The App Spot

(your bi-monthly FREE app report)

1. NBCOlympics. Your up-to-date blow-by-blow of the 2010 Winter Games.(thankfully,they're almost over)
2.FSS Hockey.A way to be painfully reminded,yet again,that Canada kicks our rears in that sport & we just aren't that terrific in it.(it's actually air hockey,but reminds one of hockey in general)
3. Sunday Lawn. This is a really fun little game where you have to mow lawns while avoiding dogs,dog poop,and hamsters.(that break your mower blade and send you back to the beginning)
4. iSurgeon.You,a scalpel,and a virtual lawsuit waiting to happen!
5. Meebo. You can IM with over 100 platforms using this app..aim,yahoo,fb,windows live,gmail,etc.Ultimate geek must-have.
6.iVideoCamera. (.99) Not free...but well worth it,if you are stuck with a 3G and want the video camera option.Exports to Twitter,YouTube,Facebook,Flickr,etc. An awesome app.
7.Hawaii. Get away for a minute with the sights and sounds of gentle ocean sands/beaches.
8.Cool Curlings,Lite.(learn how it's really played...become a virtual whiz!)
9. MyCoke.(a code counter for your coke caps) There's no charge,(it's not texting) and it's faster then entering them all on your computer.
10. 5-0 Radio. Taps into the largest EMS-Fire-Police-other network,live stream.Keep informed,of what's going on in your area and around the world!
(the Aussie accents are absolutely adorable)

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Inside the JDRF Think Tank

Last night,local pump group had the JDRF VP for Government Relations,Larry Solaris,to come & speak about the work JDRF is doing.And the place was packed,despite the frigid,driving rain that clogged up traffic in every road around there.

I had out my iPhone,furiously Tweeting away with mad abandon so I wouldn't forget anything.I was off in my own little world,not really knowing anyone there anyway,when the speaker came up,introduced himself,and asked what I was doing.I responded,& he said the only day he'd ever Tweeted was when JDRF went to the White House.(Obama Admininistration) I guess that was right before the Secret Service confiscated his phone.(still,pretty cool...Tweeting from the White House!) (I cannot believe I actually told him what I was doing,because for the rest of the night he referred to me BY NAME with various Twitter-related stuff.(in the presentation)To say that he has an amazing memory would be an understatement.)Anyway,the VP had brought along his JDRF entourage-staff to help with the presentation.Animas had furnished the requitory diet coke and carrot sticks,& we all settled in to be duly educated.The VP is a type 1 himself...and that added a touch of realness to the JDRF message.So, he touched briefly on the operating budget of JDRF,amount allocated for research(1.5 billlion,funding through 2011),the artificial pancreas project(goal is,to submit to the FDA for approval within 4 years),Smart Insulin-which is being funded partly by JDRF , microneedles(which are so tiny it's like they don't exist...and JDRF is working with BD on them,potentially to be put into pumps..have potential for much quicker insulin absorbtion), advocacy(Promise to Remember Me,Childrens Congress),walks(and we'll be doing our FIRST walk in April,squee!) ,cgm/pump coverage(they met with top ten insurance company ceo's to see what it would take for sensor coverage)and stem cell research.This is where the mood turned from that of excitement to an emotion of an entirely different sort. I happen to think there are other options to the path to a cure,then that of stem cell research.People say..well,if your son/brother/mom were dying & that were the only chance they had you'd feel differently.It doesn't work that way,you can't approve of something you feel to be morally wrong.Even if it means you have to live the rest of your life with this disease.

Anyway,beyond that,it was a very good presentation,& I'm now all fired up to go harass our Congressmen about more funding!




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Secrets of the Genome(part 2)

(this is a 3 part series, the first will go up when I find the notebook I recorded it in..and the 3rd will probably go up sometime next decade,if/when it ever gets resolved)

Conflicting things have happened since I went in for genetics testing(at Johns Hopkins, in the later part of January)...most notably, blizzards. Never actually got around to the testing because Hopkins,wants initial dx'ng records before they do any tests. Hopkins, was closed the Friday the snow began,and for the next 9 days. (we were all long shoveled out by then, I tend to think they were shoveled out before we were..and they didn't get as much snow) Monday this week, I called them back-NADA, no records.Tues, the doctor called me-still no records,and they weren't in the office today, but oh yes tomorrow I'll call you back.(as I didn't expect that to happen, I wasn't dissapointed.) Thursday, I called them-still NADA so they suggested I call the old place and see if they'd even sent it. I called, they said they'd sent it back on the 29th and it wasn't there fault that JH was so sloppy. I asked, politely, if they could re-fax it because it appears that it never got through. They said no. (yes, it was shocking, no one has ever refused to re-send something.) You could hear it in their voice that they were 100% sick of the entire situation & 100% sick of me, wishing I could just dissapeir from the planet, I guess. They said they'd maxed out their "fax request" for the month.(1 a month?gee, great policy). I then asked if I could purchase a copy, and they could mail it,(that way I'd be sure to get it) and they said no to that too. Great. I thanked them and hung up, really teed off that it seems to be impossible to get answers from anyone and besides, legally, hello, can you deny someone their own medical records? Faxes do get lost sometimes.(perhaps they're so far beyond mistakes like that that they can't understand that fact) Called JH back, and of course they were off on a two hour lunch so I left a message, and called back later, because I knew they wouldn't call me back. Meanwhile, blood sugar had skyrocketed to 420 and I had had it with trying to be nice to anyone. Guess what-they'd found the (non-existent) fax! I then decided JH shouldered the primary blame, not the other drs office.(yep, JH had gotten it on the 29th) What a bunch of irresponsible dolts. I really thought I'd have to get a lawyer just to get a copy of my medical records. They also said they needed current treatment/lab values, so they were going to call the hospital where I get infusions.(and then call me back) They never "lose" anything.

Of course, they never called me back.(I think they just tack it on the end of things to sound good) 5 times I've called(over 3 weeks) and five times they promise to "call me back". The only way this process is going to keep moving forward is through my own blood, sweat, and tears. Called again today, and yep, they haven't had a chance to call for the records and I am pissed. PISSED.(and I apologize for the language but there is no other word in the English language that describes how I feel) I understand being too busy and all that but its been 3.5 weeks people, 3.5 WEEKS. You don't care two beans about patients.(If you at least called me back it'd be slightly better) And you don't seem to care if the process drags on for months. (At every step of this process, I'm the one to fax, call, and cajole this process along) The doctors are stellar..but the system is horrendous.

Upside Down

You've probably seen this Youtube video, that describes, to a T, what an impact diabetes can have on one's life.



18 months(and 4 days)ago tonight...the world watched the spectacular opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Most of the world, that is. 08/07/08 was the day my intestines decided to have an intussesseption, and in the wee hours of 08/08/08 I was admitted to the hospital.

Fortuantly, after some more tests(and the drinking of industrial-strength-blockage-remover), it loosened things up..and surgery wasn't necessary. However, I was in alot of pain, I was a diabetic,my labs were whacky, and they weren't going to just discharge me. Morphine dreams was the only thing I watched that day.

The next day,they set about trying to correct the electrolyte situation.3 days later, it was doing better, so they discharged me. And though I have fears sometimes that it would happen again...it seemed to be an isolated,random event.Bowel went back to normal.

Ever since then, the need for magnesium has remained high. 14 months of IV therapy. It's doing better..I can do 2 weeks now w/need of 4grams.(vs even 1 a week, several months ago)And I still hold out hopes, that I can get this pumping thing worked out.(right now, insurance has gotta approve it)

But it's there. Permanently. And my life, will never be the same. Like diabetes...it's here to stay.

Snow Daze

Over the weekend,parts of the North-central-east got hit with El Massivo Snow Storm.Dubbed the "Snowcopalyse" on Twitter,it most definatly left an impact.No where was it greater,then in certain parts of Maryland.Yes,DC,I realize that 25 inches of snow tends to cramp your spending style but there are places that are even worse off so could you do us all a big favor & acknowledge that fact?(DC acts like they're the center of the universe sometimes)Some places got three feet.We were semi-lucky,middle-of-the-packers.(at 30 inches)And we kept our power...which I'm very grateful for.

It's now Tuesday.Roads are still largely undrivable,gov't offices (including the post office) remain closed,and so is school.It's kind of nice,but I worry about the obscene amount of work I'll have to make up..pre-test.I'm back with last semester's prof,& he loves to spring frequent tests.(finish one,turn around & do another) It's not even 4 weeks into the semester & soon we'll be on test #2.

Unfortuently,yet another snowstorm is on it's way.Projected 12-20 inches,which is a crazy amount of snow to be dealing with.(on top of the last round)Digging out our cars was like making a snow fort,natural isolation from the neighbors and the world.With this one...we'll have our own snow castle! At 5'1, said snow totals will just about bury me(not including the drifts)It's definatly a winter for the record books.Got my Diet Coke stash though...so bring on Round #2!!

(Keeping the pump warm...)


Snow drift:


Monstercycles:


Shoveling out..


Deck:












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The Ozprah Effect

I don't generally watch Oprah, unless I'm sitting in some waiting area where it's literally right in front of me, being seared into my brain. I think she's a person that, all in all, wants to do the right thing & cares about people. I respect her and the good that she's done.(and even if I did watch Oprah,it's in the same time slot as The Doctors and that talk show trumps the others)

But Dr. Oz is another story.I had to watch the show, because it was about diabetes & I was curious about it. So I went to YouTube(that evening) and watched it. On the second segment, as Dr. Oz was telling all of America that they were killing themselves and the amount of insulin required had to do with how "bad" one's diabetes is, I lost it. I tweeted my honest opinion of him, and it wasn't a nice tweet.(YOU ARE STUPID) Apparently, though, I am not alone in my opinion & the re-tweets poured in, making me feel slightly better about the outrageous (for me) post. Cue in to him visiting a type 1 women in a hospital, who'd had several amputations and was waiting on another kidney transplant.He held her hand why she cried about how she wished she'd cared for herself better. If I were in such a position, no amount of tv-prestige could induce me to get on national tv and recite my problems.It's sad that she doesn't even seem to grasp what really caused her problems.(fluctuation,cumulative effects of blood sugars) Even more pathetic then that, however, is how Dr. Oz pretended to care...sensationalism at it's finest. Does a man(and I use that term very loosely) who thinks insulin is evil really give two beans a bout a critically ill, psychologically fragile diabetic? Especially if (quote) "type 1's don't produce enough insulin" and therefore, if you're eating evil sugar and taking evil insulin to cover it of course you are going to have complications. Of course he doesn't. A physician of that caliber is not a physician I'd stand to be around, much less unload my woes on national television to. I feel sorry for that women and anyone else who listens(and believes) that self-
righteous piece of over-inflated ego. Because, for some people, it really is only about the power. It's so sad to see that on national tv.

And that power has just made the lives of millions of D's worse, not better. There were so many inaccuracies in there I can't name them all, but now we get to deal with the fallout of the "Ozprah Effect." For too many people, what is said on Oprah, must be the gospel truth.(no questions asked)

Notes from a Spinning Planet: Manual Check

Manual check. Oh wait, I never read manuals, preferring instead to spend 45 minutes on hold with a CSR, to find a solution to my problem. I hate trying to find something in a book.

My diabetes educator called today. I guess both she and my (8 months pregnant) endo are getting tired of (un)meshing method from madness and want something easier. When I saw the DE last month, I brought I written log and we downloaded pump/cgm reports there.

The problem with my pump reports is, I don't consistently input carbs, even when I do bolus for them. So later, there's a string of erratic numbers & data that I don't remember what it may have been caused by. Throw in a Dexcom graph and a did-it-the-night-before log and it's a yoyo effect from who knows where.

So she suggested using the "Event" marker on my CGM. Confession: I've never used them, which explained my utter amazement when I found out that you could input units of insulin/carbs/minutes of exercise(and severity), alcohol, illness, menses, etc. WOW! When I updated my Dex last year, I never even heard about all those options. I just figured it was a "x" marks the event kind of deal, and you couldn't get specific. This is awesome, because now I can put it all in my cgm and have the insulin/bg/etc. data all together in one report.

I should read manuals, it would make my life(and other people's) so much easier. Putting it on my resolutions list.

And, in other news, my insurance co has decided not to cover diabetes education anymore and I have a nice (not so little)$250 bill from January's appt. They have always covered them 100%, so I'm not sure what's up, but I sure won't be going again until I can get this resolved. Beginning of the year sticker shock, it happens every year.(even when you think you know what tricks they might pull)

That's Not My Name

(with apologies to the Ting Tings)

Sittin' here, as I'm rhyming my song & it's
Not the best, but don't get me wrong cuz I
Still keep thinking, it'll turn out just fine
I'm still me, not just a disease.
If they could just see beyond the fingersticks
Not just a number,to this name
But it reads high, and alas it ends
as they start right in with all the blame..ame..ame..ame..

They call me Su-guh
They call me Sweet Stuff
They call me Splenda
They call me 'betic
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
They call me non-compliant
But I'm not on some diet
Betty-Bop-Weirdo
Always some dame
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name


The meter drops, and I don't break it's fall
I'm sure all my friends must be appalled
Pick it up, be a good little D
But there's so much more to this deep complexity.
Don't wanna be defined by something so vague
With a rule book written back in the Dark Age
All I really want them to see
That although it's part of me, it's not all I am..am..am..am..

They call me Su-guh
They call me Sweet Stuff
They call me Splenda
They call me 'betic
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
They call me non-compliant
But I'm not on some diet
Betty-Bop-Weirdo
Always some dame
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name

Are you calling me Sweetie?
Are you calling me Hon?
Are you calling me Sweetie?
Are you calling me Hon?


They call me Su-guh
They call me Sweet Stuff
They call me Splenda
They call me 'betic
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
They call me non-compliant
But I'm not on some diet
Betty-Bop-Weirdo
Always some dame
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name

Down the Rabbit Hole

Last Saturday, I took the TEAS test. It's a 4-part, pre-nursing entrance exam that's required for one of the programs I'm applying to.(not every program requires it) Why on earth they require pre-nursing exams in the first place beats me,because you more then show you're qualified with the transcript,essay,letters of recommenation,etc. but whatever.I brushed up on the math part with the help of my Phd husband (who eats the stuff alive,in direct contast to me) and got to the campus about an hour early. The campus was pretty confusing, there were about 7-10 buildings & no numbers in sight.(to figure out where you were going) Drove around till I found a building with a fair amount of activity going on outside,& figured it might be the place.And that soon proved to be the case,as I met up with other cluelessly wandering test-takers.At 9,we were all duly ushered into the lecture hall & told there'd be one bathroom break,no exceptions.

Guess whose blood glucose was 265? Yeah, that would be mine. This news is not the greatest tp hear when your bladder is in high blood glucose,PMS'ng,spastic mode.

The first section,reading,was a snap.But predictably,by that point my bladder was sending out strong signals.I asked the moderator and she said no.Not unless I wanted to forfeit the remainder of the test,(and see my nursing career go up in smoke)and thus flunk.

Math was next.I tried to focus,too little avail.Rushed the test,& spent the rest of the time repeating "You are hard-core,"(Greys Anatomy reference,when said person couldn't go to the bathroom for 8 hours because they were doing surgery )to keep from going totally beserk from the uncomfortableness.Somehow,I got through it & rushed off to the facilities.Blood sugar was now..289!Took a strong correction bolus,and went back to the test.

Next was Science.Ugh,it was horrible.Much of the stuff I haven't seen since 10th grade bio.That wax definatly a subject I should have brushed up on. The whole thing was beginning to have the vibes of when a 17 year old me almost got kicked out of the ACT for eating a glucose tablet,very high-schoolish.In both content,& utter control by the moderator.
I have diabetes,why do I have to make excuses for taking care of my body functions? I'm a 28 year old adult,who doesn't particurally relish begging for permission to use the restroom,etc. They aren't my healthcare providor & I haven't just had surgury. I didn't check my bg in the room,that would have been like instant dismassal.These people don't know what a blood glucose meter is,they're always thinking "Cheater!" before anything else.Clearly,I should have gotten an exception w/them pretest.I don't like to do that,it's rarely an issue but when it is..it sucks if you don't have something in place.Diabetes rarely plays by the rules.I have told my profs,if my pump is visible just so they know it's not a cellphone but on a state test they really don't care what you tell them,if it's not a documented exception,you're out of luck.I need to remember that.

Language-Vocab was last.That was easy,save 1 or 2 spelling words.(another subject I've never particurally loved)

Final BG:159. Now it's just wait and see, as to how I do on the exam & whether I should bother submitting the rest of the requirements to that school.

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Stick(ing) Designs

In the early days of diabetes,there's a sort of bliss naivite about what it truly entails.A lifetime of pricks,math,and everything else.Like everyone else,you get your fancy new meter,diet log,and commence to stabbing yourself (dramatically) with a syringe to prove to your friends that it really doesn't hurt.(the truth is,it can&will but you aren't allowed to show weakness,without being thought of as a wimp,or pitied)

Time passes,the novelty wears off.Soon,you could care less what number The Great Grey/Black/Pink Meter will spit back at you.You'll be doing this again in a few hours anyway.It's just a meter,despite the 5 second countdowns&tiny blood samples&wireless Beam Me Up (to the pump)Scotty technology.Yes,we've come along way from even 1998(45 second countdowns,huge blood sample sizes) but we have a long way to go.I have given more gallons of blood to the vampire machines then I have to the Red Cross.(&that would be 35 pints)Blood that could mean something,beyond the next insulin dose.Blood that could help me live life my way,not dictated by some disease.

But I continue to bleed,like every other D(who attempts management of the disease) on this planet.Because I bleed,I don't get squeemish about seeing it like I do other body substances.This came in handy,when I was a practicing EMT.Ask me to assist w/the bleeding patient,& I was ok with that.(asking me to help with the vomiting patient was another story.Especially beer vomit. The very combination made me want to double vomit) Blood is one of those substances you want to take proper precautions against,should it be someone else's,but so are other body secretions.It's very archaic that in the 21st century we still have to bleed,to manage our disease,it should be history by now.CGM's should be as accurate as meters.

I received my new D-Kit from StickMe Designs(for winning the Diabetes Mine contest) & while I gotta say,testing is still a drag it helps ALOT to have a fun new case.You can see what I mean below.

Old:




New:


This thing has CLASS.3 inside zippered pouches,3 elastic bands for meter/tester/glucose tabs,logbook flap,outside zippered pouch & a carrying strap.Versus the 1 mesh,1 logbook flap,huge vast space of my old carrier.I still have diabetes,but tonight,it sucks a little less.It's brilliancy in a white/pink canvas.

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Little Grey Transmitter

Friday night,my Dexcom reading cut off, cold.(after about 5 minutes of ??? marks) I looked down at my site, and the tape was still there...undisturbed. It's like my transmitter jumped up out of skin and went AWOL. It was really strange,as I'd felt nothing being jerked out. I figured I'd look for it later.

5 AM, I get up and start turning the room upside down looking for it. An hour later, no transmitter. I knew I hadn't gone out of the room and it MUST be in the room, unless it fell in the toilet & if that were the case, I'd be royally screwed.($350 literally down the drain)Went back to bed.

9 AM, I got up again, and resumed my search. And found it.

Under a rug!
























It's odd how emotionally dependent we can be, on technology.(that can fail on us anytime, anywhere. We really don't "need" this stuff to survive..and yet, we feel that we do.) And it can get lost.(I estimate I've lost every piece of D-related stuff I've owned at least twice) Few invoke any sort of panic though.(only the pump,or a piece of CGM gear) Losing a meter is no big deal(I have many), losing a receiver or transmitter is a huge, expensive, deal. It's kind of like (I imagine) losing a kid would be..first you panic, go a bit crazy, find the kid, and are mad/relieved/keyed up all over again.It's an emotional roller coaster.

Home, Home on the Range

Home, Home on the Range
Where the glucose never doth change
Where never is seen
A Four-hundred-fourteen
And a ketone is something quite strange..

Back to the D.E. again today. I am the type of person/patient that requires accountability..and a periodic good (mental) kick-in-the-pants to stay
on the control bandwagon. With my Endo's maternity leave looming ever nearer,she'll
shortly be out of the picture & I'll have to adjust to someone new. The DE, I know though,and it's a more comfortable situation. I need intervention,or bad habits soon creep back in and my a1c marches steadily upwards.

We discussed my horrific post-meal swings,& possible solutions to them. Now that I'm finally back to the normal insanity(vs the 400+ insanity), I'm trying to get re-used to normal blood sugars & that's just not pleasant at all. At 110, I'm shoving everything into my mouth & at 90, I'm catatonic. I need to be lower, but where's the good of being 100 (or 90) if you can't prevent yourself from eating everything in sight and becoming 220 again? DE says just eat a small snack..that's not happening.(I'm starving to death below a certain number) In my mind, I need to adjust to being 160...130..100 (in increments) not seesawing madly from one extreme to the next.(Steady is a good thing) I'm willing to try pre-bolusing though.(I have a Dexcom..I can do this. I will (hopefully) not end up on the floor. Pre-bolusing should help those post-meal numbers. (and the a1c) Pre-meal numbers are looking pretty good, but the post-meal swings aren't.

Towards 2011

Here's a list of goals/resolutions for 2010:

-In so far as it is up to me, avoid maxing out said deductible with horrendous copays. It isn't the getting of subsequent services free that is disturbing, its the amount spent getting there, that's disturbing.I need to get my docs to write for the max amount allowed, and utilize those supplies better. Of course, the cost of supplies has gone up..so that'll skyrocket me towards my deductible as well.

-Get my a1c under 7. Things aren't off to a real great start, failed sets and sickness and stress and blah-blah-blah helping my collective average be more like 300.(I don't even want to think of what that translates to,a1c wise) I need to aggressively treat my highs,& stop worrying so much about lows.(because clearly, that is not a problem right now. Haven't had any since the last decade!)

-Get organized, beyond just being able to find important papers,etc. The "Junk Room" must rival the orginization of the "Lincoln Bedroom"...a place that I could actually let a non-family member in there.(without dying of shame)

-Get genetically tested for my subset of Bartter's Syndrome, learn exact chances of passing it on. Get things regulated with pumping magnesium-I want to be as knowledgable/proficient in that, as I am (not) in my diabetes management. I want to get to the point where bloodwork ever so often, is the only medical intervention I'd require.

-Go to a diabetes conferance. (or two or three)

-Meet more DOC bloggers.

-Finish off my last prereq, get into a nursing school program in the fall!

-Publish my book.(hahahahaha)

-Update my blog(lmk if you'd like your blog to be in the bloglines)..and get at least 1 new follower!

-Get tickets to, and attend a Doctor's TV taping. We're out there in SoCal several times a year anyway...its all a matter of matching up the dates.(considerably more difficult on their end, then mine)

-Exercise more.(of course, which ensures that I probably won't because I'm not going to commit to going 3+ times a week.I'm going to do it when I can. That's being realistic.)

My (Diet) Coke Rewards

For three years running, Coke has had a promotion going. It's called My Coke Rewards...and it's (yet)another excellent way to waste time on the internet.

It's no secret that I drink alot of Diet Coke. It's an addiction, yet I have no desire to quit(everyone has to have SOME bad habit) Diet Coke bottles...diet Coke cans, all generate a fortune of Coke codes(might as well get something out of the deal, right?)
But like everything else, the recession has taken a bit hit on the program & they've imposed all kinds of rules and regulations. In the beginning, there was a 10 code(per day) limit and you could get an $120 PlayStation 2 for 800 measly points. And you could buy points on Ebay, to boot.(no more!)

Which I took full advantage of. I have gotten a PS2,blockbuster gift cards, movie tickets,free coke products,a best buy gift card,pass to Universal Studios,passes to other theme parks,TGIF gift cards,etc.etc.etc. Honestly, I can't remember what all I've gotten..it's been three years. But every year, they impose stricter limits(last year, it was the 120 point cap entry/week and 2000 total points). And a $50 gift card now goes for 2000 points.(which takes 15 weeks to save up for!) That made alot of people most unhappy.(me, I was thrilled..since you can now input all your points per the the week at one time. I don't have time to be doing that on a daily basis) Some limits are good, it leaves something for everyone.(the max points and inflation isn't good)

Change has struck again, this time it pertains to instant win game entries. I have never been lucky when it comes to winning that kind of stuff, so once again, I'm happy that the users with 5,000 credits in their accounts can't steamroll their way to a vacation in Bermuda. They'll lose all those (banked) entries, come January 10. I don't like to spend my points on entries for contests that I'll lose, so I can only play five entries at one time.(put that in the jackpot of millions of users trying to win that prize and chances that I'd win are non-existent)

I'd just like to win one major prize..that's all I'm asking for, out of this promotion. And then I'll feel some sort of closure, with this program.(and I really hope this is the LAST year they have it)I would feel better,after all the time(and money) I've invested.(consumption & inputting all those codes) Then, I can give it an A++ instead of the C(blah,blah-used to be much better) it currently is. I will always be a loyal(diet) Coke drinker, but if they're going to have a program like this, there are alot of things that could be better. I wouldn't base my loyalty off the excellence of this program.

Nintendo Power!

I just got(myself) a dsi for Christmas,(with the money I got) and I gotta say...it's nice. Slick, black, and light years beyond the regular ds.(the camera function is both inner & outer, so you can take a picture of yourself. That's not so easy on an iphone!) I wanted a blue one...but I digress,I can easily put a skin on it and make it blue. The very fact that they had dsi's in stock at all is something to be celebrated.

It's perfect. Except for that the fact that my favorite game, didn't work on it, and works on my old ds. So, I tried another game and that game worked on both systems.

So I called Nintendo, and got placed on hold. Only it wasn't hold, it was speakerphone, so after a few minutes of that, I hung up. And called back again.

And got placed on speakerphone again. I decided to stay, on the wildcard chance that someone might answer.

This is what I heard...

"So it will go out on XX date.."

"Let's go get pizza!"

"Our records indicate..."

"Serial number XXXXXXXXX..."

And credit card numbers. Lots, and lots, of credit card numbers. If I weren't an honest person, I could have had a a field day with them. I'm sure that someone at Nintendo would have gotten fired for that.After half an hour, someone answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, I'm having a problem with my dsi and would like to talk to someone about it."

Click.

So, I called back. And actually got someone.

"Hello?"

"Yes, I'm having a problem with my new dsi and would like some help with it."

"Certainly."

I didn't have my dsi with me, so I just told her the error code that kept popping up and she informed me that I likely had a bootleg copy of said game.

"But it works on my ds."

"Yes, but with the increased system security measures it won't recognize it on the dsi."

I'd bought the game on Ebay...it figures. Over a year ago,I'm not even sure if it's still in my purchase history.(to inform the seller)

"Are you sure it's not a system problem? This is just so unusual,I don't know what to think."

"I'll switch you over to my colleague.But they aren't supposed to start with the letters NTR, and yours does, which indicates it's fake."

Switched. I explain the problem to him, and he says he can't do anything without the serial number on my dsi,which of course I don't have with me.(call back) And I let him know about the phone rerouting problem.(which shouldn't be happening)

An hour later,I call back..and they're experiencing heavy call volume(everyone off from work), which goes on for the next 3 hours, until they close. Check rest of DS games, and most of them say "NTR" which confuses me even more, because they work on both systems.(and obviously, aren't fakes) And find another game that doesn't work.

Tried again, this morning-got through. Was informed that it's still fake. I think I will call them back and actually send in the games for testing.

Notes from a Spinning Planet:New York Low

There are moments,in the life of a person with diabetes,that produce pure terror.Those are the moments outside of one's own control.Those are the moments that strike,out of the blue.Those are the moments that too often,have no real explanation.

We'd just come from the Radio City Music Hall & were chillin' on Broadway & (34th?) St.,eating dinner. Because my blood sugar was somewhere over the rainbow(420) & the cgm was confirming the meter(360,and going up) I corrected,and only ate half the fries with my ribs.

7 units. 50 carbs. Usually,I'd need twice that but we were doing alot of walking,and exercise does crazy things to my bgs.

By the time we'd made it to the subway,I was tanking like a train engine.Double arrows down.Not a bad thing,but it was awefully early in the process to be doing that.15 minutes later,270. 10 minutes later,200.Bulk of said insulin still not at it's peak. So I drank a juice box,ate 3 glucose tabs. (39 carbs)It didn't slow down the descent one iota,we got off the subway and I was 110.

By that point,I was getting really freaked out and begun stuffing glucose tabs into my mouth with complete abandon,I didn't much care if I OD'd to 200+ mg/dl. That,I could deal with.This,I could not.I have never in my life dropped 300 points in about 45 minutes & didn't know what in the world was going on.One thing was fairly obvious though...

"Honey,we have to go up & get juice from a store.NOW." Panic filled my voice,though I'd just consumed 10 tabs I was feeling the effects of a low.

So up we went,into the frigid(under 10 degrees Celcius)night air to find the nearest convenience store,where we purchased two bottles of juice and I drained one in short order.

LOW. I was definatly feeling the effects now,and could only hope that the 95 carbs I'd just consumed would do something quick before I became another statistic on a NYC sidewalk.

And it did,the tabs kicked in,the juice kicked in,& the Dexcom line rose to a healthy 150 mg/dl.Eventually,we got back to the hotel & it was still mid 100's. The rest of our trip,I didn't go anywhere without 2 full bottles of juice & a bottle of glucose tabs.(that's what you call being a hyper-hypo-iac)

Diabetes can be pretty scary sometimes..I'm glad I don't live in a big city,because I am not used to walking everywhere.I'd have alot more of that kind of low. And I'm VERY glad I have a Dexcom,it could have been very bad.




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2009: Year of the (No) Cure

Taking a look back through the months...


January: Back to the Past

February: Of iphones and iApprovals

March: Change.

April: Goodbye, ER.

May: Gym Rat.

June: The Placebo Effect.

July: Marcus and the Post-Tonsillectomy Hamburger

August: Across the Atlantic Soup(part 1)

September: Crossing the Line

October: Between a Rash and a Hard Place

November: Notes from a Spinning Planet: Tweetup!

December: Gift

It's been quite a year...one which definatly changed me.(I now have to un-addict myself from reading Twitter feeds 24/7, that's one of the bad habits I've picked up)
On the diabetes scene..my a1c has dropped 1.4 from last year at this time(thanks, Dexcom!), on the cultural front, I have been to another country for the first time ever & that was awesome. I think I am not so blase' with higher blood sugars..because I've learned that tight(er) control is important. I'm not there yet,
the seizure I had a couple weeks ago reminded me of that all too well. It seems I can't be one of those PWD to just wake up & treat the bg, that irritates me to no end. There is such a thing as Killer Control.(it'll kill you one way or the other)
I'm tonsil-less, and strep hasn't plagued me once.(since then) I participated in a rather novel research study,one that will hopefully help someone, somewhere. And I hope that 2010..will bring us closer to a cure. I'm not sure if they've made any real progress at all(on that front),it sure doesn't seem like it. Just better tools for diabetes management.(don't get me wrong, that's good,but I'd much rather have a cure)

It's Beginning to look alot like...Alaska

So much so,when you see a big ,tough,handle-it-all vehicle down FROM Alaska in the parking lot.I'm sure they're feeling right at home.(20 inches,ugh)It was a workout just shoveling out the
cars/driveway.




Line at the post office on Monday.Literally, the worst day of the year to be there,the line stretched to the doors & beyond.And the one guy who mailed 50+ packages didn't really improve the wait time.(it was a 45+minute wait.Maybe an hour)Merry Christmas!




(drift of snow as tall as me..I think I need snowshoes for Christmas!)

On Saturday,the mail truck got stuck in a ditch (near our house).Snow was coming down a mile a minute,& it was pretty nasty out.(the very fact that they were delivering at all was amazing) So some guy hitched a cable from his 4-wheel drive to the mail truck,& while he pulled,everyone else,pushed.(sans me,I confess I was more engrossed in capturing it on video) Truck got out of the ditch, fishtailed across the road,swerved back and forth and eventually got back on track.I guess by that point our mail lady had had more then enough and went home.(no mail for the next few days)It may look like Alaska here,but we sure don't deal with vast quantities of snow well.

Off to Virginia for a few days and then (hopefully)to NYC...very excited,because this Southern gal has never been to NYC.It'll be bitterly cold,I'm sure.(but cool beyond words)

Merry Christmas,everyone!

The Elfster Express

Allison, over at Lemonaide Life once again this year organized a Elfster exchange with the DOC/diabetes crowd. My Elfster, Shannon, sent me one of these...($25)


Which I promptly blew, on these..



(Gift #1, Diabetic Athlete's Handbook. Bought, in the ever-so-desperate of attempts to get myself to the gym more then once a week, this holiday season. And it's a wonderful resource..it just makes me wish that I were more disciplined!)



(gift #2, a chick-lit. book. I don't suppose I can stop that guilty addiction..it's like diet coke, once you're hooked, you're hooked)



(gift #3. Star-Wars themed Nintendo DS styluses. Fun, yet actually NOT just a filler for the free Amazon shipping cut-off. I'm sure to be an instant hit with the niece/nephew crowd, this week.)

And that's what I spent my gift card on,sometimes(ok, more then sometimes) the best gift is one you choose yourself! I love the Elfster exchange..though I tried to get my draw what they actually wanted, I don't mind at all if someone gives me a gift card. Thanks, Allison-and thanks, Shannon!!!

Gift

I truly had no idea who was calling,as I uncerimoniously dumped my purchases on the floor of the store,and grabbed my iPhone,amid the hustle and bustle of the shoppers around me.

"Hello,Heidi.This is your instructor at XXXX."

Oh yeah,that course.The one I'd just finished,taking the final exam on the 9th. And the one that,oddly enough,I had absolutely no immeadiete desire to learn the outcome of.Because I know what my average was,going into the final.

"It turns out I made some mistakes calculating your final grade,you didn't get a C."

Long,long,long,lonnggg pause.

"Great," hoarse squeek from myself,envisioning D's and F's in it's place & how could this happen?I poured my guts into that final.

"So I'm changing it from a C to a B."

"WOW!" Stunned silence on my part.

"Like I said,I miscalculated.So I thought I'd call and let you know,the changes aren't up on the website.But they should be,by Monday."

"Thank you sooooo much!This is such awesome news,I really can't believe it."

"You're welcome.Have a nice weekend."

Click.

And that's one of the best gifts anyone can possibly give..the rebirth of a dream.B means I do not have to retake the course.B means I have 1 more course to finish,before I could get into nursing school.B means I am not a blathering idiot.

B means,see you next semester!


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