Dulldrum Diabetes

I started getting bored recently. It happens. We do the same things everyday. We test our sugar. We download our CGM results. We go to the doctor. We eat. It gets boring. So I started putzing around online to see what was new on the market. Any new pumps or devices that would spice up my dulldrum diabetes life?

And I found a few things.

Animas and Dexcom are still claiming a combined device... really?! After all these years. People just keep hanging on that story and waving and cheering every time it pops back up on the webosphere. It's exciting, or it was three years ago. But seriously... if Minimed can do it, how come they can't? If it's a device that, in theory, has already been approved by the FDA for Minimed, how come it's taking so long to be approved? Is it that different?

And then I found The Enlite. The newest sensor technology from Minimed. I'm drooling. I'm excited.

....I wish I lived in the UK or Australia. :(

The Enlite looks smaller than the Dexcom. It goes in at a 90 degree angle and it's only 9mm. It has an auto shut off for hypoglycemia. And it'll be paired with the newest model of the pump... no word on any specifics there, but hopefully, if anything, the darn thing has louder beeps. That's the only downside of the Minimed that I perceive.

I'm excited and I wish, just once that someone would speak up about how far along in the process the FDA is in approving this new model of the CGMS. I was on the FDA webpage today and you know what I learned? They've spent some time figuring out that they need to change their systems. It's sort of a downer to find out that the FDA is deep in the process of changing their regulations for device pre-market approval.

Sure, do they need to change something? YES! Countries all over the world are way ahead of us. We're being babied by our Nanny government while other patients in other countries are getting the newest technology. So, hopefully these new processes and new regulations for pre-market approval will HELP. And not have been a waste of precious research time.

Hiding Food

BG[CGM]: 286 Argh. It's cookie exchange day, and though I haven't had a cookie since 3pm, my sugars are still WAY OUT OF WHACK!

Speaking of cookies, I always chuckle when I hear stories about parents who have hidden sweets from their diabetic children. It's true, though. Even my parents must have done it. It was their way of protecting me and loving me, too. I have to to admit, if one of my children were diagnosed with diabetes, I would probably stop buying cookies and sweets all together. In my heart, I know that isn't fair to the rest of the kids, but I also know my kids, and I would be so afraid that the temptation would be so hard. :(

The funny thing about hiding food is that my husband and I used to do it with kids who AREN'T diabetic. I remember when our oldest was about 2. Matt and I stood at the counter, with our backs to the living area, and we each ate from the cookie stash [yes, this was pre-pump days. what a nightmare!]. At the first hint of movement from behind us, we were stuffing the last bit into our mouth and quickly reshelving the package.

Even more ironically than that is the fact that I now have to hide my healthy food from the family [and when I say family, i mean MATT!]. The nuts I buy--gone before I know it. I've been considering buying a thing of natural peanut butter [the sugar content is sooo darn high in the regular stuff], but first I have to find a place to hide it. The regular NOT lowfat yogurt?? Fuhgetaboutit. :P :D

Long Time No See

BG[CGM]: 60

I'm having a baby in 3 days.
*clapping* Whoo hooo!!!

I'm so ready for this crazy ride to be OVER.
Diabetes is treating me pretty well. It's a serious roller coaster, but the ups and downs haven't been debilitating. Handling it well with my pump and CGMS.

I feel I need a break from the CGMS, actually. So, though I'll be wearing it for a few weeks post delivery, I look forward to the day when I can take it off and give it a rest. Not forever, because I have come to rely on the little bugger, but just for a couple weeks. Back to the basics. Strip testing actually sounds like fun. LOL :D

I did hook up with a doctor recently. An Endocrinologist who I think is going to be good for me. When I got pregnant I was on the verge of breaking away from my PCP of Internal Medicine for someone more specialized. Lucky me, the CDE at my OB/GYN clinic had a name of someone highly recommended. I have an appointment with him on November 12th. Will keep you posted on how that goes. My fingers are crossed. :D

Otherwise... i'm a bit tired.
And ready to snuggle my new little baby.
Have a great start to November, friends!!!
See you with pictures as soon as I can get back on.
~Bethanne

School's Back in Session

BG[CGM]: 78

Somehow, the idea of a schedule brings a smile to my face. The kids need it, I need it. Whoot! Next week, we get back into it. Early mornings, late afternoon homework sessions, allotted TV and Wii times. Order, or a sense of it, anyway.

In case you're curious, I'm 26 weeks along today. And as I've gone as early as 37 weeks before, I like to think I have about ten weeks left. *wink* :D It's all about positive perspective, right? I've found my insulin resistance to be confounding! The funniest [or ironicest] part is that no one ever even said those words to me in four previous pregnancies. Sure, adjusting my insulin was still part of the deal, but I can NOT believe how much knowledge comes in a small battery operated transmitter. There's no way I had control over this like I do now. I'm still in awe even after 26 weeks. :D I cannot recommend the CGMS and pump combination enough, especially for pregnancy.

In other news, my hubby is now employed by the US Army and is officially on the reserves list until he goes to Basic Training in January. How blessed for us that he will be here for the new baby and Christmas...not to mention the six months for the kids to let his absence sink in. I want to soak up all this time we have, soak up his presence, him. Lots of pictures are the order of the season. :D Lots of hugs and kisses and snuggling and wrestling--for the kids. *wink* LOL

Every thing in life makes a mark on how my disease is managed. There's a learning curve for each new situation. I would love to hear of any other diabetics out there who spend a significant amount of time without their spouses.
Have a great weekend,
~Bethanne

Taking Breaks

BG: 70

I ended my CGMS sensor and thought I'd wait to put a new one in. I ran out of tape. :P Wow, it's nice having the continuous look at what my sugars are doing. Within hours off the sensor, I was over 230 after an afternoon eating excursion I'd forgotten to bolus for--if I'm going to forget, it's going to be in the afternoon when the kids are just home from school and life seems a little more hectic. In any case, with my CGMS I would have had a 170 warning that would have reminded me I was off. Big pluses for the CGMS, whether you have a Minimed or a Dexcom. :D

On another note. I cleaned windows today and NICE TO SEE YOU, SPRING! Yikes, those things get dirty during the winter months, don't they? Ick. :D

Have a great week, Friends.
Bethanne

End of Day Report

BG[CGM]: 154, and holding steady. :P

Well, I got to a point where I started doubting the CGMS, and so I ended up checking sugars on my meter more than I expected to today. The variances I've experienced since making the video yesterday after first hooking up messed with my head. I understand the blood vs. interstitial fluid argument, yet at the same time, my sugars do not normally spike. They haven't spiked in the 24+ hours I've worn the CGMS. That Frosty-cino I blogged about here did the job, but in general my sugar charts look like rolling hills, some taller than others. So, I'm starting to contemplate my goals with the CGMS. If its purpose is to mark trends, than maybe wearing it 24 hours isn't necessary.

On the other hand, when Matt joins the military later this year, I want to believe that the CGMS can offer me a measure of security when I'm alone with my kids. Can it? Should I expect it? I believe the answer is yes. I also believe that overall, the competing companies have comparable products. Little differences here and there, conveniences, pros and cons. That competition will continue to instigate improvement. I think right now, the cons of both the Dexcom and the Minimed are enough that you could chose one over the other and not really be better off, one way or the other. That's just me. I'm pretty laid back. I like the infusion and transmitter device better on the Dexcom. That's why I went with it. That to me--at this point in my life--was more important than having the transmitter linked to my pump instead of another device. For someone on the go ALOT, they might feel differently. I'm not. Yes, I have four children, but really... I'm a writer, so I sit here. If I'm away from my desk I'm in my kitchen, which is a few feet away or i'm in the car with my purse. Not a big deal to me.

I'm justifying for myself. I know that my choice is my choice...but, of course--and Matt thinks I'M COMPLETELY NUTTY--I feel bad having to choose one over the other. That's me. The feel-bad-girl. I need to be okay with the decision, and I am. :) thanks for listening to me drone on and on again.

CGM tracking me down to 129, but it's been at least 45 minutes since I started this blog post. I really do love this CGMS technology. It's fabulous! I told the rep, I could just sit here and watch it...

Vlog Crazy

BG: 126 [according to the CGM, which was slightly off earlier this evening--after dinner 168 when the Sensor picked up a 139. Maybe not huge, but enough to wonder. :)]

Don't worry, I won't go crazy on you with this video thing. BUT! I did a quickie today after I met with the Minimed rep and she hooked me up with the CGMS for a little trial run. Hope you enjoy!