Treasures of the Belmont

My last major task on Saturday,before heading home (from Virginia) was to hit up the big annual yard sale. This involved getting up @6:15,so I could follow my brother(& family) out there. Extreme early mornings never bode well for my blood sugars,the Dexcom went to town from 140 to over 300. I knew it would come down though,as I was doing alot of walking. Sure enough,it came down to 189 by the time I was ready for brunch.







I have a thing for Pillsbury Doughboy..and on the last stop of the day,hit the motherlode. I think I squealed like a kid in a candy shop,since I really don't have enough PD memorabilia.So I kind of went a bit crazy,with what money I had remaining,and for $6,I was happy with what I got.(below,plus large Doughboy in above photo) And it was all in excellent condition.


























I also got other stuff..











(candy cane pin)













And snapped this pic,of an R2D2 Pepsi cooler. I couldn't have fit it in my car,but thought it was cool,nonetheless.When I whipped out my iPhone to take a picture of it,a glazed look passed over the face of the individual next to me,who had likely never seen anything like that in all of his 65+ years.He probably got that it was a camera of sorts,just not something seen in RuralVille,USA.











(and this was too cute & too cheap to pass up...given that I live near water & love the ocean!)

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A Fall D-Meme

What type of diabetes do you have: Type 1.

When were you diagnosed: December 10, 1998 @ 4 pm.I recall that moment precisely, I was staring at the clock in the exam room when the nurse practitioner told me the news.

What's your current blood sugar: 186, at 5:30 pm.

What kind of meter do you use: One Touch Ping. Occasionally,I will use my Contour USB.

How many times a day do you test your blood sugar: 7-10.

What's a "high" number for you: 150+, but I don't generally do something about it unless I have no IOB..or its 200+. I am sensitive,and drop quickly.
What's do you consider "low": Anything under 80 mg/dl.

What's your favorite low blood sugar reaction treater: Most often, I use juice or tabs. Airheads, Cotton Candy, or Candy Corn are all great ways to treat a low, providing I don't eat the entire bag.

Describe your dream endo: non-judgemental,tireless advocate,deliverer of world-class care,devilishly handsome (if male).

What's your biggest diabetes achievement: I don't have any. As of yet,I haven't achieved an a1c under 7, but I have lived almost 12 years with this disease and I consider that an achievement of sorts.

What's your biggest diabetes-related fear:Blindness. Everything else can be improved upon,(kidney machines,heart meds,etc.) but you can't fix permanent blindness. I love movies, watching the change in seasons,and so much in life that comes from that one sense. That cannot be replaced.

Who's on your support team: husband, family, friends, local pump support group. And the cats-because I think they want me around as long as possible...to feed/care for them.

Do you think there will be a cure in your lifetime: No. But I do think type 1 will become more like type 2-more stable blood sugars,not fluctuating as much.
What is a "cure" to you: Anything that keeps my blood sugar in a "feel good" range(70-150) and prevents secondary complications. Like an artificial pancreas..I have high hopes for that project.

The most annoying thing people say to you about your diabetes is: "I could never do "that"(syringes,blood tests,diet change, etc.) Well, I'm not doing this because I enjoy a Spartan lifestyle..I'm doing this because I want to have a long and healthy life. You could and WOULD, if it were you.


What is the most common misconception about diabetes: that you get it from eating too much sugar!

If you could say one thing to your pancreas, what would it be: I'm grateful you didn't go totally kaput on me..but you islets are the wimpiest things EV-ER. I would far rather take digestive enzymes then take insulin, for the rest of my life!

Between Numbers

7.9 is a beautiful number.Not any better then 3 months ago..but not any worse,either. And the mental anguish of a 40 minute waiting room-doctor wait melted away the second my endo walked into the room & told me my a1c.In the time I waited for her,I snapped pics.



(waiting room)




(supply closet,just outside the door)


(weapon of death,used on all non-compliant patients)

We talked about many things..my endo is very through,if nothing else. About my up-and-coming clinical trial(my endo used to be an endocrine fellow down there,& thus knows everyone)and about my sudden,drastic bolus changes(going from 1/10 to 1/20 amid other one's just because I felt like it was a tad shocking to her,to say the least) In my defense,when I did go back to the replacement pump,I didn't have any records of basals/bolus ratios & the CDE was on vacation & I didn't feel like playing phone tag with the endo so that's what those were.And most of them do work-my a1c did not suck,because of the changes I made.She really didn't believe me though.(Apparently I brought in the wrong set of bgs,I should have shown her the 250-400's of the several weeks prior.Sigh. Lab form..took a look at feet/eyes/thump chest/review meds.I do not need any refills of anything,because (most) of my d-supplies will be provided free,should I get into the clinical trial.I kind of think that although no changes were made,it was still a worthwhile appt..I did get some questions answered & was reassured that my a1c wasn't worse.Yes,there was guilt,but it wasn't an overwhelming,run from the exam room naked & screaming(crazy) sort of guilt.I am relieved that it's over,though.

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September when it Comes

There's a sort of doomed finality that dodges the days leading up to an endo appointment,when you JUST KNOW the a1c will suck bucketloads & short of having a full-body blood transfusion there's really not so much you can do about it. Some look forward to getting it done,some dread it with all the aplomb of having a root canal done.

I fall in the later category.I wish I could take back the 300's,the bad sets,the postmeal ughs..

but I can't. I may be having a currently fantastic bg run,but the average of 120 and 300 is still not a number you want on your meter.(or in your a1c) So,I will just hope for something less then it was last time. My appointments usually fall in September..it's the time of year that breathes change(and approaching antiquity). I have no idea what my a1c will be,thus time around.One day is only 1/90 of an a1c,but 3 weeks is almost 25% of it,& I'm not holding out much hope.

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Adopted

I'm happy to report,that after 1.5 years of full grade legal battle...my almost 2 year old niece is legally in my brother's family now. They adopted her at day 3,& she's been a part of the family ever since.But at day 31,the father-of-the-child decided he wanted to keep the kid,no matter what his ex-girlfriend actually (didn't want) wanted,So,despite the fact that it was past the point where they could change their mind,they changed it(& when one has waited 12 months plus to adopt a child,& had the kid for a whole month that is like the worst thing that can happen) It went to court,& my brother had to spend the big bucks on a lawyer(while the other family got theirs free)..and continued going up the court system...but the other side has finally folded and today,I feel like there actually still may be justice in America.My niece is cute,& adorable,& deserves to be in a family that can provide for her.(& beyond that,if they were going to change their minds,don't do it on the 31st day..you've had 10 months to come to a decision about this)
I'm happy for them,the opposite scenario would have been a tragedy.

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Of Ipads & Artificial Pancreases

I haven't figured certain fundamentals of iPad useage-like if I "need" Mobile Me or how the Sam's hill I plug in speakers/headphones & why are iPhone games/FB are not showing full size. But beyond that,I love it..Internet navigating is a breeze,the screen is 6x larger,and blogging should be MUCH easier.(no more excuses) Next week, I travel down to Virginia for another phase of the Artificial Pancreas Project(something that,within the past year,has just come out of the closet...they were not calling it that back in 2007). I'm excited,but it's not going to be a scenario where the computer does all the work,it will be all me.
Still,it's interesting..and a step in the right direction.From my perspective,as the Career Guinea Pig..it still seems to have much work remaining,FDA doesn't even trust it "live" yet. And various pumps/cgms get out of the market(Cozmo-maybe the Navigator?) & all that has to be accounted for..but Animas/Dexcom are hopefully in it for the long haul. CGM's continue to improve,new insulins come to market...and this project is one that could take a very long time,don't look for a cure.(or even close to it,within the next ten years) Still,my 24 hours with The Project were largely ones of very,very flatline blood sugars...whatever it was doing,it worked.Real life is nothing like that, & once it is perfected in the hospital setting it must be tested out in the real world. I don't know what that would entail..perhaps trial periods where you'd return & they'd download everything. The first priority, according to them,is minimizing extreme lows...& putting safety steps in place,to prevent pump overdose. Only they know what they're doing(& how to do it), as a patient,I can only see the timeline of what they have done.(& speculate on the future)

Diabetes Art Day & other September Goodies

Why am I so excited about today? Because it's Diabetes Art Day!
(click to enlarge-the reason it's fuzziness is I combined photos) There is a border of "blood drops", a sea of test strips(with diet coke stepping stones)...and a syringe/tubing fishing pole.(along with various inspirational slogans)











(Ok,so that's not entirely true. Though I did have fun making this,and I look forward to seeing everyone else's artwork, the bulk of said excitement is due to the below photo)




















Happy Birthday to me!!!!(boy, have I had difficulty NOT ripping into it.. we picked it out on Sat,but because of my maturity/oldness I did not open it until today)Thanks to my awesome husband for getting me precisely what I wanted!

In Memoriam

I read the names of those who fell
On granite slabs,on marble,slate
Forever young,these fallen ones
Were brothers,fathers,lovers,sons.
What might have been,is now a wish
No cure for cancer,no mercury-free fish
A world still waits, and longs,for this.

They gave their lives for here and now
The right to blog, without reprise
To go to church, to vote(and pray )
This thing they call The American Way.

I thought of too,of those who fall
Slain in another,global war
Their names are written on our hearts
Heroes of another sort.
They had so much to give
So many years have been cut short
I wish that wars,& D would cease
A weary world just longs for peace.

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Xtra Ketones

I decided to get a Precision Xtra,to see if it really was all that different from the old fashioned way of peeing on a strip.A FB acquaintance gave me some soon to expire strips,and I tried them but you can't use expired strips..the meter won't let you. So I called the doc's office for an rx,emphasizing blood KETONE strips. Later,the pharmacy called me,& again I emphasized blood KETONE strips. As you can probably guess,when I showed up at the pharmacy the rx was blood glucose strips & the pharmacist would have to call the docs office.4 hours later,they called again to say that the rx could be picked up today,after 3 pm.I got there about 3:30 pm and they said sorry,it wouldn't be ready till after 6. I cooly informed them that they'd said 3 pm & I was holding them to it.By this time,the cars behind me in the drivethrough were driving around (and going inside). So the tech went & got it pushed through. It wasn't her fault, & she apologized for the inconvenience. I was not in a very good mood(made even better by my recent string of 300+ blood sugars), and all I wanted was to get the rx and go check the darn ketones. I payed the $57.36(again,insurance didn't cover much & the Freestyle program covered nothing),went home,& voilà, this is my first meter reading.1.2. I seem to be having truly rotten bgs of late,ever since my Ping broke,vacation,etc..& I am no closer to getting them in line(switch insulins,sets,lines,etc).At least now I know how resistant I am,& can maybe use that info when I'm correcting.(presence of ketones make one more resistant) Urine strips aren't very accurate when you're visiting the restroom every 20 minutes.And sometimes I don't even think about ketones & just correct..when really, I should. Another thing about ketones is,they sometimes require extra calories(& that takes even more insulin) Fair to say,if I'm super high & feel like warmed over death, I probably have ketones.


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Just Another Number

It's just a number.

It does not mean I had a Twinkie gorging party this morning,and forgot to bolus.

It is not a reflection of my moral character.

It does not mean I will die next week.(although,I need to be doing something about it ASAP)

I refuse to feel guilt. I am not a pancreas,& I cannot control the 1,001 factors that influence blood sugar numbers.

I will pick up the syringe,inject,change the set..& continue living this D-life the best that I can.

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Day 3: A Visit to the Banting House

I was excited for this day..ever since I'd found out (via Twitter)that it was A.near Niagara Falls and B. fairly accessible and C. a smashing place to visit(compliments of Virtue's post). Oh wow,was I excited.(more like,unable to be lived with) On day 3, we bid adeau to Niagara Falls(more on that later) & drove due west about two hours to the lovely little town of London,Ontario.(near Paris,& the Themes River.I guess they wanted a little slice of Europe)


It was just off a main road,& there was plenty of free parking. Went inside,where the tour guide greeted us & took us on a tour(we were the only one's there that day,& defiantly the only Americans) At the end of the tour,we paid $10, and then went back to look things over more throughly.


(Banting's flat screen tv)

The journey began in this room,where we heard about Queen Elizabeth II's trip over there,to dedicate the Eternal Flame.





I know you can't see the flame,but it's up there. Some doofus vandalized it once..and the weather has put it out,but it is supposed to burn,until there is a cure.And was that ever a tear inducer,I could tell that the whole tour I'd be choking back & trying not to have a breakdown.Will there ever be a cure?


(the special tea set they had made for her visit)


And then we tromped upstairs,where the most important room was. The room where young Banting had his billion dollar idea,on the morning of Oct.20,1920.(Banting lived in the house for 10 months)



Sat on the bed...



Signed the guest book..


Went into another room,& viewed five year old Teddy Ryder's pics(70 years on insulin) and letter to Dr.Banting.





And Banting's Nobel Prize:











In his later years,Banting did mustard gas experiments on his leg(& they almost had to amputate it). He died in a plane accident in 1941, off the Newfoundland coast.(perhaps due to German sabatouge)





(door stop of old insulin vials..a fitting tribute to him)













Banting was 29 when he discovered insulin...and hearing that made me considerably happier,because perhaps there's hope for me yet.(as that number looms before me,taunting me with the nearness of 30)



(the time capsule that the discoverors of THE CURE for diabetes,will open) Yes,at that point I had to break out the tissues.

































(Banting was also an artist,& there was a room full of his art)









Some (ok,most) will say that the biggest Canadian contribution to the world at large is hockey,& certainly the game would be the lesser were it not for those Hall of Fame greats. But I say, Canada's Greatest Contribution is insulin..& the first thing that comes to mind, when I think of the Land of the Maple Leaf. I wish all Canadians learned about it in school.(it seemed to be a very sparsely attended tourist destination) A world without insulin,would be a world minus millions of us. It would have eventually been discovered,but it came just in time for thousands of T1 PWD.


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