At first glance, I manage my diabetes using an insulin pump from Tandem Diabetes Care, a continuous glucose monitor from Dexcom, Humalog insulin, and either the mySugr meter kit or a Freestyle one. All of these items require prescriptions and $$$ and involvement from my clinicians. But there’s a number of items that are used regularly to manage my diabetes,…
Non-Billable Hours: The Diabetes Stuff That Doesn’t Have Copays
Blood Sugars, Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Products, Diabetes Videos, Real Life Diabetes, Robot LifeWhat’s in the baaaaaaag? C’mon … what’s in the bag? Yep. This little bag is with me at all times. All. Times. My daughter picked it out years ago and I’ve been dragging it around the world with me since, housing essentials for my diabetes management. Meter, test strips, lancets, lancing device, an insulin pen in case of pump failure,…
At 4 am, when I woke up to hang out with my little apple jack to feed him, my blood sugar was 108 mg/dL. He ate and we both went back to bed. When I woke up at 6.30 am, my blood sugar was somehow 221 mg/dL. What the hell happened?! Usually, breastfeeding makes my blood sugar drop, not rise….
I love sleep. But I did not love sleep while Chris was traveling for work these last few weeks. Mostly because I did not sleep. From the middle of September to last week, my husband was away for work. He came home three times for 24 hours apiece, which meant that we missed him terribly. And it also meant that…
It started out innocently enough. Just a wiggly little drop before bedtime with a bit of insulin on board, so the need for snacking was elevated. With .8u IOB. Snacktime. #diabetes A photo posted by Kerri Sparling (@sixuntilme) on Nov 3, 2015 at 8:32pm PST A small handful of raisins and I’m on my merry way. No worries! But then…
You Don’t Look Like You Should Have Diabetes.
Blood Sugars, Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Real Life Diabetes“And this, too, please,” I said, sliding the opened and half-consumed bag of gummy candies across the counter, my hands shaking. This low was bad. The symptoms were very visible, with unsteady hands and knees that were buckling out and sweat beading up on my forehead despite the 40 degree weather outside. I knew I was the color of a…
Diabetes Awareness Month is almost over, closing out on November 30th. Throughout the month, I’ve watched some really inspiring efforts take flight to raise awareness for diabetes, including the Project Blue November campaign. Project Blue November has been a big part of my Facebook feed throughout the month, showcasing photos of advocates and celebrities alike sporting their blue circle pin….
Chronicle. (See also: #dayofdiabetes)
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes and Emotions, Diabetes Online Community, Psychosocial Support, Pumping Insulin, Real Life Diabetes, SUM in Other Places(Chronicle was a movie from a few years ago that I actually liked very much, even though it god a little crazypants towards the end. Still, a quality film, IMO.) But today’s post is not about that movie. It’s about chronicling a day with a chronic condition. For Diabetes Awareness Month, I’m taking diabetes awareness to task by documenting the…
What A High Blood Sugar Feels Like.
Blood Sugars, Diabetes Advocacy, Psychosocial Support, Real Life DiabetesThe American Diabetes Association cites the following symptoms as indicative of high blood sugar: High blood glucose [Editor’s note: Duh] High levels of sugar in the urine Frequent urination Increased thirst And if high blood sugar goes untreated? “Hyperglycemia can be a serious problem if you don’t treat it, so it’s important to treat as soon as you detect it….
Today’s Diabetes Month Photo-A-Day prompt is “check.” And seeing how different my Dexcom result is from my meter proves why it’s still important for me to check my blood sugar instead of relying on the information from my CGM. (Also, you can’t see the “blood drop” request for calibration because the overhead light flushed it out, but this Dexcom sensor…
National Diabetes Awareness American Month Diabetes … Month?
Diabetes Advocacy, Diabetes Community, Diabetes Online Community, Real Life DiabetesIt’s National Diabetes Month, according to the President. And American Diabetes Month, according to the ADA. It’s Press Release Inundation Month, according to people who work for companies looking to connect with the diabetes community. But for people living with diabetes, November. And it’s also our chance to raise more awareness for our health condition/disease/whatever you’d like to call it….