Diabetes Rant

D365 Day 11

2007-12-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Two Things.

There are two things that can upset me in the morning.

1. An unexpected high blood sugar.
2. An bad espresso shot.

Happily I solved the past week's espresso problem. It was simply a
case of badly ground beans.

If only the unexplained highs were so easy to fix.

D365 Day 10

2007-12-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Technology.

Stopped into Starbucks on our way home from dinner to pick up some coffee beans.

A. asks me, "Want a hot chocolate?"
A quick check of the Dex gives me my answer.

I really like D technology.

D365 Day 9

2007-12-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

Treat.

A hot chocolate treat following wreath hanging. Blood sugar be damned - It is snowing!

D365 Day 8

2007-12-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Test Strip.

They are everywhere.

D365 Day 7

2007-11-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

9.6

I tend to eat very healthy well balanced meals. Also - over the past six months I have been eating 90% local foods.

I got home on Friday - and realized that the only local food I had in the house were potatoes, onions, and a single green pepper. Luckily I had a canned some tomatoes early this fall - and was able to throw together this very carbs heavy dinner.

I called the dish 9.6 after the units of insulin I had to take to cover it. It is going to be a long carb heavy root vegetable based winter!

D365 Day 6

2007-11-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

Kit.

I love my diabetes testing kit.

I find them at Kate Spade. This is my third one.

D365 Day 5

2007-11-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Work.

Health Disparities. It is an issue that my boss works on. I'm luckily that I get the opportunity to occasionally help others with diabetes get the help they need.

The article can be found here
.
The sentence read “grants will, for example, allow Worcester's health department to open an office of healthcare equity, pay for a mobile information van that helps consumers better understand the complexities of doctor's recommendations, and develop methods for better educating patients about diabetes.”

D365 Day 4

2007-11-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Logging.

I hate to log. It is my diabetes nemesis.

D365 Day 3

2007-11-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Late Night

I hate falling asleep on the couch - then after dragging my sleepy self to bed - realizing I need to change my pump before actually getting into bed.

D365 Day 2

2007-11-25T19:41:00.001-05:00

Seaview and Parker.

I went for a run at my parent’s house this morning. I love to run in their quiet Cape Cod town.

Instead of taking my usual right hand turn back to their house on Wianno Ave. I went left to follow Seaview Ave to Parker Road. It added 1.5 miles to the run.

It occurred to me as I made my way down Seaview, the sun shining on the ocean and through the trees, that I wasn't running for my diabetes.

I run because it is peaceful, quiet, and beautiful. I run because it feels good.

I run in spite of the diabetes; in spite of the blood sugar drops, the lifesavers and dexcom in my pocket, and the need to carry my cell phone.

D365 Day 1

2007-11-24T20:57:00.001-05:00

The Perfect Day.

What could be a better way to jump into the diabetes photo pool than with a day in range.

80 to 160

It's a start.

One post per week

2007-01-12T16:28:00.000-05:00

It is only the second week of January so I think I should still try to carry out my annual "to do" list. It's Friday and I did say one blogger entry per week - so here I am.

I had planned to sort out some feelings on my borrowed DexCom - but I am still don't know what I am going to do. I plan to bring it back from the four week trial at my d appointment next week.

The reason I haven't sat down and laid out the pro's and con's yet - Jury Duty.

Most people in the state of Massachusetts serve 1 to 3 days. Me - three weeks, And for the second time. Last time I served it was a four week trial. I honestly don't know why people trust me to be fair and impartial. Maybe it's the blond hair and the innocent face.

So for a lack of having an interesting d-related entry - I'll answer questions that have shown up in my comments section recently. I'm a proud lurker - even on my own blog.

1. Gay and Diabetic... Yup. The few, the proud.
2. Family Plans.... still working that out. Subject of blog posts to come.
3. Diabetic Milk Powder.... I don't exchange links. Sorry.

Hopefully I'll do my DexCom list tomorrow.

A few thoughts on 2007

2007-01-03T14:32:00.000-05:00

I don't believe in resolutions. They seemed doomed to failure.

I make a "To Do" List though.

1. One blogger entry per week. It's not like I can use my thesis as an excuse any more.
2. Look for new job. The shiny new Masters degree should come in handy.
3. Get that A1C under 6.5. I think the new Dexcom is going to help with that.
4. Start family. I have said it to myself - and of course A - but oh my - it's scary to see it out there for public viewing.
5. Read at least one book per month. This is my annual To Do item.

I think the above items will give me enough blogger fodder for several weeks. Thank God.

But I'm not dead yet!

2007-01-03T14:04:00.000-05:00

Text message to A around 3:45 yesterday afternoon.

Good news will reconsider. Recessing till 4:30. We get a do over. We're not dead yet!

It started at 2 pm yesterday. The first anti-marriage vote passed at 2:34. There was then a motion to reconsider - which, to quote state house legal council, means "a do over." The reconsider motion passed. At 3:45 I was hopeful. So about 4:35 I made my way back to a television set to watch the debate.

Didn't happen. No debate. Back from recess and they went straight to a vote. We lost .... again.

There was nothing we could do. Yesterdays vote by the Massachusetts Legislature was a power struggle between two men, who were trying to prove whose (insert your own noun here) was bigger.

So it's a new day and a new Legislature. We are one step closer to a nasty ballot battle in this state. But at least we're not dead..... yet.

More info here.

The email I just sent

2006-12-11T15:59:00.000-05:00

to my CDE

Hi S,

I wanted to give you a heads up on my appointment tomorrow. I do not have great records- and my blood sugars have been running high since thanksgiving. I am about 99% sure that it is due to stress. I am currently finishing my thesis for my masters and it is due on Friday. I cannot remember a time that I have been under this much stress. I really don't think any changes to Basel rates etc. would be appropriate until my schedule settles down next week.

I would like to make my appointment as productive as possible. I am also training on the dexcom after our appointment - so that might be enough to discuss. Is there anything else that I can do or think about before we meet? (Blood sugar and stress management might be worthwhile as well).

Thanks,

E

Thank god I have the best CDE in the world. I love that I can send an email to her less than 24 hours before my appointment - and she'll work with this. No blame.

Another point - I cannot believe what prolonged stress does to blood sugars. I haven't seen so many 200 and 300 sustained numbers in a couple of years.

I can't wait till Friday

A post from the edge

2006-11-09T12:50:00.000-05:00

It's d-blog day. I would love to to put something out here that is good and touching - but I don't have the time or energy.

I work in politics. It's a hard business in November. And thank god this year we have gotten something for the blood, sweat, and tears.

But for me - it's not over. I am back at the Massachusetts State House again - because once more they are voting on my marriage.

Guess what - you do not get to vote on my marriage until your the one who

gets up in the middle of the night to get me juice.
sits quietly with me why I recover from a 400 blood sugar
reminds me to test frequently because I've been at polls for 12 hours and have been eating donuts all day
hates this disease more than I do because she can't take it away
still hopes for a cure - because I can't anymore

Once you do that - then we can talk about my marriage

One more thing

2006-10-25T16:54:00.000-04:00

Add New Jersey to the list of states I can visit!

So now we got
Vermont
Connecticut
and New Jersey.

(I include Rhode Island on that list too - but it's not really official)

Let's just hope that New Jersey goes the whole way with the marriage license. No need to reinvent the wheel here.

A brief return

2006-10-25T11:33:00.000-04:00

It's been a while, and it will probably be a while again. (I'm blaming it on the thesis due in 45 days that only has 3 pages written!)

But it's that time of year again.

Campaign Season.

Of course every two years you can count on those "love thy neighbor" folks heading to polls to try and stop the immorality that has taken hold of this country.
(You know- the war in Iraq over WMD, Enron, and the lack of affordable health care.)

A. found this ad last night. You've probably seen the Michael J. Fox one - but this is just as good and not being shown on national tv.

Because sometimes you just need to laugh

2006-07-28T12:13:00.000-04:00

I have been meaning to post this for the past week- but only getting around to it today.
oh well.

John Stewart's take on the Stem Cell Veto. (From Crooks and Liars)

The first veto

2006-07-19T10:27:00.000-04:00

After 6 years in office, Bush will finally pick up his veto pen.
Like Republicans before him - will it be to veto federal spending that has ballooned under his administration.

Nope- he is vetoing the stem cell research bill, HR 810.

More on the bill and veto at ABC News. Also watch Michael J. Fox's interview from GMA this morning. And the News Analysis from the NY Times.

Also - JDRF email action alert from yesterday. Call the White House. (And keep trying if it is busy.)

Subject: Senate Vote Results and Action Alert

Congratulations!
Today
the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act by a
vote of 63 to 37. Your hard work and dedication made this achievement possible!

The U.S. Senate now joins the U.S. House of Representatives in passing
legislation—with broad bipartisan support—to expand the current federal
embryonic stem cell research policy. This vote marks an important and historic
step forward in our collective efforts to expand the current policy.

It is clear that your efforts in contacting your Senators have made a difference
and has resulted in great strides on this issue. We received feedback that
Members' offices were flooded with calls, emails, and faxes. During debate on
the Senate floor, Members spoke of JDRF Children's Congress delegates, and
juvenile diabetes was one of the diseases most often discussed.

H.R. 810 will be sent to President Bush and he has stated that he will veto it tomorrow (Wednesday, July 19). If the President vetoes H.R. 810, the U.S. House of
Representatives will vote to override the veto immediately thereafter. We ask
that you continue to help by doing the following:

1. Call the White House to ask that the President sign H.R. 810 into law. The White House Comment Line is open beginning at 9:00am Eastern: (202) 456-1111.

Here are a few
talking points you may use in your message for the President:

• I am calling to ask that President Bush sign H.R.810 into law;
• Stem cell research has the potential to benefit millions of Americans who suffer from debilitating diseases and disorders like diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and
spinal cord injuries;
• We need to give our scientists the best tools to fully explore the promise of this research;
• Expanding the current embryonic stem cell research policy is supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans.

2. Call your U.S. Representative and ask them to vote in
favor of the veto override for H.R. 810 if it comes before them.
Representative XXXX XXXXXX
(202) 225-XXXX

See below to learn how
your Senators voted on H.R. 810.
Tomorrow we will send you another alert
asking you to thank the Senators who voted in favor of H.R. 810 but for now we
need your help with contacting the White House and your U.S. Representative.

If this bill is indeed vetoed by the President and the override effort
falls short, JDRF will continue to work towards our goal of expanding the
current policy. We will need your continued efforts, so stay tuned for future
communications asking for your help.

With sincere thanks for your hard work and support,
JDRF Government Relations

U.S. Senate Roll Call:
H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005

Yes (63):
Senator Lisa Murkowski—AK
Senator Ted Stevens—AK
Senator Blanche Lincoln—AR
Senator Mark Pryor—AR
Senator John McCain—AZ
Senator Barbara Boxer—CA
Senator Diane Feinstein—CA
Senator Ken Salazar—CO
Senator Christopher Dodd—CT
Senator Joseph Lieberman—CT
Senator Joseph Biden—DE
Senator Thomas Carper—DE
Senator Bill Nelson—FL
Senator Daniel Akaka—HI
Senator Daniel Inouye—HI
Senator Tom Harkin—IA
Senator Richard Durbin—IL
Senator Barack Obama—IL
Senator Evan Bayh—IN
Senator Richard Lugar—IN
Senator Mary Landrieu—LA
Senator Edward Kennedy—MA
Senator John Kerry—MA
Senator Barbara Mikulski—MD
Senator Paul Sarbanes—MD
Senator Susan Collins—ME
Senator Olympia Snowe—ME
Senator Carl Levin—MI
Senator Debbie Stabenow—MI
Senator Mark Dayton—MN
Senator Thad Cochran—MS
Senator Trent Lott—MS
Senator Max Baucus—MT
Senator Richard Burr—NC
Senator Kent Conrad—ND
Senator Byron Dorgan—ND
Senator Judd Gregg—NH
Senator Frank Lautenberg—NJ
Senator Robert Menendez—NJ
Senator Jeff Bingaman—NM
Senator Harry Reid—NV
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton—NY
Senator Charles Schumer—NY
Senator Gordon Smith—OR
Senator Ron Wyden—OR
Senator Arlen Specter—PA
Senator Lincoln Chafee—RI
Senator Jack Reed—RI
Senator Tim Johnson—SD
Senator Lamar Alexander—TN
Senator Bill Frist—TN
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison—TX
Senator Robert Bennett—UT
Senator Orrin Hatch—UT
Senator John Warner—VA
Senator James Jeffords—VT
Senator Patrick Leahy—VT
Senator Maria Cantwell—WA
Senator Patty Murray—WA
Senator Russ Feingold—WI
Senator Herbert Kohl—WI
Senator Robert Byrd—WV
Senator John Rockefeller—WV

No
(37):
Jeff Sessions—AL
Senator Jon Kyl—AZ
Senator Wayne Allard—CO
Senator Mel Martinez—FL
Senator Saxby Chambliss—GA
Senator Johnny Isakson—GA
Senator Charles Grassley—IA
Senator Larry Craig—ID
Senator Michael Crapo—ID
Senator Richard Lugar—IN
Senator Sam Brownback—KS
Senator Pat Roberts—KS
Senator Mitch McConnell—KY
Senator Jim Bunning—KY
Senator David Vitter—LA
Senator Norm Coleman—MN
Senator Jim Talent—MO
Senator Christopher Bond—MO
Senator Conrad Burns—MT
Senator Elizabeth Dole—NC
Senator Ben Nelson—NE
Senator Chuck Hagel—NE
Senator John Sununu—NH
Senator Pete Domenici—NM
Senator John Ensign—NV
Senator Mike DeWine—OH
Senator George Voinovich—OH
Senator Tom Coburn—OK
Senator James Inhofe—OK
Senator George Voinovich—OH
Senator Rick Santorum—PA
Senator Jim DeMint—SC
Senator Lindsay Graham—SC
Senator John Thune—SD
Senator John Cornyn—TX
Senator George Allen—VA
Senator Craig Thomas—WY
Senator Michael Enzi—WY

Diabeetis

2006-07-14T10:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! Go visit Wilford and his diabeetis videos.

The sky is falling

2006-07-11T12:27:00.000-04:00

Literally.

The ceiling of the 14 billion Big Dig Project fell last night, killing a women from Jamaica Plain. Yet the Massachusetts state legislature is set to spend more hours taking about my marriage.

It's heartbreaking. I think we have bigger problems than what E. and A. do when they go home at night. (make dinner, fold laundry, feed cats, load the dish washer, watch "The Closer")

On a blog related note- the d is going pretty well. Struggling with similar weight issues that Nicole has been writing about, planning on talking about Symlin with the doctor.
I am also planning to blog again - just need to find some time.

To the girl across the crowed room

2006-05-17T07:45:00.000-04:00

May 17th 2004. The first gay couples get legally married in Massachusetts.

Rev. Kim K. Crawford Harvie signing Goodridge plaintiff's, Rob Compton and David Wilson, marriage license.

May 17th 2005. E. and A. get their own marriage license.

Looking back at the good (and bad) A1Cs, eye appointments, food poisoning - twice, and too many infusion sites to count, I can say its been a wonderful year. I couldnt have done it without you A. Thanks again for being my person.

Happy May 17th. Go visit MassEquality today.

A new pump

2006-04-24T15:43:00.000-04:00

I just saw that MiniMed has received FDA clearance on their new cgms sensor pump. Even though the Nurse tempered my excitement about the new cgms systems at my last appointment I find this pretty interesting.

I am planning on getting the "baby-ready" A1C (6.0) without the use of a cgms system. Until my last appointment - I had been looking at the sensor systems as to final step to the "baby-ready" A1C. But the folks at Joslin assure me that I can do it without the new technology.

But maybe by next winter.....

MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time

A young feminist's reading list

2006-04-12T16:38:00.000-04:00

A Book Meme from Julia. I am feeling pretty good right now- but then again I read the majority of these before I finished high school.

Instructions: Bold the ones you've read. Italicize the ones you've been wanting/might like to read. ??Place question marks by any titles/authors you've never heard of?? Plus I'm adding this, as Turtlebella noted that the choice of books by each author is a mite idiosyncratic: put an asterisk if you've read something else by the same author.

Allcott, Louisa May Little Women
Allende, Isabel The House of Spirits
Angelou, Maya I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Atwood, Margaret Cat's Eye
Austen, Jane Emma
??Bambara, Toni Cade Salt Eaters
??Barnes, Djuna Nightwoodde
Beauvoir, Simone The Second Sex
Blume, Judy Are You There God? It's Me Margaret
Burnett, Frances The Secret Garden
Bronte, Charlotte Jane Eyre
Bronte, Emily Wuthering Heights
**Buck, Pearl S. The Good Earth
Byatt, A.S. Possession
**Cather, Willa My Antonia
Chopin, Kate The Awakening
Christie, Agatha Murder on the Orient Express
Cisneros, Sandra The House on Mango Street
** Clinton, Hillary Rodham Living History
??Cooper, Anna Julia A Voice From the South
??Danticat, Edwidge Breath, Eyes, Memory
Davis, Angela Women, Culture, and Politics
??Desai, Anita Clear Light of Day
Dickinson, Emily Collected Poems
Duncan, Lois I Know What You Did Last Summer
DuMaurier, Daphne Rebecca
Eliot, George Middlemarch
Emecheta, Buchi Second Class Citizen
??Erdrich, Louise Tracks
Esquivel, Laura Like Water for Chocolate
Flagg, Fannie Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Friedan, Betty The Feminine Mystique
Frank, Anne Diary of a Young Girl
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins The Yellow Wallpaper
??Gordimer, Nadine July's People
**Grafton, Sue S is for Silence
Hamilton, Edith Mythology
Highsmith, Patricia The Talented Mr. Ripley
Hooks, Bell Bone Black
Hurston, Zora Neale Tracks on the Road
??Jacobs, Harriet Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Jackson, Helen Hunt Ramona
Jackson, Shirley The Haunting of Hill House
Jong, Erica Fear of Flying
Keene, Carolyn The Nancy Drew Mysteries
Kidd, Sue Monk The Secret Life of Bees
**Kincaid, Jamaica Lucy
**Kingsolver, Barbara The Poisonwood Bible
Kingston, Maxine Hong The Woman Warrior
??Larsen, Nella Passing
L'Engle, Madeleine A Wrinkle in Time
??Le Guin, Ursula K. The Left Hand of Darkness
Lee, Harper To Kill a Mockingbird
Lessing, Doris The Golden Notebook
??Lively, Penelope Moon Tiger
Lorde, Audre The Cancer Journals
Martin, Ann M. The Babysitters Club Series (Remember #3 where we find out that Stacey was a diabetic)
??McCullers, Carson The Member of the Wedding
??McMillan, Terry Disappearing Acts
??Markandaya, Kamala Nectar in a Sieve
Marshall, Paule Brown Girl, Brownstones
Mitchell, Margaret Gone with the Wind
Montgomery, Lucy Maudâ Anne of Green Gables
??Morgan, Joan When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost
Morrison, Toni Song of Solomon
Murasaki, Lady Shikibu The Tale of Genji
Munro, Alice Lives of Girls and Women
??Murdoch, Iris Severed Head??
Naylor, Gloria Mama Day
??Niffenegger, Audrey The Time Traveller's Wife
Oates, Joyce Carol We Were the Mulvaneys
??O'Connor, Flannery A Good Man is Hard to Find
??Piercy, Marge Woman on the Edge of Time
Picoult, Jodi My Sister's Keeper
Plath, Sylvia The Bell Jar
??Porter, Katharine Anne Ship of Fools
Proulx, E. Annie The Shipping News
Rand, Ayn The Fountainhead
Ray, Rachel 365: No Repeats
Rhys, Jean Wide Sargasso Sea
??Robinson, Marilynne Housekeeping
??Rocha, Sharon For Laci
Sebold, Alice The Lovely Bones
Shelley, Mary Frankenstein
Smith, Betty A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Smith, Zadie White Teeth
Spark, Muriel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
??Spyri, Johanna Heidi
Strout, Elizabeth Amy and Isabelle
Steel, Danielle The House
Tan, Amy The Joy Luck Club
??Tannen, Deborah You're Wearing That
??Ulrich, Laurel A Midwife's Tale
??Urquhart, Jane Away
**Walker, Alice The Temple of My Familiar
Welty, Eudora One Writer's Beginnings
Wharton, Edith Age of Innocence
Wilder, Laura Ingalls Little House in the Big Woods
Wollstonecraft, Mary A Vindication of the Rights of Women
Woolf, Virginia A Room of One's Own

It's a start.

2006-04-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

Massachusetts House Bill 4850

For a diabetes screening and outreach program to raise public awareness and provide outreach and education for high risk individuals, including, but not limited to, targeted populations of adolescents and the elderly..................$350,000

Yesterday, Massachusetts passed a comprehensive insurance coverage bill, H.4850. The quote above is one piece. I've been watching the developments for the past year. I think it's good. But we'll have to see what happens to diabetic coverage in the new plans that have been set up. Reason #236 to live in Massachusetts, we have great state mandated diabetic coverage.

The worry about this new bill is that insurance companies might be allowed to cut the diabetic coverage from new stripped down plans that they will be offering.

I'm only a couple of pages through the Bill. It's 146 pages, so give me a few days. Currently I don't even enough time to update the blog - but that's another story.

The Legislation Boston Globe
Massachusetts Sets Health Plan for Nearly All New York Times

On a related note. I am so tired. I have been spending the past few weeks in political discussions about personal issues, gay marriage and diabetes. I don't want to fight for test strips or my marriage license any more. But as I keep reminding myself, I have the ability to - and many do not. So here I am. Weary but fighting.

Thank you for allowing me my little emotional breakdown. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

They said I do and they're from Vermont*

2006-03-30T15:40:00.000-05:00

My license is legal.
Just one of the many reasons you'll never get me to leave here.
High Court Says NonResident Gays Cannot Marry in the State Boston.com
Massachusetts Court Limits Same Sex Marriage New York Times

*Full disclosure. I borrowed this blog title from A. back when she wrote the gay marriage blog for Boston.com.
5.19.04 "THEY SAID 'I DO' AND THEY'RE FROM VERMONT." The White Whale swam before him as the monomaniac incarnation of all those malicious agencies which some deep men feel eating in them, till they are left living on with half a heart and half a lung...he pitted himself, all mutilated, against it. All that most maddens and torments; all that stirs up the lees of things; all truth with malice in it; all that cracks the sinews and cakes the brain; all the subtle demonisms of life and thought; all evil, to crazy Ahab, where visibly personified, and made practically assailable in Moby Dick. (Chapter 41)

I'll return later in the day. I have a jam-packed travel schedule today, and I will keep Governor Copy Cop (Romney) informed of my movements. I didn't get a marriage license on Monday and I do live in Massachusetts, but if there's going to be a big chase scene, I want in. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/05/19/romney_eyes_order_on_licenses/

Please note that this entry was written before Misses E and A became Mrs. E and A.
We waited a whole year to legally tie the knot- no need to rush into anything.

Florence, Italy

2006-03-24T17:37:00.000-05:00

A little photo essay on my meter's tour of Florence.

Here's the pump. Ready to go.

Outside the Santa Croce Church. Machiavelli is buried in there. As is Galileo, given a tomb there long after he died, when the church managed to get over his "earth revolves around the sun" thing. The monument to him had to wait. And the official "gee, we're sorry" had to wait even longer.

On the steps of San Lorenzo. This was the family church of the Medicis, the dynasty that ruled Florence formally and informally for an eternity and pretty much funded the Renaissance. The outside looks unfinished because it is. Like most Medici projects, it was Michelangelo's. They had him running all over creation doing their work, and he never got around to applying the marble to the facade.

San Lorenzo is also home to the Chapel of the Medici Princes, and confirmation that there is such a thing as too much marble.

On the Ponte San Trinita.

The testing bag. I get a new one every few months to keep myself interested. This one may last longer, I'm kind of attached to it.

My favorite. Standing on the Ponte San Trinita, overlooking the Ponte Vecchio (lit translation Old Bridge) with a sugar in the 100's. Just.

* A note on the meter pictures. In an effort to work the D into our trip, I came up with a plan. I figured that if A. took pictures of me testing in front of major sites, I wouldn't forget it test. I am easily distracted, and when wondering down streets and among buildings that are 900 years old, the last thing I would want to do is stop and test. By making part of our photo tour- it made it less bothersome- and even fun .

The diabetic travel check list

2006-03-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

Just returned from a long overdue vacation. Florence and Venice, 11 days, and two girls who hadn't taken more than a long weekend together in the past few years.

As I worked on my packing list for our trip, I noticed a difference in my diabetic supply list.
300 Test Strips
3 Meters
6 Multiclix lancet drums
2 backup lancet devices, with lancets
5 bottles of Humalog
1 bottle of Lantus
30 needles
45 days worth of Pump Supplies
1 bottle of Ketone strips
100 Alcohol Pads
120 Glucose Tabs
3 bottles of Purell
I split this in between my carry on and my checked luggage. (Just in case something happened to either bag!)

During my trip to Ireland in 2001 - my diabetic list looked like this...
Couple extra bottles of test strips (Enough for a few days)
Extra pump supplies
1 extra bottle of Humalog.

Yup that's it. More interesting to note that I was in a foreign country to run a marathon - 26.2 miles - and I didn't bring glucose tablets, let alone any backup for a pump or meter malfunction.

It's nice to see how far I have come in the past few years.

Next post- the blood glucose meter tour of Italy.

Blogging in the blizzard

2006-02-12T19:46:00.000-05:00

As I am stuck inside, it's a good time to be caught at tag.

Four jobs I've had in my life.
1. Golf shop girl
2. Financial services at big custodian bank
3. Political fundraiser
4. Coffee barista

Four Movies I Won't Flip Past.
1. The Legend of Billy Jean
2. Grease
3. The Birdcage
4. Anything starring Doris Day

Four Places I Have Called Home.
1. Boston, MA
2. Cambridge, MA
3. London, England
4. The School Formerly known as Governor Dummer Academy

Four TV's Shows I Don't Miss.
1. Monk
2. Law & Order (any version)
3. News Night w/ Aaron Brown (Damn CNN)
4. Grey's Anatomy

Foods That I Can't Pass Up.
1. Milk Chocolate
2. Lobster
3. Anything A. is eating.
4. Latte (yes, I consider it a food)

Vacations.
1. St. Andrews, Scotland
2. Dublin, Ireland
3. P-Town, Cape Cod
4. Venice and Florence, Italy (in a couple of weeks)

Daily Reads.
1. New York Times
2. Wonkette (even with the two new guys)
3. Political Wire
4. Cute Overload

Places I Would Rather be.
I got nothing for this. I'm at home with my girl. What's better than that?

If you're snowed in - consider yourself tagged.

Another NYT diabetes story

2006-02-06T09:51:00.000-05:00

But this time it is one of hope. I noticed a lot of anger on the message boards from Type 1 diabetics who thought the Times did a poor job of explaining the difference. Maybe it is a nod to us.

I'm happy because it made A. absolutely ecstatic yesterday.

In addition to the happy piece there was a follow up editorial to the Bad Blood series as well.

Diabetic Brothers Beat Odds with Grit and Luck
Declare War on Diabetes

On a related note, NYT Select kills me. They are holding a broken ipod column hostage. I need to know that I am not alone.... but I am not going to pay 40 bucks for it.

Living next to ebola

2006-02-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

From today's Boston Globe.

The federal government gave final approval yesterday to Boston University's plan to build a high-security research laboratory in the South End, where scientists hunting for vaccines and drugs will work with some of the world's deadliest viruses and bacteria, such as Ebola, anthrax, and plague.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

To tell the truth, it's not the ebola, anthrax, and plague that I find upsetting. It's that our local Starbucks is already overcrowded from the BU med students. Good luck finding a place to sit now.

Maybe they'll direct some of those millions to d research. If I have to live with the plague- I might as well get something out of it.

Was it murder?

2006-01-30T13:26:00.000-05:00

I am not one to watch Dateline on NBC. But as I was flipping the channels last night I heard those words.

"Type One Diabetic."

So I stopped and watched - the whole hour.

A mother in NV is charged with the murder of her eleven year old daughter, Ariel. Ariel had Type 1 for eights years and died from ketoacidosis. Her A1C was 16.1 (and 15 months earlier 15-something.) When the mom finally took her in to the clinic her meter had two readings from the previous week.

The jury convicted on 2nd degree murder but the judge overturned the conviction. The prosecutor plans to go back to trial.

The whole story left me disgusted and sad.

And that women (I hesitate to call her a mother) should be locked away for a long long time.

The sad ipod

2006-01-24T11:52:00.000-05:00

Walking to work this morning this is what appeared on my ipod. Which was then followed by wrrr'ing and clicking. Not Good.

I was looking for an excuse to go out to the Apple Store to take a gander at the new intel Mac's. I probably could have found a better one than this.

At least I got to listen to Kerri's Diabetic Feed appearance before the pod went done.

And the band played on

2006-01-10T10:55:00.000-05:00

If there is one thing that really pisses me off, it’s bad public policy.

I am sure that the OC will have plenty to write about the current NTY series this week on the Type II diabetes crisis facing NYC (and the rest of the country). DiabetesMine has begun the conversation. Here's the beginning of my two cents.

The quote that stuck in my head yesterday

Yet for years, public health authorities around the country have all but ignored chronic illnesses like diabetes, focusing instead on communicable diseases, which kill far fewer people. New York, with its ambitious and highly praised public health system, has just three people and a $950,000 budget to outwit diabetes, a disease soon expected to afflict more than a million people in the city.

Tuberculosis, which infected about 1,000 New Yorkers last year, gets $27 million and a staff of almost 400.

I work in politics. I understand the disconnect between what government needs to do and what it can do. I get it.

The question.

How different is this from 20 million to fix the levees pre-Katrina or 2 billion to rebuild New Orleans today?

For a medical parallel go read/rent And the Band Played On.

Long run people...... Think about the long run.

Tag, I'm it.

2006-01-09T17:38:00.000-05:00

I was tagged a while back by Kerri. A little late is better than never.

Random Fact 1.
I am addicted to PandaCam. I check on that little ball of black and whiteness, Butterstick, each and every day. Sometimes I leave the Cam running all day on my work computer and periodically check in. Butterstick can make the darkest of day seem sunny and bright. For those of you who have not yet stumbled across the ‘stick yet, I am passing along the best of the panda links. Granted, I am a sucker for all things cute and furry. But according to last week’s NYT I am not alone.
PandaFix
Wonkette

Random Fact 2.
It is my secret desire to be some sort of artist; writer, photographer, dancer. Unfortunately my natural abilities lie in anything number based. I am a freak who can do standard deviation in my head. This whole blog thing started as an opportunity to work on my writing. I don’t think I am a horrible writer but I am not good - yet. (A. is a professional writer- so I do end up judging my work against a high standard. She blogged for Boston.com during the gay marriage debate back in ’04- and I am always amazed by her talent, intelligence, and wit.)

Random Fact 3.
I have a coffee obsession. I spent over a year deciding which
espresso machine I wanted in my kitchen. I ended up with my Francis Francis X1 and have been blissful ever since. I justified the expense by calculating how much money I would save by not hitting the Starbucks two to three times a day. (I detest Starbucks- but it really is the only decent coffee option in Boston. I’m looking forward to the new coffee bar opening on Newbury Street.)

Random Fact 4.
I am a good golfer. I think it is in my genes. Both my dad and grandfather are/were great players. I don’t play nearly enough (damn work) but I can still break 80 from the boys’ tees.

Random Fact 5.
After a food poisoning incident this summer I have become germ-a-phobic. I don’t know what the two have in common but I now imagine that there are giant germs waiting to attack behind every corner. But I always have antibacterial wipes and Purell on hand.

I am not sure whom to tag next. I think most of the OC has been it by now. Will get back to you on that one.

All I want for christmas

2005-12-23T12:15:00.000-05:00

is a low A1C.

For those of you who didn't read NYT yesterday (like me), a new study has come out on tight control and the decreased risk of heart problems.

Yet another reason to get the AIC down.

Speaking of which- I have to go cover the 300 bs that accompanied all those chocolate holiday presents that are floating around our office.

Note to self* Just because you ate one bite of chocolate doesn't mean you don't need to cover it- especially when all those little bites add up to one big bar of wonderfulness.

My early christmas present

2005-12-21T12:09:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I'm going to pick up my new transportation. An impulse buy after my little VW Golf came back from her checkup in need of more replacement parts. We have had a wonderful time together- but it is time for us to go our separate ways. (I'm am working really hard on trying not to personalize the car- but as those of you with VW's know- it's hard. They're just so damn cute.)

So tomorrow I will be the proud owner of a new Audi Avant (Audi speak for wagon). I think their sexy. I know that I am in the minority here - but there has always been something about a sleek sophisticated wagon that I find completely irresistible.

A.'s laughs at me. (But then again she is a two seat, rear-wheel drive, roadster girl.) We'll see what she says after a snowy commute in the new avant with quattro (Audi speak for 4 wheel drive.)

6 credits left

2005-12-14T21:23:00.000-05:00

wooo hoooo.

Finished my last exam for the semester. Now I am happily curled up on the couch, with a fire going, and indulging in a little seasonal egg nog. Maybe I'll finally get around to putting the lights on the Christmas tree, maybe not.

I am now 6 credits away from my Masters in Economics. I've been going part time for the past couple of years. If anybody has ever considered a economic degree from Suffolk in Boston - I am warning you - it's an evil program. Don't do it!

Ahh, but for now I am going to let the happiness of this frosty holiday season wash over me and just enjoy being a person. Maybe I'll also finally finish those 3 blog drafts I have sitting in my dashboard.

A1C

2005-12-05T11:40:00.000-05:00

Just had my doctor friend get my A1C results for me.

7.2

I am very happy right now. I was hoping to break an eight this time- but was guessing that I would be somewhere in the low eights- so this was a big surprise.

Yeah me.

(Anybody else notice how slow Joslin is with getting back your results? Don't they know that two days after the visit I am at my mailbox anxiously awaiting that letter.)

Diabetes is a family condition

2005-11-29T14:17:00.000-05:00

Even the oranage cat is checking out my numbers and looking for patterns.

Love is a new meter

2005-11-17T16:57:00.000-05:00

It's been a crazy week. 2006 budget due for work, economics exam, and two econometric assignments, and a Joslin appointment.

Ahhh.

Not to mention my computer fried my Paradigm meter last Friday as I was down loading my pump information for the impending Joslin appointment. Friday afternoon to be exact. No big deal- called BD and they shipped me a new one. But I needed a new meter to get me through the weekend.

On many diabetes websites, message boards, email groups, I heard a lot of complaints about the paradigm link meter. I was thinking about it as well. Not that it really gave me an problems- but have to say, I never really felt close to it.

Seemed like a sign to change. So I went back to a One Touch product, the UltraSmart.

I am in love again!

I should have never left the One Touch family. I still remember the amazement at moving from my first meter (Accu-Check II) to the original One Touch. No wiping, 60 seconds for a result. It was the greatest thing ever. Then the came out with the One Touch II. Made it even smaller, and faster, 45 seconds. I had it with me for four years of high school and three in college. It went all over England when I studied there. By the time I was finishing school, One Touch had out done themselves again. The FastTake. 5 Seconds- seriously! They had cut 1 minutes and 55 seconds in sugar testing. That's crazy.

Two years ago, Minimed replaced my trusty 508 with a shiny new 512 pump that spoke with their BD meter. I never really liked the new meter- but gosh, it talked to my pump. It had to be better, right? Nope. It had all these fancy features outisde of speaking ability, but they were far too much of a hassle to use.

In this brave new technical world, the one thing no had figured was how to make recording data easy. I have been carrying around sheets from the Minimed site for the past year. But if I can have a PDA and phone in one device (Treo 600) why can't I get my meter to record info as well? My pump recorded some stuff, but then I had to down load on the computer- and it is hard to read off the computer program. Why can't a meter be a log book that is easy to use?

One Touch did it, and I shouldn't be surprised. Meter happiness once again.

And to boot, I got a fancy new Kate Spade comestic bag to carry it around in. I am a whole new diabetic.

The question

2005-11-09T15:09:00.000-05:00

Why does it always happen that the week you go back to the gym your co-worker brings you back a cupcake from the best bakery in the metro Boston area?
(I had even managed to pass up free pie day at the State House on Monday.)

D Weight

2005-11-09T12:10:00.000-05:00

I went back to the gym Monday night. And it's been a long journey back.

In the spring of 2001, I found myself suddenly single. One day - POOF my social structure had disappeared. So I started to run.

I ran a lot. Joined a running club, made friends, ran a marathon for the American Diabetes Association, ran another just to prove that I could. The following spring I even put a toe into the dating pool.

One problem. My A1C was hovering around 12.

Then I met A., by far the luckiest day in my life. Not only would she end up as my wife but she also would be the one who healed my broken diabetic soul.

So here I am, three and a half years later, more in love than ever, A1C hovering in the high 7's, and 25 pounds heavier.

Everybody knows that relationships and marriage travel with about 10 pounds of nesting weight, but I also gained 15 pounds of what A. and I called diabetic weight. When running an A1C of 12, it's really hard to keep weight on.

That first summer of A., she had rented a little place in Ptown for the season. It would be the summer I finally got in touch with "queer eye" side. I was known to be a little preppy. A.'s first comment to friends about me, "Well, she wears a lot of pink." That summer, A. introduced me to the world of cool gay boy clothes and the Lilly stayed in the closet.

That would also be my last summer of wild blood sugars swings, ketones that would leave me feeling like hell all day, and day long periods of not testing.

But eventually the leaves started to fall, the A1C started to drop, and I became a nester. By next summer I had gone up a few pant sizes and my fun gay clothes stayed in the box under the bed. I've been through two summers now without my G-Star capri's.

It's really the only thing I miss about our first summer in Ptown.

So Monday, I was back at the gym and A. was there with me.
(A. is doing it for her back, I'm there for the D, and we're both there for the pants.)

Thanks, and welcome

2005-11-08T10:47:00.000-05:00

Thanks to both Six Until Me and A Shot in The Dark for their comments this morning. I was not expecting to be picked up so quickly. I find this whole DOC community amazing.

A little history. I was diagnosed in April of 1987 with Type 1, and brought straight to the Joslin DTU. For those of you who are new to the diabetes world- the DTU was an inpatient clinic at Joslin where you went for a week after diagnoses, to learn how to be a diabetic; nutrition, exercise, what is diabetes, how to give a shot, etc. To this day, I am sad that it closed down. It was almost like camp in the city. BTW- I too am a barton girl.

19 years later, I'm still here. Got married in May to a wonderful girl. We are a happy little family with two cats, and maybe someday soon, a new non-furry family member. Off to Joslin next week. A little nervous- I haven't been since early last spring. Appointments are so hard to get now. I called in May and the middle of November was the earliest available.

Shiny new things

2005-11-04T15:02:00.000-05:00

So far it's been a day in the ones.
92 - 7:30a
155 - 9:00a
167 - 12:00p
98 - 2:45p
Nine hours to go.

The problem arises in planning for Friday night activities. A. is getting her hair done tonight at Fanieul Hall, right next to the North End. The question arises - do we grab an early dinner there post hair? In the recent planning for our Italy trip I have been craving some really good authentic Italian food.

How do I maintain a really good sugar day with a great Italian meal? Do I trust that I'll cover right? Or do I chance it and over cover a bit with the possibility of sending my self low and starting to roller coaster? How important is my day in the ones? Do I hold my self back from something I really want to do?

It's note been a great diabetic week- thanks to Halloween candy? By skipping the Italian food I am not really depriving my self of anything- I had my fill of sugar raising food by Wednesday. Would scrap the North End plan if Capote was playing anywhere but the Boston Common theatre.

I fear I am getting a little over obsessed with the current fascination of my diabetic self. As A.'s has mentioned - I am like the orange cat. Something new and shiny will grab my complete attention for a period then I lose interest and really don't care that I have lost my new shiny toy under the piano.

Is this blog just a new shiny toy?

Update. I did end up in the North End for dinner- and it was wonderful. Went the over-covering route and ended up low. Thankfully, at that point, we were having after dinner coffee at Mike Pastries on Hanover Street. I treated the low with a large piece of Cheesecake. Yummm. And I managed a whole day in the ones!

Also- Went to see Capote Saturday night. Highly recommend it.

Low at starbucks ....again

2005-11-03T13:26:00.000-05:00

As I got to Starbucks this morning after my walk to work, I started to feel low. I think about 25% of my walks to work leave me low. (Note to self- test right before you leave the house.) Grab the OJ as I am ordering my latte. Still have a five minute hike up Beacon Hill to get to my office.

But it's Thursday. I am running late because it is cleaner day. Do I really have time to check and down the juice before heading out the door. I know it's the smart thing to do but it's 9:30 already. Then I think about it some more. I know I am dropping. I could just down the juice with no BS check and maybe save a minute. But I don't want to do that. Trying not to just cover lows- trying to be aware of what I'm doing.

My answer. Will check when I get to my office and drink the juice then. In the meantime I'll just have some of my latte on my way up the hill.

Course I felt like I was plummeting walking up the hill, shaky and over heated. But at least I was a couple of minutes earlier for work.

Sometimes the diabetic mind is a silly thing. Thanks A. for help keeping my perspective 95% of the time.

Take two

2005-11-02T14:32:00.000-05:00

Alright. I thought this was a good idea. Yet Another idea that I haven't followed through with. Maybe I just wasn't ready yet. I'm not much of a writer- one more thing to work one.

Here is how things stand today. Joslin appointment coming up on the 17th. Been keeping some records. Would love to have good details for the next 15 days.

I have also been looking at the New Omnipod. Would never leave the pump- but it could be nice to be untethered.

Anybody know if that is a word?

It's a start

2005-08-04T04:47:00.000-04:00

In yet another attempt to stay on top and interested in my diabetic care, I am trying a blog. Thanks for the idea Amy.....
Let's see if this works.

Looking for a new record system now- something to get me exciting in my records again. The best system I have found over the past year is still the sheets on minimed's website. Would love something that I could use as a simple log book on my Treo- but the best looking systems are only for Windows based machines. I look some more this afternoon. This is the only time it is hard to be a Mac girl.