Living with Diabetes

Author: kathleen

  • Time Change SUCKS!

    Between the diabetes and the sleep disorders and the knee the time change is sucking.

    The sad part is, I can go asleep any time but when and where I am supposed to. For example, I dozed off for a minute in front of the TV about an hour ago.

    Knee aches which is not helping.

    However, I do have some good news. I’ve been doing my iShape workouts for 4 weeks now and while my insulin usage is staying steady (and higher than I like), my blood sugars are smoother. And just this week i started using my temporary basal to drop my rate before and during exercise instead of eating to prevent the low.

    So I’m hopeful that once I recover from the time change, my insulin usage will start to drop.

  • When is enough, enough?

    I’ve been watching every episode of Miracle Workers since it started on ABC and I was actually happy to see one of their procedures fail.

    So far, it has just been TOO positive, without getting into the true ordeals the patients have had to go through to get their miracle. I will say, that everyone so far, has eventually turned out in a better shape than they started with, including the poor woman who died after the show was filmed tonight.

    I was especially interested because they were putting an articial heart in her. I’ll be honest — and my mom and I was just talking about this — I figure I’ll be suffering from cardio vascular complications at some point in the future, since I have heart problem history on both sides of my family. In fact, I’ve been seeing a cardiologist every year for the last 3 years, and was seeing one every 5 years before that.

    Back to the show. Poor woman had gone through breast cancer and then was diagnosed with heart failure. They put a Jarvik pump in her, and after 3, yes, 3 open heart surgeries she was doing better. They sent her home and she finally died of a massive infection.

    I personally think they went too far with the second surgery, though I do think she was aware enough to participate in decisions.

    I just know I don’t want to go that far.

  • Latest Experiments

    After participating in a chat last week on insulin pumpers (if you are a member, the transcript is available), I decided to perform 2 Symlin experiments.

    The first was NOT prompted by anything anyone said. It was prompted by the fact that I’m a Type 2, I’ve been dealing with heavier insulin resistance and lots of hunger problems. That said, I decided to up my dosage to 25 units. No adverse effects and my blood sugar is smoother.

    This WAS prompted by the discussion. I’ve been kicking around this idea for quite some time, and since someone did suggest it in the chat and found it working, I decided to try it too. I put in an extra infusion set on Sunday and I’m using it to put Symin in. I’ve got it more accessible than I usually put it and plan to change it out on Sunday. It eliminated the “ick” factor of injections, although it still burns because of the ph problem. Of course, I take that as meaning it is working.

    So far, it’s been really good.

  • Summer

    Well, I got a gig as an Algebra I teacher (computerized) this summer. I’ll be working for 6 weeks, 7:45 – 1:45 4 days a week.

    As soon as that is done, I’ve got to do an AP Workshop. Then I have one week left to play. Hopefully I’ll also get to write our district final, which will really make the summer full, AND the bank account happy.

    I’m really looking forward to this.

  • Catch up

    Bit behind on blogging.

    First on Tuesday our kids did go to the protest and probably a few today. I over heard a bunch of them talking about walking part way, realizing they weren’t going to get downtown and playing hookie instead. I knew about one who had called his mom and asked for a ride back.

    Protonix. Got 90 pills — the remainder of the prescribtion they didn’t send me in February. So it does look like that’s a go.

    Exercise. Definately a need. I had to do an off day on Monday and blood sugar was a mess the next day, but it’s much better now, in fact, I have 7 minutes to go on a 35 minute cardio session and two more weight exercises.

    I wish I could get to the point that I could at least do 20 minutes every morning but I’m still waking up extremely groggy.

  • Our students did not do this!

    Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Local News

    Students abandoned classes at Sunset and Molina high schools and the Townview Magnet Center. Many assembled around 11 a.m. at Kiest Park to rally against the legislation.

    And I’m thrilled as he as come up with a way the students can participate in an approved way. We’re going to show them how to write letters to their congressman (we can have a debate instead), and give them time to get it started.

  • I can’t decide about this

    Diabetes Advocacy: Call for Action from the Diabetes Bloggers

    First, my coverage is through an ERISTA insurance. I’m very fortunate that the current insurance does cover everything I need for my medical care, though it is expensive.

    First, I don’t like the way insurance is being done in this country now. I’m pretty locked into my current employer. Other school districts in our area who do not have the state insurance do not have as good as coverage. In fact, if I went to work for the school district I live it, I would be without coverage for about 6 months for any pre-existing condition (remember the ERISTA thing?)

    Let’s face it, we’re stuck working for a partcular group of employers once we get diagnosed for diabetes and I’m not sure that is right.

    I really think that insurance should be more assessible, and I’m not sure this law is going to help it.

    But I will pass the information along, and let you make your own decision.

  • It worked!

    This morning’s change worked. I ate breakfast, hit the temporary basal about the same time, and then did the workout. I took awhile to do my workout since I am doing laundry and housework at the same time, plus some computer work (the puppy stuff), but now my blood sugar is 114! No low!

  • Puppy

    I’ve started a puppy blog at http://www.kweaver.org/puppy in case any one is interested.

    Yes I think it’s time to get another dog. Both Marcie and Maggie will probably be retiring from agility in 2-3 years. I want a puppy so I can do the agility thing “right”.

  • Change in Exercise Procedure

    I’ve finally gotten back on schedule when it comes to working out. Between the PT taking up two hours of my day and the new schedule, it took a while. My blood sugar was higher than it should be and I was doing a lot of corrections. I’ve been exercising pretty steadily for the last 3 weeks, so today I made a bit of change.

    Before I was eating if I was low after exercise and this week found I was almost every day I exercised.

    So today, I turned on my temporary basal just as soon as I thought about working out. Especially since I also do Sunday’s exercise in sets, alternating working out with housework.

    This week I plan on going to the temporary basal as soon as I get off work. I did have to shift Monday’s cardio session to Wednesday as I have to take some kids to a tutoring session and will be getting home to late to work out.

    Planning and writing things down really does help.