From FatCatAnna

Okay – I’ve got the tune (a remake from Le Braghe Corte a great SKA/punk band) going thru’ my head right now as I type this out.  Today is Day 3 of being on a pump break due to having some issues with high blood sugars the last week.  It has been a relearning experience with going back to MDI (multiple dosage injections) after almost 3 years of pumping insulin.  I’ve now got my basal rate of insulin (Lantus every 12 hours) sorted out and today haven’t had to do any corrections with NovoRapid in-between my meals (aka bolus).  I do inject for the amount of carbs I’m going to eat of course!! 

Now, this may all change as I’m seeing my endocrinologist on Thursday to get permission to go on Levemir, which thru’ the grape vine of other PWD’s is better at keeping the blood sugars more level, as 3 shots can be done during the day with this insulin.  Also, as my friend Doris Dickson pointed out, when I have to do a basal test with Levemir, it’ll be a shorter span of time then with Lantus. Sweet!  Though I'm not quite up to that point yet to do a basal test.

So, what am I enjoying right now?  I went clothing shopping for a skirt after seeing a woman in line at IKEA wearing a cute little denim skirt.  I asked her where she got it from, and viola, I was on a mission.  Shopping is something I really don’t like to do unless it’s food shopping.  Strange thing for a woman to say, but it’s never been high on my “what to do with myself today” thing (I’d rather be walking thru’ the woods, or by the ocean, or motorcycling thru’ the mountains).  Of course, my husband is probably very happy I’m this way, as he counts the pile of money under the bed at night.

The thing that was special today, not wearing my pump.  When I’ve gone shopping for clothing it’s always a drag having to unclip the pump, tuck it somewhere safe, while I try on various clothing.  Today my hands went to my waistband, and then I remembered … “no pump”.  All I can say is, I did quick changes, found what I wanted.  Bing, bang, boom – flash of the credit card – sold to the Happy Customer (who also got the skirt of sale – whoo! Haa!)!

So, after spending ½ the day just loafing around (haven’t done this in awhile).  My blood sugars have stayed on average between 4.7 - 7.0 mmol/l (85 – 126 mg/dl).  The only thing I have found with MDI, because of eating breakfast late (10:15 – and I usually eat at 8:00 – 9:00) due to my friend I think I have to be more diligent with eating meals at the correct time.  This was something I found I had more flexibility with when on the pump.  

Off to try on my new skirt and show off my hairy legs!  Oh I’m one happy girl!

From WestIslandDiabetesAssociation

The Canadian Diabetes Association guidelines suggests a blood glucose of 10.0 mmol/L (180 mg/dl) or less 2 hours after a meal (this target should be 8.0 mmol/L or less if you are not reaching your A1C target of 7.0 or less). Reaching this target after breakfast may be difficult because often this meal contains food with a high glycemic index. Examples of high glycemic index foods are: white bread, white bagel, Cheerios, Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies. Alternative low glycemic index choices would be 100% stone ground whole wheat bread, heavy mixed grain bread, pumpernickel, All BranTM, Bran Buds with PsylliumTM and Oat BranTM. More information about glycemic index and reference charts are found at http://www.carbs-information.com/glycemic-index.htm.

It is important to make sure that your breakfast is balanced and contains some protein and (good) fat to help slow down the absorption of the carbs and provide proper nutrition. Some suggestions are low fat yogurt, peanut butter, almonds, egg and cheese. For more information consult your dietitian.

Some authorities are suggesting to bolus about 20-25 minutes before eating breakfast as this would give the rapid acting insulin some time to start acting as blood glucose rises from these easily digested carbs. 

From FatCatAnna

I've got Baby It's Cold Out There  - a classic -  playing in the background as I type this out to you.  If you want the full effect of my scribbles below, click on the link, and enjoy the soothing voice of Dean Martin.

We're not getting the cold temperatures that Alberta is getting at present (-37C / -35F tonight for some of them - brrhhhh), but here in Montreal we are having unusually cooler temperatures then we usually do that this time of the year.  Usually February is when we hit the deep freeze of temperatures like this.  Anyone want to buy an island property in the sunny Caribbean with me?

Joking aside, all I know is that tonight, by accident, I left my blood monitor (I use the Freestyle Lite) in the side pocket of my little Smart when I went to see the movie 2012 (excellent movie - despite the critics reviews).  When I came outside a few hours later, to make sure I had bolused for the right amount of insulin for the nutritious dinner of "popcorn" - duh - meter not functioning!  This has happened to me once before, last year, and you would think I wouldn't do the same thing again! Scream!! At least I remembered what I did last time this happened to me, stuck the little monitor inside of my pants (plush tummy area <lol>).   Yuppers, that was the warmest place on me at the time as the theatre for some reason was cold. I was huddled with my down filled jacket on top of me, after pigging out on the popcorn of course!

Fifteen minutes later, the monitor was up and running again, but I seriously have to start bringing a handbag with me (I am not a lover of those things as some of you know),  to bring my medical supplies with me, even if it's for a few hours.  I must learn to be a real woman!

I know one thing I have to look into getting, is another blood monitor, as I only have the one.  That scares me sometimes that my current monitor may go on the fritz, at a time when I can't dash out to purchase another one.  Note to self - talk to the pharmacist  this week to see how to obtain another one, hopefully for free, since I go thru' an average of 10 strips a day ($1 / strip). I should own stock in Johnson and Johnson!

So, take care and stay warm everyone!  Winter is almost here, it starts officially December 21st!!! Ho! Ho! Ho!

From FatCatAnna

Back in my clubbing days of the 80's (am I aging myself here? ) - Freak Out was the chic song to dance to!  Right now, this song is going thru' my head as I try to cope with having low blood sugars since basically the last few days.  Add to the top of my problems with having a computer shutting down on me at its will as I try to type this out to you.  It's another Freak Out, as my bread and butter depends on a functioning computer and just trying to cope like a normal human being. Scream!!  Who said diabetics lead an easy life, wait, wasn't that me at the IDF World Diabetes Congress, spreading the gospel truth of life with diabetes is easy ... NOT!!!!

I thought at first this was due to my having the H1N1 vaccine yesterday.  I've heard other diabetics having to cope with high blood sugars due to the vaccine, and of course, I seem to be the odd one out (why should that not surprise me one bit) in experiencing low blood sugars.

Well, so far, no curly pig tail has developed with my having the vaccine.  I'm feelling fine, except for having to deal with life as a space cadet and at the same time, function as a normal human being.  I am NOT happy.  It's day like this that I wish I had an endo or medical team at my finger tips that understood what we diabetics go thru', and also someone that understands a diabetic on a pump.  Scream!

So, I am now going to go and test my BG.  It's not something I really have to do, as I know I'm low, again, but I'm just curious as to what number I'm sitting at, after having food to eat, again. It doesn't seem to really bring me up much past 5.0 mmol/l -which is fine, but then I'm back down to 3.0 mmol/l range again, and that's without any insulin!  This is not fun when I'm spinning the roulette wheel of life with trying to figure out, what the heck is causing me to use very little insulin at meal times, snack times, whatever times!  What is freaking me out more is that 'm going on holidays in a few weeks, where I use less insulin.  I want to remember this holiday without having continual episodes of lows and going into la-la-land!!!  Scream (please note - I am not a screamer - it's just appropriate at the moment for my frustratiion).

Any advise is much appreciated, as I try my best to cope with this latest curve ball in the life of a diabetic, looking thru' a semi haze here (thank goodness I can type without looking at the keyboard or screen).  Wait, maybe I'm no longer needing as much insulin after 42 years with this disease???Maybe I've been cured by the H1N1 vaccine???

From FatCatAnna

I left the laptop behind on my recent trip to Washington, D.C. and then when we came back home for repacking for sailing - still did not touch the PC. I actually thought I would be foaming at the mouth wanting to switch on my computer - but just being away from all the technology that is involved in our lives these days was oh so nice. Except, when I think about it - I was still hooked up to Antonio (my pump) - so I guess I wasn't on 100% cut off - though no Twitter, no Facebook, no Tudiabetes, or Diabetes1 - accchhhh!!!

I never got the chance to meet up with Cynthia Kahn - due to a 24 car pile up on the highway coming thru' Maryland that took 2 hours to get by - even on a 4-lane highway. I took a picture of my BG reading at the time - as we were stuck in an unairconditioned car (Smart behaved otherwise mechanically very well averaging 60 miles to the gallon). I'll post that picture and others later (it read 7.7 - not bad for being stuck in a car for 8 hours).

During our stay in Washington, where we walked and walked and walked (I love to walk - unfortunately I think my in-laws needed some R&R after being with us). I had to reduce my basal rate on my pump to 60% - and am curious if this has happened to anyone else where your carb ratio changes. Instead of my usual 1:13 - it changed to 1:20! I realised something was up when I was starting on my 3rd container of Dex4 (and starting to panic that I didn't pack enough for the trip) - and having bolused for food prior to that - that something wasn't quite right. After that I ignored the suggested amount and shaved off abit to stop any further hypos. To be on holidays - and trying to appear "normal" around people as you are fighting with your brain/body is so embarrassing (sort of like being drunk on alcohol as I'm sure you are all nodding away at this remark).

What was the highlight of our trip was going to the National Museum of Natural History to see "Night At The Museum - Battle of the Smithsonian" on the IMAX screen - and experiencing yet another hypo - while the little singing cherubs in the movie that I realised quite suddenly, even in the state of mind that I was, were the Jonas Brothers singing away. How funny is that? Having an insulin pumping cherub staring/singing down at you - while you fiddle with a juice box in the dark (managed to get that thru' security) - and then tweak your insulin pump basal settings!

Overall, great place to visit - just disappointed I never met up with the president!