That's right the time has come. This is the last blog post EVER here. Eventually, I will set this page up as a redirect, but not just yet. For a real new post wander over here. Thanks. See y'all over at the new place.
Brian
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Movin' Out
That's right the time has come. This is the last blog post EVER here. Eventually, I will set this page up as a redirect, but not just yet. For a real new post wander over here. Thanks. See y'all over at the new place.
Brian
Friday, July 20, 2012
Moving On
This just a small update for you all. Over the past two weeks, since returning from FFL12, I have been slowly moving my blog and stuff to a new site/address. I am really excited about this, yet kinda annoyed. The web address I had wanted disappeared on me. I find that to be quite weird how I can verify its existence one day and the next day it just "happens" to be "taken". I had my eye on that domain for over two months now.
That being said, I am still putting some of the finishing touches on my new home. I just figured you should all know, at some point next week I will be posting a "closed" sign on this blog. I am not closing it, but there will be no new updates. All of my previous posts will be on both this blog and the new one. However, all new posts will start only showing up at the new home. I just remind you if you have me bookmarked/linked to correct the address when it shows up next week. I will eventually turn auto-forwarding to the new domain on as well. However, if anyone had linked to one of my posts previously the auto-forward may not actually get one to that link on the new site.
Anyway, get excited for the new changes. I am! Yeah for my own domain. Who thought I would ever want to do that?
Love you all!
Oh and for a good time, go to any of Kerri's or Sara's You Tube video's and click on the button for a chat transcript. The "errors" or mishearing of the software is priceless.
That being said, I am still putting some of the finishing touches on my new home. I just figured you should all know, at some point next week I will be posting a "closed" sign on this blog. I am not closing it, but there will be no new updates. All of my previous posts will be on both this blog and the new one. However, all new posts will start only showing up at the new home. I just remind you if you have me bookmarked/linked to correct the address when it shows up next week. I will eventually turn auto-forwarding to the new domain on as well. However, if anyone had linked to one of my posts previously the auto-forward may not actually get one to that link on the new site.
Anyway, get excited for the new changes. I am! Yeah for my own domain. Who thought I would ever want to do that?
Love you all!
Oh and for a good time, go to any of Kerri's or Sara's You Tube video's and click on the button for a chat transcript. The "errors" or mishearing of the software is priceless.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Blingo/ Bingo Cards
Don't ask about the title. I was being creative and so well it failed.
I know people were asking why I never posted pictures of the Bingo cards from FFL12. I apparently was bad at taking pictures this year. I think I have about ten of them on my camera, which I need to download eventually. Anywho, here are some of the variants of Bingo cards, there were 40+ different cards generated with a few different sets of words.
I know people were asking why I never posted pictures of the Bingo cards from FFL12. I apparently was bad at taking pictures this year. I think I have about ten of them on my camera, which I need to download eventually. Anywho, here are some of the variants of Bingo cards, there were 40+ different cards generated with a few different sets of words.
 |
| I like this one the best. DOO YOUUUU think you know why?? |
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
T:Slim an update
So last week I posted my review of the t:slim, yet when I was done with the review, I personally had some questions that were left unanswered. So I sent an e-mail off to one of the people I happened to have a chance to talk to about the pump, both during the demo period, but also when I was"gambling" away all of my "millions", at the adult casino night. He was able to answer some of the questions/concerns that I had brought up, for which I am glad.
A few weeks ago, right after the ADA scientific sessions, word had leaked that there would be no 30 day return policy for the pump if one did not like it nor was there an availability for one to trial the pump before one invested in it. Mind you this is only one link of many complaints that had come out. Bernard Farrell over at Diabetes Daily had this one follow up to the controversy, that I had found later last week. If nothing else, this promise left me feeling happier. My contact over at Tandem had this follow up comment as well. It is a long quote, but ehh... Nothing like filling space right?
A few weeks ago, right after the ADA scientific sessions, word had leaked that there would be no 30 day return policy for the pump if one did not like it nor was there an availability for one to trial the pump before one invested in it. Mind you this is only one link of many complaints that had come out. Bernard Farrell over at Diabetes Daily had this one follow up to the controversy, that I had found later last week. If nothing else, this promise left me feeling happier. My contact over at Tandem had this follow up comment as well. It is a long quote, but ehh... Nothing like filling space right?
"
Regarding your question about the return policy. Tandem stands behind its product and we want to make sure that it meets our customers’ needs. In the event t:slim does not meet someone’s needs they should be aware of the therapy and insurance implications. t:slim is a medical device that requires a prescription and is usually paid for by an insurance company. If the t:slim pump does not meet one’s needs, they are welcome to return the pump within 30 days of purchase. However they may have to revert to multiple daily injections if they do not have another pump since it may take some time for the insurance company to approve another pump, something that is completely out of Tandem’s control.
We wanted to bring that to people’s attention since as consumers were are used to running back to Costco or Best Buy and to getting our money back on the spot so we can go get something else off the shelf.
I believe that the confusion arose because most people have not had a chance to try t:slim. Our goal is to make sure people have the chance to see and play with t:slim before making their purchase decision the way you were able to at CWD."
We wanted to bring that to people’s attention since as consumers were are used to running back to Costco or Best Buy and to getting our money back on the spot so we can go get something else off the shelf.
I believe that the confusion arose because most people have not had a chance to try t:slim. Our goal is to make sure people have the chance to see and play with t:slim before making their purchase decision the way you were able to at CWD."
So basically between what I have here and what Bernard had to say, it makes sense for the policy. I mean I was happy to hear this.
One of the random questions I had, was in looking over at Tandems page is that included in the package is a USB memory card. I was confused/intrigued about that since I had not seen any sort of slots on the pump to play with. So I asked. Here's the answer....
"Regarding the USB card, each t:slim Pump comes with a Reference Guide that highlights the key features of the pumps. You received a copy of that Reference Guide during the trial at CWD. On the USB card we will include an electronic version of the User Guide which is a more lengthy document with more regulatory language and information about t:slim.
This is the same User Guide that is currently posted online. This electronic version is searchable so it is more user friendly than a printed 150 page document. We will also have some drivers of the USB card for t:slim to charge from a computer USB drive and in the future we will also have the t:connect uploader for our Therapy Management System once it is approved."
This is the same User Guide that is currently posted online. This electronic version is searchable so it is more user friendly than a printed 150 page document. We will also have some drivers of the USB card for t:slim to charge from a computer USB drive and in the future we will also have the t:connect uploader for our Therapy Management System once it is approved."
I coulda summed that up into smaller phrases and words, yet today is my day off. The only day I have off all week, so I am a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, and a lotta bit lazy.
The last question, that I had raised was about the integration with Dexcom's next generation sensor. The answer I got was pretty much what I was expecting to hear. They are working on the integration with their product, but at the same time taking what Dexcom has to offer and making it a friendly user experience across the board with their system, not just dumping the sensor software into the product and connecting the dots. (My words not theirs.) Anyway, I was glad to hear about this as well. Now, for me it comes down to making the decision about what to do since my pump is dying. the pro/con list is interesting for the 4 pumps I was considering.
Disclosure: Once again, I state that the previous review and this update were provided by me. I was not asked to talk about the t:slim, nor was I asked to update the comments I had. I did this because I wanted to but I also felt it was important for those who read my first post to see the continuation of my inquiries here.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Hand's on w/ the t:slim
As I write this blog, there are a few things that I must state. The first and most obvious is my own disclosure on this review. I was given a 24 hour window by Tandem Diabetes to play with their t:slim. This testing was available to anyone who was at the Children with Diabetes, Friends for Life Conference. I am not being paid, reimbursed, asked, begged, or anything else to write about the pump. I am doing this of my own volition and willingness to talk about things I put my hands on (on reading this a second time that sounds dirty, whoops).
The t:slim pump by Tandem is a very interesting pump and I was so happy to have been able to "demo" the pump. The introduction to the pump which was about an hour addressed many different questions about the pump and also the training necessary to play with the pump. One thing I did forget to mention was that while the pump was filled with saline so we could sample bolus and use the pump as if it were filled with insulin, the pump was NOT attached to me in anyway shape or form.
The t:slim right out of the gate makes a nice impression. This is just based solely on the fact that the pump is the only touch screen, color, insulin pump on the market. This is obviously the first and most obvious difference between all of the pumps out there. The next thing that is kinda nice about the pump is the size/weight. I currently am using an Animas Ping pump and also did have the Medtronic Paradigm pump as well before switching pumps.
The size of the t:slim is smaller and most likely weighs about the same as the others. The one thing to note is that this pump uses a luer-lock connection to connect to the infusion set, however the luer-lock is not directly attached to the pump in the same way as it is to the Animas or how the Medtronic infusion set connects. The actual lock connection is roughly an inch higher up, so there is a little bit of tubing followed by the connection. The Tandem people said this option was for those people who wear the pump using a belt clip, the actual luer-lock piece is not poking into your side. (I liked that alot, can't mention how many times I have poked myself uncomfortably with that item.)
The cartridge in and of itself is pretty sweet. It connects to the pump and is setup in such a way which adds to the slimmer profile of the pump. The cartridge actually has a small bag inside of it, which is used to store the insulin in it. The cartridge can hold up to 300 units of insulin. The Medtronic pump has an option for the 300 unit reservoir while the Animas Ping can only hold 200 units of insulin. Don't get me wrong the 300 unit cartridge is nice and all, however I usually only go through about 175 or so units every 3 days.
The other thing that is nice about the t:slim is the actual technology that delivers the insulin from the pump to the infusion set. Feel free to look at the video from the Tandem site, that talks about the actual micro-delivery technology that is used. The one thing the Tandem people were talking about and it did catch my attention is the fact that the way the pump delivers insulin does make it harder to give yourself the whole cartridge of insulin. That is just safe, it wouldn't sway my final decision, but I do like that option knowing how safe I could be.
The delivery for the pump is slower than what I have experienced with the Animas pump. Not that this is a bad thing. I will get into that in a second. In the scheme of insulin delivery apparently speed wise the Animas is the fastest while the Medtronic pump is slower. The t:slim is apparently middle ground in speed. The other thing that is nice, while I am only guessing the pump sounds for delivery are quieter than the Animas pump. I don't remember the sounds from the Medtronic pump, but I do know it was quiet so this could be a middle ground noise as well.
While I would have like to sample the delivery through an infusion set, that option was not available, I can talk about the fact that if it delivers insulin slowly it will not be as painful. I remember when I first switched to my Animas pump the fact that the delivery was pretty painful until I found on the Bolus setup screen of the pump the option to slow the delivery down. This made a huge difference for me. A few months ago while myself and some of my friends were hanging out we were talking about the Animas pump. The conversation developed into a complaint by two of the people about the fact that the pump was causing some burning pain in the delivery of the insulin. That's when I mentioned the slow feature of the pump. My friends both gave me a questionable look like I was crazy, and I said no, seriously you can slow the pump down. The happiness and tears of joy that one of my friends had made that conversation worth it. Apparently some people just don't realize how much that the insulin can burn when it is shot into ones system.
The pump offers a few different features on the touch screen that are nice as well, the touch screen makes things easier to access the screens for delivery of insulin, seeing how much basal you have going on, the length of your temporary basal you have left. Insulin on board. Many other features. This is pretty much what all of the other pumps feature as well. However, the big thing is that the screens do make it easier to get from point a to point b without all of the scrolling up/down, back, home, etc. The touch screen makes a huge difference when it comes to plugging in boluses, carb ratios, combo boluses.... the list goes on and on. The touch screen basically makes things quite easy to use.
The one other thing to mention about setting up screens and profiles, once you have the initial program setup. Anytime you make a change to it or need a second profile, i.e. weekend, exercise, vacation, or whatever you want, it is pretty easy to make a new profile. Basically it will copy the old profile. You can name the new profile something different and start tweaking the basals and if needed I: ratio and stuff like that. Again, the idea is all about simplicity and ease of use. Which it definitely offered.
Other features to talk about is the fact that the t:slim runs on a rechargeable battery, no more batteries needed. This option did worry me just a tad bit. I mean while I would have problem charging the battery, I was worried about how long, how, etc. The pump takes 10 minutes to charge every 10% of battery life roughly. So basically you take a shower in the morning/evening it you can charge the pump in that time frame and have enough battery for the day. I mean, there can be issues with charging if you are overseas, out camping, and what if you are without power for an extended period of time. Tandem did try to take that into consideration, which is why they mentioned the fact that they will offer other charging options to people. Solar, external battery, auto charger, things of that nature. But at the end of the day charging shouldn't be a big issue most days.
Obviously I have many favorable things to say about the pump so far. I may have forgotten other features the pump offers. I will focus on some of the negatives I have found or heard from other people as well.
One complaint I had myself was more user error than anything else. I decided to "set" a temp basal while I was demoing the pump while playing basketball. I did what needed to be done and changed the settings and moved forward from there. It seemed like an easy thing to do. However, because I just started playing and never turned the screen off/ relocked the screen apparently there was some bumpage on the pump and apparently I managed to stop all delivery of insulin. Truthfully, I blame being tired and user error on that one. Just as I needed to get used to the quirks of my various cell phones, so too would one need to get used to some of the quirks of moving to a new pump.
There were alot of confirmation screens about needing boluses, yes, no, etc... however, we were told many of those things were due to meddling by the FDA on safety and this is something that most likely will start cropping up on any of the newer pump models being released in the US. The quick bolus, audio bolus, the whatever bolus was a little awkward to use. Again, I am attributing that to more user error and just trying without looking at the screen first to see what I was doing first.
The one other "complaint" I heard from some of the other people who were demoing the pump at the same time as myself was the comment about the clock. Not that there was an issue with the clock, but just the size of the display for the clock. I guess some people use the pump as a watch and the bigger the display the better. Basically for me I just grab whatever I can get my hands on that has a clock attached to it, pump, Dexcom, or cell phone. So this was truly not a big end of the world sort of thing for me again.
Other things to note but I did not get to see, the t:connect software for the pump management was talked about but not demoed. This apparently according to their website is still awaiting the 510k clearance by the FDA. (Thanks again FDA.) So in this case, there is not much I can talk about this. I mean it is both PC/Mac compatible which will be nice. It will be able to download your data, which is nice. Otherwise, I got nothing else on this.
While the t:slim is not able to work with a CGM as of yet, there is the partnership between Tandem and Dexcom, what the means in the big picture is an integrated system, what it means now? Nothing. People have heard different stories about what will happen with the Dexcom integration, whether the t:slim can do it and just needs a software upgrade or if you need to upgrade to a new pump, who knows. I spoke with the sales rep. on the phone and she was not able to really give me much information about the plans in either direction. This was sad, but expected.
The pump will ship with a One Touch Verio meter, which is pretty cool. I have been playing with that meter for a few days now and like it so far.
I wish I had more information about this pump. The end result is that there is so much to like about this pump. I haven't really had any major complaints when I played with it. At the end of the day it really does come down to our own desire/needs/wants. Stuff like that. I mean if I had to choose a pump today I would seriously have to draw up a list of pro's and con's about this pump and my Animas pump. The end results would be close, with one winning by a margin. Which one that would be, is well between me and me. That answer will come another day.
If you follow this link, you will see an update to questions that I did not have answered last week when I wrote this. (7/17/12)
Disclaimer again: I went to the FFL conference on my own dime. I decided to demo the t:slim pump. I decided to write a review on it. This is all me aside from one or two questions asked of the Tandem people. They did not influence what I was going to say at all. Just me and my own two thoughts.
The t:slim pump by Tandem is a very interesting pump and I was so happy to have been able to "demo" the pump. The introduction to the pump which was about an hour addressed many different questions about the pump and also the training necessary to play with the pump. One thing I did forget to mention was that while the pump was filled with saline so we could sample bolus and use the pump as if it were filled with insulin, the pump was NOT attached to me in anyway shape or form.
The t:slim right out of the gate makes a nice impression. This is just based solely on the fact that the pump is the only touch screen, color, insulin pump on the market. This is obviously the first and most obvious difference between all of the pumps out there. The next thing that is kinda nice about the pump is the size/weight. I currently am using an Animas Ping pump and also did have the Medtronic Paradigm pump as well before switching pumps.
The size of the t:slim is smaller and most likely weighs about the same as the others. The one thing to note is that this pump uses a luer-lock connection to connect to the infusion set, however the luer-lock is not directly attached to the pump in the same way as it is to the Animas or how the Medtronic infusion set connects. The actual lock connection is roughly an inch higher up, so there is a little bit of tubing followed by the connection. The Tandem people said this option was for those people who wear the pump using a belt clip, the actual luer-lock piece is not poking into your side. (I liked that alot, can't mention how many times I have poked myself uncomfortably with that item.)
The cartridge in and of itself is pretty sweet. It connects to the pump and is setup in such a way which adds to the slimmer profile of the pump. The cartridge actually has a small bag inside of it, which is used to store the insulin in it. The cartridge can hold up to 300 units of insulin. The Medtronic pump has an option for the 300 unit reservoir while the Animas Ping can only hold 200 units of insulin. Don't get me wrong the 300 unit cartridge is nice and all, however I usually only go through about 175 or so units every 3 days.
The other thing that is nice about the t:slim is the actual technology that delivers the insulin from the pump to the infusion set. Feel free to look at the video from the Tandem site, that talks about the actual micro-delivery technology that is used. The one thing the Tandem people were talking about and it did catch my attention is the fact that the way the pump delivers insulin does make it harder to give yourself the whole cartridge of insulin. That is just safe, it wouldn't sway my final decision, but I do like that option knowing how safe I could be.
The delivery for the pump is slower than what I have experienced with the Animas pump. Not that this is a bad thing. I will get into that in a second. In the scheme of insulin delivery apparently speed wise the Animas is the fastest while the Medtronic pump is slower. The t:slim is apparently middle ground in speed. The other thing that is nice, while I am only guessing the pump sounds for delivery are quieter than the Animas pump. I don't remember the sounds from the Medtronic pump, but I do know it was quiet so this could be a middle ground noise as well.
While I would have like to sample the delivery through an infusion set, that option was not available, I can talk about the fact that if it delivers insulin slowly it will not be as painful. I remember when I first switched to my Animas pump the fact that the delivery was pretty painful until I found on the Bolus setup screen of the pump the option to slow the delivery down. This made a huge difference for me. A few months ago while myself and some of my friends were hanging out we were talking about the Animas pump. The conversation developed into a complaint by two of the people about the fact that the pump was causing some burning pain in the delivery of the insulin. That's when I mentioned the slow feature of the pump. My friends both gave me a questionable look like I was crazy, and I said no, seriously you can slow the pump down. The happiness and tears of joy that one of my friends had made that conversation worth it. Apparently some people just don't realize how much that the insulin can burn when it is shot into ones system.
The pump offers a few different features on the touch screen that are nice as well, the touch screen makes things easier to access the screens for delivery of insulin, seeing how much basal you have going on, the length of your temporary basal you have left. Insulin on board. Many other features. This is pretty much what all of the other pumps feature as well. However, the big thing is that the screens do make it easier to get from point a to point b without all of the scrolling up/down, back, home, etc. The touch screen makes a huge difference when it comes to plugging in boluses, carb ratios, combo boluses.... the list goes on and on. The touch screen basically makes things quite easy to use.
The one other thing to mention about setting up screens and profiles, once you have the initial program setup. Anytime you make a change to it or need a second profile, i.e. weekend, exercise, vacation, or whatever you want, it is pretty easy to make a new profile. Basically it will copy the old profile. You can name the new profile something different and start tweaking the basals and if needed I: ratio and stuff like that. Again, the idea is all about simplicity and ease of use. Which it definitely offered.
Other features to talk about is the fact that the t:slim runs on a rechargeable battery, no more batteries needed. This option did worry me just a tad bit. I mean while I would have problem charging the battery, I was worried about how long, how, etc. The pump takes 10 minutes to charge every 10% of battery life roughly. So basically you take a shower in the morning/evening it you can charge the pump in that time frame and have enough battery for the day. I mean, there can be issues with charging if you are overseas, out camping, and what if you are without power for an extended period of time. Tandem did try to take that into consideration, which is why they mentioned the fact that they will offer other charging options to people. Solar, external battery, auto charger, things of that nature. But at the end of the day charging shouldn't be a big issue most days.
Obviously I have many favorable things to say about the pump so far. I may have forgotten other features the pump offers. I will focus on some of the negatives I have found or heard from other people as well.
One complaint I had myself was more user error than anything else. I decided to "set" a temp basal while I was demoing the pump while playing basketball. I did what needed to be done and changed the settings and moved forward from there. It seemed like an easy thing to do. However, because I just started playing and never turned the screen off/ relocked the screen apparently there was some bumpage on the pump and apparently I managed to stop all delivery of insulin. Truthfully, I blame being tired and user error on that one. Just as I needed to get used to the quirks of my various cell phones, so too would one need to get used to some of the quirks of moving to a new pump.
There were alot of confirmation screens about needing boluses, yes, no, etc... however, we were told many of those things were due to meddling by the FDA on safety and this is something that most likely will start cropping up on any of the newer pump models being released in the US. The quick bolus, audio bolus, the whatever bolus was a little awkward to use. Again, I am attributing that to more user error and just trying without looking at the screen first to see what I was doing first.
The one other "complaint" I heard from some of the other people who were demoing the pump at the same time as myself was the comment about the clock. Not that there was an issue with the clock, but just the size of the display for the clock. I guess some people use the pump as a watch and the bigger the display the better. Basically for me I just grab whatever I can get my hands on that has a clock attached to it, pump, Dexcom, or cell phone. So this was truly not a big end of the world sort of thing for me again.
Other things to note but I did not get to see, the t:connect software for the pump management was talked about but not demoed. This apparently according to their website is still awaiting the 510k clearance by the FDA. (Thanks again FDA.) So in this case, there is not much I can talk about this. I mean it is both PC/Mac compatible which will be nice. It will be able to download your data, which is nice. Otherwise, I got nothing else on this.
While the t:slim is not able to work with a CGM as of yet, there is the partnership between Tandem and Dexcom, what the means in the big picture is an integrated system, what it means now? Nothing. People have heard different stories about what will happen with the Dexcom integration, whether the t:slim can do it and just needs a software upgrade or if you need to upgrade to a new pump, who knows. I spoke with the sales rep. on the phone and she was not able to really give me much information about the plans in either direction. This was sad, but expected.
The pump will ship with a One Touch Verio meter, which is pretty cool. I have been playing with that meter for a few days now and like it so far.
I wish I had more information about this pump. The end result is that there is so much to like about this pump. I haven't really had any major complaints when I played with it. At the end of the day it really does come down to our own desire/needs/wants. Stuff like that. I mean if I had to choose a pump today I would seriously have to draw up a list of pro's and con's about this pump and my Animas pump. The end results would be close, with one winning by a margin. Which one that would be, is well between me and me. That answer will come another day.
If you follow this link, you will see an update to questions that I did not have answered last week when I wrote this. (7/17/12)
Disclaimer again: I went to the FFL conference on my own dime. I decided to demo the t:slim pump. I decided to write a review on it. This is all me aside from one or two questions asked of the Tandem people. They did not influence what I was going to say at all. Just me and my own two thoughts.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Broke
 |
| Yeah, that is a nice crack in my pump. Pooh. |
Update: After my near paranoia annoyance last night, I did speak to the Animas Rep. who will be handling my upgrade for my pump. I was told that while normally the loaner is for people who are awaiting the upgrade and paperwork/prescription to go through, since I have an Animas pump and am in a lurch for the time being while I make the decision pumpwise, they could send me a loaner for a 2 month window of time! The decision will be faster than a two month window, however, my panic is less now and I can continue beating my pump up.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Breakdown of/at FFL12
The irony of this title amuses me greatly, which I am guessing is a good thing. Just as all of those bloggers who attended friends for life, like myself are still processing things, so too am I. I will give you my week at a glance though. The chances of me going further into details of certain things at this time may or may not happen. This is just because there is so much to process, but at the same time others will be rehashing the exact same thoughts as I will be. Even though these events are coming from a different perspective, one can only read about the same thing so many times before you get bored out of your mind. I know I would.
I flew down last Monday, July 2nd from EWR to MCO. The flight was relatively uneventful, which was nice. I mean my Dexcom most likely set off the alarm, which I am used to, so I was patted down. Honestly, this time was probably one of the best pat downs in like forever. The first few I had, were kinda awkward, but as time has moved on they have been less touchy and kinder or I am just used to people .... that is going to go dirty. Well probably to late, so I am going to stop. I alarmed, said I have a pump, they gave me a pat down and hand wipe, sent me on my way. I chilled in the airport, ran into someone from my parish, chatted, flew to Orlando.
I found my bags and went to pickup my rental. I was tired. I got screwed over by the rental agent from Avis who signed me up for liability insurance that I never wanted. This fight with Avis is still pending. No matter the case, I will not be renting from them EVER again. Deceitful, lying practices by the agent cost me $100 that I had not budgeted for on this trip. Later on this afternoon, I will be flipping my own switch on them. (Starting nice of course).
Following the rental I went and checked in at my hotel. Old Key West (I have a time share, so it was a "free" room for the week.) That was easy. Only if all businesses took their cue from Disney, the world would be a better place. You hear me Avis?? It was about 1:00 in the afternoon so I headed over to the Magic Kingdom for a little fun and wanted to get my hands on a GAC card. The process took a while, I did not get the full access I was hoping for, but I got a card to wait in a shaded waiting area if nothing else. This was not worth the fight, there are other parks to visit and attempts to be had.
I Jungle Cruised it for awhile, why? I love that ride and corny jokes. I got some Ice Cream as I was dipping low. I headed to Hollywood Studios for some fun. At Hollywood Studios I figured I would try my luck again at the GAC card that had the alternate entrance option. I seem to always have luck at this place. This time fate was at my side. I wandered into the entrance and was waiting for the next available person. The agent came up to me and was all like, "what can I do for you?" I told her that I needed a GAC card. She asked how long I was at the parks for and how many people, and disappeared. I found that weird since I never even had to give the Diabetes spiel. She came back with the magic card I was hoping for and I wandered off, still a little confused. That is when it dawned on me. While I was waiting to be seen, I was standing next to a grandma age person in a wheel chair. I can only assume that the person thought this was my grandma and gave me the card without any questions. (She must have been really confused when I left leaving my "grandmother" to somebody elses care.) Whoops.
I had dinner with friends and just hugged and relaxed. AWESOME day.
Tuesday, I met up with people for breakfast. Dayle, gave me a big hug and said "Hi, I'm Dayle". Mind you we had never met in person, but well I could figure out who she was based on Hangouts. Tuesday was awesome. I had a chance to see all of my friends who I had been missing big time and hug others whom I had never met. A group of us recorded a podcast with Chris. That was fun. Long day. Awesome though.
Wednesday, I woke up and had to meet with the people over at Tandem Diabetes, for a pump demo. I will talk more about this in a different post to give you my thoughts and comments. Following that I was waiting for Sara to pull herself together. I did some d-art instead with Lee Ann Thill. We were given art supplies based on pump bits and pieces, infusion sets, tape, glue, glitter. Awesome. So I made my d-art creature.
Who knew I had that kinda art talent?!? No me. I was just being patient. It was a fun day. Sara and I headed over to Hollywood Studios again, rode the rides we wanted, had fun. It rained all over us, so stops were made to change clothes and such. It was a great day. Oh I also played some awesome basketball with Scott Johnson and Rick Philbin.
Thursday, the conference started as it was supposed to. The opening Keynote by Tom Karlya. He had many great things to say. The morning was SOOO worth it. The rest of the day is kinda a bit of a blur. I know I sat through some sessions which were good. I was really just excited to see my friends and just be able to talk and deal with all the beeps, clicks, whistles, and all other noises my pump and other peoples pumps made. My room has been kinda quiet the past few days. Sad on some level, but I haven't had to grab my Dexcom and be all like damn, that wasn't mine. The night ended with 16 + of us going to see Spiderman! AWESOME!
Friday was a repeat of Thursday, however we did setup the You Can Do This Booth. As others have said, I am not really going into this all that much, right now. I am waiting for Kimpants to talk about this more before I talk about the experience at the booth. Most of the afternoon was spent at the booth, but also looking for some awesome swag as well.
Saturday was a repeat of Friday at the You Can Do This Booth, plus more time with my amazing friends. I really needed this trip. I did find out on Saturday my pump warranty is shot and well my pump is starting to go on me. So of course I am not even close to being prepared to figure out what I am doing pump wise. That conversation will show up on Thursday/Friday.
Sunday I came home. Happier and sadder than I when I came down to Florida. Friends for Life was awesome, worth it, and fun. Something all people with D, whether newly diagnosed, young, or 20+ years with the D. The time with others is so key to vent, to bitch, and just be normal, without the questions of "Can you eat this?"
I flew down last Monday, July 2nd from EWR to MCO. The flight was relatively uneventful, which was nice. I mean my Dexcom most likely set off the alarm, which I am used to, so I was patted down. Honestly, this time was probably one of the best pat downs in like forever. The first few I had, were kinda awkward, but as time has moved on they have been less touchy and kinder or I am just used to people .... that is going to go dirty. Well probably to late, so I am going to stop. I alarmed, said I have a pump, they gave me a pat down and hand wipe, sent me on my way. I chilled in the airport, ran into someone from my parish, chatted, flew to Orlando.
I found my bags and went to pickup my rental. I was tired. I got screwed over by the rental agent from Avis who signed me up for liability insurance that I never wanted. This fight with Avis is still pending. No matter the case, I will not be renting from them EVER again. Deceitful, lying practices by the agent cost me $100 that I had not budgeted for on this trip. Later on this afternoon, I will be flipping my own switch on them. (Starting nice of course).
Following the rental I went and checked in at my hotel. Old Key West (I have a time share, so it was a "free" room for the week.) That was easy. Only if all businesses took their cue from Disney, the world would be a better place. You hear me Avis?? It was about 1:00 in the afternoon so I headed over to the Magic Kingdom for a little fun and wanted to get my hands on a GAC card. The process took a while, I did not get the full access I was hoping for, but I got a card to wait in a shaded waiting area if nothing else. This was not worth the fight, there are other parks to visit and attempts to be had.
I Jungle Cruised it for awhile, why? I love that ride and corny jokes. I got some Ice Cream as I was dipping low. I headed to Hollywood Studios for some fun. At Hollywood Studios I figured I would try my luck again at the GAC card that had the alternate entrance option. I seem to always have luck at this place. This time fate was at my side. I wandered into the entrance and was waiting for the next available person. The agent came up to me and was all like, "what can I do for you?" I told her that I needed a GAC card. She asked how long I was at the parks for and how many people, and disappeared. I found that weird since I never even had to give the Diabetes spiel. She came back with the magic card I was hoping for and I wandered off, still a little confused. That is when it dawned on me. While I was waiting to be seen, I was standing next to a grandma age person in a wheel chair. I can only assume that the person thought this was my grandma and gave me the card without any questions. (She must have been really confused when I left leaving my "grandmother" to somebody elses care.) Whoops.
I had dinner with friends and just hugged and relaxed. AWESOME day.
Tuesday, I met up with people for breakfast. Dayle, gave me a big hug and said "Hi, I'm Dayle". Mind you we had never met in person, but well I could figure out who she was based on Hangouts. Tuesday was awesome. I had a chance to see all of my friends who I had been missing big time and hug others whom I had never met. A group of us recorded a podcast with Chris. That was fun. Long day. Awesome though.
Wednesday, I woke up and had to meet with the people over at Tandem Diabetes, for a pump demo. I will talk more about this in a different post to give you my thoughts and comments. Following that I was waiting for Sara to pull herself together. I did some d-art instead with Lee Ann Thill. We were given art supplies based on pump bits and pieces, infusion sets, tape, glue, glitter. Awesome. So I made my d-art creature.
Who knew I had that kinda art talent?!? No me. I was just being patient. It was a fun day. Sara and I headed over to Hollywood Studios again, rode the rides we wanted, had fun. It rained all over us, so stops were made to change clothes and such. It was a great day. Oh I also played some awesome basketball with Scott Johnson and Rick Philbin.
Thursday, the conference started as it was supposed to. The opening Keynote by Tom Karlya. He had many great things to say. The morning was SOOO worth it. The rest of the day is kinda a bit of a blur. I know I sat through some sessions which were good. I was really just excited to see my friends and just be able to talk and deal with all the beeps, clicks, whistles, and all other noises my pump and other peoples pumps made. My room has been kinda quiet the past few days. Sad on some level, but I haven't had to grab my Dexcom and be all like damn, that wasn't mine. The night ended with 16 + of us going to see Spiderman! AWESOME!
Friday was a repeat of Thursday, however we did setup the You Can Do This Booth. As others have said, I am not really going into this all that much, right now. I am waiting for Kimpants to talk about this more before I talk about the experience at the booth. Most of the afternoon was spent at the booth, but also looking for some awesome swag as well.
Saturday was a repeat of Friday at the You Can Do This Booth, plus more time with my amazing friends. I really needed this trip. I did find out on Saturday my pump warranty is shot and well my pump is starting to go on me. So of course I am not even close to being prepared to figure out what I am doing pump wise. That conversation will show up on Thursday/Friday.
Sunday I came home. Happier and sadder than I when I came down to Florida. Friends for Life was awesome, worth it, and fun. Something all people with D, whether newly diagnosed, young, or 20+ years with the D. The time with others is so key to vent, to bitch, and just be normal, without the questions of "Can you eat this?"
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The bag, the murse, the review.
Two weeks ago, I post my Wordless Wednesday, with pictures of my attempt at finding a newer, awesome, svelte looking bag to hide my d-supplies in when I travel. More so for things like days at theme parks, conferences, and basic travel. Basically for my trip to FFL in a few days. (I was gonna go all psycho crazy with exclamation points and joy, but I think those of you who know, know how excited I am. For those of you who didn't know already, sorry you missed that memo, and now you do.) Anyway, yeah so I bought this pretty awesome Timbuk2 bag and have been demoing it the past two weeks.
You gotta test drive things before you put them to the test right?? This little guy has gone through the ringer more or less. I am very picky about my murse. I mean if I am dragging this thing around with me all the time, I am going to make sure it is PERFECT! Is this bag perfect? No. Nothing will be unless I master the skills of nylon bag making, stitching, and well cutting straight lines.
The Pros:
- Thin profile
- Able space for the stuff I need
- Able size to keep me from throwing everything but the kitchen sink in the bag (I over prepare)
- Nice color. I love Blue. If you see at FFL next week you will see that in my wardrobe choice especially my sneakers. Technically the blue on the bag matches my sneakers. (That is another story, just wish I had socks to match my sneakers.)
- Shoulder slings close to body. (This is a con also).
- There is a strap included (not pictured) that can be used to make the bag snugger (more snug) by going around the waist as well, not needed though.
- Small.
- Zipper pockets on the inside.
Cons:
- If you have your cgm on the right love handle at least for me the bag strap can rub it.
- The sling is really the only option, you can't let it hang like a normal messenger bag. (Pro also)
- Velcro. My normal Timbuk2 bag has a huge buckle closure. This is a Velcro only bag. Mind you this is not a big con. I mean if I am low and shaky and I need to access my emergency supplies it is "easier" to open. I would have preferred a clip is all. I do worry in the long run the Velcro may lose its ability to be stuck closed. The Velcro is a strong bond, so I don't think it will be doing that anytime soon and I am not worried that the bag will let something out of it.
I honestly don't have any major complaints. The bag will keep me from overloading my bag, which I have been known to do. It can and will hold my iPad easily. My soda can or two easily. My test kit easily. Along with assorted other things. I am really happy to be using this bag next week. I mean I wish the should pad was a little more comfy, but I mean that is only because of the fact if I were to be wearing it ALL day, it might begin to wear on me... Get it? Wear on me??? Seriously you guys need to have a better appreciate for my corny jokes or next week will be a LONG week.
On a scale of 1 - 10 I give the bag an 8.7 or for those of us in the states I guess that would be a 156, which is a slightly high number. Oh goodness I need help. These puns just aren't fun. Well they are for me, you, well I am sure some of you may have smacked your head on a wall/desk/hand by now. I am saving my "better" jokes for next week, I think.
You gotta test drive things before you put them to the test right?? This little guy has gone through the ringer more or less. I am very picky about my murse. I mean if I am dragging this thing around with me all the time, I am going to make sure it is PERFECT! Is this bag perfect? No. Nothing will be unless I master the skills of nylon bag making, stitching, and well cutting straight lines.
The Pros:
- Thin profile
- Able space for the stuff I need
- Able size to keep me from throwing everything but the kitchen sink in the bag (I over prepare)
- Nice color. I love Blue. If you see at FFL next week you will see that in my wardrobe choice especially my sneakers. Technically the blue on the bag matches my sneakers. (That is another story, just wish I had socks to match my sneakers.)
- Shoulder slings close to body. (This is a con also).
- There is a strap included (not pictured) that can be used to make the bag snugger (more snug) by going around the waist as well, not needed though.
- Small.
- Zipper pockets on the inside.
Cons:
- If you have your cgm on the right love handle at least for me the bag strap can rub it.
- The sling is really the only option, you can't let it hang like a normal messenger bag. (Pro also)
- Velcro. My normal Timbuk2 bag has a huge buckle closure. This is a Velcro only bag. Mind you this is not a big con. I mean if I am low and shaky and I need to access my emergency supplies it is "easier" to open. I would have preferred a clip is all. I do worry in the long run the Velcro may lose its ability to be stuck closed. The Velcro is a strong bond, so I don't think it will be doing that anytime soon and I am not worried that the bag will let something out of it.
I honestly don't have any major complaints. The bag will keep me from overloading my bag, which I have been known to do. It can and will hold my iPad easily. My soda can or two easily. My test kit easily. Along with assorted other things. I am really happy to be using this bag next week. I mean I wish the should pad was a little more comfy, but I mean that is only because of the fact if I were to be wearing it ALL day, it might begin to wear on me... Get it? Wear on me??? Seriously you guys need to have a better appreciate for my corny jokes or next week will be a LONG week.
On a scale of 1 - 10 I give the bag an 8.7 or for those of us in the states I guess that would be a 156, which is a slightly high number. Oh goodness I need help. These puns just aren't fun. Well they are for me, you, well I am sure some of you may have smacked your head on a wall/desk/hand by now. I am saving my "better" jokes for next week, I think.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Trying to keep comments clean
People have their hundreds on the meter and cgm. I have my 123's I like order. I also like the 96's on my cgm. Why? Simply put right side up, upside down the number is right both ways. Yes, yes it goes both ways. I went there! Sorry. Dirty! Awesome!
Monday, June 25, 2012
The Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda's
I just used this phrase over in a comment on Facebook about regretting or possibly not making a decision based upon external variables. This is probably one of the worst choices/decisions to face. The inevitable should I do this, but what about x, y, z? Followed by the fear, that maybe you made that choice poorly.
In life, time and time again we will face these decisions. Heck, I do face them often enough. Sometimes, I make the right choice, sometimes I have my own regrets. Yet I am learning from each time I encounter the end result of shoulda, woulda, coulda. The funny thing is that as I have matured in my diabetes, I am finally able to make my decisions based upon my other fears. You know bee's, there not being any cheese to eat, traveling alone, and of course the fear of tiny plane seats... :-p
When I was younger, I can't even begin to tell you how big the list of my regrets is, not because of "fears", but because of my own fear of my diabetes. I mean travel out of state alone rarely happened. Doing a semester abroad?!? Really? Not gonna happen. All of these things that I could have done, I never did, because I was terrified of what could happen, what if I ran out of insulin, what if I went low? Heaven forbid the fear of traveling with a bag full of needles. (That was back in the day, when I actually used my syringes once.... I know, gross in reusing them, but when I traveled why would I want to bring 8,000 needles and try to figure out how to dispose of them.
I was an idiot on some levels for my own fears. I have some regrets now about what I could have done and did not. The difference now is, well others have done it and survived the ordeal, AND I KNOW THIS NOW.
When I started writing this post, I did not mean to make it turn into a You Can Do This post, but somehow it has. I think on so many levels all things wander back into the neighborhood of You Can Do This. The funny things is, is well I can. I could have done a semester abroad, it would have been a bitch and a half to make sure I did everything right and always had supplies and such. Yet I could have done it. I could have done x,y, and z, with my friends away from home if I planned it out right. Those regrets and fears I had, now seem inconsequential, well not the fear of bees. That is totally valid, I hide from those f-ers like it's my job.
Everything else though, aside from maybe going into outer space ( I think that is an area of expertise that I currently will not be adding to my resume. Imagine losing your last two bottles of insulin out of the airlock and the next supply drop isn't for 2 months.... That could be messed up). Anything else, really the sky is the limit. The Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda's, must not/cannot exist when you are tying to do things d-related. If you want to do something, there is a way. It may take time and effort and planning, but you can do whatever you want. Just plan it out right. That is what matters at the end of the day.
Completely unrelated. I need to write my post about my new murse find. I have played with it for two weeks and I think I can give it an honest review. Hopefully tomorrow.
In life, time and time again we will face these decisions. Heck, I do face them often enough. Sometimes, I make the right choice, sometimes I have my own regrets. Yet I am learning from each time I encounter the end result of shoulda, woulda, coulda. The funny thing is that as I have matured in my diabetes, I am finally able to make my decisions based upon my other fears. You know bee's, there not being any cheese to eat, traveling alone, and of course the fear of tiny plane seats... :-p
When I was younger, I can't even begin to tell you how big the list of my regrets is, not because of "fears", but because of my own fear of my diabetes. I mean travel out of state alone rarely happened. Doing a semester abroad?!? Really? Not gonna happen. All of these things that I could have done, I never did, because I was terrified of what could happen, what if I ran out of insulin, what if I went low? Heaven forbid the fear of traveling with a bag full of needles. (That was back in the day, when I actually used my syringes once.... I know, gross in reusing them, but when I traveled why would I want to bring 8,000 needles and try to figure out how to dispose of them.
I was an idiot on some levels for my own fears. I have some regrets now about what I could have done and did not. The difference now is, well others have done it and survived the ordeal, AND I KNOW THIS NOW.
When I started writing this post, I did not mean to make it turn into a You Can Do This post, but somehow it has. I think on so many levels all things wander back into the neighborhood of You Can Do This. The funny things is, is well I can. I could have done a semester abroad, it would have been a bitch and a half to make sure I did everything right and always had supplies and such. Yet I could have done it. I could have done x,y, and z, with my friends away from home if I planned it out right. Those regrets and fears I had, now seem inconsequential, well not the fear of bees. That is totally valid, I hide from those f-ers like it's my job.
Everything else though, aside from maybe going into outer space ( I think that is an area of expertise that I currently will not be adding to my resume. Imagine losing your last two bottles of insulin out of the airlock and the next supply drop isn't for 2 months.... That could be messed up). Anything else, really the sky is the limit. The Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda's, must not/cannot exist when you are tying to do things d-related. If you want to do something, there is a way. It may take time and effort and planning, but you can do whatever you want. Just plan it out right. That is what matters at the end of the day.
Completely unrelated. I need to write my post about my new murse find. I have played with it for two weeks and I think I can give it an honest review. Hopefully tomorrow.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
The Sigh Continues
Last night I tweeted two very frustrating, dare I say fustrating images.
The first is my 3 hour trend graph of Happy Dex readings. You see how that nice little trend line is so not doing much out of the sub 80 range. And the current BG is 46. Yeah. Looks great doesn't it?!?! Let's go to the 24 hour graph. Aside from some major attack spikes of ice cream, handfuls of m&m's, gorges of meals, I haven't cleared 155 in the past 24 hours.
I mean 155 I don't want to be there either, but the point is. I don't want to be at the 46 I was showing last night either. Yet still be able to tweet the images. To text with Jess who awesomely reached out to me, knowing why I am so annoyed about this annoyance. So many innuendo's about not being about not being able to keep my sugars up.... and such dirty joke wise have gone through my head. But I am not even going to attempt to go there. It is just not how I roll today.
Maybe I hit a sweet spot with my infusion set. I am sure some of it could be end of life for the CGM as well. But I am just getting annoyed. I am cautiously counting to make sure what I am eating and giving myself are what they should be. But doesn't seem to matter. I barely bolused for lunch today. And here is another fine example of me and my D playing well together.
I thought maybe this 43 was a phantom number, so I checked with my desk meter. Nope that gave me a 51. The only thing in this picture that made me smile were all the penguins on my desk. Today I am just very disgruntled. I am so not gruntled. On a die note, even though my spell check is telling me that gruntled is not a word. I don't think I have ever heard someone use the word gruntled before. It apparently has a definition. Who knew?? I just thought it was fluff, so one can be disgruntled.
ANYWAY, sorry about that. Today is just a day to be annoyed I guess. I am happyish. Well not. I feel fine. Sadly. I have eaten stuff to treat the low. Who knows how long the latest glucose tab attempt will work. I am guessing not long. I will just continue my annoyed, non-gruntled vigilance.
Today is a D must Die day. See what I did there?? Haha. At least I can joke if nothing else. Not happily blogging at 51 right now. Gimme a cookie. I am outta here!
B
The first is my 3 hour trend graph of Happy Dex readings. You see how that nice little trend line is so not doing much out of the sub 80 range. And the current BG is 46. Yeah. Looks great doesn't it?!?! Let's go to the 24 hour graph. Aside from some major attack spikes of ice cream, handfuls of m&m's, gorges of meals, I haven't cleared 155 in the past 24 hours.
I mean 155 I don't want to be there either, but the point is. I don't want to be at the 46 I was showing last night either. Yet still be able to tweet the images. To text with Jess who awesomely reached out to me, knowing why I am so annoyed about this annoyance. So many innuendo's about not being about not being able to keep my sugars up.... and such dirty joke wise have gone through my head. But I am not even going to attempt to go there. It is just not how I roll today.
Maybe I hit a sweet spot with my infusion set. I am sure some of it could be end of life for the CGM as well. But I am just getting annoyed. I am cautiously counting to make sure what I am eating and giving myself are what they should be. But doesn't seem to matter. I barely bolused for lunch today. And here is another fine example of me and my D playing well together.
ANYWAY, sorry about that. Today is just a day to be annoyed I guess. I am happyish. Well not. I feel fine. Sadly. I have eaten stuff to treat the low. Who knows how long the latest glucose tab attempt will work. I am guessing not long. I will just continue my annoyed, non-gruntled vigilance.
Today is a D must Die day. See what I did there?? Haha. At least I can joke if nothing else. Not happily blogging at 51 right now. Gimme a cookie. I am outta here!
B
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Zombie Defense Plan
Friday, June 15, 2012
Happy Anniversary?!? Happy Birthday?!?! ANNIVERTHDAY!!!
I really didn't know which way to take this title. This birthday/anniversary, anniverthday?? I have no clue what to call it is something that is so big and important it needs its own phrase. So I wanted to wish a Happy Anniverthday to the You Can Do This Project, which turns 1 year old today. To quote Kimpants. "Awesomesauce!"
Kimpants, who knew that your ideas and thoughts over a year ago could make a huge difference in the lives of so many people. I truly wish I could have people just send me videos saying thank you to you for what you have inspired myself and others to do. I bet you would be shocked by how many people this "little" idea has reached. I am guessing at least 10 maybe 20. :-p
Honestly, I can't even begin to guess how many people your idea has reached. I can tell you though, that you have made a huge impact on the lives of many with this project.
The "You Can Do This Project" background tells us that "Living with diabetes is hard, no matter what type or for how long you’ve had it. We often feel isolated or scared of what the future holds for us, and we become frustrated with all that is expected of us. Sometimes we deal with depression and anxiety; other times it is guilt and shame. We feel burned out. Sometimes we’re just plain tired of the all the hard work we have to put in to live another day.
Everyone with diabetes struggles at one time or another – and the term “struggle” can take on different meanings for different people. Validation and community have the ability to lighten the emotional load that diabetes can place on us.
That’s where this project comes in. Tell us your stories. Show others what living with diabetes is really like – no sugar-coating. Talk about the tough stuff. Show us how you’ve dealt with it. Let others see their own struggles and feelings through your words.
Show others that there can be light after the darkness; that they can get through the tough times.
Show them that they never have to be alone.
Speak to them the battle cry: 'You can do this.'"
It is true for myself and for everyone. Type 1 diabetes is part of my life, yes. Yet it is not me. I am not the diabetic priest, diabetic runner, diabetic ultimate frisbee player. I am Brian. I am a priest. I run, I bike, I play Ultimate Frisbee. I am unique. I am me, oh and I may also have type 1 diabetes. BLAH!!!! But diabetes is not who I am. I have known this for a while, yet I know how much the You Can Do This project has helped others. There was a top secret e-mail going around about the anniverthday of the You Can Do This Project, and the amount of responses of those saying, I'm in, I'm gonna blog this, I am so on this, is/was amazing. The fact that some people had been meaning to make a video and hadn't yet. The fact that others were amazed that Kimpants was possibly going to keep this on the low, not the DL, but not a big deal of this was crazy. So a bunch of people I know of started to think about this and come up with their own way of saying thank you to Kimpants.
I figured, what the heck, let me try one of these video thingys. Not sure how I felt about it. I realized my saying "hello" creeped me out so I edited it gone. I realized my eye contact was everywhere since I had no one to make eye contact with and I had to keep reminding myself to look at the camera. I also realized that I had about 30 minutes of awkward bloopers, which I thankfully deleted. Some people might see them and capitalize on the awkwardness. I also used my narrator or "priest" voice as my mom calls it at times. My bad. It is very hard to talk to myself as if I was talking to others who weren't truly there. However, I knew I could do this.... (Waa, Waaa!)
But hell I tried it, it wasn't as scarey as I thought it would be. Even though making a video late at night as tired as I am leads to bad jokes.... Sigh.
Kimpants, again thank you and Happy Anniverthday!!!
Kimpants, who knew that your ideas and thoughts over a year ago could make a huge difference in the lives of so many people. I truly wish I could have people just send me videos saying thank you to you for what you have inspired myself and others to do. I bet you would be shocked by how many people this "little" idea has reached. I am guessing at least 10 maybe 20. :-p
Honestly, I can't even begin to guess how many people your idea has reached. I can tell you though, that you have made a huge impact on the lives of many with this project.
The "You Can Do This Project" background tells us that "Living with diabetes is hard, no matter what type or for how long you’ve had it. We often feel isolated or scared of what the future holds for us, and we become frustrated with all that is expected of us. Sometimes we deal with depression and anxiety; other times it is guilt and shame. We feel burned out. Sometimes we’re just plain tired of the all the hard work we have to put in to live another day.
Everyone with diabetes struggles at one time or another – and the term “struggle” can take on different meanings for different people. Validation and community have the ability to lighten the emotional load that diabetes can place on us.
That’s where this project comes in. Tell us your stories. Show others what living with diabetes is really like – no sugar-coating. Talk about the tough stuff. Show us how you’ve dealt with it. Let others see their own struggles and feelings through your words.
Show others that there can be light after the darkness; that they can get through the tough times.
Show them that they never have to be alone.
Speak to them the battle cry: 'You can do this.'"
It is true for myself and for everyone. Type 1 diabetes is part of my life, yes. Yet it is not me. I am not the diabetic priest, diabetic runner, diabetic ultimate frisbee player. I am Brian. I am a priest. I run, I bike, I play Ultimate Frisbee. I am unique. I am me, oh and I may also have type 1 diabetes. BLAH!!!! But diabetes is not who I am. I have known this for a while, yet I know how much the You Can Do This project has helped others. There was a top secret e-mail going around about the anniverthday of the You Can Do This Project, and the amount of responses of those saying, I'm in, I'm gonna blog this, I am so on this, is/was amazing. The fact that some people had been meaning to make a video and hadn't yet. The fact that others were amazed that Kimpants was possibly going to keep this on the low, not the DL, but not a big deal of this was crazy. So a bunch of people I know of started to think about this and come up with their own way of saying thank you to Kimpants.
I figured, what the heck, let me try one of these video thingys. Not sure how I felt about it. I realized my saying "hello" creeped me out so I edited it gone. I realized my eye contact was everywhere since I had no one to make eye contact with and I had to keep reminding myself to look at the camera. I also realized that I had about 30 minutes of awkward bloopers, which I thankfully deleted. Some people might see them and capitalize on the awkwardness. I also used my narrator or "priest" voice as my mom calls it at times. My bad. It is very hard to talk to myself as if I was talking to others who weren't truly there. However, I knew I could do this.... (Waa, Waaa!)
But hell I tried it, it wasn't as scarey as I thought it would be. Even though making a video late at night as tired as I am leads to bad jokes.... Sigh.
Kimpants, again thank you and Happy Anniverthday!!!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Baggage
More on these pictures and my opinions as I keep doing the test drive.
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| Mini Messenger |
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| I realize it does kinda look purseish with receipts and my check book. But this is trial stuff. |
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Search begins again
I have some quirks, I will not deny that. I like stuff. Who doesn't? I like my stuff to look nice. Who doesn't? I like my stuff to be practical. Again, who doesn't? When it comes to my diabetes supplies, I also like practical. Last year before Friends for Life, I went out in search for the ideal travel accessory for my diabetes supplies as I travel throughout the day. I call it a murse. Once again, I am in search for a new supply travel bag for the day, to hold my test kit, my emergency supplies heaven forbid, and a bottle of water and or soda. I found a pretty nice one last year, however after a year of use and a few different trips, I have come to the conclusion that I am not enamored with it. The shoulder pad does nothing for me and well it is just awkward to carry.
I was talking with Jess last night about my bag search. She was kinda amused. I was explaining to her my conundrum and while she understood, there may have been some implicit grinning/hinting about it being nice to be a girl and have a purse to throw all of her stuff into. Fine, you have a purse. I can pee standing up and in the woods not without it being awkward. I think I win. (Sorry Jess, don't know where that passion came from. Well I do, but yeah.)
Being a guy and dealing with ones supplies can be awkward at times for day long events. I mean I have thrown stuff into one of those sport sack things with the strings that cinch it closed. When I am doing sporting things and I can throw the bag down in one location that is fine. After hours of wear those things hurt. I don't have a purse to put it in. I can even pull off the cool little bags that Karen was bragging about the other day. Where are the male friendly supplies? Nowhere.
It is a pain in the butt let me tell you. Don't get me wrong, I will go and raid my local Target, Kohl's, and maybe even REI in my ever searching quest for perfection in the bag department. But I am picky on some levels. I looked online for "diabetes supply bags" maybe I am a snob, but 1.) the bag has to at least look somewhat nice, 2.) the bag cannot be awkwardly bulky or HUGE, and 3.) the bag has to make sense for the supplies I am carrying. Some of the "supply bags" look like.... well I am not going to say what they look like. I already used the word pee, I have wandered as far as I can into that direction.
A supply bag for me and I am sure some of the other guys out there may agree. I am looking at you Martin to back me up. Needs to be practical. Have slots for meters, insulin, emergency supplies, maybe a frio slot, (which I don't use), but also to hold an iPad or kindle or nook, maybe just a book, and a bottle of fluids as well. Yet at the same time maybe have some color on it and be comfortable to wear all day long. I want to be classy, well as classy as I can be. Yet at the same time I don't want it to look like a PURSE. I don't know maybe I am asking for to much here. Yet, I don't think I am. I would love to come up with a practical concept. I have ideas in my head. Yet there are no bag companies out there that have said, "Hey Brian, we see that you have ideas for the idea male bag for diabetes supplies. Want to come and meet with our people and design it??" Oh I would kill to be able to do that. Same thing with a more practical meter case. However, I am not going to be picky.
Having diabetes is a pain in the bum. Not being able to travel with supplies comfortably, should not be a problem for us. Adorn has the right idea. I like the idea of what they offer. If only they had a smaller option as well. Well they do, but it is a purse so yeah. Anyway. That is today's "rant". You guys all rock my socks and for those of you coming to Friends for Life less than 25 days depending on when you are showing up. Maybe, I will have a new bag to show off. If not, show me your purse and I will put my stuff in your bag.
I was talking with Jess last night about my bag search. She was kinda amused. I was explaining to her my conundrum and while she understood, there may have been some implicit grinning/hinting about it being nice to be a girl and have a purse to throw all of her stuff into. Fine, you have a purse. I can pee standing up and in the woods not without it being awkward. I think I win. (Sorry Jess, don't know where that passion came from. Well I do, but yeah.)
Being a guy and dealing with ones supplies can be awkward at times for day long events. I mean I have thrown stuff into one of those sport sack things with the strings that cinch it closed. When I am doing sporting things and I can throw the bag down in one location that is fine. After hours of wear those things hurt. I don't have a purse to put it in. I can even pull off the cool little bags that Karen was bragging about the other day. Where are the male friendly supplies? Nowhere.
It is a pain in the butt let me tell you. Don't get me wrong, I will go and raid my local Target, Kohl's, and maybe even REI in my ever searching quest for perfection in the bag department. But I am picky on some levels. I looked online for "diabetes supply bags" maybe I am a snob, but 1.) the bag has to at least look somewhat nice, 2.) the bag cannot be awkwardly bulky or HUGE, and 3.) the bag has to make sense for the supplies I am carrying. Some of the "supply bags" look like.... well I am not going to say what they look like. I already used the word pee, I have wandered as far as I can into that direction.
A supply bag for me and I am sure some of the other guys out there may agree. I am looking at you Martin to back me up. Needs to be practical. Have slots for meters, insulin, emergency supplies, maybe a frio slot, (which I don't use), but also to hold an iPad or kindle or nook, maybe just a book, and a bottle of fluids as well. Yet at the same time maybe have some color on it and be comfortable to wear all day long. I want to be classy, well as classy as I can be. Yet at the same time I don't want it to look like a PURSE. I don't know maybe I am asking for to much here. Yet, I don't think I am. I would love to come up with a practical concept. I have ideas in my head. Yet there are no bag companies out there that have said, "Hey Brian, we see that you have ideas for the idea male bag for diabetes supplies. Want to come and meet with our people and design it??" Oh I would kill to be able to do that. Same thing with a more practical meter case. However, I am not going to be picky.
Having diabetes is a pain in the bum. Not being able to travel with supplies comfortably, should not be a problem for us. Adorn has the right idea. I like the idea of what they offer. If only they had a smaller option as well. Well they do, but it is a purse so yeah. Anyway. That is today's "rant". You guys all rock my socks and for those of you coming to Friends for Life less than 25 days depending on when you are showing up. Maybe, I will have a new bag to show off. If not, show me your purse and I will put my stuff in your bag.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Cheese
Yesterday I played Ultimate Frisbee from 6 - 8:30 and came back home exhausted and HUNGRY!!!!!! I was coming down from a High, due to exercise and probably adrenaline and such. So I was all about the healthy protein rich meal I should have eaten.... I had tomato soup with 2 full servings of vegetables (YUM) and a plate of corn grain chips and calcium supplement... aka NACHOS. So much for the protein stuff.
At least last night I had managed to conquer the cheese. I was quite proud of self. Not that I ever get cheese and chips or cheese and pizza right.
At least last night I had managed to conquer the cheese. I was quite proud of self. Not that I ever get cheese and chips or cheese and pizza right.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
A review something I don't normally do!
I realize today is "Wordless Wednesday" and I should just be showcasing a picture something diabetes related and leave it at that. However, today I do not feel so wordless. It has been a week since I have posted anything. Hell it has been even longer since I actually wrote something. Life has been busy. I have been busy, so I am today is a Ketchup and Mustard sorta day. (Ketchup = Catch up and Mustard = Mustard)
Last week, people were talking about the Lily Bloggers event that they all went to, without me (jerks). No, but seriously. I loved reading their blog posts, seeing some of their tweeted comments and the like about the conference. I think it was good, more so I do like to see that Lily/Disney on some level are trying to make diabetes awareness more well out there. Very great idea and putting the muscle of certain companies behind an idea can make all of the difference to helping a cause.
So I was reading Lorraine's blog post about the books and a comment she made kinda made me laugh but realize if I was a parent, I might be having those same thoughts. "The struggles featured for these characters were more emotional as opposed to physical. For tweens that may indeed be the priority at first...... found myself anticipating an out-of-range blood sugar at one of the many times the characters responsibly checked their bg. It might be better to say I was actually rooting for an out-of-range blood sugar to see how the story would address it because so many other things were being portrayed well. Those opportunities were few."
Dealing with hypo's in a kids book could be freaky on some level to young kids, even though we know they will face them. This comment along with some other comments got me thinking, which is a very bad thing at times about life in general and books I have read about characters or people with type one diabetes. I can count on one finger the amount of books I have read about this. Sad?!? I don't know. I was/am a nerd. When I was younger I read a million books a year, now I am slowing down and reading only about half a million a year. I never knew or thought about books like this. Looking for the character, the "role model" so to speak who has type one diabetes. I have found real life role models. Nothing really in writing.
Three?!? or so years ago I stumbled upon this book. I think the title or suggestion came up in a conversation over on Juvenation. I could be so wrong on this. My memory is not what it once was. Anyway, the book called This Side of Normal by Eric Devine suddenly came into my life. Here's the
biography of the author.
"I was diagnosed with type one diabetes at age twelve. I remember every detail: my mother’s face, the solemnity of the hospital, the absolute confusion. Those images will never leave me and have worked their way into This Side of Normal. This book is not my story. It is Ed’s. The details of such, however, were hard-won. Life with type one diabetes is not easy. Every day is different from the last. That is the essence of a chronic illness. Life becomes a paradox: success one day, and then failure the next, without having altered the treatment. It is a humbling experience. I believe I have captured what it is like to be an adolescent today, searching for identity while struggling not to be overpowered by one’s own body. It is a unique dynamic, but one that reflects a more universal dilemma: accepting one’s vulnerability and entrusting others with our weaknesses. Adults and adolescents—with or without diabetes—can relate. We have all been Ed at one time or another"
So anyway, I decided what they hey, let's order this bad boy. The book came and I can remember myself becoming instantly engrossed in the tale. I mean it was an amazing tale. I actually do remember sending an e-mail off to Eric at that time thanking him for the book.
Anyway, back to my own rambling and musings. After reading the various comments about the Lily books, I thought to myself. "Brian you should reread this book and see what you can get out of it now." I responded with the obvious response of "Brian, you don't have this book anymore you gave it to someone else to read and they never returned it. (This is why I don't like lending my stuff out to people anymore.)" I was pretty bummed, but I went to Amazon anyway just out of curiosity to see if I could find another copy of the book for cheap. There it was $2.99, Kindle edition. Hell, I could do that. That is one less Iced Coffee for the week and well worth it.
So I downloaded the book, (I apologize as I write this I am giving you all way to much insight into how my mind thinks and how it writes... eep!!). I loved it again. The thing is with this book the character is someone we have all seen in ourselves on some level. Let me start out by saying that this book is definitely PG more like PG-13 for some of the language, not bad language but crude at times and the use of the word "Piss" in the first chapter alone as the character is struggling pre-diagnosis about how often he has to pee can be seen as strongly used.
The thing is the book is well written, it does give us the reader a look into the thought processes of a newly diagnosed young man, but more so the after events. Dealing with the diagnosis, the lows, the highs, the frustrations, mixing alcohol into everything, but also the loss of a friend due to the "disease". It is truly a great book.
The second time through reading this more ideas and thoughts came to mind. How on so many levels I was able to relate to Ed and the processes he went through. How my best friend and I went our separate ways post diagnosis and truly until recently it never clicked to me, that maybe it was because of this that all of a sudden we had stopped hanging out. It really made me think.
Anyway, I am just writing this and offering a suggestion about an interesting read. I wish there was more to the story or book two. However, that does not seem to be in the works.
*** Disclaimer - I Brian have chosen on my own to write a small review of this book. I am in no way shape or form benefiting from this review. I have not been asked, contacted, begged, or pleaded with with by the author, publisher, or seller to write this review to help generate sales income. I did this on my own. However, my stamp of approval does still stand. ***
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Wordless Wednesday: Fail/Success
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| What do you do with address lines? Seriously how hard is it to spell Brian?? |
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| I swear it s a no hit. It may look like a hit at 60, but it never did. |
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Day 6: Photos
So I may or may not have taken a cop out on this topic. I looked at the folder on my computer appropriately titles dblog photos and well stole a bunch of pictures out of it. Ideally it is not thievery, yet it is still a repeat, a repost, yet for some of you they are "new to you". I know that is a slogan for something, but well I can't seem to remember what. So in accordance with today's post prompt, lets see some of these awesome pictures.
Back for the third year, let’s show everyone what life with diabetes looks like! With a nod to the Diabetes 365 project, let’s grab our cameras again and share some more d-related pictures. Post as many or as few as you’d like. Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures, or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.
Between bent infusion sets, tangled lines, strips and supplies out the wazoo. Not to mention just the volume of strips and such that we deal with it is amazing how we keep our lives together. I have supplies in bits and pieces, nooks and crannies, that I never thought they would end up in. It is sad, yet at the same time funny. We deal with what we got, but I could so do without the strips, the bloody infusion sites, the costs, and tangles, yet it is not always easy to do. But I have friends who support me and are there when I truly need them. WHICH IS AWESOME!!! Thank you one and all for your help, support, and listening to me when I am weird or low.
Back for the third year, let’s show everyone what life with diabetes looks like! With a nod to the Diabetes 365 project, let’s grab our cameras again and share some more d-related pictures. Post as many or as few as you’d like. Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures, or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.
Between bent infusion sets, tangled lines, strips and supplies out the wazoo. Not to mention just the volume of strips and such that we deal with it is amazing how we keep our lives together. I have supplies in bits and pieces, nooks and crannies, that I never thought they would end up in. It is sad, yet at the same time funny. We deal with what we got, but I could so do without the strips, the bloody infusion sites, the costs, and tangles, yet it is not always easy to do. But I have friends who support me and are there when I truly need them. WHICH IS AWESOME!!! Thank you one and all for your help, support, and listening to me when I am weird or low.
Friday, May 18, 2012
DBlog Week - Day 5 - What they should know
Alright before diving into the meat and potatoes of this post, well in the case of the crazy vegetarians out there like me. The Facon and Potatoes of this blog post, I will start with the hardest what you should know. Did you know it is really hard for me to consistently match the titles and how I did the titles up to this weeks blog week? I don't think I have hit the same format once yet. Could I fix them? Yes. Should I fix them? Probably. Will I fix them?? Nope. Why?? LAZY!!!!!
So today's prompt from Karen was a good one.
Today let’s borrow a topic from a #dsma chat held last September. The tweet asked “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”. Let’s do a little advocating and post what we wish people knew about diabetes. Have more than one thing you wish people knew? Go ahead and tell us everything.
I start this post off with a side comment almost a pre-disclosure, disclosure. However, since I rarely take those things all that seriously I am not going to claim it is a disclosure. How about a point of interest. I had some ideas as to where I was planning on taking this post. Many ideas. I had resolved myself that I was not going to look at what anyone else had written until I wrote my own stuff for fear of corruption or ideas sneaking into my head. I failed at that. I read a bunch of #dblogs once I got my internet back. I was just so happy to have it back, I forgot my resolution. FAIL. I am not intentionally taking anything from you, yet if I do not attribute an idea that you feel is YOURS, it is not intentional. You corrupted my thought patterns and well yeah. The other tidbit is I am going to try to keep sarcasm to a minimum.... I mean my sarcasm in check... I mean I won't be making fun of someone at all in this blog post. Other people. Who knows.
My thoughts were more or less focused on one part of the disease and well I stumbled upon the musings of Caleb this morning and well, I like what he wrote so I am quoting a lot of him right now. And he gets all of the credit for where this post goes from here:
Non-diabetics shouldn’t think that we got diabetes from eating too much sugar; it’s just a disease that scientists haven’t discovered a cure for.
They should also know that diabetes isn’t contagious.
Diabetics are the same as everyone. Just because we wear pumps and take carbs to treat lows doesn’t mean we’re different.
It makes me feel sad when people go around thinking that we ate too much sugar so we deserve this disease.
I have to be honest with you, it is the last line I have from Caleb that really caught my attention as I was directing my thoughts. "We ate so much sugar so we deserve this disease." It scares me that people still think that. I wish it wasn't the case, but we ALL know that this happens and the misconceptions about diabetes abound. It is so sad, it is messed up. NOBODY and I mean NOBODY deserves this disease or any other disease. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, nobody says "oh it's because you stood in front of the microwave for too long." Or maybe, if a person is lactose intolerant that the blame is assigned to the milk drinking habits of either you or a parent. Sure there are some people out there who blame cell phones and microwaves for cancer. But people tend to write that misinformation off.
Yet for diabetes, people are more than willing to subscribe to any urban legend/myth as to what the cause of the illness is. More so, it was because of a lifestyle of bad eating or feeding that led us to have this illness. To my knowledge the causes just like the cure have yet to be completely found. Yes, interesting tidbits have come up to link bits and pieces of the why. Don't ask me what, I forget. Yet people still parrot the same things time and time again.
For once in my life I wouldn't mind if after telling someone I had type-1 diabetes that their response to me, was something like... "Oh you got it from playing with unicorns as a kid." or maybe "Yeah, my mother got it from a bee sting." Something different, not the same stereotypes.
Not the cause or case. Yet people just don't know or get it. It pains me and saddens me. Yet again, the comment of "we deserve the disease." This idea or concept that Caleb has been told or heard from idiots is so sad. We do not deserve this disease on any level. Yet it can happen to the best or worst of us. The thing is, we can survive, we can do this.
You know what we can do this. Yet it would be "easier" if we did not have to answer those same questions again and again. This is why I want my button. Especially the hammer function.
Thank you Caleb for the idea for this post. You are awesome. I guess your mom is pretty cool too.
So today's prompt from Karen was a good one.
Today let’s borrow a topic from a #dsma chat held last September. The tweet asked “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”. Let’s do a little advocating and post what we wish people knew about diabetes. Have more than one thing you wish people knew? Go ahead and tell us everything.
I start this post off with a side comment almost a pre-disclosure, disclosure. However, since I rarely take those things all that seriously I am not going to claim it is a disclosure. How about a point of interest. I had some ideas as to where I was planning on taking this post. Many ideas. I had resolved myself that I was not going to look at what anyone else had written until I wrote my own stuff for fear of corruption or ideas sneaking into my head. I failed at that. I read a bunch of #dblogs once I got my internet back. I was just so happy to have it back, I forgot my resolution. FAIL. I am not intentionally taking anything from you, yet if I do not attribute an idea that you feel is YOURS, it is not intentional. You corrupted my thought patterns and well yeah. The other tidbit is I am going to try to keep sarcasm to a minimum.... I mean my sarcasm in check... I mean I won't be making fun of someone at all in this blog post. Other people. Who knows.
My thoughts were more or less focused on one part of the disease and well I stumbled upon the musings of Caleb this morning and well, I like what he wrote so I am quoting a lot of him right now. And he gets all of the credit for where this post goes from here:
Non-diabetics shouldn’t think that we got diabetes from eating too much sugar; it’s just a disease that scientists haven’t discovered a cure for.
They should also know that diabetes isn’t contagious.
Diabetics are the same as everyone. Just because we wear pumps and take carbs to treat lows doesn’t mean we’re different.
It makes me feel sad when people go around thinking that we ate too much sugar so we deserve this disease.
I have to be honest with you, it is the last line I have from Caleb that really caught my attention as I was directing my thoughts. "We ate so much sugar so we deserve this disease." It scares me that people still think that. I wish it wasn't the case, but we ALL know that this happens and the misconceptions about diabetes abound. It is so sad, it is messed up. NOBODY and I mean NOBODY deserves this disease or any other disease. When a person is diagnosed with cancer, nobody says "oh it's because you stood in front of the microwave for too long." Or maybe, if a person is lactose intolerant that the blame is assigned to the milk drinking habits of either you or a parent. Sure there are some people out there who blame cell phones and microwaves for cancer. But people tend to write that misinformation off.
Yet for diabetes, people are more than willing to subscribe to any urban legend/myth as to what the cause of the illness is. More so, it was because of a lifestyle of bad eating or feeding that led us to have this illness. To my knowledge the causes just like the cure have yet to be completely found. Yes, interesting tidbits have come up to link bits and pieces of the why. Don't ask me what, I forget. Yet people still parrot the same things time and time again.
For once in my life I wouldn't mind if after telling someone I had type-1 diabetes that their response to me, was something like... "Oh you got it from playing with unicorns as a kid." or maybe "Yeah, my mother got it from a bee sting." Something different, not the same stereotypes.
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| I knew I shoulda pet the Zebra. |
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| Here comes the diaBEEtus... OMG, I just fell off my chair laughing again. |
You know what we can do this. Yet it would be "easier" if we did not have to answer those same questions again and again. This is why I want my button. Especially the hammer function.
Thank you Caleb for the idea for this post. You are awesome. I guess your mom is pretty cool too.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Dblog - Day 4 Fantasy Device
Before day four even began, I could already imagine my answer to this blog topic. For those of us who deal with type 1 diabetes on any level, parent, patient, caregiver, or friend. Even those who deal with type 2 diabetes, my answer to this prompt would be the same.
Today let’s tackle an idea inspired by Bennet of Your Diabetes May Vary. Tell us what your Fantasy Diabetes Device would be? Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc. etc. etc. The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?
So Brian, what exactly are you getting at here? Don't get me wrong, I want to post about those amazing fantasy devices or cures out there. The tiny pumps. The accurate meters. The less SCAREY CGM's. The lancers that do not hurt. Hell even the insulin that goes BAM and done. Yet, these are being covered all over the blogosphere today (Sara you are write (get it write cause you wrote it, haha, can you do parentheses in parentheses??), today I am not linking to the fantasy devices, so BLAH). Everyone on some level is seeking the cure. I WANT IT TOO. However today, I am going to do something different.
The fantasy device I want would be a little sticker/name badge that would instantly answer any diabetes related questions. Either the practical, "Brian you seem out of it are you low?" "YES." to the practical "That cupcake has sugar in it, can you eat that?" (sidenote I had the most amazing cupcake with lunch today, covered in coconut and buttery cake batter...... crap where was I?) "Yes, yes I can. If you would like a sarcastic response keep reading, for the informed response say skip?" This would apply to all of us. The miracle cure, the if you diet and exercise, cinnamon, Halle Berry, Drew Carey.... I don't really farting care.
Something that does a PowerPoint explanation without me having to address the issue over and over again. Plus the added hammer function. You know for the person who keeps saying the cynical or condemnatory comments when you eat and properly bolus for that lovely Ice Cream cone you have been dreaming about all day. It will recognize the voice and bonk them on the head. Yet instead of making a bonking noise it will say, "I can eat this butt munch." Being called a butt munch by an inanimate object may be the only way to teach someone the answer to our desire.
This tech does not have to be all that flashy or amazing. Just enough to end the cycle of stupidity that we deal with on a daily basis.
I really want another cupcake now and that hammer function is so stuck in my head. I need help.
*Disclaimer - Haven't written a real one of these in a while. Well today's is not real either. Well the fact that it only has something to say, but not a real warning. I pick on Sara sometimes in my blog. Why? Because I know she can take it and is apparently a glutton for punishment. She is a really good friend though who I love dearly and if she ever asked me to seriously not pick on her in my blog I would seriously consider doing it. Yet I think she likes the mentions from me and gets my attempts at stupid humor and the like. So today's disclaimer is that Sara = awesome. Just don't tell her that or she will never let me forget it.
** Disclaimer to the disclaimer - I realize in writing the above disclaimer I mentioned that Sara was awesome. That was weird, I think she possessed me. I change my warning to Sara is a good, understanding friend, that would never use lows as an excuse to pick on someone or exploit a nickname. Yeah, that works in my favor now. BAM!!!!
Today let’s tackle an idea inspired by Bennet of Your Diabetes May Vary. Tell us what your Fantasy Diabetes Device would be? Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc. etc. etc. The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?
So Brian, what exactly are you getting at here? Don't get me wrong, I want to post about those amazing fantasy devices or cures out there. The tiny pumps. The accurate meters. The less SCAREY CGM's. The lancers that do not hurt. Hell even the insulin that goes BAM and done. Yet, these are being covered all over the blogosphere today (Sara you are write (get it write cause you wrote it, haha, can you do parentheses in parentheses??), today I am not linking to the fantasy devices, so BLAH). Everyone on some level is seeking the cure. I WANT IT TOO. However today, I am going to do something different.
The fantasy device I want would be a little sticker/name badge that would instantly answer any diabetes related questions. Either the practical, "Brian you seem out of it are you low?" "YES." to the practical "That cupcake has sugar in it, can you eat that?" (sidenote I had the most amazing cupcake with lunch today, covered in coconut and buttery cake batter...... crap where was I?) "Yes, yes I can. If you would like a sarcastic response keep reading, for the informed response say skip?" This would apply to all of us. The miracle cure, the if you diet and exercise, cinnamon, Halle Berry, Drew Carey.... I don't really farting care.
Something that does a PowerPoint explanation without me having to address the issue over and over again. Plus the added hammer function. You know for the person who keeps saying the cynical or condemnatory comments when you eat and properly bolus for that lovely Ice Cream cone you have been dreaming about all day. It will recognize the voice and bonk them on the head. Yet instead of making a bonking noise it will say, "I can eat this butt munch." Being called a butt munch by an inanimate object may be the only way to teach someone the answer to our desire.
This tech does not have to be all that flashy or amazing. Just enough to end the cycle of stupidity that we deal with on a daily basis.
I really want another cupcake now and that hammer function is so stuck in my head. I need help.
*Disclaimer - Haven't written a real one of these in a while. Well today's is not real either. Well the fact that it only has something to say, but not a real warning. I pick on Sara sometimes in my blog. Why? Because I know she can take it and is apparently a glutton for punishment. She is a really good friend though who I love dearly and if she ever asked me to seriously not pick on her in my blog I would seriously consider doing it. Yet I think she likes the mentions from me and gets my attempts at stupid humor and the like. So today's disclaimer is that Sara = awesome. Just don't tell her that or she will never let me forget it.
** Disclaimer to the disclaimer - I realize in writing the above disclaimer I mentioned that Sara was awesome. That was weird, I think she possessed me. I change my warning to Sara is a good, understanding friend, that would never use lows as an excuse to pick on someone or exploit a nickname. Yeah, that works in my favor now. BAM!!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Dblog Day 3: #fail
So today's prompt: Yesterday we gave ourselves and our loved ones a big pat on the back
for one thing we are great at. Today let’s look at the flip-side. We
probably all have one thing we could try to do better. Why not make
today the day we start working on it. No judgments, no scolding, just
sharing one small thing we can improve so the DOC can cheer us on!
Is it weird that my first thought was does the improvement have to be diabetes related?? I guess it should be. I mean I could be much better at controlling my sarcasm. I tried that once during lent, I decided to give up sarcastic comments and every time I failed I had to put money in a jar for the poor. After the second day I owed my jar $4,000,000. Oh that was a bad lent.
I mean I have my failures and they are biggies. Ignoring lows. Ignoring the normal guides to what I can and cannot eat or should not eat. Rage bolusing, rage low treating. The list goes on. If one looks at certain things I am a big failure. Hence the #fail. Yet these are all things I know I just need to buckle down and deal with. So I will try, without the entire judging and condemning of me by me. Yet this is not my biggest "#fail".
So what can I as a person with type-1 diabetes do better? That is easy. I need to be a more positive presence and advocate. I guess I have to figure out where my local chapter is and see what I can do to get involved in some way. I think that is a biggie for me. I was active in Juvenation for a few years, but I just got bored and sadly ran out of time for that. I started my blog a year ago as part of that decision. I went to Friends for Life to try to meet people and dip my toes into the water, good thing Blue is waterproof as I fell in for a bit.
Yet that is where the advocacy I just kinda stopped. I think as long as I can get clearance from my boss, I will try to do some the Tour de Cure, can't do better advocacy than that. It gives me a chance to talk and sucker people out of money at the same time. How sweet is that?? I don't know, but I need to be more active. It is the only way I will feel better on some level with my own dedication or lack there of to try to be a bigger part of the cure.
Is it weird that my first thought was does the improvement have to be diabetes related?? I guess it should be. I mean I could be much better at controlling my sarcasm. I tried that once during lent, I decided to give up sarcastic comments and every time I failed I had to put money in a jar for the poor. After the second day I owed my jar $4,000,000. Oh that was a bad lent.
I mean I have my failures and they are biggies. Ignoring lows. Ignoring the normal guides to what I can and cannot eat or should not eat. Rage bolusing, rage low treating. The list goes on. If one looks at certain things I am a big failure. Hence the #fail. Yet these are all things I know I just need to buckle down and deal with. So I will try, without the entire judging and condemning of me by me. Yet this is not my biggest "#fail".
So what can I as a person with type-1 diabetes do better? That is easy. I need to be a more positive presence and advocate. I guess I have to figure out where my local chapter is and see what I can do to get involved in some way. I think that is a biggie for me. I was active in Juvenation for a few years, but I just got bored and sadly ran out of time for that. I started my blog a year ago as part of that decision. I went to Friends for Life to try to meet people and dip my toes into the water, good thing Blue is waterproof as I fell in for a bit.
Yet that is where the advocacy I just kinda stopped. I think as long as I can get clearance from my boss, I will try to do some the Tour de Cure, can't do better advocacy than that. It gives me a chance to talk and sucker people out of money at the same time. How sweet is that?? I don't know, but I need to be more active. It is the only way I will feel better on some level with my own dedication or lack there of to try to be a bigger part of the cure.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
#Dblog What I do well
Today's prompt from K-Dawg. AKA Karen was interesting especially when I looked at other peoples blogs before I started to truly come up with an idea of my own. Now I have their stories in my head and I hope I don't accidentally wander down that same train of thought.
Living with diabetes (or caring for someone who lives with it) sure does take a lot of work, and it’s easy to be hard on ourselves if we aren’t “perfect”. But today it’s time to give ourselves some much deserved credit. Tell us about just one diabetes thing you (or your loved one) does spectacularly! Fasting blood sugar checks, oral meds sorted and ready, something always on hand to treat a low, or anything that you do for diabetes. Nothing is too big or too small to celebrate doing well!
So with my diabetes, what do I do well?? How about we start with what I so don't do well. Movie theater popcorn with its fake buttery goodness. #Fail. I tank so often, even with the combo bolus. Brown/white rice?? #Fail. Exercise blood sugars! #Fail. Walking! #Fail. Treating lows. #Fail. Treating highs, well they become lows, so #kindafail.
I am not perfect. Hell I am not even close half of the time. However, if I were to look at what I do well. I sleep great. I eat relatively healthily. I always go to my Doctor's appointments in the 4 month window I am asked. I could do it every 3 month's but apparently my doctor does not love me enough to see me 4 times a year. (Oh good, my I's stopped lining up.)
Taking Karen's prompt to heart, the one thing I do well is my rotation of infusion sets and always changing my site every three days. It sounds silly and simple. Yet it is something that I do and I do it well. Following some of my crazy dweeps on the Twitter, it amazes me when I see the tweets of "ran out of insulin" or "need to change my infusion set at work #awkward" or "I have the tubing and infusion set, but where's the reservoir" the list goes on. Mind you I am not judging or criticizing. I love you guys and your uniqueness.
This is just one bit of stress in my life that I am actually able to handle and eliminate. So like clock work/ religiously I will change my site every three days. What do I do with the extra insulin? Why waste it? I don't. Again, this is not sound advice, hell it is stupid advice. I have an "old" vial of insulin that the extra 5 - 15 units sometimes more or less will go into. That is my emergency supply, my oh shit I am still high what am I going to do supply. Has the insulin skunked itself? No clue. Is is less effective? Possibly. Yet I have this vial which I tap into sometimes when needed. Heck if I am filling up a reservoir and the bottle I am using runs dry, I use the "overflow" bottle to fill it.
Maybe, it is not a good idea, but it works for me. I don't suggest it as a way to just try or be cheap or anything like that. It is not a great idea on so many levels, but again it works for me. So this is what I do well. I am OCD enough to change my stuff every three days and avoid the running out of insulin's. Maybe one day I will be brave and just be ready to keep pumping until I run out and than change my site, but I am not there. I am not ready. My quirkiness won't allow it yet. However, I am sure some of the "bad" influences from my friends may eventually rub off on me.
Living with diabetes (or caring for someone who lives with it) sure does take a lot of work, and it’s easy to be hard on ourselves if we aren’t “perfect”. But today it’s time to give ourselves some much deserved credit. Tell us about just one diabetes thing you (or your loved one) does spectacularly! Fasting blood sugar checks, oral meds sorted and ready, something always on hand to treat a low, or anything that you do for diabetes. Nothing is too big or too small to celebrate doing well!
So with my diabetes, what do I do well?? How about we start with what I so don't do well. Movie theater popcorn with its fake buttery goodness. #Fail. I tank so often, even with the combo bolus. Brown/white rice?? #Fail. Exercise blood sugars! #Fail. Walking! #Fail. Treating lows. #Fail. Treating highs, well they become lows, so #kindafail.
I am not perfect. Hell I am not even close half of the time. However, if I were to look at what I do well. I sleep great. I eat relatively healthily. I always go to my Doctor's appointments in the 4 month window I am asked. I could do it every 3 month's but apparently my doctor does not love me enough to see me 4 times a year. (Oh good, my I's stopped lining up.)
Taking Karen's prompt to heart, the one thing I do well is my rotation of infusion sets and always changing my site every three days. It sounds silly and simple. Yet it is something that I do and I do it well. Following some of my crazy dweeps on the Twitter, it amazes me when I see the tweets of "ran out of insulin" or "need to change my infusion set at work #awkward" or "I have the tubing and infusion set, but where's the reservoir" the list goes on. Mind you I am not judging or criticizing. I love you guys and your uniqueness.
This is just one bit of stress in my life that I am actually able to handle and eliminate. So like clock work/ religiously I will change my site every three days. What do I do with the extra insulin? Why waste it? I don't. Again, this is not sound advice, hell it is stupid advice. I have an "old" vial of insulin that the extra 5 - 15 units sometimes more or less will go into. That is my emergency supply, my oh shit I am still high what am I going to do supply. Has the insulin skunked itself? No clue. Is is less effective? Possibly. Yet I have this vial which I tap into sometimes when needed. Heck if I am filling up a reservoir and the bottle I am using runs dry, I use the "overflow" bottle to fill it.
Maybe, it is not a good idea, but it works for me. I don't suggest it as a way to just try or be cheap or anything like that. It is not a great idea on so many levels, but again it works for me. So this is what I do well. I am OCD enough to change my stuff every three days and avoid the running out of insulin's. Maybe one day I will be brave and just be ready to keep pumping until I run out and than change my site, but I am not there. I am not ready. My quirkiness won't allow it yet. However, I am sure some of the "bad" influences from my friends may eventually rub off on me.
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