You Tube Tuesday #150

This clip cracks me up because I think this kid is better than most of the groups he is impersonating.

Enjoy!

Sick

Warzone

I noticed last night as I was brushing my teeth, that I look horrible.

The thing is, my stomach has so many marks, scars, and spots that it looks like I am some sort of a human dart board. In a way, I guess I am.

Maybe it's my skin tone or something but I look awful. So awful that I won't even snap a picture of it to share. It's embarrassing and gross.

Luckily it is nowhere near swimming weather, what this the frigid sub-sixty degree weather we have had, so taking off my shirt in public is not a concern. But honestly, I have been avoiding swimming parties and the beach for years because of it.

Last night as I looked in the mirror I realized just how bad it is. I am considering seeing a dermatologist or at least talking to my doctor. I dunno, I seem to jump through so many hurdles with my doctors that it makes me not want to bring it up. I just don't want my stomach to look like a war zone.

Do any of you have this problem? And if so, any solutions or things I can try to help clear it up? 

My First Interview - Ninjabetic Jr.

I first started blogging in January of 2006. One of the blogs I used to read was from Vivian. Vivian is the proud mom of Daniel who has type 1. I developed a great friendship with both Vivian and Daniel over the years and even though her blog is no longer up, we still keep in touch.

Daniel is awesome. He is a type 1 who calls himself "Ninjabetic Jr." and refers to me as his boss. Every good superhero has a cool sidekick and Ninjabetic is no different. So I felt it was only right to have him as my very first interview ever. So here it goes!

George: I know you pretty good Daniel, but tell me a little bit about yourself for my readers.

Daniel: I am Daniel Schaffers and I like video games and creating websites.

Tell me about your diagnosis and Mom, you can help with this one.

From mom: He was diagnosed when he was 6 years old in January of 2005.  He was drinking a lot but I did not recognize that because we lived in Denver and people tend to drink a lot anyway because of the altitude.  He lost a ton of weight and was falling asleep in class at school.  The pediatrician did a glucose check and the meter would not read it so he sent us to the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, which is the most awesome place. 

His A1c was over 12 and he was slipping away from me.  She gave him his first shot of insulin and we got him awake enough to drink water.  We took him home, after a few minutes he started throwing up and I knew he would be admitted but before I could even get the doctor on the phone he came alive and said he was starving.  He gained 5 lbs that weekend and looked healthy for the first time in a while. 

The entire family attended intense training for a week at the BDC and he was appointed his team which consisted of the Endo, RN, Social worker and Dietitian.  That was the scariest time in our lives but we have come a long way.  We moved across the country and we are on our third Endo, which oddly enough was trained at the BDC where he was diagnosed, we love her.

Wow! That is amazing! So are you still on shots now or on a pump?

I have a pump and CGM, my pump is Medtronic.  My pump is named Zak and my CGM is named Cody.

Mom says: We call the trio's adventures The Sweet Life. (like The Suite Life of Zack and Cody only with a diabetes spin). The pump and CGM have improved his life and his treatment by miles over the shot therapy.

So what would you say is the hardest part about having diabetes?

Remembering everything, such as checking blood sugar and bolusing and just every little detail.

Ugh, I hear you there buddy. There is a lot to remember. So what helps you stay on track?

My mom, and Zak, hopefully. 

How?

Figuring carbs, reminding me to bolus, etc.

Do you have any advice for kids that are newly diagnosed?

I am not very sure.  I can tell them if they take the time, Diabetes is not hard to handle.

I should take that advice myself! Switching gears now. What hobbies do you have?

I LOVE video games.  I have beat some of my friends at their own games.  I also have a hobby for creating games and websites, as well as animations.  My You Tube account has over 60 something uploads.

 
Very cool stuff! I could never come up with that stuff. You have a good imagination. In fact, here is a good question for you. If Ninjabetic Jr. has a super awesome vehicle to get around the world in to help other kids with Diabetes, what would it be? Or would you just be able to fly?

It would be a big pump on wheels.  The driver seat would be in the reservoir slot with features like rockets and insulin dispenser.

That sounds pretty cool. But what can we do I mean as a team, Ninjabetic and Ninjabetic Jr., to  help the diabetes online community? No idea is too grand so go ahead and dream a little!

We could probably have a whole website and stuff.  It could be cool to have a Ninjabetic Convention.

Those are both good ideas. I know we can get to work on the website thing and a Ninjabetic Convention would be cool too. All of the people with diabetes I know are definitely Ninjabetic's in my book!

Thanks again Daniel for doing this and being such a great guy. And thanks also to you Vivian for helping him out and being my friend.

Sleepless in SoCal

I cannot get it right. My basals are off. My insulin to carb ratio is off. My corrections are off. At least it seems they all are since I cannot get anything right when it comes to my blood sugar.

Things and foods I thought I knew how to handle have all suddenly changed. I have spent more time out of range, both high and low, then in. 

Worst of all is the time I spend during the middle of the night trying to fix it. Bolusing and bolusing trying to correct highs and then the awful lows that follow. It is simply frustrating.

So my mornings have been torture. Dragging myself out of bed and sliding into the shower, only to stand under the hot water and wish I could go back to bed. 

I may need to take a lesson from my friend Gina and do a 24 hour fast to figure it all out. But with the lack of energy I have, thinking about doing that makes me tired! 

December is crazy busy so it makes me want to wait until after the holiday before attempting it. Then I think, is this something to wait on? 

This post is quickly unraveling into a mess (I blame the sleeplessness) so I am going to stop now and hope to get some trusty advice from my friends in the diabetes community online.