This Is My Brain: This Is My Brain On Diabetes - And Sometimes It's Exhausting

Diabetes is so damn different every day and at every turn - it's a goddamn crapshoot!

For example, 3 days ago I filled up a new omnipod with 150 units of insulin (180 unit is normally too much,/as in too wasteful for me,) and placed it on my side boob.

95% of the time, boob sites work really well for me. 

This boob site is working exceptionally well. 

We’re talking almost a solid flatline on my Dexcom for the past 72 hours, except for normal post-meal spikes and 3 actual low blood sugars. 

All of the above had me seriously thinking: Oh my God, did somebody kickstart my pancreas and neglect to tell me?

Anyway, pod expires in two hours, at 6:11 pm tonight. 

I currently have 36 units in my pod. Even if I keep it in for an additional 3 hours (half the 6 hour grace period after the time on your pod officially runs out,) and bolus for my dinner, I’ll still have more than 31 units left. 

Do I really want to start a new pod at almost 10 pm at night and post-meal? 

I DO NOT. 

WHY? Because then I’ll have to stay up and make sure everything is copasetic with my new site/pod. If it isn’t  - I have to start the process all over again. I have to work tomorrow - I don't want to be up super late!

Not to mention the fact that if I change out this pod late night tonight, that means in all probability, I'll have to change out the next pod late at night- unless I can sync my morning alarm with the 6 hour grace period and make sure I have enough insulin in said pod during that grace period. Or I run out of insulin before the pod times out. Or an occlusion alarm goes off. 
Or 390 other different diabetes wrenches getting thrown into the equation.
This isn't projecting, this is what is required for those of us wearing diabetes robotical parts. 
SIGH. 

If I put less insulin in my new pod, there’s a 50% chance that diabetes will switch it’s bitch-switch and I’ll go through my normal 150 units in less than 72 hours and will have to change out my site early - unless of course, that doesn’t happen. 

Again - who the hell knows what will be required from a new infusion site and no matter what brand of robot pancreas you’re using. YES, the same happens with tubed pumps.

Or like... do I put less insulin in the new pod and do correction injections from the remaining insulin in my previous pod? 

For fuck sake, insulin is the 5th most expensive insulin on the planet and I don’t want to waste it!

Yeah, this is only a small portion of the mostly necessary and seriously annoying diabetes minutia that runs through people living with diabetes minds and on a daily basis. 

This is also why when a healthcare professional asks me how much insulin I take a day I look at them with daggers in my eyes. OK, maybe not daggers - especially if they're nice. But I definitely channel my inner 13-year-old self and roll my eyes at them and I'm all like, WHATEVER.

Every day with diabetes is different - and requires a different amount of insulin - and for dozens of different reasons. And there are dozens if not hundreds, maybe thousands, (but for real it feels like MILLIONS,) of different diabetes scenarios having nothing to do with site changes or insulin or carbs.  

AND SOMETIMES IT'S GODDAMN EXHAUSTING. 

This my brain. This is my brain on diabetes.  

This spot-on cartoon was created by the amazing Haidee Merritt.
To see more of her work, laugh your butt off and maybe buy her books,  click HERE. 

Fingers Crossed

#fingerscrossed The moment after you put in a new #insulinpump infusion site. #diabetes #doc

— Kelly / Diabetes (@diabetesalish) September 19, 2016

I lift up my shirt and poke a round my abdomen with my finger - making sure the spot I eventually choose for my site change will be free of lumps, bumps, marks, redness and any weird tender to the touch. 
Real estate is slim on my belly and I must choose wisely. 
I find a spot that looks and feels right, grab the skin and slide the needle of the cannula in. 
This morning’s 11a.m. site change went in easy and as it did, I let out a sigh of relief. 

Sidebar: Sometimes I don’t realize how much and or often I hold my breath when it comes to diabetes related things, until I actually stop holding my breath. 

I filled filled the cannula and silently said, “fingers crossed,” - and then I tweeted that thought because I know I’m not the only one.  
Now all I can do was wait to see if it took. 
After 3 days of a damn near perfect site - this new site could work, suck at sucking up insulin, or be some strange hybrid of working and not all rolled into one. - what I like to refer to as a zombie infusion site. 

I’ve been considering (and by considering I mean that I keep telling myself that I really should and then completely ignoring what I said,) attempting an infusion site in my arm - the thought of tangled tubing makes me wince at the thought - but diabetes requires us to be brave and try new things because we must - and an arm infusion site is on the docket in the next few weeks, (first week in October,) like it or not. 

Current #Bgnow as of two seconds ago 180 - not terrible after a breakfast of lots of fresh pineapple,(pineapple tends to make me go higher in the mornings but I couldn’t resist,) eggs and 2 cups of coffee, and a site change mid morning. 

And so far so good, for now.~

After Almost 9 Months Have Gone By, I'm Giving A Left Side Ab Infusion Site A Try ~

After almost 9 months have Gone by, I'm giving a left side ab infusion site a try.
I'm incredibly patient... until I'm not. 
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After almost 9 months of giving the left side of my abdomen a break from any and all infusion sites, this afternoon I decided to give it a try. 
Circumstances weren’t optimal - first day into Day Light Savings time and like the rest of the nation, I was a bit wonky, as were my numbers, not to mention that I’m using an extended temp basal rate of 116% because of a scratchy throat. 
My previous infusion site had officially crapped out, my morning bg was 164 (higher than normal,) and my lunchtime blood sugar was 214 - again, higher than normal - I knew that it was time to change my site. 
but I was hungry and on the verge of hungry = which never helps. 
I switched out my site and after much trepidation, dared to venture to the left side of my abdomen.
After all, it had been almost 9 months since I’d let an infusion site touch that part of my body - I was trying to let the scar tissue lesson if not heal completely - surely the one week shy of not using that side of my abdomen for 9 months mark, had done the trick... right?  
The infusion needle went in easily and without pain, I filled the canula and double checked that I still had time on the clock for my temperory basal setting of %116. 
Then I did a lunch/correction bolus of 4 units, waited 20 minutes and before I downed a Wild Blueberry Maple Hill Creamery Yogurt (my latest yogurt obsession, made from grass fed cows, low in carbs, tasty, and on sale at my local grocery for 99 cents, so I bought 10 bucks worth, I digress,) and crackers, and then went about my afternoon. 

BG 20 minutes ago was 220 with a 0.20 unit correction. 

I increased my temp basal rate to 118%, because scar tissue or not, I needed to up it. 
And now I wait it out and see what happens - if it works, great. If it doesn’t, at least I’ll know. 
Scar tissue - one of the gifts of living with diabetes long term. 
But we figure it out and work with what we have.  

Finding ways to work around and give that part of our body a rest - in the hopes that new skin will regenerate and give us new real estate to work with while getting along with the business of living our lives. 

Sidebar: BG ten minutes after publishing this post was 159 and I'm feeling a bit more optimistic, but cautious none the less~ 

Is It The Lack of Sleep Causing Bitch Blood Sugars Or Bitch Blood Sugars Causing Lack Of Sleep?

This post contains lots of ups and down blood sugar wise and is written by a woman who has been dealing with bitchy sleep/lack of sleep patterns, and bitch blood sugars for the past 4 days - all while dealing with this thing called life. 
Clearly I'm a little punch drunk, but I think (OK, I HOPE,) that some of you can relate.
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The past 4 days have have included 3 early morning lows in a row (even with decreased basal rates before bed,) and increased basal rates throughout the day because who the hell knows. The early morning lows certainly didn’t help with the mid morning highs, and there’s a chance that my scratchy throat and runny nose has something to do with the increased basal rates, too. 
Then there’s whole pre-menstrual hormonal thing going on. Sorry fellas, deal with it and you're damn lucky I didn't sneak in the word menses. ;)
And lets not forget the super miscalculation of Monday night’s dinner that resulted in a long stubborn high spell, combined with increased basals and a less then 20 hour old infusion site crapping out due to subcutaneous insulin overload. 
With all of the above - my sleep patterns have been really off - damn near non existent.
I plowed through yesterday and was exhausted last night. I went to bed at 10:40, (and between you and me,I fell asleep on the couch for 10 minutes at 7pm. And yes, I'm aware that catnap didn't help.) 
I would have gone to bed earlier, but the new infusion site not only kicked in with a vengeance - so did the rest of the insulin that I’d pumped throughout the day and I thought, hadn't worked. 
Sleep followed until just before 1:30 am. Then once again and what seems like a daily occurrence, I was wide awake. I tried to ignore it and even played my sleep app, but nothing helped. I ended up reading articles for a post I’m working on, (and maybe a little face-booking, because, WIDE AWAKE) until almost 4 am. 
I slept through this morning’s alarm, and woke up at 7:30. 45 minutes late and none to happy about it 

I like my sleep. I miss it. I need it. 

And I’ve found myself wondering out loud and on the twitter: Is it the lack of sleep that contributes to the challenging blood sugars or is the blood sugars that contribute to the lack of sleep? Does one influence the other and how the hell do I stop this from becoming a vicious cycle? 


 Also: I’m over it. 

Diabetes Annoyance #993,599 & Considering Myself A Lucky Duck~

Because even though it was incredibly annoying, I'd discovered the issue while it was still only an inconvenience and before it turned into a major problem. 
And every now and then, I think we need to remind ourselves that diabetes annoyances and inconveniences are just that - and be thankful that they didn't turn into the huge problem they had the potential to become~ 
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My blood sugar was 278 post meal and right before bed last night, which was really strange because I'd eaten salmon, veggies and a bit of sweet potato for dinner, and that meal usually has the opposite effect on me. 
 So I grabbed my trusty pump to do a correction bolus, but decided to take a peak at my less than 3 hours old infusion site, first...  and I’m so glad I did. 
Because when I lifted up my shirt and looked down, I saw purplish skin peaking through the clear plastic window part - and I was not amused. A lump had formed under the skin of the new site and I knew what had to be done.
11 pm, a second sight change before bed (not optimal, but necessary,) a waste of a precious resources including; abdomen real estate, a pricy infusion set, and insulin, and all I wanted to do was go to bed. 
I pulled out the site and of course it started bleeding a bloody trail, because why wouldn’t it?  
I cleaned up, scrubbed the blood off my fluffy, warm sweatshirt and changed my site, did a correction bolus and then decided to be useful. In the grand scheme of things, I knew it could have been so much worse - the past week had been a reminder of that. 

For the next 15 minutes, I transferred the clothes from my bedroom hamper into the washing machine - one less step for tomorrow nights laundry. Put away the clean dishes that had been drying in the dish rack and cleaned my kitchen sink so it was all nice and shiny, then prepped the coffeemaker with the next morning’s coffee and water. 
All I would need to do when I woke up was turn it on. 
I set the alarm clock on my phone and plugged it in for a charge, then grabbed the copy of  “The Goldfinch,” from my desk, sat in bed and finally cracked open.
26 minutes later and deep into what I think is going to be a very great book, I checked my blood sugar. 215 flashed on my glucose meter - things were going in the right direction and crisis averted, I was tired and ready to go to sleep and now I could.
Plus I finally had a chance to start "The Goldfinch." WINNING.  
And lucky for me, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
This morning went off without a hitch, except for the 19 degree temperature and howling winds - and I am a lucky duck, indeed~ 

Oh, and speaking of lucky ducks - tomorrow there's a giveaway on the blog ;)  

Because Even With Health Insurance, You Still Tough It Out.

Diabetes makes us tough - but I don't always want to be tough. 
I don't always want to consider the cost re: every diabetes move I make. 
With that being said - I'm going to plow through the muck and find the lotus - but I gotta bitch a little bit~
########

You walk around with a new infusion site that you unknowingly placed in a patch of skin that doesn't really absorb like it should, but you're afraid you'll run out of infusion sites before your next shipment of pump supplies gets delivered in January. 
So you make excuses. "Maybe I shouldn't have had the leftover mash potatoes with my leftover turkey, at dinner - it MUST have been those damn mashed potatoes." OR "I didn't get my exercise in today and it shows." But deep in your heart, pancreas, and mind, you know it's because it's the ghost of zombie sites past - that the new infusion site has hit a zombie patch of skin - not quite dead, but definitely not alive in the sense that it's not utilizing the insulin that's going into your body from the electronic pancreas that's clipped to your hip.

But you decide to tough it out because insurance. 

You walk around in the high hundreds to low 220s and then some - and you use copious amounts of insulin. You blow through your Monday and you make it your bitch with a vengeance because NOTHING is going to stop you.
You correction bolus, finish one project and start another and you don't stop - until you can't take it anymore. 

Then you remove the less than 24 hour old infusion site from the zombie spot and put in a new one. 

And a little over an hour later your numbers drop back to normal. 

And you feel mad and guilty all rolled into one - Mad because another part of your body has betrayed you - And mad because a box of infusion sets equals a car payment. 

Mad because your deductible is so high you will most likely never reach it by January. 
Guilty because you picked the wrong worn out patch of skin. 

Guilty because even with rotating sites like boss, you're one of the reasons that patch of skin is now longer subcutaneously astute. 

But you're damn thankful that the new site works and that you have backup infusion sites. 

And then you write a blog post, ASAP because you have to articulate how you're feeling to people who "get it," and you haven't even utter the D word. 

Diabetes Blog Week Day 3: Just In Case

It's day 3 of the sixth annual Diabetes Blog Week and it's all about about "cleaning out."  
I'm not always neat - but I'm freakishly organized when it comes to diabetes supplies. 
Ironical because I'm a self admitted diabetes hoarder - and I have no problem admitting that. 
###### 

I have shelves in my hallway closet devoted to diabetes supplies. 
Pump supplies needles, and lancets. Extra glucose meters that were sent to me that I’ve reviewed. I keep my own test strips boxes in my desk drawer, all lined according to their expiration date and always within reach. 
I keep watch on my diabetes supplies - making sure I have enough to keep me safe - and then some -and I don’t throw anything out  - I keep everything - Just in case life happens. 
Just in case I get too many error readings on my glucose meter or have bronchitis and go through test strips like water. 
Just case my new infusion site is a dead spot and sucks figuratively, but not literally. 
Just in case I get all dolled up and wear a dress, which requires that I wear Spanx - for both my belly and as a place to secure my insulin pump. SPANX kill infusion sites - every woman who wears an insulin pump knows that. 
Just in case the sticky part of my infusion site stops sticking, or I walk by doorknob that yanks me back two feet and rips out my infusion site quicker than you can say "what the fructose!”
Just in case I’m battling a nasty cold/flu/sinus infection or a cortisone shot that requires me to quadruple my hourly insulin requirements - depleting both my longevity of my infusion site and dwindling my insulin supply. 

Just in case my insurance drops me. 

Just in case of a natural disaster that shuts my local pharmacy down for 6 months. 

Just in case my last bottle of insulin hits the tile floor before my RX is due to be filled.

Just in case is a term people living with diabetes know all to well and live with daily. 

Just in case turns us into diabetes supply collectors - luckily there’s a book for that. 

Just in case has become a diabetes fear, safety net and war cry all rolled into one. 

Just in case is a part of or lives... and our lives with diabetes. 

Yoga Pants Save The Day - And My Precariously Placed Infusion Site!

Only my love of the Diabetes Online Community, would get me to show a belly shot!
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Monday morning, as I was getting dressed and before I headed to the Flamingo Lobby to say my last Diabetes UnConference (more on that incredibly amazing experience very soon,) goodbyes and head off to the airport, I realized that I needed to change out my infusion site.

My new infusion site went in easy and pain free and I immediately thought: This site is going to subcutaneously suck insulin in LIKE A BOSS. 

Then I realized that my infusion set connector was facing the wrong way and was directly next to my belly button. 

As in: Precariously close to my belly button. 

As in: It's NEVER been this close to my belly button and OUCH, I know the moment I snap my jeans I will feel a pain like no other, close to my belly button.  

Also: I didn't want to waste the site/ab real estate if I didn't have to. 

Lucky for me, I had yoga pants for the plain ride and leggings, too. I'm a fan of both and for all sorts of reasons. 
No button, no snap and super comfy to travel in. 

Problem solved and pain averted. I wore yoga pants yesterday too, because I was jet lagged, working from home and my blood sugars were more than OK.   

I changed my site this morning and this time, the infusion set connector is no where near my belly button. But only time will tell if it sucks in the insulin like a boss - or just plain, sucks.

Too close for comfort when it comes to snaps/buttons. 

FYI: Currently writing my Diabetes UnConference post - Stay tuned. 

Diabetes Math, Battling Insurance Companies, Dead-Spots & Zombie Infusion Sites....

I always put off changing an infusion set that’s less than 48 hours old - not because I’m lazy, but because of insurance coverage re: my supplies and the lack there of. 
And it drives me crazy. 
In a perfect world, 1 box containing 10 infusion sets  = 1 infusion set every 3 days, which = a 30 day month supply. 
In a perfect world, 3 boxes of infusion sites = a 90 day supply.
But that’s not how any of this works in real life because life isn’t perfect, and life with diabetes is anything but - even when you do everything right - which is pretty damn impossible, diabetes or not. Yep, four boxes of infusion sites every three months gives us a little relief and a little wiggle room and are the keys to our mental and physical health.   
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As I stated above, I almost always hold off changing a less than 48 hour old infusion site when it’s obviously having issues syphoning insulin. 

I don’t want to run out of infusion sites. I don’t have to fight to get more infusion sites from my pump company and I don’t want to have to pay for them. 

But I do. 

I don’t want to battle with my insurance company to cover 4 boxes every three months because my insurance company is all about the math. 
1 box containing 10 infusion sets  = 1 infusion set every 3 days, which = a 30 day month supply. 
In a perfect world, 3 boxes of infusion sites = a 90 day supply.
But in my imperfect diabetes world, four boxes of infusions sites every three months keeps me covered when it comes to real life infusion site occurrences.
Things like:
Skin sensitivity  
Dead spots 
Zombie infusion sites
(Zombie infusions kinda, sorta syphon in the insulin, but not so much. Zombie infusion sites  have you running blood sugars in the 150 to 180 range and require more insulin. And when you do change the site, your numbers go back to normal.)  
Doorknobs 
SPANX killing off a new infusion site within 20 hours of wearing said SPANX 
Yoga pants yanking out infusion sites 
Bungie pumping, pumps that falter and rip your site 
Leg sites that only last 30 beautiful and perfect hours before they crap out for good because leg sites get more action than abdomen sites 
Abdomen infusion sites that are precariously close to pant buttons and jean rivets
Infusion site adhesive that unsticks, ASAP and for no reason at all  
Abdomen infusion sites that inadvertently getting rubbed by handbags and losing their magic sucking in the insulin, power.

I (and by I, of course I mean WE,) shouldn’t have to risk extended damaging our valuable real-estate or elevated blood sugars because of all of the above. 

Nor should we have to choose the lessor of two evils - Using more insulin and risk running out before our insulin Rx can be refilled, or risk running of infusions sites before that RX can be refilled.
So while I don't want to fight for my fourth box of infusion sites,
I ABSOLUTELY DO FIGHT FOR MY FOURTH BOX OF INFUSION SITES - because I absolutely need them. 
I've gone so far as to email my insurance company pictures of what an infusion site actually is, where it goes and what it does, because the people who are doing the denying, have absolutely no clue. 
Why am I writing this post? Because after 3 days of infusion site bliss and lovely numbers, I put in a new infusion site Saturday night, which ended up being placed directly in a dead-spot and had to change it out 2.5 hours later. 
That second site was a zombie site, but it took me until Monday morning to change it because I didn't want to admit it was another site issue - I didn't want to deal with the diabetes math and I was really, truly hoping it was just me requiring extra insulin instead of another site issue. 
And now I'm sharing because I'm thinking that some of you might be able to relate.

FYI: Insurance Co's - Life With Diabetes & Dealing With/Trying To Prevent "Real People Sick" = A Lot Of Insulin, Test Strips, Infusion Sets, ETC.

I’m thankful that I have technology and the extra insulin to fight off whatever’s going on inside me right now. But the cost of the all the extras is stressing me out and puts me on the defensive with my insurance company - And I don't feel like playing defense all the time - especially when I'm trying to prevent "real people" sick from occurring.
Why do I, and by “I” of course I mean “WE,” need to continually play defense, even when we feel like skipping the game entirely and sitting on the sidelines until we're ready to grab the ball. 
And yeah, I can't believe I'm using a sports euphemism - I'm so much more of an "Arts & Entertainment" Chick. 
#####
Because I’m fighting off some sort of something in the cold/infection variety since Sunday, I’ve been dealing with elevated blood sugars, a scratchy throat and slightly higher than normal body temp between 98.9 & 99.2. 
I've been popping extra Vitamin C, craving early bedtimes, chicken soup and spicy food.   

And because of diabetes technology, I’ve increased my temp basal rate to 129% and that seems to keep my blood sugars in the normal range and I can go about my day without skipping to many beats. 
It also means I’ve been going through insulin like water (between 54 and 56 units per day on average since Sunday) and the same goes for infusion sets. I’m literally changing out my site every 24 hours - And not because I want to, but because it’s been syphoning so much insulin subcutaneous , it literally craps out somewhere between the 24 & 32 hour mark. 

The good news: Like I said, nothing has to be put on the back burner during the day and fingers crossed that soon I can get back to a normal amount of insulin. 
The not so great news: How does one explain to their insurance company that they are going through insulin and infusion sets because their body is actually preventing "real people sick," from occurring, thus requiring  a shitload of insulin, test strips and  pump silhouettes in order to do so? 

Your diabetes may vary, (YDMV) doesn’t fall into the insurance RX math of diabetes. 
Not only do insurance companies not understand the “diabetes math” of it all, but that don’t understand that that “your diabetes may vary,” depending on the day, the week and the year. 
You might be staving off an infection in January that require copious amounts of everything - no matter what the insurance company thinks you require. 
Which means by the time you're better, you’ve already gone through 1 box of Silhouette infusion sets and have started into your second box, both of which were part of the four boxes included in your 3 month supply (FTR: I have pay extra for that fourth box,) that was delivered on December 29th. 

No matter if you’re using a insulin pump or multiple daily injections, when your body is fighting off an infection and trying its best to stay healthy, you’re going to require more insulin and supplies - And don’t even get me started on dead spots and scar tissue.  Insurance doesn’t understand or care. 
I’m lucky, my Endo gives me insulin samples  - And I still have a 3 unopened bottles before my mid February appointment - but by the looks of things - I’m going to  be cutting it close. 
As of today, I've gone through one whole bottle of insulin since January 10th.  
This afternoon I will start a new one - What if I go through that one in 13 days? 
What about PWDs who don’t have insurance? 
What about Children in developing countries who don’t have access to insulin? 
Sidebar: Spare A Rose is just around the corner, you can literally  “spare a rose, save a child,” and provide 1 month of insulin for a child in a developing country for just 5$
And you know what? It's the best 5 bucks you'll ever spend! CHECK IT OUT!

People with working pancreases require more insulin when they’re fighting off any sort infection, so do we. 
People with working pancreases require more insulin when they eat certain foods. 
So  do we.
We have to pay for our insulin, infusion sets, test strips, extra and otherwise - And we have to pay extra when our bodies require extra - And that SUCKS. 

I wish insurance companies would allow for a cushion, a backup of supplies for all the variables of life and life with diabetes. 
Real people sick/preventing RPS and what is required for both. Insulin requirements varying from day to day, sick or not. Deadspots, tile floors and their magnetic pull towards the last bottle of insulin. Error messages on meters and CGM transmitters that get funky before their time. 


Anyway, that's how I'm feeling and I just needed to share, because I know I'm not the only one who's dealing with all of the above - And we are in this together.  

Flight Canceled, Family Time, Diabetes Supplies & Gratitude~

5 minutes before my brother-in-law dropped me off at the airport last night, I decided to check my flight status again... just in case, even though I'd checked twice in the last hour. Once, right before we'd left the house, and the second, 15 minutes into our 35 minute ride to Myrtle Beach International Airport.

My flight's departure time had already been delayed twice and the weather was craptastic up and down the east coast.

And as luck would have it, my return flight home had been cancelled somewhere in those twenty minutes between checks - and just as we pulled up at "drop-off," I received an official email from the airline informing me that my flight was a no-go. 

While my BIL waited patiently in the Cell Phone lot, I stood in a long line to re-book my flight - And by the time it was my turn to go to the Check-In, I was informed that the next available flight back to the little airport I'd flown out of and where my car was currently parked, was Wednesday night. 

Seriously, I kid you not.

On one hand I was really happy to be spending more time with my amazing sister and brother-in-law because I missed them something fierce.

On the other hand, a million things were going through my mind at warp speed.

I'd have to cancel my Tuesday afternoon Endo appointment - you know, the one I should have scheduled for last month, but for some reason, didn't. 

I had work. But I could do most of it remotely. 

I was down to my last pair of clean socks and underwear and needed to do laundry, ASAP. Not a problem since my sister had both a washer, dryer and some super cute clothes if I needed to borrow shirts, dresses, etc. 

Then of course there was the whole diabetes thing - And while I waited in line, I quickly calculated the extra supplies I had in my messenger bag: 

4 infusion sets and reservoirs

1 bottle of insulin that was 3/4's full

40 test strips

1 spare pump battery

2 extra days of oral meds.

I'd be OK, but I was still worried.

For some reason, my infusion sites had only been lasting two days during my trip instead of three and I had no idea why - And I'd changed my site twice on Sunday because of a deadspot. So yeah, the fear of running out was in the back, middle and front of my mind. 

Normally, I ALWAYS travel with three or four days of backup oral meds on short trips 

( 4 days and under), instead of the extra two day supply I had with me. 

When we got back to my temporary home, I went to the guestroom, unzipped my suitcase and located the extra container of test strips I ALWAYS keep in my toiletry bag for emergencies... Except this canister was two months past the expiration date. 

CRAP - I thought I'd switched the old test strips with a new container of strips before I left... didn't I? 

Did I leave the new canister on my nightstand?  Oh God, I hope I did. 

Wait, let me think. OK, I threw out an empty container, but but did I mistakenly throw out the new test strips, too? For the life of me I couldn't remember.

I couldn't worry (FREAK OUT) about the test strips because I had no control over that situation until I got home. Nope. instead, I hung out with my family, watched "Orange Is The New Black," on Netflix & had a glass of wine.  

And when I woke up this morning, I focused on what I did have.. and what I currently had control over.

1. I was/am grateful to be spending more time with my family and turns out, they are really happy to have me stay an extra few days

2.  I was/am thankful that I have the ability and the flexibility to work remotely this week

3. I'm thankful that I was even able to book a flight out onWednesday night because the weather is reeking havoc with flights everywhere 

4. I'm grateful that I was able reschedule my Endo appointment this morning for the second week in February - And grateful that Angie at the Endo's office was incredibly understanding & put me on the top of the patient cancellation list

5. I reminded myself that if for some inexplicable reasons I needed to change my infusion site today and Wednesday, I'd still have two sets for back up. 

6. As long as I made it home Wednesday night, I'd be cool re: my orals - And if not - There's a CVS and a Walgreen's nearby.

7. And if for some reason I needed pump/test strip supplies - I am grateful for all the options I have. I can call Medtronic, checkout HelpAround app on my smart phone & put out a call to my beloved DOC.

 Yep, I'm going to take the lessons learned, live in the moment and choose gratitude. 

Because in the grand scheme of things, this is far from a disaster and I am a lucky duck, indeed~

"Getting A Leg Up On Scar Tissue" Revisited: 5 Weeks & 5 Days Of An Infusion Site Free Belly

On April 1, 2014 I wrote a post about “getting a leg up" on pump infusion site scar tissue and embracing new pump site locations . 
And for 5 weeks and 5 days ( March 29th until May 11th,) I avoided using my abdomen for pump infusions sites, until the streak was broken  3 a.m. Mother’s Day morning, when yours truly woke up with a 240 blood sugar. 
Even in my groggy stupor, I knew that I my infusion site was the culprit and I put a new one in my abdomen without even thinking until the canula was under my skin. 

Honestly, i'm not always as bright as I look, especially when I'm dog tired. So I shrugged my preverbal shoulders, primed and gave myself a correction bolus. 
And then I promptly went back to bed.

What I learned: 
1. Give The Sides A Try.
For me, the side of my thigh verses top of my thigh is the way to go because the sides of both thighs work much better than the tops of either. 
And by rotating each area of the side and almost back of my right thigh - I was able to use each site for 2 to 3 days, for a total of two weeks
Then I switched to the left side thigh and found out that it absorbed even better than the right - even though the left thigh seemed to be the one that incurred more snags during undressing. 

2. Not All Sides Are The Same
I found that re: thigh sites, the left thigh incurred more snags with clothing then the right thigh. Which is weird because I'm left handed so one would naturally think that the opposite would be true, but it wasn't. Weird.
After 2 weeks I made a detour to my right gluteus maximum and that wasn’t bad - It just wasn’t easy to achieve 
Sidebar: I definitely need to take a yoga class. 
That site lasted 2 full days before it tanked. then I went back to the right thigh for 3 days before finally going back to my abdomen. 

Another weird ironical: The right side of my abdomen absorbs better than the left. I already knew that before the belly break, but it's still the case after.
Weird.

3. I’m Still A Big Chicken. "BAWK, BAWK, BITCHES." 
I still need to not only attempt infusion sites in my arms and calve areas, I NEED to be able to successfully achieve infusion sites in my arms and calve areas. 
I did make several attempts in the my arms and even drew blood several times, but in the end I chickened out. Of course, I was using the paradigm silhouette infusions sites and they can be tricky.  
I have two boxes of unopened quick sets and I think they will be much easier on psyche re: my arms

I’m glad I gave me abdomen a reprieve and I’m hoping it will help with scar tissue. 


Embracing change in anything can be challenging, but it’s worth it. 

Getting A "Leg Up" On Scar Tissue & Trying New Insulin Pump Infusion Sites ~

 I have an affinity for wearing my insulin pump infusion sets on my abdomen and for several reasons. Infusion sites on my belly are easy to access, easy to see, easy to change out  - Just easy in all dimensions - At least for me.

Except of course for scar tissue and the development of deadspots on my belly - As in areas on my abdomen that no longer syphon insulin properly. 

I don't like deadspots, who does? 

So with the being said, I've decided to get a "leg up" re: insulin pump infusion set sites and I've committed to alternate sites for the month of April. 

This rotation started on Saturday March 29th, on my right thigh. Now, I've used leg sites before - it's not a new location for me, but it is a tried and true location. I'm still using my right thigh, but will rotate to the left midweek. 

I'm considering trying out other locations, but I have some questions  -And I figured if I had questions, so did other people. I/we could REALLY, REALLY use your advice regarding the following: 

1. Leg Sites: 

Do you place infusion sites on the backs of your thighs? Also, do you find yourself changing out the sites more on your legs than on your  belly? 

I do, always have. I change my leg sites every 24 to 30 hours, mostly because of the workout that area gets re:clothing - As in pulling pants on and off, up and down, bathroom breaks and  tubing getting caught in underwear.  

2. Arms: Who out there puts insulin infusion sites on your arms and how does the whole subcutaneous syphoning of insulin work for you in that location? 

How long do arm sites usually last and what issues do I need to be aware of with arm sites? Like what happens when I take my shirt off? Will my tubing get all tangled?  

3. Boob: Since I'm being all honest, I'm not really interested in trying that particular area of my anatomy - I'm scared - Like REALLY scared - But let's just say I might be considering it. 

Any thoughts or advice re: infusion boob sites out there? 

Sidebar: C over at "C's Life With D" wrote a great post on this very subject! Click HERE . READ IT. 

4. Calf: Someone posted an infusion site on their daughter's calf recently ( And for the life of me, I can't remember who,) and I was like: WOW, I never thought to try that! Has anyone out there used their calf for an infusion site and if so, how'd it go? 

5. Butt: Believe it or not - I've never tried putting an infusion site in my gluteus maximus

in all my years of pumping for several reasons. My rotator cuff issues and the fact that my culo lacks cushioning.  

 Any and all advice re: arse infusion sites would be greatly appreciated!

6. OTHERS: Are there any other infusion site areas I haven't listed? If that's the case, where are they and how do they work for you? 

Change can be hard in life - And life with diabetes, so thanks in advance for any help in this area - Or should I say areas? Either or, I really appreciate your input, advice and help on this this subject!