Site Unseen.
I went home for lunch (my commute is six minutes – have I mentioned that I love my job?) and enjoyed a sandwich and an ice cold glass of milk. Terrific. Bolused a few units for the meal. Put the dishes in the dishwasher away, entertained the cats with a hair tie for a few minutes, and then drove back to the office.
Staring at the computer screen, I noticed that the letters were leaping all over the place. “For your diabetes life” looked like it was trying to scuttle across the top of the screen. If I spied weights attached to each individual finger, I wouldn’t have been surprised. My eyes were aching and dry. I rubbed them with the back of my fist and reached for my water bottle, guzzling down half of it in one breath. I felt Grade A crummy.
“Oh for crying out loud,” I half muttered to myself as I sat at my desk and tried to make sense of the recipe pages in front of me. “I’m definitely frigging high.”
I pricked my finger and the droplet of blood formed, thick like syrup, on the tip of my index finger.
366 mg/dl.
The groan escaped me involuntarily. Ugh, that’s so high. How did I end up that high?
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my insulin pump discreetly. Too sluggish to calculate the math myself, I listened intently to the bolus wizard as it boop beep booped out a few units for me. I tucked the pump back into my pocket and resumed staring aimlessly at my computer screen.
I smelled the dentist-ish, Band-Aid smell first. Then I noticed that the spot near my outer thigh, where my infusion set was stashed, felt a little damp. Hoping no one would walk by and see me with my hand down my pants, I reached in and felt my thigh for the site hub.
The little sucker was loose. Not connected to my body. The tubing must have swiveled around and tugged the site loose sometime over the last hour or so. Probably just in time to miss my lunchtime bolus, leaving me at this sticky 366 mg/dl.
I reattached the tubing to the hub and re-bolused. “Gotcha now, you pesky high.” One of the marketing people strolled by and I pretended I was on the phone instead of talking to my infusion site.
An hour later- 184 mg/dl.
“About time. You’d better stay connected now,” I threatened my thigh. The marketing person walked by as I stared admonishingly at my leg.
Comments
You always make me laugh!
I just had that happen last night. Wondering why in the heck I was guzzling ice tea like it was going out of style when all I had for supper was a pork chop.
397, will do it to ya every time. Grrrrrr.
Posted by: floreksa | November 21, 2006 05:00 PM
Well, I have been pumping for what, 2 months?
This has happened to me 2 times, except that I haven't noticed a smell or a wet spot.
I easily get parnoid about it now, so if my reading is elevated at all, I check the connection.
It's funny how the insulin only gets in if the tubing is connected to the hub...well, sorta!
Posted by: Johnboy | November 21, 2006 05:16 PM
I have been lucky and have not had this sitch come up but will be weary!
thanks for the heads up and who doesn't talk to their thigh now and then?
Posted by: George | November 21, 2006 05:18 PM
Damn I hate when that happens.
Posted by: art-sweet | November 21, 2006 06:16 PM
Kerri- I just love the way you describe high as "sticky". It works both literally and figuratively and I smile each time you use it that way :)
Posted by: jill. | November 21, 2006 09:50 PM
Ug. You sure came down nicely though!
I swear, it takes me HOURS to come down from something like that. And it's so hard to function. Who was it that recently mentioned "Instalin"? You know, Instant Insulin?
Posted by: Scott Johnson | November 21, 2006 10:30 PM
well im glad that you were ok in that sense... is that the first time something like that happened? anyways again im glad that your blood sugar went back to normal. Ill talk to you soon ... miss you lots ...your sister love ya
Posted by: Courtney | November 22, 2006 12:13 AM
I'm sorry, I just can't get beyond the fact that you have a six minute commute. Yes, I'm glad your blood sugar came down, but SIX MINUTES!
Posted by: Carey | November 22, 2006 09:29 AM
I think you handled that whole situation very smoothly indeed.
I don't think you're allowed to call it a "commute" if it only takes six minutes. That's more of a...erm, amble. You have a six minute amble to work, and I, the sweaty-Tube using commuter, am most jealous.
Posted by: Kieran | November 22, 2006 10:43 AM
Court - Welcome to the blog, kiddo. I'm glad your hick ass finally scored some internet. :)
Carey - Six minutes. Two exits on the highway. And I drive like a maniac. I think I could get it down to five if I really risked my life. ;)
Kieran - I enjoy my morning amble. And the amble home is pleasant, as well. How long does it take to get to your office on the YourTube?
Posted by: Kerri. | November 22, 2006 11:13 AM
*touches wood*
that's never happened to me. just pesky kittens chewing through my tubing.
Posted by: vicki | November 22, 2006 12:44 PM
Hi, I had to say something to you. I am 54 going on 29 and I have had diabetes since 1962. I love your blog and ofcourse I can relate to everything you have to say about maintaining your Insulin Pump and the cost of supplies. Keep up the entertainment and good health.
Posted by: Janet Morrone | November 28, 2006 06:46 PM