Author: kathleen

Still loving Pill Pack. Got my first bill today — everything charged on one transaction and I didn't have to do anything.

I haven't had to talk to Express Scripts, and they only charge me $20 for the favor.

It’s funny but a few people around me have gotten the impression I don’t like to travel.  My problem with traveling is that whole TSA and logistics thing.   Right now, I only travel once a year or so, so the logistics is tough.  If I did it on a regular basis, had it organized and new what to expect at the airport, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.

Besides, @shanselman and @sixuntilme do it all the time, even with children.

This month’s DSMA Blog Carnival topic is:

What are some of the things we can do to prevent social media burnout

I have a different take on it.  If I am not social networking something is going on with me and it probably isn’t good.  I may be suffering from diabetes burnout, or I may have another thing going on.

Take this week: between Typepad being under a DOS attack and a root canal, I wasn’t blogging or doing much social media.  That might be a sign that a friend needs to check up on me and pull me out. 

I also have a bad habit when that happens of not re-entering the space.

So how to prevent social networking burnout?  Check on your friends when they disappear.  They might need some outside help.

But don’t we all.

Mine’s different.  I have an Aria scale that works with FitBit.  Have a FitBit too.  I love that it sends the data to the scale and gives me positive reinforcement.

What I hate:  it weighs 5 pounds heavier that the doctor’s scale.  That is not a bad thing though, because I’ll weigh in the morning, get dressed and go to a doctor, and I still see a smaller number.

It also shows fat percentage and that number is going down too.

I think it comes from living in 50 minute increments, but I can only stand to focus on something so long, and then the “have to do’s” start creeping in.

Half to clean the house, train the dogs, or the other twenty things I feel need to be accomplished.  And that happens when I’m cleaning the house, training the dogs (though I never train them that long), or doing whatever.

Yesterday, I hit my time limit in the gym in the afternoon.

Something I’m working on.

Today is my first day taking my prescriptions with Pill Pack.

First, I didn’t notice the side of the pack:

And here is what greeted me today:

Pull it off, tear it open, take pills, toss in trash.

Yes, that’s a Chumby One.

I am still taking meds I sorted out – the containers on the side have my morning meds.

I have a few left over pills and I’m going to check and see how we are going to proceed with that, so far I’m pleased. 

Went to Nordstrom and bought a new outfit today.  Smaller size – and smallest size I’ve worn in years.

I’ll show the outfit and more later when I get to a real computer (on my Surface)

Since I was in Southlake and I really like the New Balance store there I stopped in for some shoes.

I find regular width shoes comfortable again!  The sales lady said she had lost over 100 pounds and found the same thing.

Pretty cool.

This is come up with several conversations lately.  My mother asked because her brother-in-law is using insulin as an excuse not to do things.

So how do I take with me and how.

It depends.

First, insulin is at optimum potency at body temperature for 3-4 days.  It is at optimum potency for up to 30 days at room temperature and bottle opened.  It is at optimum potency if kept in the refrigator up to the expiration date.  Your mileage may vary.  I live in Texas, so it’s hard to find room temperature – 70-80 degrees.

So when I am running errands in the north Dallas area, I just have my pump on me. When I did multiple injections I carried either a vial and syringes, or pen and pen needles.  I kept them at room temperature in a carrying case.  Swapping out in whatever bag or purse I needed.

Now, I’ve lived here almost 30 years, and know where all the food is.  I also know all the side streets and know that ambulance response time is less than 3 minutes.

If I venture into Dallas proper I start thinking about bring spare stuff.  I know the likelihood of dropping dead with out extra insulin is low, so often don’t carry it.  Do carry emergency food in the truck at least.

When I am going to be a place I don’t know well, and know I am going to be gone all day, I will take my Climapack with me.   It is guaranteed to keep insulin at room temperature so I know anything in it is good for 30 days.

I cycle contents (one pen and one vial) every thirty days into my regular insulin supply with no problems.

If I am doing a driving trip, I have a cooler that is car battery powered that will keep my insulin – I use it whenever I’m going over night.

So yes, it depends.

First, for anyone training a service dog, going to a race track during a test isn’t a bad idea.  Especially if your dog might be on one some day.  The noise didn’t bother her at all and at one point there were 6 cars on the track.  Having a scanner so you can listen to the crews wouldn’t be a bad idea – one guy there had a nice looking Icom on that looked just like a ham radio handheld.

Now Dulce has had experience with bleachers since she was a pup and she knows that people throw food under bleachers.  And that critters hang out there.  She’s been to agility trials since she was 10 months old, so bleachers are good.

Again, noise didn’t bother her at all.

We were at a Firestone Tire test and there were 12 teams out when we were there.  I stayed as long as my brain would let me.  At some point, guilt that I am doing nothing starts in and I have to find a reason to be there.  I couldn’t.

The issue for going to a real race is going to be the crowds for her – and the longer walking for me.  I can see that it is a long walk to the infield if I am going to meet anyone.  So I’m going to have to look at how that experience can be better for me.

Oh and it’s hard to take pictures of race cars.  They move fast.

We did get to see Charlie Kimball @racewithinsulin run.  And both Target cars, an Andretti car and a bunch of others.