Living with Diabetes

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  • Lasix Experiment 2

    I suspect sitting still for most of 4 days had something to do with it — we’ve been TAKS testing (state mandated tests) — but the edema is back and back in full force to the point my shoes are hurting in the evening.

    I asked the fitness4diabetics wellness coach about trying it again — I’d done what the cardiologist nurse said to do, which was to be on it for a wekk — though I quit after 5 days when the blood sugar shot up.  She asked if it was a comfort issue or a health issue and I think it’s a bit of both.  Here’s why.

    I took a Lasix yesterday morning after weighing myself.  In 24 hours I lost 2 pounds!  Surely lugging around two extra pounds of water weight isn’t good healthwise.

    The good news is my blood sugar was 101 this morning so I didn’t get the blood sugar effects — yet.

    As to the weight thing — since I started and weighed for fitness4diabetics at the end of my last lasix experiment, I’ve lost 5 pounds not just 3.  That might be magical thinking and the 2 pounds will probably be back by the end of the week, but it helps.

     It will be interesting to see what does happen to the weight — and as tempting as it is, I’m NOT taking another one until next Saturday.

  • Good news!

    Since starting fitness4diabetes, I’ve lost 3 pounds!  That’s a pound a week so that isn’t too shabby!

    I’ve also dropped my TDD from 80 units a day to 50 — of course, contributing to the weight loss.

    I’m definately pleased with the program.

  • Fun day testing

    Well, that type of testing too — but we’re doing the TAKS test.  State mandated tests, some for Exit Level, some for NCLB. 

    First of all who ever came up with the idea of giving teenagers an untimed test needs to be shot.  Though today wasn’t too bad.  I think I finished directions at 9:15 and I believe the first test was turned in around 1:00.  That’s for the “hardest” of the tests — 11th grade Math.

    But here’s the deal.  I was supposed to be the test administrator’s go-fer.  I didn’t really want to do it but decided I didn’t want to make a fuss.  I ran a few errands for him at 7:30, then opened the lab for my early kids, then kicked them out and started running errands again at 8:30.  Well my first errand was to go get a missing test proctor.  When I got back and reported that she said she wasn’t supposed to test today, they said, yeah we figured that out and you’re replacing her.

    This at 8:40 and we are supposed to start at 8:40.  They got someone to carry the materials upstairs for me, I ran by my room to pick up my directions, and I got going by 8:45. This is a tough test because not only do you have to keep up with tests and answer sheets, but you have to keep up with graphing calculators.  Never my favorite thing.

    I get everything started, start watching the kiddos and take my first break.  Come back to find the state test monitor in the room (argh!), and am followed in by one of our runners who needs the money for lunch.  Whoops — I forgot to collect money for lunch.  (Hey, not bad), and they needed $2.90.  I handled $3.00 to the runner without taking my eyes off the kids (okay, I had to look down twice), the whole time the monitor is watching.

    Oh, and because surely we have to be cheating, proctors have to keep their eyes on the students at all time.  We’re supposed to talk around but the room I was in was so tight, I can take maybe 5 steps max.  Oh and then my phone starts vibrating and vibrating.  I forgot to turn it off.

    So finally the monitor leaves — and the phone stops buzzing but now the pump is buzzing.  Check blood sugar and I’m at 290! 

    My high was a 341.  But it finally started dropping. 

    I never got sick — like I did on Monday — another story, and made it without getting the munchies.

    I talked to a union rep afterwards — and in the future I need to be insistant that I have a set schedule and it not be changed without a 2 hour notice.  It’s for THEIR benefit as much as mine — if they “kill” a proctor, it will be hard to replace one.

    At least it ended well.

  • Securitee Blanket

    Need idea — not the only one out there, but a slightly different implementation.

    It’s designed to hold and protect vials.  One of the big problems when having to use insulin, symlin or any other product available only in a vial, is that they are breakable.  In fact, I’ve dropped and broken two vials.

    That’s where Secutee Blanket comes in.  They kindly sent me a free one for Novolag and for Symlin.  They are nice.  They are made of that rubberized fabric used for wet suits, which makes them protective from drops and easy to grip. 

    Very nice, and very nice packaging.  I’m wishing them good luck in marketing as it a product that needs to be out there.  I assume they are available on Ebay as that is how they reached me.

    One other family also produces an similar item, also sold on Ebay.  Either device works equally well.

  • Finally, a good night

    I haven’t been sleeping well — some out and out heart burn attacks, but mostly just uncomfortable and waking up a lot.

    Last night, I slept all night, without waking up until the alarm clock went off.  Very unusual.

    Horrible day yesterday too.  Forgot my breakfast insulin dose which ruins my whole day as it always takes longer for my blood sugar to go down when it is messed up in the morning.  Very weird, but my metabolism is very sluggish until about 11:00 am or later.

    I am anxiously awaiting Thursday fitness4diabetes email as they are going to crank the fitness up a notch.

  • Update

    Good news, both the physical coach and the nuitrion coach contacted me spontaneiously this week (or at least on their schedule).

    I think I’ve solved the “going low in the evening” problem.  I just don’t do any insulin or Symlin with my evening meal.

    I do believe my activity level is higher when I’m doing dog agility — especially when I was training Macy this week.

    I keep seeing the same two pounds disappear and reappear — a lot of that is edema. 

    My insulin usage has dropped dramatically — in fact I’m going to be able to go back to changing my set ever two days.

    So is it worth it?  Yep!

  • Stem cell experiment lets diabetics forgo insulin – Diabetes – MSNBC.com

    First — SEE you don’t need Embroyic Stem Cells.

    Second — of course, it probably won’t help me or most Type 2’s.  But it will be really great if it will eliminate Type 1s! 

    Thirteen young diabetics in Brazil have ditched their insulin shots and need no other medication thanks to a risky, but promising treatment with their own stem cells — apparently the first time such a feat has been accomplished.

    Source: Stem cell experiment lets diabetics forgo insulin – Diabetes – MSNBC.com

  • Diabetes In Control – First Person Gets New Vaccine Against Diabetes

    This is interesting… and much more hopeful than the Brazilian news. 

    Connor Ahles, 11, is the billion-dollar boy – the first to test a revolutionary Victorian discovery to prevent Type 1 diabetes. He will take the insulin vaccine through a nasal spray once a week for a year. If successful, the vaccine could save more than $1 billion in diabetes-related health care costs.

    Source: Diabetes In Control – First Person Gets New Vaccine Against Diabetes

  • Frustration – but ended up minor

    First, the physical coach has been absolutely fabulous.  She’s gotten me to up my activity level — my lowest number of steps so far has been 9013 and that was Monday when I spent most of the day asleep — either being scoped or getting the drugs out of my system.

    The nutrition coach hasn’t been personalizing things, and is a bit slow to respond but when she does, she has good information.  Same thing goes with the wellness coach.

    All in all, I’m happy with the program.

    However, I’m getting frustrated with myself.  I keep going low when I exercise.  I’ve figured out workouts — no insulin and no symlin with the evening meal, and I come out okay at the end of the evening.

    But all of the sudden, I’m having to do the same thing in agility class!  Of course, I wasn’t prepared for that, so I’ve had to eat extra.  And I’m having to eat it late — which means I’m waking up with heartburn, when I’m trying really hard not to.

    Don’t worry I’ll get over it.

  • Amy’s appeal to Jobs – I disagree — Animas does it right!

    Nope, absolutely not.  Although Jobs might need a pump, didn’t he go through pancreatic cancer?  I’m not sure what the implications of that is.

     

    What do you all think?  Would you, could you, sign your name to an appeal like this to the Big Man of Consumer Design-ism?

    Source: Diabetes Mine

    First, Amy, shame on you — the picture you have on your post is the OLD Animas pump.  It wasn’t bad BUT I have the new pump — the 1250 and the 12xx series is quite cool.  The 2020 pump is even cooler and it should be arriving soon.  It even has a color screen.

    I’ve never been a huge fan of Apple products.  I own two mini Macs, I’ve taught Webmastering on Macs, and I’ve had to support Apples in the classroom for years, as a teacher tech.

    They are extremely difficult to support from the technical end.  I’ve always found PCs easier to program — and yes, I’ve tried it.  I will give you that Macs to digital cameras better than PCs.

    I will give you that the Minimed and the Cozmo is clugy, but I love my Animas pumps!