January 08, 2006

My Diabetes (day 94)

It's now over 3 months since I was diagnosed as having the Big D. My BGs continue mostly in the 80's to low 100's (lowest to date 48, highest 293 -- and that was the very first time I ever checked). Checking my BGL about 4 times/day (less than before), but still checking before driving every time, and giving myself shots about 5-6 times/day (doses of rapid-acting insulin after every meal, sometimes as corrective boluses if after-meal sugar too high, plus 2 shots a day of a long-lasting insulin).

Most shots through clothing -- I'm amazed that I never recommended it to my patients in the past, but maybe that's because my diabetes nurse educator with diabetes used a pump so it wasn't an issue for her. I'll have to set up a poll at the Diabetes Monitor to see how many readers inject through their clothing...

Made it through the holidays, although with some screwy numbers (due to guessing wrong on how much rapid-acting insulin to cover for holiday treats). Still no severe insulin reactions. I'm carrying a tube of liquid gooey glucose with me in my shirt pocket (along with my insulin pen) anytime I leave the house.

Almost every time -- there was one time Steph & I decided to eat out, and I totally blanked on remembering to bring the insulin pen with me. So, afterwards, I rechecked sugar, and gave a VERY late shot. Things settled down a few hours later.

Presently, my biggest unknown is how much BG screwiness to expect whenever I have the bad luck to have a bad virus. I've suffered through the standard winter cough-and-crud without losing either BG control nor appetite, but someday when I get the inevitable chills/fever/loss of appetite, I will have to see how it goes.

Still having very mixed emotions about whether to seriously entertain using a pump (although it's a consideration now and then). A pump would resolve some issues (like forgetting to bring the pen), but the flexibility of a pump in allowing an extra bolus of rapid-acting insulin is just as do-able with a pen injecting though clothing. Maybe someday...

Bill the diabetesdoc
wwq@diabetesmonitor.com

Diabetes.Blog.Com is a blogcompanion to our main website, the Diabetes Monitor, which you can find at www.DiabetesMonitor.com

 




Posted by Bill the diabetesdoc at 00:00:00 | Permanent Link | Comments (6) |
Comments
1 - A couple of reasons that I went with the pump.

I found long acting insulin gave me really uneven blood sugar, which affected my mood adversely -- remember, though, I spend my day with teenagers.

I had to eat more than I wanted to, to prevent lows.

I gained a lot of weight.

The pump has solved all that. If you don''t have those problems, and you don''t mind the injections, you''re probably okay without a pump. (Comment this)

Written by: Kathleen Weaver at 2006/01/08 - 16:50:35
2 - Hey there Dr. Bill,

Wow...94 days already...can you believe it?
I have also toyed with the idea of going on the pump however, I am not the "tethered" type.
For the past 7 1/2 years all my Hba1c's have been between 5.7 -6.8 mg/dl and I am very happy with that!
I think I might be interested when they close the loop and are able to combine meter without fingersticks.

BTW, as far as BS levels when you have a virus ie. Flu with nausea...I too worried about lo's in this instance. However, my experience has taught me that my Bs levels tend to be elevated when sickness sets in. They seem to hover in the 200 + range without eating anything!
I usually give mini doses of humalog to bring it down throughout the day...even then it still is high 100's.
Keep up the good work my fellow pin cushion.
with laughter, love and chocolate!

 (Comment this)

Written by: Laura the LIVabetes Glucose Goddess at 2006/01/09 - 23:07:10
3 - Although, I was shocked that the pump did not ease dhe amount of time I spent managing my diabetes when I first started, it has made my numbers and my lifestyle much easier/better.

If you travel, work, are "sporty", have an occasional (or daily) erratic schedule, and would rather eat when you're hungry rather than when your insulin requires you to... pumping may be an option to consider! (No, I do not work for the any of the pump manufacturers!) For example, I am an equestrian rider, and if I go out for a "hack" (vigorous ride) I can safely decrease my basal insulin (to zero if need be) and have a great ride without a low. Then, when I am finished, I can turn my basal back on.

The pump adapts so well to busy on-the-go lifestyles -- one reason so many diabetes atheletes use them to manage life and sport!

I never thought of it as being tethered to something...once again proving that diabetes often points to individual needs and preferences when it comes to best care practices.

Elizabeth (Comment this)

Written by: Elizabeth Snouffer at 2006/01/13 - 11:05:03
4 - I too have considered a pump, but I'm squeamish about a constant infuser hole, I am in 50, and type1 for 35 years, in perfect health, not even micro-anurisms or any detectable kidney function lose. This all on two injections per day and two or three BG test. I generally feel I should leave well enough alone.

The only dangerous situations I have ever found myself in were when I have had low sugar in combination with a traumatic shock event. Twice this has happened in 35 years. The combination of hypoglycemia with fainting will send me into an unconscious state which takes hours to recover from.

I like your suggestion about shooting through your cloths, My hint to simplify things comes from my grand father who did some of the original testing on insulin at the FDA. He told me that insulin kept at room temperatures over a year only loses 5% potency, and doesn't sting when at room temps. (Comment this)

Written by: Erich J Knight at 2006/01/24 - 23:07:37
5 - What really gets my goat is the continued misrepresentation of diabetic conditions in the story line of movies over the years. Like we would die within hours without insulin or low sugar. I just want to stand up in the theater and give an impromptu lecture to set the record strait. (Comment this)

Written by: Erich J Knight at 2006/01/25 - 01:29:57
6 - I am 37, T-1 for 30 yrs. I've been on the pump for 10 yrs and don't like it any more today than the first. However, my endo (listed as one of Florida's Top Doctors) says my results are better, if only mildly. I can't unhook for the day at the beach because the insulin overlaps when I reconnect and my blood sugar drops drastically. So my "tail", as I call it, remains connected 24/7 except for showers. I know a couple of people who gave up their pumps and went back to multiple injections, just thought you should know it's not for everyone. (Comment this)

Written by: Rebecca at 2006/02/15 - 13:42:52
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