sunday morning, i woke up early, sweating and shaking with low blood sugar. i stumbled to the kitchen, tested, chugged some apple juice and went back to bed.
a few hours later, i woke up because my site HURT. i was so confused, i thought maybe i just rolled over on my tubing and it was pulling and not comfortable, so i pulled my pump under my body to the other side to relieve the tension. ...and fell back asleep. i woke up a little bit later because the site was still irritating me. when i reached down - yep. i had pulled it half way out. YAY FUN TIMES!
i did my site change and carried on with my day. my blood sugar was 148, so it must not have been out for too long.
then, sunday night, right before i was going to take a shower, i grabbed my pump to suspend it and IT CAME OFF. the second one of the day! it didn't rip, it just pulled right off my skin, gently. sigh. it didn't have enough 'sticky.'
i know i'm not the only one this has happened to, MAN, how annoying!
Showing posts with label insulin pump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insulin pump. Show all posts
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
[almost] wordless wednesday
new pump coming tomorrow...
without the flash, you can see the 'spot'. which was covering 75% of the screen after my shower last night, and now it's gone back down to this ... weird ...
with the flash you can see the little um, spread of something over on the very edge of the screen (on the left)
the person i talked to at animas was very nice and helpful! yay for good customer service!
Friday, March 18, 2011
calculating questions
as you all know, i use an insulin pump. animas ping - love it!
when i take a bolus - for those who don't know and want to learn, bolus is basically an extra dose of insulin for food - for a meal (or ya know, a cupcake/snack), for YEARS i just left the ratio on 15:85, or 20:80 if my blood sugar was a little higher, to be delivered over one hour. - that means, 15 percent of the amount i dosed would be delivered at that moment, and the other 85 percent would be delivered over the next hour.
why? because i don't know how/when to change it. what circumstances? why would i do half now and half later, or just 20 percent now and 80 percent later? should i give 50/50 depending on what i'm eating? should i extend the delivery time past one hour if i'm having pasta? or mexican? or what if i'm just having a sandwich? what about ice cream? or a cupcake?
the amount of time it takes for my body to react is different depending on what i am eating. i have been experimenting with the options lately, trying a higher percentage now, and a smaller percentage over time, or making the time it's delivered over a longer period, or a shorter period, etc.
basically, DOC pumpers, i need some help. what do you all do? how do you decide what your percentages should be? how do you decide how long to have the second half of your bolus delivered? i want to learn, i want to have tighter control after my meals.
can you help me?
image from www.animas.com
when i take a bolus - for those who don't know and want to learn, bolus is basically an extra dose of insulin for food - for a meal (or ya know, a cupcake/snack), for YEARS i just left the ratio on 15:85, or 20:80 if my blood sugar was a little higher, to be delivered over one hour. - that means, 15 percent of the amount i dosed would be delivered at that moment, and the other 85 percent would be delivered over the next hour.
why? because i don't know how/when to change it. what circumstances? why would i do half now and half later, or just 20 percent now and 80 percent later? should i give 50/50 depending on what i'm eating? should i extend the delivery time past one hour if i'm having pasta? or mexican? or what if i'm just having a sandwich? what about ice cream? or a cupcake?
the amount of time it takes for my body to react is different depending on what i am eating. i have been experimenting with the options lately, trying a higher percentage now, and a smaller percentage over time, or making the time it's delivered over a longer period, or a shorter period, etc.
basically, DOC pumpers, i need some help. what do you all do? how do you decide what your percentages should be? how do you decide how long to have the second half of your bolus delivered? i want to learn, i want to have tighter control after my meals.
can you help me?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
that's a first.
i change my infusion set every three days. last night was one of those times. so i got all my stuff out, went to fill my cartridge and when i pulled the insulin bottle from the box, it was empty. empty. people, IT WAS EMPTY. annnnd then i started panicking. why? because on friday, i opened the last 'new' bottle of insulin and was throwing out the empty one. my new prescription has been sent to my mail order pharmacy company, and it is on it's way, just not here yet. and guess what i did? for the first time in 10 years ... i. threw. away. a. full. bottle. of. insulin. and kept the empty one. sigh.
i remembered that i had changed my site at my man's house. i called him, knowing that he was about to come to my house for dinner, HOPING he was still at home. i told him what i did, and of course, that trash had already been taken out and picked up. sigh again.
i was trying to figure out what to do, and i called my doctor's exchange line. told them what happened, and they said he'd call me. i had never done this before, i felt really dumb. my phone rang just a few minutes later, and OF COURSE i hit the wrong button and sent him to voicemail. fail again. he left a voicemail, saying 'this is dr. awesome, returning your page.' i called the number back, and left a voicemail (i probably sounded like a crazy panicking person) telling him what happened, asking for a prescription for one bottle at the local pharmacy. the exchange said if i hadn't heard from him in 30 minutes to call back. i waited for him to call back, and he hadn't, so i called the exchange again. they got him on the phone and he said he had called it in. WHEW. safe.
when i got to the pharmacy to pick it up, i found that it was novolog ... i have always used humalog. (humalog and novolog are fast-acting insulins that are used in insulin pumps - but not just insulin pumps, they can be injections also) i thought they were the same, but just to be safe i asked a few friends in the DOC. they all confirmed, they act the same, some people might have different reactions so just pay attention. ...so far so good, my numbers aren't any different.
hopefully that doesn't happen again in the next 10 years. or 20. or ever.
i remembered that i had changed my site at my man's house. i called him, knowing that he was about to come to my house for dinner, HOPING he was still at home. i told him what i did, and of course, that trash had already been taken out and picked up. sigh again.
i was trying to figure out what to do, and i called my doctor's exchange line. told them what happened, and they said he'd call me. i had never done this before, i felt really dumb. my phone rang just a few minutes later, and OF COURSE i hit the wrong button and sent him to voicemail. fail again. he left a voicemail, saying 'this is dr. awesome, returning your page.' i called the number back, and left a voicemail (i probably sounded like a crazy panicking person) telling him what happened, asking for a prescription for one bottle at the local pharmacy. the exchange said if i hadn't heard from him in 30 minutes to call back. i waited for him to call back, and he hadn't, so i called the exchange again. they got him on the phone and he said he had called it in. WHEW. safe.
when i got to the pharmacy to pick it up, i found that it was novolog ... i have always used humalog. (humalog and novolog are fast-acting insulins that are used in insulin pumps - but not just insulin pumps, they can be injections also) i thought they were the same, but just to be safe i asked a few friends in the DOC. they all confirmed, they act the same, some people might have different reactions so just pay attention. ...so far so good, my numbers aren't any different.
photos from insulindirect.com and diabeteshealth.com
hopefully that doesn't happen again in the next 10 years. or 20. or ever.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
back where i belong :)
today was my endo appointment (you know, the really awesome one that i talked about here, to replace that one). want me to tell you how awesome it was? OKAY.
first, it is nice to be greeted by people who remember your name and face, are friendly, remember things about you, make nice conversation, tell you they were wondering why you hadn't been in ...
it was comforting that my endo actually checked my feet, heart, breathing, etc (unlike some doctors that shall remain nameless) ... ya know, do the things doctors are supposed to do!
i got my prescriptions refilled - with the correct amounts - and we talked about the whole cholesterol thing. he decided, after discussion about me being nervous to take cholesterol medicine before i'm even 30, that it will be beneficial, it is preventative so i don't get to a point where it is too high. he said he has seen that it's hard to get the 'bad cholesterol' down to the level it needs to be with diet and exercise only, so i'm going to take a very low dose of an inexpensive prescription ... now i just have to remember to take it. i suck at remembering to take pills. i just now, typing this, remembered to take my vitamin. but i've been remembering that so maybe i'll do okay.
our discussion led to me talking about the DOC. oh yeah you guys, i told him about you. and he was interested, of course. i told him about dsma, and twitter, and ... my blog. oh yeah, he knows about it. and he had me write it down for some patients who are trying to connect with others (a d-meetup in my future?!?! be still my heart.). so you know what that means, right? he might be reading this. hey dr. awesome! :D haha! he was happy that i found a community of people that relate to me, and he was interested in all the DOC things i take part in. yay! it's good to have a doc on your side. edit: dr. awesome is type 1 diabetic ... do we think that has something to do with his awesomeness?
we talked about my A1C (7.3, thankyouverymuch) and how i have it in my head that i really want that first number to be a 6. he pointed something out that makes sense. 7.3 is not a bad A1C, and he'd rather i be healthy and good where i am instead of having a 6.5 and many lows. good call. i'm not a fan of the lows.
we talked about CGMs, and where animas is headed with dexcom - i think he said it will be called the vibe (but don't hold me to that). we also talked about the diabetic assistance dogs, and how expensive it is to get one here ... boo. but one person that goes to their office has one! *holding onto hope*
i told him about the awards we won for fundraising at the JDRF walk, and he asked if i was involved with them, and suggested i contact someone who works in his office about getting on the board ... maybe i will do that!
the end of our appointment he summed it up quite nicely, "this was a really good appointment! we got a lot done!"
YAY for being back at the awesome office. where i belong.
first, it is nice to be greeted by people who remember your name and face, are friendly, remember things about you, make nice conversation, tell you they were wondering why you hadn't been in ...
it was comforting that my endo actually checked my feet, heart, breathing, etc (unlike some doctors that shall remain nameless) ... ya know, do the things doctors are supposed to do!
i got my prescriptions refilled - with the correct amounts - and we talked about the whole cholesterol thing. he decided, after discussion about me being nervous to take cholesterol medicine before i'm even 30, that it will be beneficial, it is preventative so i don't get to a point where it is too high. he said he has seen that it's hard to get the 'bad cholesterol' down to the level it needs to be with diet and exercise only, so i'm going to take a very low dose of an inexpensive prescription ... now i just have to remember to take it. i suck at remembering to take pills. i just now, typing this, remembered to take my vitamin. but i've been remembering that so maybe i'll do okay.
our discussion led to me talking about the DOC. oh yeah you guys, i told him about you. and he was interested, of course. i told him about dsma, and twitter, and ... my blog. oh yeah, he knows about it. and he had me write it down for some patients who are trying to connect with others (a d-meetup in my future?!?! be still my heart.). so you know what that means, right? he might be reading this. hey dr. awesome! :D haha! he was happy that i found a community of people that relate to me, and he was interested in all the DOC things i take part in. yay! it's good to have a doc on your side. edit: dr. awesome is type 1 diabetic ... do we think that has something to do with his awesomeness?
we talked about my A1C (7.3, thankyouverymuch) and how i have it in my head that i really want that first number to be a 6. he pointed something out that makes sense. 7.3 is not a bad A1C, and he'd rather i be healthy and good where i am instead of having a 6.5 and many lows. good call. i'm not a fan of the lows.
we talked about CGMs, and where animas is headed with dexcom - i think he said it will be called the vibe (but don't hold me to that). we also talked about the diabetic assistance dogs, and how expensive it is to get one here ... boo. but one person that goes to their office has one! *holding onto hope*
i told him about the awards we won for fundraising at the JDRF walk, and he asked if i was involved with them, and suggested i contact someone who works in his office about getting on the board ... maybe i will do that!
BRAGGING ALERT:
bronze team achievement award for fundraising
my golden sneaker award for excellence in fundraising
the end of our appointment he summed it up quite nicely, "this was a really good appointment! we got a lot done!"
YAY for being back at the awesome office. where i belong.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
i like your pager
last night my man and i had our valentine's day date night, and while we were out we stopped somewhere so he could pay a bill.
while i was waiting and not really paying attention, he said to the girl working (who was probably 17), 'i like your pager.' her response was, 'what??' and i turned to look.
the thoughts i immediately had in my head were she must have an insulin pump or she really has a pager because he now has one for his job and we joke about it.
when i looked over i saw her blue animas pump clipped on the outside of her pocket. like a total diabetes nerd, i lifted up my jacket and showed her my pump in my pocket. 'I HAVE ONE TOO!' (nerd. alert.) 'oh really? do you use animas or medtronic?'
my man looked at us confused. he doesn't know all the medical brands so he had no idea what we were talking about.
i told her that i have the animas ping, and she had an envious reaction; the ping came out a few months after she got her current pump. then we talked about CGMs and what features our new pumps might have.
my man stood there, paying attention, with a somewhat confused look. he knows what the pump does and how it works, but not all about the different brands, features, etc.
oh yeah, it was a total diabetes nerd moment. and also, hilarious.
i like your pager.
while i was waiting and not really paying attention, he said to the girl working (who was probably 17), 'i like your pager.' her response was, 'what??' and i turned to look.
the thoughts i immediately had in my head were she must have an insulin pump or she really has a pager because he now has one for his job and we joke about it.
when i looked over i saw her blue animas pump clipped on the outside of her pocket. like a total diabetes nerd, i lifted up my jacket and showed her my pump in my pocket. 'I HAVE ONE TOO!' (nerd. alert.) 'oh really? do you use animas or medtronic?'
my man looked at us confused. he doesn't know all the medical brands so he had no idea what we were talking about.
i told her that i have the animas ping, and she had an envious reaction; the ping came out a few months after she got her current pump. then we talked about CGMs and what features our new pumps might have.
my man stood there, paying attention, with a somewhat confused look. he knows what the pump does and how it works, but not all about the different brands, features, etc.
oh yeah, it was a total diabetes nerd moment. and also, hilarious.
image from www.animas.com
i like your pager.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
DSMA february blog carnival
the most awesome thing i've done in spite of diabetes is ...
everything! in the past ten and a half years, i...
learned to drive a stick shift . went to college . went to movies . babysat . joined a sorority . lived on my own . went to seaworld . had sinus infections . did my own laundry . colored my hair . ate pasta . worked freshman orientation at college for two years . joined a sorority . became an aunt (nephew) . went to countless dances . become a godmother . went to st. louis . learned how to use an insulin pump . ate candy . went to college parties . went to nashville . went to florida . went shopping . have been in weddings . became an aunt again (niece) . played intramural softball . hugged . took pictures . played intramural soccer . graduated from college . went to parties of all kinds . had strep throat . gave myself insulin shots . celebrated new years . went in the st. louis arch . worked in restaurants . got a job (and another, and another) where i use my degree . went to the zoo . played flag football . went to washington dc . went dancing . went out for breakfast . counted carbs . went to the beach . got my own insurance . saw my mom win an olympic medal . was a nanny . held a monkey . rode on a motorcycle . changed endocrinologists . celebrated valentine's day . lost friends . went to weddings . won JDRF fundraising awards . bought a condo . wore green on st. patrick's day . checked my blood sugar . was strawberry shortcake . was tony the tiger . was becker bear . was spongebob . was clifford the big red dog . kissed . lost grandparents . went to las vegas . paid my own medical bills . ate cake . grew my hair out . went to baby showers . went to the kentucky derby . played in the snow . enjoyed thanksgiving . made new friends . went to baseball games . went to concerts . was in the hospital for a weekend . went to mexico . played in the snow . went to an NFL game . went shopping on black friday . went out to dinner . got laid off . celebrated friends birthdays . traveled by plane . had the flu . went to the smithsonian museum . played in the sun . raised money and walked in the JDRF walk . got a new job . cut my hair . dressed up for halloween . went to the holocaust museum . went swimming . shared snacks with friends . went to maker's mark and dipped my own bottle . celebrated 4th of july . fractured my leg . decorated easter eggs . hosted parties . went to churchill downs . made rainbow cupcakes (and ate them) . met my favorite man . celebrated christmas . drank diet coke . changed endocrinologists again . turned 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. . went to hubers . went fishing . went sledding . went out to lunch . hit golf balls . went to a football clinic at UofL with coach strong . celebrated family birthdays . celebrated 10 (so far) diabetes-versaries
this is just a portion of the many things i've done in the past ten years. not all the things were happy, not all the things were sad. diabetes doesn't care if you are having a good or bad day emotionally. you live your life. diabetes is just a part of it. this list will continue to grow and expand as i live. "diabetes doesn't control my life. i control my diabetes."
This post is my February entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2011/introducing-the-dsma-blog-carnival/
everything! in the past ten and a half years, i...
learned to drive a stick shift . went to college . went to movies . babysat . joined a sorority . lived on my own . went to seaworld . had sinus infections . did my own laundry . colored my hair . ate pasta . worked freshman orientation at college for two years . joined a sorority . became an aunt (nephew) . went to countless dances . become a godmother . went to st. louis . learned how to use an insulin pump . ate candy . went to college parties . went to nashville . went to florida . went shopping . have been in weddings . became an aunt again (niece) . played intramural softball . hugged . took pictures . played intramural soccer . graduated from college . went to parties of all kinds . had strep throat . gave myself insulin shots . celebrated new years . went in the st. louis arch . worked in restaurants . got a job (and another, and another) where i use my degree . went to the zoo . played flag football . went to washington dc . went dancing . went out for breakfast . counted carbs . went to the beach . got my own insurance . saw my mom win an olympic medal . was a nanny . held a monkey . rode on a motorcycle . changed endocrinologists . celebrated valentine's day . lost friends . went to weddings . won JDRF fundraising awards . bought a condo . wore green on st. patrick's day . checked my blood sugar . was strawberry shortcake . was tony the tiger . was becker bear . was spongebob . was clifford the big red dog . kissed . lost grandparents . went to las vegas . paid my own medical bills . ate cake . grew my hair out . went to baby showers . went to the kentucky derby . played in the snow . enjoyed thanksgiving . made new friends . went to baseball games . went to concerts . was in the hospital for a weekend . went to mexico . played in the snow . went to an NFL game . went shopping on black friday . went out to dinner . got laid off . celebrated friends birthdays . traveled by plane . had the flu . went to the smithsonian museum . played in the sun . raised money and walked in the JDRF walk . got a new job . cut my hair . dressed up for halloween . went to the holocaust museum . went swimming . shared snacks with friends . went to maker's mark and dipped my own bottle . celebrated 4th of july . fractured my leg . decorated easter eggs . hosted parties . went to churchill downs . made rainbow cupcakes (and ate them) . met my favorite man . celebrated christmas . drank diet coke . changed endocrinologists again . turned 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. . went to hubers . went fishing . went sledding . went out to lunch . hit golf balls . went to a football clinic at UofL with coach strong . celebrated family birthdays . celebrated 10 (so far) diabetes-versaries
this is just a portion of the many things i've done in the past ten years. not all the things were happy, not all the things were sad. diabetes doesn't care if you are having a good or bad day emotionally. you live your life. diabetes is just a part of it. this list will continue to grow and expand as i live. "diabetes doesn't control my life. i control my diabetes."
see, told ya i held a monkey. and he sat on my head.
This post is my February entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2011/introducing-the-dsma-blog-carnival/
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
defeated.
you all know how excited i was to go to the endocrinologist consultation i had today.
so they called and asked if i could come a few minutes early, which was fine. i drove the whole 38 seconds it takes me to get to the office from mine, go in, go to sign in and read on the sheet:
Doctor does not work with insulin pumps.
i thought to myself, hmm, that's weird. i'll have to ask her about that. but as i was waiting, texting my sister about it and being already frustrated, thinking more and more about how this doctor/patient relationship would work, she said 'would it even be worth seeing her? if she doesn't treat people with insulin pumps?'
so i asked the receptionist if it was worth my time.
'oh, you have an insulin pump?'
'yes, i didn't know she didn't work with them them until i got here and saw that. is it a waste of my money and her time to see her then?'
'yeah, probably, let me go check.'
she disappeared and came back with someone else. i explain that i'm looking for a new office, they suggested the office i'm leaving (go figure), i told them no, they suggested my old endo that doesn't take my new insurance and is retiring in a few years. she finally got out a book and copied information of two doctors to call. they apologized, told me the doctor 'felt bad' when she saw my chart and figured i use a pump - i never saw her anywhere in the office.
my copay was refunded and i left.
i felt defeated.
i called one of the suggested doctors - the info pages had their pictures. she looked young, which is one thing i'm looking for, someone i can stay with who isn't going to retire in 5 years (and have to go through this process again).
the woman who answered was asking a bunch of questions before i could ask about pumps, and then she said 'do you use an insulin pump?'
'yes, i was going to ask about that'
'oh, okay, our office is not equipped to treat patients with pumps yet.'
sigh.
'let me see if i can give you some other options.'
she named the office i'm leaving. and another one that doesn't take my insurance. and one who got horrible reviews online.
february is awesome so far.
so they called and asked if i could come a few minutes early, which was fine. i drove the whole 38 seconds it takes me to get to the office from mine, go in, go to sign in and read on the sheet:
Doctor does not work with insulin pumps.
i thought to myself, hmm, that's weird. i'll have to ask her about that. but as i was waiting, texting my sister about it and being already frustrated, thinking more and more about how this doctor/patient relationship would work, she said 'would it even be worth seeing her? if she doesn't treat people with insulin pumps?'
so i asked the receptionist if it was worth my time.
'oh, you have an insulin pump?'
'yes, i didn't know she didn't work with them them until i got here and saw that. is it a waste of my money and her time to see her then?'
'yeah, probably, let me go check.'
she disappeared and came back with someone else. i explain that i'm looking for a new office, they suggested the office i'm leaving (go figure), i told them no, they suggested my old endo that doesn't take my new insurance and is retiring in a few years. she finally got out a book and copied information of two doctors to call. they apologized, told me the doctor 'felt bad' when she saw my chart and figured i use a pump - i never saw her anywhere in the office.
my copay was refunded and i left.
i felt defeated.
i called one of the suggested doctors - the info pages had their pictures. she looked young, which is one thing i'm looking for, someone i can stay with who isn't going to retire in 5 years (and have to go through this process again).
the woman who answered was asking a bunch of questions before i could ask about pumps, and then she said 'do you use an insulin pump?'
'yes, i was going to ask about that'
'oh, okay, our office is not equipped to treat patients with pumps yet.'
sigh.
'let me see if i can give you some other options.'
she named the office i'm leaving. and another one that doesn't take my insurance. and one who got horrible reviews online.
february is awesome so far.
Friday, January 28, 2011
the one where i answer your questions (and it takes you 2 hours to read)
this is an answer to 2 similar questions: i think a thorough explanation on HOW you get diabetes would be great ... did you get diabetes because you ate too much sugar as a kid? first, i was diagnosed when i was 17. the name 'juvenile diabetes' has transitioned to 'type 1 diabetes' because not everyone is diagnosed as a child. i have type 1 diabetes, people usually get it when they have some sort of other sickness (for me it was probably the repeated sinus infections, or strep, or pink eye) and the body's defense system attacks some of its own cells and the pancreas starts failing. type 2 diabetes is more 'environmental', it can be caused from unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. every PWD has a different story and i don't think i've ever met two people with the exact same story/issues/etc. as far as how i found out i was diabetic, go here.
if you stopped eating candy would your diabetes go away? no. refer to the last question. my pancreas produces little to no insulin, which has nothing to do with what i eat. a diabetic can eat/should eat what a 'healthy' person's diet should be. a normal, balanced diet. do i always eat that way? no. am i perfect? no. sometimes i want candy, or sweets or pasta. i have learned to count carbohydrates and calculate the amount of insulin i need based on the amount of carbs i am eating. this calculation is different for all PWD, meaning that not everyone takes the same amount of insulin per carb. one person may take 1 unit of insulin for every 5 carbs they eat, another may take 1 unit for every 10 they eat. it's different for all of us.
can I get high off of your insulin? i had seriously never heard anyone ask me this! i personally don't know/don't think so/don't want to find out, and no i will not let you try. thanks for playing.
did you get diabetes because your parents have it? did you inherit diabetes from one of your parents? while i have heard before that diabetes is hereditary, no one in my family has it. i guess it has to start somewhere. lucky me! :)
do you have the bad kind? because you have to take insulin? i would never say that one kind of diabetes is worse than another. they are all equally sucky. diabetes is an equal opportunity employer. it doesn't care if you are rich or poor, black or white, tall or short, girl or boy. just because i take insulin does not mean my diabetes is 'worse' than someone else who has it. some people also think i 'have it bad' because i wear an insulin pump. no, actually the insulin pump makes my life so much easier because i don't have to carry around different vials of insulin, syringes and other things. it helps with calculating insulin dose amounts and i have a constant 'flow' of insulin all day long from my pump as opposed to taking 'long lasting' insulin as well as 'fast acting' when i eat food. however, the choice to have a pump is mine. it's not for everyone, some people prefer giving themselves injections. how one cares for their diabetes is their decision.
how is the disease pronounced? is it diabetus? clearly this is one of the silly questions, but it is NOT di-a-bee-tus. wilford brimley. it is not di-a-bee-tis. it is di-a-bee-tees. thanks.
here's my question: wwwbd? haha, not everyone will understand this so let me explain ... my JDRF walk team was named by my friend in 2010, and it was 'what would wilford brimley do?' (wwwbd) as for the answer, he would check his blood sugar. and check it often. and eat oatmeal.
the 2010 walk at churchill downs
bragging for my team: we won a Bronze Achievement Award! our team total was $2,478.38!
bragging for myself: i won a Golden Sneaker Award for Excellence in Fundraising! (i raised $1118)
what affects does exercise have on diabetes? does it mean more insulin/carbohydrates will be needed? again, it's one of those things that is different for every PWD. some people have to reduce the amount of insulin they take before they exercise, some don't. for some people, it depends on what kind of exercise they are doing. i know that some PWD's blood sugar drops 2 hours after they exercise. some people it could a few more hours for it to drop, or it might not drop at all. exercising can help with maintaining healthy BGs. sometimes people do need to eat more carbs before or after they exercise to prevent the BG drops, but again, it is different with everyone. from my experience, exercise can help maintain healthier levels which means using less insulin because there are less instances of having high BG that would need a correction bolus. (which basically means giving myself an extra amount of insulin to bring the BG back down to normal range) also, if my blood sugar is over 250, i'm not supposed to do physical activity because it could backfire and make my BG go up higher.
why does my dad (also diabetic) smell metallic sometimes when his sugar is high? i have never heard of a 'metallic' smell, but i have heard of a 'fruity' smell. i searched for more information because i was also curious, and a few things i found said that it could be a sign of ketoacidosis or it could be from BG that is too high ... we all know we shouldn't believe everything we read on the internet. is your dad aware of the smell? if it is a sign that his BG is high, it might be a clue for him to check it. i have had doctors ask me in the past if i still 'feel' my lows and highs, so that leads me to believe that it might get to a point where a PWD may not be able to 'feel' it and need to check. also, clearly i am not a doctor so a medical professional opinion might be best for this one since i have never experienced it.
do refined sugars affect you differently than naturally occurring sugars? or is it all based on amounts? for me, refined sugars can affect me because it takes longer for the insulin to 'do it's job', meaning if it raises my BG it will take it longer to come down, or my BG might stay higher for a while, as raw sugars (like natural sugars from fruit) don't do that as much. again - it's one of those things that can be different for many PWD.
i understand where you wear your insulin pump with your clothes, but can you explain how it works?
why does my dad (also diabetic) smell metallic sometimes when his sugar is high? i have never heard of a 'metallic' smell, but i have heard of a 'fruity' smell. i searched for more information because i was also curious, and a few things i found said that it could be a sign of ketoacidosis or it could be from BG that is too high ... we all know we shouldn't believe everything we read on the internet. is your dad aware of the smell? if it is a sign that his BG is high, it might be a clue for him to check it. i have had doctors ask me in the past if i still 'feel' my lows and highs, so that leads me to believe that it might get to a point where a PWD may not be able to 'feel' it and need to check. also, clearly i am not a doctor so a medical professional opinion might be best for this one since i have never experienced it.
do refined sugars affect you differently than naturally occurring sugars? or is it all based on amounts? for me, refined sugars can affect me because it takes longer for the insulin to 'do it's job', meaning if it raises my BG it will take it longer to come down, or my BG might stay higher for a while, as raw sugars (like natural sugars from fruit) don't do that as much. again - it's one of those things that can be different for many PWD.
i understand where you wear your insulin pump with your clothes, but can you explain how it works?
i have an animas ping insulin pump. there are many different types, all pump users make different choices based on what is best for them.
the pump is attached to me through an infusion set. there are different types of these ... mine is a small circle - and animas has color options, my infusion sets are pink.
the site that is attached to my skin has a small thin tube (called a cannula) that goes into my skin, the insulin is delivered through that (there is a needle when i insert the set, but i take the needle out).
i can detach the tubing/pump from the site on my skin if i need to, but for the most part i wear it 24/7, and have for the past 10 years.
insulin is inside the pump in a reservoir. the pump is programed with a basal rite that was determined by my endorinologist. the basal rate is a small amount of insulin that is delivered all day long. that means: every few minutes, the pump delivers me a tiny drop of insulin. this happens all day long. the pump is my pancreas. basal rates for PWD are all different, we don't all get the exact same amount at the same time every day.
when i eat, i take a bolus. this is an extra 'shot' of insulin, based on the amount of carbs i enter into the pump. i have a ratio that helps me figure out how much insulin i need, and it delivers that insulin to me over a period of time when i am eating.
i change the site where my pump goes every 3 days, and i rotate sites around the middle of my body (around my stomach and lower back).
here are a couple images i searched for, and you can find more information here if you are curious.
the pump is attached to me through an infusion set. there are different types of these ... mine is a small circle - and animas has color options, my infusion sets are pink.
the site that is attached to my skin has a small thin tube (called a cannula) that goes into my skin, the insulin is delivered through that (there is a needle when i insert the set, but i take the needle out).
i can detach the tubing/pump from the site on my skin if i need to, but for the most part i wear it 24/7, and have for the past 10 years.
insulin is inside the pump in a reservoir. the pump is programed with a basal rite that was determined by my endorinologist. the basal rate is a small amount of insulin that is delivered all day long. that means: every few minutes, the pump delivers me a tiny drop of insulin. this happens all day long. the pump is my pancreas. basal rates for PWD are all different, we don't all get the exact same amount at the same time every day.
when i eat, i take a bolus. this is an extra 'shot' of insulin, based on the amount of carbs i enter into the pump. i have a ratio that helps me figure out how much insulin i need, and it delivers that insulin to me over a period of time when i am eating.
i change the site where my pump goes every 3 days, and i rotate sites around the middle of my body (around my stomach and lower back).
here are a couple images i searched for, and you can find more information here if you are curious.
this is what my infusion set looks like. image from valuemedical.com
this shows how small the cannula is that stays in my skin. image from flickr search
how does stress affect your diabetes? it makes my BG go up for sure. i could let 'all of it' get to me every day, but i have to learn how to deal with the daily stresses of diabetes so it doesn't affect me. when i was diagnosed, i remember people being sad for me, and upset, and feeling bad for me... and i didn't really get why. i was like, um, this happened and now i learn to live with it. the end. but when life gets stressful, yes, it makes my BG higher. which makes me bitchier. and moodier. and just is all around a crappy feeling.
I'd like to know why the DOC is so spread out? hehe. diabetes doesn't care where we live. it's an equal opportunity disease. luckily, we can travel so we can have DOC meet-ups. :)
what do you miss most that you've had to give up? i haven't had to give up anything. diabetes doesn't control my life, i control my diabetes. food-wise, i can have anything, i just have to use common sense and moderation with some things. activity-wise, i can do anything i want, i swim with my pump, i can exercise, run, zumba, dance, camp, fish, anything i want to do! i just use my diabetes education to know how to deal with each individual situation.
what are some of the most common warning signs? hunger, thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, weight loss. yes, i had all of them.
how often do you check your sugar daily? i check my BG before meals and 2 hours after meals, and at bedtime. the reality is, that there are some times that not all those checks happen. usually i check before i eat in the morning, then if i feel low or high i will check 2 hours after, but most of the time i just check before lunch. then i check 2 hours after lunch, before dinner, and 2 hours after dinner or before bedtime. when i am sick, i check more often. when i do lots of physical activity, i check more often. if i feel 'low' or 'high', i check. lots of BG checking :) gotta stay in check. (more 'check' puns??)
have you ever been hospitalized because of diabetes complications? nope. well, this could be argued. last year over superbowl weekend i was admitted to the hospital ... i went (was taken/forced to go) to the hospital because my blood sugar was low (in the 50s) and would NOT come up. i was having a really upset stomach and i couldn't keep food down, which in turn made me not want to eat to help my BG come up. in the ER i was given fluids because i was dehydrated from vomiting, etc, and my heart rate was elevated. i was admitted for 2 days because they wanted to monitor my heart, and come to find out upon discharge that i had a stomach virus and my heart rate was elevated from dehydration. it was not a fun weekend that i do not want to relive. i got extensive heart tests done that i hope i never have to do again (and my heart is healthy!).
why do diabetics have issues with their feet? diabetes complications can occur and one area it can affect is the nervous system. the way it was explained to me was that the feet are the farthest extremity you have. that's a long distance of nerves/nerve endings. peripheral neuropathy is a loss of nerve function in the legs and feet and peripheral vascular disease is impaired circulation in the legs and feet (yes i googled the 'real' names). those complications can lead to loss of feeling in the feet, burning, tingling, that pins & needles feeling, feet falling asleep, etc. PWD can also have dry skin on the feet, and if they get a cut on their feet it takes longer to heal. this is why i feel that pedicures should be doctor prescribed and i should get them monthly. paid for by insurance. haha! until then, i pay for my own :) it's a nice treat that is good for me! If PWD keep their diabetes under control, they can very easily live their entire lives without having any issues with their feet. I plan to be one of them.
when I was pregnant, I found a lot of my other health issues were chalked up to the pregnancy. it actually annoyed me because I really felt some of them were because of something else. i've often wondered if people with chronic conditions go through the same thing? or are all those things really because of diabetes? it depends on what the 'things' are. and what else is going on in their life. for example, my feet are dry, more so in the winter - that is from diabetes but also because in the winter people have drier skin than in the summer. so, it's related and it isn't. if i have a migraine, it could be from my blood sugar being totally wonky and going from really high to really low in a short period of time, but it might have been caused by something else. i don't like to 'blame' everything going on in my body on diabetes, but sometimes, it is the cause. it depends on what the health issue might be.
what is the lowest/highest your blood sugar has been? my lowest has been in the 30s (i don't remember exactly, maybe 36?) and my highest was when i was diagnosed, it was 467.
is diabetes contagious? will you always have it? it is NOT contagious. although my family and some friends have a running joke that they can't share a drink or food with me because they'll get diabetes. ;) it's all in good fun, friends. i will have diabetes until i have a cure. until then, you'll find me sporting an insulin pump - until they come up with the next great thing.
what does it feel like if you are high/low? when my BG is low, i feel different things. some things i don't always feel, some i feel every time ... shaky, hot, sweaty, dizzy, confused, sensitive, tired, weak, hungry. when my blood sugar is high, i feel moody, very thirsty, it's hard for me to focus, and sometimes frequent urination goes along with it.
what happens if you aren't low but you eat a lot of sugar? i either have to take insulin or my blood sugar will keep rising and that can be very dangerous. it could lead to ketoacidosis which is very scary and could lead to hospitalization.
do you have to get up in the middle of the night to check your blood sugar or take a shot? when i was first diagnosed i had to do this for a few weeks i think, my mom might remember better (right after i found out i had diabetes, i spent a lot of time sleeping, i was exhausted from all the time i was spending at the endocrinologist learning and my body was trying to get 'back to normal' which took a lot out of me, so there are some things i don't remember). There are some occasions when I might have to check in the middle of the night, like if my endocrinologist thinks we might need to change the amounts of insulin i am getting at different times of the day, he might have me check my BG every few hours for a few days. in those cases, i do check in the middle of the night.
What if you forget to take a shot? i don't personally take shots, but if i forget to take a bolus of insulin with my food, my blood sugar will likely rise and it will be high, which will lead to me feeling bad and having to take a correction bolus later (which is where i take an extra amount of insulin to bring my BG back down into a desired range).
Where does insulin come from? today, it is man made. ya know, in a fancy lab somewhere i guess. PWD used to use bovine (from cows) insulin back in the day. whenever i donate blood, the questionnaire you get before your donation asks if you've ever used bovine insulin. i have not.
what is the lowest/highest your blood sugar has been? my lowest has been in the 30s (i don't remember exactly, maybe 36?) and my highest was when i was diagnosed, it was 467.
is diabetes contagious? will you always have it? it is NOT contagious. although my family and some friends have a running joke that they can't share a drink or food with me because they'll get diabetes. ;) it's all in good fun, friends. i will have diabetes until i have a cure. until then, you'll find me sporting an insulin pump - until they come up with the next great thing.
what does it feel like if you are high/low? when my BG is low, i feel different things. some things i don't always feel, some i feel every time ... shaky, hot, sweaty, dizzy, confused, sensitive, tired, weak, hungry. when my blood sugar is high, i feel moody, very thirsty, it's hard for me to focus, and sometimes frequent urination goes along with it.
what happens if you aren't low but you eat a lot of sugar? i either have to take insulin or my blood sugar will keep rising and that can be very dangerous. it could lead to ketoacidosis which is very scary and could lead to hospitalization.
do you have to get up in the middle of the night to check your blood sugar or take a shot? when i was first diagnosed i had to do this for a few weeks i think, my mom might remember better (right after i found out i had diabetes, i spent a lot of time sleeping, i was exhausted from all the time i was spending at the endocrinologist learning and my body was trying to get 'back to normal' which took a lot out of me, so there are some things i don't remember). There are some occasions when I might have to check in the middle of the night, like if my endocrinologist thinks we might need to change the amounts of insulin i am getting at different times of the day, he might have me check my BG every few hours for a few days. in those cases, i do check in the middle of the night.
What if you forget to take a shot? i don't personally take shots, but if i forget to take a bolus of insulin with my food, my blood sugar will likely rise and it will be high, which will lead to me feeling bad and having to take a correction bolus later (which is where i take an extra amount of insulin to bring my BG back down into a desired range).
Where does insulin come from? today, it is man made. ya know, in a fancy lab somewhere i guess. PWD used to use bovine (from cows) insulin back in the day. whenever i donate blood, the questionnaire you get before your donation asks if you've ever used bovine insulin. i have not.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
'it makes me sad'
earlier on facebook, i wrote on my status that i think i've come to the conclusion that i can't eat panera. at most, i can probably eat it on a rare occasion, because they just always jack up my numbers for the day. i was steady this morning and before lunch, then i got a lovely 353 post-lunch. i had a friend comment that it makes her sad that i can't 'eat whatever in the world i want.' she said she takes for granted that she doesn't have any problems with diabetes, and i realized i was in her shoes before i was diagnosed. i never thought about what i ate, what it would do to my blood sugar, my body, anything. i was a worry-free teenager and didn't have to think about it for the first 17 and a half years of my life.
i explained to her that for the most part i can eat whatever i want - you all know the speech - but sometimes i have to make the 'grown up' decision to eliminate foods, or only have them on rare occasions, because i know how it is going to put me out of whack. it's not my favorite thing in the world to do, but i know i have to do it. it's for my health. and that pesky A1C that is always bugging PWD.
it made me think about how it makes her sad. sometimes, it makes me sad too. it makes me sad when my BG is not what i want it to be. it makes me sad when i miscalculate and feel dumb and have to face those high numbers. it makes me sad when my A1C is not what i had hoped it would be. it makes me sad when my BG is too high to have a random afternoon work snack of cookies that are left over from a meeting. it makes me sad when my high BG is making me moody and i take it out on other people and feel bad for it. it makes me sad when people don't understand why i'm not downing chocolate with them, or have to turn down cupcakes or sweets they are offering me. in all honesty, it makes me sad that so many people (including those that i can now call my friends, who i have met in the DOC) have to live with diabetes every day. damnit, why can't we just eat whatever the hell we want, without pricking our fingers, programing pumps, giving injections, getting shaky, getting headaches, having fuzzy vision, feeling sweaty, woozy, confused, annoyed, frustrated, and just plain TIRED?
it's just the hand we've been dealt. and the thing is, we can't dwell on the sadness. because if we did, we would all be depressed. sure, we might get down in the dumps about it every now and then, but we can't let that overwhelm us, because, well, it's not healthy.
sometimes we bitch and complain, but we also stay cheerful, we support each other, we joke around about food and BGs, and we don't dwell on the sadness. sometimes we have those occasions where we have to laugh, because if not, we'd cry ... and sometimes we make the food choices we do - because we have to.
but sometimes, damnit, we eat cookies. AND ICE CREAM. AND CAKE!
my 'reward' from panera, a free sweet. sitting on my desk because that 353 means no cookie right now.
i explained to her that for the most part i can eat whatever i want - you all know the speech - but sometimes i have to make the 'grown up' decision to eliminate foods, or only have them on rare occasions, because i know how it is going to put me out of whack. it's not my favorite thing in the world to do, but i know i have to do it. it's for my health. and that pesky A1C that is always bugging PWD.
it made me think about how it makes her sad. sometimes, it makes me sad too. it makes me sad when my BG is not what i want it to be. it makes me sad when i miscalculate and feel dumb and have to face those high numbers. it makes me sad when my A1C is not what i had hoped it would be. it makes me sad when my BG is too high to have a random afternoon work snack of cookies that are left over from a meeting. it makes me sad when my high BG is making me moody and i take it out on other people and feel bad for it. it makes me sad when people don't understand why i'm not downing chocolate with them, or have to turn down cupcakes or sweets they are offering me. in all honesty, it makes me sad that so many people (including those that i can now call my friends, who i have met in the DOC) have to live with diabetes every day. damnit, why can't we just eat whatever the hell we want, without pricking our fingers, programing pumps, giving injections, getting shaky, getting headaches, having fuzzy vision, feeling sweaty, woozy, confused, annoyed, frustrated, and just plain TIRED?
it's just the hand we've been dealt. and the thing is, we can't dwell on the sadness. because if we did, we would all be depressed. sure, we might get down in the dumps about it every now and then, but we can't let that overwhelm us, because, well, it's not healthy.
sometimes we bitch and complain, but we also stay cheerful, we support each other, we joke around about food and BGs, and we don't dwell on the sadness. sometimes we have those occasions where we have to laugh, because if not, we'd cry ... and sometimes we make the food choices we do - because we have to.
but sometimes, damnit, we eat cookies. AND ICE CREAM. AND CAKE!
Monday, January 24, 2011
diabetes is like barbie
i know you're asking yourself, how is diabetes (and PWD) like barbie? this makes no sense at all. au contraire my friend. (don't get all excited, i don't speak french. just that.) as i was thinking of blogging topics last night, and people who think they are little princess barbie, the two ideas meshed together. and here we are. let me explain.
you may think of barbie as one doll, but she has many personalities: veterinarian barbie, mommy barbie, fashion barbie, doctor barbie, among others.
many people see diabetes as one disease, but we know it has different types: type 1, type 2, gestational, etc...
barbie has many accessories: shoes, purses, hats, sunglasses, jewelry, the list goes on.
diabetes gives PWD many accessories: blood sugar meters, insulin pumps, insulin pens, (blunt) lancets, medical ID jewelry, the list goes on.
barbie does many activities: singing, dancing, swimming, soccer, volleyball...
PWD do many activities: singing, dancing, swimming, soccer, volleyball...
barbie has a 'virtual world' (did you know this? yeah, she does. when i was little she didn't. i googled for blog research purposes).
PWD have a virtual world! we have the DOC! :D
barbie looks like she doesn't have any flaws, but make her 'life size' and she'd fall apart.
diabetes is invisible, you might not see anything 'wrong' with us, but it is affecting us, all the time.
barbie inspires girls (and some boys. hey, don't judge) to grow up to be whatever they want (see personalities above)
PWD inspire everyone to be whatever they want to be, and to be who they are. in the DOC, everyone can be themselves, not be judged, and are encouraged by one another to achieve anything they set their mind to.
and finally...
barbie looks pretty and nice, but she can be a real bitch sometimes.
diabetes isn't pretty and nice, and it can also be a real bitch.
________
also: what the hell is THIS?:
you may think of barbie as one doll, but she has many personalities: veterinarian barbie, mommy barbie, fashion barbie, doctor barbie, among others.
many people see diabetes as one disease, but we know it has different types: type 1, type 2, gestational, etc...
barbie has many accessories: shoes, purses, hats, sunglasses, jewelry, the list goes on.
diabetes gives PWD many accessories: blood sugar meters, insulin pumps, insulin pens, (blunt) lancets, medical ID jewelry, the list goes on.
barbie does many activities: singing, dancing, swimming, soccer, volleyball...
PWD do many activities: singing, dancing, swimming, soccer, volleyball...
barbie has a 'virtual world' (did you know this? yeah, she does. when i was little she didn't. i googled for blog research purposes).
PWD have a virtual world! we have the DOC! :D
barbie looks like she doesn't have any flaws, but make her 'life size' and she'd fall apart.
diabetes is invisible, you might not see anything 'wrong' with us, but it is affecting us, all the time.
barbie inspires girls (and some boys. hey, don't judge) to grow up to be whatever they want (see personalities above)
PWD inspire everyone to be whatever they want to be, and to be who they are. in the DOC, everyone can be themselves, not be judged, and are encouraged by one another to achieve anything they set their mind to.
and finally...
barbie looks pretty and nice, but she can be a real bitch sometimes.
diabetes isn't pretty and nice, and it can also be a real bitch.
________
also: what the hell is THIS?:
Thursday, January 20, 2011
where my pump lives
the topic of 'where do you put your pump?' has come up quite a bit lately, so i thought i'd reveal some of my best concealing locations.
now, if you're going to be that person that says 'why do you hide it? i don't hide my diabetes from ANYONE!' ...good for you. i don't hide the fact that i have diabetes from anyone, i will tell anyone, GLADLY. but ya know, sometimes the silhouette doesn't look as fabulous with a rectangle box sticking off your side.
may i present to you: my pump locations. :)
my favorite spot is in my right pocket of my jeans. now, i am picky, and i can't put it in the pocket of just any pants. if the pocket isn't 'snug' enough, the cord doesn't tuck in nicely and i risk catching it places. i actually wore a hole in my favorite jeans from my pump, and my mom sewed a cute little patch of heart fabric behind the hole so i could keep wearing them. hehe:
for the occasions when i'm not wearing jeans - for example, shorts, 'nicer' pants - i tuck the pump in the back waistband of whatever i'm wearing. it stays there too, it's like one of those microphone box thingies that people on reality tv wear. i'm totally cooler than they are. for example, today i am wearing my favorite style of casual dress pants from old navy (i have like 6 colors, seriously) and i don't like how the pump 'sits' in my pocket, so it's in my waistband:
now, when i wear a fancy dress, it can either be tucked in the back of my unmentionables (yup, just like the waistband thing, girls, it works! (i guess, that is, if you have an ass. i was blessed with enough of one to not have a 'flat butt' so it stays where it belongs), or i stick it in the upstairs department of unmentionables, ifyouknowwhatimsaying:
oh yeah and back when i used to do this:
now, if you're going to be that person that says 'why do you hide it? i don't hide my diabetes from ANYONE!' ...good for you. i don't hide the fact that i have diabetes from anyone, i will tell anyone, GLADLY. but ya know, sometimes the silhouette doesn't look as fabulous with a rectangle box sticking off your side.
may i present to you: my pump locations. :)
my favorite spot is in my right pocket of my jeans. now, i am picky, and i can't put it in the pocket of just any pants. if the pocket isn't 'snug' enough, the cord doesn't tuck in nicely and i risk catching it places. i actually wore a hole in my favorite jeans from my pump, and my mom sewed a cute little patch of heart fabric behind the hole so i could keep wearing them. hehe:
see that hole there? it's bigger. and patched :) mental note: no blue shirts with blue jeans. more importantly, with dad, dipping our own bottles at makers mark!
for the occasions when i'm not wearing jeans - for example, shorts, 'nicer' pants - i tuck the pump in the back waistband of whatever i'm wearing. it stays there too, it's like one of those microphone box thingies that people on reality tv wear. i'm totally cooler than they are. for example, today i am wearing my favorite style of casual dress pants from old navy (i have like 6 colors, seriously) and i don't like how the pump 'sits' in my pocket, so it's in my waistband:
eww ignore my bad nailpolish. i'll be removing that tonight.
(photo taken by hypoglycemic work buddy)
(photo taken by hypoglycemic work buddy)
now, when i wear a fancy dress, it can either be tucked in the back of my unmentionables (yup, just like the waistband thing, girls, it works! (i guess, that is, if you have an ass. i was blessed with enough of one to not have a 'flat butt' so it stays where it belongs), or i stick it in the upstairs department of unmentionables, ifyouknowwhatimsaying:
oh and there was that one time (the only time) a few years ago when my best friend got married and the pump slid right down from it's cozy spot in my waistband and hung. next to my leg. during the wedding ceremony. in front of the entire church. and i had to not laugh. or freak out. yeah. that time:
and the time i was running and fractured my leg and twisted my ankle. i had learned that when i was running, i needed to attach the clip when it was tucked in the back of my waistband, because if not, it would slide down (eww. sweaty.) so it was tucked in, but also clipped on:
see that little black thing sticking up behind me on the left? pump! with clip!
next to me cuz it was not comfortable to wear on that awesome ER bed.
next to me cuz it was not comfortable to wear on that awesome ER bed.
it sat snugly in my waistband then too. (yes, that's really me. awesome.)
where does your pump live?
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abbreviation key
PWD: person/people with diabetes
BG: blood glucose (same as blood sugar)
DOC: diabetes online community