Thursday, January 31, 2008
Woo hoo.
The 2008 ADA Tampa Diabetes Expo is on my BIRTHDAY this year. I'll be collecting lots of free gifts and milking that from those vendors. You know you're getting old when you go from going out clubbing, to attending a diabetes expo to celebrate your birthday. haha.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
I've Got It!!
I've decided what to name my insulin pump. After much thought, I've decided my insulin pump is a dude....and his name shall be....
HOWIE.
This name stemmed not from the bald TV game show host, but from my 3 year old who calls my pump, "Mommy's ow-ie" but it sounds like he's saying Howie.
Since my pump has a guy name, I decided Dexcom should be a chick name so they could be happily married like I am. So Dexcom's new name is
IONA.
Because I feel very lucky, blessed and privileged that I get too "own a" CGMS.
What do you think? =)
HOWIE.
This name stemmed not from the bald TV game show host, but from my 3 year old who calls my pump, "Mommy's ow-ie" but it sounds like he's saying Howie.
Since my pump has a guy name, I decided Dexcom should be a chick name so they could be happily married like I am. So Dexcom's new name is
IONA.
Because I feel very lucky, blessed and privileged that I get too "own a" CGMS.
What do you think? =)
Monday, January 28, 2008
$$ Billions and Billions $$
The American Diabetes Association released THIS article about the raising cost of diabetes in America. It was up 32% from 2002 and is now costing Americans $174 billion dollars a year. (This is also not including any healthcare costs of the approx. 5 million undiagnosed diabetics in America) Amy T. from Diabetes Mine noted that this is more than the cost of all the wars we are fighting overseas. That fact is stunning.
Ahhh, all this leading back to my own personal small scale financial troubles with this disease. Co pays, doctor visits, pump supplies, and now CGMS supplies. I am really praying that my insurance company doesn't give me too much trouble about covering my new CGMS. To me it makes so much sense for them to cover it. Due to the more stable BS levels there will be... less hospital visits, less chance of long term complications, lower A1c's, I could go on and on. Yet I continue to read blogs of diabetes patients having go arounds with their companies in getting their basic supplies covered. As Type 1 diabetics, we have to deal with so much already, that it would be a BLESSING to not have to deal with the financial aspects on top of the health and emotional issues.
Ahhh, all this leading back to my own personal small scale financial troubles with this disease. Co pays, doctor visits, pump supplies, and now CGMS supplies. I am really praying that my insurance company doesn't give me too much trouble about covering my new CGMS. To me it makes so much sense for them to cover it. Due to the more stable BS levels there will be... less hospital visits, less chance of long term complications, lower A1c's, I could go on and on. Yet I continue to read blogs of diabetes patients having go arounds with their companies in getting their basic supplies covered. As Type 1 diabetics, we have to deal with so much already, that it would be a BLESSING to not have to deal with the financial aspects on top of the health and emotional issues.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Naming My Friends
My new friend on Tu Diabetes, Toni Crebbin, decided to name her pump and her CGMS. I think that is a GREAT idea. I mean, yes, they are inanimate objects, BUT they are soo much more, aren't they? My pump is hooked to me 24/7 and when we're apart I feel like I'm missing a limb! And my new Dexcom... well, she's growing on me. Sometimes I lose her because she's so new, I forget to bring her from room to room. So I challenge you to join me!! Name your friends. I'll be back when I think of something good. =)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Type 2 Cure? Uh, DUH.
I was forwarded THIS article by my brother-in-law and my good friend, Ryan. They thoughtfully sent this to me, thinking it might be a breakthrough for my Type 1 diabetes. As I read the article I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. From the title, I expected more. Sometimes it bugs me when people don't separate Type 1 from Type 2. (And I'm not talking about my family and friends who thoughtfully sent me the article, I'm talking about the writers and editors of the article).
I weigh less than 140 lbs. and most of the Type 1's that I network with aren't extremely overweight. We'd probably be dead or have failing kidneys, blind, and be limping around on one leg if we were extremely overweight. Because if you are a Type 1 diabetic that was diagnosed in early childhood, like myself, you must keep your sugars low to avoid or delay long term complications. And in order to become obese you have to eat poorly, which would cause your sugars to remain high.
Thus, gastric-bypass surgery is not going to rid ME or ANYONE of Type 1 diabetes. This article talks about the high percentage of people who have reversed their Type 2 diabetes by having lap band or gastric-bypass surgery. To me, this is a complete no brainer. Lose weight, begin to pursue a more active healthy lifestyle = reversing insulin resistance and allowing your pancreas to function more properly. I have known a few folks personally, and read testimonies of hundreds of people with Type 2 diabetes who have gone off all their meds completely, and been able to control their disease simply by living a healthy lifestyle. And I'm not belittling this, it's a huge task, but I'm just saying IT CAN BE DONE. I'm not a doctor granted, but from experiential evidence, I believe Type 2 diabetes can be reversed.
Now I'd be nothing more than a whining dork if I vented about this and left you with no opportunity to learn about the basic differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, so here we go. Here is a pretty decent explanation that sums up the differences that I found on Diabetesplanner.com
Type 1 Diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not produce insulin (a hormone that aids in moving sugar from the blood to the cells). This type of diabetes can be due to a virus or autoimmune disorder in which the body does not recognize an organ as its own and attacks it. In this case the body attacks an organ known as the pancreas where insulin is made.
Those with Type 1 Diabetes are required to take insulin injections to move sugar from the bloodstream. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed before age 40.
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when insulin that the body produces is less efficient at moving sugar out of the bloodstream. Some sugar is moved out of the blood, just not as effectively compared to a person with normal insulin efficiency. High blood sugars are a result of this.
Diet, exercise, weight loss, and possible medications are the treatment for this type of diabetes. Occasionally, someone with Type 2 may be placed on insulin to better control blood sugars. This type of diabetes is associated with physical inactivity and obesity. Type 2 Diabetes used to be thought of as the adult onset type of diabetes. However, an alarming rate of children are now being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
Notice that LAST statement. More American children are also becoming obese. Connection? Come on people, this isn't rocket science.
I weigh less than 140 lbs. and most of the Type 1's that I network with aren't extremely overweight. We'd probably be dead or have failing kidneys, blind, and be limping around on one leg if we were extremely overweight. Because if you are a Type 1 diabetic that was diagnosed in early childhood, like myself, you must keep your sugars low to avoid or delay long term complications. And in order to become obese you have to eat poorly, which would cause your sugars to remain high.
Thus, gastric-bypass surgery is not going to rid ME or ANYONE of Type 1 diabetes. This article talks about the high percentage of people who have reversed their Type 2 diabetes by having lap band or gastric-bypass surgery. To me, this is a complete no brainer. Lose weight, begin to pursue a more active healthy lifestyle = reversing insulin resistance and allowing your pancreas to function more properly. I have known a few folks personally, and read testimonies of hundreds of people with Type 2 diabetes who have gone off all their meds completely, and been able to control their disease simply by living a healthy lifestyle. And I'm not belittling this, it's a huge task, but I'm just saying IT CAN BE DONE. I'm not a doctor granted, but from experiential evidence, I believe Type 2 diabetes can be reversed.
Now I'd be nothing more than a whining dork if I vented about this and left you with no opportunity to learn about the basic differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, so here we go. Here is a pretty decent explanation that sums up the differences that I found on Diabetesplanner.com
Type 1 Diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not produce insulin (a hormone that aids in moving sugar from the blood to the cells). This type of diabetes can be due to a virus or autoimmune disorder in which the body does not recognize an organ as its own and attacks it. In this case the body attacks an organ known as the pancreas where insulin is made.
Those with Type 1 Diabetes are required to take insulin injections to move sugar from the bloodstream. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed before age 40.
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when insulin that the body produces is less efficient at moving sugar out of the bloodstream. Some sugar is moved out of the blood, just not as effectively compared to a person with normal insulin efficiency. High blood sugars are a result of this.
Diet, exercise, weight loss, and possible medications are the treatment for this type of diabetes. Occasionally, someone with Type 2 may be placed on insulin to better control blood sugars. This type of diabetes is associated with physical inactivity and obesity. Type 2 Diabetes used to be thought of as the adult onset type of diabetes. However, an alarming rate of children are now being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
Notice that LAST statement. More American children are also becoming obese. Connection? Come on people, this isn't rocket science.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Tired and Cranky...
pretty much describes my mood this morning. Though it is being brightened by several happy messages on my myspace from various friends.
Zoe woke up about 3 times last night and needed to be fed or cuddled. She's still got her cold. Gabriel kept waking up with "growing pains". He was sobbing because his "wegs hurt." Justin said his legs and feet used to hurt too at night when he was a little boy and his Mom would have to come in and rub them.
I'm just in a daze and totally unmotivated this morning. I reset my Dexcom to see if I could get a couple more days out of this first sensor. It's been a week since I started on my CGMS and without a doubt it is helping me keep my sugars close in target range and is waking me up at night if I get too high or too low. Haven't heard from insurance company yet. (taps nails, waits, paces, waits...)
Zoe woke up about 3 times last night and needed to be fed or cuddled. She's still got her cold. Gabriel kept waking up with "growing pains". He was sobbing because his "wegs hurt." Justin said his legs and feet used to hurt too at night when he was a little boy and his Mom would have to come in and rub them.
I'm just in a daze and totally unmotivated this morning. I reset my Dexcom to see if I could get a couple more days out of this first sensor. It's been a week since I started on my CGMS and without a doubt it is helping me keep my sugars close in target range and is waking me up at night if I get too high or too low. Haven't heard from insurance company yet. (taps nails, waits, paces, waits...)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Zoe And Justin
Today Gabriel begged me to let him test his blood sugar. I showed him the lancet and told him it would hurt. He kept persisting. So I did it. He didn't even flinch. He thought it was so cool. He was 110 about 30 minutes after eating milk and a banana. Good reading. I pray daily that neither of my kids ever get diabetes.
My husband is a goofball, but his girls sure do adore him. Our daughter, Zoe, is absolutely in love with him. I love watching her crack up when he makes funny sounds and faces for her. Enjoy!
My husband is a goofball, but his girls sure do adore him. Our daughter, Zoe, is absolutely in love with him. I love watching her crack up when he makes funny sounds and faces for her. Enjoy!
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