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Friday
Aug022013

Hi IQ

I love getting packages in the mail! Especially when they are unexpected.

This was one of those expected ones but since I expected it a long time ago it feels somehow unexpected. Know what I mean?

A while back I called Lifescan to set up the return of my meter due to the recall.

I really love using the One Touch Verio IQ meter. The display is great. The look is greater. And the light on it is the GREATEST!

Luckily a very good friend of mine in the DOC hooked me up with a bunch of strips for my 40th birthday. Thanks Sara!

[sidenote: my insurance company will not cover Verio strips]

So color me super stoked (neon orange?) when I got home and saw the package from Lifescan sitting on my desk. SWEET!

Honestly, there are many more exciting things to get super stoked about but when you celebrate everything, even the little things, life can seem a little lighter.

At least for the moment.

Have a great weekend.

Thursday
Aug012013

New AM Routine

This new skin routine is already showing some results. I can see my chest clearing up ever so slightly each day which is nice. With the world being so instant these days it is sometimes hard to wait for results.

The one difficulty is the time it takes to do all I do now but I am not complaining. This is just calling out the challenges of treatment.

There are two different soaps that I use in the shower so basically I am washing twice. Not that big a deal. After I towel off I apply one gel like medicine and when it dries I apply a cream medicine. And then I have this other medicine that I put directly on spots that need serious help. This is in addition to the standard deodorant, brushing of teeth, taking of 13 pills, and applying testosterone. (Did I ever mention that my testosterone level was crazy low?)

All and all the morning routine runs about 30 minutes now. It probably increased by 10 minutes from before which is not a big deal.

I wake up a little earlier and do something good for myself. It’s not as much of a  burden when you think about the benefits. A small sacrifice that makes me feel better and improves my health. Seems like a no brainer right?

Wow, that last paragraph sounds like the attitude I should have about exercise. What is wrong with me?

Wednesday
Jul312013

It Wasn't Me

My wife’s iPhone has been acting up. She will be plugging along and all of a sudden it will shut off. Not lock screen but completely power down. During phone calls, when reading emails, sending text messages, and most importantly while playing Candy Crush you would lose whatever you were doing. So we finally went to the AT&T store last night to get her a new one.

After what seemed like an eternity we got her all upgraded to the 5. Of course she got a case, screen protector, and a car charger. You know, the add-on’s you have to have.

Across the parking lot from AT&T was Red Robin which always reminds me of the DOC but first and foremost my friend Sara. My Dexcom was showing a South East pointing arrow with a number of 96. My mom and daughter were with us so I asked them to head on over and get us a table. Also to have them order Diet Cokes and Cheese Sticks. So while we were finishing up the transaction they walked over.

The short walk from the phone store to the food store made me tank. I walked into the restaurant and the hostess stepped out in front of me and asked, “How many?”

“Um, our party just walked in. Like 2 people just came in… I saw them walk in but I don’t know where they are.” I could hear my attitude and could feel my face heating up in anger.

“Okay? Well if you want to walk around and find them…” She trailed off because I just walked past her frantically looking for my mom and daughter.

The entire restaurant stopped what they were doing and looked at Jasmine and I. I could feel every eye looking at us in fear. What is this guy going to do? Why is he so angry? Who is he looking for? Is he going to hurt us?

“They are over there by the back wall.” My wife saw them but I couldn’t.

“I cannot see them. I can’t see anything.”

“Over there. Can you see Gillian?”

“I am too f***ing low to see any f***ing thing so please just walk and I will follow you.” I snapped. I wasn’t mad at her I was mad at the low. Luckily my wife knows the difference and doesn’t hold that against me.

Before I even sat down Jasmine grabbed glucose out of her purse and handed it to me. I sucked down the pouch of Level glucose and leaned my head on my daughter’s shoulder. She leaned her head on mine and I said, “I am not snuggling so please just sit up and let me escape for a second.”

She sat up and let me rest my head until my glucose caught up.

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH What the heck was that noise? CRUNCH CRRRRRUUUUUNCH

“Oh my goodness it sounds like a monster is eating nachos” I said it very quietly, just so Gillian could hear it and she started laughing. Whoever was behind us was eating chips and not closing their mouth. Eww.

When she started to laugh and I did too I knew I was back. It was done. This was a really grumpy low for me, not normal but not unheard of.

The fact that both my daughter and wife know what diabetes does and more importantly what it does to me. They know that how they respond can make all the difference in the world.

 If Jasmine would have wigged out when I snapped about my temporary “blindness” it would have probably gotten ugly. Gillian could have gotten an attitude about the not wanted to snuggle thing but she understood.

When I go through a low everyone around me goes through it too. Having people like my wife and daughter around who understand what is happening makes the road from low to normal much smoother.

And in case you were wondering no one in the restaurant stopped to look at us. That was just how I felt but Jasmine reassured me later that we did not make any scene.

It’s scary what a lack of glucose can do to your brain and your attitude. Thank God I have type 3's in my life that get it.

Tuesday
Jul302013

You Tube Tuesday

This may be the best/worst thing I have seen in a while. Honestly I could not get through the full 10 minutes. But at about 1:57 I started laughing so hard I was sold that this was the clip for today.

Enjoy!

Monday
Jul292013

No More Spring

I had mentioned last week about going to see a Dermatologist and it finally happened.

To say I was nervous was right on the money. Why? I am not sure. Maybe its just how self conscious I am about the whole acne thing. Maybe its because I have had it for so long that I was worried nothing could be done. Plus its always a little scary meeting a new doctor.

When the Doctor walked into the room she said, "Alright, let me see it." When I took off my shirt she got up close to check it out. I was so uncomfortable. 

"You know, it is not as bad as you think it is. Most of what I see are issues of pigment not acne. Likely caused by acne, but more like scars. You do have some acne but we are going to take care of it, don't worry."

She told me about a bunch of cleaners and skin stuff she wanted me to use. She also started me on an antibiotic or I should say, some pill. I don't even know what it is now that I think about it! 

"So how long have you had diabetes?" I knew the diabetes thing would come up with the whole insulin pump site. I hate talking to new doctors about diabetes. 

"For almost 23 years now." 

"And you are a... type 1?" Whenever anyone asks that question I see them look at my waist line. It's subtle but I catch it every time.

"Yup, that's me!" In my most confident skinny sounding voice I could come up with.

She went on to tell me that diabetes can in some ways affect your skin. High blood sugar makes it harder for white blood cells to fight infection and heal us. It's why wounds can take longer to heal when our bg is elevated. BUT that does not mean we are meant to live with skin issues. Diabetes is not the cause but it makes it harder to fight acne.

The point is I don't have to live with this like I was told before from another doctor. 

So now I have all these weird washes, creams, and gels not to mention the pills but if it works than so be it. I am willing to do what I have to do to get this done once and for all.

The only bummer is I had to trade in my Irish Spring soap for this new special one. I love Irish Spring! It just smells clean to me. 

At least I still have my Irish Spring scented deodorant! No one will take that away from me!