Busy Week . . . .

I am a busy bee this week.  I’m trialing both Glooko and mySentry (more on both soon!).  I’m rounding up the May #dsma blog carnival and coordinating the June topic.  I’m still (slowly) working on reading and commenting on the wonderful Diabetes Blog Week posts.  I have a wake to attend tomorrow night for a dear friend’s father.  I’m trying to get exercise back to the top of my priority list, so fitting in some workouts is a must.  And I’ll be spending the second half of my week in D.C. for the JDRF Annual Conference - which includes more time on the Hill advocating to my Congress people for support of diabetes issues.  Oh, and I have a pile of emails that are long overdue to be answered . . . .

Actually, it’s going to be a really great week (aside from the wake) and I’m so excited about everything.  But busy = stress and stress = erratic blood sugars.  Travel in general, and flying specifically, also tends to really throw my blood sugar into a state of havoc.  I’m always scared to toss exercise into the mix when I’m traveling.  And busy schedules and travelling can also  mess with healthy meal planning.

So basically, although I’m thrilled with everything that I have going on this week, I recognize it will be a bit challenging Diabetes-Wise.  I sure could use some tips and tricks!!  How do you stay on track during travel and busy times - especially when they both hit at once?

Cover Me . . .

(Are you singing 80’s Springsteen with me??)

This month the DSMA Blog Carnival wants us to complete a sentence.  “I wish my insurance company paid for _________because ______________.”  Can I just say EVERYTHING???

But seriously, “everything” is my answer.  I’ve been pretty lucky as health insurance goes.  I have my insulin pump.  My CGM got approved without much hassle.  My first test strip order with my new insurance was denied because I test 8 - 10 times a day and they said that was more than they would cover, but I asked my endo's office to appeal it and within a week all of the test strips I need were delivered to my door.  So yes, it could be worse . . . . but it could also be better.

I wish my insurance company would cover strips for which ever brand meter I’d like to use - instead of just the two brands they’ve decided I can choose from.  While we are at it, I wish they'd also pay for the actual meter because I'm majorly pining for the iBGStar but don't have an extra $80 to shell  out for it.  I wish my insurance company covered all brands of insulin equally - instead of having “preferred” brands with lower copays.  Unfortunately, my body does not “prefer” the brands on the lower copay tier.  Even with coverage, the copays on the stuff I need is ridiculously expensive!

But still, I’m pretty lucky with insurance.  I think of people who can’t get coverage for insulin pumps.  I think of friends who are allowed only one or two test strips a day.  I think of those who go to sleep every night scared stiff of lows, but can’t get coverage for a CGM to keep them safe.  And I think of the struggles people with other illnesses and conditions go through over insurance.

So instead I wish ALL insurance companies paid for EVERYTHING PEOPLE WITH DIABETES (or any health condition) NEED TO LIVE LONG HEALTHY LIVES because WE DESERVE IT.

This post is my May entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival.  If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/may-dsma-blog-carnival-2/ .

On a Mission . . . .

After having my Bad Diabetes Day it would be easy to get frustrated and put in a little less effort.  I’ve been feeling pretty depressed lately too, so that makes it even easier to just throw in the towel.  But instead I’m trying to fight through.  And for some reason, I decided my mission of choice would be to conquer cereal.

A bowl of cold cereal is near the top of my list of foods I can’t seem to work out a bolus for.  I have such a difficult time eating it without a huge post-meal spike.  I’m not a huge fan of cereal, so usually I’m happy to just choose something else for breakfast.  But for the past few days, I’ve really wanted some cereal for breakfast.  So I set about to finally work out a bolus for it once and for all.


I don’t quite have it down yet, but I’m definitely making progress.  For the past two days I actually ended up too low during my post-breakfast blood sugar check.  So I’ll keep dialing down my aggressive bolusing bit by bit until I get the formula worked out.

Eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast is such a minor thing that most people wouldn’t think twice about it.  But when diabetes is in play, the smallest things can become a challenge.  I’m on a mission to make cereal work for me, and I think I’m almost there.

What diabetes missions are you taking on these days?

Bad Diabetes Day

Some days, diabetes slides quietly into the background and I can go about my day with The D running pretty much on auto-pilot.  Yesterday was not one of those days.  Yesterday went more like this:

• I woke up in range, but needed a correction after coffee even though I had bolused for the coffee.
• I bolused for two slices of toast for breakfast and gave my insulin it’s usual 20 minute head start.  Yet I spiked to 220 after eating and needed a correction.  (Twenty minutes is what works usually works for me, but remember, YBMV.  Your Bolus May Vary)
• Had I been smart, I would have ignored the correction recommendation for that 220 because I was off to the grocery store.   I would have remembered that grocery shopping often makes me go low and I would have planned accordingly.  Yesterday I was not smart.
• Forty minutes after returning from the grocery store my blood sugar was 39.
• Twenty minutes after my blood sugar was 39 I had a telephone interview for a web article about the DOC.  Although I had inhaled just about everything in sight before the phone rang, my mind wasn’t completely back on track for the interview.  I felt fuzzy and I’m quite certain I babbled like an idiot.
• A little over two hours later I was trying to bolus my way back down from a blood sugar of 268 and feeling like total crap.  Because apparently inhaling everything in sight before my call was a bad idea.  (Duh!!)
• I had put some yummy dinner fixings in the crock-pot so dinner would be a breeze.  However, it wasn’t all that breezy because hours later I found a cold crock-pot.  It seems you need to REMEMBER TO TURN THE THING ON if you actually want it to cook your dinner.  Also, I do realize this isn’t really a Bad Diabetes Day story as much as it is a Bad Cook story.  But I don’t have a cooking blog to whine on, so I’m whining  here..

Is there a silver lining to my Bad Diabetes Day?  I’m not sure there is . . . . except that today would have to go better.  Right??

Downsizing . . .

Less is more . . . . or more is more?

 Bigger is better . . . . or good things come in small packages?

I suppose either can be true, depending on what exactly you are talking about.  And when it comes to my insulin pump, I’m definitely happy to be going a little bit smaller.


When I started pumping a little over four years ago I wasn’t sure which size pump would be best for me.  For a few reasons, my pump rep and I decided I should go with the larger one.  While this worked just fine, the reality was that it held way more insulin than I could ever use up before it was time to change out my site.  Since I prefer to change both the site and reservoir at the same time, I simply began partially filling the reservoir and later changed to the smaller reservoir (which works in either size pump).

Once my pump warranty expired I knew I wanted to go with the same pump (a purple Revel) but in the smaller size.  And it couldn’t have come at a better time, because my parent’s dog put a gouge in the screen when she stood on my lap . . . . and my pump.  So I was thrilled when my new “downsized” pump arrived yesterday.  Sure, it’s not that much smaller, but it looks so cute and it feels so petite in my hand!  I can’t help but smile every time I look at it.  I’m enjoying it while I can, because I’m sure I’ll get used to its smaller size pretty quickly.  But for now, when it comes to my insulin pump, less is definitely more!!

**I currently have a contract with Medtronic, although this pump purchase was not part of that contract and was made independently.  My contract disclosure can be found here. **

Diabetes Blog Week Wrap Up

Wow!!  Looking back on last week, the first thing that pops into my head is WOW!!!!!   I want to thank you all for your enthusiasm throughout the week.  In the end, we officially have 240 people signed up on the Participants List and I can’t quite wrap my head around that!!

Some quick housekeeping.  If you haven’t yet, please check your listing on the Participants List to be sure I didn’t mess it up.  If I did, please shoot a quick email to my DBlogWeek email and I will fix it.  Also, if you participated but didn’t officially sign up and would like to be added to the Participants List, you can email your name and you blog address and I’ll add you.

The Link Lists will remain open for about another week, so if you didn’t get a chance to add your posts there is still time.  Then they will be closed to new entries (to prevent spam links from being added), but will be available so we can always find the posts from the week.  If you need something added after I’ve locked the lists, I'll be happy to add it for you.

I know the week went by quickly and some people got behind on their posts.  That is fine - I had a busy weekend and almost didn’t get my post up yesterday!!  If you’d like to finish your posts this week (or beyond), that’s great!!  Or if you don’t want to, that’s fine too.  I’m grateful to everyone who participated and for each post that was done.  I haven’t gotten very far on reading and commenting yet, but I will try my best to read each and every post and to leave at least one comment for each blogger who participated!!

Will there be a fourth Diabetes Blog Week?  That’s up to you all!  I’m sure game if you are.  Do you have topic ideas or other requests?  Let me know, because DBlog Week belongs to all of us!!  And thank you again for making it such a success and so much fun!!

Diabetes Hero - DBlog Week Day 7

Welcome to Day # of Diabetes Blog Week. If you are participating, don’t forget to link your Diabetes Hero post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your Diabetes Hero post.)


Let’s end our week on a high note and blog about our “Diabetes Hero”.  It can be anyone you’d like to recognize or admire, someone you know personally or not, someone with diabetes or maybe a Type 3.  It might be a fabulous endo or CDE.  It could be a d-celebrity or role-model.  It could be another DOC member.  It’s up to you – who is your Diabetes Hero??

Hero: he·ro/ˈhi(ə)rō/ - (Noun) A person who is admired for courage or noble qualities.

When I think about a Diabetes Hero, I think of the kids with diabetes.  I think of how they deal with this disease at such a young age and how they show such courage.  They are heroes.

Wait, then I think of the parents of those children.  I think of all they do every day to care for their kids.  The sleepless nights and the worry they endure.  They are heroes.

Wait, what about those diagnosed with diabetes as adults.  I can’t imagine how it feels to suddenly have such an intricate chronic illness to deal with.  I think of all of the changes they must suddenly make and all of the information they need to learn.  They are heroes.

Wait, what about the kids with diabetes who have grown into adults with diabetes.  I think about how they were promised a cure in five years, and how many multiples of five years have passed without one.  I think of the strength they show to just keep going, carrying on day in and day out with this disease.  They are heroes.

Wait, what about significant others and loved ones of people with diabetes.  I think about how much they do for us.  I think of my own husband getting up in the middle of the night to get me a juice box.  He, and others like him, are heroes.

Wait, my endo!  My fantastic endo who never judges, never scolds, always does all he can to help me live a happy and healthy life with diabetes.  And all of the other endos, CDEs, nutritionists and the myriad of medical professionals we see throughout our diabetic life.  They are heroes.

Wait, I can’t forget my blogging friends.  Kerri, who blazed the way for us and inspires me every day.  The 240 bloggers who have signed up for Diabetes Blog Week.  Each and every person who shares their diabetes life on-line, so others will learn and not feel so alone.  And those who read and comment and lurk.  They are heroes.

I don’t really feel lucky to have diabetes.  But I sure do feel lucky to be surrounded by Diabetes Heroes.

Saturday Snapshots - DBlog Week Day 6

Welcome to Day Six of Diabetes Blog Week. If you are participating, don’t forget to link your Saturday Snapshots post on this list.  (Please enter your Blog Name and the URL for your Saturday Snapshots post.)


Back for the third year, let’s show everyone what life with diabetes looks like!  With a nod to the Diabetes 365 project, let’s grab our cameras again and share some more d-related pictures.  Post as many or as few as you’d like.  Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures, or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.