One Year Pumping!

I’ve now officially passed the one year mark since I began using an insulin pump! It was a huge leap of faith at the time, but one that I knew I had to make for the sake of lower and more stable blood sugar levels.

The biggest reason I switched was because I never felt I could get my background insulin dose quite right. Some nights, particularly if I ate more than normal, my Lantus dose wouldn’t be enough to keep my levels steady. Other nights, it would be too much and send me low.

Today, that problem is all but gone. The pump delivers a basal rate of insulin that can be customised to the time of day. I have a higher rate running from 1am to mid morning to offset dawn phenomenon, and a flat rate running through the remainder of the day. Night time basals have been the most challenging, with upward tweaks needed every month or two. But thankfully, the remainder of my basal rates have remained unchanged since I first figured them out last year.

Before I started pumping, I was guesstimating a lot of my insulin doses. I guess I wasn’t very motivated to do otherwise. I wasn’t really thinking too hard about what I was putting into my mouth, and there were a lot of emotionally exhausting highs and lows.

I began diligently counting carbohydrates and weighing my food since starting on the pump, and surprisingly I haven’t slacked off since! With a properly tuned basal rate, insulin just worked when I bolused to cover meals, rather than staying frustratingly high. The pump’s bolus calculator was extremely helpful, and of course having the pump attached to me made bolusing a lot more convenient when out and about.

As anticipated, the pump was a huge learning curve. My biggest hurdle in those first few months was site failures. The 90 degree insets that I was using at the time continually failed on me, causing regular bruising and bleeding on the stomach. I’ll always remember one tumultuous night where I ripped out my infusion site to discover the cannula had kinked on the way in. I eventually switched to the comforts which sit on an angle and have a manual insertion. Today, site failures are rarely an issue. 

The insulin pump is hands down more work than injections. Infusion sites need changing every three days, insulin cartridges need to be refilled, pump lines need to be inspected for air bubbles, batteries need changing, and basal rates need adjusting for activity. You really need to be on top of your game with a pump, and that might not be a commitment everyone is able to make.

The insulin pump definitely gave me a renewed drive to better focus on what was some very lousy diabetes management.

From there, the rest of what I’ve achieved is down to my dedication to observing and learning more about my diabetes and the different variables that affect my blood sugar. So in this regard, I feel that I could just as easily have reached this level of management on Multiple Daily Injections as well.

I can’t express just how much of an investment this was – and I’m not sure I would have been able to do this if I were still at uni or had a more demanding job. But overall I now feel more knowledgeable, equipped and experienced to navigate my way through different scenarios. This level of management no longer feels like such a stretch.

While I don’t talk numbers on this blog, I will share that it took me six months to get my hba1c to where I wanted it to be. When I first hit that target in November, I really felt like I had squeezed everything out of myself to get that number. Today, I’ve been able to comfortably maintain that number – and hopefully even better it going forward.

It’s been a huge year for my diabetes, and one that I feel is definitely worth celebrating.

Happy pump-aversary to me!

(And here’s hoping diabetes is a bit easier on me this coming year)

In an Ideal World

In an ideal world, my meter would produce a magical 5.5 while I’m fasting.

In an ideal world, I could select any spot on my stomach for the placement of an infusion site.

In an ideal world, my blood sugars would respond to potatoes in exactly the same fashion as yoghurt.

In an ideal world, I could fall asleep knowing that my blood sugar will stay stable all through the night.

In an ideal world, I could go for a walk and not worry about my blood sugar dropping.

In an ideal world, I wouldn’t have to worry about rage bolusing every time I’m sick or I’m stressed.

In an ideal world, my levels would steadily rise and then fall back into line after I eat.

In an ideal world, my blood sugar wouldn’t be affected by protein or fat.

In an ideal world, I would be able to feel every oncoming hypo.

In an ideal world, my basal insulin needs would be identical through each hour of the day and the night.

In an ideal world, a diabetes healthcare professional would spend a whole day with me if need be.

In an ideal world, I would have been encouraged to consider technology by my diabetes team.

In an ideal world, everyone who wishes to use an insulin pump would have one.

In an ideal world, a Continuous Glucose Monitor would be subsidised for those who want to use one.

In an ideal world, insulin wouldn’t be so fucking expensive.

In an ideal world, insulin wouldn’t keep getting more fucking expensive.

In an ideal world, access to medication and basic healthcare wouldn’t be determined by my location or income.

In an ideal world, diabetes and pharmaceutical companies would have the best interests of people living with diabetes at heart.

In an ideal world, I would be excited about the artificial pancreas systems hitting the market next year.

In an ideal world, nobody would feel isolated or different for having diabetes.

In an ideal world, I would have perfect management of my diabetes.

Five Things, Completely Unrelated to Diabetes

It’s the final day of the eighth annual Diabetes Blog Week. The idea is that bloggers sign up to write about a set topic each day for a week, and readers get a variety of perspectives on each topic. Here is today’s prompt:

Lets wrap up the week by sharing a little more about ourselves, beyond the chronic illness we or our loved ones live with. Share an interest, hobby, passion, something that is YOU.  If you want to explore how it relates to or helps with diabetes you can. Or let it be a part of you that is completely separate from diabetes, because there is more to life than just diabetes!

As a kid, I dreamed of being a teacher. The 12 weeks of school holidays and 3pm finishes seemed pretty tempting to 10 year old me. I also thought that I could do a much better job than some of the lousy teachers I had. But I had this fear that I would turn into one of those teachers who would be unable to control the class, and eventually settled on my second dream job: journalism. Although I was unsuccessful in finding a career in the Communications/Marketing field, I did end up writing my own diabetes blog.

I’m more of a TV show person than a movie one. I was a massive Lost fanatic back in the day. With all of these reboots and revivals popping up nowadays, I’m praying they will announce a complete do-over of the final season of Lost. Don’t even get me started on the ending in that Church! Also, if you try and talk to me about My Kitchen Rules or Married at First Sight, I’ll tell you they’re scripted. Because all reality TV is scripted. I like to unwind with a good TV series at the end of the day, particularly if diabetes has been playing rough.

Coming from an Italian family, food is EVERYTHING. And if you didn’t eat anything for lunch, you mustn’t be feeling well. Often the topic of conversation in my house is did Frank eat anything before he left this morning? I don’t often order Pasta in a restaurant, because I have the real deal at home. I’m a terrible sweet tooth, and go nuts for coffee, cannoli or a good cake. With a type 1 diagnosis, it’s been tough to overcome this food culture and be more mindful of my mouthfuls, but I feel I’ve found a happy balance.

I don’t like exercise. Growing up, I felt that there was too much focus on sports and winning. I was more of a nerd. But somehow, I ended up working in a warehouse doing manual labour. It has been a challenge to learn how exercise affects my blood sugar and adjust insulin accordingly. But I’m also grateful that my job keeps me active, and I have a good excuse not to go to the gym at the end of the day!

Back in the day, I was an avid reader. Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Famous Five, Alex Rider. Today I pick up a book and get laughed at, because I often struggle finish a book! But I do read a lot about diabetes online. I enjoy scrolling through my Twitter feed in the morning to see what the likes of Diabetes Mine and Diabetes Daily have been covering while I’ve been sleeping. I glance at my Feedly app through the day to see what other diabetes bloggers are writing about. I’ve read Think Like a Pancreas, Michael Moseley’s The Fast Diet and Sugar Surfing with great interest. I’m also very much looking forward to catching up on Diabetes Blog Week posts today and over the weekend.

Big thanks to Karen at Bittersweet Diabetes for hosting another Diabetes Blog Week. It’s been a pleasure to participate over the last three years, and connect with other d-bloggers from all over the world.

To read other posts related to today’s prompt, click here.

Getting All Emotional…

It’s day 4 of the eighth annual Diabetes Blog Week. The idea is that bloggers sign up to write about a set topic each day for a week, and readers get a variety of perspectives on each topic. Here is today’s prompt:

Today let’s revisit a prompt from 2014 – May is Mental Health Month so now seems like a great time to explore the emotional side of living with, or caring for someone with, diabetes. What things can make dealing with diabetes an emotional issue for you and / or your loved one, and how do you cope?

This is such a tough one to put into words, and I apologise if my thoughts are a bit scattered today.

If history is anything to go by, I tend to get emotional when diabetes doesn’t go right.

I remember times where I would go low for the third time in a day, and urgh. Oh my God. I would close the door to my room, and smash my fists into the wall until they hurt. I would rub my eyes in frustration, and bury my face in my hands.

I wasn’t very good at diabetes for the first couple of years. I was blindly plodding along, making wild guesses and accepting exhausting swings. I was isolated. I didn’t talk about diabetes with my family and friends. I lost touch with my healthcare team. I wasn’t online. I wasn’t engaged in diabetes, or peer support.

So yeah, when diabetes got tough, it definitely produced a lot of emotion.

When I started out on insulin pump therapy a year ago, I felt this enormous pressure to get things right. I felt like it was my last chance to get my diabetes into some sort of marching order.

But I didn’t get things right straight away. There were site failures, frustration around setting basal rates, high blood sugar levels, burnout and disappointment in my first hba1c result post pump. It was naturally, a huge learning curve. Those emotional moments repeated themselves.

Then there are simply the times where life feels overwhelming and exhausting. And then, hey, there’s my child diabetes that’s still screaming for my attention.

So, how do I cope?

When I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed or emotional, usually it’s a sign that I need to slow down and take some time out for myself. I switch off my phone, or turn off the WiFi connection. I try to get a good night’s sleep. Or curl up on the couch with a good TV show. Or go for a walk. Or read a book. Most of the time, that fixes the problem.

I also frequent #OzDOC chats on Twitter every Tuesday night, where we discuss and share different aspects of life with diabetes.

There’s my friend Bec of Sweet and Sour Diabetes, who I can just message and say hey I feel like crap today. And she just gets it. And even though she’s 2 hours ahead of me, she tends to stay up late so I’m never really bugging her.

Then there’s my group of YAC legends, and they are legends. I only met these guys earlier this year, and it really does brighten my day to get Facebook Messenger notifications filled with questions, theories, problem solving, meter shots and guess the carbs pictures.

Then there’s my family. They have been behind me 100% since day one. They have helped me out enormously with the financial side of things, and have given me unconditional support with my diabetes management. I wouldn’t be here today without them.

I always say that diabetes gets better with time. Over time, you add more bricks to the wall. Bricks of wisdom. Experience. Tips and tricks. People, and support networks. Over time these bricks simply cement together, making the wall so much harder to knock down.

To read other responses to today’s prompt, click here.

The Blame Game

It’s day 3 of the eighth (and I just had a dumb moment where I had to google the spelling of the word eighth) annual Diabetes Blog Week. The idea is that bloggers sign up to write about a set topic each day for a week, and readers get a variety of perspectives on each topic. Here is today’s prompt:

Having diabetes often makes a visit to the doctor a dreaded experience, as there is invariably bad news of one kind or another.  And sometimes the way the doctor talks to you can leave you feeling like you’re at fault.  Or maybe you have a fantastic healthcare team, but have experienced blame and judgement from someone else in your life – friend, loved one, complete stranger.  Think about a particularly bad instance, how that person talked to you, the words they used and the conversation you had.  Now, the game part.  Let’s turn this around.  If you could turn that person into a puppet, what would you have them say that would leave you feeling empowered and good about yourself?   Let’s help teach people how to support us, rather than blame us!

I think I’m fairly open about my diabetes. People see me check my blood sugar. People see me exiting, and re-entering the room with a mouthful of skittles. People see me pull out my insulin pump. People see me swipe my arm. I’ll bring up diabetes if it’s relevant to the conversation. I’ve even been caught out on the odd occasion with my shirt up and staring at the infusion set on my stomach!

Yet I find it odd how little they actually ask me about it. I find it surprising that they’re not tempted to ask. Are they scared of stepping on eggshells and offending me? Or is it simply the nature of an invisible illness, that they just don’t notice? I guess it could mean that they don’t automatically see diabetes when they look at me, which is great because there is more to me than just my diabetes.

Yet as much as I don’t like to admit it, diabetes can be isolating to live with at times. Moreso in social situations where others get to be carefree, while I have to worry about carb counts and pockets full of supplies and going low.

I wish I was asked about my diabetes more often. Yeah, I know this is a double edged sword…

Because I also hate having to answer the same old questions, and addressing the same old stereotypes. I can’t stand the looks of pity or sympathy as I talk through some of the things that I have to do. I can’t stand being compared to her husband’s father who suffered at 90 years of age. I hate having assumptions made about me. I hate that I’m only ever asked about my diabetes when I’ve got a plate piled high with desert.

Instead of assuming that sweets are bad for me, how about asking me about what I have to do when I eat them?

Instead of telling me about your elderly relative who had diabetes, how about asking me how I manage or live well with mine?

Instead of giving me looks of pity and sympathy, how about commending me on how proactive and educated I sound?

I want to be asked about diabetes. I’m happy to talk diabetes with you. I just feel like a conversation would be so much more productive without all of the assumptions, reservations, or family comparisons thrown into the mix.

To read other responses to today’s prompt, click here.