The Future is (gulp) Now!

January 1, 2014 ~ JodiLea

While waiting for the crystal ball to drop last night, my family had a Back to the Future marathon. It had been some time since I watched the three classics and I laughed my butt off – not figuratively, which is unfortunate.

In the second movie, the time machine went into the far future – the year 2015. Whoa! Wait a minute. That’s NEXT year.

When Marty McFly went back to 1955 the first time, I was 27 years old. A single working mom who could barely think past the next weekend, let alone into the future. The year 2015 was a science fictional number to me, not a year I would likely experience myself. I did not bother to do the math, that’s how far away it seemed.

Now 2015 is around the corner. If 2014 passes as quickly as 2013 did, then we are practically there already!

So… where are the hover boards and flying cars? Houses that speak to you? The scenery channel? If the police find you passed out in an alley do they take you home? Would re-hydrated food disks taste right? Could all this happen by next year?

Doubtful.

But I think that’s a good thing, since I’m having enough difficulty keeping up with the changes as it is.

How about YOU? 😉

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

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!