Wordless Wednesday - Free Shower Day

(Yup, my mom saves her humongous coffee vats for me to use as sharps containers.)

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Hacker?

It's a fact of life that bad things happen.  There are people out there who don’t even know you, yet are looking to do you harm. Trust me, I know that all too well.  And yes, I tend to be pretty paranoid and generally afraid.  But I believe in taking necessary precautions and living life.

There is a lot of buzz in the media about pump hackers.  Yes, the bottom line is that an insulin pump can be hacked.  My laptop can also be hacked.  It’s probably pretty unlikely that someone would want to hack into my boring little computer, but I still have precautions in place such as a secure network and firewalls to help keep me safe.  The same thing goes for my pump.  It’s pretty unlikely someone would want to waste their time giving me a bolus or suspending my pump, but if they did there are status screens and audible beeps on my Medtronic pump that would keep me safe and let me know someone was fiddling with my pump.

The bottom line is that I’m pretty sure hackers have larger targets in sight than me.  I can’t say I’m all that worried about someone wasting their time and talent on my little insulin pump.  What does scare me - a lot - is what this news and the panic it can create might do to my future treatment options.  I wrote last month about my hopes of having my pump, meter, CGM and iPhone all connected and talking to each other.  It doesn’t seem like a stretch for an engineer to be able to make this happen.  What scares me is that the sensationalism surrounding this pump hacking story will cause the FDA to put the brakes on these kinds of advancements even more than they already have.  And that threat of stagnation to diabetes technology?  Well yes, that has me very afraid.

Friday’s Sundae

Remember the Diabetic Ice Cream Social I mentioned on Friday?  I indulged and I enjoyed every bite!!



I chose a hot fudge sundae with mint Oreo ice cream.  It had plenty of yummy whipped cream.  I passed on the cherry (yuck).



My before bed blood sugar was a happy 103.  I did need to correct a 166 around 3:30 in the morning, but my fasting was spot on at 86 when I woke up Saturday.  And that is how a diabetic successfully manages a hot fudge sundae!  #TakeThatWendell

Friday Fun

It’s a sunny August Friday here in New England.  The weather is perfect - bright and warm but not too humid.  I’m ready for some fun!  Are you?

You know what is a lot of fun?  Giving away prizes.  So let’s give away that Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Bracelet!  It looks like you guys really love these bracelets, because there were 45 comments left to enter the contest.

Click to enlarge

The random comment picked was lucky number 28.  Which belongs to . . .

Denise of My Sweet Bean and Her Pod!!

Congratulations Denise and Ms. Bean!!!  I’ve already emailed you so we can get your prize coordinated!!

Okay, ready for some more fun?  How about a Virtual Ice Cream Social?  We all know PWDs can have ice cream.  The article that stated giving a diabetic some ice cream was like giving an alcoholic just one beer seems to have been taken down.  The so-called apology is still there, although it is also full of misinformation and most of the comments have been deleted.  In any case, incorrect myths have been spread yet again, and it’s time to help raise awareness.  Tonight Pete and I will be popping in to our local Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shoppe for sundaes.  Because it’s absolutely okay to indulge on occasion.  It doesn’t make my diabetes any worse and I’m not doing anything wrong.  Won’t you join me in a scoop??

Adding Words to the Story . . .

So the one time my Wordless Wednesday post was actually, you know, WORDLESS was the one time I should’ve added a few words to it.  Words like “Don’t worry, my pump is fine!”  The error actually happened on Saturday and I thought about blogging it on Monday - but honestly I felt like my blog has been very whiny lately and I didn’t want to be all “look what happened now, an ERROR” - so I focused on the flowers and good blood sugars instead.  But after reading the comments on yesterday’s picture I know I should tell the whole story.

It was about lunchtime on Sunday when Pete and I decided we needed to make a run to Home Depot for topsoil and mulch and a few more flowers.  McDonalds is right across the street from Home Depot, so we decided we’d whip through the drive-through on our way home.  After we placed our order I got my bolus going - and as we pulled into the driveway the Motor Error alarm went off.  My first thought?  “I don’t care what I have to do, I am eating those darn fries!!

As I cleared the error, the pump rewound itself.  So I reinserted the cartridge and primed a lot just to ensure insulin was really flowing.  It was, so I checked the status of my bolus.  Most of my “Now” insulin was delivered, so I bolused in the last 7/10th of a unit needed, and then reset the “Square” portion of the bolus.   I also checked my pump manual and put a shout-out to the DOC on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.  I had a quick conversation with Mike and then went back outside to finish the yard work.

By the time I got back to my computer, I had many urgent replies from DOC-ers that had gotten the Motor Error.  It seemed in some cases their pumps were dead, and in other cases their pumps were fine.  Everyone urged me to call Minimed to report the error so the service techs could run some diagnostic tests with me.  Which is, of course, the smart thing to do and is absolutely what I should have done the minute I saw the Motor Error.  (Bad bad bad pumper!!)

Let me just say, 5:00 pm on a Sunday seems to be the perfect time to call about pump problems!  The tech got right on the line with no wait.  She asked a series of questions, including what my pump was doing when the error occurred.  It’s just  my luck that my pump would error on the rare day I’m eating McDonalds and my lunch bolus is 115% bigger than normal.  (No, the tech didn’t judge me.  Yes, I would tell anyone else that it doesn’t really matter how much insulin you use, as long as it keeps your numbers happy.  Yes, I also know PWDs can eat McDonalds on occasion.  But I still felt like a bad diabetic!!)

So the pump passed all its tests with flying colors.  My blood sugars have been fine.  Things seem to be in working order.  If I see the error again, I’ll call back right away and I think my pump will need to be replaced at that point.  But for now, my pretty purple pump with the cat and yarn pump skin that I love so much is hanging out on my hip doing its job.

And they lived happily ever after . . . .

Wordless Wednesday

Medical IDs - do you or don’t you?

While dining with my local Fairfield County Diabetes Dinner group two weeks ago, the discussion rolled around medical ID’s - do we or don’t we wear them.  We all agreed on the importance of wearing a medical ID, but not all of us actually do.  Part of the problem seems to be that many medical IDs are just plain ugly.  But they don’t have to be!!  I told my Fld County Dinner friends to keep an eye on my blog for an upcoming give-away - and here it is!!

Jenna White, of Lauren’s Hope Medical ID Bracelets recently emailed me and offered to provide a bracelet to give away to one lucky blog reader.  After hearing the story behind the company and seeing how pretty these ID bracelets are, I could hardly refuse!


Here is some information about Lauren’s Hope, directly from Jenna:

When you or your child was diagnosed with diabetes, your life instantly changed forever. As your doctor explained medical procedures, medications, and other lifestyle adjustments, you may have been overwhelmed thinking about all the things that would have to change. One thing that your condition shouldn't affect, though, is your individualized sense of style! In the past, medical bracelets have been big, bulky, impersonal and unattractive - which meant a lot of people would opt not to wear them.

That’s why Lauren’s Hope was founded - to create medical alert jewelry that people would actually want to wear. This inspiration for the business came from a family friend of the company’s founders. As a teenager with diabetes, Lauren refused to wear medical ID jewelry because it was “ugly” and could “draw attention” to her illness. Lauren’s mother asked for a fashionable medical ID to keep her daughter safe, and the rest is history.

Today, Lauren’s Hope is still dedicated to making beautiful medical ID jewelry for people of all ages, with any condition, and with any sense of style! Whether you have a style-savvy teenager with a penicillin allergy or you feel self-conscious wearing your own chunky diabetes ID to a dinner party, we can help you find a fashionable alternative that will keep you safe. People with diabetes, severe food, drug, and insect allergies, heart conditions, asthma, autism, a visual or hearing impairment, epilepsy, or any chronic illness need to wear medical alert jewelry with that information engraved, as well as people who are on certain medications or are gastric bypass, lap band or organ transplant patients.

In the event of an emergency, your medical ID will do more than just make you look good - it can also save your life! Your medical ID bracelet should be custom engraved with a few important details so medical personnel will know how to treat you best. They will need to know your name, your medical condition(s), any allergies and important medications that you have, and emergency contact numbers.

The winner of this contest will be able to chose from one of five bracelet choices.  The prize includes one complete bracelet, including the tag, custom engraving and shipping.  Your bracelet choices are:
This is the Mood Bead medical ID bracelet. Don't like to keep your emotions all bottled up? Set them free with this psychedelic, color-changing mood bracelet! Featuring color changing mood beads surrounded by Swarovski crystals and sterling silver Bali beads, this medical ID bracelet will take you all the way back to the 70s. Attach your custom engraved medical ID tag to complete the look and show the world what you're feeling. The lobster clasps attach to your custom engraved medical ID tag. Slap on your medical ID bracelet and see what kind of mood you are in today!
This is the Fiona medical ID bracelet. Everyone loves stylish simplicity - especially when it comes to medical ID jewelry. If you want a style that is elegant-yet-modest, you can't go wrong with this triple strand medical ID bracelet. This sophisticated design features black tubing and gray Swarovski crystals to create a look that is subtly stunning. Simply attach your custom engraved medical ID tag with our signature lobster clasps for instant, trouble-free elegance.
This is the Multi Crystal medical ID bracelet. A simple yet fun combination of Swarovski crystals in pastel tones, sterling silver, and Bali beads makes this medical alert bracelet a must-have for any jewelry lover! This bracelet has it all: a little sparkle, a little shine, a lot of color and, as always, our signature lobster clasps that make it oh so easy to attach your custom engraved medical ID tag. If you need to wear a medical bracelet, you can still be fashionable!
This is the Into the Dark medical ID bracelet. Are you a fan of glow in the dark beads? This unique medical ID bracelet features 2 lime green glowing beads. The sides of the bracelet feature black tubing and you can attach this medical ID bracelet to your custom engraved medical ID tag with lobster clasps.
This is the Undercover medical ID bracelet. If you are confident and strong, with a bit of an edge, this stainless steel medical ID bracelet is perfect for you. The unique crisscross pattern and durable stainless steel are things you might not want to keep under wraps! This stylish bracelet can hold up to 3 lines of your important medical information. Combine safety with style when you snap on this medical ID bracelet.

If you’d like to enter the drawing, simply leave a comment on this post telling me if you wear medical ID  a) always, b) often, c) on occasion or d) never.  The winner will be drawn on Friday morning!  Good luck!

For more about Lauren’s Hope, check out their Facebook page, Twitter account and blog!

Conquering McDonalds . . .

About once a month (ahem) I find myself craving McDonalds.  Usually I try to hold out and in a few days the craving passes (ahem again).  But some months I let myself cave in to a Quarter Pounder and french fries.  I dial up a dual-wave bolus and hope for the best.

Yesterday was a McDonalds Cave-In Day.  As it so happened, I found a sure-fire way to conquer the blood sugar drama that sometimes occurs despite my careful bolusing.


The key to conquering McDonalds seems to be a major landscaping project!!  Pete and I dug out stumps from the old ugly bushes that used to be in front of our porch.


We dug up a garden patch and put down a “stone wall” border.


We filled it in with heavy bags of topsoil and even heavier bags of mulch.


And we dug new holes to plant some pretty flowers.  I’ll be adding more to fill it in, but I love the way it is starting to shape up.  I also love what all the lugging and digging did for my blood sugars.  My post-McDonalds-prandial was 95.  And before dinner I was in the 60s.  Next time I want to cave to my McDonalds craving I’m going to need to find another spot in my yard to dig up and landscape!