Living with Diabetes

Blog

  • Decided

    After three months of trying really hard to lose weight and not losing weight but gaining two pounds I have decided that I am definitely going through with weight loss surgery. In fact if the insurance would go through during May I am doing it then as I think it will be easier not to eat at school.  The first week of May will be my 6th month of medically supervised visits.

    As I currently get things, I have to go on a mostly liquid diet two weeks prior and then completely liquid for 2 weeks after and slowly add foods. After 5 weeks from the surgery I would be back to eating Diet Gourmet foods.  I can deal with that.

    I still have an issue to work over the next few months. Basically when I am exhausted I eat way too much protein. I stick to things like chicked and go with grilled or roasted when I can. or beef brisket, grilled steak etc. in fact few things make happier than a Brazillian BBQ. And let me tell you at the quantites I eat it does affect blood sugar. Not like potato chips would but still.

    Right now I have a call out to the case manager to see where I am out since I am half way there and have Spring Break in March to cross ts.

  • Learned Something

    … don’t schedule endo and dietician in the same day.  And if you do, you probably do want to schedule the shrink but then you’re left with enough data to process for a month or more.

    Am I the only diabetic that walks into the endo office expecting him have a new something that will fix everything and make it all better?  Well, mine didn’t today. 

    I thought from his scales I had maintained my weight, but no such luck.  Found out at the dietician’s that I had gained a pound.  And I really wanted to lose weight.

    Oh, and my dietician ran off to join the circus.  Not Barnam and Bailey Circus but the Alli’ circus.

    So I am off — processing data.  Back when some is analyzed.

  • Today’s appointments

    The only good news of the day are blood pressure and pulse.

    The endos office scales said I had lost the pound I gained at Christmas, the dieticians office scale said I had gained another pound.

    Plus my dietician ran off to join the circus and I had another dietician to deal with. She was okay but she is a dietician.

    One the good news front she gave me some paperwork that helps me to adjust to the lapband and it was a good thing. it does help.

  • Big Medical Day Tomorrow

    I am going to the endo, getting a depo shot at gynochologist, seeing the nutrionist and the shrink.   Needless to say, it’s an all day ordeal.

    Originally was going to see the endo about the new pump.  However, Animas called early and said they could process the order.  I’m really glad it worked out this way, as I have lots of things to ask about as to the new pump.  I’m using a lot more insulin and I don’t know exactly why.  Though it might be because I am a) testing more and b) correcting more, and it might even have something to do with the ever increasing A1C

    I don’t think I’ve lost any weight.  In fact, I’m afraid I’ve gained, so we’ll see about that tomorrow.  Also, this will be the halfway mark towards being able to make a decision on weight loss surgery.  I have some more questions about that, as there are things I need to get straight in my mind as I make that decision. Also want to see if there is anything more the dietician can help me with.  I am honestly believing the sleep issue is the biggest now, but I have been getting to bed earlier than I was.  Just don’t think I”m getting enough quality sleep yet.  Think I should make an appointment with the pulmonary specialist for Spring break.

     

  • Shoulder – Yes Better.

    Not perfect but better.  One of my commenters said he thought he had the same sympthoms and wondered if the chiropractor helped.

    If I am not using the computer and not driving, I’m fine.  Driving aggravates it — the angle is off and the vibration of the car makes it worse.  I still hurt when I use the mouse but not as much.  I’m really looking forward to this week.

    Basically I’ve been going to the chiropractor twice a week, get hooked up to a machine and my nerves jump (PT did that for my knee), ultrasonic therapy and then a good rub down.  Then an adjustment by the chiropractor. 

    One day a week, usually in the middle get a 1/2 massage from his therapist which really helps.

  • Agility Weekend

    Good news — 7 out of 8 runs my dogs ran in the same general direction as I did.  Still getting lots of refusals from Maggie — that means she approached the obstacle but didn’t take it.  She’s usually double checking.

    The 7th run – Maggie, she decided the photographer was evil.  He said she might be right.

    Yes, Macy’s nose is on the ground but she is making progress in the same direction and sometimes takes an obstacle on purpose.

    Also, I’m still able to do both days.

    Two more weekends of agility, then we get a break.  Yeah, I could stay home but the weather has been nice and who knows, we might Q.

  • 5 Days with the Ping

    Basically I like it!  However, there are problems with the user interface that I have to get used to.  My least favor it is when you are due with for a blood sugar test, you can’t just throw a strip in and get on with your life.  You have to push a button on the meter first.  So I have wasted a strip or two but gettig there.

    It will take a while to learn all the new features and software and I haven’t had much time BUT I believe the best thing with a new pump or any other piece of technology is take your time and learn each feature at a time.

    Biggest lesson learned is that you can’t "set it and forget it". Once you start a bolus you have to keep the meter close or it fails.  I’m bad about wanting to set the meter down and take a few steps to do something else.

    All in all good!

  • Having an arthritis day

    Everything aches.  And walking is hard.  I hate winter weather change days. I never seem to have this problem in the summer, or maybe I just don’t remember it.

    In the past, I gave up on walking on this kind of day, but today I’m doing something different.  I have to do the laundry anyway, SO I’m walking 4 minutes at a time.  Not fast, but 4 minutes and then I stop.  By then the pain is too bad.

    Hey, at least I am getting a work out down.

    Shoulder getting better, but still hurts.

  • Shoulder

    I've been seeing a chiropractor for two weeks now.  The shoulder doesn't hurt when I am not working at a desk.  Like right now.  I'm typing on a laptop in a big soft easy chair while watching TV.  But I'm sure if I went up to my office upstairs and tried to work, it would hurt.

    It also hurts when I drive, but if I can tuck my shoulder into the seat belt and my hand into the lap portion it is not as bad.

    Dog agility doesn't bother it, but I am suspecting that my posture is affected as the girls have missed some signals in class last night.

    I also talked to the chiropractor about my knee and I think I'm going to have him work on it for a while when we finish the shoulder if insurance will let it happen.

    I am planning to go to Massage Envy tomorrow night and letting them work on me.  Not as good as the chiropractor's therapist, but not bad either.

  • Love my Ping, not sure about UPS…

    My Ping was scheduled to be delivered between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Monday.  It arrived JUST after my last class.  This was a bit of a stressor since I had an appointment for a massage on my shoulder at 4:00, and I was afraid it wouldn't come until after I had to leave.

    So I programmed the pump at the lights — we have long lights — and in the parking lot at the chiropractor's office, and switched over.  When I got home I tried to upload the IR2020 settings and download them, but ended up resetting the pump.  So don't do that!

    So I reprogrammed it for my regular basis and went off to dog class with it.

    Meter is a standard meter with extra features for the pump.  I actually like it, and it's nice not to have to pull the pump out.  Have not had any problems with the two communicating, even though there is a white paper floating around saying that one user did have those problems.

    I will be honest, I love the Accu-chek Compact Plus because everything is in one unit and I wish someone would make an attachment to the One Touch Ping Meter so that the lancing device and test strips are attached.  As it is, I am back to the Accu-Chek lancing device with the drums as it is easiest on the hand.  The One Touch lancing device fits better in the case but.

    Also wish the case had enough room for Lancing Device and Symlin Pen.  Just isn't enough room!  You get one or the other.

    There are other things I wish they had.  I wish the Meter held more food entries and I wish that you could put medication entries in to the log.

    Overall I am very happy with the remote and how it is working.  It's a good advance!

    And after pump shopping, I do think the Animas Ping is the most technologically advanced pump out there.  The others do have features that the Animas doesn't but …