Climbing a Mountain!

This past weekend, I went hiking with a bunch of people from Hall Council! This is a group of people from a few of the different residence halls that put together activities throughout the year. We decided it would be fun to have one last get together as a group and climb Mount Monadnack!

I've hiked this mountain before back in September, but this time I was so, so nervous. I kept thinking my blood sugar was going to get really low and I wouldn't be able to keep up with everyone. On Friday, I went to Target and bought $15 worth of food for this hike....a day hike. lol. I was popping starburst the whole way up! Well, I made it to the top safe and sound....and my blood sugar was a wonderful 137! No low!

Climibing Mount Monadnock made me realize how far I've come. When I got diagnosed almost 6 years ago, I was hesitant to do the simplest things in fear that my blood sugar would go low. Even going to get a hair cut was scary for me! What if I got low while the woman was cuttng my hair??!?!?! I couldn't give myself shots and could barely do finger pricks. Well, now I can give shots, change my pump sites, I know the carb count of almost anything edible, I know what makes me low and what makes me high....I've come so far!

Happy Monday everyone!!! I only have 3 more days of exams....then it's summer!!!

Pictures taken from T.J. O.

My future roomies and I at the summet!

The whole group!

DEXCOM!!

Well, the semester is coming to an end and it's very bitter-sweet. I'm going to miss my friends from school so much this summer, but it will be nice to have a break from the work and have a steady income again. It's also going to give me lots and lots of quality time with my new DEXCOM! I can't even describe how excited I am about this. I really don't want to get my hopes up, but I think this might help me gain better control over my blood sugars.

I've been talking to DexCom and Medtronic reps for weeks now about the pros and cons of each system and have always come up with more pros than cons for DexCom. The only con I can think of is having a whole seperate system to carry around, but I always have my purse on my anyways. Another thing I love about the DexCom is the customer service I've recieved so far. The reps have been so informative and kind. They even started texting me instead of making so many calls because it's more convenient for me with classes and all. I hope they continue to be this supportive if I ever have any problems! After I made my final decision to get the DexCom, insurance approved me and it will be at my house Friday! I'm very optimistic about this system and will keep everyone up-to-date with how it's working for me!

I'm also excited that I MIGHT be a counselor at Camp Carefree in NH this summer! I haven't gotten the job yet, but I had my first interview on Sunday and I think it went okay. They haven't had any nutrition-focused counselors for a number of years and said they would love have some once again. Hopefully I gain some experience in working with other diabetics this summer through this camp!

EXPO!

Today I went to the Connecticut Diabetes Expo!

I had a great time! I met other diabetics, learned about new products, and got lots of free stuff!

One thing that's always bothered me was the fact that I can't give blood. This is something I've always wanted to be able to do in order to save other's lives. Well, there was a Yale New Haven Hospital Clinical Research table set up at the expo. I walked up to the table and asked what they were all about. They told me they were looking for people with autoimmune diseases to give blood for one of their doctors to use in his research. (He's researching different genes that are involved with these diseases). I participated and am really happy with my decision. This is almost like donating blood to the American Red Cross...almost. Because I participated in this clinical research, I could be helping this doctor find something new about diabetes that was never before known. This could bring us one step closer to a cure and save millions of lives! WOO!

I also registered for the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure! I'm so so so excited about this. I used to participate in the JDRF's Walk to Cure Diabetes every year, but haven't been able to since I started college. The Tour de Cure is in June...so I can! yay!

I really went to the expo to learn more about different CGMs. I've been going back and forth between the minimed sensor and the Dexcom. I was hoping that by going to the expo, I would be able to make a decision....but now I'm just even more confused about which one I should get! Since I'm already on a minimed pump, it seems like it makes more sense to get the minimed sensor. I would allow me to have everything under one system.....

There's just something I like about the Dexcom more....

I recently talked to a Dexcom rep. who's also on a minimed pump. She said she started with the minimed sensor, but was really disappointed with the results she was getting. She said the numbers her glucometer were giving her and the patterns the sensor was showing her just weren't adding up!

I have NO idea what to do! Does anyone have any experience with either of these systems????

I really think that by using a CGM, I'll be able to get my A1c back down to a 6.0-7.0 again!

If you've never been to one of these expos, I strongly recommend attending one! It's so informative and there are all sorts of free screenings...eyes, bones, feet, kidneys, heart...everything! This was a great experience!

I WILL NOT Die of Diabetes......

OK....this is my second post of the day, but something just came up that REALLY bothered me. I was talking with some of my friends about a man who had diabetes. That's when one of my friends said, "He died of diabetes."
I responded with, "You don't die of diabetes. You die of diabetes-related complications."
They then told me they didn't agree, blah blah blah. They said that you wouldn't have those complications if you didn't have diabetes to begin with.
Well, I see what they're saying, but a lot of the complications diabetics get, other people without diabetes can get too! Let's see...high blood pressure, heart disease, eye complications, skin complications....you don't need diabetes to get those!!!
I guess the reason I got so upset was because that was like them telling me I was going to die from my diabetes....which I'm determined not to happen! I do everything I can to prevent these complications from occuring! I test my blood sugar 8-10 times a day, I went on an insulin pump so I could better manage it, I count my carbohydrates, exercise, and hopefully am getting the dexcom! That's like saying all the work I do to prevent complications is just a waste!!! UGH!
I love my friends, but I just wish they could understand where I'm coming from when I get so agree at statements like that.

A Rollercoaster of Emotions

Lately, I've been an emotional mess.
My blood sugars are all over the place...and just when I thought they were stabalizing!
They're high, low, high, higher, low again. All of this is making me exhausted and cranky. I feel so bad about it too! I've been in such a bad mood for the past week, pretty much everything and everyone is annoying me at this point. Usually stress makes my blood sugars go crazy...and the semester is coming to an end.....so that's probably it. I just want to go home! At home, I eat regular meals, I have measuring cups, scales.....my mom. Everything that helps me keep it under control.
I've been working on getting a Dexcom CGM, so hopefully I'll get that soon. After reading everyone's blogs, it seems like that can really help. It would be nice to be able to see what direction my blood sugar's going in.....maybe then I could see how much I need to eat for a low.....because lately I've been treating them wayyyyy to much and my blood sugar skyrockets soon afterwards.
Well, enough venting and feeling sorry for myself.
Happy Monday.....Happy Week!

Food Baby?

Yeah. It happens after almost every meal I ingest. It's not not cute like a baby either....it's EMBARRASSING!


Here's a picture of what I'm dealing with:
Yeah. It literally looks like I'm pregnant! WHAT?!?!
I think I'm sensitive to garlic...which is in pretty much everything.
I guess it's a little funny....but sometimes....ugh. At least it's not painful.
So here's to everyone who has their own little food baby! Congrats!

Busy busy busy.

I've been so busy with school I haven't even had time to write anything in days!

Well, this was quite the frustrating week for me. I kept THE MOST detailed food and blood sugar diary everrrrrr and after a week, I faxed it to my doctor. I guess she passed it on to my nurse, who passed it on to a dietician......and finally an entire week and a half later, I got an email with all the necessary adjustments. They've been working great....but it just annoys me how long it took to get an answer! I know that the office is probably very busy, but I feel like crap! I try to adjust things on my own, but I can only do so much. I don't want to make too many changes on my own without the help of a medical professional....it's kinda scary. My biggest problem is my fasting numbers- they're alway pretty high when I wake up, like in the 200s. I'm too afraid to make changes to my nightime basal rates...what happens if I get low in the middle of the night?!?!? Well, at least I finally got the changes and my wake up numbers have been much, much better. Now it's time to work on some insulin to carb ratios and I should be good now that I'm at a steady weight.

In my food science class last night, we each made a homemade cake with chocolate frosting and an apple galette. They were both AMAZING....but sent my blood sugars through the roof. I really wish we could learn how to do some sugar-free cooking in this class! Every sugar-free recipe I've tried always turns out like crap. NASTY. Does anyone know of any good sugar-free cookbooks??? or maybe some better non-nutritive sweeteners I can use???? I'm really interested in doing some sugar-free baking when I go home this summer!

This is pretty much how my galette turned out----> AMAZING!