful with wine because it will lower your glucose some hours after you drink it and if you are on insulin can have a reaction some 6 or 8 hours later.

Maybe we should start a petition for insurance to cover some REALLY nice Bordeauxs? hehehe

[jaysunb]

124. Wow ! you just taught me something else !

I don't use insulin ....yet, but I do spike over night. I've always suspected the opposite : the spiking was caused by the sugar in the wine. I come back into range right after breakfast, so I figure I'm ok.
Now, if I could figure out why I get these periodic sharp pains at different points in my body, and, if it has anything to do w/ my diabetes.

Any ideas ?????

[Lurking Dem]

128. A few ideas.

Early morning spikes can be caused by dawn phenomenon. That is when your body starts releasing hormones to wake you up.

Grit your teeth and do a couple of 3am blood tests to see what's going on.

You have to still be careful about what you eat WITH the wine. Your blood sugar won't drop if you're drinking it with pizza. (SNAP!) ;)

Periodic sharp pains could be a sign of neuropathy. You really should tell your doctor about it.

[benny05]

56. Why is this?

I've worked with 3 colleagues who had diabetes and acted like meanies. Only 3 thankfully and I don't expect them to speak for the rest of the diabetes populus. Sugar really bring on that bad of mood swings?

Otherwise, it is serious stuff. I had a cousin die of complications thereof from juvenile diabetes at the age of 50.

[mondo joe]

81. Mystery to me.

My co worker isn't a meanie -- but very contrary and difficult.

It's hard sometimes to know if he's just being difficult or having an episode.

[LetsGoMurphys]

66. Another allegation not based on any fact

Chris Matthews stopped drinking a long time ago.

[UTUSN]

84. That was my question. It was not an "allegation not based on fact." n/t

[bambo53]

7. Wind up toy Shuster replaced him

Shuster is so wound up I doubt he actually knows what he's saying,,, but I like the fact that he lets people answer a question, for a change. Tweety comes off like a wired up prosecuter.

[Zookeeper]

14. I really like David Shuster as a reporter...

he is extremely professional, rather than being part "performer."

I haven't seen him as a host, though.

[bambo53]

18. Yes, David is good as a host

I like him better than Tweety.

[JI7]

53. Hard to believe Shuster was the same jackass that was on Fox News

and his big thing was hounding Gary Condit.

but i guess he had a change of heart or just couldn't put up with the propaganda on Fox.

[Zookeeper]

61. I sent him an e-mail before the 2004...

election, thanking him for commenting on the disgusting obsession the media had with countering every bit of negative news about the Rethugs with a, supposedly, equally negative story about Democrats. Like, "President Bush lied about WMD and John Kerry stepped on an aide's toes."

I mentioned that I had become a person who shouted at her T.V. and he responded with an e-mail of his own. I did appreciate that.

[Norquist Nemesis]

27. *sniff* I want David Gregory!

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[snowbear]

62. Where's David Gregory?

I want him too!

He's still on MSNBC isn't he? (Now you have me curious...)

[gkhouston]

89. he was traveling with the press corps on *'s last trip

so maybe he's catching up on his sleep.

[Morgana LaFey]

92. Shuster is the best, most even-handed regular reporter on TV,

anywhere

I'm surprised he doesn't get a LOT more respect, admiration and applause here at DU. I really am. If you want true, unbiased, straight up news reporting, Shuster's your man. I think he's fabulous.

[Hoosier Dem]

9. He dislocated several bones...

trying to shove his head even farther up his ass.

I hear that hwen Chris has a migraine, they call in a proctologist!

[phusion]

10. I wish him well...

While I disagree with him on about 99.9% of things, I hope he gets better soon.

[Ian David]

12. I didn't realize he was diabetic. That guy really abuses himself.

Matthews must get less sleep than Thomas Edison did.

He seems to work a Jerry Lewis Telethon like schedule every few weeks.

The guy may be a total asshole, but he works damn hard. Probably too hard.

Imagine what we could do with him if we could use his energy for Good?

[KoKo]

39. Wonder if its Type I or Type II. If it's II and he has complications it

might mean he wasn't diagnosed until pretty recently and isn't taking care of himself.

I don't like him...but I don't like to see anyone hospitalized for complications from a condition like diabetes.

[Captain Hilts]

127. I wish him well. nt

[soleft]

15. Didn't Olberman offer him a donut on election night?

Hmmmmm

[WolverineDG]

33. If he hadn't eaten in a while

he would have needed that donut.

dg

[Rosemary2205]

16. Get well Chris.

Diabetes really sucks and people struggling with all the sacrifices required to control it need support, not belittling.

[shaniqua6392]

19. I agree with you.

It is a horrible disease and I will add him to the ever-growing prayer list. People may not like him, but we watch him all the time. He is an outspoken critic of the Iraq debacle. He talks about the war every day trying to get people to listen. He even said that if we voted for Republicans, it would be the equivalent of saying that we agree with the war. Our votes are the only way we will get Washington to listen and get us out of there. BTW he was right....We voted them out and now people are really beginning to dissect what is really happening there.

[lamp_shade]

38. Yup

I'll say a prayer for him too.

[blondeatlast]

45. Thank you! I've been insulin-dependent my entire life and

deal daily with the misunderstandings of people.

The complications are a major bitch--I've suffered several of them. To hear those who call themselves "progressives" be so misinformed and resort to "blaming the victim" makes me ill.

I wish him a full recovery for the hope that givbes to the rest of us.

[Lurking Dem]

51. I hit my 30 year anniversary

with type 1 diabetes Thanksgiving week. The complications are no joke. Thank you.

[blondeatlast]

116. I just "celebrated" my 40th anniversary--whoopee!

:sarcasm: of course. Actually, considering what I've been through, it is worth celebrating.

I can't deal with the ignorance of people who blame any complications on the person with diabetes and not the disease itself.

[Lurking Dem]

119. My husband asked if I wanted to mark the day.

I just couldn't. Although I joked about "maybe by eating an entire Boston Cream Pie".

He argued that I could celebrate my survival but I told him I couldn't mentally get past seemingly celebrating my eventual cause of death and the source of my chronic, debilitating pain.

He understood and the day passed with no mention.

I think the blame game is often even worse for type 2's. "YOU GOT DIABETES BECAUSE YOU'RE FAT!" Patent bullshit. If that were true why do only 20% of obese people have diabetes? You cannot get it without the genetic markers for the disease. Period. And it is compromised insulin use in pre-clinical type 2 that causes obesity in the first place.

Even with type 1 I have been asked if I ate too much sugar when I was a kid. Yikes.

You may remember "back in the day" they would tour new dm patients (kids) through the wards at Jocelin and the patients would explain what Oreo cookie they ate in which year caused the amputation of their leg. I fought very publicly and mostly successfully to rid the medical establishment of the use of the word "compliant".

It was blaming the arrow for missing the target.

I keep thinking public education is getting better but then I see such threads at DU and it really gives me pause.

[blondeatlast]

122. This post has my blood boiling--you may want to avoid it.

When I think of just the amount of time I devote to my management every day, then trying to educate those around me--who fortunately have been very supportive and open to education--and then see something like this, I swear I want to stick a needle in my eye.

Take care, sister, at least we're here today.

If you can stomach it, I could use your help here, but warnign: it will make your blood boil, I guarantee.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2843042&mesg_id=2848389

[Lurking Dem]

123. *growl*

Thanks for the heads up.

[Zookeeper]

60. My daughter has Type 1....

and she has said that many times when her classmates find out, they exclaim, "But, you're not fat!!!"

Type 1 diabetes is NOT a "lifestyle disease" (as you know) and even people with Type 2 can have a genetic predisposition.

My dear MIL has Type 2 and it's really no joke. She can control it without insulin, but it requires a level of self-control most people don't have.

I'm not fond of Matthews, but I can't take pleasure in his illness.

Good luck to you, blondeatlast! :hug:

[Blue_In_AK]

49. I agree. I hope he's feeling better.

No one asked me, but I think it's unseemly to take joy in another person's suffering or illness (although if it were George or Dick, I might have a hard time following my own advice). Anyway, Matthews infuriates me sometimes, but sometimes he's right on, so I hope he gets well soon and can get back to his ranting and raving.

[LetsGoMurphys]

67. It's a sad disease

one that I don't wish upon those who have posted disgusting things on this thread.

[OzarkDem]

85. Agree, hope he's feeling better soon

I may not like the guy, but still wouldn't wish illness on any fellow human being.

[Bake]

20. So full of sh*t that he finally exploded?

I wish him a speedy recovery.

Bake

[OneBlueSky]

22. I really think that the wise-cracking posts are inappropriate and . . .

beneath us . . . we may dislike the guy and the way he conducts his show, but that's no reason to make light of a serious medical condition . . . we should all just wish him a full and speedy recovery -- and THEN go back to dissing him . . . imo . . .

[RebelOne]

29. I agree. Some of these posts are in very poor taste. n/t

[blondeatlast]

47. Thank you. I've suffered secondary complications after being insulin-

dependent virtually my entire life and I'm shocked by what has been said in this thread.

Lord knows I've had my moments of despising his journalism and views, but I'll wait until he's back in form to call him out again.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

87. I hear you, but I think he is immoral.

I disagree with cheap shots about his medical condition, yet I consider him complicit in Bush 2000* and that includes moral complicity for Iraq. He has blood on his hands, IMO. He pretends he has been consistently anti-war. He is perhaps the embodiment of what is wrong in the corporate media.

I believe there is a dispute on this thread about his blameworthiness. So we should be clear about the terrible things Mr. Matthews does.

[Morgana LaFey]

93. I consider him mostly amoral

And opportunistic as well.

[leftofthedial]

23. I thought it was impacted bullshit

that was choking off the supply of blood to his brain

[oc2002]

25. Medical experts say his EGO was enlarged and had to be medicated.

But dont worry. The mad world of Softball will be back.

[aquaman]

26. My father died from complications of Diabetes.......

My father was only 57. I wish Chris Matthews well.

[Tatiana]

28. I think we have an explanation for his bizarre election night coverage.

I worked with a guy who was diabetic; we were actually pretty good friends. One day, he just totally snapped and went off on me, simply because I asked him why he (a man of good cheer usually) seemed so moody that day. He was so off the wall yelling and screaming that security was called. He later apologized and explained that he was diabetic and his blood sugar was out of wack. I suspected he was not taking care of himself.

I hope Tweety gets better and gets successful treatment for his diabetes.

[Old and In the Way]

36. I agree....my uncle was a severe diabetic, took daily shots to regulate it.

When he'd go into shock, he start to say some very incoherent things....there'd be times where I'd swear he was tripping. I've always thought Matthews was bi-polar, but this revelation might really explain why we see such swings in his mood and personality.

[obreaslan]

30. I don't like the guy, but I don't wish anyone ill health...

I'll just say get well, and be done with it.

:bluebox:

[Sugar Smack]

31. I do wish him well. N/T

[Eurobabe]

34. Might not like the guy

but don't wish him ill will. He's innocuous, we have bigger fish to fry. Diabetes is an ugly disease.

Now if it was CHENEY or that Ghoul Rummy...

[Cleita]

35. No wonder he's willing to compromise so much with the RW shills.

He needs his job because he needs his health insurance. Diabetes leads to kidney failure, which leads to dialysis, which leads to a needed transplant. He needs his medical insurance until he can qualify for Medicare.

[Virginian]

102. I'm sure his wife can carry insurance for them both.

She just left her job as a local evening news anchor to work at the National Institutes of Health.

[MADem]

130. No she didn't--she went to work for MARRIOTT

http://marriott.com/news/detail.mi?marrArticle=136321

[zbdent]

40. Dang, I thought it was going to be for some surger ...

to remove a growth from his colon ... his head ...

[stopbush]

41. Some of these posts are very unfeeling.

Yes - Matthews is often on the "wrong side" of the issues, but, c'mon, the guy's a pundit with a limited viewer ship. He's not a king-maker,
he's not even a policy influencer. He's just another guy who has a daily TV show where he gets played by the spinmeisters 99% of the time.

My best wishes go out to the guy for a sppedy recovery.

[cynatnite]

42. Well, if it was KO that was hospitalized...

We sure wouldn't see the belittling of a potentially fatal illness on him as we see here. It's a shame to see.

[Lurking Dem]

44. Thank you.

Diabetes is a very serious illness that kills 4 times as many people as AIDS every year. It is often spoken of as a personal failing or that complications from the disease mean that the person simply wasn't taking good enough care of themselves.

While that can sometimes be true, more often than not it is the disease itself (which is progressive) causing the problems.

I wish people would take it more seriously.

[Swede]

43. So when Jon or Kieth get sick everyone's ok with freepers making jokes?

:shrug:

[frankenforpres]

58. of course not ....

and when a democratic president has some 'slutty' 'lush' daughters, they will be free spirits.


this thread is disturbing. matthews, imo, is no right wing hack, he might be center right, but i remember him being against the war from the beginning, i remember him being against raising the retirement age for SS. but since he isnt in lock step with partisan D politics he gets called out.


jon stewart got picked on during the convention for his coverage. that is the nature of the beast

[Phillycat]

46. Get well soon, Chris.

You're a dick, but Diabetes just sucks. Get well so I can go back to making fun of the stupid shit that comes out of your mouth. Thanks.

[jaysunb]

126. Well said !

This speaks for lots of us....

[rocktivity]

48. I hate to be an I-told-you-so

But I did mention that Tweety looked quite unwell on election night, even in spite of the circumstantances!

:headbang:
rocknation

[LetsGoMurphys]

70. is that insinuating that he was pulling for the Rs?

I dont get it.

[rocktivity]

76. INSINUATING that Tweety was pulling for the Rs? LOL!

That's like insinuating that Maddona is a bad Catholic!

But seriously, folks, what I meant is I thought Chris looked a little TOO unwell--too unwell to attribute it solely to his having to publicly face the reality of the "blue tsunami!"

:headbang:
rocknation

[LetsGoMurphys]

77. Do you watch the show?

just curious.

[rocktivity]

78. Not regularly--Tweety is too hazardous to my blood pressure

And a month before the election, I stopped watching all those shows completely!

:rofl:
rocknation

[0rganism]

104. Have you read the transcript of his commercial break dialog with Tom Delay?

just curious.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harry-shearer/found-object-delay-on-ha_b_18506.html

[AspenRose]

94. Reflecting back on that night

I wonder if KO and Scarborough knew about his diabetes.

That coverage was a train wreck to watch and now we know why.

Wow. This is just awful.

Diabetes is a b*tch....maybe after he comes through this (sending good thoughts), he'll be a stronger proponent for research.

[Midlodemocrat]

50. Diabetes Mellitus is a terrible disease. It killed my dad and before

he died, it cost him his leg. He was diagnosed at 44 and was completely compliant with his medications and his diet his entire life. The peripheral vascular disease that came with the diabetes was awful. He couldn't walk and in his later years was incontinent and confined to a wheelchair.

I hope Chris Matthews gets well soon. Diabetes is no joke.

[NightOwwl]

54. Get well soon Chris.

:hi:

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

55. Get well soon, Chris

Best wishes for your full recovery and a happy holiday with your loved ones.

[madville]

57. I agree

Celebrating a fellow human being's medical complications is in very poor taste. I don't agree with anybody 100% and many less than 50% of the time but it is no reason to celebrate their medical troubles. Disgusting is all I can come up with, the hate present here amazes me sometimes, I hope he lives a full and rewarding life just like I want every human being to along with myself.

[LetsGoMurphys]

71. It because

all these good liberals here are practicing tolerance. :sarcasm:

[Fleshdancer]

59. Jeez Chris. I hope you get better soon.

I have no idea what complications from diabetes feels like, but it certainly doesn't sound like anything I want to experience. :( Get well Tweety.

You know, I always assumed he would be hospitalized for high blood pressure or something. :shrug:

[berni_mccoy]

63. HEY! Everyone making fun of Matthews KNOCK IT OFF! My son has been very sick with complications

this week. You know what those complications are? THE FLU! And yes, he's had flu shots.

I can't believe some of the responses in this thread, it makes me absolutely disgusted!

When someone with diabetes becomes ill with something like the flu, it becomes a potentially LIFE THREATENING situation.

Blood sugar management becomes EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. My wife and I are exhausted from the frequent glucose and ketone checks. I can't imagine being on your own and being sick with the flu with diabetes. It would be way too easy to slip into diabetic ketoacidosis. You know what the next stage is after that? A trip to the hospital or you could die.

So knock it off with the jokes people. Show some respect and compassion for the sick.

I wish Matthews a speedy recovery and good health.

[AtomicKitten]

64. can't stand the guy but wish him a speedy recovery

so I can can't stand him some more

[Liberal In Texas]

65. I wish him well. n/t

[LetsGoMurphys]

68. On top of all the disgusting things being said

Matthews is a good guy. I think he'd be great to hang out w/ and talk politics. He's extremely interested and passionate. A true political junkie like me. Get well.

[Raine]

72. All the best to Matthews

diabetes is a terrible disease.

[Vektor]

73. I wish him well.

I don't agree with him on many occasions, but diabetes is a terrible disease that I wouldn't wish on anyone.

Get well, Chris.

[fujiyama]

74. He's often frustrating

and I get irritated by his slobbering over certain folks like Bush, McCain, etc...

But to his credit, he never did support this war (and has been pretty consistantly against it from the begining) - and has always questioned the fairness of allowing thousands to die for a cause he was never convinced of. He has also been relatively critical of neoconservatives and their power in this administration. I think he raised his son well also - considering he was a Dean supporter.

Now, I'm not wishing him a speedy recovery just because I agree with him on some politics, because I very often do not - but because he had the sense not to want to see the sort of needless bloodshed going on. For that I believe he deserves compassion.

That and diabetes is a destructive disease. I've seen it cause grief before.

[Hekate]

75. Tweety, m'dear, get well soon. We actually kind of like you here & would miss you.

Hey, you know it's true, all you DUers -- so be nice.

Hekate

[DawgHouse]

79. Hope he's well soon!

[pookieblue]

80. while I might disagree w/him 99% of the time...

I do hope he gets well soon.

[Skittles]

125. same here

I do not wish ill will on anyone

[IDemo]

82. Here's a summary of diabetic hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

I've been a Type 1 for 44 years, since the age of 5, and have had more than my share of experiences with hypoglycemia.

Type 1 diabetics must balance three things to keep their blood sugar level in balance: diet, exercise, and insulin dosages. Too few calories, too much exercise, an overdose of insulin, or waiting too long too eat after injecting, can all cause an onset of hypoglycemic symptoms. The brain relies on sugar as its main energy source, and when the blood sugar level drops, we can become uncommunicative, distracted, and otherwise unable to function.

If the situation is not dealt with shortly by the victim or co-workers and family, the brain can cause the liver to release epinephrine (adrenaline). This is when things can become 'interesting'. Speaking from personal experience, I have punched holes in the walls of two different dwellings, as well as denting a refrigerator door. At a particularly low level on one occasion, human speech became unintelligible, sounding like so many animal noises. The company nurse (this was many years ago, when such still existed) used to ask me if I was "getting stupid" when she recognized the symptoms. (She wasn't trying to insult me.)

If the patient is still in a cooperative state, they should be offered glucose tablets or gel if any are available, fruit juice or sugared pop otherwise. If they can not or will not cooperate, it is time to call the paramedics. Family members may also have the option of giving the victim an injection of glucagon to cause the liver to release glycogen/glucose. This is probably what the paramedics will do if the situation hasn't stabilized when they arrive.

[philosophie_en_rose]

83. I hope he recovers. Diabetes runs in my family.

It is not a joke, especially when even the most disciplined diabetics can die from complications.

I don't begrudge anyone making fun of Matthews. There's a lot to mock, but I wouldn't wish diabetes on anyone.

[Nimrod2005]

86. Wish you well Chris, please come back soon...I watch him everyday!!!

Sometimes TWICE.

[fredsanford]

90. I hope he turns out OK

And I hope science can provide a cure for diabetes.

[knight_of_the_star]

91. Hopefully he sees the light

Maybe he'll have a visitation and do a 180.

[Dangerman]

96. Either that...

Or maybe he stubbed his toe at work.

[proudmoddemo]

97. Some facts about chronic illnesses

1. They're genetic. Some environmental factors play into a diagnosis. But the prevalence of chronic diseases among family members, and some scientific research that identifies genetic markers of chronic illnesses (crohn's for one) mean that patients of diseases are not the ones to blame.

2. Chronic illnesses, at their worst, turn every day into the worst day in a healthy person's life. One doesn't have the energy to do anything. One may not have an appetite, and may only be able to swallow chicken stock. One may vomit uncontrollably. One may be incontinent.

3. This doesn't just happen to old people. Many people in their teens and twenties have diabetes. The average onset of Crohn's is somewhere around 20.

4. With a few exceptions where a cure is possible--and a cure usually means a radical surgery--these diseases are life long conditions. People will have ups and downs.

5. People with diabetes can lose their feet, and other limbs, their eye sight, and liver function. It's a major disease. And anyone who has it will probably end up in the hospital at one (or more) times in their life.

5. Half the people that posted on this thread jerks--they're mocking others pain and suffering, just like Bush does when he signs an execution order. If it wasn't right for him, it isn't right for you.

I personally experienced two years of illness, complete with four hospitilzations and a major surgery. I'm feeling better now. But I do not take delight in anyone's suffering. Neither should anyone else. Period.

[nashville_brook]

108. just an fyi, for chronic DU'ers... there's a Chronic Health Condition DU Group

you might not know about... i check in there sometimes and it's really wonderful when you're not having a good day/week/month and need to vent. also a good place to offer comfort for other chronic folks or swap stories.

it's got me thru some pretty tough times.

[Jennicut]

99. I have diabetes, was just diagnosed at age 29 last year

Because the cutoff point for type I is about ages 29/30, the doctors were not sure what I was. It does not run in my family, I'm not overweight. I guess they consider me a type 2 because I still have insulin in my pancreas but not alot and it does not work very well. I take insulin and metaformin and my blood sugars are really good but rarely stable. You have to check your sugars constantly. I can eat cake, cookies, icecream like everyone else but very small servings of it. I have to watch my carb count. Sugar-free food has lower carbs so I eat some of those when I have a craving. I've had some really low blood sugar episodes because when you take insulin it can make your blood sugar go low quickly and without warning and once I fainted. Its hard to tell when your slipping into it. Thankfully my husband, parents and friends are great and really keeps a close eye on me. I have 2 little girls, 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 and my primary doctor thinks having the pregnancies back to back pushed me overbooard into having gestational diabetes and then it just never left and most times it does. I actually gained only 5 pounds in my second pregnancy because of the strict diet I was on so my daughter would not get too big. My doctor thinks I must have been pre-diabetic, where your sugars are borderline and go go high enough to make you diabetic. Its a hard disease to have and I pray someday that there will be a cure to help generate insulin for type 1's and help the inuslin type 2's have work better. I hope Chris gets better even if I disagree with his views sometimes or his pandering to rethugs:) Diabetes complications suck and it recently took me 6 weeks to get over what would be a 1 week cold. I had to take steroids to get rid of it because infections develope very easy with diabetes, even when your blood sugars are not too high.

[Obamarama]

103. Do you get your hemoglobin A1C levels tested every three to six months?

Of the patients I have contact with, the ones that are most successful are those who are serious about maintaining their HA1C levels. If you have good A1C's, the rest of managing your diabetes usually comes much easier.

Welcome to DU, BTW. :-)

[proudmoddemo]

109. Agree on the HA1C, but it can be hard to be young and sick

First, I agree about the HA1C test. My Dad has diabetes, and that has really helped him get it under control.

That said, it might be hard to obtain the test as a young professional. The healthcare system isn't set up for young people to use. The arrogance of youth (where we imagine that nothing can harm us) is what society considers to be normal. Young people aren't supposed to get sick, and those of us who do struggle to find adequate care (and insurance if we are enrolled in college, graduate, or professional school). If one is a graduate student with no to minimal insurance, and needs insulin, regular checkups, supplies, prescription medications, and HA1C tests, one is looking at an unacceptably large chunk of their budget going towards medical costs.

I speak from experience. I don't have diabetes, but I was adopted, and I appear to have a different set of genetic problems that lead to UC/Crohn's. I struggled to finish graduate school--largely because I was in my last year and not finishing would've been letting the disease win. I'm already on the verge of financial ruin from my illness. If I had the disease for 3 years, and not 18 months, things would be different--and much worse--for me.

Perhaps it is partly due to the nature of my disease--which is isolating--but I felt that lots of people either didn't comprehend the severity of the disease, or the fact that such a disease can bring somebody close to death. I've written quite a lot about this on my blog.

It's hard to come out and say "I'm ill." It's even harder if the illness is somehow seen as a failing of the patient (sadly both diabetes and Crohn's are). We have a natural, and morally wrong, tendency to blame the patient. This tendency is furthered by the internet, and the many quacks posing as alternative health practitioners. They use guilt on people, and extort money from the desperate in the process. I never gave them a dime, but I get to hear my relatives questioning why I didn't try Y before undergoing surgery all the time. It drives me nuts.

[Sugarcoated]

100. He drives me crazy but I do wish him well.

Im gonna cave and ask, where did the tweety nickname come from?

[nam78_two]

101. Good luck to him/nt

[Greybnk48]

106. Not a fan of his show, but I wish him well.

His show frustrates the hell out of me, so I don't watch it anymore--haven't for years. But I certainly don't wish him ill.

[kentuck]

107. Let us not lose our humanity...

Chris Matthews may be against us half the time but that is still better than most in the "liberal" media.

[Jennicut]

110. To KZooDem

I get my A1C checked every 3 months or so. Last time I went, it was 6, which is very good. Unfortunately, since getting sick with a cold I think it has gone higher. Plus, I had to take steroids to get rid of my cold and that really made my blood sugar go higher. Its coming back down now but its a constant battle.

[Lurking Dem]

112. Avoid steroids.

There are other options - they may not work as well but still. In addition to type 1 diabetes, I also have systemic lupus and Sjogren's disease and even I don't take steroids because of what they do to my bg's.

[Ilsa]

114. I hope CM recovers quickly from his diabetes episode.

This chronic disease is a real bitch, and I feel for him having to manage such a tough disease.

Yeah, sometimes I don't like what he says, but so what.

Get well soon, CM!

[Chicago1]

115. I'll keep my not nice comments

to my self...

Chris is an awful person. That's all I'll say.


START THE REVOLUTION
START THE IMPEACHMENT

[mac56]

118. I wish him a speedy recovery.

This can be an awful disease to deal with.

Hope he's back to full strength soon, so we can spar with him some more.

[mdmc]

121. Get well

:kick: