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.
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