Living with Diabetes

Author: kathleen

  • Abbott — Therasense — Freestyle

    The Freestyle folks have some very nice updated software on their website. It’s a downloadable version of Copilot. It has a Java look and feel (most of the windows seem Java API like — don’t worry, that was geek talk).

    The graphs are very readable, and it allows you to merge records from several different meters and produce a report. You can also import data from the Cozmonitor program. If I can figure out how to create exported data from Ezmanager without too much brain power, I might because the EzManager reports can be difficult to read.

    Might be a good summer project.

    Anyway, website is http://www.therasense.com follow the CoPilot links.

    Yeah, can’t sleep either.

  • More on Hope Home

    Come to find out, it’s a small company owned by the son-in-law of my absolute favorite (though retired) teacher from my school. She taught me everything I know about teaching math.

  • This is depressing…

    Welcome To Diabetes In Control – THE SUGAR TO FAT SHORTCUT, NO INSULIN REQUIRED

    THE SUGAR TO FAT SHORTCUT, NO INSULIN REQUIRED

  • Oh, man, I want to play!

    Paintball Tournament to Raise Funds for Diabetes Research – The Diabetes Weblog – www.thediabetesblog.com

    Of course, I’d be massively disappointed, because the only times I’ve played Paint Ball, I’ve done it right.

    You haven’t lived until you have played Police K9 Paintball.

    Yeah, you heard it.

    In another life, I trained police dogs as a hobby. Hey, if you are going to have a hobby have an extreme hobby.

    So here’s how we played paint ball. We’d set up a “true” police scenerio — one was in a park with bad guys that needed to be found, and one was in a building with lost bad guys.

    Only one time when I played, they broke one of the rules, and hit my dog (she was a GSD, not a little beagle). Getting the paint out of her fur wasn’t a problem, but since I’d got hitten in the chest the game before and was bruised for over a week, I’m sure it didn’t feel good. I can’t remember what we did to get “even” with that bad guy, I am sure it was mean.

  • I just had the best experience…

    As I posted earlier, my sleep doctor ordered me a new humidifer and new mask — the company he ordered it from is new to me — Hope Home Medical.

    It is covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, and it was delivered today. The respiratory therapist is really good and really nice, and come to find out is the son-in-law of one of my absolute favorite now retired teachers.

    Come to find out the new humidifier has only been out for 6 weeks and was on back order as soon as it came out. It’s very small, and adds very little to the size–I believe it will still fit in the original travel bag. It takes a whole lot less water, and the water holder is dishwasher safe.

    The other added plus, is that the CPAP hooks up directly to the humidifier, reducing the need for a extra hose. We’ll see how it does at night. The biggest problem with CPAP humidifier is rain out — you wake up with water over your face and water popping down the hose.

    I’ll also have less clutter next to the bed!

  • This is the sleep “blurb” the news media has been talking about.

    CNN.com – Survey:?3 in 4 have sleep problems – Mar 29, 2005

    Survey: 3 in 4 have sleep problems

  • Diabetes Types

    Diabetes Information – American Diabetes Association

    According to the American Diabetes Association:

    Type 1 diabetes
    Results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, the hormone that “unlocks” the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

    Type 2 diabetes
    Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

    And it is a good thing to make sure how you are differentiating the two.

    According to the IC9 codes, Type 1 is insulin dependent and Type 2 is non-insulin dependent. However, there are “insulin resistant” Type 2, who are insulin dependent.

    I am one.

  • Pumplandia: Violet’s Diabetes Blog: I’m Too Sexy for My Pump, Part II

    Maybe it’s because I’m older, maybe because I already have body images issues that the pump can’t make worse (and should help), but this isn’t an issue.

    Pumplandia: Violet’s Diabetes Blog: I’m Too Sexy for My Pump, Part II

    Maybe because my husband confesses whenever I ask him how I look, he doesn’t notice, but the pump has never been an issue for us. I’ve learned after 18 years of marriage to say things like — is the front of the skirt hanging shorter than the back? Rather than a generic, does it look good.

    When I was first thinking of the pump, it was funny, because he said — insulin pump? Scott Verplank has one. He’s played better ever since.

    The only other comments he’s made on the pump has been positive. My mother was appalled that he was consulted on the financial aspects of the pump — but I had already put in a plan where it didn’t affect joint money it wasn’t a problem.

    He jumped back on her and told her that it was the best decision I had ever made, and I was happier on the pump than before without it, and that alone was worth the purchase price.

    So don’t worry about it. In my opinion, guys don’t notice things NEAR as much as you think.

  • Sleep — biggest problem

    My biggest problem right now, and my biggest stumbling block is this sleep issue. I did everything I could last night to make sure I could sleep all night and did wake up a time or two, but was able to roll over and go to bed.

    I do think I am having some problems with mask leaking — that woke me up at least once.

    Definitely when ever I don’t sleep well, right now, the gum situation flares up. I’m not sure if that’s the cause of the sleep problem, OR if it is caused by the sleep problem.

    So I don’t feel super rested, but I also don’t feel like I absolutely have to go back to bed, like I did yesterday and at least two days last week.

    Right now, the plan is to meet with the DME after school, and get the new equipment situated and then go to bed by 10:00 pm.

    The blood sugar is elevated but stable right now, though I’m going to have to watch it close since the antibotics are supposed to affect blood sugar, though when I see warnings on medications like that, I’m wondering if it is really the underlying infection (and then lack of infection if the meds work), that cause the problem. More chicken and egg stuff.

  • Who is more Vocal?

    The Diabetes Blog asks who is more vocal.

    Hmm, that’s an interesting question. I know my blog has been around longer than the Type 1 blogs you’ve been talking about.

    Type 1s More Vocal Than Type 2s – The Diabetes Weblog – www.thediabetesblog.com

    If I am not upbeat right now, I’m dealing with a bunch of problems.

    I don’t blog much about work, as that can be dangerous, but due to some budgetary and NCLB (No Child Left Behind) issues, my job is going to change completely next year, and it isn’t a step forward for me. I’m not the only one in this boat so few of the adults around me are upbeat early.

    I haven’t been able to sleep well for weeks.

    And finally, if I read another blog entry linking obesity and diabetes, I may slap someone.