Living with Diabetes

Author: kathleen

  • Recovering

    I’m trying to recover from the school year, especially the last few weeks. I got extremely depressed and upset over how much material I was able to cover with my students. I was one complete unit short with one group.

    Their grades were not as bad as I expected. I’m trying not to beat myself up too badly since it really wasn’t my fault, I’ve only had them since January 23.

    So I’ve spent the last two days in the bathroom, but finally got that problem stabilized, severe diarreah which is scary when you are diabetic because you don’t know how much food is getting processed and how much is just getting dumped, plus the dehydration possibilities.

    I’m also working on my two summer projects. I met with my partner on the district final (one didn’t show and gave one of his song and dances), and we spent an hour or so planning our approach. I’m going in one day next week and get some work started so we can make more progress when we can met next.

    I also went through summer school training and I’m working on getting my lessons in the computer. A lot of the material is already in electronic format, but there is one book that I’m having to scan in lessons.

    I am not sure if we’ll have copies in our classroom when we get back — long story, so I’m also going to put together my first week’s lesson on hardcopy so I can make copies.

    We have 22 teaching days.

    I’m looking forward to all of that.

  • Agility Trial

    I’m back from Shawnee, Oklahoma. I don’t like making a big deal on the blog out of a trip before I go. We didn’t Q all weekend, and it was definately my fault.

    First, Maggie is learning that she needs to keep track of the course. I started to take her off course yesterday, but she stayed on course, and then today, I called a down instead of a sit. In both cases, she saved the day. We still didn’t Q though.

    I was still stressed out over the school year, but it is getting better, and I think the trip helped.

    There are two things I haven’t been doing. One is that I haven’t been taking care of myself enough. Yes, I’ve been working out, but I am still having problems with food intake.

    The other is training my dogs at home. I’ve just been taking the girls to class, and have even missed a few of those.

    I have until June 7 to decide if I am going to the next trial.

  • Lab Results

    Just got my lab results from my endo’s visit. Kidney functioning numbers are better. A1C is at 6.6 which isn’t bad, but not my personal best.

  • Agility

    It is not going as well as I would like. I got here and Marcie was entered in the wrong jump height which has been fixed but I had not had that happen before.

    My lung function is really low and I think that is a result of the affects of stress on my gastric reflux. All the acid ends up in my lungs.

    I know that gaining weight is not helping either.

  • Traveling

    I’m in Shawnee Oklahoma for a dog agility trial. Arrived right at 3:00 pm.

    The hotel is interesting. It just changed hands and is being remodeled. I don’t think they have remodeled mine yet, but it not in bad shape, so maybe they have.

    Unfortunately, I have a smoking room upstairs, though they did haul up my cooler for me and got a microwave into the room. Actually the service has been excellent.

    The desk clerk is very sweet, and I think she is the owner. I think they are having an A/C problem in the other rooms.

    Anyway, I think I brought almost everything I need. I did forget to pack a box of syringes. Weird, I’ve been on Symlin for a year and I didn’t think about that. I should keep a box in the car.

    I took my insulin and Symlin to the pharmacy across the street and got my same needles for about $6.00 which isn’t bad at all. Didn’t give me a minutes problem.

    I also forgot to bring a third pair of black pants, but I think I can survive without them.

    Trial site looks pretty good. My instructor does not like the fact that they aren’t running the rings concurrently, but I don’t care as long as they keep things moving. It’s a small trial, they limited it to 440 entries.

    One of my friends dogs took a Group 3 with her Siberian. I’m really thrilled for her.

    I’ve got everything set up so it shouldn’t be too bad. Cages are at ringside and I’ve got a set of cages in the hotel room.

    I’m going to give the pool a try. They supposedly finished remodeling this week.

  • I just love these articles

    Diabetes In Control – Living Well with Diabetes without Weight Loss

    Being more physically active is all well and good but what if you ARE more physically active and you can get more that way because of the stinking diabetes?

  • Mobic (anti-inflammatory)

    My doctor does not like subscribing COX anti-inflammatories to diabetics and was very unhappy that I was using up my Bextra.

    He gave me quite a bit of samples of Mobic, and I’ve taken a 7.5 mg dose. I’ve got a few 15 mg doses which I’m going to save for this weekend.

    He really wants me to stop using them each day, but I really have knee pain. I tried to go shopping this weekend and this evening, and the knees were really bothering me.

    So it’s a problem right now.

    Oh, and the reason why? Kidney problems. Okay, he can worry about my kidneys, and the rest of us can worry about the cardio vascular system, since that’s what did in the last two generations.

  • Symlin Games

    Frankly the Symlin has not been doing it for me.

    Yes, it allows me to use less insulin but it hasn’t helped with controlling eating.

    So I’ve been playing with the dose. I will repeat the warning my doctor gave: “remerber we don’t know a lot about Symlin yet”

    He did say he’s more comfortable with me playing with it more than other patients but I’m the one who emailed why I was coming in and had print outs of every piece of data he wanted.

    So I am doing 25 units of Symlin until i can start losing weight again.

  • CPAP Problem

    I’m on my way to solving my problems. Called my DME supplier for my CPAP masks and asked if possibily it was time to get a new mask as it was getting uncomfortable after a few hours. They said, yep, it was last September and I should have it in the mail tomorrow!

    Coolness!

    Especially since I woke up at 5:30 this morning and it was extremely uncomfortable.

    I also ordered new filters and new humidifer chamber from CPAP.com this weekend. I ought to see about getting the machine itself transferred to the new company, since the old one is out of network, though I would think that by now I’d own the thing.

    This is how CPAP machines work since so many people are unsuccessful with them (at least I’m guessing this is the reason). The insurance company pays to rent the machine from the DME, and they are responsible for maintenance. At some point, after several years, it becomes “yours”. I suppose when it is out of warranty.

  • Traveling next weekend

    I’m going to a dog show and agility trial in Shawnee Oklahoma, which is just outside of OKC. The hotel sounds pretty nice, there is a refrigator and microwave in the room, so I am going to take my food. I may still eat out a meal or two, it’s nice to have a choice.

    I think I might start packing today. I need at least double of everything.