Trippin' on Strippin'

When I was diagnosed with diabetes I was introduced to 2 things from my doctor that I would have to live with for the rest of my life.

Insulin and a Glucometer.

Besides the insulin I needed to live I knew I was going to have to check my blood sugar for the rest of my life. So test strips have been showing up in shoes and in the washing machine for a long time.

All that time I have trusted that the number they give me is correct. And why wouldn't I? My doctor never told me to check twice or question a number. As long as I wash my hands (usually do) and rub alcohol on my finger (which I never do) I should be good.

The fact is that is not true. Test strips are not as acurate as you'd think. In fact they are not even as close as they are SUPPOSED to be! That is a big deal!

Check out Strip Safely. As their About Me page describes, "StripSafely is an ad hoc Diabetes Online Community (DOC) collaboration to help the general public understand that there are inaccurate blood glucose test strips. We hope to get folks involved to do something about that. By something, we mean write the FDA, elected officials, and the news media."

Awesome! So now what? You can start by taking the quiz on the site. 10 questions that will open your eyes pretty quickly to the problem we are facing.

I would suggest also checking out some articles regarding the Test Strip problem. After that let you voice be heard! The StripSafely site has sample FDA letters for you to customize and addresses of where they need to go.

My grandma is currently in an extended care facility. She takes insulin daily to manage her type 2 diabetes. The other night when they tested her bg before bed it was 199. I asked what the correction dose of insulin would be and the nurse said they only correct if it is over 200. So they didn't correct. 

According to FDA guidlines a bg over 75 must be accurate within 20%. So grandma was really somewhere between 160 and 240. THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE! And the FDA says they only have to be that accurate 95% of the time. AND, this is going to blow you away, MANY METERS CANNOT EVEN DO THAT!

If this bothers you at all please get involved in sending a message to the FDA. Also let others in your life know so they too can add their voice to the message we send.

We are a powerful community when we work together in a contructive way. Visit StripSafely to get involved and make a difference in your health and the health of others. 

Wordless Wednesday - (actually 12)

This makes me feel like a kid again. Before I had diabetes.

You Tube Tuesday - Diabetes Kills

This video is the latest campaign from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). 

They do a lot of great things all around the world and frankly I have a big place in my heart for them.

In their words:

The objective of this PSA is to make the general public think twice about diabetes, break stereotypes and encourage them to want to learn more about diabetes. Too often diabetes is over looked by those with the power to fund research opportunities and make political decisions that influence health outcomes for people with diabetes.

Check out the video and I'll give you my thoughts below afterwards.

My first reaction was to stop it. Seeing that guy fall to the ground made me sick to my stomach. When I finally watched the whole thing I got really angry.

Fear paralyses me, it does not motivate me.

I see people with diabetes that have lost their sight, their limbs, their freedom due to dialasys and it doesn't make me want to take better care of myself. It makes me terribly sad for those people who have been victims of diabetes. They cannot grow limbs again, what are they to do? It makes me sick to my stomach.

And people who don't have it think its not a big deal at all! They think, "oh be happy you have something you can manage instead of cancer." They always say that! I get so mad! If only they knew! They knew what is at stake and how scary it all is. If only they understood that diabetes kills people!

And that was when I got it.

This video is not for PWD's. It is for those who have no clue about it. The ones that think it's no big deal and who ignore it.

People need to know what the world is up against. Because if we don't all take it seriously it is going to take even more eyes, legs, kidneys, and lives. 

We need to educate everyone about this epidemic. And hopefully we will be able to save lots of lives, limbs, and loved ones. 

My Biggest Hang Up

Last night I was watching a recorded episode of Extreme Weight Loss. If you have not seen the show I suggest you check it out. I like anything where the end result is positive and uplifting regardless of the struggles along the way. 

Participants spend one year with trainer Chris Powell helping them to lose weight and get fit. It is Extreme and at times he can be in your face but he never feels mean, or gets nasty with people. It's why I enjoy it so much, that human touch of caring is what sets this apart from other weight loss shows.

You should also know that each episode is the entire year process so you don't have to tune in next week for results.

So I said to myself, "I need this. I need to get on this show." And the first thing that I think about is the image of me on a screen with no shirt on.

No way!

They always show the participants in either a bathing suit (women) or shirtless (men) at the beginning and refer back to it throughout the year to compare progress.

Why you ask would I not want to stand there on tv without a shirt? Not because of my fat believe it or not. As much as I hate to look at myself in the mirror the fat is second in what disgusts me.

It's acne.

A few weeks ago on DSMA Live out of no where I started talking about it and I have NEVER spoken to anyone by my wife about it before. For a long time I have been struggling with acne on my back and chest. I have tried over the counter stuff, showering several more times a day besides the daily shower I take each morning. Nothing has worked.

This sort of thing is easy to ignore because unless you see me without a shirt you really wouldn't know. So even though I have a swimming pool at my home I never get in it unless I am alone or with extremely close family.

The last time I was at Doctor Awesome's I mentioned my issue. He asked me if I had ever talked to a doctor about my acne before. I told him that I had but that the doctor told me that it was because of my diabetes and there is really nothing they can do unless I get my diabetes under total control.

"Georgie, Georgie, Georgie. How about this? George Bush is the reason you have acne. How does that sound?" He explained that just because I have diabetes doesn't mean I have to live with acne forever. It also is not the cause. 

We all know diabetes can affect our lives in lots of different ways but it does not mean that every single thing wrong is because of diabetes and it ABSOLUTELY does not mean that you are just meant to DEAL WITH IT because you got dealt a crumby hand! 

This Thursday I have an appointment with a dermintologist who is very versed on diabetes and knows my doctor well. He assured me that she would help.

"Don't worry Georgie, we will get you taken care of soon." My doctor never lets me leave without some comforting word. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that.

Soon my weight will be my biggest struggle and maybe then I will consider calling Chris Powell over to get me in gear. 

One thing at a time right?

Zero Tack

Seven days. That is all I ask for. So many get so much more than that and all I am asking is for seven days.

It never happens.

My Dexcom sensors always fall out on day 5 or 6. I have tried IV3000, Tegaderm, even Mastisol! All of those just seem to make it pull it out even faster since I use them after it starts looking bad.

Here’s the thing, I am not a sweaty guy. I only sweat when in extreme situations like saunas, Hot yoga, Dance Central games, and racquetball. Also I shower daily. If I am home sick and don’t plan on seeing anyone all day I still shower. I cannot stand not showering ever morning.

Maybe my shower is too hot? Is my water pressure to high? Do I stay in the shower too long?

[side note: Those are 1^st world problems that make me realize I should get over myself and count my blessings.]

My doctor says I should call and get them replaced when they fall out but I feel weird about it.

“I am not sticky enough and I need you to help me.” Weird.

Last night I lost another sensor. It was day 5 and it’s gone. When I hear about people getting weeks and weeks out of one sensor I realize I could be saving a lot of money.

That’s the thing, it’s not about using them longer I just want them to be used as long as they are supposed to.

After that I really shouldn’t complain.

Any ideas on how to get stickier or what my tackles issue is I would appreciate it.

I need tack!