Blog Entries With Tag: blood meter

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

I met up the other night with a T1D who has had diabetes as long as I have.  She had contacted me through Tudiabetes (and I found out she follows me in Twitter as well).  She wanted information on insulin pumping (she’s still on the wall about being hooked up to a “machine”) and had come to Tudiabetes to find out more and found me there.  I don’t blame her with feeling this way, about going onto a pump, since I was the same when my friend Harold had kept on egging me into trying out a pump, despite my having good results with MDI (Multiple Dosage Injections).  So, I told her to take the plunge, just for the experimental bit (she's got really good work coverage for the pump - that it makes me envious of her).  We’ll see what happens, as it is difficult to break out of your comfort zone after so many years of being MDI (for myself – it was 41 years of MDI – before going onto the pump.  I had never intended to purchase - I was pretty adamant about not being wired up to a pump (and as I told her - now in Canada we have the Omnipod which is a tubeless pump).

What was so amazing is that I have this feeling that folks that have been on the juice of life (aka insulin) for so long - somehow age gracefully.  She looked like she was in her 30's (she had a laugh at this but I’m not lying!!). One thing she taught me, which was new to me, I didn't realise that gastroparesis was part of the neuropathy problem related to diabetes!  She's on the a “semi-Dr. Bernstein diet” - but due to some of the foods you are supposed to eat with his way of eating - they don't sit well with her gastro - but she does try to eat no more than 100 grams of carbohydrates a day. 

The other great thing she showed me was that she is now using the Freestyle InsuLinx blood meter .... that I'd blogged about last year.  There's a few things about it that she doesn't like - and technical support seems abit iffy (it's still new here in North America and even I had trouble getting my questions answered when I was doing research on it for my blog).  I personally found the screen difficult to read when she was showing it to me - and Joan from Cornwall in my blog I wrote - had said the same thing - so hopefully that will be changed over time (e.g. make the screen similar to my Animas pump screen).  Still, it's a great device to use to keep track of your insulin coverage, blood sugars, similar to what a pump does, without the expense OR tubing.

I can’t wait to meet up with her again since I rarely get to meet up with T1D’s in person – especially here in Montreal (remember – T1D’s are only 10% according to word of mouth – as I can’t seem to find any concise statistics – even at WHO website or  NDIC).  

Oh, and because of the way she looks - I today used Equal in my coffee (yes - the chemical stuff that I have for so many years refused to use).  She was quite surprised that I used sugar in my coffee when I met up because she thought I was a good diabetic.  Good?  Moi.  Never - I live on the edge .... in my mind!

So, I’m on a high today (not in the BG (blood sugar) area – woke up to 4.6 mmol/l – 83 mg/dl) after meeting up with my new friend here in Montreal (hoping I did not scare her off with my overzealous ways)!!!

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

Today we are delighted to be interviewing FatCatAnna's (FCA) pump Salvador Dali (SD).  Salvador became FCA's side kick a few years ago after her first insulin pump Antonio Bandera's cheated on her. 

 

EP:   Hola Salvador -  we are very curious - are you in any way associated artistically with the well known Spanish artist?

SD:   I like to think so in my mind, but no.  Except I am an original and enjoy my beautiful lime green coat I wear - so in away I'm sort of like Salvador with his love for flamboyance (am still working on growing a moustache but sometimes since I'm hidden from view most of the time you don't see its beautiful twirl ). 

EP:    We heard that you like to travel with FCA and that your recent adventure took you back to your name sakes birth country of Spain.  You must have been excited at going there!

SD:    Sí, lo fue ... sorry ... Yes I was!!!  I had never been to Spain before (FCA had a few times before - but we weren't  together then as she was with Antonia before). I got to experience the beautiful culture, people, and the food.  Ahhh, how I miss the tapas in the evening.  They eat so sensible - larger meals mid day - small meal in the evening.  Even Lolita - FCA's blood meter-  enjoyed herself!  Here's a picture of her in Malaga on our first day there!

EP:   Wow - she really stands out in the crowd! Lolita was pretty low there - for our American friends - that 2.4 mmol/l means - 43 mg/dl ! I guess due to change of time zone that happened?

SD:  Si - 6 hour flight from Montreal, walking around, etc. but things were back to normal by end of our first day. Between Lolita and myself - we kept FCA in check for our holiday in Spain.  Ahhh life as a jet setter - lo que sucede !

EP:  Curious - we know you aren't the original Salvador Dali - but still were you not curious about being in Pablo Picasso's birth place - sort of your rival?

SD:   Yes of course, to meet another fellow artist like myself - and view his work - made me quiver (ohh wait - that's me vibrating - can we take a break while I meet up with Lolita and FCA to go check the blood sugars?).

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The above interview is an except from the upcoming new magazine EASY PUMPER (EP) - dedicated to the world's best custom pumps and their gracious inspiring owners.

Also, please note - that this is all fiction - that no magazine called EASY PUMPER will be evolving real soon - this was FCA's day of having fun writing with her side kicks SD  (insulin pump) and Lolita (blood meter)!

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

    Next time you see your diabetic health care team - you may be hearing a new term called "estimated average glucose (eAG)".   I came across this article online dated February 18, 2009 that Cynthia Kahn had posted on Twitter.

    If I understand correctly from what I have read  - eAG is similar to the readings you see when you have your A1c, but with a simple calculation using the following link  Estimated Average Glucose, eAG it will allow you and your health care team to convert your A1C reading to the same unit of measurement that you see on your blood meter.  For example, my last A1c which was 5.9 % becomes 123 mg/dl or 6.8 mmol/l eAG when using this calculation.  

    Sob, here I was thinking that my 5.9% A1c from last October was really good - when in actual fact - it wasn't!! Even worse,  before when my endo just a year ago was telling me that my 7.0% A1c was excellent -  but with the conversion to eAG - it makes me cringe with shame that he could say that to me.  I'll be printing up the article below for him to read (I have educated him in some areas of diabetes over the years - he says I know more then he does at times ).

    To read more on this subject  go to the following link A New Term In Diabetes Control.