Me and D - Personal Blog About Health And Nutrition

Sunday, 10 April, 2011

My Day (HAWMC Day 18)

Today’s prompt is plain and simple: write a schedule of what your typical day looks like. Where does your health fit in?

-wake up

-wake up husband

-check blood sugar and calibrate cgm

-bolus for breakfast

-make COFFEE!

-watch today show and hop on Twitter while waiting 30 minutes for bolus to kick in (helps keep me from spiking in the morning- don’t ask me why).

-eat breakfast

-brush teeth

-hair, makeup, etc.

-get dressed

-drive to work

-work

-lunch- check bg, calibrate, bolus, wait 15 minutes, eat lunch

-work

-afternoon break- check bg, calibrate, bolus, wait 15 minutes, and have a snack

-drive home (or to my parents’ house for dinner, depending on the day)

-check bg, calibrate, bolus, wait 15 minutes, eat dinner

-go for a walk outside or go to the gym (4 days a week)

-drive home

-shower

-check in with J about our days

-watch TV, facebook stalk some people, and tweet with my DOC friends

-check bg, calibrate, bolus, wait 15 minutes, and have a snack

-more TV-FB-Twitter

-snuggle with hubs

-check bg and calibrate one last time

-brush teeth

-bed

Lies (HAWMC Day 14)

Todays’ prompt: let’s make lists that are 5-10 lines long – each line being a lie or misconception about your health condition.

Lies
I ate too much sugar as a kid
Life with D is no big deal
My diabetes can be reversed or cured
All lies

My D is mostly invisible
You can’t tell just by looking
The toll it takes
Physically and emotionally
Don’t believe the lies

I Used To Be… (HAWMC Day 28)

Today’s Prompt: The idea is: you start every paragraph of your short story (or your poem) with the sentence “I used to be…” and end each with “but I’m not any more.”

I used to be apathetic, but I’m not anymore.

I used to be withdrawn, but I’m not anymore.

I used to be hesitant to speak out, but I’m not anymore.

I used to be afraid of my D, but I’m not anymore.

I used to be overwhelmed with the feeling I was the only one, but I’m not anymore.

I Love My Endo (HAWMC Day 19)

Today’s prompt: Health Activist Choice 2. Like our other first Health Activist Choice day, today’s topic is up to you! Write about something you’ve had on your mind.

Today, I have endo on the brain. I went to my endocrinologist this morning, as I do every 3-4 months or so.

I’ve only ever had two endos in my whole life. The first was my pediatric endo, whom I saw till I was 18, and I’ve been with my current endo ever since.

I like my endo, I really do. But boy howdy, was I a hot mess this morning. What is it about going to the endo that causes me to completely freak out? The butterflies in my stomach, the anxiety, the stress. Yikes! I love my endo. He’s a very kind, laid back kinda guy. He has never, ever made me feel badly about myself.

Even back in November, when my A1c hit 8.0. I was horrified and holding back tears, and he just said, “Well, that’s higher than I’d like. Let’s see what we can do to get it down.”

So he suggested I contact my insurance again about getting a CGM. And they said yes! So I’ve been using my CGM since December, and I LOVE it!!! I’m kinda addicted…I might have a problem…

I also found the DOC back in November. So, thanks mostly to my DOC friends, as well as the CGM, my A1c dropped from 8.0 in November to 7.6 in February. Woot!

So, back to today. I was really hoping my A1c had gone down. I have been trying to take better care of myself. But between being sick and my food issues rearing their ugly heads over the last few weeks, my averages weren’t necessarily stellar. But I was still hopeful.

So when the number came back at 7.6 again, I was really disappointed. Yes, I’m still struggling with apathy, burnout, and my relationship with food, but damnit, I’ve been trying. Grrrr!

While I was disappointed, my endo, on the other hand, was very pleased. He said that it’s ok that it didn’t go down. The fact that it stayed the same even with me being sick shows that I am trying and the CGM is helping.

And here I must apologize for not giving you guys credit where it’s due. I’ve mentioned the DOC to him before, but didn’t expound on how much you all have helped me. I should have done that today, but was too worked up.

Anyways, so endo made a few minor tweaks here and there, but was really pleased overall. So I’m trying to focus on that. The fact that it stayed the same is good. I am making progress by doing the next thing.

I left the office still a little disappointed, but happy my endo was happy. Oh, and all the stress and anxiety leading up to the appointment led to a lovely 248 and an afternoon of stubborn 200s. Oh well.

But that A1c’s gonna be lower when I go back in August, damnit! I CAN do this!

Hey D (HAWMC Day 7)

Today’s prompt: Leave your health a text or a voicemail.

Hey D, it’s Jess. As you may know, I’m real people sick. Started with a sore throat, and now it’s moving into my head. And ya, know, I really have enough to deal with without your help. I can barely stop sneezing long enough to check my bgs. I don’t appreciate the high numbers. So if you’d just leave me alone for a few days, that’d be great.

Thanks. Bye.

Help A D-Rockstar Out! (HAWMC Day 30)

Today’s Prompt: Gobbledygook Day. In health communities there is a certain lexicon that only those on “the inside” can understand. So today, for our last prompt, make up a new word to use.

D-rockstar: a person who is a total rock star in the D world. May also be used as a hashtag (#drockstar).

You know who is a total D-rockstar? Victoria Cumbow.

Victoria lives in Alabama. And unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard of the devastation that occurred there this week.

A LOT of help is needed!!! Go check out Victoria’s blog to see how you can help.

In addition to monetary donations, many diabetics have lost all their supplies in the storms. If you have extra supplies laying around or can go buy some, they are desperately needed!!!! Non- prescription supplies including, but not limited to:

meters
test strips
lancets
glucose tabs
ketone strips
syringes
insulin
anything else you can think of

If you have supplies to send, please email me or contact Victoria.

This is why Victoria is a D-rockstar. My grandparent’s hometown was nearly wiped off the map by a tornado almost 10 years ago, and that was traumatic enough. I can’t even imagine how Victoria and all the others affected by the storms must be feeling. She has been working tirelessly to help people in her community. The least we can do is send some supplies her way!

So let’s help a D-rock star out!!!

Follow Victoria on Twitter to stay updated.

From Victoria’s post:

“If you have money, donate to the Red Cross by texting “Red Cross” to 90999 to have $10 added to your phone bill.

To send money to Huntsville’s local office, mail to American Red Cross, 1101 Washington Street, 35801. Designation: Tornado relief.

You can send national donations to theAmerican Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington D.C. 20013. Designation: Tornado relief.”

Note: I did not invent the term D-rockstar. I wanted a term that I could use to blog about what Victoria is doing. There is a site out there called Diabetic Rockstar. I am not a member of that site, nor did they ask me to use the term. I just found it fitting!

*Thanks for sticking with me through all the HAWMC posts this month! I’ll be back after a little blogging break, for the sake of my sanity. While I’m gone, send some stuff to Victoria. Love you all!*

Never-Ending (HAWMC Day 8)

Today’s prompt: write a poem where every line is a question.

Never-Ending

Why do the questions never seem to end?

Not only those others ask, but I ask myself?

Why is my blood sugar high

when I’ve eaten this same thing before?

Did I not bolus early enough?

Is my insulin to carb ratio off?

Were there more carbs than I thought?

Should I have done a combo bolus?

Should I do some basal testing?

Are there bubbles in my tubing?

Am I getting sick?

Is it that time of the month?

Will the questions ever end?

Admiration (HAWMC Day 21)

Today’s Prompt: Who is someone you really admire?

Well, I really don’t know what to write that wouldn’t be repeating myself. I’ve already written multiple posts about several people I admire. Here’s a recap, in no particular order.

I’ve blogged about my amazing parents multiple times. My mom and dad are both heroes to me, and I don’t know what I’d do without them.

Another person I admire so very much is my grandpa. And Poppa is doing very well now. Thanks to everyone who helped me through that difficult time.

My wonderful husband is someone else who continually amazes me. Not only is he incredibly supportive in all areas of my life, but he’s wicked smart too. I could brag on him all day.

And finally, there’s my friend Barb. She is going through a lot right now. But her positivity and contagious energy is truly inspiring. Seriously, go check out her blog. I guarantee you’ll be inspired too.

Usually (HAWMC Day 11)

Today’s Prompt: Wikipedia. Pretend you’re rewriting or adding onto your condition’s page – what sentence or paragraph should be included (in your opinion) on your the page.

Ok, first of all, I must say that I am quite impressed with what’s there when you search for diabetes. It has seperate sections on Type 1 and Type 2. Woohoo! And it even mentions LADA (although that section could stand to be expanded upon).

This line is both exciting and frustrating: “Both type 1 and 2 are chronic conditions that usually cannot be cured.”

Yay for someone entering that BOTH types usually cannot be cured! Woot!

Now the word “usually” needs to be removed, and we’ll be good to go.

Both type 1 and type 2 are chronic conditions that cannot be cured.

Haiku (HAWMC Day 5)

Today’s prompt: write a health haiku.

Up early today

Time for site and sensor change

Off to work I go

*for info on Blunt Lancet see here, here, here, and here.