Stuff: Blogging, Exercising, May Is National Mental Health Month, CGMing, GoT

Yep, it's been a while since I've posted. 
My excuses: Things have been slightly crazy, I needed to regroup, one week of not blogging quickly turned into multiple and  accompanied by a wicked case of "what the hell do I write about/didn't I already write about that a million times already?! 
Because after blogging for almost 12 years about life with diabetes - sometimes I'm afraid "I've said and or written about that already." But you know what? Everyone who blogs about diabetes feels that way from time to time - and that's OK. 

After taking a short sabbatical - I'm back writing on the blog about my life and my life with diabetes! 

What's New? 
Lots: I've started exercising and thank God because I'm out of practice and I absolutely think better when I'm moving. 

Work has been active - lots of stuff going on and on the horizon  - I am both glad and thankful. 

It's May, which means it's National Mental Health Month. With that being said, I started seeing a therapist in March - because while I was going through the motions of my life, 
I was missing Olivia terribly at the end of the day and I was sad. 
I'm sharing because talking to someone is helping me deal with the trauma of losing my niece Olivia in January - and it's making me stronger in all areas of my life. 
If you're dealing with any form of stress, anxiety, or trauma - including diabetes burnout or grief - go talk to and with a professional.
Seriously - talk with someone - you are worth it! 

Is That  A CGM On Your Arm... Or Are You Just Happy To See Me? 
The answer is BOTH. 
I LOVE seeing you - you look great! And and yeah... I started wearing a CGM (Dexcom G6) in March because my Dr. and I need to make tweaks - I've committed to wearing it for at least 3 months. 
I was supposed to start in January, but Livy passed and I didn't feel like dealing with the learning curve while heading out west for her funeral. February I was bogged with assignments and starting on the Dex was pushed back into March.  

Initial Observations
Graphs have the potential to make you effing crazy!
I believe that people must be trained  on the anxiety that watching your graph can cause. Knowledge is great  - but so is realizing that when you/your loved one eat... or have a cold... are stressed... or just because it's Tuesday, your graph can and will go up. 

Also and I kid you not, we need to step away from the graph after a correction bolus. 
I knew all of the above before wearing a CGM  - and I was still looking at it way to much in the beginning!

CGM alarms are wicked loud.

Compression Low bgs are a thing - As in your CGM Low alarm goes off and reads 59, and you just ate lunch 40 minutes ago and you feel absolutely fine, do a fingerstick check. 
Because Compression Lows (unknowingly pushing against the sensor or sleeping/leaning on it can cause it to read low (at least according to my multiple friends and my CDE,) are real and they happen. Of course I learned about Compression Lows  after treating for said 59 low that really wasn't. HELLO 200! 

On the flip side - I barely felt a 53 low a few days ago that caused my alarm to go off.... at least until I did. It was real and I knew it! 

I'm more mindful of grazing since slapping on a CGM. That's a good thing. 

It's interesting to see how quickly certain foods impact your blood sugar via a graph.
It's equally as interesting and annoying to see how some foods seem to flat arrow for an hour or two and then spike towards the sky for a good three or four hours.
Ahhhh.... Good times..... good times. 

My graph was elevated the week before my period - I always knew this to be true - seeing it on a graph was trippy. 

Watching Game of Thrones absolutely impacts my blood sugars! 
Or at least I'm blaming GoT... and the Show Runners and Writers of GoT.
During last night's finale my bgs were running low. 
The previous weeks, not so much - especially when that ass of a Night King and his army hit Winterfell - I was topping 306 by the time that episode ended! 

Graph during the battle of Winterfell and dinner was not crazy high in carbs.
Also: Changed out my Omnipod site the next day (as in 1 day early,) b/c it was getting skunky.
So yeah, site starting to crap out might have had something to do with my elevated graph.
Whatever, I blame the Night King!

Graph during GoT finale.
I might have over bolused for my big tuna salad.
But the sucky writing certainly didn't help!
Also: Why'd you all demonize Dani and where the hell is my dragon!! 

Speaking of blood sugars - you ABSOLUTELY need to check your blood sugars via finger-sticks while wearing a CGM. Certainly not as much .... most of the time. 
My previous sensor required 8 calibration checks in one day before it started syncing - and that required massive amounts of self restraint because I wanted to rip out my sensor and start a new one... but I didn't and being things worked out.
My current sensor was within range on the first (and second) calibration. 
Depending on the day, how my numbers are running, physical activity, and how old my Omnipod site is - my amount of finger-sticks per day varies. 

Bottom line: My pancreas is stone cold busted - I need to make sure whatever robot diabetes part I'm wearing is reading correctly and that requires finger-stick checks~  

So that's all for now. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? 

Hello 2019 And How The Hell Is It Already Friday?!

I’m not sharing all my goals for 2019 - at least not right away ;) 

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First - HAPPY 2019! 

It’s been a hard week getting back into the swing of things. 

I’m still on holiday time  - meaning I’m still having difficulty getting to bed at a decent time and I’m thoroughly shocked that it’s Friday. Seriously, how the hell did that happen because it feels like freaking Tuesday?  

I can relate. 
image via the interwebz. 

And of course, getting back to normal food and blood sugars - but I’m doing it. 

And instead of New Years resolutions, I have goals. 

For starters - I want to go up a few levels in certain areas of my life and have my a1c go down a few notches. I want to exercise my body and brain more - which means writing more. 

I want to embrace change, doing what I fear first and with gusto.

And like everyone else, drop some pounds (10 lbs by May,) and get back to eating healthy after the holidays. 

The last one has been easy - mostly because I normally eat healthy and I actually really like eating healthy. Also, I’ve reached my wall of Enough, when it comes to big dinners and Christmas cookies multiple times a day. OK, that last part was only the last two weeks of December :)  

I’m craving healthy meals - I’ve been snacking on veggies for the past few weeks and more so than usual. Organic Rainbow Carrots have become a staples in my house for almost a year. 

Also: Give them a try because they are fabulous! 

And btw, I’m not the only one who thinks they are fab - so does Time Mag. 

And I believe the same thing will happen with mini Persian Cucumbers - which have less seeds and more flavor and crunch - also they are hydrating.  Also since November I’ve been digging Green Giant’s riced veggies.

All of the above make it easier to eat healthy - but more on veggies and healthy eating in another post. 

Embracing Change: After my last a1c, I had a talk with my Endo and agreed give Dexcom a try - and I’ll be starting on it soon - like very soon. 

I have mixed feelings about it - being attached to something else - sharing my info with loved ones … or not, embracing something different.  

But my Dr. and I agreed that Dex doesn’t have to be a full time and or permanent thing. 

We need to work on getting my a1c in a better spot and he feels dexcom will help us  troubleshoot. So I'm trying it for 3 months and taking it from there - and I will share my experience with you guys. 

And I will also ask your for advice an support because you guys ROCK - so thanks in advance!

Diabetes Hardware & The Moisturizer/Sunscreen Chess Game

Re: Dex, I am only referring to the G6

I need/require good moisturizers for both face and bod - because thank-you dry skin!

Also, I like to feel silky soft and smooth~ 

And I use sunscreens with built in moisturizers for both and you know I reapply liberally. 

But thanks to diabetes - I'm always playing a continual moisturizer/sunscreen chess game - 

as in thinking three steps ahead re: my next Omnipod placement and immediately after putting on a fresh pod.  

OK, 3 days ahead re: where my next Omnipod placement will be. 

Heck, sometimes even six days ahead! 

EVERY. DAMN. TIME. 

Bottom line: If you wear diabetes hardware, you know that moisturizers and pod/pump/cgm/libre stickums don't always work well together. 

The struggle is real. 
Calculating my next move on the chessboard that is my body - 3 days in advance has become part of both my diabetes brain and regiment, as is acknowledging that Skin-tac is both ally and enemy. 

Do you find yourself playing the diabetes hardware Vs moisturizer/sunscreen chess game ?

If so, what's your 'tactic' ? 

December Diabetes Reminders

As if people living with diabetes don't have enough to do without scrambling for end of year RX refills, dr's appointments, etc. But we don't have a choice -we must. 
January 1,2017 isn't only New Year's Day - it's the day our yearly insurance deductibles start all over again. If you've met your 2016 deductible or not - get those refills, tests, and end of year appointments done, ASAP!
And yes, it's a pain in the ass - but it's important!
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The following is your December reminder(s) to refill your end-of-year prescriptions; look into getting new eye glasses, get fitted for orthotics, ( Medicare covers both orthotic inserts and one pair of "diabetic shoes, every year,) and most insurances cover orthotics (fully or partially,) if you have diabetes. 

Make sure your up to date on your pump, CGM, and tests strip supplies. 

Schedule and all last minute appointments and Lab RX/test requests for December, before your 2017 deductible kicks in. 

If you've met your deductible for 2016, December is time to order your new pump, if you're due. And once deductibles have been met and according to your plan, your RX medications may be reduced in price or on some plans, free.

If that's the case with your plan/plans, today would be a great day to call your doctors up and get your one-month prescriptions for December changed into three month RXs, fill them ASAP, and save some money in the process. 
Heads-up: It might not go exactly as you planned on all fronts - but it will still save you some money.

December is also a great time to stock up on insulin pump double/triple AAA batteries- most stores have batteries on sale this time of year - thank you Christmas/Hanukkah toys!

And not like we have enough to do, but December is also the time of year for many to research, pick, and choose 2017 healthcare plans. 

Ut's going to be a long and expensive winter, folks -and a little prep goes a long way~

This Weekend, Don't Forget To Get Your Cher On And 'Turn Back Time.'

This Cher meme has been all over Facebook the past few days & it makes me laugh whenever I see it!
 I tried researching the image and found a link on a Reddit feed from last year.
Not sure if that's where it originated, but here's the link, just in case. 

Daylight Savings Time officially begins on Sunday, November 1, at 2 a.m.

Do yourself a favor and get your Cher on by turning back the time one hour on your diabetes related devices. Items including but not limited to, insulin pumps; cgms, glucose meters, pebbles, apple watches, regular watches, household & car clocks - before you go to bed on Halloween~ 

Diabetes Bonding At The Spa & Over Medicare & CGM Coverage

So every fall I treat myself to a really good facial, because after a summer of outdoor fun in the sun (complete with lots of salt water, massive doses of sunscreen, and big straw hat,) my skin always needs a little extra attention. 

And when one of my favorite spas has a special on facials, you know I’m all over it! 

I could write about how I gave myself a correction bolus after I parked my car (and before I ventured into the spa,) because of a 240 blood sugar from a miscalculation of carbs at lunch. 

I could discuss checking into the spa early because I wanted to to take a steam and sauna, and needed to detach from my pump for over an hour in order to do both. 

Or how after reattaching my pump an hour and 10 minutes later, my blood sugar was137, with 1.9 units of insulin on board, requiring me to dial back my temporary bolus to 30%, down a few ounces of fresh guava juice and throw back some almond honey treats before I went in for my actual facial - but I digress. 

It’s what happened in the room where I got my facial that really hit me in my heart.

After introductions with my most excellent esthetician Danni, I quickly explained that I had t1, wore an insulin pump, and showed Danni my micro wristlet with my meter, strips,  glucose tabs inside and a glass of guava juice.... just in case.

Danni: Oh, I totally get it - my dad has type 1.

Me: Really?? How’s he doing? 

Danni: He’s doing great!
Me: Is he on the pump? 

Danni: No, he’s on shots - it works for him.

Me: That’s all that’s important.

Danni: Actually, his Doctor wrote him an RX for something... I forget what it’s called. 

It’s not an insulin pump, but he would have to wear it all the time and it has something to do with his blood sugars. God, I can’t remember what it’s called.

Me: OH, OK , a CGM - A continuous glucose monitor.

Danni: YES. But medicare wouldn’t cover it - he’s over 65. It’s a shame because he was really excited to get one.  

Me: THAT SUCKS. You know, there are some bills re: diabetes and cgm coverage for medicare coming up in the House. Tell your dad to call his local JDRF chapter to discuss CGM coverage for medicare and help him tack action.  He can also go to JDRF.org and click on the advocacy link - it will take him to a link regarding CGM Medicare Coverage.

Danni: Can I do that, too? 

Me: Of course you can - the more Advocates the better!

Danni: I’m going to check out the website for my dad - and we're going to call! 

THANK YOU.

Me: Great! Also, you need to checkout diabetespac.org - the site will really help you guys navigate through the diabetes legislation - and they make contacting our Reps in DC re: said legislation incredibly easy. 

Danni: I’m all over it!

We talked a little more about diabetes - and then we got down to business regarding the facial. And when we were done, she handed me two pieces of paper. 

The first had the names of the facial products she used on my skin, the second was a blank sheet of paper for me to write down the JDRF and diabetespac info.

I left the spa with my skin glowing, a blood sugar of 147 and feeling relaxed. 

But as I drove home, my thoughts wondered back to Danni and her dad, who like so many of my friends with diabetes who are over the age of 65, was being denied crucial and life saving  diabetes technology.

Nobody should be forced to age out of lifesaving diabetes technology  - NOBODY.

And I thought of how quickly my almost 38 years of living with diabetes had gone by, and how no matter what amazing diabetes technology is on the market or down the pike, if you don’t have the means (insurance,)to pay for the technology, or if you age out of coverage for said diabetes technologies - you can’t get that technology - and that's not right or fair.

And it made me mad... and it made me fear for my diabetes and financial future.  

The laws MUST change and it’s up to to us to spearhead those changes. 

And don't think that because you or your loved one with diabetes aren't seniors, this issue doesn't concern you, because it absolutely does. 
This isn’t a senior issue - It’s an issue that touches every single person living with diabetes, regardless of age, and  for several reasons. 

1. We are in this together  

2. Seniors aren't the only people with diabetes on Medicare

3. Time is a thief and it goes by like that! 

So please guys, click on the following links and let your diabetes voices be heard - your voice is incredibly important - as is your current and future access to diabetes technologies~

http://jdrf.org/take-action/advocacy/cgm-medicare-coverage/

diabetespac.org

Tonight: Set The Clocks Back On All Your Diabetes Hardware ~

On this first day of National Diabetes Awareness Month in the United States and International Diabetes Month on a global level & I'm keeping today's post simple. 
Daylight Savings officially begins at 2:00 a.m., EST on Sunday November 2nd. 
So before you go to bed tonight, make sure you set the clocks on your insulin pump, CGM & glucose meters and every other clock in your universe, back an hour before you go to be. 
Also, make sure you change your lancet!! And change the batteries in all your smoke alarms! 

Turn your Cogsworths back an hour.
Cogsworth image courtesy of disneyclips.com