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Animas has been VERY VERY good lately.

Of course, they recently replaced my pump, but they also handled my supplies promptly. I ordered a bit early, I was due to order January 1, but I was cutting it close on the Inset infusion sets. I’ve been changing every other day lately, which means I use 45 sets in a 90 day period. I was afraid if I waited and ordered on the 2nd, I would run out and be forced to use the Comfort sets I have.

The Comforts aren’t bad, but I have to see the needle and have to manually insert. The Insets are fabulous because I never have to look at the needle. Plus they are virtually pain-free to insert — every once in a while I hit a nerve, but on the whole they aren’t bad.

Anyway, the new order arrived today, so I don’t have to worry about running out this cycle.

Note the medication itself, but the way it is dispensed. It is preservative free, so it comes in little plastic vials, in a tube. They are clearly marked, single use only, dispose immediately, do not keep, etc. They are dosed 2 drops, 1 in each eye, twice a day. However, they are packaged in a package of 32. That means, you have to hang onto the vial for the second dose, which is clearly against the other labeling.

However, in the sample pack I was given, they give you a nice little plastic thing, built to hold the vial upright.

Very odd.

I can’t decide if it is helping and IF that is the problem. I got new contacts prescribed, and most of the time they work fine, I have really good reading vision and really good driving vision, but occasionally I lose my mid vision. I think it’s because my eyes are so dry.

I’ve got a follow up on Monday and will discuss it then. And keep trying.

I’ve been able to consistently exercise since before Thanksgiving. I’ve been following iShape suggestions, except for their off days. I do take their strength exercise off days, but in the interest of maintaining blood sugar, I do 20 minutes on the cardio off days.

As a result, I’ve been able to reduce my bolus rate to around 12:1.

Actually that’s the weird part, I’ve noticed that I do better if I do the following:
breakfast rates: 13:1
lunch rates: 12:1
dinner rates: 11:1

Though my CDE didn’t seem to think that was a bit strange. But I found that if I used the lowest rate, (13:1), all day, I would slowly start running right later in the day. If I use the highest rate, I do low in the mornings.

I can probably go a tad higher, but I am never change anything too quickly.

My lowest bolus rates have been 5:1 — my best has been 15:1, until the brief set back I had in October.

And I’m pretty proud of how it turned out.

Mexican food itself is fairly difficult for diabetics to deal with — which is a shame, because there is a high risk of diabetes in hispanics. But I digress. Last night, husband and I decided to go to El Chico’s and I wanted a break from measuring everything, etc. So I did an extended bolus with 15 units of insulin for 3 hours. Then I checked two hours after the last of the insulin was delivered and did a correction. It was temping to do another correction, as my blood sugar was climbing instead of dropping, but I resisted.

Woke up this morning and fasting blood sugar was 105.

Not bad!

I think I’ll extend the bolus longer next time, though don’t worry, next time will be a few months away.

And I have improved — I have switched to fajitas rather than eating a chimicanga.

I always get a full eye checkup from my contact lens doctor this time of year. Yes, the place is called Contact Lens Center, and the practioners are ex-Bausch and Lohm employees, and most have designed contacts.

I got a clean bill of health on my eyes — they have a new camera which the doctor is very proud of (he and his wife are co-owners of the place). It uses a laser to look at the retina and he said they were spotting problems much earlier than ever before. He said that I had absolutely no problems. FYI: They have at least 3 offices and only charge $30.00 if you need the retina camera only.

I am wearing several steps down from my prescription.

He also suggest Restasis since I’m having such problem with dry eye — so I am feeling more and more like a pharmactical commercial. He did send me home with samples.

I really love the Inset devices, and I have just put one in and have 7 left. I’m trying to stretch them out to 3 days — WHICH is normal, but I just can’t seem to wear an infusion set past two days, no matter what.

I have a whole box of Comforts, which I can use, but man I don’t want to.

The Insets are so much easier, I was dreading site changes before the Insets. It was easier to make the Comforts last a third day since I dreaded the process so much.

It’s dated 2003-12 and mine was dated 2003-08 so it is a tad newer. Whoever had it rubbed on the case quite a bit. It took a bit of time to program the new pump.

I’m waiting for DHL to come pick up the old one now.

it’s funny, but a few moments ago, it hit me that tomorrow I’m getting a different pump and am sending this one back to the factory. Yes, it’s just a small electronic devlice but it has made my life so much better.

This weekend, I was doing agility trials, and my blood sugar stayed within 120-140 all day. Not bad. Didn’t have to worry about lows, and didn’t have to worry about spikes. I sure didn’t get that with shots.

Of course, the new pump will be almost the same, but it is still with a little sadness I’ll be sending this one back.