Overtreating

There are a lot of things to think about when dealing with diabetes on a daily basis, even on good days.  Throw a bad day in there, and your brain is even more consumed with diabetes related.. stuff.

As I posted a few days ago, I'm trying to exercise more.  So far so good.  I've only missed one day of Zumba (ok.. two days, but one of those I played Pickleball for two hours instead).  I've managed to walk over 5 miles this week and last week.  These miles are specific miles too, not just my normal everyday steps.

Last Sunday we did quite a bit of yard work.  We planted a new tree, dug out an area of grass that will have pavers instead, and cleaned an area of gravel and put new fabric underneath.  Let me tell you, yard work is better than any type of exercise at finding muscles you forgot you had.  Holy cow!  Ever since then, I've been sore just about everywhere.  I knew that if I just sat and waited to feel better my momentum would be gone, so I still did my daily lunchtime walk and my evening Zumba sessions.  I felt so much better after moving, that I knew I would be back to normal in just a few days....or so I thought.  It will get better.

One of the downsides is overnight blood sugars.  I'm doing better with keeping everything stable.  I'm figuring out which temp basal rates I need to do depending on the circumstances.

The other night, it bit me in the butt.

I tested as I went to bed at 11pm and was 105.  O.D. (my CGM) was showing a sideways arrow, indicating that I was stable.  I had just under a unit of insulin still on board, which was perfect.  I have a tendency to climb right around midnight so that unit wasn't a concern.  Or at least it shouldn't have been.  At about 1:30 I woke up feeling crappy.  I looked at O.D. and all I could see was the bright red LOW.  That means my blood sugars were somewhere under 40.  I stumbled to the kitchen and inhaled a juice pouch and tested right away.  It was 37.  I don't remember everything that I ate.  I know there was an apple, peanut butter, and a glass of milk in there somewhere.  I stood there telling myself, "Don't over treat you will just feel worse in the morning.  Don't over treat. DON'T OVER TREAT!"

I over treated.

I tested again at 2am and was a beautiful 114, so I headed back to bed.  My alarm goes off at 5:45 and I hit snooze.  O.D. then beeps at me that I'm running high, and my husband comments on it.  I quiet the alarm and get up.  I walk out to the kitchen, start the coffee, and test.  That's when I see the carnage on the counter, and the reading to go along with it; 380.  Yuck.  I over treated.

I dosed for breakfast, along with a large correction, and hoped that I would land softly and not continue the glucoaster all day. 

I call this a win.

Diabetes, you may have won that overnight battle, but the war isn't over, and I'm bigger than you.

Wordless Wednesday - Sweet Dreams

Electronic evidence of sweet dreams.

Excuse me...

Last Tuesday it was time to switch out my G4 Dexcom sensor. I have almost always used my stomach. The one time I tried my leg with my 7+, the readings were never close enough for my comfort.

This time I needed wanted something different. I have two areas on my stomach that look a little patchy from the tape. I figured it was time to give them a break. It's been a year since my first sensor. It was time.

So Tuesday while at work I switched out my sensor. My co-worker helped me as I wasn't sure I could get the angle right without some major yoga moves.

I think taking a picture of the back of my arm was actually
harder than inserting the sensor there.

I thought it would be fun to keep track of the different comments I received while wearing the sensor in such a visible spot. I knew I would at least get a couple questions and a few comments, but I wasn't expecting some of them.

Here is a list of what I heard:

1. So you're trying your arm, huh? (said by a co-worker while she poked it)
2. So what is that? (said by another co-worker)
3. So is that a new thing in your arm? (yet another co-worker.. side note.. we are a talkative office)
4. It looks like an electronic tumor growing on your arm. (said by my supervisor. He meant it in all humor)
5. Nice robotic blister. (This one made me laugh! My daughter's boyfriend is a riot.)
6. So what's this new patch you have? (co-worker.. see, we're a talkative bunch)
7. Excuse me, may, I ask you what that is on your arm?

While all of them were polite and appropriate in accordance with whom I was speaking with, the last one was my favourite. My husband and I were just leaving Costco (for under $100.. can you believe it? .. sorry.. I digress), and this lady walked up beside me and said, "Excuse me, may I ask you what that is on your arm?" I answered as simply and to the best of my ability as I could. I even showed off my receiver. In the back of my mind I was hoping that I wasn't high, I was actually running low. The screen showed "80mg/dl LOW", which was a perfect example of why a CGM is so important. She was fascinated and stated that she had never heard of such a device and thanked me for taking time to talk to her.

The entire interaction was less than 5 minutes, but I know the ripple effect will go far. As this lady was getting into her car she was explaining what she learned to her companion. I could hear the excitement in her voice.  You know the sound.  You could almost picture her going home and telling a family member about this new device that she saw and how much help it would be for so and so. 

The ugly tape, the funky tan lines, the weird looks.. it is all worth it because one lady now knows more.

He's a keeper

We've all experienced the bad doctor.  You know the one.  They either lecture you because your A1C isn't below 7.0 or they don't listen when you explain something or they diagnosis you wrong.

Then there is the good doctor.  They give you a gold star sticker for any improvement or are genuinely interested in your newest technology.

I have many good doctors.  One in particular I really adore and would love to clone, but I really can't complain (too loudly) about all my others. 

Every now and then, though, even one of the good doctors goes the extra mile and makes me smile.  Yesterday I had my annual appointment with my gynecologist.  Not an appointment any woman looks forward to, but we do what we gotta do.  At my last appointment I didn't have George (my Dexcom 7+) or Daryl (my Dexcom G4).  This doctor is awesome when it comes to my diabetes.  Last year when I had surgery I talked to him about wearing my pump during, or at least as soon after the surgery as possible.  After explaining that they would disconnect during, but hook me back up as soon as I was awake (this worked very well for me and I didn't go high either) he said, "After all, you can take care of that part of you better than we can."  So yesterday when he noticed my sensor (hello!! it's not like it's huge or anything) he said, "Don't tell me.. does that track your blood sugars?"  He was so excited and had TONS of questions about it.  He had never heard of a CGM before.  I was excited too, after all, someone was genuinely interested and excited for me.  After all the 'real' questions, he did ask if it had a playlist on it too.  It does... all the greatest hits from Blunt Lancet.

I think this doctor is a keeper.  What do you think? 

New Part Needs a Name

Ok everyone, I need some help.

The middle of January I received an email from Dexcom about upgrading my 7+ to the new G4.  I had originally decided to hold off.  After all, George was only 8 months old and was working fine.  Why would I want to replace him? (Yes.. you can all gasp and shake your head at me now.)  However, the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea.  Who knows how long it'll take the G5 to receive final approval?  Now, I'm a patient person.. most of the time.. but I didn't want to wait that long.  So... I ordered my G4.

Friday, he arrived.

 

I was so EXCITED!!  Had I still had noise makers left over from New Year's my neighbors would have thought I had lost my mind.  Unfortunately, he didn't come with any sensors (maybe because he was an upgrade and not a new purchase? Who knows).  I still had some sensors for George so I wasn't going to be without my "I-feel-like-I-have-to-check-it-more-often-than-I-really-do-because-it-is-so-awesome" graph.  In fact, it gives me time to name him.

This is where you come in.  I need help naming him.

Isn't he pretty?

I have a two rules to naming my robotic body parts:

1. Only my pump can have a female name:  Freeda.
2. No part can have the same name as someone I know.  (Side note:  When I got George, I was not on Twitter and didn't know Ninjabetic.  He is offically the first human George I know.) 

If you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments.  I will reveal his name is a not too distant future post, so stay tuned.

Community Care Package - Post 9

Today's suggested post topics were to create the perfect care package or tell a descriptive story.  I love giving gifts.. and getting gifts, so I chose to stuff a care package. Nothing is as exciting as getting a box in the mail. True, most of the time it has pump supplies in it, but still.. it's a box. I get the stuff, and my kitties get the box. Win win!

If I were to receive a Care Package this is what I would love to see in it (in no particular order):

• Teddy Bear - Or some other stuffed animal, like a purple unicorn with a rainbow tail. There are times when you need to hug something, or throw something and a stuffed animal is the best for both. 
• Coffee/Tea - There is just something comforting about a hot beverage.
• Cute and fun notebooks - You'll end up using them to log food intake, note trials and errors and successes, vent when you've had enough, doodle when your waiting at the doctor's office/lab, etc.
• 52-12pks of Diet Coke - There should be at least 52. Enough to get you through the first year, if you only go through one 12 pack a week.
• Candy variety, snack size bags - These are to treat those pesky lows. There should be Snickers, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Smarties, Dum Dums, nuts, crackers w/cheese, etc. I could go on... but I'm getting hungry
• Blog roll - A list of all the blogs related to Diabetes.
• 5-10 extra meters - You can put one at work, one in your car, one in your purse, one in your significant other's car, one in the bathroom, one in the bedroom, one in the kitchen, and one in the closet. That way you have a spare just in case.
• 100 boxes of test strips - What's the point of having the extra meters if you don't have enough test strips.
• Insulin pump - I absolutely fell in love with mine when I got her. 
• Books - I have read "How to think like a Pancreas".  I know there are other great books out there, so include your favorite one.  There should also be some fun books that are NOT related to diabetes. 
• Smart phone - It is useful for so many things.  Looking up nutrition facts and keeping in touch with the #DOC are just two I use the most often.  Not to mention a good game of Words With Friends or Angry Birds.
• You Can Do This bracelet - I know these are a limited, and coveted, item, but wouldn't it be great for everyone to have that visual reminder everyday (Thanks Kim for founding this great project.)

I am sure I have left out many things that you would like to see in a care package, but I think the package would already be delivered on a pallet.  Hmm.. send two packages maybe?

Wordless Wednesday - Instrument Panel

"George" (my Dexcom) is rather comfortable on my dashboard.  I put him there everytime I drive, it makes him much more accessible to silent an annoying alarm see a trending arrow.