Living with Diabetes

Blog

  • Traveling with a Service Dog #GHC12 @GHC

    In October, I’m planning to go to the Grace Hopper Celebration 2012 in Baltimore.  A few weeks ago I had one of my “oh, my god moments”, and almost cancelled.

    However, I took a deep breath and Tweeted @GHC .  Man have they been helpful.  Or it might be one she.

    I’ve let @southwestair know and they have been helpful.  I’ve emailed them, and they marked my confirmation and I’ve talked to them on the phone.  Here’s the cool part with Southwest.  They don’t charge for two bags, and I think they are including checked her cage in that.  I’m not sure, as I prefer to travel as light as possible.  Last year, I went for two days, and took two bags on carryon.  That included my purse and CPAP.  This time I’m going Tuesday night until Sunday, hoping to be included in the high school day on Saturday, or maybe go to the Open Source day.

    For this trip, I’ll need 4 days of clothing, dog food, dog stuff, diabetes stuff and 4 days of clothing, so probably 5 times as much stuff.  Some of that I can probably get in Baltimore since she is a small dog, and maybe even get a Syster or a Hopper to bring it to the Hotel for me.

    The convention center has been great too.  I should probably actually call the hotel, but I did just mark the hotel reservation.

    Though I just had heart failure when I saw the hotel room charge!  The taxes are as much as one night's stay.

  • Interesting Question for the Diabetes Community, Especially Pumpers

    My diabetes alert dog is alerting.  My meter indicated that I needed another unit of insulin to bring my blood sugar down to 100.  However, I’m the high 180’s. 

    Frankly, I’m confused.  I don’t think it is a bad thing she is alerting – my meter clearly agrees with her.

    I’m just not sure what to do about it.   I’m praising but not jack potting.

    I do want tight control.  Thoughts?

  • Dog Meeting

    Went well.

    Dulce alerted when we got there.  Wasn’t real high but I did check and correct – and gave me a chance to do some talking about it whole issue.

    They had good questions.  I think I had good answers.

    Biggest issues were:

    • distractions
    • allergies
    • fear of dogs

    Waiting

  • Call from Blue Cross Blue Shield

    I have been utilizing just about every resource the school district gives in trying to fix my diabetes control issue including the BCBS nurse.  I think they sent her to me.

    Well she called this afternoon and asked how I was doing.

    I told her, well, you probably haven’t heard this one before, but I’m doing loads better and it’s because I decided to train my own diabetes alert dog.

    She thought it was awesome and very cool and couldn’t wait until she told her supervisor.  She agreed that it really didn’t matter how I got there, as long as I did.  I explained how it worked – that Dulce alerts when I’m just out of range so I can fix the problem before it gets too bad.

    Now if I can just do a better job on controlling my environment!

  • More alerts

    Today I got up with the following plans:

    Get nails done
    Go to the gym
    Deal with small problems

    Didn't actually end up doing things in that order but picked up a small mocha on the way to nails and dosed for half, knowing the gym was the next stop.

    Nail salon took longer, and Dulce alerted her way, stretching placing her feet in my knee several times and making eye contact. Dog was right, blood sugar in the 240s, did a half adjustment and headed for the gym where we are now.

    Sent from my Windows Phone

  • Turning them Off?

    Okay, the electronic CGM’s are easy.  You go high, you give yourself some insulin and you wait for your blood sugar go down.

    Isn’t that simple with a Diabetic Alert Dog.

    By the way I was just asking for advice – what do you do if the dog comes up with an alert different than what you want, do you go with it, or do you train for the alert.

    Well, Dulce decided today to go for the alert I wanted.  Not sure why.  She’s been putting her paws on my lap and making eye contact, but I have a leash with a knot in it on the living room floor and she went for that today.

    I even decided I wasn’t out of range – there we go with that assumption again – I know I have hypo and hyper glycemic unawareness.

    But she alerted, I tested and fixed.  Now we wait.  But turning her off isn’t that easy.  She’s nagging now.

  • Living with a Diabetes Alert Dog

    Yesterday I was in a situation that kept my blood sugar high.  It was totally out of my control and was completely unpredictable.

    So setting a temp basal was out of the question. 

    I had no idea when it would end, or how it would end.

    Basically I was screwed.

    It was hard on both me and the dog.  She kept alerting that I was high.  I kept testing and adjusting my blood sugar – I believe this may be called “rage bolusing”.  The good news is that I was just at the edge of my high range.  Nothing super dangerous, just really annoying.

    I know if I get into this particular situation again, the best thing is to just walk out of it – walking out would have not changed the outcome, but it would have not endangered my own health or outset the dog.  All we can do is learn.

    The best news-  keeping your blood sugar in range keeps the diabetes alert dog happy.

  • Weirdest Day Ever

    Can’t talk publically about the weird part yet.

    But I had a Type 1 person come up to me at a dog agility trial and tell me that if I completely changed my eating habits my diabetes would go away.

    Okay….

  • Which Type?

    So which type am I?

    I’m definitely insulin resistive.

    I’m definitely don’t produce enough insulin to live.

    I am both hyper and hypo glycemic unaware.

    I have been on insulin only up until recently, at least 9 years.  I’ve been on an insulin pump for 8 years.

    Weird.

  • Wrong Call: The Trouble Diagnosing Diabetes – WSJ.com

     

    Type 2 diabetes, by contrast, is brought on by inactivity and obesity, mainly in adults, and is characterized by the body’s inability to make efficient use of insulin

    Wrong Call: The Trouble Diagnosing Diabetes – WSJ.com

     

    Snarl, snarl, snarl.  I know plenty of active, non-obese adults with Type 2 Diabetes.  Or just active obese adults with Type 2.

    Or then there is me, who might very well have both types.

    And at least I’ve been smart enough to demand insulin from almost the onset.  We’re doing metforum now, but figure I’ll be off it sometime.