The other night I slept over my friend's house and we invited a bunch of people over. We were watching a movie and having just a regular night in. Somehow this movie-night turned into a tickle-tournament. The guys attacked the girls with tickles and we tried to fight them off with pillows. We were having a blasty blast; welcome to the world of college kids. Anyway, As I was being tickled to death, I kept thinking about two things: Firstly, he better not rip out my infusion set! Secondly, if he sees my infusion set this guy is going to think I have a beeper attatched to my stomach with dental floss. Awkward. So, I try to catch a breath and scream STOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPP! I HAVE TO WARN YOU! He stops. He goes, "What the hell do you have to warn me about?" I showed him my infusion set and said,
"Don't worry, I'm not an alien, I'm a diabetic. This connects my insulin pump to my body; please do not tickle me near it so it won't get messed up." I killed two birds with one stone; my infusion set was out of harm and I was no longer being tickled. Great success!!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers
I really liked his speech about his experience with being diagnosed as a diabetic. What I found most interesting was that he said that everyone has their own story. I never really put too much thought into that before; every single person that has been diagnosed with diabetes has their OWN story. Sure, most of us had similar symptoms or even the exact same ones, but our experiences were all different. I could relate to a lot of what Nick Jonas was saying when he thought "why me?" at first and then went to "why not me?" The important thing is that life goes on, even if you're living with diabetes... that's all it is; LIVING with diabetes. There are much worse things that could happen in life; diabetes is managable. I was never a Jonas Brothers' fan; haven't really listened to their music.. but I may start because I have a new respect for one of the members. Good man, Nick Jonas.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Different A1C ?!
I knew I had a doctor's appointment coming up, so the other week I went to Quest Diagnostics to get my blood work done. The results of my blood test didn't come in until the day of my doctor's appointment, so I went into my doctor's office with no idea as to what the results of my blood test had been. So as the nurse is checking my blood pressure and testing my blood sugar, I am trying to peek at the stack of papers on the counter with the results. I see that there are some dark areas, which usually indicate that something is too high or abnormal.. So I ask the nurse if everything is alright with my results and she looks at the papers, concerned. Not-so-smart nurse tells me there's something wrong with my cholesterol levels and comes back with the blood test that she took a few minutes earlier and tells me my A1C is 10.3%. WOW. 10.3% IS HIGH.. I mean, I knew my blood sugars hadn't been terrific but that means that my average blood sugar levels were running around 300, normal blood glucose level is around 100. So as she left to call the doctor, I got up and began reading the results of my blood test, and the cholesterol levels were higher than the little scale they show in the next column, but as I flipped back to my last blood test in the file I noticed that the numbers were similar to those that were in these results. I flipped back to the new blood test results. A1C level: 9.0. Wait a minute, how is it that my A1C levels have such a big difference; 9.0 isn't good but it is much better than a A1C level of 10.3.. I waited for the doctor. As it turns out, my GOOD cholesterol was high and that was a good thing, according to my doctor. All my results were actually perfect; I am telling you I don't know how I manage to be in relatively good health! My blood sugars need to be under better control, but overall the doctor's visit went well. And my doctor used the A1C level of 9.0 that we recieved from the lab. I don't think she trusted that nurse either haha.
"FDA study: Insulin pumps linked to injuries, deaths in teens"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080505/ap_on_he_me/insulin_pumps
This article talked about the dangers of having an insulin pump. I agreed with a lot of what the author of this article discussed; the flexibility an insulin pump offers and the dangers of having that freedom. Even from my own experience I've noticed that having an insulin pump is riskier than taking shots because of the freedoms you have. With an insulin pump you could eat practically anything you'd like as long as you bolused, (covered the food you ate by dialing the correct amount of insulin). The problem with that is that diabetics with insulin pumps begin eating foods that even healthy or 'normal' people shouldn't eat. Another issue with the pump is forgetting to bolus sometimes; you eat food and don't dial up any insulin. One of the biggest problems with insulin pumps, which had been discussed in this article, is having a blocked tube that cannot deliver the insulin you inject; most times when that occurs you only know due to the symptoms of a high blood sugar.. when it is too late. Lowering that high blood sugar takes time and often makes people feel sick.
What was most shocking in this article was a line that read, "There were two possible suicide attempts by teens who gave themselves too much insulin, according to the analysis." Attempted suicide by use of an insulin pump?! That is the wildest thing I have ever heard! Some teens actually used insulin to harm themselves by causing a blood sugar that was low enough to actually kill them. That's absolutely terrifying and sad.
Although there are downsides to having an insulin pump, the pros of having one surpass the cons; I really hope this article doesn't have a negative effect on diabetics regarding the decision of whether they should get an insulin pump. I read this article on the home page of yahoo.com so I am sure millions of readers are going to see it. As long as people take care of themselves and use their insulin pumps properly, it is a great thing to have.
This article talked about the dangers of having an insulin pump. I agreed with a lot of what the author of this article discussed; the flexibility an insulin pump offers and the dangers of having that freedom. Even from my own experience I've noticed that having an insulin pump is riskier than taking shots because of the freedoms you have. With an insulin pump you could eat practically anything you'd like as long as you bolused, (covered the food you ate by dialing the correct amount of insulin). The problem with that is that diabetics with insulin pumps begin eating foods that even healthy or 'normal' people shouldn't eat. Another issue with the pump is forgetting to bolus sometimes; you eat food and don't dial up any insulin. One of the biggest problems with insulin pumps, which had been discussed in this article, is having a blocked tube that cannot deliver the insulin you inject; most times when that occurs you only know due to the symptoms of a high blood sugar.. when it is too late. Lowering that high blood sugar takes time and often makes people feel sick.
What was most shocking in this article was a line that read, "There were two possible suicide attempts by teens who gave themselves too much insulin, according to the analysis." Attempted suicide by use of an insulin pump?! That is the wildest thing I have ever heard! Some teens actually used insulin to harm themselves by causing a blood sugar that was low enough to actually kill them. That's absolutely terrifying and sad.
Although there are downsides to having an insulin pump, the pros of having one surpass the cons; I really hope this article doesn't have a negative effect on diabetics regarding the decision of whether they should get an insulin pump. I read this article on the home page of yahoo.com so I am sure millions of readers are going to see it. As long as people take care of themselves and use their insulin pumps properly, it is a great thing to have.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A man's best friend, indeed.
What an incredible story about a man whose life was saved by a dog. If the dog had not awoken this man, his blood sugar would've continued to drop from 40 and a diabetic coma would have been inevitable. He was very lucky that the dog was there and that he felt it licking his face and wimpering. Usually, when a blood sugar is that low it is extremely difficult to recognize anything; it is as though your body is present but your mind is in another place. You can't see much, and if you see something it may not even be there in reality; you are too shaky to be able to move about, and thinking is very difficult because your brain lacks the glucose it needs to function. The lowest blood sugar reading i've ever had was 32. I was sleeping, and suddenly, I woke up trembling and looking for something sweet to drink or eat. I dragged myself across the room and drank an entire bottle of Coca-Cola, although I couldn't taste it and spilled much of it in the process of trying to drink. I was sleeping at my friend's house, so I tried to talk in order to wake her up. She got up and she could immediately tell that something was wrong, and I needed to eat. She got me food, and I don't remember much after that. As far as I know, I ate half of the food in her house and fell asleep. I woke up with a high blood sugar that morning, but I was thankful that I didn't go into a coma. I would much rather have a high blood sugar level than a low one... it is less risky. I wish I had a dog then that would've woken me up sooner before my blood sugar got to be so low!
What a crazy week
So, for a reason that is unapparent to me, I have been having some anxiety attacks about every other night for the past week. Now, for an average healthy person anxiety attacks are unpleasant. For me, it is a completely different ballgame. Firstly, when I begin to feel panicked or stressed, my blood sugar automatically rises. As if the anxiety attacks aren’t enough, I then have the pleasure of being burdened by high blood sugar symptoms including irritability (mood swings), drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth, and blurred vision. All of these lovely symptoms felt terrific as a side dish to my entrée of anxiety. In order to relax I had taken Valerian Root capsules, and extra units of insulin to cover my high blood sugars. (Valerian Root is an herbal plant that is known to be used as an anti-anxiety remedy or for people who suffer from mild insomnia; it comes in different forms such as capsules, tablets, tinctures, and liquid extracts,).The combination of the two had never really been a problem before; possibly because the level of anxiety had been milder and my glucose level had probably not been as high. Well, I should’ve realized after the first sleepless night that I should discontinue taking both the Valerian Root pills and extra insulin dosages. Of course, being the optimist that I am, I thought that my body would accept the two better on the second night, and the third. I was wrong. What ended up happening was that the Valerian Root pills would calm me down, automatically causing my blood sugar to be lowered because the stress level had been reduced. But, with my brilliant idea of increasing my insulin dosage, my blood sugar ended up dropping super low, causing the lovely symptoms of a hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) include trembling, hunger, confusion, difficulty in thinking and recognizing things around you, and my personal favorite symptom: ANXIETY!!! So, the past week has been a cycle of anxiety, hyperglycemia, relaxation, hypoglycemia, anxiety, and it was continuous for days. Finally, I recognized my problem and knew that if I were to take any anti-anxiety remedies I cannot increase my intake of insulin. Experience, ladies and gentlemen; experience is the best teacher, and apparently not a bad doctor either.
Creative Nonfiction
‘Creative Nonfiction’ obviously describes its meaning within itself; it is a form of prose writing which involves non-fictional events and people being described in a creative manner. Writers of creative nonfiction aim to draw their readers in through narration, personal involvement, characterization, and setting. They interpret information that they research thoroughly when writing; the information within their stories is generally factual with certain exaggeration of creative details. Many creative nonfiction pieces contain quotations, metaphors, similes, and humor. Creative nonfiction prose always contains vivid details, imagery, and interesting language.
Creative nonfiction is similar to journalistic reports. The difference between creative nonfiction and the latter is that journalism sometimes lacks personality. Personality takes away from the facts, and newspapers aim for their readers to be content with receiving a story, its facts, details, and nothing more. Their business is to inform their readers rather than entertain. Creative nonfiction offers flexibility, personality, and entertainment. Basically, a creative nonfiction writer retells an event that had actually occurred with their own spin of emotions in a creative and thrilling manner. What would otherwise be reported by a journalist as a basic dull story, a creative nonfiction writer would transform the story into something of interest for the reader; something fascinating.
After comparing creative nonfiction to journalism, it would be fair to compare creative nonfiction to fiction. What differentiates creative nonfiction from fiction is that fictional stories are made up and completely creative writing. Creative nonfiction is based on true facts, true events, and real people. Choosing a topic for a fictional story is relatively simple; all details of the story are created by the writer and therefore the writer is free to take the story in whichever direction he or she may choose. In writing creative nonfiction stories, the writer must be greatly interested in the topic they choose because extensive, meticulous research is required. Thereafter, the writer must turn the basic facts they have researched into an exciting story, causing the reader to be hooked from the first sentence; holding their interest throughout their entire work.
At first glance creative nonfiction may seem like it contains an obvious definition, but the complexity within this genre of writing is grand. A lot of thought, research, and creative skills go into creating a writing piece of creative nonfiction. But, if a creative nonfiction piece is well written, it may be the most entertaining form of writing in existence.
Creative nonfiction is similar to journalistic reports. The difference between creative nonfiction and the latter is that journalism sometimes lacks personality. Personality takes away from the facts, and newspapers aim for their readers to be content with receiving a story, its facts, details, and nothing more. Their business is to inform their readers rather than entertain. Creative nonfiction offers flexibility, personality, and entertainment. Basically, a creative nonfiction writer retells an event that had actually occurred with their own spin of emotions in a creative and thrilling manner. What would otherwise be reported by a journalist as a basic dull story, a creative nonfiction writer would transform the story into something of interest for the reader; something fascinating.
After comparing creative nonfiction to journalism, it would be fair to compare creative nonfiction to fiction. What differentiates creative nonfiction from fiction is that fictional stories are made up and completely creative writing. Creative nonfiction is based on true facts, true events, and real people. Choosing a topic for a fictional story is relatively simple; all details of the story are created by the writer and therefore the writer is free to take the story in whichever direction he or she may choose. In writing creative nonfiction stories, the writer must be greatly interested in the topic they choose because extensive, meticulous research is required. Thereafter, the writer must turn the basic facts they have researched into an exciting story, causing the reader to be hooked from the first sentence; holding their interest throughout their entire work.
At first glance creative nonfiction may seem like it contains an obvious definition, but the complexity within this genre of writing is grand. A lot of thought, research, and creative skills go into creating a writing piece of creative nonfiction. But, if a creative nonfiction piece is well written, it may be the most entertaining form of writing in existence.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Cool Survey
@How long have you been a Pump Wearer?
- Almost 4 years
@Which Pump do you wear?
- MiniMed
@What was your a1C before you ever got a pump?
- I don't remember, but better than it is now.
@What other pumps did you ..try? or..consider? ..before deciding on your pump?
- This is the only pump i've been on.
@How many times do you reuse ..your reservoirs? and/or ..tubing? ..to save money...?
- I dont reuse anything to save money; sometimes if i'm lazy i will change the insulin but not the set.. but that's rare.
@What is the max number of days you have worn your infusion set canula?
- max. is a week
@Have you ever had a pump site infection?
- yes
@How often do you bolus the dosage recommended to you by your pump, without verifying it's calculations including IOB?
- often. haha; i dont usually do the math on the pump i just dial up the amount i think i need.
@Have you ever considered a thought about using your pump to OD on insulin?
- Absolutely not; but i have gotten extremely low blood sugars from dialing up too much insulin or taking insulin and forgetting to eat..
@How many times have you dropped your pump in the toilet?
- Never happened, thank goodness haha
@Have you ever disconnected your pump.. (not for hanky panky or showering) but..just because you wanted to feel "FREE"?
- EVERYDAY.. it gets soooooo annoying!
@What's the longest time you've ever been disconnected from your pump?
- All day in the summertime; can't wear an insulin pump in the water
@What's the greatest hardship you've ever experienced BECAUSE of your pump?
- it looks disgusting with certain outfits- BAD FASHION STATEMENT! But I can't say I've experienced too many "hardships" due to having an insulin pump.
@What was your very first thought about your pump the very first time you got hooked up to it?
- I thought, 'wow this really doesn't hurt, I don't feel any pain.. and I CAN EAT ANYTHING !!!!!!' haha
@What color is your pump? ..and infusion set?/ what design do you have on it?
- Its simple; dark grey and clear infusion set
@Do you ever let anyone else play with your pump buttons? Who?
- Nope; leave my pump alone! lol
@Have you ever let a friend put in a canula on their body just so they could try it out?
- Absolutely not
@What's the worst thing you've ever done to your pump?
- Throw it against a wall.
@How many times have you ever had to send a pump back to the company?
- Couple times.
@What is the funniest comment someone has ever said about your pump?
- "Don't forget to bring your insulin beeper"
@Who that is close to you that doesn't know you're a pump wearing diabetic?
- I'm not sure; I don't hide it but I don't flaunt it much either. I guess whoever knows, knows.
@What was your significant other's reaction when telling them about the pump?
- He was cool about it; seemed really interested and concerned too.
@If you had to go off your pump for a long time and go back to shots, would you remember right away how to do your bolus calculations and how much long acting to take?
- I wouldn't remember any of that, I'd have to start all over.. but sometimes I wish i did go back to taking shots because the pump isn't all that great.
@What foods that you enjoy greatly, do you feel comfortable eating because of your pump, that you wouldn't be able to eat so easily on MDI?
- Well, on my pump I could eat anything I wanted; otherwise i'd have to eat on a schedule, with yucky tasteless foods, and really wouldn't be able to eat at restaurants.
@What's your #1 Favorite thing about having your pump?
- I could eat whatever I want and I don't have to use needles everyday.
@If you were devastatingly broke and needed money, would you sell your pump?...For How much?
- That's an extreme question. I doubt it would be worth selling it because the needles, pens, etc. would end up costing a lot so it would probably be worth keeping the pump in that case.
@What's your #1 Least liked thing about having your pump?
- wearing it all the time.
@How many people have you helped educate about diabetes because they asked you a question about your pump?
- Quite a number of people actually.
@How many other people that you know personally, wear pumps?
- Two
@Do you have a pet name for your pump? What is it?
- Nope
@Do you ever 'talk' to your pump, like you would talk to a person?...out loud?
- Only if I forgot to take my crazy pills??! lol.. No I do not talk to my insulin pump
- Almost 4 years
@Which Pump do you wear?
- MiniMed
@What was your a1C before you ever got a pump?
- I don't remember, but better than it is now.
@What other pumps did you ..try? or..consider? ..before deciding on your pump?
- This is the only pump i've been on.
@How many times do you reuse ..your reservoirs? and/or ..tubing? ..to save money...?
- I dont reuse anything to save money; sometimes if i'm lazy i will change the insulin but not the set.. but that's rare.
@What is the max number of days you have worn your infusion set canula?
- max. is a week
@Have you ever had a pump site infection?
- yes
@How often do you bolus the dosage recommended to you by your pump, without verifying it's calculations including IOB?
- often. haha; i dont usually do the math on the pump i just dial up the amount i think i need.
@Have you ever considered a thought about using your pump to OD on insulin?
- Absolutely not; but i have gotten extremely low blood sugars from dialing up too much insulin or taking insulin and forgetting to eat..
@How many times have you dropped your pump in the toilet?
- Never happened, thank goodness haha
@Have you ever disconnected your pump.. (not for hanky panky or showering) but..just because you wanted to feel "FREE"?
- EVERYDAY.. it gets soooooo annoying!
@What's the longest time you've ever been disconnected from your pump?
- All day in the summertime; can't wear an insulin pump in the water
@What's the greatest hardship you've ever experienced BECAUSE of your pump?
- it looks disgusting with certain outfits- BAD FASHION STATEMENT! But I can't say I've experienced too many "hardships" due to having an insulin pump.
@What was your very first thought about your pump the very first time you got hooked up to it?
- I thought, 'wow this really doesn't hurt, I don't feel any pain.. and I CAN EAT ANYTHING !!!!!!' haha
@What color is your pump? ..and infusion set?/ what design do you have on it?
- Its simple; dark grey and clear infusion set
@Do you ever let anyone else play with your pump buttons? Who?
- Nope; leave my pump alone! lol
@Have you ever let a friend put in a canula on their body just so they could try it out?
- Absolutely not
@What's the worst thing you've ever done to your pump?
- Throw it against a wall.
@How many times have you ever had to send a pump back to the company?
- Couple times.
@What is the funniest comment someone has ever said about your pump?
- "Don't forget to bring your insulin beeper"
@Who that is close to you that doesn't know you're a pump wearing diabetic?
- I'm not sure; I don't hide it but I don't flaunt it much either. I guess whoever knows, knows.
@What was your significant other's reaction when telling them about the pump?
- He was cool about it; seemed really interested and concerned too.
@If you had to go off your pump for a long time and go back to shots, would you remember right away how to do your bolus calculations and how much long acting to take?
- I wouldn't remember any of that, I'd have to start all over.. but sometimes I wish i did go back to taking shots because the pump isn't all that great.
@What foods that you enjoy greatly, do you feel comfortable eating because of your pump, that you wouldn't be able to eat so easily on MDI?
- Well, on my pump I could eat anything I wanted; otherwise i'd have to eat on a schedule, with yucky tasteless foods, and really wouldn't be able to eat at restaurants.
@What's your #1 Favorite thing about having your pump?
- I could eat whatever I want and I don't have to use needles everyday.
@If you were devastatingly broke and needed money, would you sell your pump?...For How much?
- That's an extreme question. I doubt it would be worth selling it because the needles, pens, etc. would end up costing a lot so it would probably be worth keeping the pump in that case.
@What's your #1 Least liked thing about having your pump?
- wearing it all the time.
@How many people have you helped educate about diabetes because they asked you a question about your pump?
- Quite a number of people actually.
@How many other people that you know personally, wear pumps?
- Two
@Do you have a pet name for your pump? What is it?
- Nope
@Do you ever 'talk' to your pump, like you would talk to a person?...out loud?
- Only if I forgot to take my crazy pills??! lol.. No I do not talk to my insulin pump
INSULIN PUMP, AKA......
Not everyone knows what an insulin pump is, or especially what an insulin pump looks like. So here are some funny things that insulin pumps have been called:
- A house-arrest device
- Calorie Counter
- Ipod
- Small radio
- Pager/Beeper
- Dental Floss (because sometimes the wire sticks out lol)
- Cell Phone
- Walkie-Talkie
I'm so high... haha
Believe it or not, there are certain perks to being a diabetic. One of the funniest things about being diabetic is being able to say "i'm high" to a nurse, teacher, professor, friend, family member.. basically to anybody. What is even funnier than being able to say it and not get tested for drugs, is watching other people's reactions after you've said "I'm high" to a person of authority. I remember walking into the nurse's office in high school and being asked "what's wrong?" and responding, "I'm so high; I can feel it." The students sitting in the nurse's office would widen their eyes, gasp, giggle, and most likely wonder why in the world I would come into the nurse's office and say something like that. Little did they know that I was actually referring to my blood sugar being high, and I could feel it because there are certain symptoms that let you know your blood sugar was not normal.
I'd always be allowed to have snacks, orange juice, and water in a classroom if I chose to bring it with me in case my blood sugar would drop. I remember after one of those nice visits to the nurse's office some kid approached me in my math class and said, "Now I know why you have that stuff with you sometimes... Munchies right?" Haha.. classic.
I'd always be allowed to have snacks, orange juice, and water in a classroom if I chose to bring it with me in case my blood sugar would drop. I remember after one of those nice visits to the nurse's office some kid approached me in my math class and said, "Now I know why you have that stuff with you sometimes... Munchies right?" Haha.. classic.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
This guy is a good diabetic!
Wow, as I was watching this video I was noticing all the things this guy does in his routine that I don't do, but know that I really should do. He actually changed the needle in his finger-pricker-thing!! Haha, any diabetic knows that we change that needle every few days; even the good diabetics forget to change that needle. Then again, judging by what a great sport this guy is he probably checks his blood sugar before EVERY meal and after EVERY exercise, etc. That's not me haha. Then, this guy actually RECORDS his blood sugars IN HIS COMPUTER!! He has an entire system set up to keep track of his glucose levels!! I am LUCKY to remember to write down my blood sugars. Usually, I just bring in my glucometer with me to the doctor's office and give it to the nurse who then hooks it up to some computer and prints out all my records for me. What confused me about this oh-so-great-diabetic is that his blood sugar was 152. I have days where I guess what my blood sugar is and inject insulin based on how I am feeling that day, and when I do check my blood sugars are usually less than what his was. AND he isn't on the insulin pump which basically means he has to be much more careful with what is in his diet. He uses an insulin pen though, which makes it more flexible in that he can dial up short-active insulin before every meal, which somewhat works like an insulin pump, its just a shot with nothing attatched to you instead of an insulin pump that is connected to your body. Anyway, I think if I did what he did my blood sugars would be amazing. Ahh, if I weren't so lazy, what a life it would be.
Ps. Obviously he is not a lazy person at all because not only does he do all of these things in his routine, he has time to record them on video and post them up on youtube.com
It'd be pretty funny if his entire video was just for show and in real life he's just another insulin junkie ;) haha
Untreated Diabetes
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=8085898
This news article was about an 11 year old girl who had died last week due to undiagnosed and untreated diabetes. The girl had not been taken to a doctor in years! I always joke around about being a bad diabetic and not taking the best care of myself, but it is very important that everyone be aware that treating diabetes is very important. It is a disease that is managable but if it is left untreated there are some horrible complications, obviously including death.
I cannot imagine what that poor girl was going through. Symptoms of diabetes are UNPLEASANT, to say the least. You are never hungry, have to urinate very frequently, you have an awkward bad taste in your mouth,you are always thirsty but water tastes bad because of the bad taste in your mouth(so what I did was drink sugary sodas or juices which only made matters worse), you are always drowsy and lack energy, and unexplained weight loss occurs. How could she have been going through all or even just SOME of those symptoms and not be taken to a doctor? I am glad this girl's siblings have been removed from the home by social services because the negligance her parents showed is absurd. I feel sorry for this family; how tragic.
This news article was about an 11 year old girl who had died last week due to undiagnosed and untreated diabetes. The girl had not been taken to a doctor in years! I always joke around about being a bad diabetic and not taking the best care of myself, but it is very important that everyone be aware that treating diabetes is very important. It is a disease that is managable but if it is left untreated there are some horrible complications, obviously including death.
I cannot imagine what that poor girl was going through. Symptoms of diabetes are UNPLEASANT, to say the least. You are never hungry, have to urinate very frequently, you have an awkward bad taste in your mouth,you are always thirsty but water tastes bad because of the bad taste in your mouth(so what I did was drink sugary sodas or juices which only made matters worse), you are always drowsy and lack energy, and unexplained weight loss occurs. How could she have been going through all or even just SOME of those symptoms and not be taken to a doctor? I am glad this girl's siblings have been removed from the home by social services because the negligance her parents showed is absurd. I feel sorry for this family; how tragic.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Test, DONT GUESS!
Haha! Nice little clip of a bunch of celebrities encouraging insulin junkies and pancreas abusers like myself to test their blood sugars! I didn't know there were other insulin junkies who trust their intuition enough to guess their blood sugar levels! (And you know what, when I've guessed and tested afterwards, I've been pretty close)! I'm not sure that video was convincing enough to turn me back into the "good diabetic" I once was, but it was a nice try; entertaining.
PS. I love the little spanish part they threw in there. It warmed my heart. haha
EXTRA! EXTRA! YET ANOTHER "CURE" IN THE NEWS!
http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=35682
So I read an article that said a vaccine for tuberculosis could be used to cure Type 1 diabetes. A cure could be used on patients within four years. Sometimes, I love hearing about all these ideas for cures but I've been hearing these ideas for such a long time, and seen no changes being made, which leads me to believe that a cure is not going to be found anytime soon. All the news stories about cures for diabetes remind me of a donkey walking with a stick attatched to it, with a carrot hanging out in front, and the donkey just walking, walking, walking, trying to reach the carrot.. but never getting to it; like we are so close yet so far. It would be great if there was a cure, nothing would make me happier, but i'd like to see it instead of hearing all these potential cures that are just talk.
So I read an article that said a vaccine for tuberculosis could be used to cure Type 1 diabetes. A cure could be used on patients within four years. Sometimes, I love hearing about all these ideas for cures but I've been hearing these ideas for such a long time, and seen no changes being made, which leads me to believe that a cure is not going to be found anytime soon. All the news stories about cures for diabetes remind me of a donkey walking with a stick attatched to it, with a carrot hanging out in front, and the donkey just walking, walking, walking, trying to reach the carrot.. but never getting to it; like we are so close yet so far. It would be great if there was a cure, nothing would make me happier, but i'd like to see it instead of hearing all these potential cures that are just talk.
Whoever wrote this "news article" obviously did not do their research on diabetes.
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/shawty%20lo%20i%20have%20diabetes%20not%20hiv_1062638
Titled "SHAWTY LO: 'I HAVE DIABETES, NOT HIV'" the article reads:
Rapper SHAWTY LO has quashed reports he is suffering from HIV - blaming his recent health issues on his diabetes. The star - real name Carlos Walker - has been hounded over fears for his health after gossip sites suggested a rapper hailing from the Atlanta area had contracted the deadly virus. However, Walker has refuted the claims, citing his illness as diabetes, an incurable condition which is caused by too much sugar in the blood. A representative for the star tells AllHipHop.com, "Carlos 'Shawty Lo' Walker is not infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He does however suffer from Diabetes, a serious condition that effects millions of people, particularly those of colour. "Despite occasional set backs, Shawty Lo continues his rigorous work schedule in support of his debut album Units in the City. He appreciates the outpouring of concern and support for his health but he is doing fine."
While reading the article, I noticed that the author of this article wrote that diabetes is caused by "too much sugar in the blood." Given, a diabetic does have a high blood glucose level, but that is not the cause of diabetes but rather, the effect of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is believed to be an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is believed to have a strong genetic link, meaning that it tends to run in families. Several genes are being studied that may be related to the cause of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes could be caused by bad eating habits and obesity, among other possible causes, but having too much sugar in blood is not a CAUSE of diabetes.
I think the author of this article was clearly confused and did not do his research on diabetes.
Titled "SHAWTY LO: 'I HAVE DIABETES, NOT HIV'" the article reads:
Rapper SHAWTY LO has quashed reports he is suffering from HIV - blaming his recent health issues on his diabetes. The star - real name Carlos Walker - has been hounded over fears for his health after gossip sites suggested a rapper hailing from the Atlanta area had contracted the deadly virus. However, Walker has refuted the claims, citing his illness as diabetes, an incurable condition which is caused by too much sugar in the blood. A representative for the star tells AllHipHop.com, "Carlos 'Shawty Lo' Walker is not infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He does however suffer from Diabetes, a serious condition that effects millions of people, particularly those of colour. "Despite occasional set backs, Shawty Lo continues his rigorous work schedule in support of his debut album Units in the City. He appreciates the outpouring of concern and support for his health but he is doing fine."
While reading the article, I noticed that the author of this article wrote that diabetes is caused by "too much sugar in the blood." Given, a diabetic does have a high blood glucose level, but that is not the cause of diabetes but rather, the effect of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is believed to be an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is believed to have a strong genetic link, meaning that it tends to run in families. Several genes are being studied that may be related to the cause of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes could be caused by bad eating habits and obesity, among other possible causes, but having too much sugar in blood is not a CAUSE of diabetes.
I think the author of this article was clearly confused and did not do his research on diabetes.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
SWEETEST (unsweetened) VALENTINE'S DAY
The most thoughtful gift I had ever recieved on Valentine's Day was given to me two years ago. The guy who asked me to be his valentine wasn't even somebody that I was close with. I wouldn't say we were friends, we almost never hung out.. but for whatever reason, he asked me to be his valentine and I said yes. After I said yes, we began talking more often over the phone and online. I realized he knew way more about me than I did about him. A few weeks passed, and it was Valentine's Day! He came to my house to pick me up, and we went to eat dinner. I wasn't expecting anything else from him because we went to a very nice sushi restaurant. Actually, I wondered why he didnt get me flowers, but I didn't make a big deal, haha. Anyway, we got to my house and he got out of the car to open the door for me. As soon as I got out of his car, he told me that he has one more surprise for me. I followed him, and watched as he opened the door of his trunk. He drove an X5, so he had a cover that he pulled out so I couldn't see what was underneath it. He pulled the cover back and in his trunk was a bouquet of flowers and a HUGE gift basket of sugar-free sweets! All kinds of different sugar-free candies, chocolates, cookies, and cupcakes were in the gift basket. I thought it was the sweetest, unsweetened, gift in the world! I didn't even remember telling him that I was diabetic! Others may not see that as a big deal, but it meant a lot to me. That was my favorite Valentine's Day, so far.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
In case of insulin pump failure.. IMPORTANT TIPS!
Fellow diabetics! Make sure you listen to the tips given in this video because they are all very important! I have had my insulin pump fail two times, and I was NOT prepared the first time. The luxury of having an insulin pump is taken for granted. Life is much more difficult when suddenly, your insulin pump malfunctions and you are unprepared. The first time my insulin pump failed, I received a new one the following morning. That meant I had to go back to taking shots and eating on a schedule for the time being. The only problem was that my insulin pump had failed at about 1:00am and I didn’t have any long-acting insulin on hand. So, I had to stay up all night taking more frequent shots of short-acting insulin in order to control my blood sugars. The second time my pump failed, it failed on a Saturday afternoon. Because mail isn’t delivered on Sundays, I had to wait until Monday morning for a new insulin pump to be delivered. I was so used to having my insulin pump. Even though I was prepared this time, I was feeling very stressed. It was hard to go back to taking multiple shots for two days after being on the insulin pump for years. I wasn’t stressed because the shots are painful; actually, they really don’t hurt much at all. The reason I was so upset was because the entire process of dialing up insulin into the syringe and choosing where I “wanted” to inject myself all reminded me of when I was first diagnosed. Needless to say, bad memories. In case your insulin pump does fail, make sure you know what to do. It is always better to be ready! So, watch this video; everything he says is very important and true!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
SUPERBOLUS
Superbowl Sunday! The biggest day of the year for football fans. Everyone gets together to watch the game on the biggest TV around, rooting for their team of choice. (Go Giants!) What's usually found in the living room during the game? Soda, Beer, Chips, Pretzels, Pizza.. a diabetic's worst nightmare! Hey, it IS the superbowl! We diabetics want to indulge in all the junk food as well! As I watched my brother and father come home with bags upon bags of SUPERBOWL FOOD yesterday, I felt myself getting sick already. It's one of those things where the smart part of my brain says, "Don't eat any of that. Your blood sugar is going to sky-rocket, and you will regret it." Then, the idiot part of my brain says, "Hey, it's the superbowl. You have an insulin-pump, just bolus to cover the food and you'll be fine. It's once a year, get over it." Right now, I'd like to say I'm going to listen to the smart part of my brain. But knowing myself, I could predict that I'm not going to feel so great tonight. My "about me" says it all, I am the perfect representative of "what not to do if you are a diabetic." So here is what you shouldn't do: Don't eat chips and all kinds of other junk & later forget to cover everything you ate. Insulin is important; SUPERBOLUS during the SUPERBOWL!
INSULIN PUMP THIEF?!
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=a02f35ae-a2a0-44ab-b4cb-89378d083f80&k=43755
After reading this article, I am in complete shock and outrage. I have an insulin pump, and I honestly don't know what I would do if my pump was stolen. This little boy now has to inject himself with nine needles a day in order to live. His family cannot afford to pay over $6,000 for a new insulin pump, so he has to go back to feeling the pain of needles and living his life based on schedule and timing. Insulin pumps allow diabetics to use one needle injection every few days rather than having to take multiple insulin shots throughout each day. They also allow diabetics to live more freely. Before I had my insulin pump, I had to wake up at the same time every morning to eat breakfast on time. I had to eat every meal at a set time, with no exceptions. I began school at 8:00am so breakfast was at 7:30am sharp. That meant that Saturday and Sunday mornings, when all the "normal" kids enjoyed sleeping in, I was up at 7:30am having to eat Corn Flakes with Skim Milk. Insulin pumps work on short-acting insulin, so now I could "bolus," (basically, dial-up the amount of insulin I need) and eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I feel sorry for the 13-year old boy who not only had his insulin pump stolen, but with it his freedom, and his good health. I really hope the thieves realize what they have done is very serious, and not having an insulin pump could harm this boy's health, terribly. Hopefully, the boy will be alright and have his insulin pump returned to him as soon as possible.
After reading this article, I am in complete shock and outrage. I have an insulin pump, and I honestly don't know what I would do if my pump was stolen. This little boy now has to inject himself with nine needles a day in order to live. His family cannot afford to pay over $6,000 for a new insulin pump, so he has to go back to feeling the pain of needles and living his life based on schedule and timing. Insulin pumps allow diabetics to use one needle injection every few days rather than having to take multiple insulin shots throughout each day. They also allow diabetics to live more freely. Before I had my insulin pump, I had to wake up at the same time every morning to eat breakfast on time. I had to eat every meal at a set time, with no exceptions. I began school at 8:00am so breakfast was at 7:30am sharp. That meant that Saturday and Sunday mornings, when all the "normal" kids enjoyed sleeping in, I was up at 7:30am having to eat Corn Flakes with Skim Milk. Insulin pumps work on short-acting insulin, so now I could "bolus," (basically, dial-up the amount of insulin I need) and eat whatever I want, whenever I want. I feel sorry for the 13-year old boy who not only had his insulin pump stolen, but with it his freedom, and his good health. I really hope the thieves realize what they have done is very serious, and not having an insulin pump could harm this boy's health, terribly. Hopefully, the boy will be alright and have his insulin pump returned to him as soon as possible.
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