I went out of town with some friends for a long weekend. One night we went to a pizza restaurant where an interesting chain of events occurred. As we were getting ready to pay our bill, we noticed the man in front of us was having difficulty paying his bill. We decided to go ahead and pay it for him. We anonymously spoke with the manager and offered to pay the amount for his meal. As we were standing there, I noticed that he had a clear tube coming out of his pants pocket. Sure enough, he was a pump wearer, spotted in the wild. The longer I watched him, the more I realized that he may be experiencing a low blood sugar. His movements were slow and lethargic, his speech was slurred, his thought process seemed labored.
The more I thought about it, the more compeled I felt to do something about the situation. So, as we exited the restaurant and made our way to the parking lot, I told my friends that I wanted to confront him about it. I walked up to him and began in with the small chat about diabetes.
"Hey, I noticed you have an insulin pump." "I'm diabetic too, how long have you had diabetes?"
He was still acting strangely. Told me that he was from a small town about 70 miles away. He mentioned he'd had some meet-ups with other diabetics but hadn't done anything in a while. He also mentioned that he had a daughter in the NICU up at a hospital in Salt Lake (about 350 miles away). Side note: a friend of mine who was with me on the trip works at that same hospital treating infants. I began to feel sorry for him. He seemed quite down on his luck. I hesitated, but he had a young child with him, and I wanted to make sure he was safe, so I asked him if his blood sugar was low.
"Do you think maybe you're low? You seemed a bit shaky back there."
He told me that he didn't have a meter with him and that sometimes his meals were metabolized quickly but that he didn't think he was low. I offered my meter and suggested that he test. I asked him probably three or four different times and ways if he would like to test to see if he were low. I figured that maybe he was just a little tired and that he probably knew that he was okay, although I really wished he would have tested with my meter. He had a box of leftovers with him so I suppose if he thought I was right he could have finished eating that on his trip home.
We parted, and the more I thought about his actions, the more convinced I became that he was experiencing a hypoglycemic episode. I did all that I felt I could have though, to encourage him to test and treat the low. It was quite the experience and I don't think I'll soon forget it. I'm not sure there was much more that I could have done for him, but I wish that I had insisted that he check his sugar, or offer him a juice (which I did not have) or SOMETHING more.
I'm not sure what the moral of this story is... but it was definitely an interesting spotting of a pump in the wild, so I thought I'd share...
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Embarrassing Moment
I've gotten into the really bad habit of only eating 1 hour before spin class. Let me just tell you that that is NOT a good idea. Ever. But I do it over and over again.
This morning, when little brother came in towake me up watch cartoons in bed with me, I decided to go ahead and wake up and eat. I forgot to test my sugar (couldn't immediately find my meter) because it was earlier than I usually get up and eat. I bolused about 10-20 minutes after I'd eaten and had eventually tested my sugar. I was 168. Not a bad pre-exercise blood sugar, especially for an intense spin class. I took a little less insulin and on our drive to the gym I turned my basal down to 40% for the next 90 minutes (about 20 minutes before class started).
My instructor starts in with the, "today's ride is...." and then she says the words I absolutely D R E A D "all hill, we're going to ride a 40 minute hill". I HATE hill rides. Cranking up the dial is my least favorite kind of ride. About 15 minutes into the class I could tell that needed to turn down my insulin some more. I decreased my basal to 0% for the next hour. 15 more minutes and after a song of sprints, I wanted to test my sugar. I got off my bike and tested. Usually when I do this I'm at 130 and I just get right back on and ride. No such luck this time... 68. I walked back to my bike, wiped it down, apologized to the instructor and left. That is so embarrassing! But what else could I have done? I guess I had too much insulin on board and no matter if I drank my juice (which was not in my bag, but luckily I had some cash and could pay $2 for a Vitamin Water) I still could not have gone on cycling. SO FRUSTRATING!
Does diabetes ever embarrass you?
This morning, when little brother came in to
My instructor starts in with the, "today's ride is...." and then she says the words I absolutely D R E A D "all hill, we're going to ride a 40 minute hill". I HATE hill rides. Cranking up the dial is my least favorite kind of ride. About 15 minutes into the class I could tell that needed to turn down my insulin some more. I decreased my basal to 0% for the next hour. 15 more minutes and after a song of sprints, I wanted to test my sugar. I got off my bike and tested. Usually when I do this I'm at 130 and I just get right back on and ride. No such luck this time... 68. I walked back to my bike, wiped it down, apologized to the instructor and left. That is so embarrassing! But what else could I have done? I guess I had too much insulin on board and no matter if I drank my juice (which was not in my bag, but luckily I had some cash and could pay $2 for a Vitamin Water) I still could not have gone on cycling. SO FRUSTRATING!
Does diabetes ever embarrass you?
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Why cure Diabetes?
I've been told that a cure for diabetes is fast approaching. New research shows that scientists are getting closer and closer to a cure every year. Most certainly every decade. The latest and greatest thing to hopefully come on the market soon is the artificial pancreas. This is an interesting concept. I think it shows some pretty cool technology. I think it shows that we are getting closer to a cure. A cure, for me though, would be to have some kind of medicine, or operation which allows me to not have to check my sugar ever again. To be insulin free and to not have any complications of diabetes. This cure... is this a possibility? Is it a reality? Will it ever be? But more importantly; do those with the power to cure diabetes actually WANT a cure for diabetes?
Let me back up and give a little background here. A few months ago I attended the ADA expo. Remember? Anyway, while I was waiting in line to talk to the representative from Omni Pod, there was a man about 10-15 years my senior. He got into a deep discussion with the rep asking him why he thought diabetes would ever be cured. I thought it was an interesting inquiry. For the most part, I thought he was being pretty pessimistic. However, if you think about it, he may have a point.
I mean, why would all of the pharmaceutical companies want to cure diabetes? Why would they want to put money in to finding a cure which would take away the dependency of so many customers? Think of the financial side of things. People with diabetes have to pay for medications: insulin, oral medications and most frequently other medicines that help treat complications of diabetes, meds for heart disease, thyroid issues, cholesterol, and the list goes on and on. Diabetics pay for meters, pumps, test strips, syringes, infusion sets, reservoirs, alcohol pads, glucose tablets. Some people with diabetes buy special shoes, artificial sweeteners, and other food products manufactured with less sugar. Why end all of that revenue? Why find a cure to something so profitable?
Its a question I think too few of us are asking. I do not consider myself to be a pessimist. However, I certainly don't consider myself an optimist either. I'm more of a realist. At least, that's the way I see myself. I usually analyze things the way they are and don't try to put a negative nor positive spin on things. I wish I were an optimist, but that just doesn't come very naturally to me- in most situations. ANYWAY, I do think that there may be some truth to the fact that doctors, scientists, pharmacists, and most certainly DRUG COMPANIES do NOT want to find a cure for diabetes, not now, possibly not ever.
Thoughts?
Anyone want to chime in?
Let me back up and give a little background here. A few months ago I attended the ADA expo. Remember? Anyway, while I was waiting in line to talk to the representative from Omni Pod, there was a man about 10-15 years my senior. He got into a deep discussion with the rep asking him why he thought diabetes would ever be cured. I thought it was an interesting inquiry. For the most part, I thought he was being pretty pessimistic. However, if you think about it, he may have a point.
I mean, why would all of the pharmaceutical companies want to cure diabetes? Why would they want to put money in to finding a cure which would take away the dependency of so many customers? Think of the financial side of things. People with diabetes have to pay for medications: insulin, oral medications and most frequently other medicines that help treat complications of diabetes, meds for heart disease, thyroid issues, cholesterol, and the list goes on and on. Diabetics pay for meters, pumps, test strips, syringes, infusion sets, reservoirs, alcohol pads, glucose tablets. Some people with diabetes buy special shoes, artificial sweeteners, and other food products manufactured with less sugar. Why end all of that revenue? Why find a cure to something so profitable?
Its a question I think too few of us are asking. I do not consider myself to be a pessimist. However, I certainly don't consider myself an optimist either. I'm more of a realist. At least, that's the way I see myself. I usually analyze things the way they are and don't try to put a negative nor positive spin on things. I wish I were an optimist, but that just doesn't come very naturally to me- in most situations. ANYWAY, I do think that there may be some truth to the fact that doctors, scientists, pharmacists, and most certainly DRUG COMPANIES do NOT want to find a cure for diabetes, not now, possibly not ever.
Thoughts?
Anyone want to chime in?
Monday, April 30, 2012
11 Years Today
Well, today is the anniversary of my diagnosis. It's been 11 years and the memories of my diagnosis and the two or three weeks leading up to the diagnosis are crystal clear in my mind. I wrote my diagnosis story a year or so ago, so I won't bother you with that again. But it is sort of hard to believe that it's really been that long! Eleven years! I've lived about one-third of my life with diabetes. That's an even more sobering thought.
Most days aren't so bad. I test my sugar before each meal, bolus for the carbohydrates, and just go about my business. Some days it stops me in my tracks with a low... or a high. Occasionally I get pretty emotional about an unexplained high; or frustrated with a low that makes me suspend my activities for 15 minutes or more. The majority of the time I don't worry about long-term complications. All of my doctor appointments are always good, test results normal. Some days I even forget I have it. Other days, it's all I think about.
I've definitely learned how to be a healthier person. Not that I was really unhealthy before. I wasn't. And I shouldn't tell myself (or others for that matter) that I was. I exercised, I ate well (mostly) and I was a healthy weight. My weight isn't ideal right now but I'm working on it. Plugging along with the diet and exercise program. I'm managing my diabetes to the best of my knowledge. And hopefully, I'm a good example to some people. I think that I am. I am well. That is all.
Is someone going to make me a cake or something?
Most days aren't so bad. I test my sugar before each meal, bolus for the carbohydrates, and just go about my business. Some days it stops me in my tracks with a low... or a high. Occasionally I get pretty emotional about an unexplained high; or frustrated with a low that makes me suspend my activities for 15 minutes or more. The majority of the time I don't worry about long-term complications. All of my doctor appointments are always good, test results normal. Some days I even forget I have it. Other days, it's all I think about.
I've definitely learned how to be a healthier person. Not that I was really unhealthy before. I wasn't. And I shouldn't tell myself (or others for that matter) that I was. I exercised, I ate well (mostly) and I was a healthy weight. My weight isn't ideal right now but I'm working on it. Plugging along with the diet and exercise program. I'm managing my diabetes to the best of my knowledge. And hopefully, I'm a good example to some people. I think that I am. I am well. That is all.
Is someone going to make me a cake or something?
Monday, February 27, 2012
ADA Expo
Yesterday I took the opportunity (amid all the moving) to go over to our local Expo center and attend the ADA (American Diabetes Association) Expo. I arrived pretty late in the day, I spent my morning packing and doing yard work on our house, so there were not very many people there. I missed out on the speeches and demonstrations but was able to just browse the booths without the crowds.
When I first got there I figured I had wasted my time even going because everything seemed so irrelevant. They had lots of cookbooks, overpriced stuffed animals for sale, and diabetic shoes, and socks. Who wants that stuff? Well, I certainly did not. I wanted to check out the new technology. Look at the new pumps. So, I wandered around a little trying to see what was there.
I accidentally ran into the Dexcom CGM booth and display. Ah! Now that's something worth looking at. So I stopped, talked to the rep. for a while, and I was pretty amazed at how cool that thing is. I've blogged about wearing the Mini Med CGM before. I think the guy asked me if I had ever worn one before. I told him I had and he knew it had to have been the Medtronic one. I saw the insertion site of this CGM and was TOTALLY blown away. I had NO IDEA those things had gotten so small! My Medtronic CGM was so large and it really hurt sometimes. By 7 days I had to rip that thing out! Anyway, so he launches into an infomercial of all the great features of the Dexcom CGM. It was pretty neat. It all comes down to relevance for me though. Do I really need one? It would be great for control. But, my control is pretty good already. I know that if I wanted to get pregnant again, I would get one for sure! I don't really see that in my future though.
As I was wrapping it up, this young girl walks up. She wears the CGM, and has an Omni Pod insulin pump. Saddest thing of all, this girl is not at all excited about having diabetes. And I don't know why anyone would be. But I just felt bad that she seemed so bitter about it already and she couldn't have been more than 10 years old. So I hear her dad say that he keeps hearing that "any day now" they're going to get the Dexcom and the pump communicating. I thought that Dexcom had a pump, or was a pump. So. I set out to find the Omni Pod table.
I walked all the way around the ADA Expo floor like three times (it wasn't very big) before I finally found them. Omni Pod was taking up just a corner of one table. I couldn't believe how small their display was. But, there was a crowd and I had to wait for quite a while to talk to the representative. He asked if I had a quick question, "No, I have a lot of questions." I responded.
The Expo closed at 4:00pm and I was at his booth probably at 3:45. So he and his guys were packing up but he's the representative, so of course he's going to take the time to talk to an intelligent "potential buyer" such as myself. This pump totally blew my mind. The part where he showed me how the needle works is where I was SOLD on this pump. So cool! Omni Pod is really, for me, a total mind-shift. I love that there is no tubing. I love that the pump and the meter are controlled on the same device. I love that it will soon be integrated with the CGM. And, I love that it's totally water proof.
There were a few draw-backs for me. First, it doesn't hold as much insulin as my Revel. My Medtronic Revel holds 300mL of insulin. The OmiPod only holds 200. My body requires an average of 75 units per day of insulin so I'd go through that every 2.5 days, that would be annoying. Second, I just got a new pump so my insurance won't cover a new one for a few more years. And third, I'd really have to take some time to get used to the larger site. They say they are decreasing the size of the pod, which is good. But I'd really like to see it in a larger vial capacity too. Having such a large pod would definitely take some adjustment. At the same time though, NOT having to wear a pump on my belt every day could be pretty amazing. Hey, I could maybe even wear a DRESS again! Wow.
Anyway, I think that when my insurance is ready to cover a new pump, I'm going to do some more research and most likely, I'll be switching to the newer and better technology. Just way too cool! Those are the kinds of things I CAN get excited about.
When I first got there I figured I had wasted my time even going because everything seemed so irrelevant. They had lots of cookbooks, overpriced stuffed animals for sale, and diabetic shoes, and socks. Who wants that stuff? Well, I certainly did not. I wanted to check out the new technology. Look at the new pumps. So, I wandered around a little trying to see what was there.
I accidentally ran into the Dexcom CGM booth and display. Ah! Now that's something worth looking at. So I stopped, talked to the rep. for a while, and I was pretty amazed at how cool that thing is. I've blogged about wearing the Mini Med CGM before. I think the guy asked me if I had ever worn one before. I told him I had and he knew it had to have been the Medtronic one. I saw the insertion site of this CGM and was TOTALLY blown away. I had NO IDEA those things had gotten so small! My Medtronic CGM was so large and it really hurt sometimes. By 7 days I had to rip that thing out! Anyway, so he launches into an infomercial of all the great features of the Dexcom CGM. It was pretty neat. It all comes down to relevance for me though. Do I really need one? It would be great for control. But, my control is pretty good already. I know that if I wanted to get pregnant again, I would get one for sure! I don't really see that in my future though.
As I was wrapping it up, this young girl walks up. She wears the CGM, and has an Omni Pod insulin pump. Saddest thing of all, this girl is not at all excited about having diabetes. And I don't know why anyone would be. But I just felt bad that she seemed so bitter about it already and she couldn't have been more than 10 years old. So I hear her dad say that he keeps hearing that "any day now" they're going to get the Dexcom and the pump communicating. I thought that Dexcom had a pump, or was a pump. So. I set out to find the Omni Pod table.
I walked all the way around the ADA Expo floor like three times (it wasn't very big) before I finally found them. Omni Pod was taking up just a corner of one table. I couldn't believe how small their display was. But, there was a crowd and I had to wait for quite a while to talk to the representative. He asked if I had a quick question, "No, I have a lot of questions." I responded.
The Expo closed at 4:00pm and I was at his booth probably at 3:45. So he and his guys were packing up but he's the representative, so of course he's going to take the time to talk to an intelligent "potential buyer" such as myself. This pump totally blew my mind. The part where he showed me how the needle works is where I was SOLD on this pump. So cool! Omni Pod is really, for me, a total mind-shift. I love that there is no tubing. I love that the pump and the meter are controlled on the same device. I love that it will soon be integrated with the CGM. And, I love that it's totally water proof.
There were a few draw-backs for me. First, it doesn't hold as much insulin as my Revel. My Medtronic Revel holds 300mL of insulin. The OmiPod only holds 200. My body requires an average of 75 units per day of insulin so I'd go through that every 2.5 days, that would be annoying. Second, I just got a new pump so my insurance won't cover a new one for a few more years. And third, I'd really have to take some time to get used to the larger site. They say they are decreasing the size of the pod, which is good. But I'd really like to see it in a larger vial capacity too. Having such a large pod would definitely take some adjustment. At the same time though, NOT having to wear a pump on my belt every day could be pretty amazing. Hey, I could maybe even wear a DRESS again! Wow.
Anyway, I think that when my insurance is ready to cover a new pump, I'm going to do some more research and most likely, I'll be switching to the newer and better technology. Just way too cool! Those are the kinds of things I CAN get excited about.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
365 Project
I'm doing a photography project this year. I'm taking a photograph every day for a whole year. So far, I've done really well at sticking to it. Some days, I take multiple photos and some days I take none, but for the most part, I've been able to remember to take a picture, upload it, and post it. I'm using 365project.org and I really like it. I've also decided to use a list of photographs for the month of February. In January, I just did my own thing.
Here are my pictures. If you click on the picture below, you'll link to my "project". I'm posting most of them to Instagram so if you have an account you can follow me: sugarfreesweety
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
adjusting to a new schedule
Keeping good control over diabetes means making frequent adjustments. A friend of mine, and diabetes podcaster recently asked the question; "How often do you make changes to your basal rates?" This questions means making adjustments to the amount of insulin your body receives throughout the day. Basal rates are the amount of insulin your body requires at different times in a 24 hour period. Each time I visit my Endochronologist, like I did about 2 weeks ago, we look at my blood sugars, analyze my A1c, and examine my basal rates. Usually, we make some little adjustments. My doctor has taught me that there needs to be a minimum of a 10% change in basal rate for an effect to take place. I see my doctor every 3 months. Occasionally we don't make any changes, most of the time however, we do. I rarely make adjustments to my carbohydrate ratio (the amount of insulin I take for the amount of carbohydrates I consume) but in the beginning I made those changes more frequently. I also made carb ratio changes when I was pregnant because EVERYTHING changes and gets really wacky when you're pregnant and diabetic.
Anyway, recently, my weekend schedule has changed. I wouldn't say that it has changed dramatically but it has changed enough for me to notice a pattern of change- for the worse. So, I've got to decide what I'm going to do to make some changes and adjust to this new change.
Each year, our church schedule changes. We attend church for a three hour block of time. Each "ward" or congregation, is assigned a different start time so that the buildings may be shared by more than one ward. This year, its our turn to attend the 12:30-3:30 block. AND I HATE IT! I absolutely detest this schedule. It's not good for me, and it's not good for anyone else in my family. Last year we were lucky enough to attend the 9-12 block. Yeah, it's nice to sleep in on Sundays but I'd much rather be finished with church by noon. Also, when do you eat? Either you sleep in and eat a big, late breakfast; or you wake up early and eat two small meals before attending church. This is what has been really whacking out my blood sugars. In the 5 weeks we've attended church in 2012, I've had ONE Sunday where my sugars were under control. The other weeks, I've had one issue or another. I've been high, I've been low, I've been quickly rising and falling fast. Ugh. I cannot figure out this schedule.
Yesterday, it finally clicked that something had been off for five straight weeks, each and every Sunday. Yesterday I took the day to sleep in. I slept until 9:00 am like a total slob (for a mom) and didn't eat breakfast until 9:50am. At that time, my blood sugar had dropped to 59. I didn't even feel it. I almost always feel lows. Not this one. So I ate. And I ate. And I probably did eat too much. And I didn't take any insulin. So, 2 hours later, my sugar was like 280. Then I got to take my naked and free shower (where you aren't wearing a pump site or sensor) and put in a new site after my shower. I bolused and figured I'd come right on down. Only no. 1 hour after my bolus I checked my sugar and it was 316. I felt super dizzy. And super thirsty. And it just happened to be the first week of the month which means that everyone is fasting. So I'm taking down at the water fountain when all the adults around me are fasting from food and drink, including water, for 24 hours. Ugh. But you do what you have to to take care of yourself, right?
Eventually my sugar came down and I spent the rest of the day fighting lows. Which leads me to tomorrow's post.
So, let me get to the point here, I know I've got to make a change. And I hope it will be an easy one. I just need to wake up earlier. No more enjoying the ONE BENEFIT of this stupid late schedule, I've got to get up at my regular time and eat breakfast at my regular time. As for lunch, I don't know. I think I'll just go for a little carbohydrate and protein combo snack before church and maybe another portion when I get home and then have dinner at the regular time. That should do it.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Anyway, recently, my weekend schedule has changed. I wouldn't say that it has changed dramatically but it has changed enough for me to notice a pattern of change- for the worse. So, I've got to decide what I'm going to do to make some changes and adjust to this new change.
Each year, our church schedule changes. We attend church for a three hour block of time. Each "ward" or congregation, is assigned a different start time so that the buildings may be shared by more than one ward. This year, its our turn to attend the 12:30-3:30 block. AND I HATE IT! I absolutely detest this schedule. It's not good for me, and it's not good for anyone else in my family. Last year we were lucky enough to attend the 9-12 block. Yeah, it's nice to sleep in on Sundays but I'd much rather be finished with church by noon. Also, when do you eat? Either you sleep in and eat a big, late breakfast; or you wake up early and eat two small meals before attending church. This is what has been really whacking out my blood sugars. In the 5 weeks we've attended church in 2012, I've had ONE Sunday where my sugars were under control. The other weeks, I've had one issue or another. I've been high, I've been low, I've been quickly rising and falling fast. Ugh. I cannot figure out this schedule.
Yesterday, it finally clicked that something had been off for five straight weeks, each and every Sunday. Yesterday I took the day to sleep in. I slept until 9:00 am like a total slob (for a mom) and didn't eat breakfast until 9:50am. At that time, my blood sugar had dropped to 59. I didn't even feel it. I almost always feel lows. Not this one. So I ate. And I ate. And I probably did eat too much. And I didn't take any insulin. So, 2 hours later, my sugar was like 280. Then I got to take my naked and free shower (where you aren't wearing a pump site or sensor) and put in a new site after my shower. I bolused and figured I'd come right on down. Only no. 1 hour after my bolus I checked my sugar and it was 316. I felt super dizzy. And super thirsty. And it just happened to be the first week of the month which means that everyone is fasting. So I'm taking down at the water fountain when all the adults around me are fasting from food and drink, including water, for 24 hours. Ugh. But you do what you have to to take care of yourself, right?
Eventually my sugar came down and I spent the rest of the day fighting lows. Which leads me to tomorrow's post.
So, let me get to the point here, I know I've got to make a change. And I hope it will be an easy one. I just need to wake up earlier. No more enjoying the ONE BENEFIT of this stupid late schedule, I've got to get up at my regular time and eat breakfast at my regular time. As for lunch, I don't know. I think I'll just go for a little carbohydrate and protein combo snack before church and maybe another portion when I get home and then have dinner at the regular time. That should do it.
I'll let you know how it goes.
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