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.

Of Belgian Waffles & Chatting With Miss Pink Girl

"How's your stomach doing today?" asked the 5 year old girl dressed in pink and standing in the Buffet line, and who from this moment forward shall be referred to as " Miss Pink Girl."

Me: It's OK. Thanks for asking

.

Miss Pink Girl: Is it still broken? 

Me: Yep, it's still broken. 

Miss Pink Girl: But that little machine is giving you medicine, right?? 

Me: Yep.

Miss Pink Girl. That's good.

Me: I agree. 

Miss Pink Girl: Kelly, can you please gwab (grab) me another waffle?

Me: I'd love too "gwab you another waffle," Pink Girl.

Miss Pink Girl: Gwab one for you, too - They're so good!

I looked at the Belgian waffles piled high in the bamboree longingly (OK, LUSTFULLY) and decided against them. Because just looking at them made my head spin with the Diabetes Math of it all. 

Me: No, I'll stick with my cheesydelicious veggie omelet, bacon &  berries that I already have on my plate. 

Miss Pink Girl: Too much to figure out with your machine? 

Sidebar: Damn that little Miss Pink Girl was smart! She listened to what I had to say even when I thought she wasn't. 

Back in February, at her big sister's 8th Birthday party, I'd mentioned to Miss Pink Girl that I had to count all the energy (energy in place of carbs because she'd just learned about food turning into energy was what made us grow & be strong in her Pre -K class,)  in my food and put those numbers into my "machine." And Miss Pink Girl remembered our conversation without skipping a beat!

Me: Something like that. Plus, I'd rather save room for the stuff on the dessert table. 

Miss Pink Girl: That's OK, you can have some of my waffle - It's big enough for the bouf (both) of us!

Me Well... Maybe just a bite!  

And little Miss Pink Girl was right, the ginormous Belgian waffle totally was  big enought for the "bouf of us!" And it wonderful...... But not nearly as wonderful as chatting with Miss Pink Girl!

32,865 Days Ago A Miracle Happened On Bloor Street ~

Welcomed indeed!

It was 90 years ago today that the "Miracle on Bloor Street" happened, and the world as we know it changed forever.

To be even more specific in terms of the time/space continuum, it was 32,865 days ago, which broken down into hours = 788,760. Break that number of hours down into minutes and it = 47,325,600 minutes. Take the number of minutes and break them down into seconds and = 2,830,536,000 seconds ago that a human being first received a shot of insulin. The insulin was brown and brackish in color and came from the pancreas of a piggy, and was administered to a 14 year old boy named Leonard Thompson.

The first shot caused Thompson to have an allergic reaction, but after fine tuning of the extracted insulin by the good doctors, a second shot was administered 2 weeks later.

Millions of lives were saved and family trees were able to develop new branches.

A Nobel Prize was won and many a diabetes business was launched.

My own Family Tree was able to flourish despite diabetes. My father and his two sisters were all diagnosed as type 1 (they were from a family of seven children,) and had 10 children between them, including my two sisters and I - Also type 1s. Not to mention my nephew and cousin also have type 1. And when you really think about it, he Diabetes On-Line Community is able to exist because of the discovery of insulin.

I'm so very grateful to insulin and my heart holds a special place for Doctors Banting & Best - I love them very much!

But I can't help wondering how many days, hours, minutes and seconds it will take to find a cure for diabetes.

Because isn't 32,865 days an awfully long time to wait between diabetes miracles?

Diabetes GPS Travel Patterns: Blood Sugar Left Nirvana & Arrived in Shitsville At 7pm Last Night

Blood sugars remained in the vicinity of Nirvana all week, until 7:00 pm last night, when I realized a detour had been made and we (my bloodsugar and I) had arrived in Shitsville! the tipoff being the fact that my meter was blowing a 301.

I immediately washed my hands and tested again and the number 268 flashed across the screen. It was at that very moment I began cursing both diabetes and the blood sugar meter margin for error FDA rules. Really FDA, REALLY!!!!!!

Turns out my infusion set had crapped out, and a red, hard lump surrounded my cannula.

I changed it out for a fresh one, added 301 +268, which = 569. Then I divided 569 by 2, for a blood sugar of 284.5, rounded up and did a correction bolus for 285 and hoped for the best.

Of course I'd just bought a 1/2 a Regular (a.k.a, Italian) sub on my way home from the hospital and was dying to eat it. It'd been a long day both work and hospital wise and I was hungry!

The minutes ticked by as I watched the clock, did laundry and raged bolused ever so slightly. Finally, 220 flashed across my meter at 9:12 pm - I bolus 25 carbs for 1/3 a sub and downed it.

The rest of the evening went rather smoothly, until I headed for bed around midnight.

I was all ready to turn out the lights and finally get some much needed sleep, when I realized I hadn't tested.

So I grabbed my bedside meter, pricked my finger and waited the mandatory 5 seconds to find out my blood sugar fate.

The number 83 blinked back at me and in my head I could actually hear my blood sugar LOLing at my expense.

I was far from happy and I just wanted to sleep. I decided to go for a temporary basal rate of .20 for 3 hours and jumped back under the covers. But as tired as I felt, I knew that the temporary basal rate probably wasn't my best bet.

So I got up, went to the fridge and grabbed 5 ounces of juice and a cheese stick, consumed said juice and cheesestick, suspended my temporary basal rate and headed back to bed.

Before I shut the light off I made sure a tube of glucose tabs were on my stand and I went to sleep.

Cut to this morning when I woke up with a blood sugar of 79.

And so far, so good.

It's always something in life.... diabetes or otherwise ;)

Happy 4th of July ! Celebrate All Life's Freedoms & Victories - Diabetes & Other Wise!

Full Burst, Beach View -Photo via my iPhone


The 4th of July, if I was attending a magazine spread Fourth of July bbq~ Photo via Google


Bottle Rockets, Beach View-Photo via my iPhone

It's the July 4th, the day when Americans (and former British Subjects) celebrate our independence from England all those years ago.

It's a day of celebrating with BBQ's, fireworks, attending Main Street Parades, or in the backyards of friends & family and watching fireworks on the beach.

And it's a day when many of us take a little Diabetes Vacation - And Mine actually started last night.

My friends had a BBQ with all the traditional cookout fare. Cheeseburgers, hot dogs, homemade potato & tomato salad and everything else inbetween.

My job was to bring the peach pie & the Presecco - And I took my job seriously - And might I add, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

It been YEARS since I had potato salad on my plate, and even longer since I'd eaten an entire cheeseburger with said potato salad on the same plate, but last night I did both - And had a slice of peach pie.

I knew going in that the diabetes math would be a challenge - And I knew that there was a more than likely chance that my numbers would be off - And by off I mean like WAY OFF.

I told myself that as long as I tried my best and just as importantly, enjoyed my time with my friends, it was all going to be OK - regardless of the resulting numbers.

I yes indeed, Ithoroughly enjoyed myself, and did my best to figure out my extended bolus and temporary basal rate.

I had a great time with my friends, I laughed with their children, and I appreciated all the little moments in between.

When I got home last night and tested, it was obvious that I'd miscalculated something (s), and my blood sugar was 300.

But I didn't stress - Instead, I did a correction bolus and relaxed.

When I went to bed, my blood sugar was 199 & when I woke up this morning it was 78.

And I will admit that Yours Truly was a happy camper.

As far as I'm concerned, today is all about celebrating our independence from all types of freedoms & life's barriers -Including diabetes guilt.

So celebrate today, light your sparklers, enjoy your BBQ & your pie!

Be aware and celebrate all life's victories & Freedoms, both diabetes related and otherwise!

How are you celebrating your Independence Day?

Craptacular - Craptacular, Sandwich In A Can, A.K.A Candwich Edition

Thanks to The Huffington Post, yours truly found out about the the latest edition to "Craptacular,Craptacular cuisine," in the form of a candwich.

Basically folks:

This ain't no manwich, that's a PB & J sandwich in a can!!

The latest in one stop shopping & craptacular cuisine is an interesting concept.

From what I can gather, it's target market is for people who:

1. Are really busy & don't feel like slapping bread together with PB & J

2. Don't really care about numbers

3. Are OK with spending 12 dollars, plus shipping & handling for four candwiches in a can

4. Think getting a sandwich in a can, complete with plastic utensils, individual servings of peanut butter & jelly and bread that looks like a hotdog bun & does not have to be refrigerated is a good thing.

Yes, it exactly what the name says it is~

I looked all over markonefoods.com for the nutritional info of the"candwich," but ironically, couldn't find that info ANYWHERE on the site.

But after googling the term "candwich," I found a really well written and informative blog post from 5/23/11 about the candwich on IHateMyMessageboard.com

The site's candwich user review is complete with pictures & nutritional info and

I strongly encourage you to checkout that wonderful post by clicking, HERE.

FYI, Tracy, the writer of Ihatemymessageboard.com brings up a really good point about using the candwich for humanitarian relief efforts and feeding those in war torn countries or areas suffering from a natural disaster.

And I have to be honest, I hadn't thought about that.

Conceptually speaking, the food is protected and could be distributed in various ways, be it via Red Cross tents or dropped out of a plane.

All snarkiness aside, i'll admit to that being a positive.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID......

I have REAL ISSUES with the candwich, BIG TIME.

Diabetically speaking, one of my issues is in the nutritional numbers, and how those numbers affect a person with diabetes bolusing for the candwich.

1 candwich has a whopping 63 carbs, 480 calories & 22 grams of fat!

That's a LOT of diabetes math for a sandwich in a can.

Not to mention that's a whole lotta coin spent and packaging waste generated for sandwiches in a can!

Plus, I'm trying to stick with whole foods and cut back on the processed foods, thing.

Plus, it just doesn't float my boat.

So, Diabetesalicious minds want to know: What are your thoughts on the candwich and how would you bolus for it?

Has anyone out there on the internetz actually tried a candwich and if so, what did you think and how were your bloodsugars afterwards?

The Diabetes Gods

I'm not religious, but I am highly spiritual & highly spirited - Just ask the people at Readers Digest & "The Bible Cure for Diabetes" shmuck who thought prayer was the way to cure diabetes!

I was raised Catholic by a Protestant mother and a Catholic father who later found out that there was more than a very good chance that he was part Jewish on his father's side.

I believe in praying and I believe in giving thanks.

Personally, I think the Dali Lama is a wise man, and I love that he wants people to focus on their similarities, not their differences. Regardless of whether or not their differences involve religion, politics, or the age old Mets vs Yankees fans conundrum!

I find religion in songs like "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Let It Be," and "Private Universe."

And I find the congregation I feel most at home in is The Church Of Helping Others.

But every now in then I call on "The Diabetes Gods," especially when my numbers or wonky or I'm contemplating pasta. And just so we're clear, I'm not calling them to cure or fix my diabetes. I'm calling on them purely for entertainment~

These deities only exist in my imagination of course, but they help me smile just the same.

The make me laugh, which helps me to cope & get on with the business of getting on with my life.

Calling on the Diabetes Gods goes something like this:

Goddess of the Bolus & Basal Rates, PLEASE help me figure out this lasagna in all it's cheesy glory!

God of the everlasting Insulin Pump Battery - Please don't let my battery crap out before I get home!

Most times I'm more generic in which Diabetes God I'm referring to and say something along the lines of: Hey Diabetes Gods, PLEASE stop my numbers from going all batshit and help my correction bolus to get my blood sugars back in normal range!

OR: Hey Diabetes Gods, I'm making a ceremonial offering to you in the form of a Crumbs Bake Shop cupcake - Hope you'll be pleased with both the cupcake and my bolus to cover said cupcake! And Sidebar: This one is a personal favorite!

What can I say, I also find my religion in humor, and damn if calling on the Diabetes Gods every now and then doesn't make me LOL as I'm figuring out my diabetes math, bolus and or temporary basal rate!

And before people get all judgmental on me, I also pray to the God of found Parking Spaces, The Goddess of 5 lbs lost,The Rocket Surgeon God and the God Of The Tailor!

I'm Talking Diabetes NEEDS, Not Wants....

Here are my latest additions to my never ending list of "Diabetes Needs."
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I need Test Strip & Insurance companies to consider the margin of error when it comes to said test strips and what those said errors cost the consumers.

And by "margin of error," I mean several things. Things like the skunky test strip factor and the "Error" message that shows up sometimes for a multitude of reasons including; lack of blood or the the drop of blood being applied to early.

There are also annoying messages like "NOT OK" that gives no reason at all and make me want to scream.
Then there's the whole "law of test strip averages" form of testing which requires the user to u use two or three test strips because there's no way in bloody hell that the first reading is right, so we must test again and bolus for the combined average blood sugar.

For example: Blood sugar 1 is 187, But you swear its lower, so you test again and blood sugar 2 is 159.
187 +159 = 346. 346 divided by 2= 173. Depending on your last meal, the correction bolus between 187 & 173 can be enough to make for an extreme low and or an extreme high later.

All of the above factors cause us to use more test strips, which is good for the supplier of the product, but not so fantastic for the end user of the product.

All of the above factors also causes major arguments with insurance companies who limit the number of test strips that they will cover.

Apparently the term: SHIT HAPPENS, doesn't cut it for most HMO's.

Bottom line, I need my diabetes GPS system to work consistently and be right on Target, my health depends on it!

I need (and would really appreciate) if the makers of Glucose tabs would icksnay on the uber hard to open childproof protective plastic wrap that their unopened products are ensconced in.

I know that the containers have to have some form of protective plastic wrap, but when my blood sugar is low and I need me some Tropical Fruit flavored glucose tabs, I need to actually be able to open them, ASAP. I fumble enough when my bloodsugars are low, I shouldn't have to fumble with the packaging for the product used to treat my low.

Now, whenever I purchase glucose tabs, I remove the protective plastic seal immediately, before a low occurs.
Sometimes I buy glucose tabs in bulk (especially when they're on sale) and go ahead and call me crazy, but I don't want to open every single container glucose bottles/10-pack tubes at once. According to a very reliable source named Scott Strumello, good news regarding said glucose tabs is on the way!

I need restaurant chains to list the carb content of their food dishes, not just the fat, calories and fiber content. Calories won't help me to bolus for your food properly, but a correct carb count will.

I need doctors and health care professionals to talk with and too me, not at me. I need them to be willing to work with me regarding my disease. And I need and would very much appreciate if they took the time to listen and consider what I have to say about my diabetes, becuase I'm the one who has to live with it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

I need the media to stop getting diabetes wrong - And like you, I'm working to make that happen.

I need a diabetes cure for so many reasons that it makes my head spin a la Linda Blair. But at this moment in time I need a diabetes cure because I'm just so tired of having diabetes.

But enough about me - What are your diabetes needs??

Numbers

NUMBERS

There are all sorts of numbers in our diabetes world.

Blood sugar numbers, carb counts, carb ratios, bolus and basal numbers, etc.

But there are other numbers related to diabetes as well.

Here are a few numbers that personally represent my diabetes life.

12,045: Number of days I’ve lived with "the betes,now"

Number of injections given: This is tricky because now I’m on the pump and when I was on multiple daily injections, the rates varied. So, I need to get back to you on this one.

1418: Number of infusion sites I’ve used in my pump wearing life: Here’s how the breakdown - And please keep in mind I was a Litt major in college.

I’ve been on an insulin pump for 8 years. There are 365 days a year. 8 X’s 365 = 2,920 days.

Divide 2,920 by 2.5 (2.5 being the average number of days I wear an infusion set, give or take a few days =1168.

Take into account the number of unexpected doorknob infusion set extractions, which I’m guesstamating to be somewhere around 100.

ADD (thanks Val) 100 + 1168, for a new grand total of 1268.

Remember to take into account the number of infusion that was actually on a dead spot. Because of the “dead” factor, those sites absolutely refused to absorb insulin and needed to be replaced. Let’s say…100 + 1268 = 1368.

Now, add the number of infusion sets that for some reason didn’t stick properly due to inadvertently folding sticky part of infusion set and had to be replaced with in 1 day. Lets say…... Lets say…. 50. Final Grand Total: 1418.

792: number of insulin bottles used in the last 33 years. This not number doesn't include the the insulin bottles that broke and had to be replaced - Because I have no idea what that number actually is. But I do know that the broken insulin bottle phenomenon usually occurs when you don't have another bottle of insulin on hand.

300: Estimated number of times someone has asked me if my insulin pump was a beeper.

3: number of times I’ve worn my insulin pump in my bra. Seriously, I don’t have the boob ratio to get away with that.

4: Number of times I’ve gotten my infusion set caught on my car’s emergency break.

2: number of times in 8 years I went to work and forgot my insulin pump at home.

1: Number of times I left my insulin pump at my chiropractors office and went home without it after an adjustment.

10ish: Number of times I forgot my meter at home and didn’t have a spare.

2: Number of times my meter case was stolen because some thief thought it was a wallet.

I’m not kidding. It happen once at a bar when my hand bag and the contents spilled out, and once at a coffee shop on Walnut Street where some dude took swiped it off the table I was sitting at. But the joke was on them!!

52: Number of Flavors Ben & Jerry’s currently available for purchase.

7: Number of pounds I’d like to loose.

????????: Number of carbs I’ve bolused for in my diabetes: OK, there’s no fucking way I can figure that number out! NEXT configuration

35 – 65: Number of carbs in a boutique cupcake. Carb configurations are based on the size and icing ratio of said cupcake.

IN THE THOUSANDS: Number of times I’ve uttered the term “ I’M HIGH” in public when referring to my blood sugar.

IN THE THOUSANDS: Number of times I’ve reached Blood Sugar Nirvana

IN THE MILLIONS : Number of Diabetes Police in the world

6,000,000,000: Number of times I’ve had to say: Yes, I’m allowed to eat that.

ENOUGH TO PURCHASE A GINORMOUS BEACH HOUSE & NOT HAVE A MORTGAGE: MONEY spent on living a diabetes life.

OK, I can’t do anymore Diabetes Math, because my head really hurts.

Any numbers you’d like to add?

The Diabetes Pancreas Postulate & The Diabetes Pancreas Postulate

Diabetic say "WHAAAAAAT?????"

I was NOT a math major in college and as long as I’m being honest, I barely made it through high school algebra & geometry! No, I was Literature, History & Social Studies girl!

And had it not been for my love of movies, I NEVER would have survived High School Algebra & Geometry - I'm totally serious! I had the same teacher for both algebra & geometry, and he felt so sorry for me and my math struggles/anxiety, he made all out test extra credit questions based on movies! By doing so, I was able to barely squeak by those classes with C.

But for some reason, the Partition Postulate has stuck with me, even after all these years.

Partition Postulate: The whole is equal to the sum of its parts.

OK, I can relate to that – and it makes perfect sense to me... in theory.

But like I’m prone to do, I’ve given the Partition Postulate some diabetes twists ~

The Diabetes Pancreas Postulate: Is based on the whole of the Islet of Langerhans being destroyed, and therefore being unable to work in the organ known as the pancreas, which makes the pancreas unable to produce insulin.

Which, requires said person with said bum pancreas to partake in injections of insulin either via MDI (multiple daily injections,) or portable pancreases – a.k.a, insulin pumps for the rest of his or her life and deal with the Diabetes Police almost as much.

Which thus becomes, The Diabetes Postulate: The sum of my parts lacks a fully functioning pancreas, but the sum of my parts and my worth as a person is not based on the fact that my pancreas is faulty.

If that were really the case, morons wouldn’t be elected to congress because their brains were faulty and the Kardashians wouldn’t have a show because they lacked basic conversation & behavioral skills.

You know what I just realized guys? Had my teacher used diabetes as examples in his theorems and postulates, I would have totally nailed his classes and walked out of them both with an A!

It's My 3rd Blogiversary & Here Are 6th Things I Want You To Know About Diabetes On D-Blog Day!

I can’t believe that the blog is 3 years old!! It’s seems like only yesterday when I wrote my first post and was a raving & ranting lunatic about The Berry weaning herself off insulin!

When I started, I had no idea what I was doing, or that there was such a huge (and awesome) Diabetes On-line Community. I just needed a place to vent and I’d heard rumblings about this thing called “A Blog.” And the fact that setting up a blog was so darn easy, I took the plunge! I didn't have much on-line etiquette at first, and it took me a while to discover the DOC, but I'm still here - and loving every minute of it!

Blogging about diabetes has given me a community, reignited my diabetes passion to inform and educate others about living life with diabetes, and it's steered my career in a Diabetes centric direction and focus.

I'm still not always quite sure what I’m doing, but I do know that whatever I'm doing, I'm doing so with a passion and I’m so grateful to be part of such a fantastical and powerful community!

Over the past three years I’ve learned so much from others regarding both diabetes and life. Blogging has made me a better person, a healthier person with diabetes, and blogging has enhanced my writing skills. Diabetes Blogging has also made my voice louder than I ever thought possible! Which is pretty damn loud considering that I have quite a set of lungs!

So thanks for reading, supporting, giving me your shoulder to cry on when needed, always making me laugh, and continuing to teach me something new every day.

And thank you for making me strive to be better and achieve more in every aspect of my life.

I love you guys so much!

BTW, I just read that Rachel over at Tales Of Rachel is celebrating her Blogaversary today too! 5 years of blogging - OUTSTANDING! So go on over there and wish her a Happy Blogaversary!

Today is the 6th annual D-Blog Day - I kid you not! Gina created D-Blog Day in order to unite all the diabetes bloggers and to educate the public about diabetes, during National Diabetes Month! Good job Gina!

This years D-Blog Day theme is: 6 Things I want you To Know About Diabetes.

Here Are The 6th Things I Want You To Know About Living With Diabetes!

1. Diabetes is NOT a character flaw. While it’s true that many characters have diabetes, including myself. Being a person with diabetes doesn't make you a bad person, a terrible judge of character, a lazy sugar addict, or person who lacks quality.
2. Being a person with diabetes does not make me weaker or less capable of working and living a full life. Yes, there are times when diabetes makes me feel like crap, but that doesn’t make me any less capable- on the contrary, it makes me more determined then ever to do a great job and live a great life!
3. Don’t ask a person with diabetes “Are you sure your allowed to eat that?” because like the rest of the population – we can pretty much anything – in moderation. Seriously, I don’t know many people over the age of 30 who can eat whatever they want, so stop judging us on what we put in our mouths. Instead, why not ask: Is your diet restricted because of diabetes? OR I’m totally confused by what a person with diabetes can or can’t eat. Can you explain it to me?
4. As a person living with diabetes, I’m constantly doing Diabetes Math and calculating the carbs of every scrap of food I put into my body so I can figure out how much insulin to take to cover that food. This makes me good at multi-tasking. Not because I want to be, but because I have to be. So next time you and I are out to dinner and we’re deep in conversation, keep in mind that I will secretly be eyeballing and calculating carbs while gushing over your child’s baby pics or laughing at your last nightmare blind date!
5. There is NO CURE FOR DIABETES. Yes, insulin allows me to live, but insulin is not a cure. I’m alive because of insulin, but if I don’t take my insulin, I’m dead, “sleeping with the fishes,” Je suis morte, & fini. And even with insulin, I'm still at risk for all type of diabetes complications.
6. Finally, If you have any questions about diabetes, don’t be afraid to ask, because that’s what I’m here for! After 33 years of living with type 1 diabetes, I know a thing a two about the subject! And in all honesty, I’d rather you ask a diabetes question then continue to perpetuate diabetes myths or stereotypes!

My Diabetes Is Invisible....For The Most Part

Todays post is inspired by my (our) invisible illness, diabetes. This week is National Invisible Chronic Illness Week, something all of us deal with on a 24X7 basis. Bottom line, we never get a diabetes break or vacation - It's a part of us, like it or not.

Every single day, diabetes is our constant companion.~

To look at me, you’d never realize that I’m doing all sorts of carb calculations & diabetes math, as we sit discussing menu options and life at the restaurant we're dining at.

But if you took a good look at my hands, you'd see my finger tips are freckled and calloused from testing my blood sugars 10 to 15 times a day.

And at first glance, my insulin pump might be mistaken as a pedometer or newfangled cell phone.

FYI, if you think it's a beeper, you need to wake up dude - it's not 1991.

To see me walk down the street you’d never know that I haven’t had a day off from type1 diabetes in 12,410 days.

12,418 if you count the leap years.

To hear me laugh you’d never know that I spend a lot of time worrying about EVERYTHING. Including but not limited to; diabetes, blood sugars, carb calculations, family history repeating itself, complications, career, money, life and being alone.

When we first meet, it’s probably not obvious that the night before I woke myself out of a sound sleep at 4 a.m.

Why? Because my heart was pounding, my lips were numb, and my sheets were soaking wet with sweat, thanks to a blood sugar of 45.

Instead you see a woman with hazel green eyes that are indeed “1 in a million,” a winning smile, and a gregarious personality that some call feisty; many call funny, and more than a few call smart.

And if you happen to see me on my ever so rare, mid morning coffee runs, You might just think I need a cup of coffee, which is true.

But that need for a mid morning coffee was most likely caused by a nasty (and thankfully, not normal) 6:30 am blood sugar of 330.

An occurrence that leaves me feeling like I’m walking through J-E-L-L-O, making my mid morning coffee jolt a real need, not a want.

To look at me you’d never know that my pancreas is not only faulty; it’s down right broken.

When you pass me on the street I bet you don’t realize I’m an insulin whore.

My diabetes is invisible… for the most part.

But it’s always with me; in me, and by my side.

It’s the longest relationship I’ve ever had.

My diabetes might be invisible too others, but it’s my reality.

AND I OWN IT.

SYMLIN Insurance Sticker Shock

I just spent 40 minutes on the phone and I'm not a happy woman.

The first call was from my local CVS pharmacy, who called to tell me that my two SYMLIN pens were ready to be picked up and could be all mine for $163.32 - more than what my insulin costs per month.

Yes, I'm well aware that my insurance SUCKS.

I told the Pharmacist to sit tight on my order, because I needed to do some research before I could commit.

My second call was to my insurance company, who confirmed the price - and told me that my plan didn't cover mail order medicine purchases. They also told me that 50 % of non-generic RXs are covered under my plan.

It still didn't make sense- The prices quotes I found on-line regarding SYMLIN was $225 - BEFORE INSURANCE KICKED IN.

SInce my insurance company pays 50% for non-generic RXs - it should cost me $112.50 out of pocket. Not great, but much more affordable.

My insurance company then forwarded my call to CVSCaremark - the company who handles the prescriptions for my insurance. CVSCaremarkwho confirmed that $163.32 was indeed the price I had to pay. The nice lady on the other end of the line told me that my insurance was covering 50% of the cost, and that CVSCaremark rate for SYMLIN is $325 - BEFORE INSURANCE. The nice lady on the other end of the line really felt bad wanted to know if there was something else I could take in place of the SYMLIN.

Like I said: MY INSURANCE SUCKS! But for the love of God, where the hell does my insurance company come up with these inflated prescription rates?!

The irony isn't lost on me. I fought Dr.J on SYMLIN for years, but last week I finally agreed, and was looking forward to experiencing positive results.

Now, I seriously have to consider the our of pocket cost of using SYMLIN.

And the cost of my good health if I don't.

What's best for my health is always the winner in the end. Let's face it, we don't have a choice when it comes to our health.

But I'm angry that my insurance company is forcing me to once again cut back in other areas of my life in order to stay healthy. I didn't choose diabetes, diabetes chose me.

And I've made diabetes work in my life, I really have.

I do the work, I educate others, and I don't spend a lot of time wishing my diabetes weren't so. Diabetes has made me stronger, it's given me a passion, a career, friends, and a platform - and I'm incredibly grateful for all of those things.

But diabetes has taken away people that I loved, and diabetes has forced me to always be in fighter mode.

Insurance company Practitioners of Bull Sh*t; consider yourself warned - I'll continue to bitch, but more importantly - I'll continue to fight you in order to stay healthy.

HFCS - The Sweet Facts Are: We Aren't Confused - YOU ARE.

I’m confused about lots of things in life. I don’t get why people watch the Kardashians or the Jersey Shore and am “confused” as to what the attraction is to shows like that?

The concept of North, South, East, & West confuses me - and if truth be told it confuses various family members as well. In my diabetesalicious my mind, Canada is UP and Florida is down.

I understand the whole “clean up after yourself,” concept, and have understood it since nursery school. Simply put; if you make a mess, clean it up. I’m “confused” as to why BP Oil has such a tough time grasping said concept.

One thing that does not “confuse” me is High Fructose Corn Syrups negative effect on my blood sugar. I’ve done the “Diabetes Math” folks. I’ve counted the carbs, tested my blood sugar, and did the correct bolus for a snack size bag of corn chips/cookies, and was incredibly confused as my blood sugar skyrocketed to the moon.

I’ve called my CDE damn in tears, frustrated with the results of carbo counting for HFCS laden foods and was told quite bluntly: If HFCS is in the first five ingredients of a product, don’t eat it- it will wreck havoc with your blood sugars!

That was 10 years ago, and since then I’ve steered clear of the dietary demon that is HFCS.

I’ve read books, talked with numerous health care professionals, and watched documentaries on the HFCS, - it's not a pretty picture. I’ve written numerous blog posts about HFCS and tweeted facts. Seriously folks, there’s nothing “sweet” about what HFCS does to your body.

I w as mega confused when I start receiving out of the blue tweets from @Sweetfacts (a PR firm for the Corn Refiners Association) telling me that “I’m confused about HFCS” and that’s “it’s perfectly fine if consumed in moderation.” @sweetfacts also sent me lots of links to posts saying HFCS has nothing to does with the rise of type 2 diabetes in this country. YES – I laughed so hard I could barely catch my breath.

I tweeted back the correlation between HFCS being added to soft drinks in 1980, which happened to be the year children started being diagnosed with type 2. No answer on that one.

@sweetfacts @sstrumello FYI - US rates of type 2 diabetes at a crazy rate since 1980, when soda co's started substituting sugar with HFCS

I decided to tweet @Sweetfacts a rather simple question that would ease my mind regarding HFCS. I even used @Sweetfacts very own words. I asked: How does one consume HFCS in moderation when it’s in almost every processed food under the sun?

I asked this question multiple times and in multiple ways and tweeted a few other HFCS facts as we:

@sweetfacts I am confused though, because I have absolutely no idea how one consumes #HFCS in moderation - do tell!

@sweetfacts So tell please tell me because I'd love 2know how you do it. How does 1 consume #HFCS in "moderation,"since it's in everything

@sweetfacts SERIOUSLY? There's no confusion here-HFCS is NOT "a health food" in anyway,shape, or form. it's a genetically modified sweetener

@Sweetfacts FYI,I absolutely support farmers&buy fresh corn@ a wkly farmers mkt. The edible kind,not the yellow dent #7-spawner of HFCS kind

@sweetfacts Here's a question for you. Since #HFCS is in virtually EVERYTHING, how can it be consumed in moderation?

Of course I didn’t receive an answer – and there’s a good chance I won’t.

I also became royally confused when @KSGrains – another tweeter paid to tweet poetic about HFCS tweeted me this:

: @ksgrains @diabetesalic Saying #hfcs is in everything is totally misguided. Best way to eat healthy: http://bit.ly/HR7Bi

Yes, girlfriend sent me a link to the food pyramid - PLEASE!

So I tweeted:

@ksgrains Don’t tell me the "best way 2eat healthy,” I’ve been a type1diabetic since I ws 8& have been working w/nutritionists &CDES for years

@ksgrains Both personally&professionally. The nutritionists & Certified Diabetes Educators I work w/tell their patients to stay clear of #HFCS

@diabetesalic Exaggerate much? lol I think you need a good laugh -- What would Julia say about sweeteners? http://bit.ly/dyz4aH

My response:

@ksgrains NO,I tell it like it is. Julia Child ws a proponent of real food& ingredients& I’m sure she thought #HFCS ws BS.

Ironically, the producers of with the Julia Child wanna-be video and the site it airs on Sweetscam.com are rumored to be funded by those who make money from #HFCS.

I could cut and paste more tweets, but I’d rather just tell you how I feel.

I found the whole exchange and condescending attitude of both @ksgrains & @Sweetfacts to be really offensive.

I find it offensive that people who are paid by the corn conglomerate tell me and others like myself that we are confused about #HFCS.

As a person with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years, I don’t have the luxury of being “confused” when it comes to what I put in my body. My world revolves around all types of numbers.

Blood sugar numbers; carbs,fiber, fat grams and caloric intake. Not to mention A1C, blood pressure rates, kidney function rates, and cholesterol. I could go on, but you all know the diabetes drill.

I (like millions of others) MUST calculate the numbers for every piece of food I put in my body. I, like my diabetes cohorts, MUST test my blood sugar, and figure out (with the help of my bolus wizard the precise amount of insulin needed to cover every piece of food that goes into my body.

I have no choice but to test my blood sugar at least ten times a day if I want to live a great life with diabetes.

I’ve experienced first hand what a processed food product loaded with HFCS does to my body, verses it’s raw sugar counterpart. I have the numbers to back it up – DON’T YOU DARE TELL ME I’M CONFUSED.

Don’t send me to sites with “quirky” videos produced by the people who pay you to talk nice about them,

I’m offended & disgusted that @sweetfacts and @ksgrains have so little faith in my intelligence as both a consumer and as a person with diabetes.

Please guys, tell me how you feel about #HFCS – and tell them to!

And don’t even get me started on the Chiropractor on twitter who suggests pooping 3 times a day to help control your diabetes – he’s full of shit!

But I digress, and will leave that subject for another post!