Diabetes Blog Week

I sat chin in hand looking at the blank page on my monitor, allowing my mind to drift off to that land where the wise, old lady hands me this little green pill and with a surprisingly strong voice said “swallow it”.  She looks just like Grandma, I close my eyes then swallow the pill then slowly open my eyes to find myself in front of La maison du Chocolat the one at Printemps Haussmann in Paris.

“Was that a magic travel pill” I asked the old lady –“Non” she said “It is the pancreas healing pill” No side effects, your pancreas is back in perfect working order your body has regenerated you are CURED. I looked around in confusion. “We are here to celebrate with gastronomy in Paris tour”

I ordered the dark chocolate ganache, it was smooth and very, very good then I followed that with the chocolate dipped marzipan it’s outrageously good the chewy texture fill my mouth hmm the orange blossom flavor come together into a chocolaty fruity eruption. Happy in chocolaty heaven I run over to Laduree and picked up a box of macaroons that contains one of each flavor I start off with the fleur d’Oranger in keeping with the orange blossom theme slowly savoring the taste, textures and flavors.

All without a single worry, sign or symptom of high blood glucose, I thank wise old lady for the cure for the gift for the pure miracle.

I close my eyes blocking out my visual sense to further soak in the flavors, savoring every nibble allow my other sense to take over. I smiled and opened my eyes.

I was back at my desk in Vancouver I reached into my right pocket and felt my insulin pump.

Posted: May 17th, 2010 under Journeying through life, Life & Diabetes.
Comments: 3

Gentle encouragements along with a voice of reason — honestly, this voice led me to consider the insulin pump, the same insulin pump that for years I had been against. But every once in a while there is a calming voice that innocently says things in passing some of these sayings have been –

“You can adjust your dosage, easily with a pump which is not possible with taking long-acting”.

“It looks like your Basal insulin requirements are not the same all day long”

I remember being sick pre pump days - and that voice again with an innocent comment

“The insulin pump, I guess makes sick day management a little more bearable”

She never preaches or judge just drops useful hints, suggestions and facts here and there.

Thanks to her I am on an Insulin Pump and it has been – for me – the best diabetes management decision I have made so far.

Plus she is the only person that will put up with my after work torturing {photo shots}. What can I say looking through the lens is my stress reliever and we all know that stress is an evil contributor to high blood glucose.

My sister Elsa is my biggest supporter.

Posted: May 12th, 2010 under Journeying through life, Life & Diabetes.
Comments: 5

I press snooze begging for ten more minutes of sleep, I press snooze a second time but this time I lay awake mentally walking through the day ahead. Finally I dismiss the alarm grab my test kit and a few seconds later it reads 9.8mmol/l (176mg/dl) higher than I would have liked, I reached for my insulin pump and dose a correction bolus plus .20units of insulin to account for disconnecting to take my morning shower.

45 minutes later at 5:45am I am in the car, keys in ignition, seatbelt secured and for the second time in the day I reach for my test kit, 8.5mmol/l (153mg/dl) it displayed, although not as low as I would like it to be it is in a safe range for my 30 minutes drive to work.

At my desk and working - 7:45am the gentle vibration of my insulin pump reminds me to check my blood glucose for the third time. 5.7mmol/l (103mg/dl) I am delighted at the reading and settle on a handful of dry roasted almonds and water for a working breakfast. My department have a lunch plans later and would like to live with blissful normal blood glucose till then. – I girl can dream…..

10:30am – Bloop! IM from a co-worker wanting to talk about process improvement “Can we walk and talk” I typed back “It is a beautiful day and I think better with fresh air” I change into a pair of runners I keep underneath my desk and we are off for a brisk walking meeting. I change back quickly into my regular shoes and get a ride from another co-worker on our way to the team lunch - Fourth reach for my test kit – 6.0mmol/l (108mg/dl) holding steady. I tested in the car and I have already researched and picked two possible items on the restaurant menu for lunch. I dose a bolus to cover lunch as soon as my order was taken hoping to get the insulin working before the food hits.

My vibrating insulin pump reminds me to take a few seconds to test my blood glucose a fifth time ringing in at 12mmol/l (216mg/dl) so much for “blissful normal blood glucose” dose a correction bolus.

3pm – Back in the car and a sixth test still at 12mmol/l (216mg/dl) this time I take no action just drive home where I test in at 11mmol/l (198mg/dl) I dose another bolus – More like rage bolus. Change; make diner and lunches for tomorrow.

5:30pm – Blood glucose at 10mmol/l (180mg/dl) another bolus then Step out to take some pictures back home, had a big salad for diner along with some insulin.

What goes up must come down

8pm – Confused, sweating and in a foggy haze my eighth test flashes across the screen 1.9mmol/l (34mg/dl) I eat glucose tabs to treat hypoglycaemia (Low blood sugar) washed down with boylan’s cola.

9pm – Flossed, brushed, Showered and ready for bed my head pounding from the recent low I wish and pray for a goodnight and day. Ninth and final blood glucose rings in at 5.9mmol/l (106mg/dl).

Posted: May 10th, 2010 under Journeying through life, Life & Diabetes.
Comments: 6