I'm An Eco-Friendly Diabetic

Diabetes isn't the most environmentally friendly disease to have. We go through strip after strip to test our blood, syringes, reservoirs, lancets, alcohol pads, IV preps, tape..the list could go on and on.

I was lured to Omnipod for my lifestyle, but my lifestyle also includes recycling. I'm not the greatest at it at times, but trying to do better. Since you take a Pod off every 3 days and replace with a new one...what are you suppose to do with the old one??? I started to imagine what my local landfill would look like after just one year of my Omnipod use, and the thought made me sick!

So, out came the hammer. Literally! I tried smashing it up to get to the guts to start saving all the pieces to take to my local recycling center. No luck at all with the hammer. Boy, that would be a good selling point for Omnipod wouldn't it??? So, out came the screwdriver. I wedged it in between the top and the back and with a little effort it slowly pried open. Plastic reservoir, and a circuit board and 4 watch batteries...357 to be exact. I have 3 bins in a drawer to collect all the pieces. I tried to fish out the needle, but wasn't so successful there. I'm satisfied with what I can get out of it, and I sleep better now:)

I'm proud of my drawer, which is quite a snapshot of diabetes. Along with the stale smell of insulin that wafts in the air when I open it, is a constant reminder of what life is like for someone with diabetes. Insulin really stinks...in more ways then one!

Random Thoughts

1. Is it age or diabetes? Which one takes more of your brain cells, because I can't remember squat anymore!
2. Jealousy is complex, unnerving, and at times a good feeling. Jealousy can fuel a passion underneath you like no other...AND it can be detrimental.
3. "No it's not a heart rate monitor or mp3 player!"
4. Who is it at my insurance company that thinks that a CGM is experimental, unproven, and still under investigation?? So...I will send them these results. CGM Trial Results
5. I hate that all my best efforts for a good bg day can go down the tube in an instant.
6. I hate that all my best efforts for a good training day can go down the tube in an instant because of diabetes.
7. I love having best efforts!
8. Placement of a pod proves to be difficult when wearing a swimsuit...not a racing suit, but a girly, on the beach kind of suit. THEN you have the issue of tape marks and bullet holes that are clearly noticeable! I always say that I don't care and won't hide them, but I'm lying....I hate it!
9. Everything that is hard is always worthwhile!

'Nuff said?

Finger Sticks...I've Gone Dry

This will not be a new story to anyone out there that has diabetes, and it wasn't the first time this has ever happened to me. so here it is....
I went on a great, 60 degree weather, great mix on the iPod run last week. My running hasn't been up to par lately, and this day was unfolding into a picture perfect run. Even with the great tunes, I was able to concentrate on the task for that particular training day. This can be a difficult thing when your mind is racing about all the things you need to accomplish, but I succeeded in letting all of that go and enjoy the moment. I came up to one of the usual spots I stop to test. I hit the button to stop my HRM for a moment...God forbid I add in the time for the 30 sec. it takes to test! I'm fishing around in my SPIbelt..(I love that thing!)....and I get out my OT mini, strip, and...what??? No lancet??? What??? Where the hell did it go? This is a meter that I keep in there at all times..never leaves it's home in the SPIbelt. I didn't feel like I was low, but I'm a creature of habit and have to test when I get to that big tree. Maybe I'm a bit obsessive compulsive, but show me a diabetic who isn't! So with my thinking cap on, the first thing that comes to mind is to squeeze the life out of all the fingers I've tested on in the past, which of course is all of them. How many times have you had your fingers squirt out blood at inopportune times...when you aren't testing??? Millions for me. Wouldn't it figure that the one time I need it to happen, it doesn't. I squeezed my fingertips until they were bright red, then blue...no luck. I was exhasperated, but gave it another college try....now there is the blood I've come to love! I just hoped it was enough to fill the strip..and it was. Eureka! A blood sugar of 140.