Wordless Wednesday - Ooops . . .

That moment when you’re treating a low and decide to refill your “low bin” . . . .


Jelly beans everywhere.  On the island and on the floor.  Also, not shown in this picture, under the stove, in the pantry and in the dining room.   It seriously looked like the Easter Bunny threw up.  And it took me FOR-EVER to get them all gathered and into the garbage.  I think my cat might still be batting a few around.

#lowproblems

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - #SpareARose

This is the insulin that lives in a drawer in my refrigerator, next to the cheese compartment.  I’m lucky to know it’s there, ready to keep me alive for the next three months.  I’m lucky to know that as I use the bottles up, I can order my next three month supply so it’s ready and waiting when I need it.

This is my insulin pump.  The icon in the upper left corner is filled in with gray, showing that I’m lucky to have a full reservoir of insulin to get me through the next three days.  The large numbers toward the right show my insulin bolus being delivered so I can enjoy . . . .

. . . these festive cookies I’ve baked.  I’m lucky to have a wonderful husband to share them with as we look forward to Valentine’s Day together.  I’m lucky to live in a time and in a part of the world where I have the medications and devices that allow me to eat a cookie (or two) without shooting my blood sugar dangerously and deathly high.

This is Spare A Rose.  It’s a reminder that not everyone is as lucky as I am.  It’s a reminder that Pete and I don’t need to spend a lot of money on flowers and chocolates and jewelry and other gifts.  We need to help others who can’t afford the insulin they need to survive.  Each $5 donation provides life saving insulin or test strips to someone in need for a month.  $5 is such a small amount but it can do so much.  Please join me in making a donation so others can know what it feels like to be as lucky as we are.

Wordless Wednesday - Good Stress . . .

Yesterday I was thrilled to be included as a panelist again for the second annual Diabetes Hope Conference.  I truly love having the opportunity to speak on panels, but I always get a bit nervous before.  And my CGM graph definitely reflects that (good) stress.  I ran high all morning with a bigger rise during the half hour before my panel.  Stayed high during the hour my panel was on and for the hour following.  Then as my nerves faded away, I came right back down into range.

Highs caused by fantastic opportunities like the one I had yesterday?  I’ll take them!!

Saturday Snapshots - #DBlogWeek Day 6

It may be the weekend, but Diabetes Blog Week is still going strong.  We officially have over 200 bloggers signed up to participate.  I just want to send out a quick thank you to the DOC for all of the enthusiasm and support this week, and for all the time spent writing posts, reading posts by others, and leaving comments.  I’m guessing I’m not the only one who has been wishing for a housekeeper and personal chef this week?

Today it’s time to share some pictures for Saturday Snapshots.  Back for another 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.

The subtitle for  my post today is “FORCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL”.  My pictures are proof that things can go wrong through no fault of our own.  For example, a couple of Fridays ago, my high alarm went off after dinner.  I thought nothing of it, because I’d had a sore throat all week and my high alarm rang every time I ate, no matter what I ate or how aggressively I bolused.  I cleared the alarm and Pete and I settled in to watch some T.V.  As usual, I fell asleep on the couch.  But when I woke up a few hours later, things were anything but usual.  My CGM showed a blood sugar over 300 with a rapid up arrow.  I grumbled when Pete suggested I change my site - I had just put that site in that afternoon and had a low afterward so I was sure the site was fine.  But I changed it anyway, and it turns out the site was anything but fine.  The cannula looked normal when I pulled it out, but I looked down to see blobs of blood all over the floor.  And blood streaming down my leg.


Definitely not what I had planned for a Friday night.  After a correction by syringe, a ketone check (medium), lots of water and a blood sugar that topped off in the 400s, things finally started to settle down.  I checked every hour until I made it into the 200s around 1 a.m.  Knowing my CGM would alert me if I didn’t continue back down into range, I went to bed exhausted.

Then there was a mishap just a couple of days ago.  Around 3:30 in the morning my CGM high alarm went off and again the screen showed rapid up arrows.   When I got up to use the bathroom I felt my pump tubing smack against my leg, but the place it hit was far too low.  You know why?


Because apparently the tubing was no longer connected to my site!  I’ve never seen anything like this happen before (although I’m sure some of you have?).  A 3:30 a.m. site change is never much fun, but I was thankful that my CGM helped me find this problem while my blood sugar was only in the 200s and my ketones were only “small”.

When you are dealing with diabetes, sometimes doing everything right doesn’t matter one bit.  Sometimes things will just go to crap no matter what.  We just need to learn to roll with the punches, adjust, and keep going.


You can find more diabetes-related pictures on the Saturday Snapshots - Saturday 5/17 Link List.

What is Diabetes Blog Week? Click here for an explanation, and check out the list of participants over here.

(Not Very) Wordless Wednesday - Crumpled

After inserting a new sensor yesterday I began getting “Sensor Error” messages during the warm-up period.  I called the HelpLine, who went over insertion techniques and did a bit more trouble-shooting, and we decided to give the sensor some more time to see if it worked itself out.  I was later able to start and calibrate it and it worked fine . . . . . for a few hours, until the Sensor Errors started up again.  I decided to pull it this morning and saw the problem immediately.  The sensor cannula was crumpled up under my skin (left picture) and even after stretching it out you can see it was completely kinked (right picture).  But I’m glad to say the new sensor I put in this morning is faring much better!

** My Medtronic disclosure can be found here. **

Wordless Wednesday - Be There

When the bad days are increasingly outweighing the good ones, it can help to know others understand.  Don’t miss this important Diabetes and Depression chat today on TuDiabetes.

Wordless Wednesday - Anniversary

Our first date was 14 years ago today.  Our wedding was 9 years ago today.  I don’t know what I’d do without my favorite Type 3.  Happy anniversary, Sweetpea!!

(Late) Wordless Wednesday - Sick

The horrible sore throat is bad enough.  But seeing that big spike after I eat, no matter what I eat or how early I pre-bolus?  Sometimes that seems even worse.  (And it makes me as cranky as Jack Skellington.) Being “real-people-sick” with diabetes is a drag.  (It also throws off my week so Wordless Wednesday ends up on Thursday.)

Wordless Wednesday - My New Workout Pal

While chatting at Government Day last month, my friend Barbara mentioned she uses Clif Shot Bloks during her workouts.  Although she doesn’t have T1, I believe she said she’s hypoglycemic and I know she enjoys doing long, intense workouts.  She mentioned that these Bloks are great for fueling her through her routine and that each individual Blok has 8 grams of carbs.  She suggested they might work for me too, so when I saw them at Whole Foods I decided to give them a try.

Yesterday as I left for the gym I tested at 147.  I was nervous after a pretty bad low at the gym over the weekend, so I ate one Shot Blok.  Post workout number? 107!!  WIN!

Thanks for the great tip, Barbara! 

*Yes, yes, I know, this post isn’t even close to being Wordless.  Oh well . . . .

Wordless Wednesday - Nope

Every once in a while I manage to convince myself that if I just keep trying, I can figure out the perfect bolus / timing / portion combo to have a bowl of cereal without completely wrecking my blood sugar.

NOPE!

Wordless Wednesday - HOPE

Today is “Write Hope on your Hand” day for diabetes awareness.  I have hope on my hand, and hope in my heart.  Yes, it’s a bit blurred and a bit bumpy both on my hand and in my heart.  But the hope is still there.  Even after 33 years.

Wordless Wednesday - Gov Day Prep

As the volunteer Advocacy Team Chair for one of the local JDRF chapters, I’ll be heading down to Government Day in a few weeks.  Which means setting up my meetings with my government representatives and their staff.  Yay!!

Interested in learning more about JDRF Advocacy?  Okay, just click here.

Wordless Wednesday - Mail Call

Beautiful, right???  My dear friend Hilary of Rainie and Me made this mug for me.  That’s right, SHE MADE IT after we talked about my coffee addiction and how I drink it out of a big container that is meant to hold knitting needles.  (Not that exact one, mine has hunter green yarn.)  My new mug is too pretty to use, but I will use it because I hate when people say that about things I’ve knit.  (Oh, and she sent a cat card too . . . . . I love her!!)

I don’t know how I got so lucky to have so many wonderful friends in the DOC.

Wordless Wednesday - Weigh In #1

I know the first week is the easiest . . . . . but I’m still kind of proud.

Wordless Wednesday - #NDAMphotoaday

With the end of Diabetes Awareness Month last week came the end of National Diabetes Awareness Month Photo a Day, and my last two pictures.  I really enjoyed taking the pictures of the topics each day and I definitely think it was a great way to raise awareness.  I hope we can do it again next year.

#Advocate (Type1 Advocate Gramma and me on Capital Hill)

#CURE (I’m still wishing for one . . . . )

Wordless Wednesday - #NDAMphotoaday Week 4

#Dietdrink (it’s not easy to find Trop-A-Rocka near me, so I snap(ple??) it up when I can!)

#Carbs (my home-made cranberry sauce is my favorite Thanksgiving carb indulgence)

#Unicorn (I tend to hoard these awesome stickers from Sara)

#Exercise (I hate it, but I’m doing it)

#Eyes (I get ‘em checked every six months)

#Shoes (I'm a rebel & don’t wear “sensible shoes”. Especially on my wedding day!!)

#Stockpile (my post Halloween score!!)

Wordless Wednesday - #NDAMphotoaday Week 3

#Diafail (meter said 154, CGM said above 400 - I’ll be posting more on this soon!!)

#Blue (the emotion, not the color)

#Random (those random highs make me nuts!!)

#Bolusworthy (I made these cupcakes a month or so ago, so worth the bolus!!)

#Strips

#Friends (I love them all!!)

#Hate (I hate to be high, so I really hate those double up arrows)

Wordless Wednesday - Two Days Late

You know it’s been a tough week when your Wordless Wednesday post gets published on Friday.  (And lets just ignore the fact that my Wordless Wednesday posts always seem to contain a lot of words!!)  But here were my #NDAMphotoaday pictures for the 8th - 14th.   

#Sparkle (the sparkle of my Lilly 25 Year Medal)

#Blood(y Mary) - easier on my blood sugar than martinis

#LowTreatment (this brings me up fast when I’m “scary” low - almost worth it!)

#Cupcake (someone thinks my cute cupcake blankie belongs to her)

#Love (I don’t  love being part-cyborg, but I love having tools to keep my healthy)

#Meter (sock monkey on the front, cupcake on the back)

#Today (it was World Diabetes Day)

Wordless Wednesday - #NDAMphotoaday Week 1

#Struggle (aftermath of a site change)

#Prescription (my co-pay total so far this year)

#Fingers (Here is what 10 fingersticks a day looks like - all on one finger)

#Oops (Tried something new for breakfast. It didn’t work!!)

#Bullseye (This is an old picture, but three devices reading so closely screams BULLSEYE to me!)

#Feet (I knit these, and how cool is this??)

#Gear (aka: why I don’t have one of those tiny cute purses . . . . )