Here’s what’s happening

Earlier last week…

• 

  Imagine this, but with the tape too high instead of too low

  Nixon’s transmitter had been peeking out from under the bottom edge of the tape (or perhaps the IV3000 wasn’t centered properly over the whole contraption). So, like any good parent would do when a covering is riding a bit too high, I insisted it be covered up with additional material; in this case, Opsite Flexifix.

• The following night was Glucose-gate.  But the day after that, my CGM accurately indicated a BG of 70, but despite several snack-like corrections, continued to report (falsely) 60…50…40. So I pulled it. It left a painful gumball-sized welt underneath my skin which still exists to this day. I guess when you wrap bottom too tightly, the top tries to move around, and funky, painful things happen.
• I also was having some irritation, poor absorption, and overall hard spots at my Sure-T infusion site. So I pulled it out, moved it about an inch, and stuck it back in. It’s so cool that I can do that.
• My new sensor went in awkwardly and was wildly inaccurate for the first 36 hours. After trying to fix it with calibrations didn’t work, I decided to “re-start” it, effectively wiping out all of the previous calibrations.

And there was dancing, and singing, and movin’ to the groovin’

http://www.loop-blog.com/apex/Blog_Full_Post?id=a09C000000PxLIuIAN

My CGM’s new name is Nixon

Monday night, when I went to bed, everything was good. My blood sugar was in range, and I was happy.

Forty-five minutes later, still not bad.

But then, the tape went blank. This happened:

Behind the A1C secrecy

Yesterday, I wrote about how I had achieved a personal A1C goal, and that it’s time for me to set a new one.

What I didn’t tell you is what that goal was. I’ve made it a personal policy to NOT share my A1C (although I will tell the change from one to the next). But I’ll say it was modest – a baby-step from my previous two results. But I’m still not happy. I don’t know if that goal is good enough, and I fear setting an even more aggressive target.

Why? Because while some people would love to have A1Cs like mine, others have A1Cs that are significantly better (or lower- perhaps that’s the preferred term). And yet, there’s a third group that has been coasting along at my longtime target for an eternity already. I know this because they’ve told me – and told the world – what their A1C is. And, in a way, it makes me jealous.

I know that it’s morally wrong to think of other people’s test results in the same context of my own, but it happens. I believe that, when knowledgeable of one’s own number and that of a companion – whether regarding test scores, income levels, or lab results – it’s human nature to compare. This leads to the inevitable judging of either the other person, of myself, or both. That makes me uncomfortable.

Doctor’s orders

Since switching jobs a month and a half ago, I’ve spent less time on my feet and more time at my desk. The most time I spend walking is either to the office printer (which is ten steps away) or to the coffee machine (which is a longer, but more frequent, trip).

Because of the inactivity, I’ve been dealing with higher BGs for a longer periods of time. I’ve also experienced poor insulin absorption, particularly in my back and butt areas, partly because they’re always pressed against a chair and partly because of developing scar-tissue.

Combine the two, and I’ve gone from regularly setting low temporary basals to stacking corrections and higher full-time basals every day.