Living with Diabetes

Author: kathleen

  • NSV I think. Using a Smart Pen instead of an insulin pump.

    I saw my Endocronolist Friday.  

    I've lost about 30 pounds since I started Profile by Sanford.  My A1C is down to 6.5

    I've gone several days without dosing insulin, and basically had my pump off.  

    She suggested that I set the pump to deliver the minimum amount of insulin as she was concerned about clogging and asked if I wanted to go off the pump.  I asked about smart pen's and she suggested the InPen.  We jumped through insurance hoops and prescription hoops and the InPen arrived today.

    They are a bit difficult to load (I was sent two, I'm keeping one loaded in the refrigerator).

    It's going to feel a bit odd — going from the Medtronic tubed pump to the Omnipod was odd, but I still had a large device attached to me.  Now I just have the CGMS.

     

  • Super trip to visit family

    I just got back from a week trip to visit family.  Got to see everyone, including the latest member of the family.

    It’s rare to visit them without another event going on — usually a dog show.  It’s also the first long trip I’ve made after starting the new job.

    I stayed at a Home 2 Suite and booked a mobility accessible room.  It was very nice.  I was able to work all week.

    I learned that I could drive all day after a full week of work.  I’m still exhausted at the end of the day, so I wouldn’t want to drive after work.  I also learned that currently I can work remotely effectively from a hotel room.

    I also lost weight — I have a feeling it was walking Summer.  She desperately wanted to go and she was a great traveling companion.  

    On a sad note, I lost a ring that means a lot to me.  We’re hoping it in the car.  I remember, an odd sensation as I was adjusting my technology power cables.  My next task to is to clean out the car and look for it.

  • New Low / New Sizes

    I’ve been a bit stalled, but not too bad, since I had the job.  Less sleep, more siting, less moving.

    Since I don’t think your grandmother should be teaching in leggings and athleisure tops, and our dress code is jeans and t-shirt, I have gone shopping.

    Wearing size 18WP for the first time in decades.  Though it’s hard to find that size.  I snagged three pair from Macy’s for under $35.00 and free shipping so I went ahead and snagged some 16WP.  

    I also tried my 1x exercise clothing and I’m going to start easing them into the wardrobe.  There isn’t much difference in size between 1x and XXL, but there is some.

    I’m taking very little insulin and less I cheat and eat more than 20 carbs at a sitting.

    I’m at 11.3% weight change and 29.1 pounds until my goal according to the Profile Scale.

    That also means I’m at 94 pounds loss total since the lap band surgery and I was at my heaviest.

  • Yesterday was interesting

    I’ve been losing weight, eating less carbs, and as a result I need less insulin.

    In fact, my basal insulin was down to 4.5 units a day and I was only bolusing for food more than 10 carbs and the random correction.

    I wasn’t losing weight this week so I turned off almost all the basal insulin — I’m doing .05 units a day so I can keep the Omnipod running.

    That seemed to help, until Friday happened.

    Friday I was working in my new office (new to me), and got cold.  Also probably should have drank a shake.  Even though I got a sweatshirt, I was approaching 90 with a down arrow after 11:30.

    I’ve gone low before when I got cold, didn’t know that could happen when I didn’t have insulin on board.  I literally didn’t have any insulin in my body.

    Anyway, I drank a Profile shake and walked around for a bit, which is counter intuitive but it solves the being cold problem.  That seemed to fix it but I still want an answer from my endo.

    I’m not sure she understands the question, so I keep pushing.

  • Pfizer – 6 month followup

    Want to know the biggest side effect from the vaccine?

    You have to talk about it — did I mention I was in the Covid study?

    Anyway, I went in for my 6 month follow up — had to sign new forms, give two large vials of blood, and get an appointment for the one year follow up.

    It's crazy because the first blood draw was horrible and the two after have been easy.

  • Saw my Sleep Doctor

    I saw Dr. Luterman today, I see him yearly.  He’s been out of the office for 11 1/2 months.  He told me that coronavirus wasn’t going to be a big deal last year, that we get one of these every election cycle.

    He was happy with my numbers but agreed I should sleep more hours with the machine.  He isn’t doing fittings, and isn’t up today on masks, so we’ll need to leave it to Hope Home Medical, scheduled for next week.

    I think I need a mask that spreads the weight/force of the equipment further across my face.

  • Official! Over 20 pounds lost!

    I have been on Profile by Sanford since December 10 and have lost 20 pounds.  It hasn’t been hard to follow but I do a few more protein and fat, I think, because I don’t measure them.  If my weight loss slows I will. 

    I do move better once I get moving. 

  • Cornea Dystrophy and lack of sleep

    I’m thinking they are related.  Especially for me.

    Doing a search on the internet on both conditions doesn’t get any hits.

    This week, I didn’t sleep much — we had rolling blackouts, was worried about the house and everything else with the deep cold (for Dallas).

    By the fourth day, I had familiar eye pain.  I’ll say that the sleep has been getting better, with each night more hours of sleep and less wakening.

    The eye pain is getting better — pm eye ointment helps a lot if only to get rid of the crust I have in the morning. 

    Can’t wait until we’re all over this.

  • Fun Week

    It’s been a fun week.

    Somehow I lost 4 pounds. I hope I don’t find them again. I may be in trouble with my doctor.

    I’m back a Baylor Dental College as a patient. Last year I had started out as a patient with the hygiene clinic and I’m supposed to go in every 4 months. I think I was the only patient that wasn’t addressed by mom or dad there.

    My eyes are hurting. I really think that the cornea dystophy is a symptom of sleep. The storm and rolling blackout really affected my sleep. I saw a therapist yesterday and we focused on that and came up with a plan that worked. I slept but woke up every couple of hours.

  • Weight Milestone

    I currently see my lowest weight on my scale since 2017.  It may be lower, as it is very close to my lowest weight since Lap Band.  I got on the scale three times to see if it was really true.

    Profile by Sanford is a pretty easy plan for me.  First, it’s low carb.  I’ve always been able to do low carb.  Second, most of the meals are pretty easy to make.

    I’ve been doing their meal replacement shakes for breakfast which is a great substitute for my old breakfast: McDonald’s Mocha.

    I use their Mocha shake and add coffee and whipped cream to it.  Taste and texture is very similar and it’s been so long since I’ve done that.

    Lunch has been their Pizza crust with veggies and cheese.  If I get hungry I add a salad.

    Afternoon has been their protein bar and their fiber replacement, usually jello which I made when the pizza is in the oven.

    For dinner I make us something from emeals.  One night was taco soup which Rich really like.  Most of the time he likes the meals, and I tell him he is free to eat more carbs.

    One day a week I do lunch out — usually Nicoise salad with salmon and no potatoes.

    One day a week we do take out — Chili’s and I do their steak and asparagus.

    When I travel, I take my food with me, and stick to salads and Chili’s steak.

    Here’s some fun stats.

    I’ve gone from 80 units of insulin a day to 8.  

    I’ve been consistently losing 1-2 pounds a week.