Dear Santa
,It's late,& my tired brain is running on East Coast brain in a West Coast world so I shall attempt to be brief. All I want for Christmas is a cure,but in the absence of that, a sparkly Tandem Tslim/G5 Dexcom duo would get my heart pumping. Or Afrezza,(inhaled insulin)which I would utilize when I had a high that I wanted to get down very quickly. Or mini-dose glucagon,which would also be shelf stable & a one step process. Or a mn Artificial Pancreas that would keep my blood sugars on a much more even keel.(been there,got the tshirt) Or a test strip disentegrator...or a 3D printer that "prints"test strips. All of th...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - December 23, 2014 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Dear Fellow PWD
Dear Person With Diabetes,I am you. I have lived with this disease for almost 16 years..I have highs, I have lows. I know that this struggle is very,very real. I hate it,as you do. I know that it doesn't lend itself to "control." But I need to tell you something, the rest of America seems to be a bit confused on all things diabetes.(No, insurance does not always cover "necessities." Grrrrr.)We, the people who actually sometimes give a darn,know things. We know that strips can be wildly inaccurate, we know that it's entirely possible to go from 80 to 30 in less then 15 minutes, we know Your Diabetes May Vary. We know t...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - August 18, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Owning the Number
" This your number. Now own your number." That's what TV extreme weight loss guru Chris Powell tells each of the people stepping onto the scale for perhaps the first time in years. They are scared and ashamed. They cry. And they hate,hate,hate their bodies and themselves (and him)and that life could get to that point.But that number is a starting point in their journey,and they take that number and work towards making it lower. They must feel like it's impossible and sucky and there are a thousand million reasons (this is sounding so,so familiar...I am so the Queen of diabetes excuses)WHY their weight is 300 lbs but Chr...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - July 30, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
A Matter of Spine
Last week, I went to the chiropractor..despite my feelings that they are kind of snake oil medicine people.(one would think that they'd be learning something during those 4 years...they are "doctor" after all) But anyhoo, I went, because I have been ignoring my back for years..in hopes that it would just eventually magically get back in shape.(This is really NOT a good idea, much like ignoring your teeth and never getting to a dentist is..problems just cascade from there.) But I finally decided that if there were a chance NOT to have to live the remainder of my days with shooting,burning pain..well,it was worth a shot. Yea...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - July 25, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Summer Dayz
Still here, still kickin.' Summer is flying by..and we still haven't made it to a beach. We have made the annual "Trip to the Zoo" and the "Trip to the National Aquarium" though. (During the three weeks that my MIL came to visit.) Whereas last year young J wouldn't even look at an animal, this year he got more into things...petting the goats at the petting zoo, pointing to the birds, and baaaaing at the goats. He is still a toddler,and would far rather run around (sans protective hat) screaming "Runnnnnn" at the top of his lungs but it's nice that he's actually interacting more now.I finished up a summer course to requalif...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - July 22, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
FFL: Touching the Elephant
There's this common misperception that CWD friends for life is just for kids with diabetes,and their families.But it's so much more complex then that. FFL is many things to many people,depending on your social 'sphere.If you grew up with it,you are pressed into service for free labor.(as a young adult)If you are a sponsor,it's an excuse to go out with your buddies at the end of the day & unwind at the hotel bar.If you are in the DOC (blogger,etc.) it's a place of great support & one of the few places where everyone else is just like you.If you are a parent, it's where you find support,and knowledge,to help you in your figh...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - July 9, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Gone with a G
"It's not about me."Except it was,darn it. My nephrologist had announced his retiring intentions via mail,and there was no going back..only forward."I want to find someone who is good for you,& your set of rather unique issues."And so,we talked. (At my last appt.)We talked about my magnesium issue,the diabetes,the Vit. D (where he dropped a rather potent analogy comparing my taking a few Vit. D pills to sipping a drop of water for dehydration),the upcoming gastro appt,the possibility of Celiac(doubts it),this,that,the other. He is leaving the practice to take care of personal issues and won't be back (he's also getting old...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 21, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
The Celiac Connection
Last Saturday, a T1 friend and I drove to TCOYD in DC. I've been under the impression that one either had celiac(or not) for quite some time now. Since I've tested negative several times for antibodies, I've assumed I don't have any problems. But at Friends For Life last year, they were doing HLA genotyping(along with antibody testing) which I participated in. Last month, that test came back positive which means I have the genetic susceptibility for the disease.(as does my offspring) I had J tested(amid the eye rolling of the pediatrician),and he is currently antibody negative.(to get the genetic test done I'm pretty sure ...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 10, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
The YoYo Effect
Up. Down. Up. Down.Such is the flow of life with type 1 diabetes,and it can be wearing at times. Especially as the days turn to months,the months turn to seasons,the seasons turn to years,the years turn to decades."Are we there yet?"We are a long way from being "there", a long way from anything resembling a cure. Slamming the door on hope is a hard thing to do,but I think we can at least hope that things will get better in our lifetimes.(in terms of diabetes treatments) And maybe,a cure. But having another condition for which most of the world has never heard about let alone have any interest in,the concept of having that ...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 1, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
The Magnesium Wars
When you get dxd with diabetes,food goes from being food to being a collection of carbohydrates,proteins,and fats.(the same, I imagine,with any GI related illness) When you have problems with maintaining electrolytes food turns into a collection of potassium,magnesium,etc.The above photo shows four types of magnesium supplement..as with insulins,not all supplements are created equal. Magonate is the rapid-acting,chug it down and in 2-3 hours your acute symptoms with subside,stuff. Slow Mag is the gentler on the stomach stuff(kind of like UltraLente-longgggg curve of action) and Milk of Magnesia is just there to get things ...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 21, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Dblog Week: Saturday Snapshots
(I guessed 80. I was wrong.)(Tandom Twins!!)(a history of old pumps)(Bad day.)(I hope.)When Mommy has diabetes.Splenda crop circles.Low treatment.Sale at CVS.Or waddle.And don't forget it!!!-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone (Source: The D-Log Cabin)
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 17, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Dblog Week: Diabetes Life-Hacks
Share the (non-medical) tips and tricks that help you in the day-to-day management of diabetes. Tell us everything from clothing modifications, serving size/carb counting tricks to the tried and true Dexcom-in-a-glass trick or the “secret” to turning on a Medtronic pump’s backlight when not on the home-screen (scroll to the bottom of this post). Please remember to give non-medical advice only! (Thank you Rachel of Probably Rachel and Kelley of Below Seven for this topic suggestion.)Life Hack #1I'm amazed by the number of people who have never heard of Tegaderm/Opsite/IV3000...and then complain that they had to stop p...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 16, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Dblog Week: Pollyanna Moments
Yesterday we opened up about how diabetes can bring us down. Today let’s share what gets us through a hard day. Or more specifically, a hard diabetes day. Is there something positive you tell yourself? Are there mantras that you fall back on to get you through? Is there something specific you do when your mood needs a boost? Maybe we've done that and we can help others do it too? (Thanks to Meri of Our Diabetic Life for suggesting this topic.)If you look for the good in something,you surely will find it.-Abraham LincolnThere is still good in you,Father. I can feel it.- Luke SkywalkerRough days-I've had a lot of them...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 15, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
#Dblog Week: The Mental Stuff
In nursing school, I cared for a patient with a leg ulcer. This person did not have diabetes,but they did have impaired circulation to their feet,as a result of cardiac conditions. And the resulting cascade of unfortunate events(leg gashed on trailer hitch) left a wound to the bone,& a subsequent infection of the worst possible kind.(when I looked at that leg ulcer, it was like staring into a "maybe me" future.The amazing thing to me,is that he felt no pain. This was a wound easily the size of my hand,and redness all around. Inside,there was yellow pus and black eschar(dead tissue) which stuck to the bandage. I had no idea...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 14, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Dblog Week Day 2:Dance of the HyperFairy
(This year, Diabetes Blog Week and TuDiabetes are teaming up to bring out the poet in you! Write a poem, rhyme, ballad, haiku, or any other form of poetry about diabetes. After you’ve posted it on your blog, share it on the No Sugar Added® Poetry page on TuDiabetes, and read what others have shared there as well!)Numbers dancetwirljumpsmashcrashplungerocket A beautiful symphony of life,through the lens of a dysfunctional CGM.It is my normal.To be otherwiseis something so foreign(Yet so exotically appealing)as to wonder"What else would I be doing with my life?"Site changespost-brushing teeth lowsdoctor appointments$$$$ m...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 13, 2014 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
