From FatCatAnna

I went away for the weekend to visit some friends - the main reason for this trip was to go to the Renaissance Fair in Sterling, NY.  Road trips tend to throw my diabetes off abit, but since re-educating myself with how insulin works, and counting carbs properly, my carb filled w/e was actually quite successful (and I ate alot - including the Ninja burgers - on a low-carb bun mind you).  I'm still on a pump vacation, and with the few BG (blood glucose) tests (10 over a 72 hour period - usually it's alot more) I did when I had some time to do it,  I seem to be getting the hang of it with MDI (multiple doseage injections) - just like I was with the insulin pump. 



Below are replies to my Facebook profile page statement I made earlier today below for you to read.  I felt it worth reposting here on Diabetes1.org - to show the different opinions of diabetics who take control of their diabetes with either the pump or MDI. For those of you who aren't hooked up to me there and to respect the folks who are discussing, I have just used their initials for now. 

FCA (me) wrote on her profile page - Woke up to #bgnow 5.2 - pretty good - considering all the high carb foods I ate on the w/e - mananged to maintain pretty good blood sugars the whole w/e on MDI - pretty impressed I can do as well with D management on needles as I did on insulin pump :)

DJD - See ... I keep telling people they won't die without the pump. You're proof of the pudding - so to speak.

HS - Wonderful B/S ...DJD , yes, but she is more dedicated than most diabetics. Pumping for 7 years now and I still don't have quite the control she has.  I still awaken with 6's or 7's in the morning. The ODD morning will be 4's or 5's. If I went back to multi-dose daily... my BS would skyrocket!!! I believe that most diabetics are more like me.

DJD - Hi HS... with an A1C of 4.7-5.1 myself, I can tell you Anna's not alone in her success. I have other pumpless friends who do it as well or better than I - consistently, without passing out.

Your blood sugar doesn't have to skyrocket.  The amount of time I spend testing and taking small shots is miniscule and well worth the what - 15-20 total minutes per day spent on the effort. There are plenty of tricks of the trade that are not taught which can be employed to accomplish the task.

The point - those who can't afford or don't want pumps shouldn't be made to think the ONLY way to accomplish good blood sugar is to spend an inordinate amount of money and/or be connected to a tool. They shouldn't be told they are going to die without it. Not everyone has to have horrible experiences and can learn techniques and info that may prevent any further horrible experiences.

Which is what Anna did. She learned more. She tried different insulin. And now Anna's proven her point and I'm sure sooner or later she'll go back to the pump. But she too can now teach people techniques that do work. She doesn't have to say "when I was on MDI I had horrible control" and leave it at that. She's seen the other side - the success.

People do not have to fear multiple shots and glucose testing (one without the other does not work). MDI just doesn't have to be a bad experience the way some people portray it. If a person doesn't want to do it, well then I/we can't help. But if someone wants to put forth 15-20 minutes of effort a day, there are much less expensive ways to control blood sugar than a $5-6k pump.

Some of the other reason I'm not interested in a pump - anything attached to me, scar tissue potential (I don't have any now), relying on one type of insulin, pump failures, progressive insulin resistance the longer the tubing/pod is attached.

Thanks for listening to my explanation.

JD - Anna and others are to be commended. I love my pump. I have been pumping since January 2001. I am doing much better now that I am off Apidra and back to Humalog.

DJD - When you tried Apidra did you adjust your basal and bolus rates - for the increased speed? I use both Apidra and Humalog. Apidra is at least 15 minutes faster (peak) and finishes about 30 minutes quicker than Humalog.

I don't know if you're in the US or Canada but in the US Humalog is usually cheaper both $ per bottle and copay wise. So you're probably saving $ anyway.

FAT - DJD - JD lives in NY (I probably waved at his house yesterday as we scooted back to Canada).

Well, I have to still say - that even before the pump I still had good success on the MDI routine - I had to plead with my endo to go onto the pump - and in the end - went ahead without his approval (needed his signature). When it came time for me to plunk the cold hard $$$'s down - and my A1C went from regular 7% to 5.7% - and that's with next to no hypos like I had with MDI - then he signed - otherwise my insurance company wouldn't pay the 80%.

That said and done - for me - both pump / MDI work - and to me - being a "lifer" - I'm lucky in that aspect. I personally find MDI no more work then the pump - but I have to admit - the convenience of the pump is in the basal side of things - e.g. sleeping in which I rarely do. With MDI, you have to be abit more clockwork with the basal insulin (back to Lantus now - Levemir reaction was getting annoying). Now, I have experimented with not taking my Lantus/Levimir at the "correct" times - and so far - touch wood - no ill effects. Again, this works for me, and like HS says, maybe I'm more regimented (darn - should have been in the military ).

I'll be going back to the pump in a few weeks - for holiday time on the sailboat - but am not 100% about that even as I type this out - since this past w/e of unusual life style proved that even with all the junk food I ate (and it was good - salt potatoes smothered in butter - never had that before) - and lots of other high carbs - didn't effect my blood sugars with taking the correct amount of insulin - but of course - I'm sure I gained some weight :)

From FatCatAnna

Well, since starting Ginger Viera's 15 week weight loss challenge I've been having a few issues with trying to complete my 30 minute exercise every day due to low blood sugars in the morning.  I've managed to get in abit of exercise by parking the car further away from the store front (I've always done that - now I go ... further).  Last night I managed to get my hubby to go for almost an hours walk along the river, we haven't done that in years! Only thing I forgot to bring was my Dex4 since my blood sugar went down.

Also, I'm just trying to rethink how each little thing I do, can help burn off some of the foods I'm eating.  I'm using small hand weights every day (3 lbs) - nothing like Ginger does, but I'm pretty happy with the progress of building up muscles in my arms and upper back.  I need these muscles more then ever now for the bigger jib sheet I have to work with on our 30' sailboat  (I was cursing / grunting like a sailor on the w/e even with the 2 speed winches we have as we were tacking alot for practise).

Today, I decided to step on the old scale.  I've never been a big lover of doing this, as I often find my bubble gets burst.  I go more by how my clothing fits me, and how I feel.  I'm now at 150 lbs / 68 kg and I'm really amazed at this.  I've not weighted this low for a long time.  I've been fighting not to go over 160 since I'm not a tall girl (my endo said recently that I'm 5' 3 1/2" / 1.61 m - my GP said last year I'm 5' 4 1/2" / 1.64 - go figure that one out).  I know, it's only an inch / 2.54 cm - but it makes a big difference to me!

 
And since I won't have Internet useage on the weekend to write - as I'm heading off to the floating cottage - here's a little picture for all you Dad's out there - Happy Father's Day.  Don't do what the Fat Cat does below - and guzzle too much beer (it's got alot of carbs in it - belch).

From FatCatAnna

Recently I’ve been following Ginger Vieira on Twitter.  Originally it was due to the fact we live within a few hours of each other, and she’d commented about the upcoming Montreal Jazz Festival that I'd tweeted about.  From there, we connected, and I discovered that she’s not only a Type 1 diabetic like me, but also a power lifter and competed in a few national competitions over the years.  Imagine, dead lifting 315 lbs, squatted 265 lbs, and bench-pressing 187 lbs! Serious training and commitment needed for that!  Not only does she deal with diabetes, but also with Celiac disease , which means she has to eat a gluten-free diet.  Not easy in today’s world of over processed foods!

What is even better, is she is like myself, on MDI (multiple dosage injections) and managing very well with all the exercise she does (I feel lazy compared to what her daily work outs are).  She used to be on an insulin pump for 6 years, but after experiencing DKA (diabetic coma due to high blood sugars) – she decided to go back to daily injections – and so far – she has much better control.  Like she says, “

She started a mission a few weeks ago to lose 10 pounds by August 15th – you can find her blog here.  She put out a call to others to join her and a few of us have – among those are Sarah at Sarah Loses It, as well as Cherise aka Diabetic_Iz_Me who posts once in awhile here at Diabetes1.org and at Diabetes Daily.  We all have goals to lose weight and have better control of our diabetes.  Mine is to gain more muscle, which in the end will mean better insulin absorption and hopefully more level blood sugars (BG's).  Not sure if I can lose 10 lbs in such a short time, but I’ll be happy with whatever I can lose (remember muscle weighs more then fat).  It'll just be nice to do it with others that are trying to accomplish similar goals!

So far for myself – I started on Monday, June 7th – my initial weigh in is 152 lb / 69 kg and I’m trying to do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.  I try to aim to exercise with BG’s in the 100-200 mg/dl or 5.5-11 mmol/l.  Lately I’ve been fighting with BG’s in the a.m. of under 100 mg/dl / 5.5 mmol/l – when I have time to exercise.  I’ve managed to tweak my p.m. dose of Levemir to where I’ve woken up to good BG’s – so able to get in some cycling.  My food intake hasn’t really changed from before.  I try to eat no more then 120 grams of carb a day.  Due to another gum surgery, and being “forced” onto antibiotics, my appetite isn’t the greatest.  Main thing, I’m trying! I’ll be try to report back on a weekly basis each Monday with updates on how I’m doing.

So, anyone else wanting to join us?  Come on Summer Days are coming!!!

From FatCatAnna

I had written a blog last year in January 2009 about a wonderful organisation that takes seeing eye dogs from 4 months to 1 year – and retrains them to provide medical alert assistance to Type 1 diabetics (Dogs4Diabetes or D4D).

This came across my desktop the other day about a 7-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi who goes by the name of King Tut who can tell when his owner (Marilyn Pharo) ketones are going low.  He's saved his owner a few times when she's had low blood sugars (hypos).

I still can't get over how sensitive dogs are to smell (I thought I had a good sniffer myself). To be able to smell the difference in the ketones that admit from the body is incredible!  I wonder if cats can sense the same thing?  Mine have never tried to pry my eyeballs open when I'm having a low at night (they only do this for food at 6:00 a.m. aka Garfield style).

Animal Planet is going to be filming Marilyn and her trusty King Tut at their home in Cape May, New Jersey this month and their episode will air sometime in the Fall.  So check back at this link - Dogs 101 to see when it will play (I know I want to see this).

To read the rest of this wonderful story - go to this link (or paste the link in a new browser - http://www.14wfie.com/global/story.asp?s=12534920 ).

I wish my husband would let me get a dog ....

From FatCatAnna

First topic here is a semi-nonD subject to get you in the mood for what you about to read.  It involves a baby and stuffed toys (they weren't hurt seriously) – aka Iron Baby and with PWD blogger Kerri Morrone Sparling having popped a bun out of an oven recently I just couldn’t resist maybe suggesting her daughter call up Patrick Boivin (from Montreal) to ask him to put her in his next “flick”.  Even better, is the video he made of future of air travel – wait – where’s my pump supplies?

Okay now on to my continuing quest of the week as I figure out how to fix out my basal rate with my Lantus. I do love a challenge, oh yes I do!!!  I’ve been trying all this week to get help from my endo (endocrinologist).  Latest attempt today was sending a fax, trying to call a few times.  I’m getting his assistant saying a voice message, and no, they don’t take messages, just call back later.  I’ve tried this a few times, not succeeding.  I'm giving up, as I know they close up shop shortly, and on Fridays's they don't take calls.  Sigh.

During the night, as I did a basal test, pigging out abit on sweet things as I coped with BG’s in the 2-3 mmol/l (36-54 mg/dl) range.  My brain was just ticking away with how to figure out what to tweak with my Lantus shots I’m doing twice a day.  Many suggestions from people who presently are successful on MDI (multiple dosage injections), but alas, they use Levemir as they say Lantus gave them lows like I am experiencing.  Go back to my blog of last week and you’ll know why I’m back on Lantus again.  It seemed to be serving me well before, but now I’m facing these fun brain challenging lows.  Sometimes I think being high – 8-10 mmol/l (144-180 mg/dl) - range isn’t maybe so bad.

Today, I decided that there must be an overlap in when the Lantus meets up with the previous shot.  I’m not exactly doing 12 hour segments – it’s more like – 23h00 and 09h00.  As I type this up, my basal is not working; I’m in the 13 mmol/l (234 mg/dl) range.  I could handle 8 mmol/l (144 mg/dl) but 13 is a bit high for me, and it’s way past when I ate and gave my shot of NovoRapid.

So, today, I’m going to post this blog in all the D forums I belong to and see if I can get any help/comments from experienced MDI folks.  I know you are out there!  Any suggestion is helpful, as I try to figure out what’s up with these morning lows (and yes, I have a snack before hitting the hay – endo had told me to do this with Lantus – never did this when on the pump).  I swear I’m going to gain weight after going MDI – but it’s all for the cause man – all for the cause – as I figure out a way to make this MDI experiment of mine work.  I have to admit, I really don’t miss being attached to a machine 24/7 – just wish I could have as good control as I did with the pump!

 Help! I need somebody – anyone?