Living with Diabetes

Blog

  • Just when you think you have it figured out…

    I’ve gone a couple of months without pulling a set off, but managed to do it yesterday morning.

    I had been pretty pleased with myself, though I do faithfully carry extras and I have been worried about having to float.

    The biggest danger time for pulling a set off, for me, if the first few hours after a set change. I alternate sides plus I was wearing slacks instead of a dress.

    Just as I yanked, I could feel the tubing in my hand, but it was too late.

    Lots of reasons I HATE doing that. First it hurts. Second, sets aren’t cheap. $10-15 a piece, and the insets run the high end. Third, everytime you put a set in, you run into the danger of having it inserted wrong. The good news, is that I can’t remember the last time I had an Inset set fail, the last time was months ago, and I had pulled the set towards the end of the set life, and pulled the cannella out without pulling off the adhesive.

    I was able to change the set in my classroom without anyone noticing, but mostly because I was wearing a two-piece outfit, and could get to the set without disrobing.

    My plan is to be able to buy all new clothes at the beginning of the school year (having lost weight), and high on that plan is to make sure everything I buy is seperates. I’m going to miss my walk in closet.

    You see, I absolutely refuse to change a set, test my blood sugar or inject in a room that has a toilet in it. Especially a public restaurant. Have you see the studies where they show how the entire room has a high bacteria count and that they find particles of feces and urine in the air and stalls. There isn’t enough alcohol in the world to prevent a infection in that situation. It gives me the willies thinking about it. And those were “clean” restrooms.
    We’re lucky if they get serviced once a day and that’s usually just to remove the trash.

  • Stressors

    I was hoping to finish the school year without having the stressors bother me again, but no such luck. Got a note in my box. I vow though that this time I’m not going to let it get to me.

    Three times it has caused me to stop sleeping, three times it has pulled my energy level down, and three times it has affected my eating. I’ve finally got everything under control. I don’t need this.

  • Seem to have reached the bottom

    At least for a little while — blood sugar is still stable and part of the issue may be that I’ve loosened up on choices a bit, but my blood sugar isn’t as low as it was and my insulin use is stablizing.

    I think I’ll end up with a TDD under 50.

    Energy level is definately improving.

    I’ve gotten almost everything out of my classroom — I give my last final tomorrow morning and thankfully they are my best class.

    Check out is Friday morning, and I’ll have to wait until grades come back. I think I’ll go in a bit later than 8:00 am since they won’t be in that early.

  • Beadin’ Beagle ID Bracelets

    Now you know why I had her make mine with white beads, and use both the flat tag AND a dangle.

    And do what I did — ask a couple of paramedics if they would notice it. I swung by the fire station to ask mine. It also isn’t a bad idea if they know you, but then I live in a small town (suburb of Dallas), and the fire station is less than 3 minutes away from a phone call.

    Diabetes Mine: Too Pretty to Save My Life?

    The consensus was that they were at least as likely to notice that as a plain steel bracelet, but they think they would notice the tubing and pump first.

    Of course, you don’t pump, so you don’t have visible (to a paramedic) signs available.

  • Major Accomplishment

    I’ve been able to pull my insulin usage down from 110 units a day — and uncontrolled, back to under 60 units a day — controlled.

    Energy level is slowing coming back — workouts aren’t as hard, and I’m not gaining weight — though I’m not sure I’m losing weight either.

    I’ve got two more tests to give, one tomorrow, one on Thursday, and signout on Friday. I’ve probably got one more box of things to take out of my room and I’m done.

    This summer I’m focusing on finishing the Master’s and getting over this year, both mentally and physically.

  • Insulin usage is still going down…

    Which is a GOOD thing.

    Postpranial blood sugars are still lower than I like, which means I have an opportunity to have a low.

    I’m came close to a low again during exercise today, so grabbed a small granola bar. Though it isn’t many calories, they still do add up.

    That’s one of the problems, if I am having to eat to match insulin, I will definately gain weight.

    If I can drop the total insulin usage, I’ll lose weight.

    Workouts are finally starting to get a bit easier too.

  • It’s tough but doable

    I’ve had two readings of less than 6.5 on the pump — unfortunately not the very last …

    AACE Announces New A1c Standard of 6.5% or Lower

    Dr. Jellinger announced a new A1c standard of 6.5% or lower for patients with type 2 diabetes. The new standard is part of a more comprehensive effort to prevent diabetes complications. AACE is embarking on this effort following the results of a report outlined at the briefing that showed two thirds of Americans with type 2 diabetes are not in control of treating the disease. The majority of people with diabetes in all 50 states had A1c levels above the guideline, and 61% had no knowledge of the A1c test or of their own personal A1c level.

  • Interesting website though their workshops are in California

    Behavioral Diabetes Institute – Diabetes Programs and Research to overcome behavioral obstacles to living with Diabetes

  • A neat new program

    Diabetes Heroes

    Animas Corporation? and Nicole Johnson Baker want to know all about your diabetes hero!

  • DLife

    I’m still not impressed though. So far, we’ve seen 4 episodes.

    Treatment Program To Watch

    In the family of former relationship talk show host JoAnne Hart-Rogers, more popularly known as Mother Love, diabetes was lightheartedly downplayed as “just a little sugar.” But after her diagnosis with the disease in 1990, the woman known for making audiences laugh knew it was time to pay attention. “I decided I didn’t want to be dead,” she said.