I am, therefore I think

After living with diabetes for so long, I like to think I’ve got it all figured out.  Of course, I don’t, but it’s in my nature to try. So here are some of the things that I’ve convinced myself to believe, even though they’ve not been proven credible by anyone. (Make sure you read this site’s disclaimer)

1. Insulin has a tendency to form little subcutaneous puddles. When removing a pump cannula from a poorly-functioning infusion site, that insulin which seemingly didn’t work gets splashed and absorbed into the bloodstream all at once. BAM – instant low.
2. Someone once said that CGMs should best be calibrated at “good” blood sugar levels (i.e. the “sweet spot” of the sensor). After learning from Beyond Fingersticks that calibrating a CGM is like putting the numbers next to the tube of mercury on a thermometer, I think it’s best to calibrate with far-away numbers (like 80 and 150 mg/dl, rather than 105 and 110 mg/dl). This makes it a bit more accurate when the scale is extrapolated up to 300 or down to 30. It also explains why my CGM used to never see the extremes when I only calibrated with “good” values.
3. Speaking of CGMs, I don’t know the mathematics behind the calibration process, but I think I know why it doesn’t immediately spring to the number that I’ve calibrated with. It’s trying to zero in on that number at the time of calibration. If (hypothetically) I tell it I’m 150 mg/dl at 12:00, then it takes a reading at 12:04 and 12:09 (usually it takes two readings before giving me an output value), and realizes that I went up by 5 points in that 5-minute span (1 per minute), then it will will assume that I went up by 9 points between 12:00 and 12:09 and will give me a reading of 159 at that time. (I’m too lazy to test this theory, by the way)
4. The phrase “Type Awesome” should not be reserved only for the loved ones of people with diabetes. From my observations, most PWD’s are pretty awesome themselves.
5. A vial of Lantus is supposed to be discarded 30 days after first using it. I’ve had my Lantus go bad on Day #31 too many times to be a coincidence. (Obviously, I made this observation in my pre-pumping days).
6. I’ve learned that twelve grapes equals about 13 carbs. One of those miniature 1/2-ounce boxes of raisins is also about 13 carbs. There are way more than twelve raisins in that box, and a raisin is nothing more than a grape with the water removed. Therefore, water must contain carbs. Yet…
7. Water seems to help lower blood sugar. It dilutes the sugar in the blood and makes you pee the sweet stuff out of your body (hence, the origin of the term “diabetes mellitus”), leaving less in the bloodstream. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks this.
8. The term “diabetic” never bothered me until people told me it should bother me.  Now, the term makes my blood boil.
9. Coffee is the perfect no-carb treat. I don’t know why people say caffeine could raise blood sugars, since all it does is makes a person a lot more hyperactive.
   (Corrolary to #9: I’m enjoying a large cup of coffee right now)
10. No matter how wrong or ridiculous the explanation is, it’s still good to have them. Being able to give a reason helps to preserve one’s sanity.