BG: 130
My refill for my test strips came in and I had to sigh... [I do that too much!!] The Rx is written for testing 4 times a day, which is NOT going to cover it anymore. So, 400 strips will last me about 50 days, approximately. That's about half of the 90 day supply I should be getting.
How about you? How often are you testing? What do you consider your most important test of the day?
Mine is the fasting. I like starting the day off on the right foot. If I wake up with a number over 180, i'm chasing that high all day long--so it seems. :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Slipping
Crazy weekend, and I found myself slipping into old habits.
Today, I ate a breakfast bar on the way to the library because I felt lowish...and I swear, I'm always low when I go to the library. My brain only has to think the word and my body is activating any pockets or stores of insulin. Don't ask me!
I should have checked--test don't guess.
Well, it was a fine trip, no more low feelings.
I'm starting to wonder what people who actually make their food from scratch do.
Soups, breads, casseroles, roasts--sauces, gravies. :P
My goal this week is to look into that. I do alot of my own baking and cooking, but I've been struggling with my Bolus wizard, because I don't know numbers. Just amounts of insulin I would normally take for that much of that particular food.
If you drop by and have any suggestions, please feel free to comment!
Have a great week.
Love,
Bethanne
Today, I ate a breakfast bar on the way to the library because I felt lowish...and I swear, I'm always low when I go to the library. My brain only has to think the word and my body is activating any pockets or stores of insulin. Don't ask me!
I should have checked--test don't guess.
Well, it was a fine trip, no more low feelings.
I'm starting to wonder what people who actually make their food from scratch do.
Soups, breads, casseroles, roasts--sauces, gravies. :P
My goal this week is to look into that. I do alot of my own baking and cooking, but I've been struggling with my Bolus wizard, because I don't know numbers. Just amounts of insulin I would normally take for that much of that particular food.
If you drop by and have any suggestions, please feel free to comment!
Have a great week.
Love,
Bethanne
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Big Debate
BG: 146
It feels almost cliche to blog about this now...but I think I will anyway, for my own sake.
I spent the last three days attached to the iPro, the professional grade [though I don't think it's different from the regular CGM from minimed] Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. I'm interested in talking to the MM rep so I can ask her about how the patient version works with my pump, how it differs from the iPro, do I really have to wear all that tape????
If you haven't guessed it, I was NOT overly impressed with the hardware. It was big and clunky...and a LOT Tapey. [I'm feaking out about posting a picture, because... of my belly, but this is sorta a medical journey... *shiver* Be brave Bethanne!]
It feels almost cliche to blog about this now...but I think I will anyway, for my own sake.
I spent the last three days attached to the iPro, the professional grade [though I don't think it's different from the regular CGM from minimed] Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. I'm interested in talking to the MM rep so I can ask her about how the patient version works with my pump, how it differs from the iPro, do I really have to wear all that tape????
If you haven't guessed it, I was NOT overly impressed with the hardware. It was big and clunky...and a LOT Tapey. [I'm feaking out about posting a picture, because... of my belly, but this is sorta a medical journey... *shiver* Be brave Bethanne!]
So, there it is... is that usual? Does the sensor pod need to be taped down like that? The tape square is like what's used for IVs and it goes lower by another inch and a half. :P I don't know. I'm wondering if it would be worth it at this point.
On the other hand, I started looking at other companies and their products for diabetes management. Like Animas...and their One Touch Ping Pump, which is going to eventually be [somehow] linked with the Dexcom CGM--another sensor that LOOKS like a better deal all around than the Minimed option--size being a key component. [let's face it, size matters!] Time to start thinking...and start comparing...and deliberating.
I'm on the MM paradigm--a good pump, with good representation. I haven't been dissatisfied. But I'd like to see the paradigm do what the Ping is doing. Why isn't it? Why doesn't the paradigm pump have a remote/meter? Why doesn't the paradigm have smaller increments of delivery? I'm going to start asking lots of questions...
i'm in a sticky situation in regards to finances and insurances--getting laid off is a real bitch--so, part of me wants to jump right in and upgrade. The other part says, hold on... give it some time, see how the market goes. Maybe MM has something better in the works?
In case you're curious, the 3 day continuous monitoring results were eh. After seeing the MMrep last friday and getting on the Bolus Wizard my sugars have been rotten--if you ask me. But I'm sticking to it in hopes that with the logging and accuracy, I can actually get my basals figured out. The CGMS would be a great thing for this effort. For now, I'll just keep testing away. I'm up to about 8 times a day.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Hump Day and Still no modem
BG: ?? [please, i'm at the library! With only 60 minutes allowed on this thing, i'm not stopping for anything... not even a low! haha. Just Kidding.] I feel good, though. It was on the high side this morning, and then took about 3 hours to get back to normal.
My posts are off because my modem is down. I'm at the library again though I'm confident the modem is on it's way to my house as I type... I just know it!
I read Kerri Sparling's post from whatever day it was... and I recognized all the bad habits she talked about. Bolus stacking, carb estimating... her writing is clever and entertaining, yet educational. Please stop by over there and read up on her bad habits! LOL Certainly better than reading mine.... :P
Keep your fingers crossed for that modem delivery.
My posts are off because my modem is down. I'm at the library again though I'm confident the modem is on it's way to my house as I type... I just know it!
I read Kerri Sparling's post from whatever day it was... and I recognized all the bad habits she talked about. Bolus stacking, carb estimating... her writing is clever and entertaining, yet educational. Please stop by over there and read up on her bad habits! LOL Certainly better than reading mine.... :P
Keep your fingers crossed for that modem delivery.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Minimed Rep
I finally met with the Minimed rep on Friday. She seemed pretty nice and VERY surprised that I wasn't using my Bolus Wizard. I left, kinda wishing I had told her that I was the Bolus Wizard. I mean, I can even add and subtract in my head. Let's just say when she was explaining to another pump candidate about A1Cs and she looked at me sorta humoringly, "It should be under 7... right?" *winkwinknudgenudge* I got a little irritated.
BUT, she had contacted me previously, when i received my replacement pump so we could get together and I never made it. So she probably has a preconceived notion of me, and I can forgive her that, because I didn't have time or the push for it at that time. I know that sounds crazy...and maybe it I'd met with her, I would have had this revision sooner...but, I wasn't ready I guess. I was too much living day to day...managing my diabetes, which btw, is possible without the Bolus Wizard. It just makes tracking a little more complicated.
So, I'm on the Bolus Wizard and my sugars are like CRAP (higher than they've been in weeks)! I've been bolusing what I know I need for a certain amount of food for so long that I have no idea how many carbs are in that stuff...right? It becomes second nature...this plate of food with this drink--take X units to cover. Unfortunately, I don't think 1 unit for 15 grams is enough, but I'm suspicious that 1unit for 10 grams of carbs is going to be too much. But with the pump tracking everything, I want to get it right. I'm trying to figure out what people are talking about when they say they have a hard time logging. I do, but that was before I realized my pump was going to do all of that for me! Good Lord! I have seen the light!
If I had visitors here, I'd ask, "Am I wrong? Am I misunderstanding something?"
Anyhoo. The Carelink thing is very cool. I think I will have to ask Laurel if her husband is using it... and the Bolus Wizard, too. :D Because as any Minimed Rep knows, you can't manage diabetes without that Bolus Wizard. ;-)
BTW, my last A1C was 6.5 and it hasn't been higher than 7.2 in over 10 years. That's good, if you ask me. I've never seen a five, and I'm hoping this surge of enthusiasm will instigate that. I'm off to get the iPro--CGMS this coming Tuesday. I'm so glad it's Tuesday because I've been fighting highs with this awful cold i got. Another sticking point, because the MM rep looked over my sugars for the last few days and of course, saw highs all over the place! How frustrating! Nothing like putting your best foot forward, eh? Grrrr.
Have a great weekend all.
Love,
Bethanne
BUT, she had contacted me previously, when i received my replacement pump so we could get together and I never made it. So she probably has a preconceived notion of me, and I can forgive her that, because I didn't have time or the push for it at that time. I know that sounds crazy...and maybe it I'd met with her, I would have had this revision sooner...but, I wasn't ready I guess. I was too much living day to day...managing my diabetes, which btw, is possible without the Bolus Wizard. It just makes tracking a little more complicated.
So, I'm on the Bolus Wizard and my sugars are like CRAP (higher than they've been in weeks)! I've been bolusing what I know I need for a certain amount of food for so long that I have no idea how many carbs are in that stuff...right? It becomes second nature...this plate of food with this drink--take X units to cover. Unfortunately, I don't think 1 unit for 15 grams is enough, but I'm suspicious that 1unit for 10 grams of carbs is going to be too much. But with the pump tracking everything, I want to get it right. I'm trying to figure out what people are talking about when they say they have a hard time logging. I do, but that was before I realized my pump was going to do all of that for me! Good Lord! I have seen the light!
If I had visitors here, I'd ask, "Am I wrong? Am I misunderstanding something?"
Anyhoo. The Carelink thing is very cool. I think I will have to ask Laurel if her husband is using it... and the Bolus Wizard, too. :D Because as any Minimed Rep knows, you can't manage diabetes without that Bolus Wizard. ;-)
BTW, my last A1C was 6.5 and it hasn't been higher than 7.2 in over 10 years. That's good, if you ask me. I've never seen a five, and I'm hoping this surge of enthusiasm will instigate that. I'm off to get the iPro--CGMS this coming Tuesday. I'm so glad it's Tuesday because I've been fighting highs with this awful cold i got. Another sticking point, because the MM rep looked over my sugars for the last few days and of course, saw highs all over the place! How frustrating! Nothing like putting your best foot forward, eh? Grrrr.
Have a great weekend all.
Love,
Bethanne
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Hump Day
BG: 116
I'm chasing highs because I forgot to bolus. If I go back a step, my sugar was high after morning coffee and breakfast--a muffin. Then it was sliding here, and missing a good lunch there, and snacking on pretzels later, only to miss the bolus and doing the same later as I ran out the door to get the kids from school. I haven't been over 250, so that's a bonus, but I've been feeling high symptoms at 180, so... Good for me, it means my sugars are staying lower. Bad for me, I feel like crap right now. Which is really strange because of my actual blood glucose level right now. :P
I'm meeting with the Minimed Rep on Friday, and I'm trying to get a hold of the nurse at not-my doctor's office to get a hold of the iPro--the professional CGMS used by doctors for 3 day basal testing. Hopefully, she'll call me tomorrow. I left a message... Ugh. A voicemail I trust. A person saying, "I'll leave a note for Christina and she'll call you when she gets a chance," I don't trust. :P Call me crazy!
Oh! I should add. Illinois Medicaid is the only insurance around here who is NOT approving the CGMS. Though I understand the expense and newness of this therapy/management, I'm still amazed by the ignorance of insurance companies and their decisions about what is medically necessary. Hopefully, this is just a matter of time. Seems to me paying for maintenance would be alot cheaper than fixing a bunch of problems later in life. No? Besides the fact that quality of life really IS valid.
I'm chasing highs because I forgot to bolus. If I go back a step, my sugar was high after morning coffee and breakfast--a muffin. Then it was sliding here, and missing a good lunch there, and snacking on pretzels later, only to miss the bolus and doing the same later as I ran out the door to get the kids from school. I haven't been over 250, so that's a bonus, but I've been feeling high symptoms at 180, so... Good for me, it means my sugars are staying lower. Bad for me, I feel like crap right now. Which is really strange because of my actual blood glucose level right now. :P
I'm meeting with the Minimed Rep on Friday, and I'm trying to get a hold of the nurse at not-my doctor's office to get a hold of the iPro--the professional CGMS used by doctors for 3 day basal testing. Hopefully, she'll call me tomorrow. I left a message... Ugh. A voicemail I trust. A person saying, "I'll leave a note for Christina and she'll call you when she gets a chance," I don't trust. :P Call me crazy!
Oh! I should add. Illinois Medicaid is the only insurance around here who is NOT approving the CGMS. Though I understand the expense and newness of this therapy/management, I'm still amazed by the ignorance of insurance companies and their decisions about what is medically necessary. Hopefully, this is just a matter of time. Seems to me paying for maintenance would be alot cheaper than fixing a bunch of problems later in life. No? Besides the fact that quality of life really IS valid.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)