Diabetes: Under Surveillance

December 20, 2013December 21, 2013 ~ JodiLea

One of the first steps toward preparing for the pump* is the 72-hour Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM). On a Monday, I went to my doctor’s office and a sensor was inserted into my abdomen that would take blood glucose readings every 5-minutes. This data would be downloaded when they removed the sensor on Thursday.

So, for three days, I had a little plastic pod thing attached to me. It only hurt when the needle inserted the cannula (skinny plastic tubing) under my skin. The needle is removed and the pod is taped tightly so the cannula will not be disturbed. I could go swimming, exercise or anything I wanted to do. Within reason they said. Obviously they don’t know me very well, but I would try to behave myself.

At first, having a foreign object on me felt strange and I was super aware of it being there. Once I got home and doing things around the house, I forgot all about it. I didn’t mind it at all. It made no sounds, I felt no vibrations from it. No pain either. The little pod just hung out with me and took its little samples. Which meant no more Christmas cookie nibbling for me. 😦

It reminded me of those science fiction shows about humans with robotic parts. You know, like the bionic woman, but it my case it was closer to Robo Grandma.

I can hear Rod Serling now… ‘A woman is implanted with a surveillance device – a ‘bug’ if you will, to track the glucose in her bloodstream and send it to her doctor. What she does not know, is that it sends other data to the NSA.’

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* Not all health providers have the same rules and requirements, so this procedure may not be required.

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photo credit: achadwick

photo credit: pasukaru76 via photopin cc

Diabetes: A Day In The Life

December 19, 2013 ~ JodiLea

OK. Let’s forget that I have an insulin pump in a box – for a while. Before we journey though that adventure together I would like to explain how my everyday routine is like now – before using a pump.

My day begins with a finger stick and a blood test to show my ‘fasting’ sugar level. I write this number down on t0day’s page in my booklet of blank diabetic charts. Blood sugar readings are only one of many rows & columns this sheet has.

Sometimes, like this morning, I wake up early with low blood sugar. I hate this because at 4:00AM I do not want to have breakfast. I drink 1/2 cup of juice, and I try to go back to sleep. Not happening. By 8:00AM my blood sugar is way high before breakfast. Why? Because my liver panicked and dumped glucose into my blood stream. At least that’s what I’ve been told. So, now I not only have to figure out how much insulin I need to take care of breakfast, but how much I need to correct the “high”.

So.. I guess I should have eaten breakfast at 4:30AM. There are no columns for glucose dumping livers on my chart, so I need to jot down that question for my CDE. And I should get a large piece of paper!

There are three calculations I have to do to give myself the correct dose of insulin. The first one is to figure out the grams of carbs I plan to eat.. The second takes the # of grams and divides it by my insulin to carb ratio, which is 1:12 currently. And then I test my blood sugar. If it is over 160 I must add the correction dose [ (BG – 150) / 40 ] to the carb ratio, giving me the total number of units of insulin to inject. All these numbers + the foods I eat are written on my chart.

Now I can inject my insulin (into my stomach, as I’m told it works more effectively that way), eat breakfast and take oral medications. Prior to lunch and dinner I repeat the above. If at anytime during the day I feel “icky”, I test my blood and treat any low sugar incidents..

Before lunch and dinner the above steps are repeated. If I happen to be out and about at meal time the routine goes on. I carry my glucose meter, insulin “pen”, meds, emergency juice/glucose tabs and a snack, with me at all times, because I never know if plans will change. And they almost always do. I really need a bigger purse!

Medical Equipment — Entourage for a Diabetic

Around bedtime, my phone alarm goes off to remind me to take my long acting insulin (Lantus). I must have the alarm because I can’t seem to remember. For years, I used to take it in the mornings and even though I’ve done it in the evening for years I often forget until very late at night and that screws up the routine, don’t ya know.

Well, that pretty much sums up a regular day. It gets really interesting when I have to travel or go to a convention where my schedule is not my own. Sometimes it feels like all I do is poke myself with needles. Oh wait – that might be quilting… 😉

BTW – quilting pins hurt WAY MORE than diabetic needles!

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photo credit: Jodi Lea
photo credit for vial & needles: NapInterrupted via photopin cc

photo credit: marlana via photopin cc

It’s Here! It’s Here!

December 17, 2013 ~ JodiLea

My insulin pump arrived today – Yeah! NovologSyringe

I haven’t opened the large box yet, because I’m 40% excited and 60% terrified. This pump thing is a major lifestyle change and y’all know how much I love change! Even good changes, like getting rid of syringes and insulin pens.

Even though I am curious, I don’t want to get ahead of the game plan I’m working with the Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE’s). They are committed to preparing me with the knowledge I need to have and records I need to keep in order for the doctor (an endocrinologist) to accurately program the pump to work with my ratios, etc.

I, actually we (because I made hubby come with me), had a class this morning in Modesto. A 2-hour drive there and back for a 1-hour appointment. I have counted carbs for years, but this class was about insulin pump carb counting – a very detailed and meticulous way to account for every single carb to be ingested.

Carb counting has always been important for diabetics. If you are using an insulin pump that acts like a pancreas, slowly dispensing a constant dose of insulin over time and it will give you evenly spaced out insulin to help your body absorb the carbs you eat at meal time.

The next class is Dec 30th. The CDE will review my logs and give me a test. I have homework to do before the class. HOMEWORK!? I’m so happy it is not calculus.

So, I will be reading materials, looking up carbs, fibers and fats, doing math and writing everything I do on a big chart, during the holidays. I hope your holidays are a bit more festive 🙂

I sure hope I have time to blog in between all this ~~crap~~ stuff…

A Merry Christmas to All and a Happy New Year!