Living with Diabetes

Blog

  • I spoiled myself today

    Knowing that I’m schedule for dog agility trials for the next 3 weekends and knowing that I spent the last working, I took today for me.  I found a really good special at a Day Spa (a package deal of massage, facial, pedi and manicure), and took advantage of it.  It was very good.  I like the place and hope to go back someday. 

     

    I do almost do too much.  I ate just before 9:00 am, started at the spa at 10:00 am and finished just as my Dexcom was going off because I had hit "low". I had a good plan for lunch though, which worked out fine, and I’m ready for an evening of dog agility training!  Boy do I hope we’re in the building.

  • More Symlin Impressions

    I’ve done a couple of injections by syringe (vial) today and yes, the pen is definately more comfortable.  The syringe hurts going in, and burns while the shot is happening.  I’m not sure if the stopper is dulling the syringe needle or if there is just enough Symlin on the outside of the needle to cause the pain.

  • Symlin Impressions

    I’ve done 3 doses of Symlin with the Pen Injector today. 

    I’ve forgotten that needles don’t hurt going in — my theory — the stopper.  Pen needles don’t have to go through the stopper. So when I inject with the Symlin, going in doesn’t hurt, but the very final push of the plunger does — from the pH of the Symlin.

    I’ll let you know after a week how bad it is. It usually takes that many tries before the needle starts getting annoying.

    As for the vials — I have about a month’s worth of vials, so I’m going to use the pens "out" and the vials at home.  That will give a good cushion for when Medco decided to drive me nuts — though they’ve been good on Symlin.

  • To Dex or Not to Dex

    I’ll start this out by saying that I believe that Dexcom has the best CGMS technology available right now.

    However …

    The last two boxes of SEVEN sensors have not lasted as long as I think they should.  Oddly, I expect them to last SEVEN days.  I’ve had one person on the Dexcom list already imply it is my fault, and it might very well be part of my normal environment, though I did have a period where the SEVEN’s were working well.  That isn’t going to change. 

    Another problem is the needle pain.  It seems to get worse with each insertation.  I’m actually going longer and longer between sensor changes just because of the needle pain.

    I do have two more sensors, plus the one I’m wearing.

    I do believe I’m going to spend some time on the phone Monday, before I made a decision.  Of course, I can always change my mind and buy a box.  It’s hard to do it the other way.

  • BD Safe-Clip™ Device

    This is what I was trying to think up — there are quite a few for sell on Ebay at reasonable prices, so I bought two.

     

    BD Safe-Clip™ Device


    The BD Safe-Clip™ Needle Clipping & Storage Device removes insulin syringe needles and pen needles safely and easily.

  • Symlin Came!

    I have NO idea why I decided to check the Medco site this afternoon, as they said they weren’t sending until January 23, but I did.  Not only did it show it was on it’s way, but it had a UPS tracking number that said it was delivered.  I called, husband answered, and sure enough it was there, he just tossed the whole thing in the fridge.

     

    The pens are interesting. The 120 pen is set to give two doses, 60 units and 120 units.  It also says you can put it in either the abdomen or the thigh.  I think I like the thigh.  The needle goes in much better — I do think that stopper dulls the needle, and even though it was a dose after a prime, it didn’t burn until the very last of the push.  Thus it is MUCH less painful.

     

    I’m going to use up all my vials (I have around 4) at the house, and keep the pens for traveling about town and at school until I’m out of vials.

     

    The pen does not take up less space than the vial, but the pen needles are easier to deal with.  I do need to find a disposal method for the needles themselves.  I do have some of the needle holders, so I am going to try to snag more.

  • Symlin Pen Order Update

    Still nothing from the local pharamacy — Medco has changed their shipping day to January 23. 

  • Cleaning Service

    I’ve been feeling guilty about the cleaning service until I remembered something.  We’ve had landscaping service for years, and Rich hasn’t lifted a finger on anything.  We got it, because he drove me nuts.  I think that the grass has to be mowed every week. Unfortunately I can’t do it, because I am allergic to most of the pollen in Texas (both grass and trees).

     

    They came Tuesday — I got to be home, and they did a terrific job.  It’s very nice to have a clean house and not have to do it yourself.

     

    Please it frees me up for other projects.  Like my office.  i can actually work in here now, and I have room in the closet for storage again.  Speaking of which, if I put computer equipment out for the trash, I swear it’s gone in 5 minutes.  It[‘s really a hoot. 

     

    We’ve also had the handyman over, and he’s got my new TV mounted on the wall so it’s comfortable to watch on the treadmill.

  • Medco – Protonix arrived

    Protonix DID arrive today!  At the same time, I got an email from Medco saying I had a new order being processed and then the Medco database showed they were processing Protonix.  Oh well, they will hold until March 15.

     

    Symlin pen still hasn’t shipped.

  • New York Personal Injury Law Blog: My Interview with Robert (Dr. "Flea") Lindeman

    I am saddened everytime I read about this case.  First, I enjoyed reading Flea’s blog, very much, and feel very betrayed, sad, etc. because he was sued for malpractice.  The malpractice? The patient he had seen DIED OF UNDIAGNOSED TYPE 1 DIABETES.  I’m not sure how long ago that the child was actually not diagnosed, but surely a simple blood glucose test?  Okay, and I’m still mad that my mom was being treated for an infection that would not go away and they didn’t do a simple blood glucose test the entire year she was being treated. He was not the primary doctor on the case, but still…

     

    New York Personal Injury Law Blog: My Interview with Robert (Dr. "Flea") Lindeman


    In May 2007 Robert Lindeman, a pediatrician from the Boston area, found himself uncomfortably in the public eye when the Boston Globe exposed his pseudonymous life as a blogger in a sensational front page story.