Ten more things

In the spirit of the Ten Things I posted last month, I’ve decided to follow the same path and write about a few more other things that are going on in quick, digestible paragraphs.  It’s easy to read, and – to be honest – easy to write.

Each could probably merit a post of its own, but I just haven’t got the time to do it, so I present you with the Cliffs Notes.

 

~~ UN ~~

I’ve mentioned this before — my weight has never really been a problem for me.  But now I’m starting to notice a bit of a change. My belt is moving to the next notch. When showering, I feel a bit more roundness, and my site inserters are rocking a bit more when placed on the non-flat surface. And at my last endo appointment, the scale crossed over to the next decade, causing the big weight on the bottom rail to slide over one more notch. That hasn’t happened for as long as I can remember. This must be what happens when you turn 40. I want to reverse this trend before it becomes noticeable – but having never done it before in my life, it’s tough to figure out how. But at least I now feel a bit more “normal”.

 

~~ DEUX ~~

While at the supermarket on Monday night, I felt a low coming on, so I bought this. (it’s not every day that I get to eat TastyKakes, and at $2.50 it’s a bargain!).  It’s now Wednesday evening, and I’ve eaten 5 of the 6 packs. All because of lows. I wonder if this type of behavior is what’s leading to the item above. (Also, I’ve been keeping the box underneath the passenger seat of my car, because I’m ashamed to bring the treat inside of the house — do you think something’s wrong with me?)

~~ TROIS ~~

After I posted my rant about the insurance non-coverage of a new insulin pump, I realized how I must have come across: privileged, entitled, materialistic, whiny. I’m sorry. That was very insensitive of me. (But to the story: the official letter of denial has yet to arrive, so I have yet to actually do anything).

 

~~ QUATRE ~~

DiabetesMine published a somewhat controversial letter/response in Wil’s “Ask D’Mine” column last Saturday. A writer mentioned serving chocolates at a D-themed function, promoting the “moderation” philosophy, but another person found this choice of snacks appalling and inappropriate. Further, the writer talks about a store clerk who refused to sell her a sugary snack because of diabetes.

The article made me think long and hard about the “appropriate snacks” issue (you can read my response there), but I really was surprised at my own reaction to the second part.  I remember, back in high school, I had an after-school job at Wendy’s. There was another person (same age, different school) with T1D who worked there too. In life (not just diabetes), she was the rebellious type. I remember once, on her lunch-break, she came to the register and ordered a 32-ounce regular Coke. I wouldn’t get it for her. Now, looking back, I’m wondering if I did the wrong thing. I probably did, even if the right thing was also wrong.

Also, looking back, I’m surprised to recall knowing another T1D in my youth — if not for this Ask D’Mine letter, I would have completely forgotten. We never spoke about it, and honestly I’m not quite sure how I knew she had D in the first place. Diabetes was something we kept to ourselves and tended to deny in public. Like farts.

 

~~ CINQ ~~

For the past four years, my pump has asked me this question during every single site change. I don’t think I ever answered it — I just “ESC” every time. It’s easier that way.

 

~~ SIX ~~

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker tweets more than anyone else. When he was the mayor of Newark, he used Twitter (relentlessly!) to directly connect with his constituents; those who previously had given up home that their elected officials ever really gave a damn. Now that he’s in the US Senate, I wonder how many Tweets he receives, and if he will respond to mine personally. (Or just acting on it, without a response, would be good, too!)

Help people with #diabetes @CoryBooker please sponsor S2689 to have #MedicareCoverCGM for T1D #Vote4DM http:http://t.co/bGE03RnvVR

— Scott E (@Scott_InTheD) October 23, 2014

 

~~ SEPT ~~

A couple of weeks ago, I didn’t have enough insulin left in my reservoir, nor did I have the time to change my infusion set with a new one. So I took my dinner bolus by syringe. Then it struck me — these syringes are really old. The prescription label is dated April 2006. I wonder if I’ll need to throw them out eventually? With my luck, I’ll be drawing up a syringe with a “rescue bolus” following a failed pump site, and the old, hardened rubber plunger will disintegrate upon use and contaminate my vial of insulin.

 

~~ HUIT ~~

I’ve been having some discomfort in my digestive-tract lately. Actually, it’s a little bit past the digestive-tract, more in the “undigested” part.  I won’t go into details, but with everything I’ve read about Type 1 and celiac and gluten and stuff, I decided to follow advice from the TV and “ask my doctor if [a celiac test] is right for me”.

The Nurse Practitioner at my endo’s office began to try talking me out of it, explaining the consequence and the radical change in lifestyle pending the outcome of the test. I explained that I am fully aware of this, and acknowledge that celiac is really the last thing I want to deal with in this world (I’ll stop short of calling it “devastating”, because I know plenty of people live with it, and I could too – if I had to). Yet the gluten-free diet restored Bubs’ Zest for Life. I read about it just over a year ago — and Bigfoot Child’s unique choice of words made it stick in my mind for all this time.  His dramatic turnaround and increase in happiness seemed so profound, that it convinced me that it’s worth exploring. Because Lord knows I’ve been a bit short on Zest lately.

(Katy – if you’re looking at the search terms that bring people to your blog, and you see “Zest for Life”, that was me.)

Actual blood-draw before my next appointment in January

~~ NEUF ~~

I have almost two full boxes of Sofsensors that are three months past their  “Use By” date. I know they’ll never get used, but I can’t bring myself to throw this (once-)valuable piece of medical equipment in the trash. There would be too much guilt in doing so. So they sit in my cabinet, collecting dust, taking up space, and slipping deeper and deeper into expiry.

This helps to avoid the “big” guilt of actually tossing money in the trash, but I get the “little” guilt feeling each time I open the cabinet and reach for something else.

 

~~ DIX ~~

I had to renew my Drivers License this month.  This is the only health-related question I had to answer (I know it varies in other states).  I believe I answered this question honestly. Do you?