Living with Diabetes

Blog

  • Good insurance news

    I was very dismayed to learn that BCBS of Texas did not cover the Symvist injections in my knee.  No one in the doctor’s office mentioned that was a possibility.  Plus, all my other specialists told me when it was possible that something wouldn’t be covered.

    I was also dismayed to learn that the injections were $1000 a piece.  They didn’t seem to be worth that.  Especially since I’ve been having more pain in my knees since the last shot.

    The good news, is that one of the shots has finally been covered, so I assume the doctor’s office has gone through the appeals process.

  • Calorie King Mobile Version

    Calorie King now has a mobile web site at http://www.calorieking.com/mobile
    About time!

  • Dexcom Wishes

    I agree with those who want an always on display. I have a few more wants.
    I want an alarm to go off when the receiver is too far away. I have lost my receiver several times and freaked out. beeping would be nice.
    You should also be able to shut down the receiver completely, both the display and the above alarm.

  • Losing weight

    Yep, I’m finally losing weight again.  Found myself going low a lot last week and have been able to lower my bolus rates.  Lower bolus rates always results in weight loss as long as I am controlling my blood sugar.  In fact, my TDD has gone down from an average of 55 units to an average of 50 units, maybe less.

    The school year has been hectic — I have a lot more students.

    My schedule helps a lot though — I’m busy every class period and they usually go by fast.  In fact, the students really give me time to do anything BUT grade their work (they are a tad slow today in 7th period and I’ve got everything else caught up).  So I haven’t been eating during the school day. 

    I’ve also been able to keep up with the cardio portion of my program, but not with the weight lifting as much.  I want to get back to it, but I have to get back to weave pole training with the dogs.

    I’ve tried seeing a social worker, but after getting nutrional advice from him twice.  I’ve also found myself eating candy after seeing him, so I’m firing him.

    Here’s what has really helped (besides Delaine from Fitness for Diabetes), and that is Shrink Youself at http://www.shrinkyourself.com   I found it on one of the Doctor’s sites, don’t remember which one, but HE was participating in it.

    It’s been really good so far.

  • SymlinPens Approved by FDA – Medgadget – www.medgadget.com

    There are pictures and everything here.  By the way, I got a shipment of syringes from Medco last night — and it was SO nice to realize that it was my last shipment of them and I’ll be going back to pen needles soon. 

    FDA approval has been given to Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to market their automatic Symlin injection devices. Symlin (pramlintide), a synthetic analog of human amylin, a naturally occurring neuroendocrine hormone, is the first of its kind injected antihyperglycemic medication for use in patients with type 2 or type 1 diabetes. Two versions, rated by their maximum dosage, should be available for purchase in December.

    Source: SymlinPens Approved by FDA – Medgadget – www.medgadget.com

  • Dexcom has good tech support

    Last Sunday, I had a sensor go bad a few days early.  It just started giving wacky readings.  Just about the time I did a full download of it on a new computer.

    Smart thinking — I downloaded the data the next morning.  Called Dexcom tech support when I had time to talk, and was able to remotely access my Dexcom program (through gotomypc), and sent Tech Support data.  Worked with them for two days via email, but the sensor never did straighten out.

    I swapped sensors a day early and the new sensor has been night and day different.  In fact, I am on day 8 now.

    The best news, they sent me a new sensor.

  • Bernard’s Diabetes Blog: FDA Approves Symlin Pen

     

    Amylin has announced today that the FDA has approved two Symlin pen models. The pens should be available by December 2007.

    Source: Bernard’s Diabetes Blog: FDA Approves Symlin Pen

    Another diabetic who is excited!

  • FINALLY — SYMLIN IN A PEN!!!!!!

     From Scott’s Weblog, but it’s blocked by our content filter at school.

    Well, it has been promised for nearly 3 years now, but today, the company revealed that they were in receipt of an approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the SymlinPen 60 and the SymlinPen 120 pen-injector devices for administering SYMLIN (or pramlintide acetate) injection. According to the news release, the pens are expected to be available to patients by December 2007.

    I am SO SO HAPPY.  The vials I have are the last I’m going to own.

  • TI Foundation Fellow?

     From the Dallas Morning News:

    Ten North Texas teachers will be inducted as fellows into Texas Instruments Foundation’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy.

    Education notes | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | News: Education

    I’ll find out what this means next week.

  • Well, she meant well

    I’ve been a good patient and have been getting my mammograms at the same place for years — local hospital radiology department.

    On the way out, the xray tech tells me (after seeing my insulin pump), that one of her other patients has lost a ton a weight and gone on oral meds after having lap band surgery.

    ARGH!

    I’m just not in the mood to go into the ways this is so wrong.