Author: leannah

October 8

Ran high all day. Not below 10. Actually, I don`t think I was below 13. Days off are going to need adjusting. Also, I am going to need adjusting- I am not as active on days off, usually because I am exhausted from my work week. I am trying to get back into exercising on a more regular schedule, but like I said, sometimes when I get to my weekend, I am completely done from my week.

I need to be strong. I need to feel that my body is strong. I need to feel I have control over some aspect of my body.

October 3

Did my first ‘pod’ change! (That’s what the company calls these little pumps). It feels good, no alarms are going off but it was hellish drawing up the insulin from the vial without getting bubbles. The cautiousness that had subsided a bit yesterday is back, just because it’s a new site application that I did all by myself.

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Busy at work. Closed tonight. 30g at supper and I was 6.6 by 9:30pm. I was at 7 before I ate so no closing crash!! Yay!! So tired tonight. Levels are still set low so I am generally running higher than normal. Just had a snack before getting ready for bed. 18g with BG at 7.1. Pump recommended 0.85u dose. I could’ve changed that but I am trusting that I will be ok overnight with that. I will have to get up to pee in a few hrs so I will check then.

October 1

14.3 before breakfast. Yesterday I was high all day. I’m not surprised, as all my insulin levels are set low are I get used to the pump. Today is my first full day with the pump.

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My skin feels cool underneath where the pump attaches to my skin. Almost damp. It’s not leaking or anything, it’s working fine, just giving me an odd sensation.

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Ok, finally able to get my BG down. 8.9 at lunch. Went for a little 15min walk and also 10mins on the elliptical. Helped to get rid of some of the tiredness. This basal rate may work for work days but may need to adjust a bit for days off.

September 30

Pump day today!

Nervous and excited. I’m up super early and tidying the house as the instructor is actually coming to my house.

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It’s on! We just finished up my training session and the instructor just left. I’m on my own! A bit nervous and being super cautious with my movements right now. We have set all my dosing levels fairly low, so I don’t have any emergencies.

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Weird to not be prepping a lantus dose tonight. Pump only uses fast-acting insulin. It is set at 0.20 units/hr (so 4.8units over 24hrs) and then bolusing for meals. My controller is currently programmed for boluses of 1 unit of insulin covering 19g of carbs. So yes, like I said, levels are set fairly low, while I get used to this new system.

September 19

I had a follow- up appointment with the surgeon to discuss the results from my scope. Everything is normal- no lesions, cancer or colitis. Phewf!

He agreed with what I was thinking, that the low iron is probably due to poor absorption. He thinks there may be an imbalance in my gut flora. He suggested a few things to try. Basically trial-and-error now to figure out what is happening and what will help. He did suggest possibly seeing a gastroenterologist, if things are not improving. Sigh. So basically no definitive answers. Frustrating.

September 18

Full day!!

Start up package for insulin pump got delivered today! Exciting!

And then the Omnipod rep/ instructor called and we made an appt for set up and pump training. September 30th at 9am!

I had emailed Dexcom about CGMs a few days ago and the rep just called and we’re going to send in a form to see what kind of coverage I can get for it. CGMs aren’t covered by PharmaCare so we’ll see what my work health coverage will do.

Phewf!!

September 4

So PharmaCare has given approval for an insulin pump (based on the Special Authority form my specialist sent in). I had been talking to the nurse and diabetic team about a pump a couple of times over the spring and summer so we decided to see if I could get approval.

I emailed the Omnipod rep (chose Omnipod because it’s the one I’ve heard the most about, even though I know there are other ones out there) and just asked ‘how do we start this process’? She emailed me back with a form to fill out and to send her the approval form. I guess the process is started.

Scary but exciting! I don’t know if it is going to be the right thing for me but I guess I won’t know for sure until I at least try it…

August 30

Colonoscopy Day! Weeee!

It’s just after 6am. Hungry and very thirsty this morning. I have been NPO (nothing by mouth) since midnight last night. Tired. Body tired, which makes sense with nothing in it to give it energy.

BG was 10.6 when I woke up about an hour ago. It was 15.2 when I went to bed. I only took 3.5 of lantus last night. The nurse had suggested 3units when we spoke about prep last week but 3.5 felt better last night. My ride will be here in half an hour. I’m ready, nervous but ok.

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It went fine. Honestly, prep day was way worse.

I was checked in and baseline vitals were done. Nurse also asked what my last BG reading was. I know I checked on the way to the hospital and it was high-ish, maybe 13. She was a bit concerned it was high but I also explained that I’m usually high in the morning and she was ok with that.

She put a saline lock in my arm. (This is a small IV catheter with short tubing that they insert for the sedation). The nurse was so kind and took her time answering all my questions before she took me to the operating room. The OR team was great and the surgeon came in before I was sedated to go over my symptoms and concerns. Based on my symptoms we decided to do an endoscopy and a colonoscopy (two for one! Yay!).

I remember the OR nurse saying the sedation will take a couple of minutes before I feel it and that was it. I think I remember waking up for a moment during the procedure and then I was waking up in the recovery room. It was weird being totally disoriented about what time it was – I had lost more than an hour.

I’m home now. My friend just left after making me check my blood sugar (15.5mmol). I am making eggs and toast and then I’m gonna go for a nap. This little body needs some rest. When I got home I think I was still buzzed on the sedative because I was thinking of all these things I was going to do, now all I am thinking about it bed.

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Napped on and off the rest of the day. BG 6.4 before supper. I took regular lantus dose (6units) which, looking at it now, I probably should’ve done a little less.

8pm BG was 9.6

9pm it was 7.2. I had 15g at that point.

12:30am it was 6.6. Ugh. Ok, 30g

4am 12.6

Tired. Been awake since 4am, feeling really wound up.