Tuesday, September 26, 2006

weddings, pumps, & billboards.

I'm a lazy blogger. I think of things, but they don't make it to the computer with me.

But I am here--I want to sleep, but going to bed just after 9pm most nights is not really who I am. I am not sure why for the past 3 weeks I have been like this. Boredom? Lack of motivation? Lack of exercise--although nothing has changed here.

This weekend I drove to a wedding with a friend--19 hrs in the car and 4 at the wedding=the LONGEST 23 hr period of my life. It was just long. long time to be in a car. Very impractical way, but yet we saved money by not staying some where.

However, upon arriving at the wedding 15 minutes "early," we realize that no one else is just arriving. A short discussion had preceded our arriving in which the possibility that the wedding was at a different time was discussed. However, this being true was not an option in my mind--not after 9 hours in the car! We were 15 minutes late for the wedding and missed all but the kiss at the end (shortest wedding ever). The reception was great though.

When we arrived and found it odd that we were the only ones and it occurred to us that the wedding had already started, we simply moved as quickly as possible to get to the ceremony. This means that I did not have time to fish for my pump clip in my bag and secure said pump. So, I wasn't thrilled, but it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out where I had to put it--in my bra. I've used this method for volleyball before, no big deal.

The problem came during the meal. I realized I was with one person who knew about my pump and only that person and the groom even had any idea I was a diabetic and well, since the wedding wasn't about me, I'm sure news hadn't travelled ;) I debated hiding behind the flaps of the tent to bolus or going to the car to get the clip, but my friend assured me that there was nothing to be worried about--really who cared, you don't know anyone. Well it's true, I knew very few people and was prepared to ask questions. What I wasn't prepared for provided me with the most entertainment of the whole trip: a woman 3 tables away was watching (scratch that, she was staring) as I pulled my pump out and bolused and then got it back in place. I pointed it out to my friend and he assured me no one was looking until he looked up at her and nearly burst out laughing at how badly she was gawking. It was great. I was asked no questions and apparently confused her or at least entertained her? or something.

I'm thankful I wasn't more sensitive about the whole thing.

however, I do really, really like pockets :) (and jeans--I love jeans!)

Best billboard seen on the trip: "Jesus is coming as lightening" Having had only 3.5 hrs of sleep and being awake for 14 hours already at this point, I envisioned a Jesus-shaped lightening bolt :) (although I did know what they meant :) )

Friday, September 15, 2006

things that make you go hmmmm.

If you ask any diabetic they'll tell you that many times/most times there's no real reason behind the disease. I had a couple of those moments this week that confirm this.

1. Tuesday am. Wake up, blood sugar 212 (am readings are not cooperating lately!) Correction, shower, etc. Hour later, pick up my diet pepsi and donut from D & D. Ordered a jelly stick (I wanted a plain stick but apparently they're not popular anymore, so I can't get them.) Anywho, smaller than normal donut made me wonder, but I figured, it's probably for the best. Less carbs, fewer calories, etc. Eat donut. Ten am ish, test, 180ish. Meh, think nothing of it, correction bolus. Lunch. Normal blood sugar, food, bolus, etc. All normal. Afternoon, filling in my nifty little excel document courtesy of Kevin (yay, thanks!). Flipping through the pump. No morning bolus for the donut. No crazy high blood sugar symptoms. As a matter of fact, 180 didn't even register any sort of alarm for me. It was as if I just misbolused. I was perplexed. Honestly, it makes me wonder if my corrections/night time basals are off or something.

2. Last night. Bedtime (early) 9:30pm. Regular blood sugar. Wake up at midnight. 75. Not dealing with any sort of lows and also not getting out of bed. Eat three glucose tabs and go back to sleep. 7am blood sugar 264. Can't make any sense out of that one. I had no signs of a low, but I guess it's possible my body dumped some sugar. I wouldn't have had anything but basal insulin in me.

I have no idea. These are the times I say, whatever. I'm not sure I could've done anything better. In situation number one I later weighed the options: a 180 bs or a low at 9am. I think I would have found the low more frustrating.

Last post I mentioned pet peeves about lows. That weekend I encountered another one, that I'm not sure I've encountered before.

Forgetting to treat a low. I felt low, tested, was low and saw something that needed to be done (I was camping). Started to do it and thought, I feel low, I should test. Thankfully, I'm not so forgetful that I actually tested again, but instead I finally went to pour some juice. I would take a sip then put the juice down and see what needed to be done again and go do it. Then realize I've lost my juice and I'm still low!

I found this one a little odd. :)

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

'Every 10 Seconds...' Unite for Diabetes campaign

"Every 10 seconds...' is a short film exploring the devastating impact of the global diabetes epidemic. Produced by award-winning Danish company ’FilmSolutions’ on behalf of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), this seven-minute movie explains why the global diabetes community is joining forces to campaign for a United Nations Resolution. For more info: http://www.unitefordiabetes.org"

I came across this video today at Google Video. Warning--a bit depressing. It sparked my interest in this UN Resolution. Perhaps someone has heard of this before?

Friday, September 08, 2006

Perpetual Lows & other annoyances

what's a blood sugar above 70 feel like?

I haven't had one since lunch today. Some people overtreat, some people don't treat (As I've learned reading some of the blogs around here). I don't do either, but then I don't account for why I went low in the first place and I go low again.

Reason for the lows today--adrenaline. I know, it's supposed to raise your blood sugars, but I think when I get going and I need to get stuff done for work, so my blood's pumping and I'm rushing around (around being within the confines of my office, so there really isn't any exercise involved)--my blood sugar drops. I had three juices at work today between 2pm and 4:30pm (Not a record for me unfortunately). I've now had 3 lows since leaving work (or was it four) and it's only 9:40pm. I have a lot more to get done tonight and an early morning ahead of me. If I drop to a temp rate, I'll have a high and find myself unable to sleep. Ah, the things people with fully functioning pancreases (pancreai?) take for granted. I can't even pack for a camping trip without a low! oy.

However, if I weren't low right now, I certainly wouldn't have the time to sit here and write this.

Other low blood sugar pet peeves:

* A low blood sugar before a meal.
Experienced today before dinner. Glucose tablets are not considered appetizers and they do not enhance the taste of pasta.
* Pre-driving lows
Managed to finish my errands before the lows started today (whew). But there's nothing like getting all you stuff together to run out the door and feeling the beginnings of a low. Testing confirms a low and one must drop what they're doing, treat and wait. yay.
* The rare "I'm not hungry" lows.
Currently experiencing. I'm not hungry. I don't want a protein snack to help me through the remainder of my evening. Heck, I don't even want juice. Does any one else NOT like juice? Years without juice have made me associate juice with low blood sugars--juice is not an option, it's an obligation. (I drank the juice--new (or just new to me?) strawberry banana Juicy Juice--just meh, give me fruit punch anyday over this (if I have to I might as well be picky!))

I'll stop there. I'm going to go and be responsible and open a few cabinets and see if a snack doesn't "wow" me into eating.

What are other people's low blood sugar pet peeves (besides the obvious pet peeve of low blood sugars themselves)?