Happy New Year

well friends, 2011 is almost over.  it has been quite a year.  in some ways, i guess i'm glad it's over.

• in january i had triple bypass surgery
• in february i fell down the stairs
• in march my husband turned 50
• in april we celebrated our 29th anniversary
• in may i started using an Insulin Pump and started blogging!
• in june i went away for the weekend with a group of very close girl friends
• in july i celebrated 7 years smoke free!
• in august i had a relaxing, 2wk holiday doing absolutely nothing
• in september, my grandson started SR Kindergarten, with less drama than last year
• in october we rode on my families float in the fall fair
• in november i got a clean bill of health on both my eyes and my ticker!
• in december we celebrated Christmas with family and friends

2012 has potential.   i don't normally make resolutions, and i probably won't this year either.  i will, however, continue to own my diabetes, and advocate more.  i hope to participate in my first diabetes walk this year, and am working on volunteering at my local Canadian Diabetes Assoc. office.  i may be doing Grocery Store tours, teaching newly diagnosed Diabetics how to read labels, and make healthy choices.  i will continue to work on getting my A1c under 7.0

And so to all my readers, i wish you health and happiness in 2012. 



my Christmas gift from D

well Christmas is over.  everything has found a home.  all the wrapping paper and boxes are outside at the curb waiting for the Garbage Man to pick it all up and dispose of it.  my goodness how fast it is over. 

this time last week i didn't think i would be ready for it, but apparently i managed.

we had a wonderful Christmas.  it's weird not having little ones waking us up at 5am.  with just myself, my husband and a 22yr old at home, there doesn't seem to be the urgency any longer.   we got up around 8.  made coffee, my daughter checked out her stocking (the last of my kids to get a stocking!), and then we went to my other daughters for breakfast.

there it seemed a little more like the "old days".  my two grandchildren were hyped up on the candies Santa left in their stockings.  the house was alive with noise and excitement!  Cameron was so happy that Santa brought him his PSP, and Aubrey was a little overwhelmed with it all.  she wasn't sure what to make of all the gifts! 

after breakfast we came home and i started getting everything together for dinner.  i tried hard to convince everyone that Chinese Food would be a great thing to have for Christmas dinner, but in the end i cooked a turkey and all the fixings!  we weren't all here though.  my son and daughter in law were missing.  it was their turn with her family.  they were missed.

boxing day was spent at my sister's place with her family and my parents.  we all (all 9 of us) travelled to her house, and spent the day opening gifts, enjoying each others company and stuffing our faces with more delicious fare!

bg's were not looked at too closely, as i was celebrating the fact that this time last year, i wasn't sure what was going to happen and didn't really know if i would be here this year.

last year, at this time, i had just found out that i may need to have some surgery.  i had some issues with my heart, and had been suffering angina attacks for about 7 months without being aware that that was what they were.  i was not allowed to work, because it was thought that the stress may cause me to have a heart attack and i was told to just "relax and bake pies for my Doctor"!  funny lady, she is!

and so this Christmas, D kind of took a backseat, and i celebrated being able to spend another Christmas with my family.  being able to watch my grandkids open presents.  the look of excitement and wonder on their faces.  seeing the love in my husbands eyes as he watched his family.  the laughter and the memories of Christmas' past that we shared.  the new memories created.

oh yes, D took the backseat, and he stayed there, pretty quietly and let me have this gift.  for that i am thankful. 

today he came back and let me know that it was a short-lived gift, but thats okay with me.  i can handle it, cause i've got everything to live for!!

tired is just a word, it doesn't define me

oh my.  how tired can one person be and still function? 

it seems to me that i am literally walking around in a state of semi-sleep.  the last couple days have been FULL.  i couldn't pack any more into them if i had tried.  busy, busy, busy. 

i am sure the sandman has been around a few times, sprinkled sand in my eyes, and left the scene.  problem being, all it's done is made my eyes itchy.  i keep checking my BG's 'cause it sometimes happens that when my sugars are high, my eyes are all itchy.  nope.  not the case this time.  numbers good. 

i have decided that i am not cooking (for fear of falling asleep at the stove) and we are opting for Chinese Food instead.  mmmmm. 

i am actually trying to convince my family that Chinese Food would make a lovely Christmas Dinner.  not sure if i will  have the time (or energy) to shop and cook.  so somethings gotta give, and i'm pretty sure it's gonna be dinner.

anyway, before i head out, i will leave you with this......





nostalgia, the ghost of Christmas past

with Christmas just around the corner,  there is so much going on.  i need to make a list of my lists!  on one list, ~write out cards, ~buy stamps, ~make sure all addresses are current, ~mail cards.
on another titled "THINGS TO BUY", ~turkey, ~stuffing bread (wonderful stuff!), ~cranberries, ~turnip (yes, we love it), crackers (the kind you pull).  and on yet another is the list of people to buy gifts for, and, of course what to buy for each one on said list. 

it is at about this time, that my mind starts to slip.  it happens like this.  i start doing one thing, and then think "oh, i should do...."  and off i go to do whatever it was that i thought of at that moment.  it seems i leave behind me a trail of half completed things, and i think i'll never be ready!

i go shopping and realize, once i have fought for a parking space, located a quarter(yes we have to "pay" for our carts here), and entered the store, that lo and behold, i have FORGOTTEN THE DAMN LIST!!

and so, whilst drinking a soothing cup of tea (laden with sugar to ward off that low blood sugar that is lurking around), i allow my mind to slip in another direction.  i am recalling Christmases past.

the first Christmas that i actually remember, i am around 5 years old.  oh the excitement!  it's hard being good all year and then waiting to see if Santa brought what you asked for.  we spent this particular Christmas at my grandparents house.  busy days leading up to the event, visiting relatives, playing in the snow, loading up on treats (pre-diabetes days!). 
Christmas Eve arrives and after a full day, bedtime is upon us.  i'm sure i drifted off to sleep with visions of sugar plums and all that.

little did i know that my mom and grandparents had gone to midnight Mass and left my dad in charge.  as i slept in my cozy bed under the eaves (it was a two-storey with sloped ceilings) i was awakened by, you guessed it, hooves on the roof!!  i swear it!!  i heard the clippity clop and the heavy footsteps of the fat old man getting out of that sleigh!  i lay there, tense under the blankets, listening.  i knew that if i wasn't sleeping, Santa wouldn't come.  and yet, he was here!!!!

after what seemed like an eternity, i crept down the stairs and peeked around the corner.  and there, under the tree, were presents!  what seemed then like tons of them!!!  and my dad was sound asleep in the rocking chair.  oh my!!!

i scampered over to the tree and started to rip open gifts!  i sound incredibly greedy, but remember i was only 5.  it was at about this time that i heard a door open, and i thought Santa was back to catch me!  turned out it was my mom and grandparents returning from Mass. 

oh what i would do for a picture of the looks on their faces when they saw me!   the commotion woke my poor father up, and i remember him looking around in bewilderment probably thinking what the...!! 

there i sat, surrounded by gift wrap, opened presents, and a feeling of awe! 

"Look!! Santa came!!!" 

each Christmas, after i open gifts from my loving family, i am reminded of those 3 little words, and 4 others.

GOD BLESS US ALL

help a D-sister out, won't ya?

Twitter.  almost everyone i know is on Twitter.  i am on Twitter.  i don't really understand Twitter.  i read everyone's updates, and occasionally i comment, but i still don't really get it.  i finally got a Blackberry.  it is my daughters old one, but hey, at least i can now send a BBM and even a voicenote!  the other night my daughter added Twitter to my phone.  interesting.  i told her "i must be old" she laughed, and said "no, not old, just not Twitter savvy".  i swear it makes my head hurt trying to keep up and understand all that goes on!  things pop up so fast!!  i am pretty sure Simon was not referring to my update the other night, but how was i to know?? i said i was low, he mentioned pecan pie.   and hash tags?  what are they? why are they? and how do they work?  i am definitely up for a quick lesson from any of you out there that Tweet. is there anyone out there that can help a D-sister out?

in the mood

in keeping with what i said in my previous post, i am adding a few pictures to get me in the Christmas spirit.

it is snowing as i do this so that is definately helping!!  hoping you can see that in the picture!

not sure why it's sideways but...

some of my snowman collection

again, not sure why this one is sideways, it wasn't when i picked it

he is the keeper of the masses, looking down on all the rest LOL!

if you aren't in the Christmas mood, hopefully these helped get you a little closer to it! 

Let the Countdown Begin!!

in honour of Christmas, my font is green.
silly i know, but i need to do something to get me in the Christmas mood!

last saturday, i went to a Cookie Exchange.  it was fun, i suppose.  there was a gift exchange game, where everyone got a Christmas Tree Decoration.  the gift i picked was a cute little snowman, which fits in with my house.  i collect snowmen, so there are quite a few of them hanging out here. (pics to be added later) 

the treats we exchanged were supposed to go in the freezer, however, there are none left to freeze.  oh, and it wasn't me that was eating them!!

my house is decorated, the outside lights are on, and there is a dusting of snow, but it still doesn't feel Christmas-y. 

saturday is my one day off from both my jobs so i am hitting the malls and getting this shopping done!  this afternoon, before i go to work, i am going to get as many Christmas cards done as a i can.

sunday afternoon my two daughters, my grandson and i are going to see a play.  it is Sleeping Beauty and it is an "audience interactive play designed for all ages".  not sure how much fun an almost 6yr old boy will have, but we'll see! 

afterward i hope to begin baking.  this time treats will hit the freezer, and i might even try making a few things with Splenda!  i don't normally eat alot of sugary sweetness at Christmas, i am more of a savoury type person.  however, after getting my A1c down to 7.0, i think i might treat myself a little!

next weekend we have a huge annual neighbourhood Christmas Party to go to.  i am really looking forward to this!  good friends, good food, and a few drinks!  some wonderful Christmas carrolls and lots of laughter!

i think i'll be ready for Christmas, and i usually work really well under pressure!
in any event, the day will arrive whether i'm ready or not!!

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!

Kim 7.0

7.0  

that's right  7.0

 i was at my Endo appt yesterday and both he and his nurse had huge smiles on their faces.  when asked what i thought my A1c was, i replied  "oh, 7.2?"    nope, wrong.  their smiles were bigger than that. 

7.0.   i don't think my A1c has ever been that low. seriously! 

and my tryglicerides, and my cholesterol are all fabulous! 

my blood pressure was 117/50.   considering i normally suffer from "white coat syndrome", that's cool!

way back, when i first started seeing this Endo, he asked me if i liked to cook.  of course, i said yes.  he asked me if i had tools in my kitchen.  tools like knives, and bowls, and mixers, and such things that helped me cook.  yes, of course.  well he then likened my pills for high blood pressure, cholesterol and thyroid as my tools.  tools that help me look after myself.

yesterday, before he left the office, he commended me on my numbers and reminded me to continue to "use my tools".  '

i told him i would, faithfully!

cards and calls full of wishes

today in my mailbox (both snail and e) i found cards! 

first off, i received my postcard from Lee Ann Thill's WDD Postcard Exchange!!  i am soo excited!!  it is from another Type 1, who is 22, living in Boston MA.  she was diagnosed 10yrs ago today!  Happy Diaversary Stacy! (i will post a pic once i find my camera!)

secondly, today is my birthday!  my inbox and Facebook are crammed with Best Wishes!  i am very appreciative of these, and grateful to be able to celebrate this day.  it has been a very stressful year, healthwise, so i feel blessed to be surrounded by my family and friends and their love and support.

my phones were alive with activity also! text messages from my daughter, son-in-law, and friends. my home phone was ringing with calls from my parents, and my son and daughter-in-law.

thirdly, back to my real mailbox.  in it were birthday cards from my Aunt, my neighbour, and several friends.  thank you all for remembering. 

monday's meal

today i've decided to write about my dinner. 

once summer is truly over, my whole dinner menu changes. i start to think about casseroles, stews, homemade soups, chili's, things i like to call "one pot meals". comfort foods.

it's not really winter here yet.  today was cool and kind of gray.  we had a sprinkling of snow last week that lasted a couple of hours.  they are calling for cooler temperatures and perhaps some freezing rain/flurries tomorrow. 

today, my mind was on comfort foods from my childhood.  i am about to admit something.  something that is hard for me to admit.  I LOVE POTATOES.  yup, potatoes.  boiled potatoes, potato salad, baked potatoes, potato skins.  mashed potatoes, fried potatoes.  mmmm and scalloped potatoes.  i love scalloped potatoes.  probably a very un-D-friendly potato dish, if ever there was one.  butter, flour, potatoes, onions  all cooked with milk till bubbly and soft.

today i did something a little different.  i added hot dogs.  sounds a little weird right?  well when i googled "hot dog potato casserole", there were hundreds of recipes.  i read a few different ones.  basically they are all the same.  scalloped potatoes, with chopped/sliced hot dogs.  

here is my version of       HOT DOG POTATO CASSEROLE

• thinly slice about 5 potatoes and 1 onion.
• put in pan (i used a wok) and  add about 1inch of water.  bring to boil, and cook for about 5 minutes.  drain.
• melt 3 tbsp of butter in pot over med heat.  add 2 tbsp flour, about 1 tsp of paprika, salt and pepper.  stir constantly while adding 2cups milk.  stir until thick and smooth.
• put about 1/3 potato/onion mix in bottom of 2 quart casserole.   slice about 4 hotdogs in half lengthwise and lay on top of potato mixture.
• add more potato mixture and top with more hotdogs.
• top with remainder of potato and then pour milk mixture over top.
• cover with shredded cheddar cheese (about a cup) or whatever cheese you have on hand.  even cheese slices would do.
• bake for about 45min in 400' oven.
  you could add peas, or green beans, or mixed veggies. brocolli would be good too.

i don't have a clue as to how many carbs or calories are in this dish.  i had a fair sized bowl and swagged for 57gr of carbs.  BG before eating 6.4  BG 4hrs after eating 5.1 

i call that a success!!


 

falling off the wagon hurts ~ caused by schedule overload!

it seems i have fallen off the wagon.  i was going for 30 days of blogging with NHBPM.  clearly, i didn't make it.  i feel bad.  sort of like i let myself down. 

life got in the way.  that sounds so lame, but it's true.  some days it just doesn't seem that there are enough hours.  i was off work (my night job) for a week.  i still had kids to look after during the day.  my housework is so far behind i may never get caught up!  i have family coming for November  birthday celebrations on Saturday, and i work Saturday morning.  i will spend most of Friday morning (before work),  and late Friday night (after work!) preparing for them. 

today i went to my first ever visit with a chiropodist.  he seemed surprised that i had never seen one before.  he went on to tell me all the horror stories about diabetics and their feet.  he did, however, jokingly say that i had probably heard it all before.  overall, my feet are not in bad shape.  i do have to change my footwear, and perhaps consider orthotics in the near future.  the visit was well worth the $45.00 it cost me.

i stopped at my Canadian Diabetic Assoc. office this afternoon.  i picked up a bracelet and a lapel pin.  i have been wanting these for a long time now, but they never had any available.  while i was there, i was talking to the woman about a few different things.  one was my visit this morning, and she mentioned an information session on monday.  i may attend if i don't work.  the other was volunteer opportunities.  it seems they need someone to do supermarket tours.  since i work in a grocery store, she thought this may be something i would be interested in.  and i am!  i really am! i think it would be an awesome opportunity, and i really want to do this!

now i just have to figure out exactly how to fit this into my already overloaded schedule!

World Diabetes Day

today is my first World Diabetes Day.  yes, i have been a diabetic for almost 37 years, but i had never heard of WDD before.


i wasnt much involved with Diabetic things.  i did not go to Diabetes Camp as a child.  i did not (and still don't) know any other diabetics in real life.  i know they exist.  i read their blogs! 


today i am wearing blue.  i have participated in the Big Blue Test,  worn blue on friday's, mailed my postcard,  

today i am going to eat a cupcake with blue icing as a tribute to Sir Frederick Banting. 

Born: 14 November 1891

Birthplace: Alliston, Ontario, Canada

Died: 21 February 1941 (airplane crash)

Best Known As: The Canadian doctor who discovered insulin

Happy Birthday Dr. Banting!  and Happy World Diabetes Day!!

is it just me?

just wondering if this is just a "me" thing.  sound weird?  i know.  well, when my BG is getting high, i get this weird sense of smell.  i know, weird eh?

yesterday morning, my fasting BG was 7.8.  not bad.  i had a toasted bagel with butter, and a coffee with cream.  bolused for 28gr of carbs.   a little over an hour later i start to feel, off.  not sure how to describe it.  it seems to start with a smell.  sort of like cleaning products, but not really. 
i check my blood and it's 13.0.  HOLY HANNAH!!  that's a huge spike in a short period of time. 

my DEC once told me that the "smell" is ketones.  so i get out my metre and check.  0.1
BG metre says not to correct so i dont.
2hrs later all is well.  BG down to 6.4,  and i noticed the smell diminishing as my BG fell.

today, same thing.  normal range fasting, huge spike after eating (different food though).  weird smell.  no ketones.  BG dropping after about 2hrs. 

i think i will need to either change my breakfast choices, or do some basal testing.

but the whole weird smell thing? 

is it just me?

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

this morning, as i sat here in front of my computer reading blogs, i was thinking in the back of my mind of what to post for day 9 of NHBPM.  i haven't really been following the prompts, as i haven't been blogging that long.  for instance, today's prompt, My personal brand.  i don't really have one.  i don't even know if people really read my blog (ok so i know some people do ).  my point is,  i just say what's on my mind.  what's happening, what's bugging me. 

i was reading a post by C.  the story is about burnout.  we all know what that's about.  it was time for her endo visit.  C was prepared to be honest and upfront about her feelings.  about how those feelings were affecting her diabetes care.  sometimes that's hard for us.  #'s are not something we're real comfortable with.  they make us happy. they make us sad.  they anger us and sometimes they make us fight.

the part that really pissed me off was her endo's attitude.  i mean it REALLY REALLY angered me.  it brought back a memory.  one i thought was truly buried.  her experience was so like one i had had.  and all that buried, hidden, forgotten anger came bursting out!

how dare that dr. judge her?
how dare that dr. presume to think that we can pull ourselves "out of it"?  does she think it's like getting stuck in a snowbank?
does she think threats work?
how dare she try to relate her getting up at 5:45 to jog because she knows "it's good" for her, to all that we do for ourselves every minute of every day, ALL THE TIME?!!!

i think it's time we became teachers.  no, no, not advocates or educators, but teachers.  back to the basics.  holding seminars for endocrinologist's.  not all of them.  just those like the one in C's post.  like court ordered anger management classes, for ENDO OFFENDERS.  run by diabetics.  type 1's, type 2's, LADA's.  parents of CWD's.  perhaps even a few type awesome's for good measure.

we will teach them how it really is. 

the first thing they will have to do is choose.  from a hat.  which type of diabetes will the hat bestow on them?
secondly, they will be required to live that life for a month.  everything that life includes.  the shots, the pokes, the pills.  the highs, the lows. (and i'm not averse to giving them a little shot of "real" insulin just to prove a point!).  they will have to count carbs, figure out corrections,  wake up in the middle of the night to check BG's.   do everything we have to do, including keep logs.  real logbooks.  not fake one's to make us feel better, so they wont yell at us.

they will have to go for lab work and come meet us to "go over" it. 
we can then decide how best to "treat" them.  teach them how it feels to be belittled, humiliated, and to feel as if our efforts aren't enough.  give them some of their own bitter medicine.

see how they feel.  how fast do you think they would run to the nearest St. Cinnamon for a great big cinnamon danish? (that's a whole other story! )

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

which is it? fact or fiction?

today's post is sort of a game.  i will tell you a couple of short stories.  i promise they won't take much time.
your job, dear readers, is to tell me whether you think they are fact or fiction. 

some may make you laugh, some may sound familiar to you, others may illicit an OMG! can it be true? response.  in so saying, here we go.

#1  it is early in the morning.  still dark outside.  husband has left for work some 2hrs ago.  i am roused by a buzzing sound.  thinking it is my cell phone, i answer it.  "hello? hello?"  the noise continues.  minutes go by. BZZZZZ  BZZZZZZ BZZZZZ.  my daughter comes in the room and tells me to "shut off the alarm mom!!"  i stare at her, looking afraid and hold out my cell phone.
"i dont know how!!"  i cry, tears rolling down my cheeks.  it is then she realizes i am low.  it seems i cry when low.

#2  saturday afternoon.  i am out doing errands.  the streets in our town are busy on saturday afternoons.  my daughter, then about 5 years old is with me.  i wake up in the hospital emerg.  it seems i was driving erratically and a taxi driver noticed and tried to slow me down.  he radioed for another cab to help.  they got me stopped and called for police and ambulance.  they went through my purse to get my info.  my 5 y/o wouldn't give them any information because she "wasn't allowed to talk to strangers"  it seems i had over $1400 in my wallet and at first they thought perhaps i was OD'ing.  truth is, i was supposed to deposit about $700 rent money, but instead i withdrew $700 instead, totalling $1400.  all while in a low BG stupor.

#3  i am sitting on the steps inside my backdoor.  the door is unlocked.  my kids are due home from school any moment.  i see them coming up the driveway so unlock the door for them.  they cannot get in.  i cannot open the door.  the concept of turning a small button is beyond me.  they run down the street to get my friend and neighbour.  she comes with them, and after many minutes of her yelling through the door instructions a 6mth old could understand, i finally get the door unlocked.  paramedics are called once again.

#4  we are expecting company.  family from out of town are visiting.  i am busy all day trying to get organized.  not an easy feat with a newborn and a 2yr old.  the toy room is a disaster.  husband comes home from work, sees something in my face only he can see.  the conversation goes like this.  "kim you're low. you need to stop what you're doing and get some sugar into you."  "no, i'm fine.  i just have to get this straightened up."  "no, you need to stop and have a cup of tea." " what's wrong with you? can't you SEE I AM FINE!   i'm almost done"  next thing you know i am on my face in the middle of the playroom.  Damn you diabetes, and damn you husband for being right - again! LOL


so now, after reading these blips in time, are they fact or fiction?   real excerpts from my life with D, or are they just fictional pieces, meant to entertain?  you tell me.  and i will let you know if you're right!

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

AS CLEAR AS DAY

this is a blue circle.  it is meant to represent DIABETES.  but how well does it work?  i have this circle as part of my MedicAlert tattoo. if i were travelling outside canada, and experienced a severe low blood glucose which required medical assistance, would the wearing of this blue circle mean anything to anyone?  if they couldn't read english, would my tattoo have a hope of helping anyone help me?

last wednesday, i had surgery on my hand.  while talking with the pre-op nurse one of the questions was "are you wearing any jewellry?"  to which i answered "no".  she looked at me, knowing i was diabetic and said "no medic alert?"  i told her that i had a medic alert tattoo.  she asked to see it.  her daughter is also diabetic and this sparked her interest.  after looking at it she asked me what the circle was.  at this point the advocate in me wanted to jump up in amazement.  but because of the circumstances and the timeframe involved, i kept my answer short and to the point. 

"this blue circle is the international symbol for Diabetes.  much like the Pink Ribbon for Breast Cancer, it should be recognizable by all medical personnel the world over.  in fact everyone needs to know what this little blue circle means."

i was actually shocked.  how could a nurse, whose own daughter had type 1, not recognize it?
and what does this say about the rest of the world? 

it has been around since 2006, but in all honesty i just found out about it perhaps a year ago.  how are we going to get this little blue circle out there?  how can we make it as big as that pink ribbon?  or bigger? i am not sure how i am going to go about it, but it definately is something i am going to work on.

i feel that diabetes, in my community, doesn't get enough attention, and i plan to do something about that. 
i want to know that someday, while travelling in oh, maybe spain, or greece or even france or italy, wherever i go, that if God forbid, i am in a situation where i cant speak for myself, my tattoo will say what needs to be said.  AS CLEAR AS DAY.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

ouchies

according to wikipedia the word "ouch" may refer to:  an interjection that denotes pain.


so in that case.......OUCH, OUCH, OUCH!!!!

since my surgery on wednesday, i have been pretty much been doing everything i can with one hand.

i prepared hors oeuvres for a little cocktail party we attemded last night. (okay so i dumped a box of some sort of cheese filled puff pastries on a cookie sheet and stuck them in the oven.)

i sang into a microphone while holding my drink in my right hand and wacking my cast on my left thigh.

i am becoming quite skilled at doing blood tests one-handed. (and by this i mean lancing the good finger on the good hand with the good hand!).

i can type with one finger on my right hand almost as fast as i can using both hands and all fingers.

i made cabbage rolls roll casserole, and did the dishes without getting my left hand wet at all. (well perhaps just a tad.)

but now i am suffering.  yes the ouchies have set in.  i  think i will hang up my good hand, (but not before making a nice cuppa tea) and relax with a good book.  or perhaps i'll watch a movie with my daughter. 

putting my bad hand to bed.  night night. 

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

5 things that changed my life

todays NHBPM post is to list 5 things that changed my life and how.
so after lots of thought,and many re-writes! (i started this on saturday but finished it today), here goes!

• my diagnoses

                 being diabetic at 12 yrs old.  no longer being "like" every other kid.  the strict schedule of
                 testing, taking my shot (just 1 a day back then), eating at the same time EVERY day.
                 no being able to do what i wanted when i wanted like i used to

• getting married

                 now doing this on my own, without my parents being in charge
                 not really doing a good job of it, not realizing my choices would have dire consequences
                 later on

• having my children

                 small people depending on me.  trying to stay on top of everything.  going from 1 shot to 4
                 a day. not realizing that i should have placed my health needs first so that i could be a
                 better mother.

• becoming a grandmother

                  understanding that in order to live to see them grow, i had to make changes in my care.
                  not wanting to jeapordize them, while they are in my care.

•  undergoing triple bypass surgery at 48 years old

                   finally realizing that years of neglecting my health has to stop.  taking "ownership" of
                   my disease for perhaps the first time.  making myself #1.  getting my insulin pump.
                                                                finally being happy within.

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

this thing called blogging

so blogging.   not something i ever considered doing.  and yet its something i do.

when thinking about my post for the day, i usually start with the title.  it's the first thing i type.

somewhere in my mind there might be an idea for a picture lurking.

pictures are usually the last thing i decide on, except in this case, where that came right after the title.

i mostly just start talking, and see where it goes from there.  although, there have been times when i actually did some research and wrote things down on a piece of paper in point form.

as for the proofreading, that kinda happens as i go.  i rarely use spell check.  i just double check everything.   right now i am typing with one hand (see here for the reason), so the error rate has increased drastically!  i must be extra diligent! 

once my post is finished, i usually hit "preview" and see how it looks.  at this point i read the whole thing through and decide if it reads okay.  sometimes things get changed.  occasionally i feel a picture is needed.  back i go and i add or edit.  i preview again.

then i hit "publish post".  then i hit "view blog" to see what others see.  and that's it.  i just started the twitter thing and don't really have a clue how that works, so i didn't know i could add it to that.  nor did i think of adding it to my facebook.  seems there is lots to learn about this social media thing!

(oh and you may have noticed, i am not a fan of CAPITALS! LOL!!)

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

to me, from me

hi kim,

today you are 18.  you are young and have your whole life ahead of you.    you're thinking "i know, i know"  but really, listen up.  this is important.  the road you are about to embark on is long.  it is full of bumps and potholes.  you will take a few wrong turns along the way.  there will be some wonderful things out there for you.  moments that will take your breath away. 

~you will get engaged
~you will get married
~you will have 3 wonderful, healthy kids
~you and your family will move from the city to a smaller town, far away from family and friends
~you will witness the birth of your 2 amazing grandkids

however

~you will continue to abuse your body by eating things high in carbs, and drinking too much
~you wont test, you wont take control, you wont worry
~you believe that if it ain't broke, why fix it

but it is broke.  you just dont know it yet.

if you start listening NOW there are things you can avoid.  i dont mean to nag, but seriously, PAY ATTENTION!!

you need to find a doctor.  one you trust.  one that really "gets" diabetes.
you need to start testing NOW
you need to eat better and slow down on the junk food and alcohol
you need to quit smoking TODAY

if you don't i can guarantee you these things:

• you will start losing feeling in your feet
• you will get pains in your legs when you walk, even short distances
• you will end up having laser surgery many, many times
• you will have blocked arteries in your legs, requiring a stent, which wont work
• you will end up having an aortic biphemoral graft at 42 yrs old
• you will endure months of heartburn that will turn out to be something much worse
• you will have triple bypass surgery at 48

these things i can promise you.

if you dont believe me, you wont live to see your beautiful grandson and granddaughter grow up.
you wont live to see your youngest daughter graduate from college, or your son get married.
you will break the heart of the man who has known and loved you since you were 16yrs old.

it's up to you. 
YOU.CAN.DO.THIS.  you just have to try.  wont you please?


This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

surgery

DUPYUTRENS CONTRACTURE EXCISION PERFORMED (see before pics here.)

last night i didn't sleep well.  my mind was in overdrive.  i was thinking about the morning.

i was scheduled to be at the hospital at 6:30am.  surgery was set for 8am.  i was thinking about my last surgery.  10 months ago.  triple bypass.  i was a little nervous about this one for some reason.

the alarm went off at 5.  after very little sleep, i got up and started to get ready.  simple clothing.  easy to get on over a cast.  hmmm i should have got a haircut.  oh well.

no coffee.  nothing to eat.  only small sips of water with my pills.  insulin pump set for -40% basal.
say a few prayers and off we go.

the hospital is only about 7 minutes from our house.  there was a lot of fog this morning.  made for a slow drive.  more time to think.  and pray.

we arrived at out-patient surgical and met with the nurse.  after several hundred questions (some regarding my diabetic tattoo), i was gowned and waiting.  my name was called and i said my goodbyes to my husband.  he knew i was a bit worried, and he put on a brace face but i think he was a little scared too.  

i met with the anesthetist, who reassured me all would be fine.  into the OR i went.  it seemed a wee bit odd to be walking into the operating room on my own 2 feet.  and jumping up onto the table!  all my other surgeries have  had me being wheeled in on a gurney and transferred to the table by hospital personnel.

after the IV was inserted, the dr. gave me a little "cocktail" and the next thing i knew i was waking up in recovery! 

i made it!!  nothing bad happened.  i didn't have a heart attack, i didn't stop breathing.  none of the things i was worried about happened!  THANK GOD.  my prayers were answered.

so now i just have to figure out how to get my pill bottles open once my husband goes to work in the morning.
and how to change my granddaughters diapers.  or make lunch for the kids.  LOL!

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

bacon and cupcakes

today is november 1st.  the first day of Diabetes Awareness Month.  the first day of NationalHealthBlogPostingMonth.  The Big Blue Test starts today and runs until the 14th.  the World Diabetes Day Postcard Exchange is the brainchild of Lee Ann Thill.  there are lots of things going on in your local area to get involved in as well!

there are soooo many things going on this month. 

it is amazing to me that this time last year, i was not aware of the DOC, and all the wonderful people associated within.  i don't remember being aware that november was Diabetes Awareness Month, nor that November 14th was WDD!!!  how could i have been so.......unaware??

around this time last year i was working with my new endo and the team at my DEC.  i was considering getting a pump.  i was finally acknowledging My Diabetes, and taking ownership.  but i was still so ALONE. 

it wasn't till, probably february, that i found the DOC. it was totally by accident, and i am so glad i did.  it happened that i was looking online for other people who had gone through triple bypass surgery.  i don't remember exactly what i typed in the search bar.  perhaps it was the relationship between diabetes and heart problems. but it brought me to the DOC!

this time last year i didn't realize that people celebrated their Diaversary's.  i didn't realize people actually "met up" with other diabetics.  or that they opened up their hearts and lives and let others in. i knew nothing about unicorns and glitter, bacon and cupcakes.

and so, this November, along with celebrating my 49th birthday, i will be celebrating my 37th Diaversary.  i will be sending out a homemade postcard to another PWD, testing my blood and telling the world the result, wearing blue every friday, and trying to writing a post everyday! 

November is the most wonderful month of the year!!!

This post was written as part of NHBPM – 30 health posts in 30 days: http://bit.ly/vU0g9J

Wordless Wednesday

Dupyutren's Contracture.....surgery to fix this next Wednesday......more on this later 

I fell in Love

i was at my appointment at my Diabetes Education Centre today.  i love going there.  Cecelia never, ever, makes me feel bad about my numbers, or my blood pressure or anything else for that matter.  i thought for sure my A1c was going to be up.  my last one was 7.2 and i figured this one would be somewhere around 8 or so.  not so.  7.3.  not bad! i have only been pumping since May, and she said that it is not unusual for people's A1c to go up a bit when starting the pump because they are afraid to make changes that were so easy to make before.  we made a few changes to my basals, and also lowered my target from 8 to 7. 

while sitting in the office i noticed a poster on the wall.  i fell in love with it immediately!  let me share it with you.   8-)


Diabetes Etiquette ~ for people who DON'T have Diabetes


1)  DON'T offer unsolicited advice about my eating or other aspects of diabetes
                  

you may mean well, but giving advice about someone’s personal habits, especially when it is not requested, isn’t very nice. besides, many of the popularly held beliefs about diabetes (“you should just stop eating sugar”) are out of date or just plain wrong.

2) DO realize and appreciate that diabetes is hard work

diabetes management is a full-time job that I didn’t apply for, didn’t want and can’t quit.  it involves thinking about what, when, and how much i eat, while also factoring in exercise, medication, stress, blood sugar monitoring, and so much more – each and every day.

3) DON'T tell me horror stories about your grandmother or other people with diabetes you have heard about.

diabetes is scary enough, and stories like these are not reassuring! besides we now know that with good management, odds are good that you can live a long, healthy and happy life with diabetes.

4)  DO offer to join me in making healthy lifestyle changes.

not having to be alone with efforts to change, like starting an exercise program, is one of the most powerful ways you can be helpful.   after all, healthy lifestyle changes can benifit everyone!

5)  DON'T look so horrified when i check my blood sugars, or give myself an injection.

it is not alot of fun for me either.  checking blood sugars and taking medications are things i must do to manage diabetes well.  if i have to hide while i do so, it makes it much harder for me.

6)  DO ask how you might be helpful.

if you want to be supportive, there may be lots of little things i would appreciate your help with. However, what i really need, may be very different than what you think i need, so please ask first.

7)  DON'T offer thoughtless reassurances.

when you first learn about my diabetes, you may want to reassure me by saying things like, "hey it could be worse; you could have Cancer".  this won't make me feel better, and the implicit message seems to be  that diabetes is no big deal.  however, diabetes (like Cancer) IS a big deal.

8)  DO be supportive of my efforts for self-care.

help me set up an environment for success by supporting healthy food choices.  please honour my decision to decline a particular food, even when you really want me to try it.  you are most helpful when you are not being a source of unnecessary temptation.

9)  DON'T peek at, or comment on my  blood glucose numbers without asking me first.

these numbers are private, unless i choose to share them.  it is normal to have numbers that are sometimes too low or too high.  your unsolicited comments about these numbers can add to the disappointment, frustration and anger i already feel.

10)  DO offer you love and encouragement.

as i work hard to manage diabetes successfully,  sometimes just knowing that you care can be very helpful and motivating.


 i think my favourites are #'s 3,5,7 & 9. 

the original poster can be found here, at the Behavioral Diabetes Institute.  there is lots of very interesting information to be found.  things for both Type 1's and Type 2's, parents of diabetic teens, and stuff about the "real-life" aspects of living with this disease, to name a few.

,

battling exhaustion

it's been a little while since i have been on here.  i try to read a few blogs every day, but writing has been difficult. 

my schedule lately has been hectic (working 7 days a week), and there doesn't seem to be much "me" time.

i read about everyone's wonderful "Simonpalooza" experiences and i must say, i am a tad bit jealous.  it sounds like everyone involved had a spectacular time, and i am glad for them!  travelling across the world to meet people that have helped change your life, that is an unbelievable adventure!!! how brave Simon was, and how nice that so many people came out to embrace him.  i wish i could have been there.

right now, though, i don't think i would have the energy to answer the door if a whole carload of DOC'ers showed up.  I.AM.SO.TIRED. 

i know i am a bit anemic, and should probably be taking more iron, and eating a diet including a little more iron.  but iron and me don't really get along.  i was at the hospital yesterday for a pre-op anesthetic consult (hand surgery on Nov2), and the nurse asked if i was tired alot.  I said yes, but assumed it was because i am working about 65-70 hrs a week.  she wondered if i was taking an iron supplement.  i told her yes, and the name of it.  she suggested that i try Proferrin. it is a Heme Iron Supplement. she said it is much easier on the stomach and you need less of it because it is more easily absorbed by the body than the Non-heme Iron supplements(called Iron Salts). 

when i am tired and not getting the sleep i need, my mind and body suffer.  i cant stay focused.  i lose my temper easily.  i ache everywhere my BG's are all over the place.  they are up, they are down, they are back up again.  i try to count, and keep track of my carbs, but still things are wacky.

i am thinking about doing a trial run with a CGM.  i have surgery coming up on my hand, and i would like my BG's to be fairly steady.  i believe i can do a trial with my DEC(diabetic education centre). 

i have sunday off, so i will try to do a little research,  maybe have a day to relax and not worry about all the things i should be doing, that never seem to get done.  for now though, i am off to bed.

i'm tired of battling exhaustion.

Strange little man and Fibre

so a little while back i wrote about fibre.  or rather, about whether or not to subtract the amount of fibre in a meal from the total carbs in said meal.  the gist of this was to decide whether or not the fibre actually affects the blood sugar one way or the other.

so my little (un)science experiment is over.  for the past two days i have eaten the same thing.  EXACTLY the same.  not just the same amount of carbs, but the EXACT SAME FOOD.  at the exact same time  my grandson said "boring!!" (he is only 5 and i must say, that it was just me that did this, not my whole family).  the only difference being that on the first day i did not subtract the fibre, and on the second day i did. 

the results are in.........................


my BG results did not really differ AT ALL. what i was looking at was the pp blood sugars.  i was told by my dietitian that when you subtract the fibre you are using only the carbs that convert to glucose.  because fibre does not convert to glucose, if you include it you "may be inclined to have a low BG after eating because of incorrect carb counting".

as we all know, Diabetes is a strange little man. 

you can feed him the same thing at the same time every day for a month, and never get the same results twice. 

in this instance i found that it did not matter whether i subracted or not, my pp BG (at 2hrs) had gone up as much as 2 points.  and within 4hrs, it was back down to within range.

so for myself, i think i will just continue to do as i have been doing.  and that for the most part, my friends, is to just base my bolus on the "total carbs", without bothering to do the subtraction. 

please keep in mind that this is just my own opinion.  should you have questions regarding this, it would be best to consult with your Diabetes Health Care Team. 



international flavour

Today is No D Day.  George over at Ninjabetic has declared Oct 7 to be the day that we DO NOT blog about our disease.  We do NOT write about it anywhere.  not FB or Twitter, or anywhere.  click here to read all the No D Day posts!

so what to write about.  hmmmm....  i thought about this alot last night.  i tried to think of things that might be of interest to the DOC, that i enjoy. 

i enjoy reading,  listening to music, singing along with the radio, hanging with family, and i love to cook.   i have been cooking since i was about 12 years old.  i cooked for my family everynight of the week except the weekend. 

both my parents worked so it became my job to make dinner every night.  some days, after picking up my younger sister from school, i would come home to find a note on the counter telling me what to make for supper.  my mom would have jotted down whatever is was she wanted me to make, and what time to start things. 

eventually i started to collect recipes.  when we visited family, i would search through their recipe books, and write out the ones that sounded interesting.  i would go through magazines with scissors in hand.  cutting and pasting these finds in a scrapbook of sorts.  it didn't take long before i was making out a list of ingredients and sending my mother off to the grocery store with my list. (i think she secretly enjoyed this!)

over the years i have collected many, many recipe books.  some of the ones i have belonged to my gramma, and came from the local church ladies group.  some are old family favourites.  one of my aunts lived in many places all over the world including Pakistan and Brazil.  some of her recipes are my favourites. 

in the last several years, my husband and i and a group of friends have been having a monthly dinner party during the winter months.    we call them our "international dinners".  it is a great way to get together through the cold winter instead of sitting at home every saturday night watching The Leafs lose another game.   what we do is put a bunch of different countries in a "hat" and each couple pulls one out.   We then put the months of November, January, February, March, April and sometimes May (depending on how many couples we have participating) in the hat and pick one of them too.  We go from house to house.  The host house supplies the main dish for the chosen country.  each couple then brings either, a side, a salad or soup, an appetizer and a dessert.  this is all determined by a sort of schedule that works so that you get a different course to bring each month.  each item must be homemade.  nothing from a box, or frozen package (so no frozen lasagna for our italian dinner!).

we have had meals from so many different countries, and each one was delicious!  we have sampled fare from such places as Italy, Sweden, Japan, India, Morroco, Portugal, Argentina, China, Scotland, and Greece.

We will be meeting up next week to decide this years plans.  I can't wait!!  if any of you have ideas for Countries please let me know! 

record keeping and pie

back on september 21st, i wrote about fibre.  i said that i would be back with some results in 2 weeks.  well....2 weeks is a really long time to test out my theory.  i was never any good at keeping a log(just ask my doctor!).  so i have decided that i WILL do this, however, it will be over a 2 DAY span instead.  reason being,  i can definately eat the same thing, and keep  a record for 2 days.  and my schedule for 2 days is easier to keep basically the same.  so because this is our Thanksgiving weekend, and i will probably be eating WAY too many carbs,  i will re-start this theory on monday (i mean i can't be expected to eat turkey and pumpkin pie 2 days in a row can i??).



Off to the Fair!

we are going away this weekend.  it is the 150th Anniversary of the town where my mother was born.  the place i spent every summer of my childhood.    it is also the weekend of the town's Fall Fair.  there will be a parade.  there will be floats.  my family will be on a float.  the float represents our family and all its generations.  my cousin built a child-size replica of the home my Grandmother made for her family that will be the main exhibit on the float.  i am excited to see it!  we will all wear t-shirts made for this event, with the family name on them. 

i am sooo looking forward to this weekend.  we will get to visit with family i haven't seen for a while.  we are taking our grandchildren with us.  it is a 4hr. drive.  hmmmm....  :0/

i haven't been to this particular fall fair in 28yrs.  as a child we went every year.  i have wonderful memories of this event.  perhaps that is why i LOVE fall sooo much!!

the smell of hotdogs, and candy floss.  apple cider.   the 4H club's animal exhibits.  the booths filled with pies and jams, and all things homemade.  quilts, and blankets and baby clothes. 

the sounds of the animals.  the cows mooooing, the chickens clucking.  goats and sheep baaaaing!
(love my animal sounds! heehee)

AND....the rides!!  the ferris wheel, that i thought was sooooooo HUGE as a kid.  the one i rode probably a thousand times!  (perhaps a slight exageration!).

i can't wait to share all of this with my grandchildren.  to create for them a memory, a little like my own.  to walk for a bit down memory lane.  to think about my Grandma (whom i miss dearly) for a while.  to introduce the "city kids" to the country for weekend.

hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  i'm sure i will!!

Sweat Meters

As a Diabetic of close to 37 years, rarely does my body send out those little signals.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  The shakiness, the confusion, the tingly lips or tongue.  Feeling tired, sweaty and/or hungry.  The slurred speech.

For a few months now, my D-team and I have been trying to keep my blood glucose level at about 8.0mmol/l in hopes of regaining some of those signs.

So far my body has declined the invitation, for the most part.  I mean it is never quite there.  Sometimes more, sometimes less.  I'm fine with that.  The only way I can tell is that feeling of tiredness that overcomes me.  Like I could just lay down and have a nap.  It could be 11am or 4pm and suddenly I can't keep my eyes open.  I test and sure enough.  Looking back at me is a number like 3.9mmol/l, or a 2.5mmol/l.    At night, my only hint (and it's not really my "hint", it's my husbands) is that I sweat.  And I mean sweat!!  Like I've run a marathon!(and I'm not the least athletic).

As gross as that sounds, I thank God for that.  On many occasions that has been the clue that rouses my husband from a dead sleep and prompts him to wake me up and ask "are you ok?"  If I answer, he suggests doing a blood test.  Then he goes downstairs to gather the sugar bowl.  Yup straight up.  Right from the bowl.  Mmmm.  Or juice.  OJ works best.

If I don't answer, he has been known to call 911 on more that one occasion.  I now have a Glucagon Kit, and thankfully haven't had to use it.

Soon there may be a way to predict lows before they become serious. 

The "Sweat Meter", developed by researchers at the University of Oslo and the National Hospital of Norway, can detect, with minimal invasion, variances in sweat patterns that occur when the body's glucose reaches critically low levels.

You wear an electrode on your skin which monitors yours sweat patterns for changes in blood sugars.  It would then send an alarm via text message to your Smartphone BEFORE your blood sugar gets too low.   

This is still a few years away, but how cool would that be?    This may be the answer that helps put a  stop to the lighting of any more blue candles. 

To read the full article click here.

give an inch ~ take a mile

diabetes is sort of like a small child to me.  it cries when its hungry(low), it throws a tantrum when its mad(high).  it sometimes sleeps throught the night, and other nights it wakes up with terrible nightmares.  if i treat it as my child, and listen when it speaks to me, i find it a much better behaved little thing!

yesterday we visited family. it was a birthday celebration.  and, like a child at a birthday party, D was allowed a little freedom.  most of my boluses were SWAG's.  things like pizza for lunch, and a veggie and fruit tray out for grazing.  burgers and fries for supper, with wonderful apple blossoms for dessert.  and throw in a Bailey's on Ice for good measure!

overall, not the best choices for a diabetic.  however, I CAN eat whatever i want.  and i thoroughly enjoyed myself.  and you know what?  i think my child did too!  she behaved well all day.  stayed well within her limits, and didn't throw a single tantrum!  some say "give a child an inch and they'll take a mile".

my child took her inch and was quite happy with it!



test driving

i just want to apologize for the crazy state of my blog the last few days.  i have been trying to decide on a look for it.  when i started this thing, i wasn't sure if i would keep it up.  i was positive that no one would even read it.  i couldn't imagine that i had anything worth saying. 

well it seems that, while i may not write everyday, KD is here for the long haul.  i like blogging, and i love reading all your posts.  i enjoy lurking, and i try to find a new blog every day. (sounds like i have a lot of time on my hands!!)

so i thought that since i was here to stay, i should probably make an attempt at having a theme of some sort.  i went online and searched for free backgrounds and headers for blogs.  there are lots of them out there.  i found that it is sort of like buying clothes. or a car. you have to try them on,  see how they fit. take them for a test drive.  and so the search began.

the background has been frilly, and striped.  it has been pink, blue and kinda orange. i have played with cupcakes, and flowers. even birds.

i think simple is best.

i am not a frilly, pink kinda girl.  nor am i cupcakie (although i do love to eat them!).  flowers and birds are fine for some.  i love to smell them(the flowers, not the birds). i even throw bread out for the birdies in my neighbourhood to munch on.

still, i think simple is best. i know i have said it before, and it's true. 

so i am done trying on skirts that don't fit.  and frilly shirts that make me itch.
i test drove the different sites, and found a *car* that i like.  hope you like it too!

thanks for your patience.    :0)