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 Good article on diabetes in general, but especially Type 1.  AND another catch by an eye doctor.

A year before turning 50, Michele Thomas learned she had type 1 diabetes, a condition that used to be associated mainly with children.

‘Juvenile’ diabetes at 49: ‘You deal with it’ – CNN.com

Scott’s right!  Tu Diabetes runs on Ning, which is an interesting website.  I’ve been a Ning member since it was started.  Check it out — it’s not just for insulin users. 

“It’s like ‘MySpace’ on insulin…” – Scott Johnson

Tu Diabetes – A Social Network for Diabetics

 This study might be helpful in preventing car accidents, etc.  I would really like to know what the pattern is.

Predicting Severe Hypoglycemia

Diabetes In Control – Predicting Severe Hypoglycemia

Amy sent me a comment today, and I do have some strong feelings about this. 

Diabetes Mine: When Things Get Ugly

First, the Doug Burns is pretty cut and dried to me — he went to the lobby for help, they didn’t and in fact reported him as intoxicated when he wasn’t.  Therefore if anyone is at fault in this case, it is the movie theater NOT Doug Burns.  If they have just sold him some sugar, everyone would have gone home happily that night.

Second, I feel strongly, as a driver, I have a responsibility to make sure I do not endanger others.   I don’t have the right to a bad day.  Thus, I check my blood sugar before I get into the car.  I also check my blood sugar periodically — in fact, I have my pump set to remind me every two hours after a bolus.  That is my responsibility as a driver.  I also keep a whole bag of Smarties in the console of my car. 

Today is a typical day.  Check morning blood sugar, was at 145.  Bolused, loaded up the car, went to McD’s a few blocks away and picked up an egga muffin (did I show my age?), and ate it on the way in.  If my blood sugar had been below 100, I would have eaten before I got in the car.

At the end of the day, I checked my blood sugar before I started — it was 160, so no worry.  Went home, ate dinner, loaded up the beagles and headed to agility.  Just ate, blood sugar 160, and before dog agility so no bolus.  Still checked blood sugar two hours after dinner while I road — 165, still no problem, but grabbed a sandwich since I was running three dogs.

Ran the three dogs, checking blood sugar between each class, and then checked blood sugar before I got in the car to leave.  160 after the second dog, the 125 after the third dog, so was good.  If I had been any lower, I would have eaten one of the snacks I keep in the car.

Yeah that’s a heck of a lot of blood sticks — but the point is, I do that, and my fellow drivers are much happier.

I am taking at least two major road trips this summer, and my regimen on the road will be similar.  In fact, I often check every hour if I am making major changes.

Argh!

Tell that to my mother — with her reoccuring infections, feeling bad, etc.

Heck tell it to the people around me.  Though I will buy that oral medications really don’t work that well, and I do much better on insulin and even better on the pump.

By the way, I remember Bextra, and I liked it. 

However, no one feels better for a lower blood sugar. Some feel worse or get fatter depending on the drug. And no one feels worse for a high blood sugar, except for the rare patient with adult onset type 2 diabetes who can mobilize an extremely high blood sugar.

Source: ABC News: Riding Out the Medical ‘Scare of the Week’

As predicted, I was so exhausted last night, I know longer cared about my new CPAP mask.  I was able to sleep about 7 hours before it bothered me.  I’m really hoping to get up to 9 hours straight — but it’s been a LONG time since I had a mask that I could sleep that long in.

If you are using this Lens Solution go out to the website and call.  They are supposed to be sending me a return kit.  You do get a computer answered phone number and you give your address, etc.

Will let you know how it goes.

Advice for Patients With Soft Contact Lenses: Acanthamoeba Keratitis Infections Related to Complete® MoisturePlus Multi Purpose Contact Lens Solution

Source: Medical Device Safety: Advice for Patients: With Soft Contact Lenses: Acanthamoeba Keratitis Infections Related to Complete® MoisturePlus Multi Purpose Contact Lens Solution

I am still blow away over the charges against Flea.  In his defense, he is a pediatric pulmonary specialist but still…..

I know of several practices that do a good job of screening for diabetes.  Until I was diagnosed, my contact lens specialist not only checked blood pressure, but also checked blood sugar reading.  If you are high, she suggests that you talk to your primary care — and in fact, she caught my high blood sugar precisely when my doctor was watching it.

I also know for a fact that Dallas ISD’s Intake Center also screens for diabetes, along with TB.  Last year when I was teaching math for nonEnglish speakers, one of my babies was screen for and referred to Parkland because of a simple blood test.  Type 2, on insulin, I know because it was my job to remind her to go to the nurse.

However, my own mother was missed — and I still don’t get that.  When a 70 year patient presents with multiple infections and you can completely stop them, why did it take them over 9 months to just test her blood sugar?  You don’t need to do a blod job — you can do like my contact lens doctor does — you keep a simple home glucose monitor there, and do a finger stick.  How hard is that?

Yeah, a few aren’t going to get caught, but still.

I switched to a different mask last night — new one, should leak less.  As always when making a minor change in my sleeping situation, I didn’t sleep well at all, I had trouble falling asleep.  I also had trouble staying asleep

The good news, I’ll be tired tonight and will have less trouble.  This is why I try not to make changes during the school year.