I Need Your Help, What Would YOU Do?

OK dBlogville, need your advice, as I’m ready to go medieval on someone whose taking care of my mother and yes, it’s totally diabetes related.

As I’ve told you before, my little 113 lb mom was diagnosed with t2 a few months back and put on Metformin once a day – lowest dose possible.

Now, normally her fasting b.s are only about 20 points higher than they should be, but since she going to have a surgery that had a high risk of infection, her docs decided to nip her slightly elevated blood sugars

Cut to last night – 7:30 PM. My mother calls me and says:

Hey Kel – guess what? They took my blood sugar and it was 250 – I wouldn’t let them give me insulin – I didn’t want another shot of anything.

Internal Voice: WTF, WTF, WTF, WTF!!!! Why not just tell me your having lunch with Serial Killer & stab me in the heart with a two-by-four????! She’s never been over 133 and visions of DKA started dancing in my head…but then, something made me ask the following question:

Me: Mom, when they took your B.S, had u washed your hands??

Mom: I always wash my hands when I go to the bathroom.

Me: That’s not what I asked. Did you by any chance have some chocolate or some Big Red Gum and just wipe your hands clean or did you get up and REALLY wash your hands?


Mom: Ummm, no.

Me: OK listens to me mom. Go wash your hands and don’t eat anything. I’m calling your nurse at the Nurses Station and asking her a few questions. If she comes in and takes your b.s again & it’s high, you have to take the insulin. If not – then we won’t worry about it.

Mom: I don’t want a shot.

Me: (Very exasperated) Listen to me mom – I know your veins are collapsing & your feeling like a pin cushion – I totally get that, but the insulin gets injected in the fatty tissue – not your vein – it won’t hurt as much and you won’t turn black and blue (OK – maybe I lied) but in order for your knee to get better, your blood sugars have to be perfect – or you won’t heel properly and your doing SO well.

So she promises me she’ll wash her hands and we hang up. I call the front desk and ask to speak to my moms nurse. They put me on hold for 10 minutes and finally Brenda the Nurse Practitioner from hell gets on the line.

NP from Hell: Yes, what can I do for you? (Can I just mention that she sounded really condescending?)

ME: I’m Marjory Kunik’s daughter Kelly and I just got off the phone w/her. What’s the story with her 250 blood sugar? She’s never been on insulin and her blood sugar is never over 130 = tops 140’s. She refused insulin, correct?

NP from Hell: (In the most irritated and are you f’ing kidding me voice ever): Your mom had a b.s of 250 and refused medication. This is a rehab and we cannot force the patient to take any meds they don’t normally take.

Me: I understand that – but,... I wonder if she had washed her hands - this was quite sometime after dinner, correct? I know she has chocolate in her room – she might have just popped a Hershey’s kiss and the remnants of said chocolate Kiss may have actually caused her high b.s. She’s never had such had such an elevated b.s in her life!

NP from Hell: Sugar has nothing to do with high blood sugars (yes –idiot banshee’s exact words, I kid you not!) and I swabbed her finger with alcohol.

Me: (Trying not to verbally annihilate her over the phone) Well, I’ve been a type 1 for 30 years and I’m also a Diabetes Advocate and beg to differ with you. Sugar, olive oil, anything on the hands can absolutely cause a false reading – articles have been written on the subject – go ask a CDE about it, I'll wait. Look, my mother barely eats as it is – hence the reason she has a bit of chocolate in her drawer – the woman only weights 113 lbs for god sakes. IF this is a TRUE high blood sugar, I want it dealt with Paula, immediately, and if not - thank God she refused the insulin – Does the name Sunny Von Bulow ring a bell? I want you to retest within the hour.

NP from Hell: I plan on going in at 10.

Me: Paula, I need you to do me a favor and go in at 8:30 - PLEASE.

NP from Hell: FINE.

Me: Thank-you Paula I’ll check back with you at 9.

SO, basically I’m fuming at this point and those of you who were privy to my Tweets and FaceBook status last nite can attest to that fact.

8:15 my sister calls and I fill her in – she calls my mom.

9:00 my mother calls me and says: Hey, guess what? They took my blood sugar and it’s 140. Washing my hands must have REALLY helped!

Me: Thank God. Listen – you must scrub your hands every time they check your blood sugar, OK?
Mom: OK – Good night, I love you!

Me: I love you mom, goodnight!

Cut to this morning - her blood sugar was 111.

Me – I've been checking in all day and blood sugars are text book. I've talked to her nurses & told them that they must call me if her b.s is over 150 and to make sure her hands are washed with soap and water before they test.
My sister met saw her today and sat in on a cumadin meeting with my mom and her team this afternoon - I haven't talked to her since this morning so I'm not sure what she said about last night.

Me, I still wanna kill Paula,Nurse Practitioner from Hell. I found her actions and attitude incredibly irresponsible and potentially lethal and I plan on discussing in excruciating detail during the meeting we have tomorrow with her doc's.

Any suggestions on How I should deal with the Dr’s regarding Paula, Nurse Practitioner from hell almost killing my mother or do you think I'm overreacting??

I've Been "Lanced!" OR Kelly's Moretic Move # 5467

I am one of those individuals who need coffee in the morning; I'm also one of those people who are not naturally up at the crack of dawn. I set my alarm and get every up every morning at 6:40ish, but until I have that first cup, I’m not really coherent.

About a month ago, I had to get up at 5 am and to my credit, I was up at the first siren of my cell phone alarm. I shuffled to the kitchen and grabbed my test kit. I reached for new lancet (a rarity I know, but I guess the whole get a new lancet and fill up your damn Test Strip bottle art thing) got the better of me.

I tested, it was 66, my cheek (the one on my face people – mind out of the gutter please) itched so I scratched it, and then scratched it again. I packed up my kit, quickly fixed a small banana with peanut butter and washed it down with some Vanilla Silk Soy, made the coffee, and waited as the coffee slowly dripped from the machine. While I waited, I prepared my “Wicked, The Musical” coffee cup with 3 sugars and some half and half.


I poured the coffee, gulped ½ a cup down and walked in the bathroom to take a shower.

I flipped on the light, took my glasses off and looked in the mirror- then did a double take!

And…
here’s why:

A few days after my Moretic Move # 5467

Yours truly had lanced herself with a brand spanking new lancet – and hadn’t even felt it!
I guess I still had the lancet in my hand when I scratched my cheek, and some how got “lanced” in the process. I knew there was reason I hated getting new lancets!

Anyway, I cleaned up the blood, took a shower, and covered my “war wound” with makeup. It’s been over a month and it’s healed quite nicely.
There’s an ever so faint red line that still runs across my chin and it’s easily covered with sunscreen and makeup. Hopefully it will be gone for good by summer.

So....what have we learned from this?

1. Perhaps I need to drink a few drops of coffee before I actually test – obviously I can’t be trusted with sharp instruments sans caffeine.
2. New lancets are so sharp that they don’t hurt – hence the reason we should change them often, but never really do.
3. Kelly is a Moretic – and has another scar to prove it!

Test Strip Bottle Art. OR "YES I'm Testing, I SWEAR!!!

Test Strip Bottle Art "Still Life Mixed Medium"

So about 9 months ago I decided to see how long it would take me to fill up a 33 ounce empty Seltzer bottle with test strip, Lancets, etc. Why?? I have no ideal – but a few reasons come to mind.

First, it was a great way to collect all my strips & lancets in one place. I was sick of finding them on the carpet, in the laundry, and other places that rarely see the light of day and shall remain nameless.

Secondly – It was mental (well obviously it was mental – who the hell does this?) Perhaps its roots are deeply seeded in childhood. When I was little (and not the best diabetic) I always had to prove to my Doctors, my family, and myself that I was “a good diabetic.”

My Doctor at Children’s Hospital always said, “Kelly, the numbers don’t lie. You need to do better. You need to test more.” I always left my visits feeling sad and disappointed in myself. So now there’s proof in my Seltzer Bottle that yours truly is testing, and testing frequently.

Thirdly – I was curious. Just how long would it take me to fill said Bottle?? Roughly 9 months – less a few weeks to be exact.

As the bottle began to fill, I was reminded of various summer camp art projects from long ago – you know the ones, where you put colored sand in a Pepsi bottle and carefully carry it home to show your parents how truly talented & gifted their child is. Counselors referred to it ans Sand Bottle Art, my parents referred to it as crap, be spectacular and rainbow hued, it was still crap!

I began to refer to the rapidly filling Seltzer bottle as my “Test Strip Bottle Art,” though there’s nothing creative or artistic about it. Obsessive and longing for test strip validation is more like it.

This morning I read LeeAnn’s post "Trash or Trophies, which was not only wonderful – but literally spoke to my Test Strip madness and my need for Test Strip validation. She copiously collects her strip in her B.S. machines side pocket and so did I!!!! And once again, thanks to the D.O.C. and Lee Ann in particular, I was no longer alone - GOD, I love dBlogville!

So I’m sharing my “Art” with you all and dedicating it to LeeAnn – who gave me the courage to share it! On a personal note: Am I a little “Coo-Coo for Cocoa Puffs??? Magic Eight Ball says “Yes, most likely.” But….aren’t all great artists???

Test Strip Bottle Art "Room for one more."

BIG TIME THANKS......And Puppies.

First and foremost - Thanks (BIG TIME) for all your positive thoughts, vibes and prayers my friends. I couldn't have made it through these past few months, let alone days without you!

My moms surgery went well – she has a long recovery and is not quite out of the woods, but she’s a fighter and she’s going to do great!

As for me....I need a drink - my nerves are shot! I’ve refrained from any and all libations as my blood sugars have been running amok since Tuesday - which was surgery D Day.
I'm continually reminding myself to breathe deep and stay positive - but seeing after my mom after her operation was tough. The past few days she's been higher than Jupiter thanks to the morphine drip. It's SO WEIRD & unnerving seeing & hearing your mom in an severely altered state.

It’s been a hectic week, what with the surgery, visiting the hospital, trying to catching up with work, emails, & Diabetesaliciousness. Speaking of blogs – I’M SO BEHIND ON WHAT’S NEW IN YOUR WORLDS. I look forward to reading all about what’s happening in your worlds & can’t wait to read all about your lives!

And now for something that has nothing to do with anything related to diabetes or the above mentioned paragraphs!


Hope this video makes you smile brings a smile to your face and a few giggles as well!

SO...We Need Your Positive Thoughts & Prayers

Mom & I the summer before I was diagnosed

Me & my mom @ a fancy Pink/Red Hats Tea

Dblogville, I need your help. Actually, my family and I need your help, more specifically; we need your positive prayers & vibes. Tomorrow is the big day.
My mom is finally having her knee-replacement surgery tomorrow.
After months of being in severe pain, she has been cleared for surgery and will be operated on tomorrow.

My mom, former skater in The Ice Capades,(she was quite the Stilt Skater-seriously!) wife of a t1diabetic, mother of 6 (3 of whom are or were t1 diabetic) and Nanny to 11 (one grandson is t1 diabetic) & Great Nanny to 1.5 (.5 is due in March) is a strong, beautiful, wonderful woman and I love her more than words can adequately express. I want her out of pain and up and about, but I'm very scared about her having this surgery.

She’s extremely high risk due to heart issues and a family history riddled with strokes.
Failure is not an option and she will kick-ass in surgery!

But still..., please, if you wouldn’t mind, send us any positive thoughts & prayers you have to spare. And thanks a million in advance!

"Google Me This?"

Speaking of Google, according to the “Recent Key Word Activity” function on my Statcounter account, here are some of the popular phrases that brought you to me as of late. On a personal note, I’m going with 13 because I'm feeling lucky & a bit crazy naughty - Kind of like The Joker :)

1. Diabetes Biotch - Yep, that would be me.
2. Suck Stomach
3. Thank you letter for mom and dad
4. Diabetesaliciousness - Your already here
5. John Candy Speaks Swedish
6. “Kelly Kunik Diabetes” Good to know~
7. Tips on performance contract riders
8. Diabetic Humorist
9. Are you F*ing kidding me
10. Ladies and Gentlemen Circus
11. Bitches Don’t know about my diabetes
12. Chopping Broccoli
13. Children of the Corn Syrup

Your Blood Sugars...Now Available Via Google

So I GOOGLE - a lot and I’ll admit it. I think it’s a fantastic search engine and it's helped me both personally & professionally. But I’m not really jazzed about that fact that my blood sugars could be available to any and all who Google if I chose to do so.

OK, let me backtrack. I was checking my Twitter on Friday (I’m still getting acclimated to figuring the “Land of Twit”out, but that's another story for another time) and ChronicBabe twitted the following:"Hey, sugar: Want Google to know your blood sugar? Mashable alerts us this morning that Google has l.. http://tinyurl.com/ak8ay3 "

OF COURSE...my interest was peaked. I clicked on her link and I suggest you do the same. For those of you who aren't familiar, Chronicbabe is a great site for any babe who suffers from a chronic illness. Chock full of info ( I never would have known about the whole Google/B.S thing) and funny to boot! Check it out!

I was interested and found the this "Chronic Bit" to be good and it linked to a Mashable article that went into greater detail. FYI-the Mashables dude didn’t have a great “working knowledge” of diabetes. You’ll see that as soon as you read his diabetes/donut example,(I kind of mentioned that in my comment - very nicely might I add) but he didn’t print it. Still, the article was interesting,to the point and explains how the Google Health Initiative much better than I do. Read it!

Basically, Google Health Initiative is now able to pull user information from all types of medical equipment, including blood sugar machines.

Personally – I’m not sure if I like the fact that if I allow, my numbers could be posted for all to see. I’m very concerned about privacy issues. Exactly who will be privy to my numbers and medical records? Would potential employers “Google” to see what my b.s averages were?

Don’t even get me started on insurance companies, would one of their lackies understand that exactly two days before my period (sorry boys) my blood sugars go high for no good reason, & that the day before my period I run low (like crazy low) all day? Or would they just punish me according to my numbers?

I have no problem writing about my blood sugars – all of us dBlogville have written about insane blood sugar days or achieving Blood Sugar Nirvana – but we choose to make that info public.

Then there’s the whole medical spam iss-ue. I already have more than enough “30-Day Diabetes Cure” emails in my spam box - would this Google feature add even more?

I have a lot of questions about this, and so far, not too many answers. I'm not really sold on this particular Google feature.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

HFCS and a Side of Mercury Please.....& 3 is not necessarily a magic number!

Last week while I was in pre admission testing HELL with my mom for her upcoming surgery, my mailbox was filling up with emails regarding reports about the EVIL HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) containing Mercury. I watched as the headline dance across CNN’s screen at the surgeon’s office, which was about the same time I was checking my emails via cell and received a message from Scott on the very same subject!

The next morning, I received a note regarding the dreaded HFCS from Chris Coccaro, an intern with the ocean conservation group, Oceana, a group whose purpose is to protect the world’s ocean. Currently, they're working on a campaign about high mercury fish & seafood contamination, among other things.

Me being a Jersey Girl born and bred, a girl born two blocks from the beach and three blocks from the bay, and a woman who HATES HFCS, yeah – I was interested!

Chris said he found my HFCS posts “passionate,” which was just a really, really nice way of saying I go a little nuts on the subject, which...is true. He sent me the following article from the Chicago Tribune.

OK, if my crazy rants about HFCS wasn't enough to convince you about he evils of HFCS, perhaps the fact that you might be ingesting mercury might just do the trick. Why nut just suck down the quicksilver in your thermometer - it be cheaper

I’m just posting about it now. Yeah – I know it was last week.

On a personal note, the past week has been coo-coo, but I've managed to join Twitter, which I'm still trying to learn. My "Twit" name is Diabetesalic in case your interested.

So it's been crazy and damn If I don't have the numbers to prove it. Not blood sugar numbers either, though they were a bit elevated yesterday. No, I’m talking about infusion sets! Yours truly has set a new personal record in that area. I’ve managed to rush around so damn much that I’ve ripped three infusion sets out…and its only Wednesday! Yes, you read right, three sets since Sunday! Some say 3 is a magic number. I think it’s just painful.

Cutting out of work a bit early to swim a few laps and get back into the exercise swing of things. Look for another post Friday.