Posted on 05/04/2010 5:12:37 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
“There are 2 ways to regulate blood sugar. Through insulin, or through diet. And by diet I don’t mean “eat your broccoli”, I mean by carefully regulating the sugars and carbs your son ate, and timing it so that the amount of sugar going into his bloodstream stayed as level as possible.”
This is true only for Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetics (also called juvenile diabetes) can not produce ANY insulin. No amount of diet manipulation will fix this. Any sugar in the bloodstream cannot be used, the body starts burning it’s own protein producing ketones. Then they die of ketosis, also dehydration because it makes you pee out all the sugars the body can’t burn.
“WalMart sells OTC insulin for 10 mL / $22. I’ve been stockpiling.”
Buying it over the counter is no problem. The problem is storage. It is only good for a few months time even in perfect conditions. (and how are you gonna cool it when there is no modern refrigeration)
I have heard of people freezing insulin with acceptable results but of course it’s not recommended.
No matter what, if you are a Type 1 diabetic and dependent on insulin you will die!
There’s a book called “Where There Is No Doctor” that both of you might find useful.
I might have to research that problem and get back to you.
I have Werner’s original and his one for Africa.
Later.
keeps it fresh.
Yeah, I’ve already accepted my inevitable demise in the case of a huge meltdown.
The best way to store would be to dig a deep hole in the ground.
Insulin lasts for years, whether the pharmalogical company says so or not. I received @30 vials from America when I was living in Japan and used some a year after expiration. It worked as well as the new stuff. And yes, I did use a blood tester to confirm this.
Another issue is that carbs will be cut dramatically, while physical exertion will increase dramatically. I’m sure more type ones will die of hypoglycemia than hyperglycemia.
“Insulin lasts for years, whether the pharmalogical company says so or not. I received @30 vials from America when I was living in Japan and used some a year after expiration. It worked as well as the new stuff. And yes, I did use a blood tester to confirm this.”
Interesting tip there, was it refrigerated?
What type of insulin was it?
I’ve also heard of freezing (which manufacturers don’t recommend).
I suppose, if possible freeze a years supply then when the refrigeration ends keep in a “spring house” like milk was kept in back a century ago. Hopefully after a years time we would be receiving help from overseas.
Gotta think about these things!
Whether by EMP or not I’m fairly convinced of the fragility of the system which provides our civilization.
DON’T just throw in the towel and give up. We can brainstorm this problem!
Also another thought for diabetics (and anybody else who depends on man-made drugs or health care);
Move as close to a coastal city as you can stand, they will be the first to be resupplied from overseas. The southern states will be most difficult for the elderly to survive the heat, obviously the northern states will be VERY cold and have shorter growing seasons.
IT was the regular Novalin N and R. I wouldn’t freeze it. Either way, food will be scare and physical exertion necessary - the small amount of active insulin will make up the slack.
The problem will be hypoglycemia. No carbs, no sweets, and you’ve been working your butt off the last 2 hours with no rest - and you go into hypoglycemic convulsions. This is the biggest problem.
So now people know where to go to get food.
Oooh - I’ll have to check those out.
The risk of even 2% casualties due to EMP is as exaggerated as claiming the recent oil spill in the Gulf will endanger all Polar Bears and giraffes.
The most likely risk is political and dealing with a handful of lunatic fringe insisting upon calamity, then reacting irrationally using the EMP as justification for their lack of responsible behavior.
Bump for when I find time to read all the comments!
I heard Forstchen interviewed on the radio. Will definitely get the book asap. He said 90%, too. (He's probably Farah's source for that figure.)
I downloaded and read the book on my beloved ipod, yesterday. This thread and the book gave me vivid nightmares. LOL
I think the 90% figure is a bit high, but they do have a point that something that disruptive would result in a lot of deaths.<<<
I think you are correct.
Add in the fact that it will take out all the gas station’s pumps and all cash registers.
Remember when New York had the electric shortage?
The residents were sleeping on the streets and sidewalks, for they could not open their doors with the fancy electronic locks.
In “One Second After” 90% of the US population died
“Connections”. James Burke. I hadn’t thought of it in years, one of the best shows ever.
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