Living With Diabetes

It isn't a friggin' needle!

It's a lancelet. Yes, I understand that the general public doesn't know what a lancet is, but that's up to the writer of the piece to explain.

Now, I have no idea if you can get AIDS that way, and I really wonder about the parents of a child that would do that. Not to mention the child!

Someone on the insulin pumper list has already mentioned the concern that blood sugar testing devices may be restricted on campuses as a result.

CNN.com - Official: 3rd-grader stuck 19 schoolmates with needle - Apr 29, 2005

Official: 3rd-grader stuck 19 schoolmates with needle

Posted by at 3:09 PM | Permalink

I find it somewhat amusing that she doesn't seem to realize that some Type 2's are on insulin. No oral meds.

The 'betes

Type 1, Type 1.5, Type 2

Posted by at 1:44 PM | Permalink

The Diabetes Blog

This has NEVER made sense to me. If you know how insulin works, eating a particular food would not lower blood sugar.

However, some substances can reduce insulin resistance -- it has been shown in studies that I've seen that cinnamon can.

But that isn't the same.

Certain foods can also affect how fast other foods metabolize -- for example, dieticians usually tell us to eat our night snack with a serving of carb, protein and/or fat, so low down the absorbtion of sugar in the carb.

That's also why typical Mexican foods and Pizza are hard on diabetics. The fat contain slows the release of sugar in the carbs.

Posted by at 1:11 PM | Permalink

I agree with Tekakwitha that the Type 2 stereotypes don't help much.

The sad part, is that the people who need the most help with their diabetes, are the people who are stimatized by the sedentary and overweight label.

I "fit" that label myself. I've posted before I get real irritated when someone suggests that I exercise. I do. I have a home gym with a treadmill and weights and I work out 6 days a week. I run dog agility. I am still over 250 pounds.

Why?

Well, one problem is that I've had weight problems since I was in a car accident in college that broke my jaw. I've had sleep apnea ever since.

At diagnosis, I had had the sleep apnea for 15 years. I was sleeping 4-6 hours a night and exhausted all the time. I was actually falling asleep driving in Dallas freeway traffic.

When I was first treated for the sleep apnea I lost 100 pounds without trying. I was able to exercise every day, and almost enjoy it.

The moral of this: I'm not always convinced that the weight problem is the root of the problem. Certainly in my case, when I have everything right medically, I have no problem with weight loss.

Right now, not everything is right.

Posted by at 11:16 AM | Permalink

Diabetes Mine: Diabetes: Two Diseases in One

I'm not sure I SHOULD be singled out as a special case.

I'm also not sure diabetes CAN be prevented. I'm quite certain that in my case it couldn't have been.

Here's why I say that. I've known my genetic medical history all of my adult life.

All of my adult life my health providers have told me that I was borderline diabetic. I have always had fasting blood sugars in the 100-120's. I was even tested for diabetes when I was in high school.

None suggested putting me on oral medications until I was truly diabetic. In fact, because of the cardio vascular deaths of my father and his parents, I was put on statins a full year before the diabetes was addressed.

That physician clearly stated I was borderline at that point and that he wanted the lipids stabilized before he addressed the diabetes.

And in fact, I was still considered borderline until the day that diabetes was diagnosed.

One theory everyone has in my case, is that the diagnosis process is what destroyed my pancreas, and that I was borderline up until the day of my glucose tolerance test.

But here's the deal -- I have never drunk drinks with sugar in them. In high school I started on Tabs. I always drank unsweetened tea (can't stand the stuff, etc). I have never cared for sweet drinks. For one, I would get loggy after drinking one (remember, I have decided I am glucose sensitive). I have never been a huge sugar eater.

Our theory is that when I was put through the glucose tolerance test, my system failed, not able to cope with that much sugar in my system. I went from a fasting blood sugar of 120 the week before, to a fasting blood sugar of 400 the next week! I also had an immediate change in health and well being. I was literally sicker than a dog.

Also the oral medication didn't do much for me. Of course, going from pre-diabetic to diabetic in the space of 3 hours is going to be much harder on your system than someone who gradually became diabetic.

Posted by at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Everyone is passing on DLife's tip of using a Clinistix or Diastix urine glucose test strips to test whether or not a drink is diet or not.

Well, those aren't on my list to carry.

However, I do carry a blood glucose monitor and use mine to test drinks. If you don't want to download a "false" reading -- hit the calibrate button when you do and it won't be included on your download.

I usually end up doing it about once a month.

I guess the thing next thing to check is the cost of those test strips versus blood glucose strips. However, in my case since the insurance covers a sufficient supply, the glucose test strips are cheaper.

Posted by at 10:43 AM | Permalink

My decision not to tape DLife anymore has been validated (though I will admit, if I get a DVR with a second tuner I might try it again).

They are rerunning their first show already. And it's only been one for 2 months? Sad.

Posted by at 10:39 AM | Permalink

I'm quite sure that my long term sleep problems have contributed to my diabetes.

The good news, is that I show on my CPAP machine about 7 1/2 hours of sleep. Unfortunately it hasn't seemed to help.

Long or Short Sleep Time May Be Associated With Diabetes

Sleep duration of six hours or less or nine hours or more is associated with increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), according to the results of a cross-sectional study published in the April 25 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Posted by at 5:22 PM | Permalink

One of the "fun" things about being so glucose sensitive, is that whenever my blood sugar is off, I get some kind of weird infection. That is also true of whenever I come off of antibotics, so add the two together, and I have a lovely cold sore -- first one I have ever had.

ARGH!

Posted by at 10:57 AM | Permalink

I got my graduation packet today, and I have filled everything out that I know how to fill out. I'm going to take it to school tomorrow, and once I have all the rest of the information I need, I'm going to fill it out, make copies, and then mail it after school.

It needs to be return receipt.

Oh, and in case you don't know -- I should be finishing a Master of Science from the University of North Texas, majoring in Computer Education and Congitive Studies.

Basically an education degree, though we focus on using technology.

Posted by at 10:54 PM | Permalink

I'm not real happy with this insulin at this point, but I AM a guinea pig, and I'm not real sure it is a problem.

BUT I've had to up my carb ratios from 10-1 to 8-1 and from 9-1 to 7-1. I've also had to up my correction factor from 32 to 26.

I've also had to increase all my basal rates by .1 units.

That all means I'm taking more insulin. Like I said though, I'm not sure it is a problem, since I'm comparing Apples to Oranges. In other words, the reason that this insulin takes more insulin, is that it is not quite as effective as Novolog.

Note: don't take this gospel, your mileage may indeed vary, but it does show that all insulins are not quite equal.

It does seem to work faster in the long run though, which I think is a good thing.

Other good things: Sites last much longer. A good thing, since I am sending more insulin through the site.

Posted by at 9:57 PM | Permalink

I honestly think most of the issue is user error, but then I've only use the One Touch Ultra Meters a few times and weren't happy with how they operated then.

Diabetes In Control - LifeScan Announces Worldwide Correction Concerning Certain Blood Glucose Meters

Items for the Week: LifeScan Announces Worldwide Correction Concerning Certain Blood Glucose Meters

Posted by at 10:28 PM | Permalink

Required reading for anyone who gets excited over islet cell research.

He does an excellent job of explaining all the issues and is very readible.

Dr. Andy: Living pancreatic islet cell donation

Living pancreatic islet cell donation

Posted by at 11:05 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (1)

I finally broke down and changed my basal rates by 0.05 every time period.

I just am not getting the control with the Apidra that I had with the Novolog.

I've tweaked slowly -- first thing I did was to back down the IOB to 3.0 hours -- 3.5 worked fine with Novalog.

Then I tweaked the carb ratios, dropping them. I can see what is happening with carb ratios the easiest.

Then I dropped correction factor, but I'm actually seeing an increase in blood sugar during periods when I should have very little insulin in my system.

So now I've increased the basal rates.

Posted by at 10:16 AM | Permalink

My sites seem to be lasting longer with Apidra. My site usually starts itching a bit on day two, and this one hasn't been. I'm going to try 3 days with this one and see how it goes.

I definately use more insulin with Apidra, and I'm having trouble getting things set right.

I'm not sure if it is the Apridra though, or the external stress I'm going through.

Posted by at 7:02 AM | Permalink

After three days on Apidra I can start commenting intelligently.

It doesn't seem to really do anything for the first hour, but appears
to be gone within 3 hours. I've got my IOB (Animas 1250) set to 3
hours, and that seems to work best.

I had site reactions with humalog, and could always feel large boluses
go in with Novolog but I don't seem to feel Apidra.

At first I thought I was going to have to change my basals, but things
smoothed out pretty quickly -- changing the IOB to 3 did the most
good.

Also another good lesson -- remember to change things one at a time!

Posted by at 1:27 PM | Permalink

Infinitely more useful than the Food Pyramid thing.

New "Lifestyle" Guidelines for Type 2 Diabetes: A Newsmaker Interview

In the new recommendations, 40% of daily calories come from carbohydrates; 20% to 30% from protein (except in the presence of renal disease); 30% to 35% from fat, (mostly mono- and polyunsaturated fats); and the diet consists of a minimum of 20 to 35 g of fiber. By reducing daily caloric intake by 250 to 500 calories, individuals should be able to lose one pound every one to two weeks. Total daily caloric intake should be at least 1,000 to 1,200 for women and 1,200 to 1,600 for men. To maintain or increase lean body mass, the guidelines recommend a target of 60 to 90 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, including cardiovascular, stretching, and resistance activities most days of the week, with a minimum of 150 to 175 minutes weekly.

Posted by at 1:23 PM | Permalink

Diabetes Mine: The ADA vs. Dr. Bernstein

I'm commenting on a Diabetes Mine post.

Shame on you Amy -- a lot of people would call that trolling. I do want you to realize I think it is funny.

I've done Atkins and I've done Bernstein. My food service here in Dallas will do protein only and low carb meals if I want, but they get boring fast. I compromise and do about half the carbs that the ADA recommends.

Both my sister and a good friend at work have lost quite a bit of weight, are healthier, etc. since they have done Atkins.

I will say, though, that as long as you are on shots, you won't get as good as control as you would with the pump.

Posted by at 11:17 AM | Permalink

I went to see my CDE today -- she's been a bit concerned since I have been having higher blood sugars.

While I was there, she asked if I would try Apidra -- I think it's a clinical trial for their office only, but not sure. She said it would not be available until January but could provide me with free insulin if I would let her know how it works.

It's supposed to be more rapid acting than Novalog.

I'm a good guinea pig for them, because I am "glucose sensitive", allergic to Humalog, and use quite a bit of insulin.

So far, I have noticed it goes into the pump a bit smoother -- I can feel the Novalog when I do a bolus and did not feel the Apidra.

FYI: She says Apidra is piglatin for rapid.

Posted by at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Omnipod™ -The Whole Story
Special report by
Dave Joffe, Editor in Chief

Personally I'm happy with my Animas. This device is still doing finger pricks. I'm also VERY curious on cost.

Posted by at 9:36 PM | Permalink

I've been reading him for some time, and really admire his opinion.

The Price of Desperation: Corante > In the Pipeline >

This is required reading in my opinion for anyone with a chronic disease. Just because it is for a cancer drug, it doesn't mean it doesn't happen to diabetics too.

And this is one of the reasons I'm not holding my breath on a painfree way to monitor glucose anytime soon.

Posted by at 8:38 PM | Permalink

Personally I'm more on the Dr. Bernstein side than the ADA.

Diabetes Mine: Dr. Bernstein vs. the ADA

I'm a big fan of Bernstein, and he has helped me tremedously. However, I find eating his way very difficult. On the other hand, I think the ADA recommends way too many carbohydrates.

Right now, I'm kinda of balanced between the two. I try to eat a Bernstein style breakfast, I feel better when I do. I use a food service for the rest of the day, and do fine by them.

If I get an overwhelming, I've got to eat urge (usually after a sleepless night), I pick a Bernstein style type of snack which usually gets me past it. It's also MUCH easier on the blood sugar.

Posted by at 6:11 PM | Permalink

I've told two people that this week, and I figure I need to tell the blog readers this too.

Remember something VERY important. Your doctor is your employee. If things are not going well, you need to tell the doctor that. For example, if you can't get an appointment when you need him, if his employees treat you rudely, etc. you need to tell him.

Earlier this year, I was ready to fire my sleep doctor. The situation has been fixed though, and that relationship is going well.

Of course, as employers we also have to realize that things aren't always as easy as we would like them to be.

One of my very good friends is cratering because of a medical condition. I was appalled to find out that she need Procretic, and she ordered it through Medco, our mail order service. Whenever I get a new drug, my doctors ALWAYS give me a sample, at least a weeks worth, that gives me a few days to make sure it's what we want.

Then I get a 30 day script AND a 90 day script. I fill both scripts immediately, that way I won't run out if Medco messes things up, and I have a couple week window on the refill.

This is the SMART way of handling new scripts.

Posted by at 5:53 PM | Permalink

I had SEVERAL major melt downs today.

First, I'm still not mentally really good because while I am finally sleeping I'm still quite a bit behind. Sounds weird, I do this a lot, but I'm scheduling this weekend to get caught up that.

I got new computers in my classroom today, and it was real upsetting since I'm leaving it this school year, under protest, and it isn't my idea. These are actually what kind of computers I would pick out for teaching my classes and have exactly the right software.

While moving me to a different subject might be better off for the school, right now, I can't see it that way. I wish they could leave me alone and do what I do best.

I did do a fabulous job of getting things set up, but it always costs me a lot mentally and stress wise. Thus the melt dones.

Posted by at 5:05 PM | Permalink

Got my Animas recall letter today. Knew it was coming. I'm definitely going to be proactive this round about the condition of the pump.

Posted by at 5:00 PM | Permalink

A commenter posted this:

If those 3 kids are on NPH or a mixture instead of a modern regimen they may have a lot of highs and lows naturally. Plus, if she has them change clothes every time and keeps them in a ziploc for several training sessions she may have plenty of opportunities without doing it on purpose. Is that possible?

First if those three kids are having a lot of highs and lows, I'd be in the doctor's office getting it fixed before I'd be worried about detection dogs. I've been there, done that, and frankly, that insulin regimin is for the birds. I will give that it would be easier for a child to deal with than an adult, since they didn't know anything else. The problem with those regimens is that if you don't do everything exactly right, you are going to have swings.

As to the training. When I trained detection dogs, we used an established training protocol which had been tested. We trained every day. Those of us in the group who either had permits or were police officers and had access to real drugs, trained with them daily. The ones who did not have access to real drugs, used synthethic daily that had been tested in the laboratory AND the field. We trained with real drugs once a week under supervision.

I have some problems with using the used clothing. Do we know for fact what the dogs are being trained for, is actually "in the clothing"? Has anyone tested to find out how long the scent actually does last? Since diabetes itself is barely understood, I'm not even sure anyone knows what scent we are looking for.

Note: after dogs started alerting to certain cancers, they did isolate what was being detected by the dogs.

There are two problems that I see with purchasing a diabetic detection dog. If the dog does a lot of false positives, the user of the dog is going to start ignoring the dog. If the dog does not alert when they should AND the user of the dog is relying on the dog solely to avoid lows and highs, some diabetic is going to end up in the hospital unnecessaily.

I have no problem with someone purchasing a dog or cat, or getting one from rescue or a shelter with the purpose of obtaining a companion THEN noticing that the animal alerts. I do have a problem with declaring that animal a service dog since the behavior cannot be safely and reliably tested.

I also do have a problem with the diabetic relying on that animal solely. See above paragraph.

Another issue with service dogs is that if that label is abused and I know it has been, legimate users of service dogs are going to suffer.

Posted by at 6:38 PM | Permalink

If you read the blog last night and it was behaving strangely, make sure you run a virus scan. I did, freaked, but no permanent damage was called.

Apparently for a short period of time the server had been hijacked. Everything is fine now, but it was a bit scary.

Posted by at 6:07 AM | Permalink

I did post a shorter version of my blog rant on the DLife website forum under show feed back, and the DLife people also claim the low was accidental.

I still think it was very unfortunate that they included the kids low on the show.

Posted by at 3:43 PM | Permalink

I'm really worried about the recall, and I guess I shouldn't be but...

When the battery cover on my IR1000 chipped, I was so relieved that they replaced the pump, I didn't squawk when the replacement pump wasn't in as good condition as my old IR1000.

The cover was a bit worn, along with the buttons, and it creeped me out a bit when I saw that, because I knew that someone else before me had worn it and didn't take as good care as I do.

I think I'm going to tell them that when they call to schedule the delivery. Here's what is going to happen. They will fix the pumps they have in stock and ship them out. Then when the patients return their old pumps, they will refurbish them, and update the software, and ship out those pumps. So I'm sure I'll get a used pump.

So far, mine looks like it did when it came out of the box, and I expect the replacement to look the same.

Posted by at 3:35 PM | Permalink

Someone on the insulin pumpers list claimed to relay a post from the woman on DLife with the detection dogs.

The post claims they use clothing worn by one of the children when they went low and didn't induce lows. It's certainly not proof enough for me.

I still think raising 5 children and training 16 dogs are too much for any small group of people (I am assuming 2, but she may have some help).

I still think it was horrible that the kid was recorded for a TV show going low and that they showed the dog's alert. I have certainly been left with a very negative impression of everyone involved.

I still stand by my earlier blog entry. I was certified both as a detection dog handler and as a trainer.

We don't know enough about what is going on in diabetics to develop training methods to produce reliable dogs. Anyone selling such a dog is doing the public a diservice.

Posted by at 2:37 PM | Permalink

Unfortunately both sides have agendas on this debate. And I have REAL problems with the agendas on both sides.

For example, those who are on the embroynic stem cell side, NEVER mention what they are talking about. Therefore the vast majority of people do not realize that the debate is on embroynic only. Scientists are free do what they want with adult stem cells and blood cord stem cells. They are also free to experiment with the existing lines.

They also paint the other side with a broad brush. Obviously from the couple of posts I've written about it, I'm against embronyic stem cell research. I'm also firmly against abortion from a practical point, and I'm also against many fertility treatments -- especially the ones that result in litters of premie babies -- which by the way embroynic stem cells is a side effect off.

The practical part of being against abortion? What an absolute waste of money to have sex without conception and then pay for an abortion that you will have to regret forever. I've managed not to get pregnant on purpose for over 20 years. And I've often practiced 3 methods of birth control at once, and usually 2. But that's off the topic. My objection to the fertility procedures are again practical. God has his plans, even if it doesn't work out right, it's because he doesn't want it to happen. It's also a great deal of money to spend when there are lots of children needing homes. (Yes, I'm hoping the Amazing Race couple will realize that they should take home some of those African children).

But all that is beside the point, back to the point.

They also paint the whole right to lifers with a broad brush. There are very few right to lifers who bomb clinics -- in fact, I think we figured out it was just one, he just confessed and he's been locked up for a while. That's goofy too. Oh, there were a few other random fruitcases, but if it wasn't anti-abortion, they'd find some other reason to blow things up or shoot someone.

On the other hand, I get fed up with the right to lifers when they start comparing embroynic stem cell research to Nazi Germany, there IS an internet rule of debate that states the minute that the agreement degrades to Nazi Germany, the person who brought it up loses. Wish we could pass that one across the board on public debates.

From a practical standpoint, the whole embroynic thing is an absolute waste of money until we've explored the adult stem cells. And of course, once you get to know me, you'll realize that my main objective is always to spend money as wisely as possible, helping the most. That comes from working 13 years on a shoestring budget, with a low priority program.

I really DON'T believe that embroynic stem cell research is the answer to Type 1 Diabetes. It certainly isn't the answer to Type 2. In fact, I truly believe we have only scratched the surface of both problems, and we aren't even 10% into the answer no matter which direction you go.

We aren't going to solve Type 1 until we understand the auto-immune process and we understand what destroyed the whole insulin process in the first place. The new islet implants (I don't think they are true transplants, since nothing is removed) show promise, but the medical people are going to scratch their heads and wonder why it won't work until we solve why it happened in the first place. We won't have a cure into that happens.

I'm personally not that much into the whole Type 1 issues anyway, my problems lie more into a genetic cause (which I've done my part to stop, thank you very much), and the process got started way too long ago for any medical solutions to really help. I'm just buying all the time I can.

In other words, this is the last you'll see about this issue posted on this blog unless it is in the comments.

Posted by at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

I don't know what brought this up, but one of my teacher friends sent one of her students to talk to me about the insulin pump.

Come to find out, the young lady is a senior in high school and wants to go out of town for college.

I told her why I like the pump and then went into how I managed my blood sugar with it. Like all people when I first explain it, she had assumed it checks blood sugar (for those of you reading the blog that doens't know, NO it doesn't -- that technology isn't available yet).

Well, come to find out, it sounds like she doesn't manage her diabetes well enough, and I'm with her parents and told her this. I also told her -- and made sure she understood that I was talking to her diabetic to diabetic, not teacher to student, or adult to child) that she needed to start managing her own diabetes.

I'm in an unique position for these kiddos, since I DO manage my diabetes and do use insulin. I can see both sides of the situation, both the parent side and the kid side. So hopefully I got something good across to her.

But there is no way I would encourage her to even go on the pump until she learns to do her own management, much less go to college!

Posted by at 8:03 PM | Permalink

I've actually noticed some "weird" stuff using the food database, but nothing really seemed to affect the final numbers.

Guess I'm getting a different pump.

Animas Corporation - CORPORATE INFORMATION - Press Release

And whoops, the phone number listed seems to be a fax line.

I'm guessing that the best thing to do is to ignore the food database.
Animas Announces Voluntary Recall of IR 1250 Pump, Increases Revenue Guidance.

And yeah, this page explains what to do:
http://www.animascorp.com/products/recallnotice.shtml

Basically you reboot the pump and don't touch the database.

Posted by at 7:59 PM | Permalink

Diabetes Mine: Stem Cell Hero

Oh, goodie, it's working! (the trackback thing).

So here is what I don't get? Why do you think that stem cell research is being opposed?

Stem cell research is going on ALL the time. Especially in the US. Didn't you see the story about where a dog got a stem cell transplant? Story here.

Here's the deal. The current administration has placed limitations on EMBRYONIC stem cells. Those come from an early embryo and those on the right to life side of things feel that destroying potential life is wrong.

There are lots of other types of stem cells. In fact, we all have them, and adult stem cells is where the dog got his transplant. We're doing plenty of research in this area.

There are also cord blood stem cells, and there is also research being done in that area. In fact, many new mothers are having their children's cord blood stem cells saved, "just in case".

Unfortunately the other side lumps all stem cells together. The other fact they that ignore is that embroynic stem cells do not seem to give as promising results as adult stem cells.

I personally think we should concentrate on the adult stem cells until we've exhausted those possibilities, and leave embroynic stem cells alone.

Posted by at 7:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I haven't had a day where I can just sleep out, and probably won't get that until next Saturday because of the dog show this weekend.

However, I'm feeling better, and finally building back. For example, I actually got through most of the school day without needing something to eat and finally broke down and got some pretzels out of the vending machine.

Here's what happened for those who haven't been paying attention ... about a month ago, I got some really hard to take news about my job, and I started not sleeping.

Basically I'm staying at the same school but am doing a drastically different teaching assignment which affects my identity. I've been a computer science teacher for 13 years. At the beginning I taught only 1 section and have built the program over the years. HOWEVER, our school is a NCLB school, basically our families can leave. We've had a hard time getting experienced core curriculum teachers, so most of the people teaching non-core curriculum classes are getting moved to core curriculum. So I'll be teaching math full time.

I'm not good at change, especially when it is forced on me. It still really bugs me but I'm getting used to it.

On top of not sleeping I went to Europe. I took my CPAP machine with a battery pack on the plane, but couldn't sleep because the air was just too dry. It got so dry, I couldn't stand the mask any more. Finally when I got to the hotel, the converter I brought blew out the first night. It blew out all the circuits in the room.

At this point I hadn't slept for 5 days. I freaked and came back instead of going to our final destination. I'm glad I did as I came back I started feeling better. In all of this, the gum infection the dentist and I were trying to avoid flared up full blast.

Somehow in all this, I managed to make an appointment with my sleep doctor. The intent was to get a replacement mask, but I ended up getting a travel humidifier so maybe I can sleep when out of town.

While I saw him, he noticed my temperature was up, and decided I probably was on the edge of a sinus infection. I think it was the gum infection but he could be right.

However, between not sleeping, being stressed out, and on the edge of sick, I started eating more and more and it got harder and harder to exercise and work out. I finally decided to give myself a break when iShape gave me 50 minute workouts a day for a week.

The good news, is that the uncontrolled eating finally stopped. And I got back on the treadmill today. It all seems a lot better.

Posted by at 6:43 PM | Permalink

So they are showing diabetic alert dogs. "Heaven Scent" is the company.

I'm an experienced dog trainer, and taught police officers for about 10 years how to detect drugs with dogs. I also have a dog that alerts when I am starting to have difficulty breathing (we thought it was asthma, but it is gastric reflux disease).

Here's my opinion on training diabetic alert dogs ... I won't do it. I have considered it, but here's the problem. First, Marcie (the dog who alerts on breathing problems), doesn't notice a high. However, I don't go into DKA -- or haven't so far. Second, I won't risk going low, I don't like that feeling. And to properly train a detection dog, you have to do several repetitions every day.

If we could isolate what happens with someone when they go low and high, then we could train dogs to detect it, as long it was it replicable and reliable. However, we haven't and we can't. Again, to properly train a dog, it has to be repeated daily several times.

Personally I think Scott King should include this company with his "duds".

If she is using her diabetic children to train the dogs (forcing them to go low and high), CPS should take over the children. (D*** she does!) ARGH! She's even put the kid on low on purpose to demonstrate it! How many brain cells just died? I'm sorry folks, but this is just criminal.

I can't believe DLIFE put it on!

Posted by at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

testing moblog
---
From my Treo

Posted by at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I've taken a break on everything and focusing only on the sleep problem. I am doing an agility trial with both dogs this weekend, so I won't get a chance to sleep out.

Fortunately I'm not having trouble going to sleep, or going back to sleep when I get up, but I've got a silly beagle who has gotten upset two nights in a row because there is something in her yard. I think I'll leave my husband an email and have him put both dogs in my room with the door shut before he goes to bed. That might help.

Posted by at 8:15 PM | Permalink

Diabetes Mine: Continuous Monitoring: The Next Big Thing

Hopefully the trackback will work, but here's the deal ....

They can't get it to work reliabily.

Minimed has had a continous monitor that doctors give to their patients to wear for 3 days and then they download the data.

For over a year, Minimed has been promising a patient worn, all the time device. So far, it hasn't been made available. It's called the Guardian.

Here's my guesses from the research I've been reading:

a) The FDA won't release another continuous monitor until they are sure they work (can we say, Glucowatch).

b) There is probably an issue with waterproofness. Minimed has already gone up in flames over a waterproof issue, and lets face it, if this thing won't let someone shower or bath, it's worthless.

c) We already know that the FDA won't release the first generation with a real time reading. None of the devices that are going through the approval process with a real time reading, only alarms.

On the Glucowatch thing. It works, if you don't mind your arm being burned and you understand how it works. It can't be used when you exert yourself, as it takes any prespiration as a low reading. Also, any reading you has at least a 20 minute lag.

Posted by at 9:26 PM | Permalink

Insulin Pumps and Airport Security - The Diabetes Weblog - www.thediabetesblog.com _

The Diabetes blog asks about experiences with insulin pumps and security.

I've flown 2 (two round trips) since I got my pump. Once from Love Field in Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansaw and once from DFW to London Gatwick, then from Heathrow to Nice. And took the return trip.

On both out going trips I would not like security xray my insulin. That stuff is a little delicate, difficult to get rapid acting without a prescription, and don't want to deal with it in a foreign country, so I'm not taking risks.

I requested a pat down both times.

Love Field was the worse, they put me behind a curtain and made me take off my dress. Harwick was the best, the staff was sensitive to the fact that diabetes are picky about how insulin was handled. They also thought the pump was way too cool. (UK doesn't do insulin pumps often).

Coming back, I didn't disclose and didn't worry about the insulin. Nothing set anything off and everything worked fine when I got home.

If I flew more often and the trips were domestic, I probably would not disclose.

Posted by at 9:20 PM | Permalink

Sleeping worked the best so far, but as my husband put it "Marcie decided to be a beagle last night".

For some reason, Marcie was disturbed by something in our backyard and desperately wanted out. She made sure everyone knew it.

So I had to lock her in my bedroom, which meant I had to make sure that Maggie was also locked in my bedroom. Lately, Maggie has been taking to sleeping in my computer room and wouldn't come when called.

So I had to retrieve her from behind my computer desk, as she would eventually pitch her own fit if locked out of my room.

Getting up is STILL hard, I hate daylight savings time.

Love the new humidifier though. It seems to be at the perfect temperature right now, and I have yet to have a rainout problem.

Posted by at 11:31 AM | Permalink

Haven't look at this much, but I read an notice about this that the 1.3 version does something they call Insulin Activity Feature.

That's an Insulin On Board feature for those of us who are Animas users. I neededt this.

UTS Diabetes Palm PDA software : from Pilot to Tungsten and Treo

UTS Diabetes Palm PDA software

Posted by at 5:28 PM | Permalink

Insulin Pump Experience

A Pumping Story

Posted by at 5:13 PM | Permalink

I'm exhausted, but the second study is done. I managed to stay in bed all night, and had a fairly typical sleep night for me. In other words, I woke up tired.

I hope this shows the problem, and maybe a solution.

Posted by at 6:06 AM | Permalink

Wow! DLife just got real.

The first two episodes, they've danced around the issues. Today, they got real. They have a fairly young black man on, who has diabetes and completely ignored what he was told and is on dialysis now. And he's in line for a transplant.

They even started out getting real, reading a letter from a reader who told an experience where he made a mistake and experienced a low.

Good news, their transplant doctor states that transplant isn't a cure and that it is a last resort. He recommends managing diabetes.

Definately their best show so far.

Posted by at 6:27 PM | Permalink

The New York Times > Business > Drug Makers Race to Cash In on Nation's Fight Against Fat

Drug Makers Race to Cash In on Nation's Fight Against Fat

Posted by at 8:19 AM | Permalink

I picked up the oximeter yesterday and did the first study last night. It has improved a bunch. The last two I did, the Oximeter was connected to a big box with a long cord. That was an absolute pain, between the CPAP machine and the insulin pump. I think it took about 5 minutes to get them all untangled when I woke up.

I did pretty well length time I think, as I went to bed about 9:30 last night and got up at 6:30.

I do another study on Sunday night.

Posted by at 8:30 AM | Permalink

There is more goofy things about this story ...

First, it was a DIFFERENT infusion set than the one that is recalled. I've actually used this infusion set (though with the Luer Lock connection, but that's the only difference), and there was nothing wrong with those.

I think someone is being greedy.

Driver's Insulin Pump Blamed for Fatal Crash

Driver's Insulin Pump Blamed for Fatal Crash

Posted by at 1:55 PM | Permalink

I at least slept the whole time I was in bed. I have trouble on Thursday nights as I have a dog class that is an hour from home, and it ends at 9:30. Then I have to drive in very exciting traffic.

But I did sleep the whole time once I got to bed and didn't wait until 5:30, then went back to bed for another 30 minutes or so. I don't feel so weirded out today.

Though I'm still having trouble with the gums.

Posted by at 9:52 AM | Permalink