Living with Diabetes

Blog

  • The problem with living with multiple chronic diseases

    Last night I went to a late dog class (9:00 pm). Checked my blood sugar before class. It was 110. YIKES! Not good. Got something to eat.

    Blood sugar was at 187 two hours later, something I can comfortably go to sleep with without worrying about going low.

    Woke up at 5:00 am in excutiating pain. GERD. Couldn’t get back to sleep until 5:45, and needed to be rolling at 6:15 at the latest, since I did have at least my computer stuff done.

    Have dragged ALL day, ever since. The good news, is that I needed to work on a group program and had no energy to fight with anyone.

    I was tired on the way home, I wanted to pull over and take a nap, but didn’t dare, since it was always 100 degrees outside.

    Hopefully I can sleep on the plane.

  • Embroyonic Stem Cells

    The Diabetes OC is astir right now over the current Congressional votes on embryonic stem cell research.

    I’m personally against the federal government supporting embryonic stem cell research.

    I believe that other stem cell research shows much more promise and needs to be researched long before we go so far as embryonic stem cell research.

    Already, embryonic stem cell research has crossed ethical boundaries — results have been falsied, etc. and I think its just something to completely stay away from until all other research has been exhausted.

    I also don’t think you are going to get very far with transplants, or other replacements of the pancreas until you find out why the body is destroying beta cells in the first place.

  • Preparing for Pittsburg

    The biggest thing that worries me about this trip is the lack of transportation. I’m staying in the dorms at CMU, and so no quick dashes to Walmart.

    The plan is to have husband take me to the airport, fly to Pittsburg, get on a bus to CMU, and get off at the end of the line where the dorm checkin is. The workshop is going to feed us all meals except Saturday dinner which we have to find off campus. I’m also assuming lunch on Monday will also not be provided.

    My aunt is picking me up on Monday, and I am flying back on Tuesday.

    I’ve packed at least one extra days of clothing, double the amount of sets I need, and double the amount of syringes — learned that lesson at Shawnee. I’ve packed travel toiletries (in zip lock bags).

    I’ve done something different with my medications. I usually use those SMTWTFS pill organizers, and found on my first trip with them that you have to tape them shut as they open in your luggage. This time, Walgreens had pill pouches that you use a sharpee to label. While you can’t tell at a glance what you’ve taken, like you can with the organizers, at least I shouldn’t have to worry about them all dumping.

    I’m taking three bags (which I’m supposed to be allotted since I am carrying medical devices. I have a carryon bags with wheels that has my clothing, my sets, and my back up test strips. I’ve also got my shampoo and stuff like that along with an emergency supply of carbs, all in zip lock bags in case something melts or comes open. Nightgown and robe too.

    My second bag will have my CPAP machine, emergency battery, and mask.

    My third bag is a large Ameribag, and will carry my two small pouches I use for a purse, and all my normal supplies that I carry just in case. Emergency sets, emergency assortment of carbs, contact lens stuff, glasses (though I don’t usually carry them, usually I just have spare contacts), pills, etc. I’m also taking an extra unopened box containing Insulin and one containing Symlin.

    I refuse to check any of those bags. I could possibily survive without the first one, but don’t want to, especially since I’ll use it to carry the rest — I can strap the other two bags to it and have.

    And on the other hand, if I show up at the airport on Friday in Dallas and there are any weird things going on with flights, I’ll smile sweetly and ask for a refund on my fare. That’s what I did the last time I tried a trip like this.

  • Battery Backup for CPAP

    When the DME brought me my CPAP last Friday, I made sure that he saw my emergency backup battery and cleared it with him for use. I did a test run last night, and was able to use BOTH the CPAP and the humidifer all night on battery backup.

    While Pittsburg is in the same country, I will still bring the backup battery, in fact, I might very well use it on the plane — I did call and clear it even though the person I talked with said — it’s not a night flight so you don’t need it and I didn’t contradict her.

    Anyway, I’m thrilled it works well with the new machine. Primarily because it cost over $250.00 I haven’t used it much — in two power outages locally and when I tried to go to Monte Carlo. There were plenty of times I wanted it before I bought it, so it’s been a good purchase. I try to remember to take it on trips, since once when I went to Austin they had a power failure and I ended up driving home instead of waiting for the power to come on — I did wait an hour.

  • Even cooler — DHL picks up today

    I have to return the pump via DHL, and I always have them pick up the pump at the door, just in case…

    I want a complete record from West Chester, PA, to my door and back to West Chester, PA, just in case. I don’t want to have to pay for a pump!

    And it’s gone — I was actually headed up the stairs to do something else when I spotted DHL colors in the drive — walked it out to the guy and that’s one issue I don’t have to think about any more.

  • I love my UPS guy

    He was in the neighborhood and redelivered my pump! I am SO Happy. It pays to live on the corner of a busy street. I’m sure he did it because it wasn’t out of his way.

    I’m uploading the data unto the new pump as I type.

    And conformation class went well. I checked my blood sugar before class — it was 191, did NOT correct and after class was 107. That’s something to remember!

  • New Pump on Monday

    This will probably work out better but darn my husband! I told him last night that I was expecting a package but had puppy class so he’d have to listen for it.

    Well he apparently didn’t hear the doorbell OR the dogs and did not get it.

    I have told UPS to hold it and I’ll pick it Monday.

  • Getting ready for “new” pump

    I’m downloading all my data for the new pump. Sadly, I’m really good at this now. Unfortunately I’ll lose some of today’s data, but that can’t be helped, and probably not an issue in the grand scheme of things.

    I’m anxious — puppy and I have a class in less than an hour and the pump will probably be delivered while we’re out. UPS is “good” about delivering even if I’m not home, but I’m betting the regular guy isn’t driving the truck today. If they don’t deliver, hunting it down won’t be bad, I’ve had to do that before and it’s not like the pump is insulin or anything that needs to go to the refrig immediately. Even if I don’t get it until Monday after summer school that isn’t a bad thing.

    I do suspet there is more going on though. I swear that I pup in insulin two different times, once on Friday and once on Thursday but it didn’t get delivered to me. Would rather have too little insulin though, than too much.

    I also need to remember to watch blood sugar during class. I was on the way to a crash at the end of class last week.

  • New CPAP Machine

    I’m going to actually try it out in a few minutes.

    I am the proud owner (leasee) of a Respironics Remstar Auto M Series. The DME brought it by at 1:00 pm and showed me how to use it. It even works with my emergency backup battery which is a super good thing. It is definately half the size of the loaner machine.

    I’m looking forward to lugging it around the airports next week.

  • If this is true, I’m in trouble

    Patterns: Sleep Proves More Elusive Than Many Believe – New York Times

    Patterns: Sleep Proves More Elusive Than Many Believe