Holiday Strategy . . . .

‘Tis the season . . . . for a bazillion articles with advice on how to handle diabetes during holiday parties.  Everywhere I turn I’m reading game plans for resisting festive treats and eating healthy at celebrations.  And can I let you in on a little secret?  I ignore all of them!

I work really hard on my diabetes management all year long.  I’m not perfect - not even close.  Shit happens.  But I follow the game plan my endo and I have come up with and, for the most part, my labs are all good.  We are happy with my A1C.  My standard deviation is fine.  The small bleeds found in my eyes several years ago are long gone.  My hard work is paying off for now.

So, quite frankly, I’m NOT going to eat an apple before leaving for a party so I’m not tempted by the appetizers.  I’m NOT going to fill up on crudité without the dip.  I’m NOT going to choose only lean proteins and vegetables at the buffet.  I’m NOT going to drink sparkling water instead of wine.  I’m NOT going to have only one bite of dessert to taste and pass on the rest.  Don’t get me wrong, if those tips work for you then I certainly respect that.  I’m just not willing to do any of it.

Here is what I will do.  I will pump up a temp basal.  I will estimate carbs and bolus.  I will keep an eye on my CGM graph.  But most of all, I will eat, drink and be merry.  I will have fun at holiday parties instead of worrying too much about what diabetes is doing.  It’s okay if I spike.  It’s okay if I go low.  It’s okay if things are a little off track.  It’s okay,  because it’s Christmas and I deserve to splurge a little and enjoy the season.  I may not get a true break from diabetes, but I’ve earned the right to loosen up a little and just have fun.  And THAT is my holiday strategy this year.

Move Along . . . .

Memorial Day Weekend has always been one of my favorite long weekends of the year.  The weather is turning nicer and summer is kicking off - Pete and I usually attend our first cook-out of the year.  Honestly, I’m already in holiday mode over here, so I’m going to move you along to some other places worth a visit today.

First, check out Diabetes Mine’s announcement earlier this week about the 2014 Patient Voices scholarship contest, in which you can win a full scholarship to this year’s DiabetesMine Innovation Summit.  The application process has changed this year, so be sure to check out all the details.  And I’m delighted to have been asked to be part of the selection committee this year, so you’ll definitely be hearing more from me soon about the event.  And I’ll also be reminding you to get your application in before the June 20th deadline.

Also, my latest post is up at The Loop.  I’m talking about different kinds of stress and some ways I try to deal with them.  Of course, I’m hoping your weekend will be completely stress free but unfortunately Tuesday will be here before we know it and we’ll be back to the old weekday routine.

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

Flowers and Chocolates and Insulin . . . .

Valentine’s Day is coming up quick.  I’m definitely a hopeless romantic so I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day, even when I was single.  Pete and I usually celebrate with flowers (for me) and chocolates (for both of us) and a fun dinner out.

I really love flowers - my grandparents were florists and flowers make my day.  But honestly, I don’t really NEED flowers.  And as much as I consider chocolate a basic food group, neither Pete nor I really NEED chocolate.  The best part of our dinner out is just sitting down together and spending time with each other.  But what if that wasn’t possible? 

What if Pete and I couldn’t spend time together because I was no longer here?  What if I died because I couldn’t get the insulin that I, as a Type 1 diabetic, needed to stay alive?  It’s almost impossible for me to imagine.  Over the years I’ve had to fight to get the number of test strips I need, and to get a CGM, and a very long time ago I had to fight to get syringes covered by my insurance.  But I never, ever, in 34+ years with diabetes, had to fight to get insulin.  It’s probably something I just take for granted, those little vials of life in my refrigerator.  And that makes me very lucky.

This year I’m giving back to those who aren’t as lucky.  I have my husband and I have insulin . . . . there isn’t much else I need to feel loved.  So Pete and I are putting our Valentine’s money where it is needed - the Spare A Rose campaign. 


For every $5 Pete and I donate, or for the cost of each rose or a few chocolates, we are providing one months worth of insulin for a child who would otherwise probably die.  I can’t think of a better way to spread the love.  And I urge you to join me and #sparearose or two and save a life right now.

http://SpareARose.org
www.SpareARose.org/give

Looking Back - A Holiday Poem . . . .

*** I was absolutely sure Christmas was three weeks from today . . . . until I looked at my calendar.  WTF, there are only two weeks until Christmas?  (That is "What The Fudge", as in the Christmas fudge I make every year, by the way.  What were you thinking??)  I am way too behind so today seems like a great day to revisit a post from 2008 in which I gave "A Visit from St. Nicholas" a diabetes (and knitting) spin.  Enjoy! ***


'Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the blog,
Not a new post was stirring, your time it won't hog.

Friends started e-mailing notes filled with care,
Wondering why updates had now become rare.

There's shopping and knitting and holiday crap,
I know I should post, but I all I want is a nap!

I'm cranky and blue and just keep feeling sadder
So I test my blood sugar to see what's the matter.

First it's too high, then it's too low
Holiday stress wreaks havoc on blood sugar, you know?

Bolus a correction when the highs appear,
And for those lows, gobble eight tiny reindeer.
(um, reindeer cookies!)

Then grab the knitting needles, so lively and quick,
And work on those gifts, just like St. Nick.

Less rapid than eagles my gifts how they came,
But I whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, mittens! now, scarves! now, socks and toys!
On, lace! on cables! for girls and for boys!

To the top of the skein! to the top of the yarn ball!
Now knit away! knit away! knit away all!"

Then off to the mall in my car I flew,
To buy other gifts for the people I knew.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard in my head
The buzzing sound I've long come to dread.

I drew in my hand, and again pricked my finger,
Knowing I'd have a low that would linger and linger.

Shopping makes blood-sugar crash, from my head to my foot,
I need to sit down, eat something, stay put;

A bundle of candy I had flung on my back,
It's the reason my purse is as large as a sack.

The blood sugar woes make it hard to be merry!
And my muscles ache from the supplies I must carry!

I wish I stayed home to knit one more row,
Instead of braving the mall and fighting this low;

But soon after the SweetTarts are safe in my belly,
My legs stop feeling as if they are made of jelly.

I'm feeling much better, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh as I shop, in spite of myself;

A few more gifts from the list in my head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

I make my way home, but then remember more work,
I've forgotten to bake cookies; I feel like a jerk!

A batch of shortbread, shaped like Christmas bows,
Just thinking of them and my blood sugar rose.

So much left to do, as my blog drops out of sight,
"Happy Blood-Sugar to all, and to all a good-night."

Valentine’s Day - Yay or Nay??

While reading posts throughout the DOC about Spare a Rose, Save a Child, I realized that there are a lot of strong opinions about Valentine’s Day and it’s traditional gifts.  And that’s just fine - different opinions are part of what makes us each unique and special.  Sometimes diabetes has an influence over these outlooks, sometimes it doesn’t, but either way everyone’s opinions are valid.  I’m certainly not going to try to change anyone’s feeling . . . . . but here's my two cents.  (Spoiler Alert: I’m Yay all the way!!)

♥ Dinner at a Fancy Restaurant?  Why would I ever say no to that??  I love to cook and, at the risk of sounding boastful, I’m a very good cook.  But having someone else do the cooking and clean up?  Yup, that’s quite a luxury too!!  Bolusing for a meal out is more tricky than when I cook myself, but I’m quite okay with that!

♥ Chocolates?  Most definitely yes!!!!  Remember, while I was growing up diabetics couldn’t have sugar, so I spent years being told chocolates and candy were taboo.  (Not that I didn’t sneak them anyway, but that’s a whole other issue.)  I’m thrilled that those days are gone, and that I can choose a reasonable portion (or not . . . ), count the carbs, plan out my bolus and enjoy.  I respect anyone’s choice to pass on treats if that is better for them, but for me?  A little chocolate makes me smile.

These arrived yesterday.  I guess he still loves me!!

♥ Flowers?  Love them!!!!  My grandfather was a florist.  He and my grandmother lived in an apartment beneath their flower shop, and that’s were my Dad and his brothers grew up.  Our whole family gathered there every Saturday.  My cousins and I played in the gardens or the greenhouses while my Dad and uncles helped finish the work and close up the shop.  I loved  the lush green plants, the pansies with their happy faces, the big shiny rows of ribbons in every color, the smells of the shop and the chill of the walk-in fridge.  Flowers are a part of who I am, and the fact that they quickly wither and die makes me appreciate how special they are even  more.  And, putting all sappy sentiment aside, flowers are sugar-, carb- and calorie-free, so even on my worst diabetes day flowers are the perfect pick-me-up!!



Of course, flowers are a little more special this year thanks to the Spare a Rose, Save a Child initiative.  Pete and I made our donation yesterday and it was super quick and easy to give using PayPal.  (There are other options too, if you don’t have PayPal.)  Valentine’s Day fan or not, I hope we are all fans of saving some lives.  Go on and make your donation, and if you’d like a chance to win a blue hand-knit leave a comment on my post from Monday.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!  Or, if you prefer, Happy Thursday!!

New Years “Goals” . . . .

Every year I feel compelled to follow convention and make New Year’s Resolutions.  Every year, they don’t go so well.  So two years ago I decided to set goals instead.  I figure with goals, even if I fall off track, I can always continue working toward them.

Today I’m over at The Loop blog explaining more about why I think goals work better than resolutions for me, and sharing my first goals for 2013.  I hope you’ll click over and check it out!  This month’s DSMA Blog Carnival also involves a similar topic, asking about what you are striving for in 2013.  Care to share your thoughts?

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

Wordless(ish) Wednesday - Holidays

Last night at my local JDRF Adult group we had a great presentation from my favorite CDE about navigating the holidays, diabetes, holiday stress and FOOD!  Halloween feels like the kick-off to the holiday season, so Molly gave us some great tips for enjoying the holidays and the treats that go with it.  I especially loved this handout to help us count the carbs on some of our holiday favorites!

This year, my biggest goal is not to feel obligated to pack too much in - too much partying, too much holiday baking and shopping, and too much eating and drinking.  Do you have a holiday game plan?

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

I’m not using today’s prompt about writing style because instead I want to wish a Happy Birthday to my mother!!

Mom on her birthday, with her sister and one of her brothers.

I love this picture, because it captures their personalities perfectly!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!  Love you!

Swagless Christmas

I had intended to get this post up last week, but the combined forces of Pete being on vacation and a mean germ that has been leaving me feeling quite cruddy completely disrupted my normal routine.  But  now the New Year has begun, my husband is back at work, and hopefully that mean germ will be taking its leave soon as well.

But back to Christmas.  To me, a huge part of Christmas is baking Christmas cookies.


Over the years, my “must bake every Christmas” list has grown and it now includes some candy treats as well.  I look forward to my Christmas goodies, but home-baked goods are a bit trickier to bolus for without that handy nutrition label to consult.  This year, I decided to fix that problem and banish the Christmas Swagging for good!

First, I made an Excel spreadsheet with a tab for each Christmas recipe.  I listed the ingredients, and then used Calorie King to look up the carb counts.  This was time consuming and mind-numbingly boring, but I knew it would be worth it in the end.  (I also looked up the calorie counts.  Scary, but necessary because I am determined to log my calories and lose weight in 2012.)  I added a row in my Excel spreadsheet to tally up the carbs (and calories - ugh).  I then typed in how many cookies each recipe made, and let Excel do the math again.  Voilà, carb counts for my Christmas treats!!


I typed all of the information into a table and printed out a few copies.  One goes with my “Christmas Cookie Recipe Packet” so it’s ready and waiting for me each year.  One went on the dining room table where all of the treats were stored.  And one went in the drawer of our coffee table, just in case.  And my blood sugars thanked me for putting in the effort and making this a Swagless Christmas!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry . . .

Saturday was the night of our annual Christmas party with a group of close friends.  I knew there would be lots of food - Barb was hosting this year and she always goes all out.  I also knew there would be lots of yummy drink options, with alcohol.  I knew this party might make it tough to keep my blood sugar under control.

Saturday afternoon my CGM sensor conked out.  I had hoped to make it last until Sunday, but it didn’t work out that way.  I decided to go to the party without it.  I’d be flying blind, but part of me just wanted to relax and have fun without hearing my high alarm passing judgment on what I was consuming.  I just wanted to enjoy the company of my friends.  I just wanted to eat, drink and be merry!

When I left the house, my blood sugar was in the 80s.  I bolused for everything I ate and drank.  I cranked up a higher temp basal to cover the merriment.  I made sure I didn’t pile my plate too high - even though the home-made potato skins sure were tempting.  We talked, we laughed, we played some Christmas party games that were hysterical (like the Reindeer Antler Game).  I didn’t worry about my blood sugar once.  And when I came home and tested, I was in the high 70s.  It was almost a Christmas miracle!!

I have no idea what my blood sugar did during the party.  It might very well have spiked into the high 200s and then came back down by the time I got home.  With diabetes, what you don’t know CAN hurt you and I’d never advise someone to go out and ignore their blood sugar.  But I did, just this once.  And it was okay.  And when you are feeling completely worn out by diabetes, sometimes one night off is just what you need.  I sure did!

Goals, not resolutions . . .

I’m great at making resolutions.  I’m a champion list maker for anything and everything.  I’m also really great at picking areas of my life that I feel I’ve done an utterly crappy job.  So resolution lists get made every New Year’s, and often at multiple times during the year as well.

As great as I am at making resolutions, I’m not so good at keeping resolutions.  Yes, I do make sure my resolutions are measurable and attainable and all those other tips we read about resolution making.  The problem, I think, is that I try to change too much at once.  I have my long list of what I’m doing wrong and what I need to fix.  And after a few days, I get totally overwhelmed and discouraged and just give up - one resolution at a time.

This year, I’ve decided to do something different.  Instead of making a list of resolutions, I’m going to work throughout the year on improving myself and my life, one small step at a time.  Each week, I will take a baby step toward doing something in my life better.  The next week, I’ll pick something new to focus on - hopefully while keeping up on the “resolution” from the week before.  If I start to slip on one of the goals, there will be no reason to abandon the whole process, because I can just restart that goal again when another week starts.  The idea is to be constantly moving forward throughout the year, one tiny goal at a time.

My goal for this week is an easy one, yet one that is pretty important.  You see, I’ve been getting sloppy with my diabetes management over the past month.  The first thing that slips when burn-out hits is my oral medications.  Throughout the month of December, I’ve been really (really really) lax about taking my cholesterol and blood pressure medication, as well as my iron, Vitamin D and Vitamin C pills.  There really is no reason not to take five seconds to swallow down these capsules, other than pure laziness with a bit of forgetfulness mixed in.  So, since January 1st, I take my morning pills while waiting for my coffee to brew.  And I take my evening pills before hopping into bed.  Easy as pie.  (Mmmm, pie.)  A goal that I know I can continue through the year.  Which leaves me feeling good and ready to choose a new goal to work on next week . . .

Diabetes Blessings Week - Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving on Day Four of Diabetes Blessings Week!



I’m taking a bit of liberty with my blessing today, because it doesn’t exactly qualify as a blessing that has come to me because of diabetes.  It’s more of a blessing that helps me live well with diabetes.

Today is Thanksgiving in my corner of the world.  And on holidays I am extra thankful for advanced carb counting, an extended bolus, a temporary basal and my CGM.  These tools are a true blessing on a day filled with grazing followed by feasting followed by dessert followed by late evening left-over nibbling.


K.C. says remember to test a lot, bolus or inject a lot and then, eat a lot!!  And have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Two Years . . .

It's hard to believe, but this blog turns two years old today. I still feel like my blog is very new - maybe because my knitting blog will turn five years old later this summer.  But I guess two years isn't that new, and I'm thankful for all of the wonderful friends my blog has connected me with!!

To celebrate, my blood sugars have been sky-rocketing and plummeting all day.  Not quite the party I was hoping for.  Maybe the nice stable numbers I was blessed with all weekend will return once the blog birthday festivities have finished. 

Will you be my Meowentine?

I'm cute and cuddly.

I'll keep you warm at night.  (By sleeping right on top of you - your arm may fall asleep under me, but that's a small price to pay for warmth.)

I'll make sure you get up on time in the morning.  (By laying down on top of your windpipe - trust me, that will wake you up good!)

I'll help you keep those blood sugars in check with plenty of exercise.  (Because I'll quickly shove all of my toys way far under the furniture.  You can burn tons of calories moving the couch and get plenty of stretching reaching under the entertainment center!)

I'm all about saving the environment by recycling and re-purposing.   (That's right, pine pellet cat litter also makes a great toy.  I'll toss as many pellets as I can out of my litter box and batt them all around the house!)

I'll make sure you are properly nourished.  (I ALWAYS know when it is meal-time . . . and I make sure you know it too!)

But most of all, I'll let you know you are loved with my purrs and nuzzles and make your heart sing at the sight of my sweet little face.  And you don't even have to bolus for all my sugar.

What more could you ask for in a Meowentine??

New year, fresh start . . .

The tree has been taken down, the presents are all put away, the decorations have been tucked safely away until next December and Pete's vacation has ended.  Although we are into our fourth day of the New Year, today is the first day that actually feels like the holidays are over.  Like it's time to get back to work and make a fresh start.

With that in mind, I thought I'd share some of my New Year's Resolutions.  I've got quite a long list this year, so I won't post them all here.  They are really more like goals rather than resolutions.  And many of them are just a starting point.  Small improvements to be met and then built upon to get things where I'd like them to be.  I plan to visit my list often and revise the resolutions as the year progresses.  But here's where they start . . .

• Keep my A1C under 6.5 all year long - there was a time when I never would have imagined this goal would be doable.  But with my pump and my CGM, I did it in 2009.  I am confident I can do it again in 2010!
  
• Lose 30 pounds - hopefully by July!
• Exercise five times each week.
• Eat at least two fruit and three vegetable servings each day - I'd eventually like to up this to seven total servings rather than five, but this is one I'm starting out slow on.
• Floss every other night - I know, I know.  It should be every night.  But every other night would already be an improvement from my flossing habits right now.  Hopefully by the end of the year I'll be in the habit and flossing every night though.
  
• Blog two or three posts each week - this is another one of those early goals I hope to improve upon as the year goes by.  My real goal would be to post every weekday, but I'm going to let myself start out slow.
• Comment on my friends blogs and get back to emailing replies to comments my friends leave - I feel like I haven't been the best friend lately (both on-line and in real life).  More comments and emails are my way of showing my love to my poor neglected friends.  Hopefully some of you have already noticed that I've been commenting more over the past four days?
• De-clutter- we've got a lot of stuff in our house that we simply don't need, and we have a serious lack of storage space.  This will be the year I finally toss or donate what we don’t use or need and organize what we are keeping.
• Read at least one book each month - I used to love to read.  Somehow I let knitting and wasting time on the computer lure me away from that hobby.

So there you have it.  Quite a list, I know, but I also think they are very doable.  What about you?  Have you put together a list of resolutions?? 

Merry Christmas!!!

Our traditional Christmas breakfast of coffee and cookies has been eaten.  Complete with a second helping to combat my morning of lows!!

The presents have been opened. Even K.C.'s - although she's scared of the whole Christmas experience and won't touch any of her new toys.   At least she cowered near the coffee table long enough for me to get this shot of her by the tree on Christmas morning.

Now we're off to my parent's house for more celebrating and feasting!  Hoping you and yours are having a wonderful day too!!

Things that burn . . .

1. Me!!!  It seems all of that NaBloPoMo writing burnt me out but good.  I felt like I needed a bit of an internet break this week, so I took it.  It felt good.  And allowed me focus on other areas of my life, such as . . . 
2. Fat and Calories.  I've been working hard on burning these.  Which also causes burning . . . 
3. Muscles.  Ouch.  Feel the burn.  It's good though.  Right?
4. Money.  As in, the Christmas shopping has begun and I'm burning through my budget!  My credit cards are getting just as hard a work-out as my body is!   But it's been fun.  The favorite gift I've bought so far is for a Yankee Swap at my best friend's Family Christmas.  One lucky guest will enjoy the softly burning light of . . . 
5. A Leg Lamp Night Light!!!!  Please note: Cat not included with gift!!

 

'Tis the Season

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I suppose it's time to look ahead to Christmas and start getting into the spirit.  How do I make that happen?

By indulging in my first Gingerbread Latte of the season.  It certainly won't be my last!  Some how the holiday stresses seem to lighten up when I catch a glimpse of that little gingerbread man dipping his toes into my coffee.

What holiday treats do you look forward to all year long?  Have you indulged in any yet?

Giving Thanks

The turkey has been eaten.  The pies have been served.  The boluses (boli??) have been programmed.  The thanks has been given.  What two things am I most thankful for?

The two loves of my life!!  What else am I thankful for?  Here's a not-so-serious list . . .

• all my yarn
• the fact that while my home-made ravioli were a bunt, my home-made cranberry sauce was a grand slam!  Hey, wait, I'm not into baseball, I'm into figure skating.  Okay, the fact that while my home-made ravioli were a single lutz, my home-made cranberry sauce was a quad-toe loop!
• the fact that I'm not into baseball, I'm into figure skating.
• big sharp needles needles on the infusion sets and CGM sensors and the smelly insulin, because even though they stink and hurt, they also keep my alive and healthy.
  
• my family.  Even the uncle who told me today how fat I am.  Twice.  Really, he honestly did.  Yes, I am even thankful him.
• the fact that I didn't cry in front of everyone after talking to that uncle.
• that there are only four more days left of NaBloPoMo.  Seriously, any more and I probably wouldn't make it!!
  
• that both my father's twin and my mother's sister were released from the hospital and got to spend Thanksgiving at home with their families.
  
• did I mention all the yarn???

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!!

Thank you to our Vets . . . .

Thank you to all of the veterans who have done so much for our country.  And thank you to all of the servicemen who are still sacrificing.  Here's hoping for the day we see peace on Earth.