Living with Diabetes and Lapband

Things I learned traveling this week.

Dexcom rocks.  The first day or two, not so much which means if it really was a 3 day sensor life would really suck.

When I drive, my blood sugar goes high.  I suspect I need the same setting as if I were in a workshop.  I need to work on this.

When I do agility, my blood sugar goes high.  Also, right before I go into the ring, I spike high.  It causes a surreal feeling.

I need my comforter.  I've talked to CPAP users and we all have the same problem, no matter the room temperature we get cold from the air on our face.  I cocoon, I completely wrap myself in my comforter, in fact, I might as well have a sleeping bag, the kind for arctic weather.  Well take that to Pittsburgh next week.

Taking three dogs was a mistake.

I feel bad for my husband, as I am leaving him with three for about 2 weeks.  Depends on how fast I get home.

I went over to the Expo Center, ran my first class, decided to leave, packed, and on my way home.

Wish it were that simple and this is going to be a rough draft of a letter I am sending to the AKC, each of the trial chairs, and the Monroe Expo Center.

I suppose the first sign that these trials were not organized was the difficulty in getting a hotel room at a reasonable price. may be getting email confirnations only but I had an odd feeling.

I got into monroe at 3:00 on Wednesday and set up. There were no signs of the impending disaster.

The next morning did reveal the first clue. Marcie entry was available in self check in but Maggie's were not and she has been entered and competed at this show everytime Marcie has been. The trial secretary did not know what we needed to do to check in when I could not find my height cards. Huh? That is your job!

While this was on, the second clue that things were not right was also starting. my instructor had a handful of broken glass in her hand.

Quick background. I went through the windshield of a car years ago and as a result I have a paralyzing fear of glass.

Due to my fear, I shut out what Elizabeth was complaining about. I should have listened. Heck, I should have picked up and left at that point.

Each time I walked course, I found glass. I honestly tried to help and pick it up. I couldn't but I could ask someone else to and did.

the final straw was having the parking lot blocked off so the roof could be painted. As a result I could not park any where close to my set up. The trial committee refused to help, both on getting thevenue to change their mind or to help me get my truck near my setup so I could leave.

I wnt back to my truck, drove to the closed lot and moved the barriers so I could get my dogs and equipment. Then I left.

I will not be going back to their venue and i'll urge others not to go either in the future.

The total disregard for dog safety by purchasing glass filled dirt is unbelievable. Even my mother was appalled.

Wonder what this means for a pump user?  I actually find that Novolog works pretty well as expected, though Symlin really helps things along. 

Dr. Jean L. Ardilouze, a professor of medicine at University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, and three colleagues presented “In Obese Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes, Are Short Acting Insulin Analogues That Short?”

Diabetes - Short-Acting Insulin Isn’t Short for Most Type 2s

 I actually DO think Symlin does help me with this -- but it just can't overcome stress eating.  Wish it did.

As many of us know to our dismay, the desire to chow down fatty, sugary food can be very strong indeed. In a recent six-week study of 88 obese, non-diabetic men and women, Symlin, a synthetic hormone currently used to dampen diabetic blood sugar swings, was found to dampen those very desires.

Symlin Curtails Fast Food Binges in Weight Loss Study - Diabetes Health

 Yes, I've decided to track these.  It's REALLY getting to bug me.

A 65-year-old St. Louis man is missing after Amtrak personnel, mistaking his diabetic shock for drunk and disorderly behavior, kicked him off a train in the middle of a national forest, according to police in Williams, Ariz.

Police: Diabetic Man Missing After Being Kicked Off Train - Local News Story - KPHO Phoenix

Interesting -- and I certainly believe it is true.  First of all, what doctor wants to be bothered every three days?  I have to adjust boluses pretty often either when I lose or gain weight -- or just eat too many carbs for a few days. 

In a real-world study, patients using a dose self-adjustment algorithm had significantly greater fasting plasma glucose reductions (P<0.0001) than those randomized to standard physician-driven adjustments, said Luigi Meneghini, M.D., of the University of Miami, and colleagues.

ADA: Patients Beat Physicians at Insulin Dose Adjustment

Wow!  If this is true -- it might be the right med for me.  I STILL think my mother should be on it. 

ing Byetta can reduce our risk of heart attacks and strokes, the most common and deadly complications of diabetes.

Diabetes - Byetta for the Heart

Some one on the insulin pumpers list posted today emphasizing that while there isn't a cure, diabetics are living longer. the post pointed out that before 1920, Type 1 was a death sentence. I can relate and probably more intimately. My father and I were diagnosed in the same birth year. He was sent home with urine test strips amd told not to eat sugar. His pilot's license was revoked. I have choices and technology he didn't have, 25 years later. There are oral meds, injectables, and the insulin pump to choose from. And now there is CGMS. So far I have remained active and able to do what I want. At this stage, my father was housebond, on oxygen, with congestive heart failure. iA big positive difference.

I'm off to Monroe (Louisiana) to an agility trial in a few minutes.  Bad thing about traveling with dogs, the truck is completely filled with their stuff and there isn't much room for my stuff.

They have an exercise pen and matt for the trial site, and an extra set of cages for the hotel -- that DOES make life easier, food, bowls, water, etc.  Three dogs takes up a lot of room in a small truck.

I'm traveling with the Dexcom for the first time.  I am going to leave manuals, etc. at home as they have 24/7 support AND have the manual on line, and I have that available to me.

I'm also taking Fitness4Diabetics on the road for the first time too.  My workouts will be curtailed to some extend, but then I've been known to put in over 15,000 steps at a trial.

Next week I'm going on a road trip by myself, so this will be a good rehearsal.

Last night, after I got out of the hot tub, the sensor was reading disconnected.  I had already planned to switch sensors, as the back part of the adhesive was coming loose.  I wanted a new sensor in, stable and working before I drove to Monroe, Louisiana, and I wanted to have it going smoothly for at least the first day of dog agility.

Next time, I'll know better, I bet I could have gotten the sensor to go a full two weeks.  The majority of the adhesive was down good and solid.

This time I did feel the sensor needle go in and out.  But I do believe I have a good install -- I don't feel anything once I got everything in place -- including the sensor. 

So far, I am exceptionally pleased with the Dexcom sensor.  As I get more comfortable with it, I'll start pushing the envelope more and see if I can get my A1C and my weight down.