Low before ice cream

Most of the time I am able to treat my lows in public without too much notice.  If I'm out shopping I grab a fruit snack from my purse and go peruse the greeting cards.  It's the perfect place to just stand there.  Now that I think about it, that would explain some of the cards I have at home. Hmm...

Last week, my church was getting together at a local ice cream shop to celebrate everyone who has a birthday in September (the best month of the year, if you ask me).  My husband and I had just finished grabbing a bite of dinner after having a tire replaced on my car.  Have you ever noticed that you always seem to be buying tires?  Or is that just me?  No?

I bolused for dinner but did not add on for ice cream even though I knew we were headed straight there.  Who knew how long it would take everyone to get there, when we would start, or what item on the menu demanded my attention.  I'm glad I waited, but I still went low.  Can I tell you how odd it is to go low while waiting to eat a very sweet dessert?  I had to treat because I was 52 but didn't want to treat too much because I wanted to have a decent sized dessert.  As I stated up top, I normally can treat lows in public without notice.  This time I couldn't.  I was sitting there talking with a friend, and I knew I wasn't making any sense.  I wasn't making any sense to me, how he understood me I'll never know.  I apologized and asked for about 10 minutes to recover.  I laid my head down on the table.. ah, the cold table.. and waited.  I'm sure it must have looked rather funny, but having people around me that knew and understood made it a much less embarrassing experience.

I was better in no time, and was able to proceed with sharing a banana split with my husband without further issue.. or a subsequent high later.

The one who...

I've been thinking about this alot lately so it needs to be a blog post, albeit a short one.

Last November Alanna of Life on T1 suggested that we all write about our lives outside of D.  I did one post and a couple others not related to D, but that's about all.  I still think it's a great idea, and plan on doing a few more posts.

I've been participating in the DOC in the Twitterverse for over a year now, and I've gotten to know quite a few great people.  One thing I was noticing, when talking to my husband about it, was that if I referred to everyone as "the one with diabetes" it wouldn't help him at all.. nor me, really.  In fact, I think it would be extremely confusing.  Afterall we are NOT just diabetes, we are real people outside of D too! 

How do you refer to DOC family members without mentioning diabetes?

BIG/small Accomplishment

{Ok.. Ok.. so this is a day late.  I promise not to list punctuality as one of my accomplishments.}

We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.). (Thanks to Hillary of Rainie and Me for this topic suggestion.)

I have not mastered carb counting.  I don't exercise anywhere near as often as I should.  I could do a lot better on my meal choices.  Don't ask about a bg or food log. 

There are many things I have not accomplished.  One thing I have is having other people give me my shots and/or change out a pump site. 

From the first day I started on shots I had everyone in my house give me one.  They had to draw it up and inject.  No one was exempt.  My daughter's friends have all had their turn.  Even one of the youth at my church has taken a turn.  When I started on my pump, I went through the process again.  Each member of my household (well... those with opposable thumbs that is) got to perform a complete site change. 

It may not seem like much, and maybe a little odd, but I look at it this way.  If ever I am not capable of doing it myself there will be someone right there who can do it for me, and do it with confidence.

Update

I just wanted to post a quick update on my friend's daughter that I spoke of here.

Her heart surgery was yesterday and all went well.  The cardiologist discovered the exact problem and was able to 'fix' it with nearly a 100% successful prognosis.  She has what is called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.  It is an extremely rare condition affecting 0.1 - 0.3% of the general population. 

I have not had the opportunity to see her yet as the surgery had to be done at a special children's hospital in a different city, but I can assure you once I do I will hug her as tight as she can handle.  Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.  I passed each one along to the family and they wanted to make sure I let everyone know how much they were appreciated.

We should all be Cactus

Yup.. A cactus. Not just any cactus though.

A Christmas Cactus, a Schlumbergera bridgessii.

This one really likes sitting in my kitchen window.

In the last couple days I have been in touch with a couple friends and offered up prayers for them and their various loved ones.

One friend's dog ate a couple things he shouldn't have and ended up needing surgery to remove them. This was after two days of not know what the problem was. The dog just stopped eating and drinking. When he would eat something, he would vomit it back up. Keep in mind the dog is about 10 1/2 years old, not a young pup by any means, so it could have been anything. The surgery was successful. They removed the items. Then the vet called and expressed concern about him making it through the night because of his age. It doesn't make it any easier with him being older. Some would say, "He's lived a good life" or "That's really expensive for a pet." However, I know he is one of the family. Just of the kids who happens to be in a fur coat.

I checked in with another friend about her daughter. A month or so ago this friend's daughter was taken to the ER because her heart wouldn't stop racing. After much monitoring and many tests it was determined that she needed to see a cardiologist. That appointment was this weeek. They were told that to fully determine the issue, open heart surgery is needed. There are two possibilities of the problem... we're hoping for the first, and not the second. The daughter... 16 years old.

I'm not so sure I would be handling either situation as well as they are.

OK.. so now you're wondering what does a Christmas Cactus have to do with all this.

I love plants. It is very relaxing to me to "play" with my plants. I can grow many many things. Except ivy. In my house, ivy dies, no matter what I do. I have a Mother-In-Law Tongue that is over four feet tall and blooms every year. The blooms smell so good... until they wilt. I get them cut off and out of the house quickly at that point.

Christmas catcus are another of my favorites. I had a difficult time at first getting them to bloom. So I did a bunch of research. Come to find out.. they bloom best when stressed. That is probably an over simplification, but hear me out. The 'experts' say that to get the best and most blooms the plant needs to have a lot of darkness at the right time, kept rather cool (around 50-55 degrees), needs to be underwatered, and be pot-bound.

Now, I don't know about you.. but if I were kept in the dark in a cold room with very little water and not enough room to move.. I'd be stressed and then some! However, this catcus, under those exact circumstances, blooms prettier and more abundantly than it's plant mates in a paradise-ical (yup.. new word of the day) environment. SO MANY lessons we could take away from that.

So.. next time you're feeling stressed and the struggles are mounting, remember the Christmas Cactus and it's blooms. You can... and will... bloom just as lovely as it does. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that you'll look more beautiful.

My CGM, George, needed his own space.

Have you ever had so many cords strung across the room that it looked like a spider web?  Me neither, but sometimes it sure can feel like it.


The top cord is for my phone.  The bottom cord is for my CGM*, George.
Yes, there are 5 pairs of slippers here.  The pig ones oink when I walk.

I had been trying to think of something to clean this up.  If I had to get up in the middle of the night I usually knocked 'George', my phone, or both off the headboard, unplugging them in the process.  Something had to change.

Talk about timing!  A couple months back, a friend of mine from high school, Jessica, contacted me about her business.  She is a professional organizer and recommends products from Clever Container.  She asked if I would be willing to bring the catalog into work, and show my friends to see if anyone was interested in anything.  I looked through the catalog and found many things that would organize my house and car.  There was one item that really caught my eye.

Cord Charmer


I immediately had visions of organization.  Or at least visions of less of a spider web effect.  I told Jessica how awesome this item would be and proceeded to explain.  I think I might have rambled on for awhile about cyborg body parts.  Anyways, a couple weeks later I received a Cord Charmer in the mail. (Thank you Jessica!) 

The beginning of the month, my husband said, "Let's get this thing installed.  It can't be that hard." ... and it wasn't.  Here is a step by step picture process:

Step 1: Remove old face plate



Step 2:  Mount Cord Charmer as a regular face plate.



Step 3:  Plug in the cord and wrap the extra around the pegs.
A small rubberband is included to hold the cord in place.

 

Step 4:  Put cover over the wrapped cord.



Step 5:  Plug in George.

 Viola! George has his own personal recharging zone.  The only remaining problem was that my phone charger still needed to be plugged in, and with the cord container on the right side, it wouldn't work.  The cord would have farther to go, and I would trip over it even more.  SO.....we turned it upside down.

Even though the shelf is curved, thanks to his colorful skin, George doesn't slide off. 

It took all of 15 minutes to have this fully installed and ready to go.  That even includes moving all those slippers.  Maybe that should be my next project.  A slipper organizer.



So much nicer.  Only one cord... and more slippers?
I really need to do something about those.

 One of my concerns about having George that far away at night was the distance.  Was it too far to pick up the signal from the transmitter?  It took a couple days before he needed a charge, and I was never so excited to plug him in and go to sleep.  It was the acid test.  Would he be close enough?  He was!  There were readings throughout the night.  Not all of them were pretty, but they were there, and THAT was the goal of that night.

*CGM = A continuous glucose monitor.  A totally cool device that monitors my glucose levels and tells me if I'm running in the normal, low, or high range. 

Disclosure:  Although I did not pay for my cord charmer it was not in exchange for a review.  In fact Jessica didn't even know I had a blog when she contacted me.  However, when I asked, she gave me permission to post her contact information.  If interested, you may contact her at www.mycleverbiz.com/JessicaLewis.

No moment of regret - Post 20

This suggested topic flies in the face of one of my sayings.  Don't regret.

There are many times in my life where someone has asked me, "Don't you regret it?"  My response used to be, "Yes, but what can I do about it now?"  That doesn't accomplish much other than make yourself feel crappy about yourself.

I had a dear friend tell me one time that I should never regret any decision I made.  He said (something like this), "You made that decision because you wanted to, and you thought it was the best thing to do.  If you start regretting your decisions then you start second guessing yourself and doubting your ability to be you.  You are the best at being you you'll ever be and NEVER regret that."

When I looked up regret, two of the definitions were: - to feel sorrow or remorse for  & - to think of with a sense of loss.  I don't want to feel sorrow for myself, or think of myself with a sense of loss.  The same goes for diabetes.  It would be way too easy to think of my diabetes as a sense of loss: 

• I lost the convenience of eating without having a degree in higher math. 
• I lost a lot of time and money visiting many doctors and purchasing prescriptions. 
• My husband has even lost peace of mind about me outliving him. 

However, each one of those can be viewed as a gain: 

• I gained an extra exercise to keep my brain young. 
• I gained the opportunity to meet new people and develop creative budgeting. 
• My husband gained one more thing to watch over me for.

I'm sure you're thinking, "But don't you wish you would never have developed diabetes?"  Yes, I do wish that.  Everyday and some days more than others.  {side tangent: One of my favorite sayings about wishes: "Wish in one hand and poop in the other and see which one fills up first."}  However, I don't regret it.  I try to make the best of it, and if I can help even one person, it is worth it.

I believe there is already enough negativity in the world.  I don't need to be adding to that.

Written in Granite - Post 16

I try to find inspiration in everything around me.  This is one that I keep on my desk.

A long time ago, in a land not too far, and also very far, from here, I lived with many a close friend, and one evil boss. Nope.. I'll save that story for later.  Let me clarify a little about this land, it will help with today's post. 

This 'land', as I will refer to it as, was my last job.  I had been there for a little over 8 years when on a Friday afternoon at 3pm we were all told that our department was relocating about 15 miles away and would be fully under new management.  We were told we could keep our jobs for a 60% cut in pay (..yes.. reduced BY 60% not to 60%) and loss of health benefits for a minimum of 1-2 years.  We were given two weeks to think about it.  I had been diagnosed just 6 months earlier and there was no way I could go without benefits, but figured I would look around to see what was out there before I fully committed.  I'm glad I did because I have been with my current job ever since. 

One of the locations that my office did billing for had a weekly newsletter.  In this newsletter were the happenings of the facility and special recognition of employees or others.  Typical newsletter.  At the bottom of the back page there was always a quote or saying that was meant to encourage or inspire.  One week this was the saying:

I printed it out, laminated it, and taped it to my wall.  I made an extra copies and put them in my wallet, car, on my bathroom mirror, etc.  I could barely turn around without seeing this statement.  One of the benefits of working in the Land was that I got to know a lot of good people.  One client's family owned a granite quarry.  To give back and show appreciation she would have your favorite statement engraved in granite.  She did this for the people at the location she dealt with the most so I had no hopes of getting one.  After all, who likes their bill collector?  Imagine my surprise when one day she called me and asked me what I wanted engraved on mine.  After thanking her for thinking of me I told her it was an easy decision, and read her the saying.  Little did I know, that a few years later I would have to remind myself daily to read this and follow it for my new former employers. 

But isn't it the truth about people?  Especially when it comes to Diabetes?  Unreasonable expectations of glucose levels and A1C's by some health care providers or family and friends.  Illogical, and down right wrong, suggestions of miracle cures and treatments.  Self-centered people who tell you that you brought it on yourself or that they could never be diabetic because of ________ (fill in the blank with your favorite line).  Should we forgive them?  YES!  Should we leave it at that? NO!  I feel we should forgive and educate.  You with me?

What would you have engraved in granite to inspire you every day?

I'm glad I wasn't born in the 1700's - Post 13

I love to read. I always have at LEAST two books going at any given time. I always carry a book with me. I have spare books at work just in case I finish one and have extra time. So when today's suggestion was a book report I was thrilled.

I love to read. I haven't always though. In fact there was a time when I would have preferred going to the dentist over reading. Maybe that was because I was told I read slow and would never get anywhere. The person who told me that read really really fast. She would 'skim read' and get the whole gist of the page very quickly. Not me. I read every single word.

A few months back I was looking through the table of books at Costco and came across one titled "An Echo in the Bone" by Diana Gabaldon. It was bright green and thick, nearly 1200 pages, and the back cover was so intriguing I just had to buy it.

Jamie Fraser is an eighteenth-century Highlander, an ex-Jacobite traitor, and a reluctant rebel in the American Revolution. His wife, Claire Randall Fraser, is a surgeon—from the twentieth century. What she knows of the future compels him to fight. What she doesn’t know may kill them both.

With one foot in America and one foot in Scotland, Jamie and Claire’s adventure spans the Revolution, from sea battles to printshops, as their paths cross with historical figures from Benjamin Franklin to Benedict Arnold.

Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the twentieth century, their daughter, Brianna, and her husband experience the unfolding drama of the Revolutionary War through Claire’s letters. But the letters can’t warn them of the threat that’s rising out of the past to overshadow their family.

My husband laughed at me when I opened it as soon as I got in the car. He stopped laughing when I closed it and said, "It's book seven of a series. I need the rest before I can read this one."

That Monday I went to the local used book stores to find the first six books. One place had books 1 and 2, so I was set. It didn't take long to get through book 1 and into book 2. (I am currently on book 6 with book 7 patiently waiting on my bedside stand.)

It is book 2 "Dragonfly in Amber" that has a part in it that made me pause and be extremely thankful for when I was born. Claire, the main character, was being given a tour of the hospital she was going to be working in. She came across a very thin patient laying listlessly under a blanket. There was an oddly shaped glass vessel standing on the floor beside her. It was filled with urine and hidden in the ammonia smell was a sickly sweet smell also. After talking with the patient, Claire confirmed that she was always thirsty and always hungry but no matter how much she ate she remained thin. Claire new it was diabetes mellitus, known back then as 'sugar sickness', but she also knew there was nothing that could be done for her, and figured that she would be gone within the month.  This is what hit me like a ton bricks on being thankful for being born when I was. 

We may not have a cure yet, but we do have medication now that will help us live longer than just a couple months.  There are times I think about what it would be like to live in those times; no traffic jams, phones ringing all the time, computer issues that always come up at the worst time, cars that need repaired every few months, or any other technological issue that drives us crazy.  Then my pump beeps at me to remind me that she is running low, and I'm reminded how far we have come, and that I get the privilege of living more than just a couple months.

I would like to personally thank Diana Gabaldon for helping me remember in which book the above scene took place.  Her quick response to my inquiry is much appreciated.

Veteran's Day - Post 11

One of today's post suggestions was to write about a favorite thing that is not health-related but likely improves my life.  Today is also Veteran's Day in the United States. 

First and foremost I want to say Thank You to all veteran's who have served their country, be it the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia or any other country.  There is a special place in my heart for anyone who has and is willing to put their lives on the line for someone else.

My family has a long line of military members.  Both my maternal grandparents, my paternal grandfather, a great uncle, my brother, my husband, my husband's father and his step-father all served.  They represent the Army (6), Navy (1), and Marines (1).  My daughter has been a member of her high school's AFJROTC (Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) for four years.  Many of her friends, and kids that have called me Mama Bear, have joined the military.  One just recently returned home after graduating Marine Corps boot camp.  It was so much fun to listen to him and my husband compare stories.  There may have been decades difference in time, but the stories are the same.

As a small token of appreciation a flag is presented to the next of kin at the funeral or memorial service of any veteran.  I have been given the great honor of being 'Keeper of the Flags' for the family.


Left to right: Maternal Grandfather (Navy), Maternal Grandmother (Army), Father-in-law (Army), Paternal Grandfather (Army), Paternal Great Uncle (Army), Step Father-in-Law (Army).

The Veterans in my life have improved and protected my life in more ways than I can count, and they will always do so.  I will never be able to fully express my gratitude for the sacrifice that each and every member of the military has given.  I just hope and pray they know.

My prayer for today is that each and every member of the armed service is kept safe and that each and every member of their family knows how thankful we are for their sacrifice as well. 

Healthy Facebook? - Post 10

Today I choose to write about whether or not we should post about our health/loved one's health on Facebook.

To share or not to share.. that is the question.  Is it really any different than sharing about my health on Twitter?  No, not really.  Either way puts your information out into the cyberworld for all to see.  The benefits of that are enormous (ie: the DOC), but the downfalls are there too.  How many of us have received spam email about a miracle cure? 

To share or not to share someone else's information.  That is actually an easier question to answer: Only if asked too.  My stance on any information or story of someone else's, be it health, good news, bad news, etc. is that is isn't my information/story to share.

So should we post about our health on Facebook?  It's your call.

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?

My #ListOf3 - Post 5

My "List of 3" things I'm thankful for was actually given to me by a very very dear friend of mine back in high school.  I have fallen back on this list of three many times and have shared it, with some modification, with many people.  Over the years, each item has changed as to why I'm thankful for it, but never has it fallen off the list. (WARNING: I get a little sentimental at the end.. you might need a tissue.)

1. I'm alive - Never can that be a more thankful thing than after being diagnosed with a chronic illness/disease/condition.  I am thankful every morning when I wake up that I'm still alive to be there for my daughter.  Being able to be there for her and watch her grown into the beautiful, special, talented, and totally awesome young woman that she is turning out to be is a complete blessing in and of itself.  I'm alive by the Grace of God and the miracles of medicine.  For that I am eternally greatful. 
2. The sun is shining - This is one thing that can be taken for granted so easily.  In light of the recent hurricane (bad Sandy) and other storms that have hit/will hit, I am thankful everyday for the sunshine.  In the middle of August when my thermometer says 118, it may be a little harder to be thankful for that same sun, but I just remind myself of those times when it felt like the sun would never come back out and I would never be warm.
3. I love my husband - I love my husband and I am thankful I do.  Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that he loves me too, but that isn't in my top three.  This is the one thing that has changed the most since I was diagnosed.  I loved my husband dearly before, but I love him even more now.  I love him when he's laying on the kitchen floor with me waiting for a low to come up.  I love him when he's calling me every hour while I'm at work because I had a glucoaster the day before and he is worried.  I love him when he offers to pick me up a box or 6 of my favorite Oreo cookies at Christmas time (the white fudge covered Oreos only come out at Christmas and they ARE. THE. BEST.), even though he knows they will mess with my levels he knows I deserve a treat sometimes.  I love him when he shares stories about seeing someone with a pump or about correcting an untruth he overheard.  I am thankful that I love him and that he is mine to love. 

"I don't know about this, but I'd like to." - Post 3

I am always up for learning new things, especially when it is about something that affects someone I know.  Recently I was asked if I knew anything about Hemochromatosis.  I had never heard of it, so I did like everyone else would.. went to Google.  Iron overload.  Can you imagine?  I've heard of low iron, but never too much iron.  Some of the symptoms looked like symptoms of diabetes:  fatigue, lack of energy, weight loss.  They even check blood glucose levels when testing for Hemochromatosis.  It is even noted that this disease can lead to the development of diabetes due to damage to the pancreas.  I must admit, this is one of the few times that I heard of a complication causing diabetes instead of diabetes causing a complication.

This is one thing that I don't know about, but I would sure like to.  Is there something that can help delay the development?  Is phlebotomy the best treatment?  Can it be reversed?  Will it come back?  And the all important, never answered, WHY?  Sounds like I have some research to do.

Being Treated Normally

Not too often, when eating at friend's houses, do I not have to answer questions like, "Can you eat this?" or deal with a comment like, "I tried to make sure I cooked something I thought you could eat.".  Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE that my friends are aware and try to accommodate me.  It also gives me the chance to teach them more about the specifics and that I really can eat what I want, in moderation.  The more people out there that know more the better is it for everyone.  But there are times that it is nice to just be "one of the group".

Yesterday, my husband and I went over to some friend's house.  We had planned an afternoon of target shooting, but they wanted to feed us lunch first.  She was making homemade Navajo Tacos.  Everything was fresh made.  The beans had been cooking since early morning.  The meat mixture was being browned up while I sat there watching.  She even made the frybread from scratch and deep fried it while we chatted.  It was the best lunch (and we were sent home with the left overs).  When we got back, they even made smoothies for us.  A mixed bag of frozen fruit and some ice cream.  I was in heaven.

This couple knows that I have Type 1.  Her mother, before her passing, had just received her insulin pump.  Her mother wasn't diabetic, but had her pancreas removed a few prior so they new the drill of carb counting, injections, testing, etc.  We've talked about my diagnosis and the struggles and the successes.  I think it was because of this that not once did either of them say, "Is this OK for you to eat?" "Is there something else I can get you instead." "The fruit should be OK, but what about the ice cream." or any number of other questions/comments.  Maybe it was just me, but I LOVED it.  I felt.. normal.  I pointed this out to my husband while we were laying on the kitchen floor about six hours later waiting for a low to come up (did I say it was a yucky day bg-wise? No?.. it sucked!), and he just smiled.  He knows he doesn't 'get it' all the time, but he is awesome in letting me vent it all out when I need to.  Thanks Sweety!  And thank you deer friends for giving me a moment of normalcy, you'll never know how much it really meant.