Today is ten years since I was diagnosed with diabetes and put on insulin!
At diagnosis, my A1c was something above 16% (could not be measured). The 28 readings since then have ranged from 6.0 to 7.2 and averaged 6.55.
I have spent roughly 7.5 years on Lantus, 1.5 pumping (regular), and 1 on NPH. I have spent roughly 5 years on Novolog and 5 years on Regular (the Novolog came first, just to be clear). I've gotten my insulin through NovoPen Jr, syringes, a minimed pump (the steel cannulas aka needles were the only way that worked) , jet injector, and a few other pens that I didn't use regularly. I've used two meters as my main meters- Accu Check Aviva and Relion Prime- and at least a half dozen others supplementally. I've used two types of minimed CGMs and two types of Dexcom CGM sensors with three types of monitors. I've spent about 4 years not CGMing.
I spent a few years (maybe 3?) counting, though not limiting, every carb I ate. I spent another few years (maybe 3?) counting carbs more sporadically, and the last few years not really counting carbs at all.
I have not taken any other diabetes medications (but I have gotten my flu vaccines).
Complications wise:
I've had dilated eye exams about annually and no abnormality has ever been noted. My myopia hasn't been entirely stable. And my night vision has noticeably gotten worse; I think that my peripheral vision has too although my eye doctor says I'm fine.
I've never had an EMG, and haven't had any tests of sensation in some years. However, I do not have a neuropathy diagnosis or any major symptoms of neuropathy.
My eGFR is fine. My urine has contained elevated microalbumin sporadically but has been totally normal for a few years now, including when tested two weeks ago. My blood pressure is fine.
Regarding lipodystrophy and scarring- the insulin pump folks strongly suggested that my difficulty with kinking cannulas was due to internal scarring. Perhaps. I did at one point develop some lipodystrophy in my thighs, which disappeared after about a year of not injecting there. I am currently injecting there without any issues. I have not had any flagrant problems with absorption except with cannulas.
My hearing hasn't ever been formally tested. My impression is that it's gotten somewhat worse over the last ten years, but normal hearing in a 27 year old is somewhat worse than normal hearing in a 17 year old anyways.
My dental health is not great but the only tooth I've had pulled was a wisdom tooth and none have fallen out, so that's something.
I have had no infections that would indicate poor circulation or impaired immunological function.
Other than at diagnosis, I have not had a blood sugar related hospitalization or emergency room visit- no DKAs, NKHHSs, or hypoglycemic episodes of severe symptomaticness. In fact, my hypoglycemias have gotten considerably less problematic and symptomatic over the years.
Changes in the diabetes experience:
I've become less emotional and less interested in my diabetes.
I've tended to run more dramatic highs and less dramatic lows.
My insulin sensitivity over the last few years has been dramatically higher (with an ISF around 100) as compared to my first few years (when the ISF was about 35). I have persistently had higher basal needs at night.
My overall health has been better over the second five years as compared to the first five. During the first five years, I developed several major health problems and had my gallbladder removed and subsequently developed gallstone pancreatitis. I also had subacute thyroiditis and pain in my neck for roughly two years, and swelling in my hands and one foot (and a knee). I also experienced a cognitive decline that was very significant to me.
In my second five years, I've just about recovered from the pancreatitis, at least pain wise, have had no thyroid problems, way less vomiting (yay!), no cognitive decline I'm aware of (although I certainly haven't recovered to where I once was). I have had some issues with my feet, and the issues with swelling in my joints haven't disappeared.
Notably, I've worked full time only in the last few years.
Looking at the next five years or the next ten years, I think that my current health is a positive indicator. I'm hopeful that the next ten years will continue to see me staying out of the hospital, at least for diabetes related reasons. I'm hopeful that I will maintain blood sugars around the same as I have, though it would be nice to see an A1c in the 5s at least once. I suspect that I will stay on Regular and NPH, because they're cheap, but I don't know- the market and what's available may change. And maybe I'll even return to pumping. I'm not CGMing now, but I think it's likely I will resume doing so at some point. I'm hoping to get another jet injector, one where a continual supply of vial adaptors is available. I think it's probable based on epidemiological data that I will develop detectable retinopathy in the next decade, but am hopeful it will not be vision-threatening. My weight remains at the bottom of the normal range for my height, but given its stability over the last few years, I'm hoping it will just stay there.
I anticipate my biggest challenge over the next ten years will not be managing my diabetes- it will be parenting and balancing parenting with everything else I need to do. My (foster) son, hereafter referred to as just my son, spent every weekend with me over the summer and officially moves in tomorrow. He's a handful! So far I haven't really had a problem managing diabetes with him around although I thought I would.
Some anonymous soul asked if I am a vegan minimalist and why I don't talk much about diet. I don't know what a vegan minimalist is. I don't talk much about diet because I didn't change my diet for diabetes. Depending on your standards of vegan, I may or may not have been eating a vegan diet for the last sixteen years- which is six years longer than I've been aware of having diabetes, and which is also more than half of my life. I give it about as much thought as I give the fact that I don't drive. It's very background to my life. I think, and have said so here numerous times before, that there isn't any one diet that's best for diabetes, or for people in general. I think there's pretty good evidence that a vegan diet can be healthy, and no evidence that it's unhealthy in my case. I think there's a lot more evidence that driving is unhealthy. But unless you like poring over maps, it's just not a really interesting topic.
Thursday, September 01, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
You remember how I used to complain all the time about how the Lantus advertising is totally misleading because it lasts way longer than the 24 hours it claims, because the study including in the package only shows the first 24 hours?
Well here's a study by folks making generic lantus that shows that it lasted more than 42 hours in 14 out of 40 subjects:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27484286
That's 35% of people.
Well here's a study by folks making generic lantus that shows that it lasted more than 42 hours in 14 out of 40 subjects:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27484286
That's 35% of people.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Longer Letter Later
I was absolutely flabbergasted to see the results of Wednesday's A1c: 6.2!
This after four months of no CGM, on NPH and Regular (albeit mostly through the jet injector, where absorption is good). During this time I had a vial of insulin go bad on me even, more than four months of not having prescriptions for a single one of my diabetes supplies.
I had been pretty sure this A1c was going to be in the 6.8-7.2 range and was bracing myself for higher. I had said to the doctor I would want to resume CGM usage if my A1c was above about 6.5, which I was sure it was... and it isn't! So I guess I'll continue not CGMing.
I just had to share my good news.
This after four months of no CGM, on NPH and Regular (albeit mostly through the jet injector, where absorption is good). During this time I had a vial of insulin go bad on me even, more than four months of not having prescriptions for a single one of my diabetes supplies.
I had been pretty sure this A1c was going to be in the 6.8-7.2 range and was bracing myself for higher. I had said to the doctor I would want to resume CGM usage if my A1c was above about 6.5, which I was sure it was... and it isn't! So I guess I'll continue not CGMing.
I just had to share my good news.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Thoughts on being a health (semi)professional and a diabetic at the same time
3 years ago I became a CNA, which stands sometimes for certified nurses' aide and other times certified nursing assistant, and usually is just called by the letters CNA. In Illinois, CNAs are required to have taken a course, done clinicals, pass an exam, and demonstrate competence in 17 tasks, from hand washing to making a bed with somebody in it, to taking blood pressure. In my actual job, I did in fact hand wash (lots), make a bed (only a couple times with somebody in it), and take blood pressure (lots). I also did a lot of monitoring people, talking, escorting people various places, refereeing, laundry, reminding people to take their medication, etc. I also did a lot of assisting my supervisor and the nurses with whatever I could.
A couple weeks ago I got a promotion to Wellness Coordinator, which means I'm in charge of making doctor visits and ensuring people get to them, and also scheduling CNAs, and that I'm part of hiring a replacement CNA. So I've been thinking about writing about what it's like to be on the managerial end of the hiring process, as this is a first for me. However, if you're reading this blog you're almost automatically somebody I would hire (if you were qualified and actually wanted the actual position I'm hiring for- some people apply but then aren't available at the times I'm hiring for or are imagining some more glamorous job).
So another job related thing I've been thinking about writing about: as you know, I identify myself as diabetic. Not a person who so happens to have diabetes, but diabetic. I originally did it in the hopes that I could integrate diabetes into my identity, in the belief that that would be a happier and healthier way to be; I've come to feel that it also helps with being responsible.
In my job, I often encounter people whose diabetes has caused all kinds of problems for them (as well as people whose diabetes has nothing to do with why they need care from me and people whose diabetes needs care but hasn't caused significant complications). I've worked with people whose diabetes has resulted in their losing their vision, their kidneys, their gastric motility, sensation in large parts of their bodies, jobs and job prospects, and their lives; they've had congestive heart failure, heart attacks, strokes, early onset dementia, UTIs, lots of infections, transplants, the works. Their diabetes control ranges from extremely good to extremely bad, although almost all have had some real variation where they had some years that were much better than others.
I identify with all of our diabetics- though much more so with the younger onset ones- to a degree that I do not identify with my other charges.
When the young diabetic doesn't comply with the (really difficult to comply with) instructions after surgery to reattach her retina, I take it personally in a way that I don't when a guy whose retina detached for non-diabetic reasons also doesn't fully comply.
When our only 50 year medal eligible patient was belligerent I found compassion coming to me more easily than with other belligerent folks.
I struggle with thoughts about control. The majority of patients I've seen with complications from diabetes have significantly worse diabetes control than I do... but then, so do those without complications, and some of those with complications have better control than I do. Some of our diabetics with major complications tell me that because they were afraid of lows or because they didn't want to deal with diabetes at school, or because their home life was so bad they enjoyed being hospitalized, they skipped shots or purposely ran high. I don't know what to say when somebody who went blind due to type 2 diabetes in his 40s and whose blood sugar is normal except when his eating isn't, tells me it was worth drinking the 2 two liter bottles of soda he drank, or that last night he ate (another) whole box of donuts. Or when somebody tells me he was so afraid of lows on the job that he purposely ran in the 400s... and now he's waiting on a fifth kidney. Or when somebody says he would skip shots because the hospital was nicer than his foster home- and now the nurse doesn't think he'll see 30.
I ran a diabetes class for some years at my facility, and got a significant audience- mostly of non-diabetics who wanted to know how to support their friends or understand what they were going through, as well as a sprinkling of prediabetics and the worried well. Soon I'm supposed to be taking a diabetes training course that authorizes me to teach a diabetes course that I'll be required to teach. At those times, my living with diabetes lends me legitimacy- but I think my education and the living with diabetes together are better there because lots of the folks I work with have had diabetes a long time but are really not folks you'd trust to teach about diabetes.
In a few weeks I will hit 10 years from my diagnosis, and today I went to see my doctor, so in a couple weeks I think I'll be posting with an update on my health, but, spoiler, I'm pretty healthy. Although I think that there are lots of things that go into that, including luck, and although I know that 10 years is definitely not long enough to declare anything about my future health, I think my determination to integrate diabetes into my sense of self has helped.
A couple weeks ago I got a promotion to Wellness Coordinator, which means I'm in charge of making doctor visits and ensuring people get to them, and also scheduling CNAs, and that I'm part of hiring a replacement CNA. So I've been thinking about writing about what it's like to be on the managerial end of the hiring process, as this is a first for me. However, if you're reading this blog you're almost automatically somebody I would hire (if you were qualified and actually wanted the actual position I'm hiring for- some people apply but then aren't available at the times I'm hiring for or are imagining some more glamorous job).
So another job related thing I've been thinking about writing about: as you know, I identify myself as diabetic. Not a person who so happens to have diabetes, but diabetic. I originally did it in the hopes that I could integrate diabetes into my identity, in the belief that that would be a happier and healthier way to be; I've come to feel that it also helps with being responsible.
In my job, I often encounter people whose diabetes has caused all kinds of problems for them (as well as people whose diabetes has nothing to do with why they need care from me and people whose diabetes needs care but hasn't caused significant complications). I've worked with people whose diabetes has resulted in their losing their vision, their kidneys, their gastric motility, sensation in large parts of their bodies, jobs and job prospects, and their lives; they've had congestive heart failure, heart attacks, strokes, early onset dementia, UTIs, lots of infections, transplants, the works. Their diabetes control ranges from extremely good to extremely bad, although almost all have had some real variation where they had some years that were much better than others.
I identify with all of our diabetics- though much more so with the younger onset ones- to a degree that I do not identify with my other charges.
When the young diabetic doesn't comply with the (really difficult to comply with) instructions after surgery to reattach her retina, I take it personally in a way that I don't when a guy whose retina detached for non-diabetic reasons also doesn't fully comply.
When our only 50 year medal eligible patient was belligerent I found compassion coming to me more easily than with other belligerent folks.
I struggle with thoughts about control. The majority of patients I've seen with complications from diabetes have significantly worse diabetes control than I do... but then, so do those without complications, and some of those with complications have better control than I do. Some of our diabetics with major complications tell me that because they were afraid of lows or because they didn't want to deal with diabetes at school, or because their home life was so bad they enjoyed being hospitalized, they skipped shots or purposely ran high. I don't know what to say when somebody who went blind due to type 2 diabetes in his 40s and whose blood sugar is normal except when his eating isn't, tells me it was worth drinking the 2 two liter bottles of soda he drank, or that last night he ate (another) whole box of donuts. Or when somebody tells me he was so afraid of lows on the job that he purposely ran in the 400s... and now he's waiting on a fifth kidney. Or when somebody says he would skip shots because the hospital was nicer than his foster home- and now the nurse doesn't think he'll see 30.
I ran a diabetes class for some years at my facility, and got a significant audience- mostly of non-diabetics who wanted to know how to support their friends or understand what they were going through, as well as a sprinkling of prediabetics and the worried well. Soon I'm supposed to be taking a diabetes training course that authorizes me to teach a diabetes course that I'll be required to teach. At those times, my living with diabetes lends me legitimacy- but I think my education and the living with diabetes together are better there because lots of the folks I work with have had diabetes a long time but are really not folks you'd trust to teach about diabetes.
In a few weeks I will hit 10 years from my diagnosis, and today I went to see my doctor, so in a couple weeks I think I'll be posting with an update on my health, but, spoiler, I'm pretty healthy. Although I think that there are lots of things that go into that, including luck, and although I know that 10 years is definitely not long enough to declare anything about my future health, I think my determination to integrate diabetes into my sense of self has helped.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Updates
I still haven't gotten internet on my phone or in my new condo, which has a lot to do with why I haven't updated this lately. Yesterday I went over to my parents' place in order to check my email and while I was at it I thought I'd follow up on a few things I'd been wondering about diabetes wise. Maybe you haven't wondered enough to look it up either:
Q1. So did they come out with anything really left-field about diabetes lately? Anything in the realm of a cure?
A1. No.
Q2. Now that Lantus is no longer protected by patent, has anybody made a generic available in the US? Talked about making a generic?
A2: Glad you asked! It's even more complicated than that. Only three days ago, the FDA approved a second insulin glargine in an accelerated process that doesn't call it a generic, because " No insulin glargine products are currently licensed under the Public Health Service Act, so there is no “reference product” for a proposed biosimilar product.".It is going to be sold by Eli Lilly in disposable insulin pens only, and not until December 2016. There's no word as to cost, but given that it will be available in pens only, and that the seller will be Lilly, I'm guessing it's not going to signal a really dramatic decrease in cost. But it should still curtail the price hikes that Lantus has had in the past few years.
Eli Lilly was required to do some human testing with their product, and the tests showed worse blood sugar control with their insulin glargine vs lantus, but not dramatically so, therefore it was declared "non-inferior".
Q3: Some time ago, I got an email from minimed saying they had a NEW more accurate version of the enlite sensor. How's that new version of the enlite perform anyways? When my dexcom breaks down, should I consider switching back?
A4: As far as I can tell, the new sensor is only available in Europe (so why'd they email me? Don't know). The UK minimed site states: Data on file ER13-7989 Enlite with MiniMed Paradigm® Veo™ System has a MARD of 14.2 % while Enlite with MiniMed™ 640G System has a MARD of 13%.
In comparison, Dexcom G4 with the old software had a MARD of 13%, and according to Dexcom, the new software improved performance to 9%.
So if accuracy is your only consideration, you shouldn't consider the new Enlites. Given cost however... and my pump is still under warranty.
Q4: What new diabetes studies are being conducted in my area?
A4: Well, there's a study on using dapaglifozin in type 1 diabetics. I am still of the opinion that this medication is likely to lead to so much increased kidney mortality that it will eventually be recalled. I would not recommend enrolling in this trial.
There's another study on the insulin patch Finessa, which has already been FDA approved but which you can't buy yet.
There's a few studies trying to treat newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics, and one that aims to compare the intestinal flora of the newly diagnosed to healthy people; that strikes me as being difficult to really control.
Myself, after finishing up with the pump supplies I had in November, I used a vial of Lantus for a month and I moved onto NPH about six weeks ago. For whatever reason, using NPH this time has been much smoother than it was when I tried it last time, maybe because I'm taking it at different times of day (midmorning and bedtime rather than breakfast and supper).
Did I say blood sugar has been smooth? Exclude the last few days- I've been having digestive problems where I eat a meal (after injecting Regular), go low, stay low for a while (like a couple of hours), and then shoot way up.
I am still in the licensure process of fostering and/or adopting in Illinois, but a few weeks ago I met a child who is being considered as a potential match with me (I say YES but there are a lot of agencies involved that all have to also approve). He is not diabetic.
Q1. So did they come out with anything really left-field about diabetes lately? Anything in the realm of a cure?
A1. No.
Q2. Now that Lantus is no longer protected by patent, has anybody made a generic available in the US? Talked about making a generic?
A2: Glad you asked! It's even more complicated than that. Only three days ago, the FDA approved a second insulin glargine in an accelerated process that doesn't call it a generic, because " No insulin glargine products are currently licensed under the Public Health Service Act, so there is no “reference product” for a proposed biosimilar product.".It is going to be sold by Eli Lilly in disposable insulin pens only, and not until December 2016. There's no word as to cost, but given that it will be available in pens only, and that the seller will be Lilly, I'm guessing it's not going to signal a really dramatic decrease in cost. But it should still curtail the price hikes that Lantus has had in the past few years.
Eli Lilly was required to do some human testing with their product, and the tests showed worse blood sugar control with their insulin glargine vs lantus, but not dramatically so, therefore it was declared "non-inferior".
Q3: Some time ago, I got an email from minimed saying they had a NEW more accurate version of the enlite sensor. How's that new version of the enlite perform anyways? When my dexcom breaks down, should I consider switching back?
A4: As far as I can tell, the new sensor is only available in Europe (so why'd they email me? Don't know). The UK minimed site states: Data on file ER13-7989 Enlite with MiniMed Paradigm® Veo™ System has a MARD of 14.2 % while Enlite with MiniMed™ 640G System has a MARD of 13%.
In comparison, Dexcom G4 with the old software had a MARD of 13%, and according to Dexcom, the new software improved performance to 9%.
So if accuracy is your only consideration, you shouldn't consider the new Enlites. Given cost however... and my pump is still under warranty.
Q4: What new diabetes studies are being conducted in my area?
A4: Well, there's a study on using dapaglifozin in type 1 diabetics. I am still of the opinion that this medication is likely to lead to so much increased kidney mortality that it will eventually be recalled. I would not recommend enrolling in this trial.
There's another study on the insulin patch Finessa, which has already been FDA approved but which you can't buy yet.
There's a few studies trying to treat newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics, and one that aims to compare the intestinal flora of the newly diagnosed to healthy people; that strikes me as being difficult to really control.
Myself, after finishing up with the pump supplies I had in November, I used a vial of Lantus for a month and I moved onto NPH about six weeks ago. For whatever reason, using NPH this time has been much smoother than it was when I tried it last time, maybe because I'm taking it at different times of day (midmorning and bedtime rather than breakfast and supper).
Did I say blood sugar has been smooth? Exclude the last few days- I've been having digestive problems where I eat a meal (after injecting Regular), go low, stay low for a while (like a couple of hours), and then shoot way up.
I am still in the licensure process of fostering and/or adopting in Illinois, but a few weeks ago I met a child who is being considered as a potential match with me (I say YES but there are a lot of agencies involved that all have to also approve). He is not diabetic.
Tuesday, November 03, 2015
November started...
And I didn't even THINK of it as Diabetes Awareness Month.
At the moment I'm on the last of my infusion sets on the pump. I used my last few sure-Ts in double time; I wore them the regular way and then shaved another area, put alcohol on it, put medical tape on it, took the sure T needle out of me and then put it back in through the medical tape, and then taped it on and wore it another 2-3 days. Worked beautifully!
I'm not exactly thrilled by the sum of money Dexcom charged my insurance for the current round of sensors. $800 per box. Seems like almost yesterday I was buying my own sensors at $289 per box (with 7+ and no insurance coverage). And I remember posting at some time around then Dexcom's financial statement, showing that manufacturing costs were less than half the cost of Dexcom, but that administrative costs were roughly equal to it, so that at that time, Dexcom was pretty deeply in debt. So I guess they need to charge more (or really reduce unnecessary costs) but youch! It really makes me not want to order sensors.
After about a month of average insulin per day being 23 units, all of a sudden I started going way high so I'm on the fourth day in a row of over 40 units per day. Don't know why! Weight is still around 46 kilograms (maybe up to 47?)
At the moment I'm on the last of my infusion sets on the pump. I used my last few sure-Ts in double time; I wore them the regular way and then shaved another area, put alcohol on it, put medical tape on it, took the sure T needle out of me and then put it back in through the medical tape, and then taped it on and wore it another 2-3 days. Worked beautifully!
I'm not exactly thrilled by the sum of money Dexcom charged my insurance for the current round of sensors. $800 per box. Seems like almost yesterday I was buying my own sensors at $289 per box (with 7+ and no insurance coverage). And I remember posting at some time around then Dexcom's financial statement, showing that manufacturing costs were less than half the cost of Dexcom, but that administrative costs were roughly equal to it, so that at that time, Dexcom was pretty deeply in debt. So I guess they need to charge more (or really reduce unnecessary costs) but youch! It really makes me not want to order sensors.
After about a month of average insulin per day being 23 units, all of a sudden I started going way high so I'm on the fourth day in a row of over 40 units per day. Don't know why! Weight is still around 46 kilograms (maybe up to 47?)
Friday, September 11, 2015
Labs
I saw the doctor on Wednesday. My endocrinologist is out of the HMO network. I told her that in that case, for now I'm not going to see an endocrinologist.
I asked for an A1c and a vitamin B12 level.
The A1c is 6.8%; for me that's neither great nor terrible, a little higher than I've averaged over the years but well within my range.
The vitamin B12 level, unexpectedly, was 1115 pg/mL. The normal range for that lab goes from 211 to 911. The last time I had it measured was about five years ago, at which time it was about 400. I am a vegan- have been since January 2000- and don't take any B12 supplements, so how the heck my level came back that high, I have no idea. Vitamin B12 is found in some plant sources but is thought to be difficult to digest from those sources. I do drink soymilk and eat cereals with B12 added, but that shouldn't make that big of an impact, aside from which I haven't had any soymilk in about a month due to the cost.
The doctor feels that both of my results are great and nothing to worry about.
Personally, I wonder if it's related to my polycythemia.
I asked for an A1c and a vitamin B12 level.
The A1c is 6.8%; for me that's neither great nor terrible, a little higher than I've averaged over the years but well within my range.
The vitamin B12 level, unexpectedly, was 1115 pg/mL. The normal range for that lab goes from 211 to 911. The last time I had it measured was about five years ago, at which time it was about 400. I am a vegan- have been since January 2000- and don't take any B12 supplements, so how the heck my level came back that high, I have no idea. Vitamin B12 is found in some plant sources but is thought to be difficult to digest from those sources. I do drink soymilk and eat cereals with B12 added, but that shouldn't make that big of an impact, aside from which I haven't had any soymilk in about a month due to the cost.
The doctor feels that both of my results are great and nothing to worry about.
Personally, I wonder if it's related to my polycythemia.
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
9 years
Today marks nine years on exogenous insulin. In this ninth year that insulin gave me, I worked full time, bought a two bedroom condo (about 70% with money earned in the last nine years and 30% a loan from my mother), and made a lot of progress towards foster home licensure (I should be licensed around January).
On Wednesday night I went to bed with a blood sugar of 162. I woke up at 3:45 Thursday morning with the suspicion that I'd forgotten Lantus. My meter said 433. I took 10 units of Regular. When I got up at 6 am, I was down to 350; I took 8 more units, and called in to say I'd be a couple hours late to work, if it was alright. It was. I took a bath and put on the pump.
On Friday Edgepark called and told me that they had the paperwork and could ship my sensors if I wanted them. I said YES. They were there when I returned from prayers Monday morning.
So today I'm wearing two medical devices whereas last week I was wearing 0.
Wearing a Dexcom is a pleasure, as always (except when it alarms too much).
Wearing the pump has been unexpectedly pleasant. Starting it knowing it's short term and already having a good basal profile makes a difference.
This past year, I've spent 20% of the time on NPH, 16% on Lantus, and 64% pumping. I spent about 65% CGMing with SofSensors and about 25% using DexG4, with about 10% of the year not CGMing. Novolin R was the only bolus insulin I used. My A1c was measured only once this year, at 6.9% although I intend to have it measured on September 9th.
Looking at last year's post on 8 years on insulin, I have the following updates:
My feet have been swollen for between 14 and 15 months now. They are typically sore, but not excruciatingly so. I can't walk fast or run or take long walks (more than two miles at a stretch). I have made a lot of life changes in order to be on my feet less. However, I am still on my feet a lot of the time.
Last year I was hoping to be licensed around February 2015. Haha. Right now I'm shooting for January/February 2016.
My oldest brother is in fact married; his wife is eight months pregnant. I'm going to be an uncle!
I have a computer but no home internet access.
On Wednesday night I went to bed with a blood sugar of 162. I woke up at 3:45 Thursday morning with the suspicion that I'd forgotten Lantus. My meter said 433. I took 10 units of Regular. When I got up at 6 am, I was down to 350; I took 8 more units, and called in to say I'd be a couple hours late to work, if it was alright. It was. I took a bath and put on the pump.
On Friday Edgepark called and told me that they had the paperwork and could ship my sensors if I wanted them. I said YES. They were there when I returned from prayers Monday morning.
So today I'm wearing two medical devices whereas last week I was wearing 0.
Wearing a Dexcom is a pleasure, as always (except when it alarms too much).
Wearing the pump has been unexpectedly pleasant. Starting it knowing it's short term and already having a good basal profile makes a difference.
This past year, I've spent 20% of the time on NPH, 16% on Lantus, and 64% pumping. I spent about 65% CGMing with SofSensors and about 25% using DexG4, with about 10% of the year not CGMing. Novolin R was the only bolus insulin I used. My A1c was measured only once this year, at 6.9% although I intend to have it measured on September 9th.
Looking at last year's post on 8 years on insulin, I have the following updates:
My feet have been swollen for between 14 and 15 months now. They are typically sore, but not excruciatingly so. I can't walk fast or run or take long walks (more than two miles at a stretch). I have made a lot of life changes in order to be on my feet less. However, I am still on my feet a lot of the time.
Last year I was hoping to be licensed around February 2015. Haha. Right now I'm shooting for January/February 2016.
My oldest brother is in fact married; his wife is eight months pregnant. I'm going to be an uncle!
I have a computer but no home internet access.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Still no sensors
The referral I got was for the wrong endo.
Then edgepark dropped my account.
I gave up. I have a doctor appointment for September 9th with the primary care doc; maybe we can get it cleared then.
Minimed sent me a letter saying there's a recall of the infusion sites I have. I haven't decided whether to call them and have them replaced, or not.
I've been having a lot of nocturnal hypo- and hyper- glycemia with strange dreams.
And 11 days ago, I developed a sudden and severe headache. My blood sugar was 39. However, the blood sugar's gone up and the headache has persisted. For 11 days!!! Tired of that.
I am currently taking the first group of classes towards my foster care licensure. That is going reasonably well.
Then edgepark dropped my account.
I gave up. I have a doctor appointment for September 9th with the primary care doc; maybe we can get it cleared then.
Minimed sent me a letter saying there's a recall of the infusion sites I have. I haven't decided whether to call them and have them replaced, or not.
I've been having a lot of nocturnal hypo- and hyper- glycemia with strange dreams.
And 11 days ago, I developed a sudden and severe headache. My blood sugar was 39. However, the blood sugar's gone up and the headache has persisted. For 11 days!!! Tired of that.
I am currently taking the first group of classes towards my foster care licensure. That is going reasonably well.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
HMO Experience So Far
1. When I went to get my insulin, test strips, and syringes at Walmart, my insurance paid 100% of the syringe cost (450 free syringes!), and 0% of the test strips and insulin. I spent $170 buying two vials of R and 500 Relion Prime test strips.
2. I called Dexcom to see if my insurance would pay for sensors. They said yes, BUT I have to go through EdgePark.
I called Edgepark. They said my insurance would cover 100% after a $200 deductible, however, we needed a new letter of necessity from my endo. I asked if they needed a referral for the endo. They said no.
A week later I got a call from my endo's office saying that they'd tried to write me the letter of necessity but were told I needed a referral. They'd tried to get the referral themselves, but were told I needed to get it myself.
I called the clinic that I listed as my primary care providers. They said usually you have to come in in person, and it takes 2-3 weeks to get a referral, but they'd leave a note for my provider.
Two days later- on a Sunday- I got a call from my provider asking me what was going on. I told her. By the end of the phone call she had faxed a referral to the endo.
On Tuesday EdgePark called to say that I needed a referral and asked what the phone number of my primary provider was. Hahaha! Ahead of you, edgepark. Way ahead of you.
Anyways, after three weeks of this ball game I've used up my sensors. Don't know how long till I get any.
2. I called Dexcom to see if my insurance would pay for sensors. They said yes, BUT I have to go through EdgePark.
I called Edgepark. They said my insurance would cover 100% after a $200 deductible, however, we needed a new letter of necessity from my endo. I asked if they needed a referral for the endo. They said no.
A week later I got a call from my endo's office saying that they'd tried to write me the letter of necessity but were told I needed a referral. They'd tried to get the referral themselves, but were told I needed to get it myself.
I called the clinic that I listed as my primary care providers. They said usually you have to come in in person, and it takes 2-3 weeks to get a referral, but they'd leave a note for my provider.
Two days later- on a Sunday- I got a call from my provider asking me what was going on. I told her. By the end of the phone call she had faxed a referral to the endo.
On Tuesday EdgePark called to say that I needed a referral and asked what the phone number of my primary provider was. Hahaha! Ahead of you, edgepark. Way ahead of you.
Anyways, after three weeks of this ball game I've used up my sensors. Don't know how long till I get any.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Was it pumping? Or was it that CGM?
So... I've been back on shots for almost three months now and YAY shots. I've had more lows but whereas I don't think I stayed under 200 for an entire day even once on the pump (maybe I did once or twice), I've been averaging staying under 200 once/twice per week again. I am not sure if this is really the shots or the Dexcom.
I have been bad about calibrating lately. I had a run of not so great sensors, but the current one is in its third week and so accurate that even though I have had the blood drop flashing at me for five hours, when I tested just now, Dexcom was reading 119, and my meter read 119 as well. That doesn't really motivate me to test more ... SMIRK.
The HMO insurance was finally processed today, and backdated June 1st. The only think I've used insurance for so far was buying insulin and syringes and we'll see if the HMO pays for it given that it was prescribed by the endocrinologist; a specialist I didn't have a referral for.
I have been bad about calibrating lately. I had a run of not so great sensors, but the current one is in its third week and so accurate that even though I have had the blood drop flashing at me for five hours, when I tested just now, Dexcom was reading 119, and my meter read 119 as well. That doesn't really motivate me to test more ... SMIRK.
The HMO insurance was finally processed today, and backdated June 1st. The only think I've used insurance for so far was buying insulin and syringes and we'll see if the HMO pays for it given that it was prescribed by the endocrinologist; a specialist I didn't have a referral for.
Sunday, June 07, 2015
DAISY!!!
The Daisy - Diabetes AutoImmunity Study in the Young - is one I've read about before (maybe even posted about before). It follows children with close family members with type 1 diabetes, from birth, looking to try to find out what causes type 1 diabetes. The study has been ongoing for a little more than ten years.
Today, DAISY released something of a bombshell. The study authors say that among the 142 children with diabetes antibodies, the 42 children who have diabetes now consumed significantly more sugar and sugar-sweetened drinks, and the association is strong enough to say that it's not random.
Now, if I was reading this without an emotional investment- or perhaps because I've heard "You're so skinny you must have a sweet tooth" I would probably read this as saying that sugar causes type 1 diabetes.
However, the study authors don't QUITE say that. What they are saying however, is that it's very likely that sugar speeds up the development of type 1 diabetes in those who are developing it. Sugar intake didn't, after all, change the risk of having antibodies, and the kids in the study are all still below the median age of type 1 diabetes diagnosis; among the 100 kids who are antibody positive but still non-diabetic are surely many kids who will have diabetes ten years from now.
Looking at this data, it's possible that after ten years the association between sugar consumption and having diabetes will be gone, because the sugar didn't really change who got it, just how fast.
It's also possible that sugar intake will turn out to have caused diabetes in some of the antibody positive- we know that some people with diabetes antibodies stay non-diabetic.
Past papers I have read on nutrient consumption in relatives of type 1 diabetics did not show any relation between sugar consumption and developing diabetes. However, they didn't look only at antibody positive people; and perhaps the sugar consumption only matters after the antibodies are there- maybe the overall impact is too tiny to see when you look at a large population.
Depending on how the study comes out ten years hence, I may find myself in the smug position of being able to say that how much sugar I ate has nothing to do with ME developing diabetes (dx at age 17 after all). Or... I may not.
For the record, the first monetary purchase I ever made (illicitly, at age 3) was a sugar-sweetened beverage. My household eats a much lower-sugar diet than most American households, and especially we did then. I spent more than two years eating nothing with "sugar" or "corn syrup" in the ingredients when I was a preteen. However, I do have a sweet tooth. And at this point? I'm not regretting it yet.
The full text is NOT free. Here's the abstract.
Today, DAISY released something of a bombshell. The study authors say that among the 142 children with diabetes antibodies, the 42 children who have diabetes now consumed significantly more sugar and sugar-sweetened drinks, and the association is strong enough to say that it's not random.
Now, if I was reading this without an emotional investment- or perhaps because I've heard "You're so skinny you must have a sweet tooth" I would probably read this as saying that sugar causes type 1 diabetes.
However, the study authors don't QUITE say that. What they are saying however, is that it's very likely that sugar speeds up the development of type 1 diabetes in those who are developing it. Sugar intake didn't, after all, change the risk of having antibodies, and the kids in the study are all still below the median age of type 1 diabetes diagnosis; among the 100 kids who are antibody positive but still non-diabetic are surely many kids who will have diabetes ten years from now.
Looking at this data, it's possible that after ten years the association between sugar consumption and having diabetes will be gone, because the sugar didn't really change who got it, just how fast.
It's also possible that sugar intake will turn out to have caused diabetes in some of the antibody positive- we know that some people with diabetes antibodies stay non-diabetic.
Past papers I have read on nutrient consumption in relatives of type 1 diabetics did not show any relation between sugar consumption and developing diabetes. However, they didn't look only at antibody positive people; and perhaps the sugar consumption only matters after the antibodies are there- maybe the overall impact is too tiny to see when you look at a large population.
Depending on how the study comes out ten years hence, I may find myself in the smug position of being able to say that how much sugar I ate has nothing to do with ME developing diabetes (dx at age 17 after all). Or... I may not.
For the record, the first monetary purchase I ever made (illicitly, at age 3) was a sugar-sweetened beverage. My household eats a much lower-sugar diet than most American households, and especially we did then. I spent more than two years eating nothing with "sugar" or "corn syrup" in the ingredients when I was a preteen. However, I do have a sweet tooth. And at this point? I'm not regretting it yet.
The full text is NOT free. Here's the abstract.
Wednesday, June 03, 2015
Again Insurance
My new plan went into affect Monday, but I didn't get an insurance card in the mail. I went to talk to the guy at work in charge of getting us all insured and all that, and found that our insurance cards wouldn't be out for a while, because our enrollments weren't in the system. We could use our old insurance cards, and after the new insurance was in the computer, we would get either a refund or a bill for the difference between what old insurance and new insurance covers.
That means, I can't go to the pharmacy, have them fill a prescription using my card, and find out how much I'm paying for anything! Or find out if my new insurance (an HMO) is even going to pay for any prescriptions written back when I was on the PPO.
Is this legal?
That means, I can't go to the pharmacy, have them fill a prescription using my card, and find out how much I'm paying for anything! Or find out if my new insurance (an HMO) is even going to pay for any prescriptions written back when I was on the PPO.
Is this legal?
Tuesday, June 02, 2015
BPA
Bisphenol A is a compound found in plastics. More than 40 years ago, it was reported to cause metabolic syndrome in rats, and some countries have banned its sale in utensils; in the United States we continue to drink out of bottles made with BPA.
This meta-analysis of human studies provisionally published yesterday looks to me like it confirms the link between BPA and type 2 diabetes. The authors of the meta-analysis claim that the evidence supports but does not definitively show that BPA is harmful. Well... all I'll say is, I'm convinced I don't want to drink out of BPA containing vessels nor have children drink out of them.
The authors of the study brought me up short though, when they said that the plastics alternatives often used when BPA is banned appear to have similar metabolic effects.... uh oh
http://www.ehjournal.net/content/pdf/s12940-015-0036-5.pdf
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Dehydrated Musing
Among the symptoms that I have both while hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic are thirst and dehydration, particularly dehydration when waking up (when I've been high or low for a while without drinking because I've been asleep).
On Saturday I woke up at 3 AM, feeling dizzy and needing to pee. I went to the bathroom and went like a racehorse; I then checked my bg on dehydrated tingly fingers. 60 mg/dl.
I started wondering if maybe the kidneys make more urine in order to concentrate the blood sugar when your blood sugar is low-ish, as a defensive mechanism for sleeping people.
Anybody know?
On Saturday I woke up at 3 AM, feeling dizzy and needing to pee. I went to the bathroom and went like a racehorse; I then checked my bg on dehydrated tingly fingers. 60 mg/dl.
I started wondering if maybe the kidneys make more urine in order to concentrate the blood sugar when your blood sugar is low-ish, as a defensive mechanism for sleeping people.
Anybody know?
Friday, May 29, 2015
Faith
Over the years I've observed that people tend to have one of three attitudes towards diabetes complications:
- Fatalistic. The complications will happen to me. I cannot prevent them. I'm doooomed...
-Messianic. The complications will not happen to ME because I know the secret of diabetes control! And therefore I will never have any complications.
-Oblivious comes in three flavors:
Type Young Oblivious- kids who are not really aware of complications.
Type Two Oblivious - adults who see diabetes as a really minor medical issue of no real significance (a subset of type 2 diabetics, mostly)
Type Cure Oblivious- people who believe that a cure for diabetes will render complications moot point soon enough that they won't matter for us. Just hold on to your health for five more years and you're good.
In real life, none of us knows our future, but uncertainty is difficult to live with, hence our tendency to assume the best or worst.
Those who have read my blog much probably know that I lean towards being fatalistic regarding my future. I have spent a lot of blog space expounding on studies showing high complication rates for diabetics with fairly good blood sugar control, talking about the difficulty in getting that fairly good blood sugar control, agonizing over whether various extra health problems are related to diabetes, and being generally pessimistic about the whole thing.
Yesterday my mother and I went to my bank and I cashed in my savings bonds and my mother wrote me a check and at home I signed a paper saying she was loaning me money (for tax purposes- without it she'd get charged gift tax) that I am supposed to pay back over ten years (I intend to pay it back in half that time) and I kept thinking about the leap of faith I am taking, and the leap of faith that I am asking others to make for me:
Faith that I will be in good enough health to work for another ten years to repay a loan.
Faith that I will stay in good enough health to take care of children all the way through to adulthood.
Faith that I will be able to climb the stairs to the condo for long enough to repay the investment.
I am humbled.
I am grateful.
I am scared.
- Fatalistic. The complications will happen to me. I cannot prevent them. I'm doooomed...
-Messianic. The complications will not happen to ME because I know the secret of diabetes control! And therefore I will never have any complications.
-Oblivious comes in three flavors:
Type Young Oblivious- kids who are not really aware of complications.
Type Two Oblivious - adults who see diabetes as a really minor medical issue of no real significance (a subset of type 2 diabetics, mostly)
Type Cure Oblivious- people who believe that a cure for diabetes will render complications moot point soon enough that they won't matter for us. Just hold on to your health for five more years and you're good.
In real life, none of us knows our future, but uncertainty is difficult to live with, hence our tendency to assume the best or worst.
Those who have read my blog much probably know that I lean towards being fatalistic regarding my future. I have spent a lot of blog space expounding on studies showing high complication rates for diabetics with fairly good blood sugar control, talking about the difficulty in getting that fairly good blood sugar control, agonizing over whether various extra health problems are related to diabetes, and being generally pessimistic about the whole thing.
Yesterday my mother and I went to my bank and I cashed in my savings bonds and my mother wrote me a check and at home I signed a paper saying she was loaning me money (for tax purposes- without it she'd get charged gift tax) that I am supposed to pay back over ten years (I intend to pay it back in half that time) and I kept thinking about the leap of faith I am taking, and the leap of faith that I am asking others to make for me:
Faith that I will be in good enough health to work for another ten years to repay a loan.
Faith that I will stay in good enough health to take care of children all the way through to adulthood.
Faith that I will be able to climb the stairs to the condo for long enough to repay the investment.
I am humbled.
I am grateful.
I am scared.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Holiday Weekend
On Friday I left work shortly before 5 PM and checked my Dexcom. It turned on showing... static. Nothing but a black gray and white array of dots. Be still my heart! I tried again and it said: Out of Range for 4:53:06. Waited a minute and tried it again: Out of Range for 19:35:34.
OK, called Dexcom. After being on hold a while, a customer service tech (named Matthew) called back while I was on the bus. While on the phone with him, the Dexcom changed to say Error HWRF Call Tech Support. He told me in that case I should press the restart button with a paper clip. I got home and pressed the restart button and it started up, but asked me to input the time and date, and showed no bg history on the graph. He said that's not what it's supposed to do, and that they'd send me a new Dexcom. He also said the FDA required them to ask my weight, and that if there was water damage (which he didn't suspect) that there'd be a $199 charge.
I was going to use the other Dexcom G4 (which still works) but the sensor failed and so I yanked it and gave up the ghost.
Saturday I tested my bg 6 times and it ranged from 79 to 106; WOW!
Then Sunday my bg meter gave errors for four strips in a row. I thought it was broken, but a few hours later it worked again (I was 186).
I don't know what was up.
OK, called Dexcom. After being on hold a while, a customer service tech (named Matthew) called back while I was on the bus. While on the phone with him, the Dexcom changed to say Error HWRF Call Tech Support. He told me in that case I should press the restart button with a paper clip. I got home and pressed the restart button and it started up, but asked me to input the time and date, and showed no bg history on the graph. He said that's not what it's supposed to do, and that they'd send me a new Dexcom. He also said the FDA required them to ask my weight, and that if there was water damage (which he didn't suspect) that there'd be a $199 charge.
I was going to use the other Dexcom G4 (which still works) but the sensor failed and so I yanked it and gave up the ghost.
Saturday I tested my bg 6 times and it ranged from 79 to 106; WOW!
Then Sunday my bg meter gave errors for four strips in a row. I thought it was broken, but a few hours later it worked again (I was 186).
I don't know what was up.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Big Day
Today I deliver earnest money for a condo! It was January when I first started viewing places (and didn't even know what earnest money was). This is the third condo I've put in an offer on. The first one was counteroffered but for more money than I was willing to pay for it. The second was kind of accepted but the owner died and then the heirs didn't agree about selling it to me and after waiting more than a month I said forget it, you guys still don't know what you're doing, I'm looking elsewhere. I really liked that place though. Anyways, the third place I offered on last week, they counter-offered, I counter-counter-offered, they counter-counter-counter offered, I said OK.
Today the How-Long-Will-One-Vial-of-NPH-Last experiment ends. The NPH isn't dead but the blood sugar's been crazy for four days and yesterday the protamine started sticking to the sides of the vial. I haven't quite made up my mind whether I resume pumping tonight, or go on Lantus. Then I think I'll go back to NPH; it's just so darn cheap. And the answer to how long it was good for? I think 10 weeks. It was not refrigerated at any part of those 10 weeks, FYI, and my bg average was around 140 for the entire period.
My middle brother, the one I never did interview here, is starting a 24 hour trial period at a group home today. The home is trying out three candidates for one slot... and I can't imagine they'll pick him. But I have the whole night all to myself!
Today the How-Long-Will-One-Vial-of-NPH-Last experiment ends. The NPH isn't dead but the blood sugar's been crazy for four days and yesterday the protamine started sticking to the sides of the vial. I haven't quite made up my mind whether I resume pumping tonight, or go on Lantus. Then I think I'll go back to NPH; it's just so darn cheap. And the answer to how long it was good for? I think 10 weeks. It was not refrigerated at any part of those 10 weeks, FYI, and my bg average was around 140 for the entire period.
My middle brother, the one I never did interview here, is starting a 24 hour trial period at a group home today. The home is trying out three candidates for one slot... and I can't imagine they'll pick him. But I have the whole night all to myself!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Blogs I Met And Liked This Week
I can't find some of the ones I know I read and liked. While looking, I found more. But here are four I like:
1. T1D and Gluten Free No clue what the name of the blogger is, but her daughter has diabetes and celiac. They're carb counting and pumping (neither of which I've been doing in a while). But reading back through her blog, I see she experimented with a dummy pod, CGM, poking her finger, and eating gluten free to half way experience her daughter's challenges. Kudos!
2. Thomas' Diabetes Blog is written in two languages, by Thomas, a T1 D veteran. And he took apart a pump and put the pictures on his blog!
3. Canadian D-Gal by Scully, a type 1 diabetic experiencing some burnout, and making it funny. She manages her diabetes (I think) in the kind of lazy way that still takes an awful lot of effort (like me!)
4. Joy Benchmarks is by Marie Smith and is focused on finding the good things in life even when life throws you an awful lot of hardballs. Which it has her; she has myasthenia gravis, had thymus cancer, and has diabetes. And still appreciates the little things. And the big things too.
And the honorary 5... maybe one of you knows which it is. It's by a woman who is 55 and was diagnosed at age 24 and she wrote a great post about running and she collects something village collectibles and she had a foot infection some years ago and she's got an A1c under 6% if I remember right. And her picture is on the upper left corner of the blog. I liked it but I can't seem to find it again.
P.S. Oops, here's the link to the page of other people's favorites.
1. T1D and Gluten Free No clue what the name of the blogger is, but her daughter has diabetes and celiac. They're carb counting and pumping (neither of which I've been doing in a while). But reading back through her blog, I see she experimented with a dummy pod, CGM, poking her finger, and eating gluten free to half way experience her daughter's challenges. Kudos!
2. Thomas' Diabetes Blog is written in two languages, by Thomas, a T1 D veteran. And he took apart a pump and put the pictures on his blog!
3. Canadian D-Gal by Scully, a type 1 diabetic experiencing some burnout, and making it funny. She manages her diabetes (I think) in the kind of lazy way that still takes an awful lot of effort (like me!)
4. Joy Benchmarks is by Marie Smith and is focused on finding the good things in life even when life throws you an awful lot of hardballs. Which it has her; she has myasthenia gravis, had thymus cancer, and has diabetes. And still appreciates the little things. And the big things too.
And the honorary 5... maybe one of you knows which it is. It's by a woman who is 55 and was diagnosed at age 24 and she wrote a great post about running and she collects something village collectibles and she had a foot infection some years ago and she's got an A1c under 6% if I remember right. And her picture is on the upper left corner of the blog. I liked it but I can't seem to find it again.
P.S. Oops, here's the link to the page of other people's favorites.
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