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Blog Entries With Tag: glucoseBlog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Sep 29, 2013
![]() How many of us have been designated drivers? As a diabetic, amongst my friends when I was younger, I would normally be the one a) that had a car (and could afford the gas/insurance); and/or b) didn’t drink to the point of total obliteration of the mind. So, after having a good time, piling into the car to head back home (for more partying sometimes) – I would make sure that my friends were okay - glass of water – few aspirins – then be on my way home if I wasn’t staying the night. Sigh, the responsibilities of being a diabetic when your friends aren’t (I think we younger diagnosed diabetics have to grow up faster sometimes than our nondiabetic mates). To some of you, it may seem like we miss out on all the fun – but in away – I never felt I did (well – hey I did indulge from time to time –I mean I’m no saint). The main thing, I could remember EVERYTHING the next day, they couldn’t, and the stories I could relay to their kids today would be such a hoot - but I won't - don't worry. The other day, a friend of mine, who immigrated to Quebec about 10 years ago, that I’ve known since the age of 7, called me up, inviting me over for coffee and cake (ohhh homemade cake .. NOT - they don't like to cook <lol>). I actually hear and see less of them than when we lived further apart. Their life is complicated (whose lie isn't?) – and boy oh boy – that could make for a whole other blog – but that’s their story to tell if they can write honestly. At the time, I knew I had 4 units of insulin remaining in George Michael (my Animas 2020 insulin pump –still going strong into his 2nd year of being out of warranty – hope I don’t jinx him here by saying that). I figured that I’d be okay – my BG (blood glucose/sugar) was acting stable that day (5.1 mmol/l – 92 mg/dl) – so I knew I’d not need to correct with multitudes of insulin if I went high – even with coffee and cake. I stayed for an hour – chatting up on what had been happening in their life over the last 3 months (boy oh boy – what a soap opera). Then Monsieur George went into ALARM mode – FEED ME NOW!! No biggie, and I guess for some of you reading this, you’re thinking “why didn’t she bring back up? She preaches this to all of us!!”. Well, I forgot, plain and simple. I also knew, that going without insulin for less than an hour would not be the death of me (not like my DKA experience back in August – 6 hours without insulin – NOT GOOD). So as I attempted to leave (hey –they like to talk – yap yap yappity yap) – my friend was reminiscing about the times I had been low (Hypoglycemia / low blood glucose). If I could have captured the look on their face – of how I looked to them when I was “drunk” with a low – PRICELESS. It was something that I forgot about – that they’d probably seen me that way many times over the past 45+ years – and it was actually kind of neat that they would remember those details – and I was seeing how I looked in their eyes. They work for a dentist – who is a Type 1 diabetic. They told me that they had asked their boss – incase the he went low – where did they kept their insulin, etc. The dentist was reluctant at first to tell them where it was kept in his office but in the end told them. That’s when my brakes came to an abrupt screech – and I said. It actually freaked me that my friend, who is a Dental Assistant, who has known me for so long, would consider giving insulin to someone in that state - and would they know how to test their BG properly to access the situation? I once again put on my “educators” cap like I seem to be doing alot lately when I'm out on the town – hoping that the simple explanation I gave to them, will ensure that any diabetic that they come across in future, that either may be going low or high (Hyperglycemia / high blood glucose/sugar). I’m hoping it retains in their noggin’ – because obviously knowing me for so long – they still don’t get it (like my Mum who thinks apple juice is sugar free). It also proves to me – why many of us are so anal about our control – and taking care of ourselves – rather than others (even “trained” nurses in a hospital – and I speak from experience). We know what works best for us – and hope that we don’t get into the situation where we need someone to assist us – without full knowledge of what to do. NB: When I got back home after picking up a few groceries along the way - I was reading 8.1 mmol/l - l46 mg/dl. Infusion change - fresh juice of life in my pump - back to regular programming!
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Tags: memories (1) 2020 (1) Animas (1) alcohol (1) pump (1) insulin (1) Hyperglycemia (1) glucose (1) sugar (1) blood (1) Hypoglycemia (1) high (1) low (1) Related posts:Type 1 vs. Type 2 | Initial thoughts | In a slump and scared | Surviving the Holocaust with Type 1 diabetes | My first month with Bowie my Dexcom G4 CGMS | Edmonton man denied insulin for 20 hours | Crack Free #ShowMeYourPump | Jenna and The Hypo Fairy | Welcome Ziggy Stardust | Wearing a dress with medical gadgetsFrom: lizmariposaPosted: Feb 25, 2012
Last week, we discussed how allowing baby steps into our diabetes management plan can help us overcome some of the fogginess, and the fear, that a diabetes diagnosis can bring. We even went ahead and took our first baby step by discussing "What is Diabetes?" This week, I'd like to visit a few of the steps that we can take with all the knowledge and information that we gained by simply knowing what diabetes is, and learning about the basic problems and challenges that it can present.
If my readers might recall, we went into a little bit of detail about the basic concept of glucose. Glucose, is a type of sugar in which the body turns ALL the food that we eat (and not just sugary foods); it is the body's main source of energy. Nearly all (about 98%) of all the carbohydrates we consume will get turned into glucose, compared to 58% of proteins, and around a 10% of fats. This basic piece of information is the most powerful weapon we have against controlling high blood glucose levels. Because carbohydrates are the biggest contributors, by far, to our blood glucose levels and needs, it is paramount that we manage, and control their consumption with some care. By controlling our carbohydrate consumption levels, we are essentially, controlling our blood glucose levels. Now, carbohydrates and starches may bring some confusion to persons trying to manage diabetes, and often... for the wrong reasons. Dietitians, nutritionists, and TV personalities love to focus on the roles of "good" and "bad" carbohydrates in our diets, and will always outline that we, as diabetics, need to focus on consuming good carbohydrates, instead of "bad ones..." and that's not a bad thing, in and of itself. (If we consume too many "fast burning", so called "bad" carbohydrates, we'll be left unfulfilled, and hungry, and often, with roller-coasting blood glucose levels.) But something folks always fail to mention is that, at the end of the day, it is not so much the quality of the carbohydrates we are consuming, but the AMOUNT of them. Most Americans consume a seriously disproportionate amount of carbohydrates in their diets, and while some might argue that the average person needs to consume a diet that consists of 60% carbohydrates, the average American consumes much, much more than this. If, for example, we are consuming double the amount of recommended carbohydrates, and replaced all of those with supposed "good carbohydrates" (which we will discuss later), it won't negate that we were still consuming double the amount of recommended carbohydrates! We will still have high blood sugar... even if those carbohydrates were slower burning. So, how do we know how to make proper carbohydrate meal choices? What are our best alternatives? The truth of the mater is that there is NO diabetes diet out there. There is no real truth set in stone that says you have to follow any one person's plan to the letter; even a dietitian's plan. Your best guides in making meal planning decisions will ALWAYS be your glucose meter, moderation, and your own body. Which brings us to our second baby step: Using Our Glucose Meters. Yes, that's right. We learn all of the information we need, and much more, one meal at a time, and one event at a time, with our glucose meters.
I will note now that this is a lot more testing than the 1-2 strips a doctor, or insurance company, may allow for you, if you have Type 2 Diabetes. This is an expensive disease, and one in which you might have to invest in some extra, out of pocket, testing strips in order to help you make future confident decisions about your management, particularly, if you are not under any medications. Don't despair, though, bargain department stores often have some affordable, and generic, meters and strips. (By FDA standards, ALL meters must be within the same percentages of accuracy, regardless of brand, so they are no less reliable than more expensive ones... though this might be a topic of argument for many.) Set a Blood Glucose Goal Most American and worldwide diabetic guideline organizations, including the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, recommend that diabetic patients keep their blood glucose levels at below 140 mg/dL (7.69 mmol/L) or less, 2 hours after meals, and below 110 mg/dL (6.04 mmol/L), fasting. These guidelines might be different for you, if you are pregnant, or if you have other health issues or complications that might make it risky to reach for these levels. When in doubt, always consult with your Endocrinologist, or your medical team. Make meal decisions that help you reach these goals
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Data is Power. We have just examined a few of the baby steps that we can take to help us attain proper DATA, to make powerful decisions in our daily diabetes management routines. (Of course, this information is very basic, and it does not account for the impact that your medications, or insulin regimen, might have. If you are learning to manage insulin, it might be advisable to make an appointment with a Certified Diabetes Educator, or CDE, as well as investing in the book "Think like a Pancreas," by Gary Scheiner.) Try applying some of this knowledge, perhaps with just ONE MEAL a day. Visualize it! ![]() What baby step will we discuss next week? Stay tuned to find out! Related posts:It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year ... NOT! | King Tut and his diabetic owner Marilyn Pharo | Any relation between juice and diabetes? | Friends Being Friends | Viva Las Vegas and the waiting game in a walk-in clinic (Part Deux) | Type 1 vs. Type 2 | Initial thoughts | FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose | Run, Fatboy, Run | Running Around Like A Chicken Without It's Head OnBlog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Nov 23, 2011
The only information that Abbott USA (many thanks Gayle) and I could find (we were searching online together while on the phone which was a lot of fun – I was finding the info for the rep ) – was to go the the UK website – where you have a tutorial of what this meter can do for you – as well as other useful information (e.g. you can put your fav pic as your background on your pump – guess what I’ll be having on mine – meow, meow, meow). The touch screen meter (reminds me of an I-Phone) has just been released in the USA this past week (though you won't find it on any of their website at this time of writing). It has been available in Canada - but sadly - they have nothing at their website. I'm interested in what my pharmacist here in Quebec says when I inquire into it on my next legal drug run to them. What do you think? Is this something that could help you better manage your diabetes? Are you like me, willing to give it a try? Hope so, I love being the continual revolving door guinea pig for diabetes products! Bring it on I say, bring it on!!! Now, Abbott, if only you'd let me have the device for free!!
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Tags: Insulinx (1) meter (1) blood (1) Freestyle Insulinx System (1) Abbott (1) diary (1) insulin (1) glucose (1) Related posts:Type 1 vs. Type 2 | Initial thoughts | In a slump and scared | Surviving the Holocaust with Type 1 diabetes | My 13 year old self describing her DKA in the 70's | Edmonton man denied insulin for 20 hours | Crack Free #ShowMeYourPump | Jenna and The Hypo Fairy | Welcome Ziggy Stardust | Wearing a dress with medical gadgetsBlog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Dec 20, 2010
NOT - like WHATEVER - is a term used by alot of people these days. Since I try to write in proper English these two words sometimes make me wonder what is happening to the English language. The definition of NOT as it's used in today's communication does not exist in my 2004 dictionary - but I did manage to find it of all places at Wikipedia.
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Tags: Toys R Us (1) Costco (1) lamb (1) humbug (1) Scrooge (1) traffic (1) highway (1) driving (1) stress (1) BG (1) glucose (1) blood (1) Christmas (1) Related posts:Type 1 vs. Type 2 | Initial thoughts | In a slump and scared | Questioned by my pharmacist on my insulin regime | My First Night with Dexcom G4 CGMS | Welcome Ziggy Stardust | Human-Animal Companionship | Color Therapy | Aromatherapy | Do You Hate Doctors' Visits?Blog: Anna's BlogFrom: FatCatAnnaPosted: Nov 29, 2010
Sorry for the wait in finishing up this story (I had to tell my parents on the w/e as they were getting impatient). Things have been crazy here at home, with trying to get meds all in order for upcoming holiday along with falling behind in work due to this latest eye glitch. On top of that, trying to help out a diabetic friend with her new insulin regime of Lantus. She's having a fun (NOT) time of dealing with roller coaster blood glucose (BG) rides. I'm telling her to hang in there!
So, the final chapter begins - hopefully the wait was worth it ..... In the end, I saw the on call GP at 17h30 - by then I was about ready to flake out and go to sleep having had no food, water, and sitting on my plump buttocks all day (except for the ER drive home to change my infusion set/reload insulin cartridge into Salvador Dali). Along with the two occulusion alarms (which I think probably was due to air bubbles in the tubing as all went well after priming the tubing again) I was literally toast. The GP was abit unsure about my eye at first as she didn't seem to see anything wrong (here I am with eyeball flooding out tears as she shines light in my eye). She went off to consult with someone (maybe she went to the Internet) and came back first to place a topical anesthetic into my eyeball. What a relief that was! It felt like my eyeball was normal again, but she warned me that it would wear off. At that point she placed some yellow drops ( with a strip of special paper that help detect damage to the eye. From what I learned later on at home, at this point she would have used a fluorescent light to detect any abnormalties, but she just used a regular flashlight. In the end, she said I had a corneal imbrasion, handed me some drops to put in my eyes called Ciprodex to help counterbalance any infection I might get and said not to worry. What did occur though when I got home over the next few days was that my eyesight didn't seem to be improving and when researching Ciprodex online I discovered that it's not recommended for eyes (it's for for ear infections). I started to question what the GP had done - which I'm sure would be going through your mind as well. I had called up my Ophthalmologist office on Monday to see if I could see her about my eye - and because of my diabetes they wanted to see me right away BUT only if I had an Emergency referral from the attending GP that I'd seen a few days before. To make a long story short, in the end, between my endo's office trying to help out, I never was able to obtain the referral and can only see my Ophthalmologist in April which is my next 6-month check up. Crazy medical system we have here in Quebec - but most of the times it does work - but can be frustrating as all hell at times. In the end, I've spoken to my Optometrist, telling them of what had happened along with the use of the Ciprodex. They told me that this is something they don't normally prescribe for eyes and said to stop using it. Also, that normal eyesight with a corneal imbrasion takes from 1 - 4 weeks. This was all done over the phone, and I am very lucky that I was not charged for this consultation! So, as you can tell, I cannot wait to be able to see clearly out of that eye, so for now, I'm finding it difficult to work at my PC with the way my vision is. I will be patient and that evil little eyelash separator brush that I posted a link for a picture of in my previous blog - gone to the land of trash - evil little tool of eyeball distruction - GONE!!! To read more about corneal abrasions - you can go to this link - written by Nurse Practitioner, Sue Wingate.
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Tags: sight (1) injury (1) eye (1) Animas 2020 (1) glucose (1) blood sugar (1) BG (1) pen needle (1) pump (1) insulin (1) alarm (1) occlusion (1) abrasion (1) corneal (1) Related posts:Type 1 vs. Type 2 | Keeping track | Initial thoughts | In a slump and scared | Surviving the Holocaust with Type 1 diabetes | My 13 year old self describing her DKA in the 70's | Edmonton man denied insulin for 20 hours | Twist and Shout – Sleep Apnoea | Crack Free #ShowMeYourPump | Jenna and The Hypo Fairy |
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