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!

From FatCatAnna

Well, I have finally had to start using my forearms full time for testing my BG's this week.  I find now since I've started taking my diabetes abit more seriously after having it for so long - that I've become slightly addictive to blood testing. Okay, not to the point like one of my fellow bloggers here does (Doris Dickson) - but let's just say a wee bit more then I used to do when I was multiple injecting.

I average about 8 times a day for testing - and lately have been finding that my sausage fingers (aka Porky Pig fingers) - are getting abit thick skinned.  I actually had to adjust my vampire blood letting contraption to a deeper depth.  Sometimes that didn't get enough blood out of my finger tip for my blood meter that uses the teeniest tiniest droplet of blood.  I think  pricking my finger is worse then needles - as I'm sure some of you can vouch for!

A few nights ago I was up every hour - testing my basal settings on my pump as I was experiencing unusual high BG's when I woke up (15 mmol/l  -  270 mg/dl).  Anyway, discovered where the adjusting of my basal settings needed to be changed on my pump - and so far - I'm back to having BG's in the morning that allow me to at least have a breakfast.  I tend to not eat when my BG's are high in the morning as I don't usually feel like eating when I'm that high.  To have to bolus/inject with not just insulin to cover my elevated BG but also my meal I'm consuming freaks me out - as I average about 2-3 units per meal when my BG's are normal (4.5 mmol/l - 81 mg/dl).  To bolus/inject anymore freaks me out when I'm high.  To think that much insulin is pooling up under my skin - shudder.  So far, I'm very lucky that my carb ratio to insulin is still relatively good (I average 1 unit of insulin to 13 grams of carb) - but have friends that that are 1:5.  Ouch, I can't imagine the amount of insulin that I'd be taking to cover both a carb and BG correction!

I don't think it helps that I'm doing alot of gardening - and loath wearing gardening gloves.  Therefore, the earth really dries out my skin on my finger tips (clay based soil where I live -  mini-hand facial ). So, I'll continue testing on my forearms until my finger tips become abit more soft and pliable. 

From FatCatAnna

   Well, before I start on my latest bit of dribble to you - the good news on my insulin pump with the delivery message on the weekend - has all been sorted out.  Animas was very surprised that there had been no help for me when I called (they have taken note of what happened).  They were even more surprised I was able to sort through the problem on my own - since usually it is a problem that must be dealt with through their tech department.  They told me I should apply for a job at Animas here in Canada.  I may just do that - but now that I'm starting on another adventure in my “Jill of All Trades " type of work I do - I'm wondering .... "How many jobs can a person have?".  I do love a challenge though - makes life more interesting - and keeps me on my toes.

   My latest adventure in life is going to start next Monday - working in a quaint little cafe in the village of Pointe Claire here in Quebec a few days a week - called Cafe Marmelade. The owner, Eleanor Arless, a Type 1 diabetic like myself, offered me a job the other day when I brought a friend in for a coffee and nibbles.  I am so excited since I love to bake  and create healthy wholesome food for my family and friends.  Now I can learn off of a pro - since she beats me hands down with her tasty breads and sweet baked treats (have sampled a few)!

   Besides working there - I'm going to be helping Eleanor with learning how to carb count - so she doesn't experience all the ups and downs she's been having with her BG's (not fun if  you're wielding a sharp knife at the time).  She isn't very aware of how much insulin she requires for the amount of food she eats which I can relate to.  About 5 years ago - I started to figure out how much insulin I required to shoot up with in order to cover the food I was eating.  Now with the pump - because it's a more precise way of giving insulin - I had to tweak my skills of carb counting a little bit more. Along with the handy programming that I have set up in the pump I’m all set.  Remember though you are still the brains behind what amount of insulin goes into your body with the pump – it only “suggests”.  It was abit annoying in the beginning having to know the "exact" amount of carbs I was going to inhale - but in doing so - it's helped me to have fewer lows - and not do the roller coasters ride of shooting up high.

   One thing Eleanor has recommended to me - for treating hypos - is to mix maple syrup with some water. She vouches that it doesn't rebound afterwards shooting her BG up high.  I'm going to give this a try next time I have a hypo here at home (who carries a jug of maple syrup with them in their purse?).  I may have to buy maple syrup from her since it's a wee bit expensive due to supply and demand.

Bon Appetite!

From Richard1

Trying to keep focased is getting harder all the time after 10 years you just hope it will all go away anyone have the same feelings

From jessbaby

One of the hardest things about being an exhibitor I think is learning not to take things personally when someone says they don't want what you're offering, they don't even want to hear or think about it or take one of your flyers, even if you're offering a chance to win a Nintendo Wii. We're not demons you know, we just think this is a good thing and we want to bring it to your attention.