Well this was my !st time ever doing the Big Blue Test and I gotta tell ya, it felt really good!!!I couldn't get to a computer so I hurried and sent a tweet on twitter & tried to add it on TuDiabetes. I will check on it tomorrow, but I must say, for some reason I was low all day????Puzzling I know...I think alot has to do with stress..
Well I just wanted to write something down because it felt like forever since I have..
I also would like to send a shout out to Andrea over at Sticky Sweet Diabetics for the ever awesome ribbons I recieved!! They were wonderful and I gave all my family & friends them to wear, Thanks Andrea!!
I proudly displayed mine all day Saturday and today,,,more on that tomorrow!!
Good night to all &
Declare your Diabetes. we are ALL survivors!!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Big Blue Test
This is basically a whole pile of people with diabetes testing their blood sugar at the same time and then posting the results.
Well this Saturday, November 14th, is World Diabetes Day. And as part of celebrating that day, the fine folks at TuDiabetes are holding The Big Blue Test. (What the heck is the Big Blue Test? Why I'll tell you how to participate right ... now ...)
Participating in this event to raise diabetes awareness on November 14 is easy:
1. At 2 pm (your local time), test your blood sugar.
2. Run, jog, walk the dog or do anything you’d normally do as part of your exercise routine for 14 minutes.
3. Test your blood sugar again.
4. If you are a member of TuDiabetes click on the home page banner and share your readings and what exercise you did between them. If you have a camera, you can also add a photo of your reading(s) or you exercising.
5. If you have a Twitter account, post your readings on Twitter (use the #bigblue hashtag) and link back to:
http://bigbluetest.org/
And don't forget to check out http://bigbluetest.org
Well this Saturday, November 14th, is World Diabetes Day. And as part of celebrating that day, the fine folks at TuDiabetes are holding The Big Blue Test. (What the heck is the Big Blue Test? Why I'll tell you how to participate right ... now ...)1. At 2 pm (your local time), test your blood sugar.
2. Run, jog, walk the dog or do anything you’d normally do as part of your exercise routine for 14 minutes.
3. Test your blood sugar again.
4. If you are a member of TuDiabetes click on the home page banner and share your readings and what exercise you did between them. If you have a camera, you can also add a photo of your reading(s) or you exercising.
5. If you have a Twitter account, post your readings on Twitter (use the #bigblue hashtag) and link back to:
http://bigbluetest.org/
And don't forget to check out http://bigbluetest.org
TESTING AND NUMBERS
Since it's Diabetes month and becoming more active in my diabetic life I wanted to talk about my testing. I find myself testing ALOT.Probably more than I should.Sometimes it's like clockwork, I'll test first thing when I wake up,then again after several cups of coffee. Right before I eat lunch(whatever time that is), after,same for dinner and at bedtime(if I remember). There are bouts throughout the day I find myself testing more than usual due to either I feel funny or "just because"..
The area I really need to focus on is between meals and at night, I often forget & otherwise only test in I feel different. I really need to get better at this and the times, instead of worrying during my 2 hr time after eating.
Then there are times I may eat a later lunch or dinner and snack throughout the day,which throws me way off key. Not to mention breakfast.That's ALWAYS been my "missed" meal, even before becoming a diabetic. I've never been a big breakfast eater, plus, by the time I get my kids ready & off to school I either plum forget,get busy or it's too late.
Otherwise for the most part I do test pretty regularly, I just need to get my times better organized,both eating & testing. Overall my numbers have been fairly good I think. Now, I ALWAYS check for key-tones in my urine(paranoid I guess from too many ICU stays), with those handy little strips.
On a Great note, my A1c is the lowest it's ever been(drum roll please) 7.2!!! My last A1c was a 13.1(yikes), so in 3 months I went from that to this(thanks to all my lows). I would say that's pretty damn good,but all the lows are literally killing me. It's a catch 22, I have an awesome A1c,but way too many lows.Did I mention how much I hate lows? No, well..I do. They are making me more forgetful,drawing blanks and having brain farts(yes I said it). I don't like this at all. If I could just find a medium and having it stay there(which we all want & need), I would be so ever happy.
So all in all, I test more when at times I don't need to, less when at times I do need to, my A1c is way down and the lows are freaking my out man..My numbers like to bounce and I push and push myself to just keep on going.I could sure use a nap for about ,um a week(he-he). But that's not gonna happen so instead I"m deciding to keep on pushing and everyday,for me , is one more day closer to getting my diabetes under control and staying a Diabetic Survivor
Hence, my own design!!! You like?!!!!
SO COME ON FELLOW SURVIVORS, LET'S KEEP IT UP!!!!
Here's to
IT'S OUR TIME!!!!! (My other design!!!)
The area I really need to focus on is between meals and at night, I often forget & otherwise only test in I feel different. I really need to get better at this and the times, instead of worrying during my 2 hr time after eating.
Then there are times I may eat a later lunch or dinner and snack throughout the day,which throws me way off key. Not to mention breakfast.That's ALWAYS been my "missed" meal, even before becoming a diabetic. I've never been a big breakfast eater, plus, by the time I get my kids ready & off to school I either plum forget,get busy or it's too late.
Otherwise for the most part I do test pretty regularly, I just need to get my times better organized,both eating & testing. Overall my numbers have been fairly good I think. Now, I ALWAYS check for key-tones in my urine(paranoid I guess from too many ICU stays), with those handy little strips.
On a Great note, my A1c is the lowest it's ever been(drum roll please) 7.2!!! My last A1c was a 13.1(yikes), so in 3 months I went from that to this(thanks to all my lows). I would say that's pretty damn good,but all the lows are literally killing me. It's a catch 22, I have an awesome A1c,but way too many lows.Did I mention how much I hate lows? No, well..I do. They are making me more forgetful,drawing blanks and having brain farts(yes I said it). I don't like this at all. If I could just find a medium and having it stay there(which we all want & need), I would be so ever happy.
So all in all, I test more when at times I don't need to, less when at times I do need to, my A1c is way down and the lows are freaking my out man..My numbers like to bounce and I push and push myself to just keep on going.I could sure use a nap for about ,um a week(he-he). But that's not gonna happen so instead I"m deciding to keep on pushing and everyday,for me , is one more day closer to getting my diabetes under control and staying a Diabetic Survivor
Hence, my own design!!! You like?!!!!
SO COME ON FELLOW SURVIVORS, LET'S KEEP IT UP!!!!
Here's to
IT'S OUR TIME!!!!! (My other design!!!)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Candy Monster
There's the excitement of haunted houses,ghosts & goblins, witches and finding the best costume! Oh & the fact of seeing how scared we can make the kids!!(Myself included)
But for us diabetics, the scare comes with the "CANDY MONSTER". I remember as a child, actually still to this day, I would always pick out the Reese's cups & Tootsie Rolls.Yum, yum, yum! To this day those are hands down my all time favorite candies, but I can only eat them in a "low" time....Boooooo..But, did you know both come in SUGAR FREE, yes SUGAR FREE!! Hooray (I'm jumping for joy right now)!
So far this years Halloween treats at school, instead of filling the balls full of sugared candies, I opted for the Sugar Free! The kids couldn't even tell a difference, the parents were appreciative & they were gobbiled up with no second thoughts! The parents even tried em & told me they were gonna hand out sugar free this year!! Go me(can you see me doing a little jig). It felt really good to be able to give the kids a healthier, less sugared candy. Anytime I can put my 2 cents in on the big D makes me feel like I'm achomplishing a small goal & a good deed, you know since being a diabetic & all has made me more concious of what I give my kids and others these days.
Now onto Halloween night, I know the "Candy" monster will be everywhere with little ghost & goblins on it's tail. I know we will have plenty of loaded, sugary sweets filled to the top of the bags after trick or treating, so I'm just gonna get some of my favs(reeses & tootsie rolls) and stash em for when I have one of my "low" emergencies. At then I might be able to enjoy one at that time,but could live without having a low.
So with the "monster" snaking up in one more day, tell me, How will you avoid all the all too well"candy monster"? Did you do any special sugar free treats for anyone this season?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
2009
Okay, this blog has nothing to do with Diabetes but I got this from a friend and thought it was too funny not to share because we all have done at least one of these!!!!
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 30 or 40 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : :)
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
1 3. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING AT YOURSELF
YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2009 when...
1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 30 or 40 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : :)
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
1 3. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING AT YOURSELF
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Trial & Error
Since becoming a diabetic alot of my cooking has been trial & error, in terms of carbs & knowing how it will affect my blood sugar. Down here in Cajun land(aka Louisiana), we are forever eating some sort of seafood dish, trying new recipes out or making up our own little concoctions. We have an endless supply of different fish(red fillets are my fav.), crabs, shrimp, crawfish(in season), alligator, oysters & bull frogs(frog legs). Since we have our fishing lease in Little Chenier,(which we go ALL the time), we always come home with something! I love,love,love to fish, so going is very relaxing and fun for me but more on that later.
We also have plenty of flavorful spices, seasonings and sauces to choose from, when we don't make up our own! The seafood itself is fine, it's the sauces,gravies & some seasonings that get me. Not to mention the rice. Have I told you how we eat rice with pretty much EVERYTHING. From gumbo's to sauce pecans, etouffee's, you name it, we serve rice with it! Now with deer, duck, quail & squirrel season open, it's a whole new ballgame for gravies and/or fried foods.
To make matters more interesting, when my husband & dad get together to cook that makes for a very eventful, curious time. See they don't exactly measure out ingredients when they are coming up with different concoctions to fix. It's a dash of this, a spoonful of that, which all cajun spices are mixed with numerous things that already doesn't have a "label" per say, so it's very tricky for me to figure out the carb intake, which comes to guessestimating. But the finished product if Always so yummy!!
Living in Louisiana all my life & being raised with all these different spices, flavors & foods has always been "normal" for me, I've never had to worry about ALL the ingredients. But for the past 2 years, I have had to become more aware of reading labels, (when it's there). But when there are no set carb labels written in stone, that's when I just use trial & error.
One day I'll get this whole mess of knowing the exact carbs in all my Cajun foods, but until then, as we say here in Cajun Land, "Laissez les bon temps rouler", which means Let the good times roll!!
We also have plenty of flavorful spices, seasonings and sauces to choose from, when we don't make up our own! The seafood itself is fine, it's the sauces,gravies & some seasonings that get me. Not to mention the rice. Have I told you how we eat rice with pretty much EVERYTHING. From gumbo's to sauce pecans, etouffee's, you name it, we serve rice with it! Now with deer, duck, quail & squirrel season open, it's a whole new ballgame for gravies and/or fried foods.
To make matters more interesting, when my husband & dad get together to cook that makes for a very eventful, curious time. See they don't exactly measure out ingredients when they are coming up with different concoctions to fix. It's a dash of this, a spoonful of that, which all cajun spices are mixed with numerous things that already doesn't have a "label" per say, so it's very tricky for me to figure out the carb intake, which comes to guessestimating. But the finished product if Always so yummy!!
Living in Louisiana all my life & being raised with all these different spices, flavors & foods has always been "normal" for me, I've never had to worry about ALL the ingredients. But for the past 2 years, I have had to become more aware of reading labels, (when it's there). But when there are no set carb labels written in stone, that's when I just use trial & error.
One day I'll get this whole mess of knowing the exact carbs in all my Cajun foods, but until then, as we say here in Cajun Land, "Laissez les bon temps rouler", which means Let the good times roll!!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
To My Family & Friends, I Thank You
Thank You for listening to me, when I'm rambling on.
Thank You for watching me, when I'm testing my blood sugar.
Thank You for trying to understand when I'm experiencing a "low".
Thank You for reading up on a diabetes related issue.
Thank You for asking,"If there's anything you can do?"
Thank You for asking questions because it shows you care.
Thank You for wondering if I have any ketones, when I get to "high".
Thank You for knowing words & definitions in this world of diabetic language.
Thank You for saying prayers & hoping for a cure.
Thank You for sticking with me in my diabetic journey.
Thank You for being my # 1 fan.
Thank You for seeing how important this is to me.
Thank You for being you and telling me like it is.
Lastly, Thank You for still loving me, with this broken body of mine.
To ALL my family and friends: You will never know how much your support means to me , the encouragement when I'm feeling down and the listening to me when I'm explaining whatever diabetes related issue I'm having at that moment.
To my Friends: You didn't have to stick with me thru this life changing ordeal, but you did. You know who you are and I Thank You from the bottom of my heart. I am blessed to have a friend(s) like you. I love you so very much.
Thank You for watching me, when I'm testing my blood sugar.
Thank You for trying to understand when I'm experiencing a "low".
Thank You for reading up on a diabetes related issue.
Thank You for asking,"If there's anything you can do?"
Thank You for asking questions because it shows you care.
Thank You for wondering if I have any ketones, when I get to "high".
Thank You for knowing words & definitions in this world of diabetic language.
Thank You for saying prayers & hoping for a cure.
Thank You for sticking with me in my diabetic journey.
Thank You for being my # 1 fan.
Thank You for seeing how important this is to me.
Thank You for being you and telling me like it is.
Lastly, Thank You for still loving me, with this broken body of mine.
To ALL my family and friends: You will never know how much your support means to me , the encouragement when I'm feeling down and the listening to me when I'm explaining whatever diabetes related issue I'm having at that moment.
To my Friends: You didn't have to stick with me thru this life changing ordeal, but you did. You know who you are and I Thank You from the bottom of my heart. I am blessed to have a friend(s) like you. I love you so very much.
A letter to my children
This is a letter I wrote to my children a short time back.I felt like publishing it because it was my way of showing my love for them with diabetes in mind. One day when they are older, I will let them read it and by then they will fully be able to understand of of it.
My loves,ya'll will never know the depth of Love I have for you.
I'm so sorry you have to go thru this illness with me,
But grateful to my diabetes for making us stronger for it.
For understanding when mommy has a low,
And knowing to get my meter,when otherwise I can't.
Your so young to have to endure all of this,
But so smart to understand what the numbers mean and what to do.
I promise ya'll this, mommy WILL fight to be around for you.
I will Not let diabetes get me down.
I will have good days and bad,
But I will not let it interfer or make me miss any second of your life.
My loves,you are my focus.
Ya'll keep me going and staying strong.
I know this disease is apart of our life now and Always will be a family affair,
But with God's grace we WILL get thru this.
Just know that everday is a battle, Yes,
But the victory is this,
Being able to wake up each day, taking in a deep breathe, seeing your smiling faces, hearing the laughter of your voices, embracing you tightly, giving butterfly kisses all that I can and being able to give you a high 5 when you accomplished anything you set out to do.
So remember the song I sing to you and know that it's the truth.
"YOU are my sunshine, My ONLY sunshine,You make me happy when skies are gray, You'll Never know dear how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away."
My loves,ya'll will never know the depth of Love I have for you.
I'm so sorry you have to go thru this illness with me,
But grateful to my diabetes for making us stronger for it.
For understanding when mommy has a low,
And knowing to get my meter,when otherwise I can't.
Your so young to have to endure all of this,
But so smart to understand what the numbers mean and what to do.
I promise ya'll this, mommy WILL fight to be around for you.
I will Not let diabetes get me down.
I will have good days and bad,
But I will not let it interfer or make me miss any second of your life.
My loves,you are my focus.
Ya'll keep me going and staying strong.
I know this disease is apart of our life now and Always will be a family affair,
But with God's grace we WILL get thru this.
Just know that everday is a battle, Yes,
But the victory is this,
Being able to wake up each day, taking in a deep breathe, seeing your smiling faces, hearing the laughter of your voices, embracing you tightly, giving butterfly kisses all that I can and being able to give you a high 5 when you accomplished anything you set out to do.
So remember the song I sing to you and know that it's the truth.
"YOU are my sunshine, My ONLY sunshine,You make me happy when skies are gray, You'll Never know dear how much I love you, Please don't take my sunshine away."
Monday, October 12, 2009
How many more?
My Diabetes is really being a bitch lately..I mean, I'm doing everything I can possible do and she still won't compromise....Give me a break. Every morning when I wake up my BS is low. Scarily LOW. And the worst thing is, I can't tell it is low until oh around the 30's, sometimes even the 28 range. Like my body has become use to this,which is a scary thought.
What scares me the most is that I'm sooo unbelievable afraid that one morning I won't wake up.I log all my carbs,bs,ect and keep in touch with my endo regularly. We've changed my rates,ratios many times.Still, we keep missing the mark. With this said, it scares the Hell out of me.
I have 2 small children & a husband(works out of town most time). What if I go to sleep to find my BS drops too low & my children can't wake me up.Which it does drop low All the time,but I can wake up,just very out of it and very slowly. (My BS is always around the 30's in the mornings)I do not want to put them through that or any of this for that matter. Luckily my 7 yr old knows what to do in case of an emergency,but still, I feel like why does my family have to be put through this.
I am desperatley tring to get a CGM(wish me luck).God knows I can't afford it on my own, so I'm hoping my Medicaid will cover(which I know it won't), but the lady told me to just keep appealing the denials.Believe me I will. To me the CGM will be my lifesaver, to help me live,to alert me. I pray the government will approve this Very soon but that's another topic for another day.
It's getting harder & harder to wake up in the mornings or anytime for that matter.I check my BS before I go to bed,which is always in good range. I make sure to try and eat something that has protien to substane me through the night. But still, this doesn't work. I've tried waking up at 3 or 4 am, to eat a small snack(per Dr.) to help fight off the lows. Even when I eat something with very small carb value & protien at 3am, it seems to boost me up too much and I wake up with a High...WTH....I feel like kicking the crap out of my Bitch of a disease...
Still I WILL figure out how to find an equal balance, I have to, for my kids sake. I pray each night that God will give me just one more day, to allow me to wake up and see my childrens faces...I have the will inside me to fight and I will continue to fight til the day I die(hopefully not anytime soon). I just pray my body will fight too. Until this comes about I hope to be able to find a medium or at least be able to go to sleep at night having peace.Declare Your Diabetes
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Deciding Portion Sizes
For me deciding portion size is very frustrating. Does anyone else have a difficult time with this or is it just me? I know what all the books say, but when it comes down to not having a measuring cup handy out in public, that's when it get hard.
I've tried the fist measuring thing and the eye balling thing. But no matter how I try, I'm still not right. Either I eat too much and my blood sugar goes too high or I eat too little and my blood sugar drops to low. I enter in the carb ratio on my pump but without the correct serving size by a measuring cup it can go either way.
I want to know if anyone else has this problem? Or does any other fellow diabetics have a certain method they found that works for them. Please share and maybe we can all learn some new tricks to this ever confusing size control.
I've tried the fist measuring thing and the eye balling thing. But no matter how I try, I'm still not right. Either I eat too much and my blood sugar goes too high or I eat too little and my blood sugar drops to low. I enter in the carb ratio on my pump but without the correct serving size by a measuring cup it can go either way.
I want to know if anyone else has this problem? Or does any other fellow diabetics have a certain method they found that works for them. Please share and maybe we can all learn some new tricks to this ever confusing size control.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
My Diabetic Prayer
Why me, Why me, Please Lord, help me to see.
I'm strong, I'm weak, Sometimes I'm meek.
I laugh, I cry and I beg not to die.
My children, My life, My legacy to give.
Stay strong, for there's hope
Our generation will find
Lord, help me, to live one more day
My Children, The loves of my life!!
My "Sweet" Conscious
I long for the days, when my sweet tooth wasn't my enemy.
Death by chocolate cake, takes on a Whole new meaning for me now.
A deadly high, a DKA on the way.
The only time My conscious lets me cheat...
Is when I drop to low & living depends on a treat.
But my treat is different,
It's a deathy life-saving sweet.
So my conscious will stay happy
My livelyhood will be restored,with that 15 grams of carbs
My "sweet" conscious won't be ignored.
Oh how I dream of the days I could enjoy, a cold chocolate shake.
With NO finger pricking or bolous settings and a tummy full of joy
This is just me thinking outloud!!!
Death by chocolate cake, takes on a Whole new meaning for me now.
A deadly high, a DKA on the way.
The only time My conscious lets me cheat...
Is when I drop to low & living depends on a treat.
But my treat is different,
It's a deathy life-saving sweet.
So my conscious will stay happy
My livelyhood will be restored,with that 15 grams of carbs
My "sweet" conscious won't be ignored.
Oh how I dream of the days I could enjoy, a cold chocolate shake.
With NO finger pricking or bolous settings and a tummy full of joy
This is just me thinking outloud!!!
Newbie
Looks like a newbie,beginning blogger!!Yes , Yes I know!! I just wanted to introduce myself to All of you and say how excited I am on beginning my journey with this!!
I will be adding a little of my cajun sauciness to my blog! Hope ya'll don't mind!! But if ya do, then that's okay, I don't mind cause I'll still be here tomorrow!!!! I'm also on DLife(Love that place) & facebook, I will be adding my new blog to my profile there. I'm always on the puter, so you can reach me anytime!!! I know I added some of this in my profile, but just a quick rundown...I'm a type 1,dxed 2 yrs ago in june of 07(age 28),insulin from the start & on my Animas pump(Love it)Have had way to many problems from the getgo, but Way better these days..
I'm wanting to be in better control of my diabetes & Declaring (hence the name), So I say this Loud & Clear
I OWN MY DIABETES, DO YOU
PROCLAIM YOUR RIGHT TO FIGHT TO FIND A CURE
LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD
Hope to meet everyone soon & remember:
Diabetes is a Bitch, but it's My Bitch!!!! LOL
Jill Kershaw
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