And I just performed an interesting experiment.
The watch claims my blood sugar was 100 – 113.
Freestyle Flash claims it’s 133.
One Touch Ultra 137
Accu-Check Compact 156
So 4 different numbers.
Does it matter?
Not really — first remember there is some error inherent in any of these devices.
While doing this, got my third reading — now at 120.
Well, here’s the deal on the Glucowatch.
The guy who runs the insulin pumpers list (whom I have a problem with anyway) claimed he had a working Glucowatch that people could try.
So I told him to send it and ordered a minimum order of autosensors.
However, when it came, it was missing 5 components: the recharger, the self test unit, the autosensor press, and the batteries. Batteries wasn’t a problem, it has two rechargable but takes a regular AAA.
The problem is, you can’t make it work without the autosensor press.
It wasn’t a complete waste, because I got to see the video tape, which was well done, and reasonable. I didn’t open the other materials, as I figured out pretty quickly it wasn’t going to work.
So I called the Glucowatch people and was going to cancel the autosensor order but they had shipped the day before. So then I decided to bite the bullet and buy the watch.
Friday arrives — two days after the “temperate sensitive” auto sensors were supposed to have shipped and NO sensors. And Diabetic Promotions is out of the office at 4:00 pm Friday (EST). I don’t even get off work until 4:00 pm Friday on (CST), so that was problematic.
I phoned first thing this morning, ready for a battle, but yes, they had shipped, and UPS lost the order! I wasn’t completely convinced until UPS called, so now I’m waiting for both the watch and the reshipment of the autosensors.
And so far, Diabetic Promotions have been okay to deal with.
Going through the Glucowatch 1-800 is hookie, because they are on California time, and don’t answer to 10, and Diabetic Promotions are on Eastern time, so I’m not even going to mess with the Glucowatch 1-800 from now on. Especially since before 8:00 am our time is an ideal time for me to mess with stuff like that.
As of today, I’m 28 pounds less than I was when I first went to their office!
I’m really thrilled to death with both the doctor and the CDE. We did have an interesting conversation, because the doctor didn’t want me to waste my money on the Glucowatch, but they both decided — like I did — if anyone on the planet can get it to work, I can, and because I’ve done so well with everything else, we might as well give it a shot.
Believe me, I’ll hammer the Glucowatch people with tech support requests. More on that, next.
Anyway, the CDE and I had an interesting conversation — I’m one of her very few Type 2’s on a pump (I might be the only one), and she’s not sure if she would put me on the pump if I was a new patient. She acknowledged she would have to work with me for a while.
I also admitted I wasn’t as anal about numbers until the pump — but why be, if you aren’t influencing the numbers by your behavior?
We also agreed that I will see her after I see my sleep doctor and that if he has anything negative to say about my part of my care, I’m walking out of the office!
I’m doing very well on the weight loss, still losing around 1-2 pounds a week. Unfortunately it’s so slow that the people who are around me all the time don’t notice.
I did enjoy the ego boost when I returned back to school though. That’s been nice.
I got an angry note last night from a reader, which I deleted, but then responded privately. I hope the reader reply to my email again, because I think it’s someone who needs some help.
The reader was frustrated because I whined about having a slightly higher elevated blood sugar, and because I saw my endo about it.
I know that I am lucky and that I’ve made some good choices. Teacher pay is lousy but our benefits are pretty good.
I’m on 6 different medications a day, plus insulin and test strips. I haven’t figured out exactly, but I will ball park that at around $150 a month. No that’s not bad.
I see several specialists on a regular basis. A sleep doctor about every 3 months now, and the endo, about every 6 months. Right now I am seeing his CDE for diet and weight loss support every month, but may go to every other after November. I used to get allergy shots and saw an allergy doctor on a regular basis, but am taking a break from that.
And don’t forget the pump supplies. Those run around $150-200 a month, but the insurance pays 95% of the covered part.
I do use our Flexible Spending account to pay all of the above I can with pre-Tax dollars.
So my diabetes care isn’t cheap and does take some personal sacriface. This summer when I was frustrated with my job, I didn’t go look for another one, because I knew the benefits wouldn’t be as good.
However, I am not whining, just stating facts. And I don’t know what I would do if we did lose the insurance.
I know my husband has never been unhappy with the sacriface we’ve made so I could have the pump.
I really wish I understood it, because I don’t want it to end.
For about 4 years, I alternated struggling to exercise every day, and struggling to eat correctly everyday and just couldn’t do it. Now, most of the time it isn’t a problem.
Yeah, I had trouble with doing any cardio on Monday and today. I’d opened up a blister on the back of my foot this weekend, and while I taped it up and was able to walk on Sunday, I just couldn’t get up and do that the last two mornings.
I am confident I can tomorrow morning.
I’m actually having trouble getting enough to eat during the school days, just don’t have time. Plus I’m really burning it off, running errands and taking care of stuff.
The biggest contributer though, I think is that I have all my health problems under control. While I’m getting heart burn pain, it isn’t waking me up at night like it was. I’m sleeping most of the night, and not having trouble waking up through out the night, and most nights can even go to bed on time.
It’s good. Very good.
Today is one reason. My blood sugar was fairly stable today. It was 180 post pranial (2 hours after meal), and I’m not sure if that was calculations, or what, but it certainly was better than last year at this time.
I will admit that last Monday-Wednesday, I went home and went to bed for at least an hours nap. But that’s pretty normal for most teachers. I’ve spent the summer doing summer teacher things, and they certainly aren’t as stressful nor do they take as much energy.
But tonight, I came home late after helping a new teacher, and needed dinner, but gee, it after 5:30 pm! and I had not eaten since 1:00 pm.
But today went well. I wasn’t too exhausted to deal with any students, though I admit I’ve paced myself a bit, and made sure that I wasn’t spending the WHOLE class period, all 6, on my feet helping students. I’ve got good assignments, occupying students most of the class period. Plus most of them can logon by themselves now, though I am getting a few new students each class period.
Also don’t feel the need to nap. So all and all, I’ve doing much better than this time last year. In fact, I’m about to go out and do a few errands.
52 weeks ago, I was hooked up on my pump today.
It has been a very good experience. I’ve been posting about this in bits and pieces, so I’m going to try to tie some of the accomplishments together.
I’ve gone from around 100 units of insulin a day to 40 units.
I’ve gone from an A1c of 7 with lows, to an A1c of 6.2 without lows. I will not deny eating extra food to avoid lows, but I haven’t had an emergency, treatable low since on the pump.
I’ve lost around 10% of my body weight.
But the best thing, is that I feel better. And everyone has noticed.
I decided to move my teacher ID to last year’s lanyard, and noticed something really neat between the two pictures. A friend looked and noticed the same thing …
Thursday is my pump anniversary — it will be 52 weeks then — but the calendar anniversary was yesterday. So what has changed?
Last’s year ID picture was taken one week before I got my pump. They took this year’s last week. If you look at the two pictures, I am definately more tired, my face is fatter as is my neck, and my hair is actually grayer LAST year. You’d really think that they had been reversed. I actually look younger in this year’s ID badge.
I know I feel better this week than I did last week at this time. I also know that my blood sugar is definately lower, I’ve been going between 110 and 190 the last two days.
I definately think the pump was worth it.
So far, the reduced, new basal is working fine. I haven’t eaten since 6:30, and the blood sugar is staying in the 120’s, which I can definately live with.