Moments of Wonderful

Scott tagged me and I am pretty sure he knows how I feel about memes, but never mind that.

Rules:
Post five of the most helpful pieces of diabetes management advice on your blog.

Link to this Wikibetes entry where we will be tallying up all of the great advice. You are welcome to add your advice directly.

Tag five bloggers by leaving a comment on their blog. Not sure who is left so I am not doing this part - but if you haven’t done it - do it!

My Five:

1. Try new things. My first endo appointment after I got out of the hospital following diagnosis, he asked if I wanted to pump. I said no basically because it was new and scary. Turns out, it completely changed and improved my diabetes care (last A1C pre-pump was 10.8, last year in the high 5s). I didn’t want to change from the Quick-set infusion sets to the Sure-Ts because they were new and different, but they are so confortable and easy. It makes pump troubleshooting so much easier too, because you know it isn’t a kinked set (by design - they can’t kink). I thought it was too much trouble to try a new lancet device. But it turns out I love the MultiClix from Accu-Chek. This does not mean that everything I have tried has been a success, but you at least have to give it a shot - pardon the pun.
2. Be your own best advocate. Doctors, nurses, insurance companies, pharmacies are all people or run by people. People who make mistakes and are usually willing to listen to you. Find a good endo who will help you stay on the leading edge of diabetes treatments. Mine has helped me try things like Symlin, Apidra, and DexCom but I had to ask. I recently had an issue with a error in delivery from the mail order pharmacy. I called them first and they were unable to help because it was not their problem. The nurse at the doctor’s office was able to help though and the situation is getting resolved. But you have to ask, and keep fighting to get what you know is best and what you deserve.
3. Be an information junkie. I think I am probably preaching to the choir here. If you are struggling or need an answer about something, you may need to find it out for yourself. Join a support forum in your area or online if you can’t find one near you. I heard a quote once that was something like - don’t think yourself so special that someone else has not been where you are. Don’t continue to struggle, go find an answer. Similarly, keep track of all your information. Keep copies of your lab reports, log your blood sugars, etc. The more information you have, the easier you can spot patterns and trends and take action.
4. Take a break. You can’t do it all - all the time. Don’t do something that is going to endanger your life and your health, but take a vacation! Turn the computer off, test less, do whatever you need to do.
5. Meet as many diabetics as you can. Let’s face it, most of us do not really have a lot of diabetics wandering around our daily lives. I almost called this one “Friends are good - diabetic friends are better”. People can sympathize or try to understand our daily lives but until you have lived it you just don’t know. I travel a bit for work, and every time I do, I try to meet up with any blog or other diabetic friends I know in the area. I have never laughed so hard in my life than when meeting up with these friends. 

Ok, that’s my five. I started this meme over a week ago - I am sooo not a meme person!! Whew!

Just kidding!

But Allison did use some quotes of mine in this article!

Thanks Allison!

My work is a bit of an anomally. Or, maybe it isn’t. We have a Type 1 diabetic (me), a parent of CWD (my boss), a secretary with PCOS and some insulin resistance, and a secretary with Type 2 diabetes. And that is just in my immediate area. Go a little wider to all the company employees and we have several Type 1 diabetics (pumpers and old school) and several Type 2s. So many, that I am seriously considering starting a support group - you know - in my free time.

Lest you think that diabetes is the only chronic condition swimming in this work pool, I also have a co-worker whose daughter has Cystic Fibrosis. She also has CFRD (Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes) so I guess we unfortunately have that in common as well.

Growing up, we had some family friends with CF, and I have become a HUGE fan of Nate’s blog (Confessions of a CF Husband - go Gwyenth and Tricia!), so when my coworker asked me to walk with her in the local CF Great Strides walk, I of course had to say yes.

I know, those of you who remember my recent struggles with my walk are wondering what in the world I am thinking! Well - I don’t have to organize this one! I think I can do it!!

Great Strides is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest and most successful national fund-raising event. Just like JDRF, CFF is a great foundation that makes good use of their fundraising money, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.

Keep an eye on my fundraising page and I will keep you posted on my progress.

This time of year is very busy in my ‘line of work’. Do you remember the end of the year as a student? ok, multiply that by who knows how many and that’s what late April and early May is like.

When a friend told me one of her friends from MN (hi Scott and Molly) was going to be in town and they were renting a beach condo - I was in. And really, I was only missing one day of work.

Yes, I do also live less that a mile from the Atlantic Ocean and right on the intracostal - but this is different. This is the Gulf.

The weather was beautiful, it was so relaxing, my blood sugars even stayed in range the whole time I was there. And it certainly was not because I was eating right. Ok, I may have tested outside of range once - but it was about 45 minutes after a basket of sweet potato fries and right before ice cream.

So, what did we do? Hung out on the beach, did a little shopping, and took pictures with random statues.

What more could you want in a vacation?

I have so much to write but no time to write it.

Last weekend I went out of town to Sarasota - that deserves its own post - and it will have one just as soon as I finish uploading and editing the pictures in Flickr. Much needed - and much fun!

I got my new UltraLink - the new RF meter for the MiniMed pumps. I like it, don’t love it - but am giving it a few days before the full review.

Due to a mistake at my endo’s office - I got 8 boxes of lancets. That’s right EIGHT. You can read more about it here - if you are so inclined - but let’s just say I am not paying for their mistake!

But the real purpose of this post - I have been carrying a plastic water bottle around with me for years - you know - trying to be healthy and all. Now I find out, I have probably be poisoning myself this whole time. Is anyone else worried about the BPA leaching out of plastics? Apparently, it can do a number on the endocrine system - affecting fertility and even increaing peoples chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.

So today, I bought a SIGG water bottle. Overreacting - maybe. But I figure, better safe than sorry.

For those of you who have MiniMed pumps who have been waiting for years (it does feel like it has been years, doesn’t it?!) for the LifeScan (OneTouch) meters that will link to our pumps, the wait is finally OVER!!!

Check it out here: http://www.minimed.com/products/insulinpumps/components/onetouchultralink/

And… see if yours had already shipped here: https://www.minimed.com/onetouchultralink/myshipment/

Mine went to UPS on Thursday!!

Woot! Woot!

Yesterday after a full day in the office, one of my coworkers asked me to go out to dinner with her for her birthday. Her husband was out of town and why would I say no to a birthday dinner. We headed off to Cheesecake Factory. I had the chicken madeira minus the madeira. Also split a Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple slice of cheesecake. I actually looked the carb value for the cheesecake up in Calorie King, but I still figured something would go wrong later.

I got home around 9:30 pm, and a few minutes later one of my other coworkers called and her car had broken down and her and her husband were stranded about 20 minutes away. They asked if I would come get them. A quick check of the blood sugar (57) resulted in a ‘not yet’. I pounded a juice box and had some peanut butter crackers (needed a ‘negative correction of about a unit and still had a little over a unit active).

Went and got the stranded couple and returned home about 11:15 pm. When the wife got out of the car she said, “Go home and change - you look uncomfortable”. I was still in my professional clothes from work. Gee thanks!

Finally making it home, I had to deal with several of my students who needed my help. My ‘favorite’ part was when one told me that I was making her sad (for telling her no about something), and out of sheer exhaustion and frustration I told her that she had been making me sad all year. Yikes!

I had a few things to do around the house to get ready for today, and apparently at some point fell asleep sitting on the couch. I woke up around 2:30 am and tested my blood sugar. I was 266 - combo of overtreating low and delayed cheesecake effect (which I had kinda been expecting).

I walked to my bedroom and laid on my bed to perform a little bolus wizard magic. However, when I woke up this morning (7:30 am) at 342, I realized that something had gone wrong. I am pretty sure that the moment my head hit the pillow I was asleep again.

Too tired to bolus - that’s a new one!!

Well, I had quite the eventful weekend. Friday night was the big formal. Don’t I look fancy?!

the only thing missing in this picture is a date!

I almost didn’t make it though! As I was getting ready, one of my students called me because someone in her house had broken a window - and by window I mean sliding glass door. Apparently it was safety glass because there was a giant hole in the center and the rest of it was shattered into millions? of tiny little pieces that stayed in the frame. So, of course, while they waited for the glass to be boarded up, they did everything in their power to make the rest of it fall without actually touching it (slamming the front door, etc.) What part of don’t play with broken glass is so hard to understand?! I don’t care that you thought you were helping, you also thought throwing a ball hard enough to break a sliding glass door in the house was also a good idea. I don’t really trust your logic right now!

Anyway, the dance was fun, but a little short on food. I ate as many pigs in a blanket as I could find! Pump set to vibrate, tucked at the waistband, with trusty remote in hand, and I was good to go.

very thankful to find that the remote I bought with my orignal MM512 also works with my new 522

Since, I was reliving my young adulthood by attending the dance, where else should I go after but Denny’s?! Arrived home around 2 am, so I did not get up on Saturday until 11:30 am. Watched a friend’s baby so she could go get a pedicure with her mom (I’m such a good friend, right?!), and they treated me to Panera after.

After noticing how absolutely pale I was compared to my friends in the formal pictures, I headed to the beach with one of them on Sunday. The sky, sand, and water were BEAUTIFUL, and I was kicking myself that I forgot to bring my camera. Luckily I was able to hijack my friend’s and snap a few shots with hers and with my cell phone.

What you are looking at is the pump tubing escaping from the bottom of my tankini to the pump hiding under my hat. Life is good, isn’t it?

Visit my Flickr account for more pictures from the weekend.

I am off to the store to get the security tag removed from the dress I bought last weekend for the formal I am wearing it to tonight.

I actually left work early to get ready.

This magic doesn’t happen on its own - ya know?!

At this point I would have linked to the dress I am wearing, but of course, I can’t find it on their website so you will have to settle for pictures when I get back.

Wish me luck.

P.S. This is actually part of my job - I will be monitoring the dress code and behavior of the attendees. Yup - I get paid to go to dances. Don’t you wish you had my job?!

All across the blogosphere today, Type 1 diabetics are raising our voices about life with this chronic disease. Some rant, some explain, some answer questions, some post pictures, and some invite us to become fellow ninja - but we all inform and in the process make life as a Type 1 diabetic a little easier.

I wore my Raise Your Voice shirt this weekend at my JDRF walk, and I wasn’t really sure how I was going to ‘raise my voice’ today. Well, sometimes strangers really just make it easy on you.

I stopped by CVS after work because I needed to buy some body soap and deodorant. (do you know how hard it is to find a NON moisturizing soap these days?! Any added moisture in this humidity and the pump sites don’t stick!)

While I was there I decided to pick up some trash bags too. So I was perusing the aisles. I overheard a conversation between two employees. Were they talking about what I though they were talking about? I actually found the trash bags but continued to walk the aisle to listen to their conversation.

Stupid CVS employee #1: You know [describes patient] that comes in here for [insert diabetes medication].

Stupid CVS employee #2: Yeah, he always browses that section? (I couldn’t really see where they were pointing)

#1: That’s him. Well he always buys those sugary drinks when he is in here getting his medication. I don’t get it, it’s like what does he expect?

#2: Really?

#1: I mean, he’d lost a bunch of weight lately. But really….

WAIT FOR IT… THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART…

#1: HE’S STILL KINDA CHUBBY FOR THAT DISEASE!!!

Deciding to RAISE MY VOICE, I walked to the end of my aisle, into their aisle looked #1 straight in the eye and said “I’ve got that disease too, I’m not chubby, and I really don’t appreciate your comments.”

Probably not the best reaction, but it was about all I could come up with in the moment and it is a start. Maybe those employees will think before they speak in the future and not make gross generalizations about their customers (or ex-customers as I will not be shopping there again).

I think what also makes me mad is that I was in a lower income area, where people are told they have ‘a touch of the sugars’ and not given any quality education about what to do next. The staff at the local pharmacy are about the only people who many diabetics in the area will see regularly, and if this is the service they will receive, what does that say?!

Oh, and I am also raising my voice on Twitter but I basically have no idea what I am doing!!