Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
The Blogging Scholarship
I'm not sure what my readership is for the college age group, but if you are in college and you have a blog, you might want to take a look at this scholarship and apply. Applications are due Oct. 6.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Twenty years ago...
The date 20 years ago was August 22, 1987.
--------------------
In the weeks prior to August 22, 1987, I was spending time in Florida with my Mom, Dad, and older brother. We were staying at my aunt’s house with my two older cousins in West Palm Beach. I was five. I think we went to Disney that year. I somewhat remember a family photograph that shows my brother and I eating blue cotton candy at SeaWorld and I have to assume that it was this taken during this particular trip.
What I know for sure is that I was sick. I remember wetting the bed EVERY night and how upset everyone was that they had to change the sheets each night. I remember the trip to the doctor’s office and the diagnosis-I had the flu. And as for the bed-wetting: his advice was to give me nothing to drink after dinner.
I remember looking up at the cabinets that held the glasses that were out of my reach and wondering how I could get one. And if I couldn’t get a glass, then how could I get water from the automatic dispenser on the refrigerator? I was desperately dehydrated. I remember that I would sneak into the bathroom, run the cold water over a facecloth and suck the water out. They couldn’t figure out how I was still wetting the bed and I wasn’t about to tell them my secret!
On August 22, 1987, we were home from Florida and my mother brought me to see my pediatrician. I was still sick. I remember sitting in the chair to have my blood sugar tested. The doctor, however, was already sure of my diagnosis, having been able to smell ketones. The blood test confirmed his suspicions and changed my life forever.
The next week was spent in the pediatric ward of the hospital. I remember the Styrofoam cup that the nurse placed over my IV. I know now it was to keep me from pulling it out, but at the time I was told it was the house that my IV lived in (or something equally as juvenile). I remember hiding under the hospital bed in an effort to dodge my evening shot. I remember playing Tic-Tac-Toe in the playroom, the stuffed animals I received as gifts and visitors who came, the jello and the night that my Mother and Grandmother dutifully and lovingly separated the meat and potatoes from the corn and peas, so that I would eat dinner.
What I don’t remember is life before diabetes. It's been 20 years of ups and downs, of normal everyday living coupled with the demands of a broken pancreas. Here's to 20 more years--Bring it on!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Rollercoasters
Some rollercoasters are a ton of fun like this one, Superman--the ride of steel--at Six Flags New England. That's where I was on Saturday; although not on Superman, since it is/was closed for whatever reason (major bummer!). However, there's also the blood sugar rollercoaster that I was riding and NOT at all enjoying!!
The day started out fine. I entered the park at a cool in range number that is so typical that I didn't commit it to memory. Fast forward four hours or so. A little bit after lunch; blood sugar: 173. I corrected and added an additional 1 and a half units to cover 2 hrs of bolus. This was an unscientific whim that I took to prevent a high while spending 2 hours at the waterpark. Did it work?
Negative. Blood sugar post waterpark: 275. 1 hour after correction: 274
The rest of the evening includes dinner, more rides, plenty of walking and more unmemorable blood sugars. An on the road check at midnight clocks me in at 113. A 1am check before bed: 67. Treat the low with glucose tabs and off to bed. 3:50 am: 45 (a frequent number for my bad lows, I guess.) 15 minutes later: 51 Another 15 minutes: 68
On the list of things I ate/drank to treat the low so I could just get back to sleep!:
3 packages of fruit snacks, 3/4 a can of regular sprite, 2 glucose tabs, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. That's what I remember anyway. Since the first 15 min check did not give me much hope, I ate more than I "needed" and then didn't bolus for any of it and went back to sleep after the 68 reading (close enough to 70 I think; Plus my stomach hurt from the snacks!)
6am blood sugar: 157 (what!? I was honestly expecting a much higher number and thought to myself, "perhaps I was going to go SO LOW that all those snacks were needed.")
This was not so. 9am blood sugar: 369 (Yeah, I felt it. It sucked.)
Not all rollercoasters are fun. I'd like to stick to the amusement park thrill rides, but sometimes I just don't know that I have any control over the situation.
I also learn from this. I seem to only overtreat at night. I think I'm so anxious to just get back to sleep that I rush the process and then feel like I'm not getting better and continue to treat. During the day I'm a lot more rational and only want the one juice or 4 tabs (I don't enjoy them enough to eat more than that!)
Overall rating on the day-
Great day for the park
Bad day for Diabetes
The day started out fine. I entered the park at a cool in range number that is so typical that I didn't commit it to memory. Fast forward four hours or so. A little bit after lunch; blood sugar: 173. I corrected and added an additional 1 and a half units to cover 2 hrs of bolus. This was an unscientific whim that I took to prevent a high while spending 2 hours at the waterpark. Did it work?
Negative. Blood sugar post waterpark: 275. 1 hour after correction: 274
The rest of the evening includes dinner, more rides, plenty of walking and more unmemorable blood sugars. An on the road check at midnight clocks me in at 113. A 1am check before bed: 67. Treat the low with glucose tabs and off to bed. 3:50 am: 45 (a frequent number for my bad lows, I guess.) 15 minutes later: 51 Another 15 minutes: 68
On the list of things I ate/drank to treat the low so I could just get back to sleep!:
3 packages of fruit snacks, 3/4 a can of regular sprite, 2 glucose tabs, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. That's what I remember anyway. Since the first 15 min check did not give me much hope, I ate more than I "needed" and then didn't bolus for any of it and went back to sleep after the 68 reading (close enough to 70 I think; Plus my stomach hurt from the snacks!)
6am blood sugar: 157 (what!? I was honestly expecting a much higher number and thought to myself, "perhaps I was going to go SO LOW that all those snacks were needed.")
This was not so. 9am blood sugar: 369 (Yeah, I felt it. It sucked.)
Not all rollercoasters are fun. I'd like to stick to the amusement park thrill rides, but sometimes I just don't know that I have any control over the situation.
I also learn from this. I seem to only overtreat at night. I think I'm so anxious to just get back to sleep that I rush the process and then feel like I'm not getting better and continue to treat. During the day I'm a lot more rational and only want the one juice or 4 tabs (I don't enjoy them enough to eat more than that!)
Overall rating on the day-
Great day for the park
Bad day for Diabetes
Friday, August 03, 2007
Forty-five
I'm back from England! Truthfully, I've been back since July 14th. Long enough to catch a PawSox game with a couple of fellow bloggers, celebrate my one year blogaversary (this is post #70), start swimming at the local boys and girls' club as a form of exercise, celebrate several high school graduations and birthdays, baptisms, general cookouts and all the normal summer activities! I sure have kept very busy!
England was amazing! I haven't felt quite that refreshed in a long time. It was great to just get away and relax. I was able to read a couple of books; including The Kite Runner, which I couldn't put down. This cost me a little bit of sleep at the beginning of the trip.
Another highlight of the trip was the last day we spent in London. We had hit all of our "must see" spots and even a couple of other sights. All but one; I wanted to get to St. Paul's Cathedral and in particular climb to the top of the dome. 
Before climbing to the top(not the first observation deck above the statues, but the second one, below the gold topper thing), we toured some of the cathedral and stopped to sit outside of the cafe in the crypt. Feeling a little shaky, I checked my blood sugar and came in low. Found some orange juice and set a temp basal rate as we were then off to tackle the dome. As it was the end of the day, we were some of the last people allowed up, which didn't allow for much stopping time to let the OJ hit and temp basal catch up. I was hopeful that I had given it enough time and we started up. The stairs were tough! I am in no way, shape or form, cut out for climbing 484 stairs all in one trip, so I stopped a couple of times at first, but then it got to the point where you couldn't stop or turn around or really move without bumping into either the person in front of you or the person behind you.
We must have been about 10 steps from the very top, with about a dozen or so people behind us and we stopped to photograph through a hole in the ground that showed the view of the cathedral floor below us. It was at this point that I realized something didn't feel right. Someone had the forethought many many years before this incident to provide me with a bench in that small hallway atop St. Paul's and I sat to test. 45. I was 45!! FORTY-FIVE!!
I had 5 glucose tabs to eat and 2 to spare and very little time to get up the last 10 steps, enjoy the view and then make my way down--or so I thought! Thankfully, I could sit for about 5 minutes before I really needed to move out of the hallway so the woman at the top could lock up. (I did completely suspend my pump at this point too) Once at the top, however, I had to wait for everyone else in front of me to take in the scene and get moving. They moved slow and I had plenty of time to look around, take some photos and most importantly, feel my blood sugar come up.
At the time, I was frustrated, but not angry and the enormity of the situation didn't really hit me. 45 at the top of St. Pauls with 434 winding, steep and narrow steps separating me from the ground floor, and a travel companion who only understood the glucagon I showed her in theory. In retrospect, I wish I had a lot more glucose tabs on me, but a low earlier that morning had half wiped me out. I'm thankful that I was near the cafe when I treated the original low only 45 mins earlier and did not use the last of my glucose tabs.
That was by far my worst low of the whole trip. Overall I was very happy with my blood sugars--walking all day, every day does wonderful things! :) The view is of the Thames to the West of the Cathedral (I believe) with the London Eye on the left.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Leaving on a Jet Plane...
Well, I'm off to England in just a few hours! I have more than enough insulin, syringes, pump supplies, batteries, strips; i have ketone strips, glucagon, glucose tablets.
I'm sick of packing!! And I'm so afraid of forgetting something!
I'm very much looking forward to a vacation and some time away. Wish me luck!!
I'm sick of packing!! And I'm so afraid of forgetting something!
I'm very much looking forward to a vacation and some time away. Wish me luck!!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
International Travel & Diabetes
In just over a week, I'll be travelling to London for 10 days!! Crazy! I am nowhere near ready.
I do have a question for you guys though--what do you do with your basal rates for your pump when you travel multiple time zones? Do you immediately reset your pump clock and therefore basals switch around? I hadn't thought of this until this weekend... HELP! :)
I do have a question for you guys though--what do you do with your basal rates for your pump when you travel multiple time zones? Do you immediately reset your pump clock and therefore basals switch around? I hadn't thought of this until this weekend... HELP! :)
Friday, June 22, 2007
MY Turn! :)
THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Auntie M (my favorite!!)
2. Sauron
3. Mel
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My hair
2. My fingernails (Like a couple of others, I have the whole french manicure thing going on all the time)
3. The little freckle by my eye.
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My stomach
2. My skin (I don't tan; I burn or I'm white--like a ghost)
3. My teeth
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. 50%French Canadian
2. 50% English
3. 100% American
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. The dark
2. Bad drivers
3. Going Blind
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. A shower
2. My pump (still nameless--taking suggestions for a smoke colored Minimed)
3. Breakfast of some sort--I get cranky and really super hungry!
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Jeans
2. An orange shirt
3. underwear :)
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICALS:
1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2. Annie
3. Pete's Dragon (that counts right :))
FAVORITE SONGS:
1. Dancing Queen :)
2. Amazing Grace
3. Strongtower by Kutless
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Honesty
2. Respect
3. Love
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS THAT YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE:
1. Waterfalls, the ocean, rivers, lakes, etc.
2. Fenway Park!!
3. a classic blue fitted Red Sox hat :)
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Volleyball/Wallyball
2. Reading
3. The Red Sox!!!! (and watching the Patriots too)
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Sleep comfortably through the night in my bed! (there's a story behind this)
2. Win the lottery :)
3. Did I say sleep?!
THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:
1. Stay at home mom (NOT in my near future!! Don't panic)
2. Proofreader :)
3. Lazy bum!
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Italy
2. Egypt
3. Alaska
THREE KIDS NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. Hannah
2. Nathanael
3. Louise
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. See a Sox-Yankee game at Fenway
2. Be on a game show (Wheel of Fortune! :))
3. Get married, have children.
THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A CHICK:
1. I cry fairly easily at the typical sappy stuff
2. I own a lot of shoes
3. I like buying new bags and purses!
THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY:
1. I hide my emotions well (i.e. when I want to cry)
2. I love my Red Sox!
3. I gravitate towards the action and sports instead of hanging back and chatting it up at parties and picnics
THREE CELEB CRUSHES:
1. Matt Damon
2. Mike Vrabel
3. Yooooooouk
Anything else you'd like to know?
1. Auntie M (my favorite!!)
2. Sauron
3. Mel
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My hair
2. My fingernails (Like a couple of others, I have the whole french manicure thing going on all the time)
3. The little freckle by my eye.
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My stomach
2. My skin (I don't tan; I burn or I'm white--like a ghost)
3. My teeth
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. 50%French Canadian
2. 50% English
3. 100% American
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. The dark
2. Bad drivers
3. Going Blind
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. A shower
2. My pump (still nameless--taking suggestions for a smoke colored Minimed)
3. Breakfast of some sort--I get cranky and really super hungry!
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Jeans
2. An orange shirt
3. underwear :)
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICALS:
1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2. Annie
3. Pete's Dragon (that counts right :))
FAVORITE SONGS:
1. Dancing Queen :)
2. Amazing Grace
3. Strongtower by Kutless
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Honesty
2. Respect
3. Love
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS THAT YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE:
1. Waterfalls, the ocean, rivers, lakes, etc.
2. Fenway Park!!
3. a classic blue fitted Red Sox hat :)
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Volleyball/Wallyball
2. Reading
3. The Red Sox!!!! (and watching the Patriots too)
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Sleep comfortably through the night in my bed! (there's a story behind this)
2. Win the lottery :)
3. Did I say sleep?!
THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:
1. Stay at home mom (NOT in my near future!! Don't panic)
2. Proofreader :)
3. Lazy bum!
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Italy
2. Egypt
3. Alaska
THREE KIDS NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. Hannah
2. Nathanael
3. Louise
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. See a Sox-Yankee game at Fenway
2. Be on a game show (Wheel of Fortune! :))
3. Get married, have children.
THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A CHICK:
1. I cry fairly easily at the typical sappy stuff
2. I own a lot of shoes
3. I like buying new bags and purses!
THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY:
1. I hide my emotions well (i.e. when I want to cry)
2. I love my Red Sox!
3. I gravitate towards the action and sports instead of hanging back and chatting it up at parties and picnics
THREE CELEB CRUSHES:
1. Matt Damon
2. Mike Vrabel
3. Yooooooouk
Anything else you'd like to know?
Friday, June 08, 2007
a confession and a question
Confession: I rarely log my blood sugars anymore... oops.
Question: Does anyone else find that when they don't log a blood sugar and it's in range, they almost immediately forget the number?! If I've forgotten what I am, I just assume I was fine, and THEN I remember the number.
This happens a lot to me. sheesh girl, get it together!!
Maybe this is another thing that I shouldn't admit--like the security code issue.
Remember to vote for the MLB All-Star game. It might be cheap for me to ask, but just vote, and vote for anyone but the Yankess. Personally, I voted all Red Sox, except the outfield--I voted for Crisp, but not for Drew or Manny--heck, Manny's not gonna show up anyways, so why bother! And other than tonight Drew's been kind of lame (I no sooner hit "vote" than he hit a homerun--ooops :)) Oh and I wrote in Youk for third. :) I LOVE my red sox!!!!
Question: Does anyone else find that when they don't log a blood sugar and it's in range, they almost immediately forget the number?! If I've forgotten what I am, I just assume I was fine, and THEN I remember the number.
This happens a lot to me. sheesh girl, get it together!!
Maybe this is another thing that I shouldn't admit--like the security code issue.
Remember to vote for the MLB All-Star game. It might be cheap for me to ask, but just vote, and vote for anyone but the Yankess. Personally, I voted all Red Sox, except the outfield--I voted for Crisp, but not for Drew or Manny--heck, Manny's not gonna show up anyways, so why bother! And other than tonight Drew's been kind of lame (I no sooner hit "vote" than he hit a homerun--ooops :)) Oh and I wrote in Youk for third. :) I LOVE my red sox!!!!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
A little help, please...
Well, on the diabetes front things are up, down, up, down and I'm annoyed. Nuff said.
I'm looking for a little advice from you all about two upcoming trips. The first trip is a weekend camping trip in NH. I've camped before with my pump, so I'm sure that will be fine (although the last camping trip site change was very unsucessful and therefore unpleasant). The foreseeable problem will come with the 12 miles of kayaking that we will be doing on Saturday. Any thoughts? Double ziploc bag the pump and only attach to bolus and cover with some basal insulin? Forget about the pump for a few hours and rely solely on novolog shots every two hours? Waterproof the pump?
I've kayaked a couple of times before, without the pump, and I've never tipped or unexpectedly gotten wet--BUT if it were to happen, I'm sure it would happen with the pump entirely unprotected.
That's my first trip.
My second trip is to England, for a very good friend's wedding. I will be there 10 days, mostly in London. Anything that I NEED to see in London or close enough by to get there easily and cheaply. This is my first time travelling out of the country with my pump--any additional advice? How do people feel about getting the back up pump? Any one from England know the going price for supplies if I need to purchase them at a local drug store--syringes, insulin (I almost typed lancets, but really, I'm not kidding anyone :) )
Thanks!!!
I'm looking for a little advice from you all about two upcoming trips. The first trip is a weekend camping trip in NH. I've camped before with my pump, so I'm sure that will be fine (although the last camping trip site change was very unsucessful and therefore unpleasant). The foreseeable problem will come with the 12 miles of kayaking that we will be doing on Saturday. Any thoughts? Double ziploc bag the pump and only attach to bolus and cover with some basal insulin? Forget about the pump for a few hours and rely solely on novolog shots every two hours? Waterproof the pump?
I've kayaked a couple of times before, without the pump, and I've never tipped or unexpectedly gotten wet--BUT if it were to happen, I'm sure it would happen with the pump entirely unprotected.
That's my first trip.
My second trip is to England, for a very good friend's wedding. I will be there 10 days, mostly in London. Anything that I NEED to see in London or close enough by to get there easily and cheaply. This is my first time travelling out of the country with my pump--any additional advice? How do people feel about getting the back up pump? Any one from England know the going price for supplies if I need to purchase them at a local drug store--syringes, insulin (I almost typed lancets, but really, I'm not kidding anyone :) )
Thanks!!!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
i'm still here
Yea, I'm here, sitting in the back, reading but not commenting (much). I've left the very very occasional comment here and there, but most of the time I start to comment and say, "meh, I don't wanna." How very lame.
I guess I'm in a funk. Been here for a long while now. Been sick all winter on and off. Just meh. So, I'm here reading and half hiding under a rock I guess.
A1C jumped up almost a full point and had a lousy visit with my doctor--she was just rude. Lost weight for the OC challenge and gained it all back. Life's just frustrating some times!!
I guess I'm in a funk. Been here for a long while now. Been sick all winter on and off. Just meh. So, I'm here reading and half hiding under a rock I guess.
A1C jumped up almost a full point and had a lousy visit with my doctor--she was just rude. Lost weight for the OC challenge and gained it all back. Life's just frustrating some times!!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Random Fun
| You Are 52% Massachusetts |
 |
This made me laugh, since I've lived in Massachusetts my whole life. Well, minus the 9 months in West Warwick, RI, but really, where I grew up in Mass, it's not really all that different. I guess even though I went to school just a half hour north of Boston, I lost my accent and maybe this affected other things? I'm just not as Boston as I should be, sigh.
In other news, I saw the most confusing car and liscense plate the other day. It was a ford expedition with a vanity plate that read: "EARTHY." Yeah, I don't get it either. If you don't understand, here is a photo of the vehicle and the definition of "earthy" according to the Urban Dictionary:
earthy: "Someone way into protecting the environment, eating granola, free range chicken and living in a co-op. Basically a hippie without the dreadlocks, pot smoking and Bob Marley crap
My earthy sister lit some insense as she filled out her application to the Yale school of forestry"
My earthy sister lit some insense as she filled out her application to the Yale school of forestry"
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
happy valentine's day
I don't have a sweatheart or any children to make me cute cards, but I have 2 nieces who are old enough now to make me a special card. This was the first year that my card was crafted by Emily, the middle child, who is 2. I love getting cards from them, because my sister in law is great to have them add their special touch to each card! They're the closest things I have to kids and they're just too darn cute!!!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Diabetes Made Visible
I won something!!!!
In other news, I posted my first two photos to the Diabetes Made Visible pool on Flickr. Here are the links... check them out, I added lots of notes.
For those who don't have Flickr, the first photo is of my pink bag, which houses my meter and various other things (more detail on Flickr, sorry) and the second is a close up of the quarter located at the bottom left of the first photo. On the quarter is a smudge of blood. For anyone nerdy enough to care, it's a Colorado quarter :)
For anyone paying attwho is curious, I'm no longer "sick," but still cough on occasion. hmmph. If it progresses, I'll see a doctor for another opinion!
That's all for now, it's way late for me to still be up (I know, it's not even 11pm but I've been really busy!)
In other news, I posted my first two photos to the Diabetes Made Visible pool on Flickr. Here are the links... check them out, I added lots of notes.
For those who don't have Flickr, the first photo is of my pink bag, which houses my meter and various other things (more detail on Flickr, sorry) and the second is a close up of the quarter located at the bottom left of the first photo. On the quarter is a smudge of blood. For anyone nerdy enough to care, it's a Colorado quarter :)
For anyone paying attwho is curious, I'm no longer "sick," but still cough on occasion. hmmph. If it progresses, I'll see a doctor for another opinion!That's all for now, it's way late for me to still be up (I know, it's not even 11pm but I've been really busy!)
Thursday, February 01, 2007
OC New Me Check-in Time
I've lost the equivalent of 3.66 Digital Canon Rebels in body weight since December (11lbs). Ha. Only 2.66 since OC New Me started though (8lbs).
I sent in my photo of the scale to Allison just moments ago for the OCNMC. I had to weigh myself with and without the camera to find out it's exact weight and my weight and then explain it to Allison. Thankfully, my weight with the camera is enough to get me in at the loss of 5lb, so I don't appear sketchy!
What's amazing to me is that I've lost 11 pounds since December without exercising anymore than normal. It's a wonder to me why I can't muster up the motivation to exercise knowing that I could gain a little energy from it and lose the weight a little easier, because I know this won't last forever.
It's just that, like in all things, I run out of time. There isn't a whole lot of time to be running to the gym for a workout (I hate working out too). I spend one night a week at a local Y playing wallyball. If I could two times a week, it'd be perfect!
It's just that we do things that we know are unhealthy or not the best choice, knowing full well that they are harmful, because we don't have the time or the energy or the motivation. What better motivation could I have for exercise than adding years to my life, controlling blood sugars, feeling better about myself, etc. Yet, still, I resist. UGH.
This seems to apply to all things: testing blood sugars before driving, basal tests, eating healthy...
At least I know I'm not alone!
And if you're doing the OCNMC, don't forget to get your stuff to Allison!
I sent in my photo of the scale to Allison just moments ago for the OCNMC. I had to weigh myself with and without the camera to find out it's exact weight and my weight and then explain it to Allison. Thankfully, my weight with the camera is enough to get me in at the loss of 5lb, so I don't appear sketchy!
What's amazing to me is that I've lost 11 pounds since December without exercising anymore than normal. It's a wonder to me why I can't muster up the motivation to exercise knowing that I could gain a little energy from it and lose the weight a little easier, because I know this won't last forever.
It's just that, like in all things, I run out of time. There isn't a whole lot of time to be running to the gym for a workout (I hate working out too). I spend one night a week at a local Y playing wallyball. If I could two times a week, it'd be perfect!
It's just that we do things that we know are unhealthy or not the best choice, knowing full well that they are harmful, because we don't have the time or the energy or the motivation. What better motivation could I have for exercise than adding years to my life, controlling blood sugars, feeling better about myself, etc. Yet, still, I resist. UGH.
This seems to apply to all things: testing blood sugars before driving, basal tests, eating healthy...
At least I know I'm not alone!
And if you're doing the OCNMC, don't forget to get your stuff to Allison!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Day 17
If Tuesday was Day 12, then today, Sunday, is Day 17. SEVENTEEN!!! Hello, immune system, where are you!? I'm convinced that what I've had all this time has been at least 2 colds, the first being bearable and the second and more current being the pain in the butt! I've tried every type of medication that I have. I went out and bought Mucinex, hoping that it would ease some of the discomfort--it has. If I don't feel better by tomorrow, I'll need to make a doctor's appointment. I've also noticed that I rarely get any vitamin C and most likely lack in a lot of other vitamins as well, so I probably need a daily multivitamin as well. I've never taken any--Does anyone have any recommendations? Vitamins seem to be one of those things where there are far too many choices!
My blood sugars have been normal. The highs are results of misbolusing or some other explainable circumstance. I've only had one low, I think. So, whatever the sickness is, it's not affecting my blood sugars...or my appetite!
I have maintained, so far, my 5lb weight loss. All I can hope to do right now is not gain more.
I'm off now to track down the tissues--Mucinex is in full swing!
My blood sugars have been normal. The highs are results of misbolusing or some other explainable circumstance. I've only had one low, I think. So, whatever the sickness is, it's not affecting my blood sugars...or my appetite!
I have maintained, so far, my 5lb weight loss. All I can hope to do right now is not gain more.
I'm off now to track down the tissues--Mucinex is in full swing!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Day 12
Today is day 12 of sickness. A week ago today I didn't think I was sick anymore, but every other day, sickness has been verified with symptoms. At first is was just the onset of a cold. By day 6, I was nauseous and was sure I was going to vomit. Day 7 brought back the cold and away went the nausea. Today, day 12, ushered in the sore throat.
I think what has happened these past 12 days, is that I've gotten a little bit of everyone else's sicknesses. My body refuses to commit to just one illness!
I've taken sudafed, dayquil, nyquil, advil, and a sinus/allergy med, throughout. Trying different meds at different stages. Tonights med of choice: Sugar-free robittusin with codeine.
Bring it on.
I think what has happened these past 12 days, is that I've gotten a little bit of everyone else's sicknesses. My body refuses to commit to just one illness!
I've taken sudafed, dayquil, nyquil, advil, and a sinus/allergy med, throughout. Trying different meds at different stages. Tonights med of choice: Sugar-free robittusin with codeine.
Bring it on.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
It's De-lurking Week! Celebrate it by leaving me a comment if you've never left one before. I know that you stop by, but I want to know who you are, why you're here, and if you have a blog of your own!
(On topic with the whole weight loss thing--Why is bacon so bad for you? I could eat a pound of it!)
(On topic with the whole weight loss thing--Why is bacon so bad for you? I could eat a pound of it!)
Monday, January 08, 2007
I feel healthier!
I feel as though I've been extremely busy lately! So, as this blog is about me, I'm going to tell you about me. :)
I did join the OC New Me Challenge. From here on out referred to as OCNMC. I was unsure before, but I decided to suck it up and stop assuming that I would fail. I'm a highly competitive person (I'm sure I've mentioned this before), so a little challenge shouldn't hurt me. My goal: 25 pounds. I bet $30 I could do it. I'm excited to see a final list of participants and know who's with me.
The truth is that I had started this all about 2 weeks before Christmas. I wasn't proactive about losing the weight, but I gave up soda (gasp!). Previous to this decision, I'm not sure a day went by without me sipping a diet pepsi or diet coke. In the morning, on my way to work, I would stop at Dunkin Donuts at least once a week and purchase a 20 oz diet pepsi. Throughout the day, I would grab a soda from the community 12-pack. I had gotten down to one a day previously. This was cool. There was no real motivation behind it. But, then I decided:
No AM soda
No PM soda
Soda is only acceptable at or around noontime.
And if I do have a soda, I am limited to one a day.
If you had laid these rules in front of me even just 2 months ago, I would have laughed. I've admitted that I don't even think it tastes good, but I drink it because it has no sugar, it provides caffeine, and I'm not paying for water. Flash forward to mid-December--I'm over it. The soda thing was really easy for me. I think this is because I wanted to do this. I'm sure glad I did. I'll be better off for it. As a matter of fact, I think it's significantly contributed to my losing some weight already!
Dropping soda has lead me to drink lots more water and diet snapple. Drinking more water means I pee more often (not my favorite side effect). Drinking more snapple has increased my random trivia knowledge (Did you know that if you lined all the street lights up in NYC, they would reach to Japan?!).
I feel healthier.
I signed up for calorieking.com's diet software thing. I don't consider that I'm on a diet, but I really wanted something to track calories, so I could be more conscious of what I am eating. I signed up the week before Christmas and then I took the week between Christmas and New Year's off, but I've been logging consistently since the 2nd. My appetite has decreased significantly since then as well. I think I embarassed myself with what I was eating and how much, if that's possible.
I feel healthier.
This morning I weighed myself. The number I saw was 10 lbs lighter than my highest weight during the weeks before Christmas. It also indicates 7lbs lost since the start of the year and the OCNMC. I attribute this to both the lack of soda in my body (I haven't had one in days) and the consciousness of calorie intake. I still need to work on calories out. I play wallyball for 2 hours each week, but I'd like to see myself walking more, so it's not just one day of intense exercise and 6 of laziness.
I feel healthier.
Less food means....
Less insulin. I mentioned a number recently that I was not so proud of. 131 The units of insulin I took in one day. It's 11pm on Monday night right now... here are my most recent daily totals including today's:
Mon: 56.65
Sun: 57.80
Sat: 59.30
Fri: 76.60 (this is what a low day used to look like just a few days ago)
Thurs: 58.40
Wed: 88.20
and then they get worse or similar.
I went four FULL days without changing my pump site (It didn't bother me and I had the insulin). FOUR DAYS. wow! And I threw out about 20-25 units.
Did I mention, I feel healthier?
I don't like to get my hopes up or get too excited ahead of time, but I'm making some progress and I'm excited about it!
I did join the OC New Me Challenge. From here on out referred to as OCNMC. I was unsure before, but I decided to suck it up and stop assuming that I would fail. I'm a highly competitive person (I'm sure I've mentioned this before), so a little challenge shouldn't hurt me. My goal: 25 pounds. I bet $30 I could do it. I'm excited to see a final list of participants and know who's with me.
The truth is that I had started this all about 2 weeks before Christmas. I wasn't proactive about losing the weight, but I gave up soda (gasp!). Previous to this decision, I'm not sure a day went by without me sipping a diet pepsi or diet coke. In the morning, on my way to work, I would stop at Dunkin Donuts at least once a week and purchase a 20 oz diet pepsi. Throughout the day, I would grab a soda from the community 12-pack. I had gotten down to one a day previously. This was cool. There was no real motivation behind it. But, then I decided:
No AM soda
No PM soda
Soda is only acceptable at or around noontime.
And if I do have a soda, I am limited to one a day.
If you had laid these rules in front of me even just 2 months ago, I would have laughed. I've admitted that I don't even think it tastes good, but I drink it because it has no sugar, it provides caffeine, and I'm not paying for water. Flash forward to mid-December--I'm over it. The soda thing was really easy for me. I think this is because I wanted to do this. I'm sure glad I did. I'll be better off for it. As a matter of fact, I think it's significantly contributed to my losing some weight already!
Dropping soda has lead me to drink lots more water and diet snapple. Drinking more water means I pee more often (not my favorite side effect). Drinking more snapple has increased my random trivia knowledge (Did you know that if you lined all the street lights up in NYC, they would reach to Japan?!).
I feel healthier.
I signed up for calorieking.com's diet software thing. I don't consider that I'm on a diet, but I really wanted something to track calories, so I could be more conscious of what I am eating. I signed up the week before Christmas and then I took the week between Christmas and New Year's off, but I've been logging consistently since the 2nd. My appetite has decreased significantly since then as well. I think I embarassed myself with what I was eating and how much, if that's possible.
I feel healthier.
This morning I weighed myself. The number I saw was 10 lbs lighter than my highest weight during the weeks before Christmas. It also indicates 7lbs lost since the start of the year and the OCNMC. I attribute this to both the lack of soda in my body (I haven't had one in days) and the consciousness of calorie intake. I still need to work on calories out. I play wallyball for 2 hours each week, but I'd like to see myself walking more, so it's not just one day of intense exercise and 6 of laziness.
I feel healthier.
Less food means....
Less insulin. I mentioned a number recently that I was not so proud of. 131 The units of insulin I took in one day. It's 11pm on Monday night right now... here are my most recent daily totals including today's:
Mon: 56.65
Sun: 57.80
Sat: 59.30
Fri: 76.60 (this is what a low day used to look like just a few days ago)
Thurs: 58.40
Wed: 88.20
and then they get worse or similar.
I went four FULL days without changing my pump site (It didn't bother me and I had the insulin). FOUR DAYS. wow! And I threw out about 20-25 units.
Did I mention, I feel healthier?
I don't like to get my hopes up or get too excited ahead of time, but I'm making some progress and I'm excited about it!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
New Year, New Beginnings
Accomplishments & Happy Thoughts from '06
- Maintained a respectable A1C. Latest: 6.7
- My nephew was born in October
- I changed endocrinologists and feel like I'm finally getting top notch care again.
- I moved in with my father and have the shortest commute to and from work that I could possibly dream of.
- I managed to remain injury free despite playing wallyball once a week (bad ankles plague my family).
- I started this meager little blog and became an anonymous voice and gained the anonymous support of our community.
- I spent 5 days in North Carolina preparing Christmas Gifts to be sent to children around the world. Relationships were built and lives were definitely changed. It was a vacation well spent.
- The list could go on and include other personal accomplishments not related to diabetes.
Things I wouldn't exactly deem worth to "write home about" and what I plan to do about them!
- Weight. I've gained weight. I just typed how much and then I erased it. I'm wrestling with the whole idea of the OC challenge. I don't know that I've ever lost weight outside of my diagnosis at age 5 of course. Not very reassuring. I'm beginning to take steps towards this goal. I'm ok with slow and steady. I'm not ok with moving backwards at this point. There needs to be forward progress. Thanks Allison for the OC New Me Challenge!
- All other disappointments are not worth mentioning.
I guess it's full steam ahead on the losing weight and getting healthy goal! That's about as concrete as you're going to get out of me. If I choose to participate in the OC New Me Challenge (I'm leaning in that direction), I may set a goal of 20 pounds. I don't even know if this is reasonable for a year? I'd be curious to know what other people are setting for the OCNMC weight goal. What is reasonable?
(Oh, perhaps I should also resolve to be more timely with these types of posts (only 3 days late) and post a little more frequently. I feel as though I have things to say, just not the time to say them!)
Here's to 2007. It's going to be a great year for the OC. Let's do it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
