The Eye Doctor.....Dun, dun, DUN!!

Hi all! It has been a very busy and long week! My first week back on the pump has been full of highs and lows, good days and nauseous days, but through it all, I'm still thankful for this blessing. It is just sort of like starting over with figuring out insulin doses. My body isn't used to the blood sugar up and down rollercoaster anymore. But we are getting it figured out. 

Today I had yet another doctor appointment at my home away from home. The ophthalmologist. It has been a couple of years since I've gone, but my endocrinologist told me I needed to go in. T1D truly can kick every part of your body. There is so much potential for bad things to happen. It can be a downer! A T1D is supposed to faithfully go to the eye doctor annually. I've never had eye troubles, so I admit I put less priority on this part of my treatment. 

Today, it kicked me square in the butt. Hard. Left a mark. Me no likey.

My actual exam went very well. My sight is still perfect, no glasses needed. I've always been grateful for my good eyesight. I hate the dilation process. It gave me a bad headache this afternoon. 

Our clinic has some fun new machines that take an extremely detailed color photo of your eye. Up close and personal, and not even with dinner first! It was so neat to see the inner workings of my own eye. I'm always fascinated by stuff like that. I had to have a colonoscopy in my early 20's and I still have pictures of my colon in my journal. No, that isn't weird.

Well on the perdy picture of my eye, there was a little spot. I figured there was something up because the nurse left that portion of the picture up on the computer and zoomed in, ready to be evaluated by my doctor. Turns out, in my right eye I have a microaneurysm. Thankfully, it is not in my line of sight. It it a little ways next to it. If it were much closer, it would worsen my eyesight. It is leaking a very small amount of fluid, so he wants to look again in 6 months. If it is worse, or if there are more of them, I might have to have laser surgery. Tonight I'm having a "I hate T1D" kind of night. Why? Because a microaneurysm is an early sign of diabetic retinopathy. The doctor explained that this is a direct result of T1D. The worry now is if I will get another one closer to my line of sight.

After the appointment, I had to wear the above pictured sunglasses which belong to my daughter. We walked to the clinic and I had left my sunglasses in our car which my hubby had at work. Thankfully, an angel of mercy who we know, she saw us walking and picked us up so I could stop sporting those glasses in public...Ha!

Controlling blood sugars is so important, and I've done so well the last couple years. But there was all those years where I didn't have good control. I guess it is trying to catch up with my eyes. Control is going to be an even bigger priority with this new development. Say a little prayer for my little eyeballs.

Tonight, T1D can shove it.... Tomorrow is a new day.

Sweet dreams sweethearts! 

PUMPernickel, Let the Games Begin!

 Well sweethearts, today was pump hookup day! It all happened so quickly and I've been in a bit of a mental and blood sugar whirlwind today. 

I took off work for the appointment, which I'm glad I did. I didn't want to be battling blood sugar issues while still having to be productive. It doesn't work so well... The appointment went very well. I remember most of what to do, so it made things go smoothly. 

I've done fairly well today. My blood sugars have been normal, but on the lower side of normal. I've watched closely so I have been able to keep them up enough to still do things around home, and tonight hanging out with my little family. It would have been a lot to do all that while at work. Being on a pump, especially at first when all the dosing is a rough estimate guess, well it takes a lot out of you. Blood sugar checks more often than normal, and listening to every little sign your body throws out at you. But it doesn't kill my excitement! I am so happy to have this pump and I know how blessed I am to have been given it! 

 One interesting thing I forgot about, sleeping with the pump is an adventure...Ha! It gets rolled on, slips and slides around, and you can't just clip it because it hurts to roll over onto a plastic clip. So, MaeLae's sock to the rescue! Just put the pump in the sock and safety pin it to whatever bottoms you're wearing. It is a great trick I learned a long time ago. 

Now, my new basal is kicking in. That's why I'm down in my living room and blogging at almost midnight. I must still have a tiny bit of Lantus (long acting insulin) in my system. I'll be awake till I feel like my blood sugar is up to stay for the evening. Good thing I can sleep in a little tomorrow. Wish me good blessings, and here's hoping I get some sleep! I've already had an apple and also a sandwich. I hope I don't wake up high in the morning. Once my doses are figured out though, things will be fine and I will be a happy camper! 

Sleep well sweethearts! Say a little prayer that I'll sleep well too once I get there! 

A Miracle and a Blessing!

Tonight, I am an EXTREMELY happy woman! I, this very night, hold in my hand, an insulin pump of my very own!!!!!!!! Ok sweethearts, this is like Disneyland and Christmas and a lifetime of Birthdays all wrapped up in one fabulous tiny package. It is a huge deal! 

In 2004, I purchased my very first pump. I had no insurance so I had to pay the $6,000 out of my own pocket. (Sadly, they cost even more now!) It took me 5 years to pay off that sucker. I happily, and at times with frustration, pumped for 7 years. Then the threads on the battery holder started to break off and so I had to stop using it. It wasn't holding the battery cap on anymore. So I went back to injections and have been doing them ever since. A little over 4 years now. I take anywhere from 6-10 shots probably in a given day. Sometimes more depending on what my blood sugars are doing. Over time, that makes your skin so sore. I have been missing pumping for a long time now. With the pump, a small tube called a cannula goes under your skin and insulin is pumped in through a tube that is attached to the cannula. The beautiful thing is that the cannula only needs to be changed every 3 days. One needle every three days compared to about 30 or so over 3 days. I am sure you see the beauty! 

Why didn't I buy a new pump when mine broke? Insurance. It is so expensive to buy a pump even with insurance. And the supplies needed to use it are expensive too. It is a hard thing to afford financially. I'm praying that God will help us find a way to afford any supplies now. He's been so wonderful to us, and I'm grateful! 

I was in one of my T1D groups on fb last week and a woman posted that a friend had given her a pump and supplies that she didn't need. She generously offered them to me. It was an answer to prayers! I'm so thankful for her generosity! It will be so nice to have a break from injections for a while. I'm so happy and feeling incredibly blessed! This pump is in excellent condition. The woman from the group on fb also sent lots of accessories for wearing the pump and also everything needed for the continuous glucose monitor that is a part of this pump. I can't wait to use it all! 

I've already named my new pump. Is that lame? I don't think so either....ha! 

Welcome to the family PUMPernickel! 

(Don't judge...)

I get to talk to the doctor now and get a prescription for my supplies. Then we set up and pray! 

Sweet dreams sweethearts! 

The Joy of the Overnight Low.....

Well hello there sweethearts! I hope this week has been treating you fabulously!

It has been a great, but busy week for our family! Time has flown! But today, I have to tell the tale of yet another overnight low that I had the pleasure of dealing with last night.

 Picture this: Asleep. Comfy in bed. Warm in your covers. Suddenly you wake up at around 1:30 am. You quickly recognize that old familiar feeling. Shakes. Weak arms. A little disoriented. You reach out in the dark for your meter, and use your kindle as a light source. You check your blood sugar as you try to control the shaky feeling. Your meter confirms your suspicion. 36.... Then you remember you finished off all your bedside sugar sources on previous lows during the past week or two....

I have a wonderful husband who has made the executive decision that I shouldn't be walking downstairs in the dark during an overnight low. I agree, being the klutz I am! So he took out his last beloved Toblerone candy bar and let me have it for my low. Good man, and making sacrifices for the good of his wifey! 

It was a stubborn low. It took almost an hour to get back up to 85, at which time I figured correctly that I was good to go back to sleep. Only problem, it takes me forever to fall asleep. It was a long night.....

 Yes, this was my fun nighttime low experience. I truly hate overnight lows. They are a completely different ballgame because you have to confirm that your blood sugar is normal again before you can go to sleep again. If it takes 2 hours to get there, you're up for 2 hours. Same thing with overnight highs. You have to be up and checking and working to get your numbers back to normal. T1D doesn't care if you're tired, have to work in the morning, have to be not falling asleep during your daughter's morning routine, etc....

Well, it is a new day now. I started writing this last night, but couldn't finish. I was so tired. But I just wanted to add that I know T1D is a big pain in the very big butt. However, I continue to live and work and play every day. T1D doesn't get to win. It gets to annoy, plunder, and attempt to destroy, but it never gets to win. Take that T1D!! 

Have a great day sweethearts! 

Feeling Thankful!! :)

I found this great quote today. I love it! I am reminded of last year's open enrollment at work. Our insurance coverage changed a lot, and not for the better sadly. I remember spending a lot of time on my knees. I knew there was no way I would be able to buy insulin and supplies with our new large deductible and coinsurance percentages. I was so stressed. My A1C jumped from 6.5 to 7.7 during those months. Stress is horrible on blood sugars. And frankly, not knowing if you will have the medication and supplies necessary for your very survival, well stress just doesn't cut it! 

I prayed so hard for Heavenly Father to help us find some way. I asked, made phone calls, looked online, and read just about anything I could get my hands on about saving money on insulin and supplies.

Then the miracles started to pour in. I talked to my doctor at my 7.7 A1C appointment, and he's been giving me insulin samples since that day. He's been so kind and generous about it. He asked me if there were any other worries that would make my numbers jump so much, and I told him it was all insurance worries. He was eager to help me figure out my options and he's helped me save substantial amounts of money.

Then later on, I had two friends who had loved ones pass away. It was extremely sad and my heart broke for them. It happened that their loved ones who had passed were both type 2 diabetics. Both of my friends thought of me and gave me the remaining supplies and insulin left behind. I spent a great deal of time on my knees thanking God for his loving hand and the miracles my family was seeing right in front of us. Though the circumstances were heartbreaking, both my friends said their loved ones would be glad to see these items go to those who needed them. With those supplies and insulin, I have also had enough to share with 5 families who were in need. 

My mom, who is a Type 2, sent me out some test strips from her storage that she wasn't going to use. She's done that twice now. It is funny when you get excited about a care package from home that contains test strips...ha!

I was recently in contact with another person who had no use for a bunch of insulin pen needles. I think they were starting on a pump and just didn't need them anymore. Today, 6 boxes of them arrived in the mail.

Lately, all my insulin has been in vials so I have been going through more syringes than I used to. I was wondering a couple of weeks ago how to be strategic about planning and making what I have stretch as long as possible. I was on Facebook the other day, and I found a woman in one of the T1D groups who posted that she was getting rid of a bunch of syringes. She's giving me several boxes of them! I almost cried! And even better, there will be enough of those for me to share too. 

And with God's goodness in all these miracles, I have been still able to afford to buy my own test strips. Not a lot of them, but just enough for my needs. 

I can relate to the above quote so well because of all those times I prayed for help to just have sufficient for my needs. Sometimes I couldn't find words. It was hard to trust and rely on my faith. It was such a hard time. But I am a firm believer that after we do all we can do, God does the rest. He did this for me all of this year and more. These experiences have taught me so much about the power of sincere prayer. 

(When I got my 10 year survivor medal, 10 years late, but better late than never!)

I have this trial called T1D. It isn't going away. But He hasn't left me alone in it! I'm not left comfortless! 

I just wanted to post this because I pray it will give someone else hope, especially as the insurance industry continues to worsen. There is hope, and there are people who will help you! And you ALWAYS have your Heavenly Father! 

Goodnight sweethearts!