First, she told me that I should receive EzManager by August 31. Sorry, I giggled. I’ve heard that every month.
However, they are shipping me an IR1250 and I am keeping it as a loaner until the software ships. I have two weeks after I receive EzManager until I have to return it.
I wish they had given me that solution months ago.
Oh well….
I’m using Wingman’s post as a catalyst to do some thinking about this of my own.
Have others of you noticed the dramatic effects a chaotic change to your normal routine can have on your bs?
Ring The Bolus: Sleep & Blood Sugar
Yes, changes in normal routine DO very much affect my blood sugar. It’s been a huge problem since diagnosis. Even more so, since I’m a teacher and have frequent changes in schedule.
I do a really good job of controlling blood sugar during normal teaching days. It does take frequent checking of blood sugar (Dexcom Seven is going to be invaluable for that). If they change my lunch during the year, I have to tweak things differently. Typically I have “C” lunch, but they have changed me around a few times and even 1/2 hour can make a huge difference.
One of my toughest challenges are workshops — as I have blogged extensively about that. Workshops alone are stressful — you are in a room full of people and it is worse for me when I know quite a few of them. Oh, by the way, giving workshops is really no different than teaching. It’s the sitting still that bugs me.
I typically use up to 50% more insulin on a workshop day than I do on a normal teaching day. I typically use about 20% more insulin on a non-teaching day.
Agility days can be even worse. Again, they take about 50% more insulin, and sometimes even more.
One thing I’m going to have to look at during my next endo’s visit is adjusting basal insulin, especially at night because I’ve been going high and have been whining about that for months, even though we’ve made a few changes.
Seriously, I just keep getting madder and madder over the EzManager situation. I’ve had my pump for 4 months and have not been able to use any of the software features.
The last answer I got from the Ezmanager support guy named Jack was right everything down. Well, hell, if I wanted to do that, I’d wouldn’t have actually BOUGHT Ezmanager. And if they go back and look, I purchased EzManager LONG before I purchased the pump (yeah, I think that’s even on this blog!).
Can you tell I’m mad.
So I called and talked with tech support and said, I either want EzManager by the end of next week, or I want an IR1250 until EzManager ships.
She’s going to call me back.
I did finish my first program last week. I lost 11 pounds with them, which wasn’t part of the plan. I’ve increased exercise from about 15 minutes a day to 60 minutes, but it’s not really the same since I started the program while I was teaching.
I do think dog agility is going better.
Lately I’ve been having problems with food again, had quite a bit of stressing events this summer, but I’ve learned to eat “better” foods when I’m stressed. More salads and I’ve added dried fruit to my foods. Everything prepackaged, which makes it easier to dose, and makes it less likely I’ll completely lose track of what I’ve eaten.
I’m extended the fitness portion of my plan for another 4 months.
It hasn’t been as accurate as my last STS-3 sensor. I do believe the trend is accurate, but the numbers have been quite a bit different. For example, it said I was in the 120’s this morning, when I was really in the 140’s. If you account for 10% error for each device, it’s not bad.
I “installed” my first Dexcom Seven sensor.
Hint: I’m keeping the whole assembly at least this round until I know everything is working okay. Makes it easier if you have a sensor failure to return things.
My last STS-3 sensor failed in the shower today. It was working fine, and I think that the weatherproofing finally went away. I could try drying everything out and resetting but I just don’t think it’s worth it. This sensor did last more than a week. And I do think it’s time to send the system back. One less thing to keep up with. I’m doing my last download of data now.
There lots to like about the Dexcom Seven. One really big plus is the warm-up progress screen. I was never really sure that the old system was warming up, and couldn’t remember when I started it exactly.
Insertion is a bit harder. I think that is to insure waterproofing.
Great article — and enough some information on Fitness4Diabetics
Today athletes with Type 1 diabetes are blasting out of the starting gate in full force. Because of new technology, the emergence of companies that help them manage their illness, the rise of successful role models and sheer determination, they are running marathons, doing 100-mile bike rides, completing Ironmen — many with their doctor’s blessing.
Amy has been trying the DexCom SEVEN and writes about it:
It’s just that I’m still a little disgruntled from my first experience.
Diabetes Mine: Seven Days with DexCom SEVEN
Funny, but I’m had a completely opposite experience with the 3-day system. In fact, this sensor I have in right now is working so well, I’m just not ready to go to SEVEN.
First, I haven’t needed the shower caps — I use them sometimes when I soak in the hot tub but haven’t needed to, in fact, I just got out of the shower, and while I missed the readings while I was in the shower, I am getting readings again, and they are within 5 points of the Dexcom.
I’ve even left a shower cover on over night — forgot to take it off, with no adverse results.
The only reason I missed the readings in the shower, is because I left the receiver here in my office.
One other thing — i am just not as body conscious as Amy is. I wear a one piece suit and get over it. Occasionally someone else ask questions, and it’s often a good educational moment. In fact, we had a lot of fun with it at my teacher workshop — but then we’re all computer teachers and are into geek things.
In other words, I still think Dexcom is very very cool.
After seeing 2 readings right on the money between the CGMS and the meter, I decided to stop finger testing and dosing off of CGMS. Note: I don’t recommend it.
It was a nice break from finger testing.
At the end of the day and the next morning, I didn’t see any difference.
However, when I calibrated I did see that I had a “drift” in the high direction. The CGMS said I was going up while I had obviously gone down.
That’s the biggest issue I’ve seen with the Dexcom meter — drift, either a drift to the low where the CGMS says I’m still low but the meter says I’m not, OR a high drift. They are fairly easy to stop and calibrating usually solves the problem.
I’m still on the three day system and I’ve just reset this sensor for the third time.
I love data, and I hate those two hours where I don’t have it. Yes, I’m hooked.
I just can’t express how having the Dexcom made a difference this week.
I would not have been able to search for Marcie the way I did if I did not have the Dexcom to rely on.
I really can’t wait to try the Seven system, as I really feel that it will be more accurate since the regular system has been.