Occlusion

The first time my pump ever made weird squalling noises is the first time I ever traveled with other teachers from my middle school. It's always awkward to have to prick my finger in public, check my blood sugar, deal with a low, but I refuse to retreat to the bathroom. It's just not worth it to hide anymore. Fortunately most people are very understanding, and want to know more about diabetes. I am always surprised about how much people don't know even though it's all over the news and in newspapers.

When we were returning from our fast and furious two day trip to west Texas, I noticed my newly changed pod pricking me in my back. It doesn't usually do that, but I put it out of my mind and repositioned myself in my seat. During dinner, I noticed a high-pitched whining sound. I thought it was the restaurant we were in, but when we got back in the van to travel the final leg of the trip towards home, it continued. It was then that I checked my PDM and found out the the cannula that stays inserted into my skin was bent, and insulin could no longer be delivered. Thankfully, I brought an extra pump. So, with six members of the junior and high school looking in, I set out my medical menagerie and got to work. After I changed it out, it worked fine. The shame was wasting 130 units of insulin. Boo. Hiss.

sugar free delights!

Well I found a basket of sugar free joy at Walmart this weekend. Sugar free devil's food cake and chocolate icing!!! Let's hear a "heck yeah!" for "legal" cupcakes! I have a great recipes where I add pureed pumpkin to the devil's food cake mix, and it makes a wonderfully moist (and healthy without the eggs and oil!) cupcake. Can't wait to try them. The only drawback is that there is so much "fake" sugar like malitol, etc. When you get too much of that in your system, it pays you back. Laxative effect, oh yeah.

On the other hand, I had a couple of runs (runs, ha) this week without my insulin pump falling off. That's good. The only problem, now that it's cooler, is figuring out how to manage it, fix the numbers and calculations programmed in my pump so that after I run I don't get such bad lows. Right now, I'm still getting low blood sugar before lunch, and after I work out. I guess I'll just have to wait until I go to the doctor on Oct. 12 to have him help me "crunch" numbers with my PDM, personal diabetes manager, that controls my insulin pump through its signal.

Vegetarian update

Well... I'm trying hard to be a vegetarian, and I haven't eaten pork or beef in awhile, but it's hard! I find myself carb loading on pasta or bread, and that's not good for my diabetes, or my thighs!

I'll have to try harder to find whole grains and be sure to add extra veggies. And I guess I'll have to try to like fruit. Eww, though, it has such a gross texture.

I did try the Skin Tac with my pump, and it stayed on great! Also, we've had below 100 degree temperatures, so that helps a little. The only thing was, that I didn't have the remover wipe with me at the time I had to take it off. So OUCH!!! I felt like I ripped my skin off. The redness went down in a few hours, but it hurt like heck. I'll have to remember to bring all my supplies next time.