I found this explination for the reason some transplant patients must be treated for diabetes after transplant and I wanted to share it with those of you that have asked. Ben was never diabetic pre-transplant (nor did he have high blood pressure, that started post transplant too) so all of this testing, and insulin use was new to us.
http://diabetes.webmd.com/life-after-transplant-post-transplant-diabetes?z=1667_104599_2752_HZ_06
The good news is that even if you're suddenly diabetic after your transplant, it's often a short term thing. This is the case for Ben. While he was in the ICU, his blood sugar levels were sometimes in the 250-260 range. Up to 150 is acceptable so he was way up there. Now he's down to the 70-100 range. Yesterday his nightly dose of long acting insulin was lowered to 10 units to taper him off. He started off at 30 units, then was dropped to 20. Next week he'll go off of it completely and the following week he can stop testing all together. Of course, this is assuming that his blood sugar levels stay within the range the doctors want which all indications are that they will.
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You are so good at offering explantions for details that people might not understand. I knew the insulin and pressure meds would be short-term but most people don't know that. Ben will always have multiple meds to take but soon it will taper down to the absolute minimum. SUCH WONDERFUL PROGRESS!!!!! Way to go little cousin. xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteThose damn corporate drug giants and pharmacautical companies. They are liars and cheats. They make affording necessary meds so difficult. They never want to cover the expensive ones. Hope you scare them into honoring their word. Threaten and raise hell. Maybe that will work!
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