Living With Diabetes

I used the new CPAP last night for the first time. Man is it quiet!

It has also saved me quite a bit of driving time and hassle. I was supposed to pick up an oxymeter today from Baylor, which means driving downtown, finding a parking space, taking the elevator up, waiting for people to get their acts together, etc.

Then I have to sleep with the blasted thing, meaning I'll wait up 3 or 4 times (been there, done that, literally), so I will be tired tomorrow.

Then I have to haul it back to Baylor.

SO, instead, I'll take the new machine up there next Friday when I'm off and deal with it and the doctor then. Not sure I want to deal with the doctor, since I think I was thinking logically and I don't think she was

The nicest thing though, is being able to pack up everything in one carry one sized bag. Especially since I am supposed to go to St. Louis in June.

Posted by at 10:15 AM | Permalink

Saw the new Endo's CDE yesterday. I am very pleased with his practice. A fellow pumper recommended him and them.

Good news, I lost 7 pounds in the two weeks between visits. Of course, I know how to lose weight, I just don't know how to keep it off! That's one thing the CDE and I discussed.

We did some tweaking on numbers. The fixes we made two weeks ago really helped, I'm running between 90-120 every morning, which is MUCH better than 130-140 every morning.

I've also had a problem with carb lockup after lunch. We upped the insulin to carb ratio on lunch but left the rest of the meals alone. Also fixed my correction factor.

We discussed the weight loss thing, and she agreed with an idea I came up with this weekend. I'm going to lose 25 pounds then maintain it for 4 weeks.

I've also come to the conclusion that I will be logging food someway for the rest of my life. That does make a difference.

Posted by at 12:53 PM | Permalink

My experience with the sleep doctor has been VERY VERY frustrating. I should start by saying this is a PhD, not my pulmanary specialist, whom I really like!

I haven't been sleeping well. BUT the first thing the doctor jumped on me with was my weight. Apparently I'd gained 20 pounds since the last visit. She was full of suggestions, of course, everything I've done.

So when I finally got a chance to talk ... Well, I really think she brushed the sleeping thing off. And she refused to write a script for a new CPAP machine.

We FINALLY got to masks, since mine is driving me nuts, and IS worn out according to her. She wanted to go with a new nasal mask, which wasn't a bad idea, but then we finally got to chin straps, and I explained I couldn't wear one, everyone I had tried, slipped right off my hair -- this is true of anything that goes on my head -- barettes, rubber bands, you name it.

SO she suggested a full face mask -- I wondered at the time why it had not been suggested before, and I need to do more research on it -- BUT, they are not indicated for patients with reflux and hiatial hernia. WHOOPS!

I do have one now though ... more frustration -- I saw her last Wednesday, by the next Monday had not heard from the sleep company and called the office back. Finally heard Tuesday and the doctor's office had given them the wrong insurance information!

So still had not heard from them by Thursday morning -- so I called again, they had everything approved, and had a mask on their shelf. Finally good news, they are a few blocks from my school! So ran by after school picked one up, and took a nap after dinner. I felt so much better afterward.

It is going to take some getting used to...

On the new CPAP approval. Well, I asked the respiratory therapist -- and he asked me at the same time. Told me about a new little CPAP model, which will facilitate traveling. I've seen it on the internet. Well, they have gotten approval from the insurance company and are now waiting on the doctor's script.

In fact, I'm waiting for a call back for more information on that.

Posted by at 12:41 PM | Permalink

I DO hope they do what they are claiming they are going to do. I don't much trust Minimed though, because of their customer service track record and other issues, for example the water tight issue.

BUT, they have taken their CGMS Gold system -- available from doctor's office, and made it a tad smaller -- though it is still big. They have come up with a device that they claim will alarm when blood sugar is too low or too high.

They are marketing it to the kid market, BUT it can't be worn in the pool -- though they claim you can shower with it (you can't with the CGMS Gold system). They also claim that it is going to be upgraded in the same type of program as the Paradigm system is.

However, they don't have a launch date and they don't have a price.

I will probably still hold out for the Therasense system, I have been SO impressed by their customer support, but it is interesting.

And you still need to test 4 times a day.

Oh, and I can't figure out how you are going to get their sensor + pump on a 5 year old. But that's not my problem

Posted by at 11:25 AM | Permalink

Talked to the MD doctor, and he is going to talk with the Sleep Med people to make sure they write everything up right so it will get covered.

WHEW!

Posted by at 5:14 AM | Permalink

Animas newsletter -- article about Ezmanager

See page 6.

They interviewed me for this -- pretty neat!

Posted by at 10:45 AM | Permalink

Do You Mind if I Eat? (washingtonpost.com)

Posted by at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring Improves Metabolic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

This is one of those things. I can tell you for a fact that my blood sugar readings go down when I do cardio exercise. Thus, I'm more apt to do them the next day.

Same thing happens if I eat the wrong food. I've been tending to avoid pure sugar foods unless I'm treating an about to be low, because I stay high for a long time.

Unfortunately, it costs around 80 cents every time you test. Before insurance.

Posted by at 8:26 AM | Permalink

"Healthy" Diet May Increase Risk for CVD

I guess this is why they call it practicing medicine and it is SO irritating.

As soon as they get us following something, they switch the rules on us!

Posted by at 8:22 AM | Permalink

Yahoo! News - Bloated Costs, Risk Cast Doubt on Stomach Stapling

Posted by at 8:17 AM | Permalink

My dad was actually on the list for the Jariv 7 when he died.

Home Is Where the Pump Is (washingtonpost.com)

He could have lived the way this guy Michael is -- in fact, Michael has a much "richer" life than dad did when he had congestive heart failure.

Dad was told not to leave the house, primarly because he was on oxygen, and the doctor's were also afraid any respiratory illness would have been the end.

He couldn't eat and take a shower in the same 4 hour increment. He was in really bad shape.

But it's nice to see that the artificial heart is getting people somewhere -- this might have gotten him far enough and well enough to have a transplant, if the technology would have been available.

I'm really glad to see this.

Posted by at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Saw the sleep doctor and at least got one thing I wanted, a different mask. I really don't like the one I have now. We're going with a full face mask and I wonder why we did'nt do that before, as I have no problem with wearing the mask -- this will elimate the need for a chin strap, so no more guilt about not wearing one. I'm sorry ,but I have very thick curly hair and anything I put on my head slides right off.

I want a new CPAP. Mine is 6 years old, and I find it hard to believe it won't fail someday. And if it DOES fail, it will be in the middle of the night and I won't be able to sleep. It probably WILL fail on a Friday night. I am not someone who deals with having one thing that I rely on that much.

Anyway, most of the conversation was about weight. I've gained 20 pounds since I was there last. I really don't know want to know what I weighed last month.

I wish there was an answer, but I don't think there is one. At any rate, I am very depressed over the whole visit.

Posted by at 4:59 AM | Permalink

Tomorrow will probably be the first day since I bought the treadmill that I haven't used it. Why -- well, if I do a physical stress test -- I understand they do it chemical sometimes -- I'll be using the doctor's treadmill.

Besides, I'm scheduled not to do cardio on iShape tomorrow, and I really do think I need to take a break soon.

FYI: I am really happier right now, now that I have the home gym set up. I do need to take the dog cages out of the truck and run over to Oshmond's and get a bench. I think it will make things a bit more interesting to have more than the stability ball to work off of.

I have also been kicking around getting barbells, I think I will need to get some soon.

Posted by at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Missed Mealtime Bolus Is Major Cause of Glucose Control Problems in Insulin Pump Therapy

Been there, done that. In fact, once today. It wasn't that I forgot, I put it off.

Posted by at 9:56 AM | Permalink

New Blood Sugar Sensor Improves Diabetes Control>

Posted by at 9:55 AM | Permalink

The stress test was interesting. Next year, he wants to do a chemical one.

They did say it was all normal. that's GOOD news. Agreed I was smart to see them before meeting them in the ER. Saw both a nurse practioner and the cardiologist.

They also suggested losing weight and suggested weight watchers and lap band surgery. Been there dont that on weight watchers. I'm not ready for surgery yet.

Posted by at 2:13 AM | Permalink

I spent yesterday evening filling out the paperwork for the endo, downloading data and printing out logs for the doctor. Obviously that was more stressful than I thought.

Couldn't sleep at all when I got down. Finally went down, soaked in the hot tub, finished a book and got exhausted enough to sleep. I think today, I'll just take a sleeping pill if I found myself not sleeping.

Yep, this is spring break, go to the doctor week. I'm seeing an endo today, doing a cardiac stress test and seeing a cardiologist tomorrow, seeing my sleep specialist on Wednesday, and the podiast (sp) on Thursday.

I ought to do something kind of fun on Friday.

Posted by at 6:52 AM | Permalink

Yeah, NOT about diabetes but about the thing near and dear to my heart.

'No Child' Requirements Eased for Rural Teachers (washingtonpost.com)

I like the attitude this article shows. I believe strongly that the education system is broken and it needs to be fixed. I personally think that "No Child Left Behind" is a good start, and when the conversation about it starts in the teacher lounge, I walk out of the room. Much better for the blood pressure.

As long as the Powers that Be, can wake up and smell the coffee and fix things on the fly. They did with LEP (Limited English Profiency -- I hate that acroynmyn), and eased up on testing standard on kids new to the country.

Yeah, I've dealt with those babies. I can't help them much until they hit Sheltered Algebra or Sheltered Geometry -- and I did a good job with the two batches I got dealt with. I only taught math my first 6 years of teaching, and may be back to that. And I'm doing a fairly decent job with the group I have in the unmentioned, not certified to teach class.

I am SICK to death of dealing with children who were not taught the basics before they got to my room. Personally I think we need truant officers to go to their house and investigate every single absence in 1st grade, and then 1st and 2nd grade, and then 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade.

My good students attend class each day. Very few students can keep up without attending -- I have one this year who could in regular Computer Science, and I am regretting that she didn't take PreAP last year EXCEPT she's disappeared. I'd have loved to see her in my AP program, but she has since disappeared. (See they have to come to school every day).

After we get every kid coming to school every day, THEN we need to make sure they learn everything they are supposed to learn in their grade level. If they don't, they should have to go to summer school, and if they still don't, they should be held back. The threat enough was enough to fix my sister and her child.

But about this article. I should not ever ever teach a class I'm not prepared to teach. (Nor should ANY teacher) I did it last year and I'm doing it this year. I don't like it, I'm not happy with it, and it shouldn't be happening. It's not good for the kids. It's one thing to teach webmastering -- I AM trained in it, and I HAVE been figuring out how to get those kids to try it. Spending last summer in an online course on teaching it really helped. The key is remember that their heads implode if you try to get them to do two different things in a single class period.

Hopefully I got it through this year's Dean head, that life would be better if I taught Geometry. I'm certifyed in math, that's my best math education test score, and you can bet your boots, I'll be signed up and in every staff development on geometry this summer if I am teaching it. I did that when I got stuck with 3 units of webmastering!

However, if you want me to teach the other class, that I am NOT certified in -- you as my principal need to pay for me to get certified in it. I'm already certified in 3 teaching fields (math, computer science and technology apps). If you really need me to teach in a 4th teaching field, you have to pay me to do it. And make it worth my while.

Besides, I should have had two classes of regular CS I, 3 of webmasteirng and one combined PreAP/AP. I'm hoping next year to have 2 regular CS I, 1 PreAP, and 1 AP, and the rest webmastering. Again, if I don't make that count, have me teach geometry.

Okay, off my soap box and back on diabetes.

Posted by at 6:17 AM | Permalink

I like him. He did have me change my nighttime basals. Oh, and suggested I lose weight -- my response -- I'm good at losing weight, not the keeping off part, and that I'd lost 10 1/2 pound in 3 weeks since I put together my home gym.

I really like his RN CDE, and I have a feeling you see more of them anyway. She likes math teachers -- and computer science teachers are just super math teachers -- I said this, she didn't, but agreed:

CS teachers, and math teachers are very anal and controlling, so we do well as diabetics. Plus we understand numbers.

She wrote my script for test strips the way I wanted and also got the doctor to do a C-Peptid test since one hadn't been one before. That will be interesting.

Cardiologist in the morning.

Posted by at 3:46 AM | Permalink

My blood sugar is back where it belongs!

WHEW! That was no fun. And much easier to fix than shots were.

Posted by at 8:30 AM | Permalink

Yep, I'm still working out, using iShape. I've lost 10 1/2 pounds since have started. I've got my insulin use down to under 65 units when I am not fighting highs

I feel better. I actually went shopping to several places yesterday. in a row. Actually getting my blood sugar down to a reasonable amount did more good than anything.

I really recommend iShape. They give you strength exercises, cardio suggestions, and they let you log everything. I'm careful not to go in a calorie deficient more than 500 calories average. That means I am really eating a lot, but I am keeping track of it.

Anyway, can you tell I'm thrilled!

Posted by at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

But I do want to read this book--about the great flu pandemic.

My mother's family was hit hard by it -- My grandfather lost both of his parents and most of his family, and so did my grandmother.

Oddly my father's family didn't seem to be affected.

It's something that affected her family deeply and something they talked about when I was young. Primarly because I had "great grandparents" who really weren't. They were very young to be great grandparents, so the situation was explained in public a lot. They couldn't have children, were related to my grandfather -- I think my great grandfather was a younger brother of his father.

’The Great Influenza’ and ’Microbial Threats to Health’: Virus Alert

Posted by at 11:45 AM | Permalink

Yahoo! News - Surprising Warning Signs Could Signal Diabetes

Posted by at 8:28 AM | Permalink

I'm not sure what happened, but watching TRENDS, all day, not just the individual numbers would have alerted me to what was going on.

Here's what happened, after several days of feeling bad, I realized that I had gotten the 3rd reading in a row of over 130 fasting in the morning. I called my pump trainer freaked out.

Unfortunately I didn't realize it wasn't the 3rd reading in a row, it was more like a two week trend! I normally have fasting blood sugars in the 100-110 range, so having 7 days at over 130 is an issue.

Then I started looking harder, and the trend was worse than I thought. No one I was feeling bad, my blood sugars were running 130-190 all day. To feel good, I need to have a range of 100-140. Occasional forays into 160-170 from miscalculations aren't bad, but much more than that, and I start feeling like doggy doodoo.

Well, I finally got it down to a normal reading last night -- actually went a bit too far, and had to get up and treat a 77 reading. I grabbed some gummy bears and a diet coke and that did the trick, as I was 99 at 8:00 am.

The good news, is I am seeing an endo on Monday.

Pump trainer is guessing some type of illness, but I really don't feel much worse than usual. Some muscle soreness from weight lifting, some stuffiness from pollen, and some heel pain from the heel spurs -- oh and some carple tunnel pain.

But I seem to be more sensitive to pain when the blood sugar is too high. Heck my whole life sucks then.

Posted by at 6:59 AM | Permalink

I keep seeing the news items on the FDA today, working on obesity, and I keep wondering how much energy is being taken away from approving new products.

Hopefully they are completely different departments and issues, but I can't help but wonder, if it pushing back the approval of the continue glucose monitor.

We need this now. It's the next step to a closed loop system, but darn it, maybe it would have solved last week. Don't worry, I'll do a seperate post.

Posted by at 6:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Instead of studying why people get fat, someone is studying why people stay skinny.

Which reminds me, nothing is harder than living with a man who is 6" tall, probably weighs 165 pounds since he has been recovering from a broken hip, and can wear every stitch of clothing he has ever purchased. In fact, he has two suits, both of which are over 20 years old.

And they look nice, since he wears them to weddings, funerals, and whenever someone thinks his picture ought to be in the annual report.

With a grant to study thin people, an endocrinologist seeks an answer to why most Americans are overweight.

Posted by at 10:27 AM | Permalink

Health Beat :: Made in Puerto Rico, shipped to Germany, sold in Canada to U.S. citizens

Posted by at 6:51 AM | Permalink

Yep, got here today, and just think I get to do this all over again NEXT year.

Posted by at 5:32 AM | Permalink

Implantable, Continuous Sensor Reduced Glucose Fluctuations in Type 1 Diabetes

Minimed almost has one out that doesn't give feedback, only alarms.

Therasense is a step behind, with one that you change the sensor every three days -- FYI, I like that idea better.

If doctors think testing 4 times a day is good, can you imagine what we can get with continous feedback? Though remember, that the readings will always be 2 hours behind the event in most cases -- some liquid sugars will vary.

Posted by at 7:11 AM | Permalink

NEW PRODUCT 1969
Ames Introduces New Glucose Meter

Posted by at 7:06 AM | Permalink

Rimonabant Helps for Smoking Cessation, Weight Loss

Interesting -- you may need to register to read this. Wonder what hideous side effect it will have.

Posted by at 5:29 AM | Permalink

PROVE IT

Next week I see the sleep specialist, do a stress test and see a cardiologist and see an endo for the first time.

My biggest, overriding question, is this:

If you had the medical history I had, is there anything else you would be doing that I am not.

I'm wondering if we need to increase the Zocor, right now.

Posted by at 8:43 AM | Permalink

Diabetes.com.sg - Web Links

They have linked to this website.

Interesting site.

Posted by at 8:09 AM | Permalink

I've lost weight with just about everything you've heard of.

I've lost weight with Weight Watchers, I've lost weight with Jenny Craig, I've lost weight with hypnosis.

What I have been unable to do, is keep the weight off. The minute something takes my attention off of losing weight, or keeping the weight off, I gain it all back.

I even lost 100 pounds once. That was with hypnosis, and it was easy. But then a life event came around (okay, a couple), took my focus off of losing weight, back it was on.

Even this year, I've managed to lose some weight -- then my husband broke his hip, and back the weight came.

The sad part, is that I usually get MORE weight, not just what I lost.

It also gets harder to lose the weight each time.

And that is why I think it is a disease. I don't think other people have to think about losing weight all day, every day -- or keeping weight off, all day every day.

But then maybe they do.

Posted by at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

MSNBC - Getting Rid of Extra Pounds

Posted by at 8:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

FYI: Zyrtec is the only drug I've had to deal with when it comes to managed care.

All the other scripts -- insulin, Zocor, Altace, test strips etc. have not been a problem. They haven't even bulked on the insulin even though they have a cheaper one in their formulary. But I do have a documented allergy to the formulary insulin.

Anyway, they shipped on Friday, after predicting a ship date of Monday. So it is on its way.

Posted by at 8:15 AM | Permalink

Good news!

Medco received my script. They are processing it.

I was worried because the post office box was absolutely stuffed and I wasn't sure it was going to get picked up. I kept thinking I should have taken it inside.

And since I mailed it yesterday at 5:00, this isn't bad.

They claim they will ship on the 10th.

Posted by at 7:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Obesity Causes Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetes Patientsa>

Posted by at 8:10 AM | Permalink

It's a VERY good thing I knew the allergy medication game was coming. Here's the latest in the saga...

The doctor's office didn't get the precertification back quick enough for Medco. On Feb 26, Medco sent the script back to me. The precertification came through on Feb 27.

So now I have to wait until the script is returned to me, and then send it back to Medco to be filled. So far, we're talking about the following:

I went to the doctor on February 16, and got the prescriptions.
I dropped them off at the mailbox on the way home -- but it was a postal holiday so it didn't get mailed until February 17th.

The rest of the order arrived on February 27th -- a 10 day turn around.

SO, if the script arrives in the mail today, I'm looking at March 12 to get my Zyrtec.

NEVER NEVER put off filling medications. In fact, I'd be totally screwed (though I didn't let onto this), if I had not built up a 60 day cushion on my meds.

ALWAYS make sure you have a full month's supply at all time otherwise you'll have to pay a 30 day copay rather than a 90.

Posted by at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I am liking iShape more and more each day. Though I think it might make be obsess over food more than I would like.

Their food database is fantastic. They had Tagalong Girl Scout cookies in it. And of course, my EzManager doesn't.

Having a good wide database makes life much easier.

Posted by at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)