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July 31, 2003

Got my heated humidifer yesterday

And used it last night....

HUGE difference in the morning. Not near as dry and easier to get brain and body moving.

However, as with any change in my sleep, it kept me up and kept waking me, so ask me how it does in a few nights. Actually I'll post it here.

FYI: This was done right. Doctor ordered it on Monday, came UPS on Wednesday! However, I am STILL waiting to hear on the insulin pump.

Sleep Depreviation and Diabetes

Sleep Deprivation and Diabetes

Though my sleep doctor said its because most sleep apnea patients are overweight.

July 29, 2003

Sleep Apnea Progress

This is cool. Sleep doctor called again today, told me part of the problem is restless leg and gave me a protocol to fix it with the existing medication. Then wants me to come in and evaluate what is going on.

Hmmm, that reminds me, I need to make an appointment for that.

Still waiting to hear on insulin pump. The DME managed care are taking longer than usual to decide according to the HMO.

July 28, 2003

Sleep Apnea progress

I really like Doctors who will work on the phone!

Just heard from my sleep doctor who wants my CPAP machine checked out by an expert. He said my sleep study showed I needed it set on 11, and it's set on 12.

He did agree that a heated humidifer would be a good idea and is getting that ordered.

Also said there was medication if CPAP checked out okay.

PROGRESS!

(Still waiting to hear on insulin pump).

July 25, 2003

It's coming...I hope?

I was told this morning that I would get a ship date today. I'm not going to hold my breath, but am staying close to the phone.

July 24, 2003

I'm getting there....

Went through the "followup"sleep study last night. I devinately need the CPAP. Sleeping with did not go well.

However, sleeping with and adjusting went fine. Now waiting to hear what we need to do.

Also got discharged by the hand surgeon this morning. Man, I am glad that is done and over with. It makes a huge difference in the amount of work I get done and how I feel.

We've got two full weeks plus the rest of this one before school is out. I need to figure out something fun to do out of town. I also need to get caught up on sleep. I lost a few hours last night.

Still getting to the gym daily.

July 23, 2003

Interesting article about handling exercise

ExCarbs provide a way to handle exercise with diabetes.

July 22, 2003

Carbohydrates Can Induce Memory Impairment in Type 2 Diabetes

Carbohydrates Can Induce Memory Impairment in Type 2 Diabetes

I knew this was would be out soon. Apparently it wasn't sexy enough for the regular news

Dr Bernstein has updated his book!

Diabetes Solution Dr. Richard Bernstein revised and updated diabetes solution. Run, don't walk, to get this book.

I just ordered my advance copy.

Diabetes Diet War

U.S. News: The nutrition advice given to most diabetics might be killing them; diabetes dinner duel(7/14/03)

Good reading, and the ADA wants WAY too many carbs. Makes me wonder, do the insulin people pay them off? More carbs = More insulin

Maybe that's a bit rude, but you can't help but wonder.

July 21, 2003

The pump

Animas Corporation - Bringing new life to insulin therapy

This is the pump I decided to go with. The features that I decided were the most important are:

a) non-proprietary insertion sets
b) large reservoir (300 units)
c) smallest adjustability (.05 units)

The Cozmos and the Animas have the best in this regard. What pushed me over the edge on the Animas was their EzManager Plus software, as it is supposed to work with the widest range of blood sugar monitors. I've got the software and the connector for the Freestyle.

Made a decision...

Lots of reasons I haven't been posting much, but the best reason is that I have been spending a lot of computer energy doing research on insulin pumps.

I had good control through the school year, but I was working very hard at keeping everything the same.

Had decided that this summer was going to be about fixing everything I could, which is why I started the round of surgeries. Well, everything is getting fixed ... BUT the blood sugar.

We added glucophage, which really flattened everything out, but I didn't see much in the way of other changes, and was STILL gaining weight.

I'm still not happy with my control and I am even less happy with what is going on with the blood sugar side of things and my doctor DID suggest looking into the pump on my last visit. So I have and decided I was going with it.

Talked to the pump today and found out the co pay was doable on the current insurance and have decided to go with it.

It's a tough decision.

It means in a way to surrendering even more to the diabetes thing. Though I really don't think it's going to reverse.

I'll be better at posting though and let everyone know how the pump process go.

Thinking about the pump?

Diabetes and Insulin Pump Therapy for adults and children with diabetes

Here's the best place to answer questions. OF COURSE, though, everyone on the list and site are pump avocates.

July 16, 2003

Doing better

The new mask is making a huge difference. I haven't decided if I need to go any farther on the CPAP machine, though I sure wouldn't mind having a spare since this one is 5 years old.

Carbohydrate-Induced Memory Impairment Observed in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

You may have to be registered to get this.

Carbohydrate-Induced Memory Impairment Observed in Type 2 Diabetic
Patients
Carbohydrate consumption is associated with memory impairment in adults
with type 2 diabetes, according to findings reported in the July issue
of Diabetes Care.
Reuters Health Information 2003

Carbohydrate-Induced Memory Impairment Observed in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

It will probably be coming out in the rest of the health news shortly.

I've seen problems teaching my morning classes if I eat carbs in the mornings. This might be why.

July 15, 2003

Diabetes More Common in Snorers, Problem Sleepers

Diabetes More Common in Snorers, Problem Sleepers.

Though my sleep doctor thinks it's the overweight issue.

Insulin Pump Therapy Lowers HbA1c Than More Insulin Glargine

This is one reason I'm going here.

Insulin Pump Therapy Lowers HbA1c Than More Insulin Glargine

Good source on preparing for disasters

Bay Medical Center

Diabetes and disasters....

July 14, 2003

CPAP Mask Update

Didn't get a loaner, but got a different model. This one runs about $100 cheaper than the other according to one of the online suppliers.

It also has a neat feature -- you can mold it to fit your face. You dip it in boiling water (okay, you cook it for 10 minutes), THEN dip it in cold water and then put on it your face for 5 minutes.

It worked well during a nap. I try to avoid those, but I have been so tired lately.

Absolute bummer

The durable equipment people DID call me back, but the mask is back ordered.

Got a call out to the doctor's office asking for a loaner.

Super Web Site for Pumping

Diabetes and Insulin Pump Therapy for adults and children with diabetes

Update

First, I still haven't gotten my sleep apnea mask. I called this morning and I got the "computer's down and we'll call you back when we figure out where your mask is".

Yeah right.

I've decided to go with the insulin pump, but I haven't decided when. My current insurance has a limit on durable equipment of $3500 a year, and I've been told by an insulin pump user that just about covers the supplies.

I've also been told by another, that her pump was covered 100% but then every company has slightly different plan.

I'm going to talk to the doctor about that again next week. His nurse practioner screwed up one of my prescriptions and so I have to go in and get that straightened out.

Haven't decided which pump, or anything else on it.

July 8, 2003

Here's MiniMed's version

Medtronic MiniMed Press Releases - Corporate Information

Rant against the media

One of the big myths about insulin pumps is that they are implanted -- and the article I just posted about perpetrates that myth.

I just had to go through it with my mother last night.

New Pump

New device can manage diabetes

This is probably what I will end up getting. I do need to see about availability of the test strips.

And they have pricing here....

July 7, 2003

Went to the doctor today

It took three trips, but I think I have what I want now ... metaforum twice a day, along with my twice a day insulin shots. Doctor did suggest the pump, which I'm going to start looking into.

Life is irritating though ... I love the assumptions people make. Doctor had NO idea I was exercising 30-60 minutes a day cardio 6 days a week and had been since at least January. I've missed part of two weeks only since then, and that was due to surgery!

READ THIS!

U.S. News: The nutrition advice given to most diabetics might be killing them; diabetes dinner duel(7/14/03)

Why does it have to be a BIG secret?

It can be REALLY REALLY frustrating.

Doctor told me today, that I should think about going on the pump. So I did some research. I've spent most of the last 3 hours on the phone researching this....

I've also go a message pending to the pumping list, to join it, so I'll probably know more.

Here's the deal. I want the answer to a simple question: How much is the pump going to cost me as a patient?

I called Cigna. The good news, is that they told me that I have a durable equipment limit of $3500. The bad news is that it used to be $5000. But that's another story.

I'm already spending about $1000 a year on CPAP equipment. So that means, I'm down to $2500.

But here's the thing. Cigna won't tell how much pump + infusion sets cost. They sent me to their durable equipment supplier. They gave me mini-med's number. They wouldn't tell me how much it cost.

Well, I called the middle man again, and whined to her and she said it was definately in the $4000-$5000 range.

Well, I think I'll wait until January, and see what our insurance is like then. It looks like we are going to the state insurance, and if so, at the moment durable medical equipment is unlimited but at a 90%/10% rate. Which I don't mind handling, especially if I know in advance.

July 5, 2003

Fixed it!

I got the blog fixed ... sort of. I don't know what else I am going to put back, but at least the BlogRoll is back.

Hand is sore, can't really carry anything in it. Can lift, but can't hold on to things. I was this way last time about now too.

July 1, 2003

Sleep Apnea link to Diabetes

Diabetes In Control Dot Com. The weekly newsletter for medical professionals in Diabetes care.

New Service

Nutrion counts for Fast Foods

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